My fellow editors and I spend months debating our top audiobooks of the year, embarking on a trip down memory lane that inevitably stirs up new insights into the themes, aesthetics, and even narration techniques that are resonating most with listeners. While some of these trends might seem obvious, others ring a bell in more surprising ways. All in all, they offer delightful insights into where our heads, hearts, and headphones have been at this year.
ArtificiaI inspiration
As artificial intelligence continued to shape discussions around the futures of technology and culture, audiobook creators made their voices heard, examining themes of consciousness and free will from a fascinating array of perspectives.
Are moms okay?
The madness of motherhood made us laugh, cry, even break-dance in motel rooms, all while asking ... how are mothers holding up out there?
Country music, revisited
Beyoncé drew stunning attention to the rich legacy of Black country music artists with the release of Cowboy Carter, prompting the world to reevaluate its perceptions of the genre.
Cozy on all fronts
In a year when the news cycle was anything but comforting, cozy listening flourished across all forms of fiction. (Naturally, we also saw an adorable influx of cats on audiobook covers as a result of this welcome distraction.)
Duet narration
Romance fans know best: It takes two to tango. Lending a more conversational feel, duet-style narration—in which two performers read their respective characters’ dialogue throughout an entire story—is flourishing as a fun and flirty listening experience.
Flipped scripts
If our top audiobook of the year—Percival Everett’s subversive reimagining of Huckleberry Finn—is any indication, 2024 was an iconic time for classics rewritten from other perspectives.
Get the ladder look
Scaling to the top of our listening libraries this year were ladders on audiobook covers.
Haunted houses
As horror surged in popularity, so did several classic tropes—including and especially haunted houses. We can safely say our homes have never been so cobweb-free, thanks to all the adrenaline-powered cleaning we accomplished while listening.
Krazy for Keanu
Superfans of Keanu Reeves embraced an exhilarating slate of releases—from the actor’s own science fiction novel to an action-packed Audible Original from the creator of the John Wick franchise, Derek Kolstad.
Meta-horror
From Stephen Graham Jones's extra-personal love letter to slasher films based on his Texas upbringing to the many voice cameos made by other horror authors during the recording of Chuck Tingle’s Bury Your Gays, a slew of scary stories thrilled with self-referential nods to the genre.
Prison lit
Advancing the ongoing movement to amplify inside voices, these urgent listens shed light on firsthand experiences of incarceration, offering a window into a world that is purposely sequestered from the public eye.
Romantasy
Born from the flames of sexy dragons, this steamy fusion genre is so hot that the Oxford University Press honored the portmanteau as a finalist for the Word of the Year.
Roman Empire
Friends, Romans, countrymen! Lend this trend—spearheaded by women on social media asking how often men think of the Roman Empire—your ears.
Scam glam
From Anna Delvey’s bedazzled ankle monitor on Dancing with the Stars to Laci Mosley’s glamorous guide to faking it till you make it, scammers stole our hearts with their bonafide charm.
Sporty love stories
We broke a sweat trying to keep pace with all the sports-themed romances released this year. Place your bets that this microgenre will stick around.
Sunset covers on dad thrillers
Fathers kicked back in their practical sandals to soak up the sunset hues on the covers of their favorite action-packed audiobooks.
Swift lit
There’s never been a better time to be a Swiftie, let alone a bookish Swiftie. Tay’s sweeping success has extended to all corners of culture, including the literary world.
"Very demure, very mindful" listens
TikTok influencer Jools Lebron sparked a sweeping online trend after describing her office makeup look as “very demure, very mindful.” Inspired to embrace our most authentic and cutesy selves, we tuned in to these well-being listens.
YA authors slaying with adult thrillers
It's no lie, several authors better known for their young adult storytelling killed it in the adult thriller department this year, penning some of 2024's most pulse-quickening and popular listens.
