Great Audiobooks for First Time Listeners
We have many big audiobooks fans here at Tandem, and we’re are never shy of throwing in a recommendation or two and generally shouting from the rooftops about the books we’ve loved!
So, here are some of our all-time favourite audiobooks that we hope will help any first-timer fall head over headphones for a good listen too…
Daisy and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Written with an interview style narration means that this is a really good entry point for those not used to listening to fiction. It follows the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock band and you honestly forget it’s all made up by the end! This was the top audiobook recommended by Tandem team.
The Orient Express by Agatha Christie, narrated by David Suchet: need we say more?! This is pure fun and Agatha at her best. David Suchet is incredibly skilled at depicting a multitude of characters, and it offers incredibly familiar and soothing listening for old fans of his TV portrayal of Poirot
The Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante, narrated by Hillary Huber: If you’re looking for immediate and prolonged escapism, then the masterfully depicted world of Elena and Lila is a perfect place to start. My Brilliant Friend is the first of four books, whisking you away to post-war Italy and the start of a truly epic storytelling journey.
Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama: A really big plus of non-fiction audiobooks is that they’re usually narrated by the author themselves. Which means you experience the exact intonation and emotion intended from the words, as well as often getting some added footnotes on the side! It’s a great format for any autobiography in particular, and you can’t go wrong with an Obama.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Kune, narrated by Daniel Henning: To end on something completely different, this is for those of you who enjoy a little fantasy thrown into the mix. It is also a really good example of the importance of an excellent narrator in bringing a story to life, especially with a large cast of characters.
