Goodreads' Top 15 Reader Recommended Audiobooks Of 2026 (So Far), Ranked By Reviews

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

With our daily lives being so busy and downtime being so precious, enjoying some time with our headphones in and a highly rated audiobook on is one of life's greatest pleasures. So, you don't want to waste that special time listening to an audiobook that turns out to be a major damp squib. With a little help from us, though, you won't have to worry about punishing your ears with a literary flop in 2026.

To find out what audiobook lovers are actually enjoying in 2026, we cherry-picked the highest-rated offerings from Goodreads' list of Reader-Approved Audiobooks for Every Bookish Mood. The list includes everything from the latest audiobook releases to all-time classics, all of which have been approved by the platform's users. And don't worry, no matter if you're up for a romantic romp, an awesome autobiography, or a harrowing historical tale, there's truly something for everyone.

"Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds" by John Fugelsang is a gripping nonfiction audiobook. It's also a 2026 Audie Award finalist in two categories: narration by the author and nonfiction. Fugelsang, a comedian and broadcaster, narrated the book himself, examining far-right Christian beliefs. The book has been rated more than 18,000 times at the time of writing and earned a 4.4 score.

One listener stated on Goodreads that they were so engrossed in the audiobook that they took mental notes while listening, while a second claimed the comedic elements of the Fugelsang's audio made the difficult subject matter easier to swallow. A third Goodreads reviewer claimed, "As an audiobook it was like a podcast arguing with humor against fundamentalist interpretations of the bible."

"Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman and narrated by Jeff Hays is the first book in the series of the same name. The novel is one of Goodreads' top 15 most popular books of 2026, and the audiobook is clearly just as beloved. It's been rated more than 659,000 times for a 4.42 average score at the time of writing. The science-fiction fantasy introduces us to Carl, a man who's living through an alien invasion following a bad breakup, one that ultimately saw him end up with custody of his ex's cat. Amid these major life adjustments, Carl discovers he and the cat are on an out-of-this-world (literally) reality show that could cause their deaths at any moment.

One reader shared in their 5-star review that they opted for the audiobook over the printed novel, noting, "The voices and sound effects add flair to the gaming-like experience." Another wrote, "[The] audiobook is spectacular. At first I thought this was a fully cast production, but nope, just one guy voice-acting all the parts. Super-fun experience especially for fans of RPGs/computer gaming."

Allen Levi's "Theo of Golden" has over 664,000 ratings and an overall score of 4.42 at the time of writing. The audiobook, narrated by David Morse and Allen Levi, delves into Theo's mysterious story after he turns up in a small Southern town. Theo, who has more than a few question marks hanging over his head, starts giving a series of paintings by a local artist to the people he considers their rightful owners. Yet, no one can work out exactly where Theo has come from or why he's so intent on handing out the artwork.

"In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, this story reminds us of the healing power of kindness, connection, and grace," wrote one Goodreads user, who also highlighted the touching book's emotionality. Another shared, "I listened to 'Theo of Golden' on audiobook and was entranced. It is about finding and creating goodness, connection, community, and caring about people."

At the time of writing, "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans has a 4.42 Goodreads score from more than 926,000 ratings. In this fictional tale, we meet Sybil Van Antwerp. Her favorite pastime is writing letters, and she writes them to everyone in her life about anything and everything. But things change when she finds one written to her that reminds her of an extremely difficult period in her life. This highly rated book comes with many stamps of approval, being the first pick from Katie Couric's book club and one of Goodreads' top 15 most-read books of 2026 so far.

The audiobook was a nominee for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards for readers' favorite audiobook, and reviews on the site confirm why. "Absolute perfection! Bravo to the audio narration! Maggi-Meg Reed as Sybil was beyond. The full cast brought me to tears," wrote one Goodreads user. Meanwhile, a third fan wrote, "I love epistolary novels, and the audiobook was narrated by a cast of characters, which was outstanding."

Tina Knowles bared her soul in her memoir "Matriarch," which she narrated alongside her two daughters, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Solange Knowles. The book is one of Oprah's Book Club's top choices from its 30 years of picks, and the audiobook has amassed an impressive 4.43 Goodreads score from over 11,000 ratings at the time of writing. In this tell-all, Tina lifts the lid on everything from her childhood and her career to motherhood and her marriage to Matthew Knowles.

One reader recommended reading the physical book while simultaneously listening to the audiobook, while another listener wrote in their positive review, "This was a very vulnerable and heartwarming memoir [...] I think Ms. Tina did a great job of narrating her story." Another reader shared a similar sentiment, writing, "Cried, laughed, learned about the significance of some of Beyoncé's lyrics. An all around solid celebrity memoir."

