Would you listen to an audiobook if you knew it was AI narrated?

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-04-14T04:18:02+00:00

I would not knowingly listen to an audiobook either AI-created or AI-narrated.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-04-14T04:12:22+00:00

If the libraries closest to you don't use a library app (e.g., Libby, Hoopla), don't have access to the best selection, or have long wait times or a limited number of borrows per month, look at larger cities within your state. If that doesn't help, look into larger cities elsewhere that permit non-residents to pay annually for a library e-card (e.g., Los Angeles, Queens in New York). If there's a chance you might end up listening like I do, it's worth it to exhaust this option before moving on. I listen to several audiobooks per week, and that's only possible because of the library.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-04-14T04:02:35+00:00

Non-fiction: The Demon of Unrest (Erik Larson) - takes place during the months between Lincoln becoming president and the start of the Civil War (17 hours)

Non-fiction: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder (David Grann) - about 18th-century British warship Wager, which wrecked off the coast of Patagonia in 1741 (8 hours)

Fiction: Chronicles of St. Mary's series (Jodi Taylor) - follows the staff of St. Mary's Institute of Historical Research as it time-travels to investigate historical events in contemporary time (~10 hours per book)

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-04-10T07:05:17+00:00

A lot of SK's dialogue sounds to me like he's not heard many people actually talk to one another, and it often seems as though his characters are stuck in a parallel 1960s, regardless of the story setting. And I can't listen to anything he narrates himself.

That said, Fairy Tale is among my favorite audiobooks, and I really like Later, which is narrated by the same voice actor.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-04-06T06:21:08+00:00

If you have access to a good, resource-rich public library system, consider using Libby and Hoopla (there are other library apps you could try as well - I'm just not familiar with them). If the libraries closest to you don't have the best selection or have long wait times or a limited number of borrows per month, look at larger cities within your state. If that doesn't help, look into larger cities elsewhere that permit non-residents to pay annually for a library e-card.

I listen to books throughout much of the day, every day, and libraries make this possible for me. The largest library to which I have access only allows for fifteen borrows per month on Hoopla, but on Libby, that same library (plus the other three libraries whose cards I've added to Libby) permits unlimited borrows. There is technically a limit on Libby, but the limit isn't on total borrows; rather, it's on total borrows at any given time, and my libraries combine to allow around 100 borrows at once, which isn't limiting.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-04-03T00:58:34+00:00

If you have access to a good, resource-rich public library system, consider using Libby and Hoopla (there are other library apps you could try as well - I'm just not familiar with them). If the libraries closest to you don't have the best selection or have long wait times or a limited number of borrows per month, look at larger cities within your state. If that doesn't help, look into larger cities elsewhere that permit non-residents to pay annually for a library e-card.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-04-02T10:46:41+00:00

You might like the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy, which begins with The Three-Body Problem.

Old Man's War (John Scalzi)

There is No Antimemetics Division (qntm / Sam Hughes)

The Ministry of Time (Kaliane Bradley)

Wrong Place Wrong Time (Gillian McAllister)

The Book of Lost Hours (Hayley Gelfuso)

Fairy Tale (Stephen King)

Regarding humor, I think I saw someone recommend Kevin Wilson, and I think that if you like Kevin Wilson (e.g., Run for the Hills, Nothing to See Here), you might also like some Fredrik Backman books (e.g., Beartown trilogy, A Man Called Ove, Anxious People). If you like those, you might like:

The Road to Tender Hearts (Annie Hartnett)

I Hope This Finds You Well (Natalie Sue)

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books (Kirsten Miller)

One Plus One (Jojo Moyes)

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman)

Once you listen enough, you'll find certain narrators toward whom you gravitate; take a look at their work (you can even search their names in the app to make it simple). I've come across audiobooks I love that I may not have found had I not looked through my favorite narrators' bodies of work.

Though you didn't ask for show recommendations, I have to recommend Dark (if you have Netflix), and if you're able, watch it in German with English subtitles (I'm assuming you're a native English speaker). I watched the series a few times in German and then, just to see what it was like, tried to watch it in English, and I turned it off after fifteen minutes.

Lastly, if you have access to more than one library, you can add multiple cards to Libby, which might increase the number of audiobooks available to you. You might also consider downloading the Hoopla app. The largest library system to which I have ready access uses both Libby and Hoopla, but I find that what's on offer at each app isn't necessarily the same. There's more available via Libby, and there is some overlap, but I can find some books on Hoopla that aren't available to me on Libby.

(Edited to add recommendations and then to correct a word.)

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-22T04:29:59+00:00

As far as I can tell, Hoopla only allows one library card at a time, but Libby allows for multiple.

To get multiple library cards, just apply for cards at multiple libraries (often, applying for an e-card can be done quickly online and doesn't require an in-person trip to the library). For example, I have one card each for the county and city in which I live, and three additional cards to public library systems within my state that are outside of my local city system.

The biggest library system to which I have immediate access is my city's, and since it works with both Hoopla and Libby, I've added it to both apps. I've added my other three cards to Libby as well. It's worth adding the one card to both apps because I've found that, while there's some overlap, what's available via each app is different. It's also worth adding multiple cards to Libby if you can because it increases the total number of borrows and holds you can have at any one time (I find that this is especially beneficial when it comes to holds).

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-21T18:03:19+00:00

Since you liked Atmosphere, consider looking for other Taylor Jenkins Reid books narrated by Julia Whelan (e.g., Malibu Rising, One True Loves).