Tananarive Due's "The Reformatory" has amassed a 4.43 average score at the time of writing from more than 101,000 ratings. The horror novel is set in 1950s Florida and follows Robert Stephens Jr.'s time in a racially segregated reform school. But it's not just the other boys there he has to worry about, as he discovers the spooky school is haunted by former students who died there.

"This is one of those unputdownable books, that when it was time to put it down, I literally had to switch to audiobook format because I couldn't part away from the story. (The audiobook by the way is PHENONMENAL)," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Another fan who also indulged in the audiobook stated, "Tananarive Due's writing along with the narrator depicted the fear and desperation of the characters who are up against power, evil, inhumanity, and viciousness."

Hampton Sides' "The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook" has amassed a Goodreads score of 4.46 from over 27,000 ratings at the time of writing. The historical nonfiction release centers on the life of British explorer Captain James Cook and explores how the voyager, whose admiration for other cultures was notable, met a tragic fate on a Hawaiian beach in the 1700s.

One Goodreads reviewer was full of praise for the audiobook, writing, "Peter Noble narrated this and did an excellent job [...] this worked well as an audio experience." A second Goodreads user wrote, "Sides does a great job of storytelling and pacing. This book is well-researched, well-written, and engrossing. It kept my interest from beginning to end." 

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck and narrated by Richard Poe has over 738,000 ratings and an average score of 4.46 at the time of writing. The classic novel follows the Trask and Hamilton families in a storyline à la Cain and Abel, as the book delves into how, over multiple generations, the two offshoots of the same family go from loving one another to living through a bitter rivalry.

In one 5-star review of the audiobook, which won in the classic category at the 2004 Audie Awards, a Goodreads user shared that they began by reading the physical book but ended the novel via the audiobook. "The narrator was excellent," they lamented. Another praised the way Poe presented each character and wrote in their positive audiobook review, while a third listener claimed the audiobook made the lengthy tale easier to digest. Netflix's miniseries of the same name debuted in October 2026, so why not give the book a shot and then watch the latest screen adaptation to compare them?

With more than 131,000 ratings and a 4.49 Goodreads score at the time of writing, "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice" by the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre (and narrated by Gabra Zackman and Therese Plummer) has made serious noise in the book world. The autobiography, a nominee for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards in the readers' favorite audiobook category, details Giuffre's life story, including her high-profile allegations of sexual abuse against the former Prince Andrew (Andrew has repeatedly denied the claims).

"I'm sure the book is very impactful no matter how you read it, but the narration in the audiobook is excellent. It feels so personal and heartfelt," a reviewer shared in a 5-star Goodreads review. Another wrote of Gabra Zackman and Therese Plummer's narration skills, while also praising Giuffre's writing: "I felt as though a close friend was telling me her life story in a raw, honest, and vulnerable way." A third shared, "[The audiobook] added an extra layer of intimacy to the story."

With a 4.5 average score from over 14,000 ratings at the time of writing, "Score" by Kennedy Ryan (the second in the "Hollywood Renaissance" series) has proven a big hit with listeners. Verity Hill and Wright "Monk" Bellamy are the romance book's main characters. The two had a very difficult split while in college but find themselves thrown back together when they're hired to work on a romantic movie. Can they really leave the past in the past now that the universe has pulled them together under such ironic circumstances?

"I really loved the narrators chosen for this book and I couldn't be happier of that decision!!" wrote one audiobook listener on Goodreads, who revealed they were so enthralled by the audiobook that they listened to it all in one day. A second said of the touching love story, narrated by Nicole Small, Wesleigh Siobhan, and Winston James, "The pain that these two endure is felt deeply. I read the book and then listened to the audio and that pain went even deeper for me with the audio."

"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir and narrated by Ray Porter has been a blast-off hit with audiobook lovers. It's been rated more than 1.8 million times on Goodreads (making it the most rated on our list) for a 4.51 average score at the time of writing. The story was made into a 2026 movie starring Ryan Gosling and follows protagonist Ryland Grace during his time in space. Tragically, he's the only survivor after a major space tragedy, and he has no idea why he's floating so far away from Earth. It then becomes a desperate race against time for Ryland to get his memory back and successfully complete the mission — or Earth is doomed.