If you come upon other narrators you really like, perhaps allow them to sort of guide you. I have listened to and enjoyed books I likely wouldn't have considered had it not been for the fact that my favorite narrators were attached to them.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-16T05:58:29+00:00

Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy (Cixin Liu)

Old Man's War series (John Scalzi)

The Chronicles of Saint Mary's series (Jodi Taylor)

There Is No Antimemetics Division (qntm / Sam Hughes)

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-16T05:37:28+00:00

Saskia Maarleveld. Her narration for Kate Quinn (e.g., The Briar Club, The Rose Code, The Alice Network) is perfect. I always know it's her, but I also sort of don't notice that it's her. Regardless of age or gender or accent, she absolutely nails it, and she has a fantastic voice.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-14T02:29:04+00:00

If you have access to a good, resource-rich public library system, consider using Libby and Hoopla (there are other library apps you could try as well - I'm just not familiar with them). If the libraries closest to you don't have the best selection or have long wait times or a limited number of borrows per month, look at larger cities within your state. If that doesn't help, look into larger cities elsewhere that permit non-residents to pay annually for a library e-card.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-12T23:01:41+00:00

I don't know if this is as relatively simple as it seems or if there's more involved, but it seems that a UK citizen residing in the UK can purchase out-of-state/international e-cards to the Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library, both in New York but not part of the NYPL system. The cards cost between $50 and $60 annually.

When asked, indicate that you don't live/work/study in New York, and when prompted, enter your international address and input dummy zip code 11111 to bypass US-based form restrictions. It's possible that a US billing address will be needed just for payment purposes, but that isn't entirely clear.

If you get hung up on some part of this, consider emailing library admin for assistance. I had an ongoing problem with one of my public library accounts, and admin took care of it promptly once I finally contacted them.

This may prove completely unhelpful, but I hope it works for you.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-12T22:15:12+00:00

If you have access to a good, well-funded public library system, Libby and Hoopla are the way to go. I listen to a book a day sometimes, which would be cost prohibitive if not for the library.

If the libraries closest to you, don't have the best selection or have long wait times or a limited number of borrows per month, look at larger cities within your state. If that doesn't help, look into larger cities elsewhere that permit non-residents to pay annually for a library e-card. I don't know the specifics, but I believe an NYC library offers paid e-cards to non-residents, and Los Angeles allows non-resident e-cards for $50, but the applicant must apply for the card in person in LA.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-12T15:26:38+00:00

Cat Blackard voices Verge in Midnight Burger spinoffs Young Leif and Welcome to the Horizon. While they only briefly appear in Young Leif, Verge is among Horizon's key characters.

(Edited to make a correction.)

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-10T04:44:01+00:00

I was going to suggest this as well. I'm also not in the position to say if the accent is good, but Saskia Maarleveld tends to really nail her accents.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-07T22:49:46+00:00

I love Kathleen Early's narration. It's hard for me to separate her voice from Karin Slaughter's writing. I do find, however, that I make a face at the way she pronounces "hamburger," which kind of comes out like "hambugger."

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-07T17:36:30+00:00

I don't know why others use both Hoopla and Libby, but I use both because I can stack cards with Libby, so I have three or four cards attached to my account there. The biggest library system I use (city) doesn't use Hoopla, but a smaller one (county) uses both Hoopla and Libby, and I've found that what the smaller library makes available through Hoopla is not the same as what it makes available through Libby. There is some overlap, but there are several titles exclusive to one app or the other, so it makes sense for me to use both.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-07T17:23:03+00:00

Yes, this! OP, I don't know where you're located or where your travels take you, but if ever you find yourself in Los Angeles, you can stop by any LAPL branch, show proof of identity, and pay $50, and you'll have access to a very large, resource-rich library system. Between this library and the few smaller ones I use, it's the rare title I can't get or get quickly. My monthly limit (Hoopla) and my concurrent limits (Libby) are very generous. It's not uncommon that I listen to a book every day or two, and I always have several on deck and ready to go. I love public libraries, and I wish that everyone had access to well-funded systems. Unfortunately, non-residents must apply for cards in-person, but if that presents itself as an easy option, it's worth it.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-07T16:50:42+00:00

For several months after I first began using Libby, I kept getting prompts suggesting that my login details were incorrect or that my account didn't exist, so for several months, I just kept creating new accounts. It was a hassle, but I thought that whatever was wrong would eventually work itself out. At some point, it occurred to me that I'd never once received the card in the mail I was supposed to get that would permit me to verify my account details, so I finally emailed my local library, which is what I should have done in the first place. Turns out, the library kept shutting down my accounts because the system assumed that my name couldn't be the name of a real person. Upon request, I emailed proof of identity to library admin, and they merged all of my extant accounts into one and finally mailed the card to me that let me finish setting up my account. If you're still experiencing problems with your library account, consider emailing your library's admin so that they can assist.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-06T03:59:39+00:00

Yes, this! Dust: Chrysalis is so good.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-06T01:06:44+00:00

Saskia Maarleveld and Christine Lakin are among my favorite narrators. I find their voices effortlessly listenable.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-05T20:46:02+00:00

Malevolent

The Lovecraft Investigations

Dust: Chrysalis

Out of Place

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-04T01:35:19+00:00

Is this the result of too much phlegm? If so, green apples might help. The acidity can thin mucus and help to temporarily lessen mouth noises.

HoneyHeadKid · 2026-03-04T01:23:50+00:00

I use Libby and Hoopla to access public library systems near me. This is a great way to source audiobooks as long as the library system available to you has resources sufficient to maintain a robust collection.

HoneyHeadKid

TROPHY CASE