"'Project Hail Mary' had a very conversational tone, the prose was so smooth and not clunky, and I highly, highly recommend the audiobook," reads one 5-star review on Goodreads. "The energy and enthusiasm of the narrator was infectious," the reviewer added. A second Goodreads user praised how unique and emotional the audiobook is, writing, "Without fail, this will be my go-to audiobook and I know I'll be listening to this book at least once a year."

"Lonesome Dove" by Marry McMurtry is narrated by Will Patton and comes complete with an introduction from "Yellowstone" writer and creator Taylor Sheridan. It has an impressive 4.6 Goodreads score at the time of writing from more than 291,000 ratings.A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from the '80s, the first book in the classic "Lonesome Dove" series is set in the Wild West. Retired Texas rangers Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call travel across Montana on a dangerous cattle drive. As they make their way across the state on their arduous task, they encounter a slew of interesting new faces with fascinating stories to tell.

One Goodreads user praised Patton's impressive narration in their 5-star review, while a second wrote, "[The audiobook is] well-done and authentic sounding." A third highlighted how well the audio version brought the novel to life, writing, "Listening to the audiobook of this massive tome was just a perfect book-to-landscape match." Ultimately, this is one of the best books to read if you love "Yellowstone."

"The 1619 Project: A New American Origin Story" was written by Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine and narrated by a full cast, including Hannah-Jones and activist Caitlin Roper. It's been rated over 26,000 times on Goodreads at the time of writing, culminating in an impressive average score of 4.61. The nonfiction audiobook focuses on The New York Times Magazine's 1619 project, which took a deep dive into the arrival of what's thought to be the first ship carrying enslaved persons from Africa into the U.S. The important historical event is told through serval moving essays and stories.

In one 5-star Goodreads review, one listener highly recommended the audiobook, writing, "Great performances by a full cast." A second listener shared, "Listening to the audiobook is well-worth it to hear the incredible cast that Hannah-Jones brought together, and to hear her discuss, in her own words, the meaning of this project in our current social landscape in the foreword."

With a score of 4.61 from more than 440,000 Goodreads ratings at the time of writing, "The Calamity Club," written by Kathryn Stockett and narrated by January LaVoy and Jenna Lamia, officially made it into the top three of this ranking. The historical fiction audiobook takes readers back to 1993 Mississippi, where young Meg Lefleur is living in an orphanage. Meg befriends Birdie, who wants to let her estranged sister know she's still around. The two then grow close to a struggling woman named Charlie, and the trio soon create a band of sisters known as The Calamity Club.

"Road trip audiobook GOLD!" wrote one Goodreads user, adding, "If you are looking for a novel that packs an emotional punch, has a cast of strong women, and challenges societal gender norms, then this one is for you." Another Goodreads user also highly recommended the audiobook, writing, "It was absolutely phenomenal. The narrators brought every character to life in a way that made it impossible to stop listening. I genuinely never wanted it to end."

Gisèle Pelicot's harrowing story of surviving abuse is told in the heartbreaking nonfiction audiobook "A Hymn to Life," narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Emma Thompson. It's one of the best new book releases of 2026, according to Goodreads users, and it landed the top spot on this ranking thanks to its 4.66 score from over 42,000 ratings at the time of writing. 

Pelicot made global headlines in 2025 when she shared her story of being sexually abused by her husband and many other men over almost a decade. In the book, Pelicot also invites readers into her childhood and discusses her life as a mom, in addition to sharing new details about making the horrific, life-changing discovery about her husband's betrayal.

Listening to the audiobook over reading the physical book has been recommended by multiple Goodreads users, including one who wrote, "Emma Thompson voiced this on audiobook and she brings the perfect amount of depth in her narration that this story deserves." Another reader shared, "The audiobook, narrated by Emma Thompson, is brilliant and heartbreaking." A third noted, "This is obviously an *extremely* difficult and utterly enraging read. Emma Thompson was the PERFECT person to read this audiobook, and I'm strangely glad I chose to listen to this rather than read it with my eyeballs."

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

To make it onto this list, each audiobook first had to be featured on Goodreads' collection of Reader-Approved Audiobooks for Every Bookish Mood, which was published in August 2026 and included audiobooks based on Audible charts and Audie Awards. We only included audiobooks with at least 10,000 ratings to ensure they'd been read and thoroughly reviewed by a wide array of Goodreads users. 

We then ranked the top 15 based on their Goodreads score out of 5 stars at the time writing. If more than one book had the same rating, the audiobook with more ratings took the higher position. We also considered what Goodreads users said about each audiobook in their reviews, primarily focusing on their comments about the audiobook version over the physical book.