The best audiobooks of 2026: fiction, non-fiction and every genre

Quick picks: the top audiobook of 2026 in each genre

General fiction

Literary and book-club fiction released as audiobooks in 2026.

No.1

Top pick

Yesteryear

Caro Claire Burke

On Audible's midyear best-of list, in Audible's US fiction top 10 in July and on the Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist.

Narrator

Rebecca Lowman

Length

13h 47mAudible UK and US

Listener rating

UK 4.8 from 17US 4.45 from 20,090. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Random House Audio

Audiobook released

7 April 2026

Sources Audible's midyear best list (Shop TODAY, paid partnership) Audible US top 10, week ending 24 July (AP) Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist (ITV) Audible UK

Read or listen?Listen62% confidence. Listen for Rebecca Lowman, whose reading Kirkus calls layered. Natalie tells the whole story in the first person, so one voice carries it naturally. Read it if you want to keep your bearings, as the story jumps between the present day and 1855, which can be hard to follow over audio. Full verdict

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No.3

The Things We Never Say

Elizabeth Strout

Shortlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize and for Waterstones Book of the Year.

Narrator

Robert Petkoff

Length

6h 35mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.31 from 1,790Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Random House Audio

Audiobook released

5 May 2026

Sources Booker Prize 2026 shortlist Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist (ITV) Audible US

Read or listen?Listen65% confidence. The story stays with one man, Artie Dam, the whole way through, and Robert Petkoff reads all of it. With only one character's view to follow, one voice carries it naturally and you never lose track. Full verdict

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No.4

John of John

Douglas Stuart

On the Booker and Waterstones shortlists, plus two British Audio Awards shortlists, one of them for Lorne MacFadyen's narration (New Voice).

Narrator

Lorne MacFadyen

Length

15h 31mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.75 from 1,094Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Audio

Audiobook released

5 May 2026

Good to know: Also on Audible's midyear best-of list.

Sources Booker Prize 2026 shortlist Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist (ITV) British Audio Awards shortlist (Pan Macmillan) Audible's midyear best list (Shop TODAY, paid partnership) Audible US

Read or listen?Read56% confidence. Read it to follow the moves between John, Cal, Ella and Innes, which are easier to keep apart on the page than in one narrator's voice, and print sets the Gaelic speech in italics with its English translation. Listen for Lorne MacFadyen’s “deft, heartfelt narration”, which makes the Gaelic easier to hear than to sound out. Full verdict

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No.5

Partita

Barbara Kingsolver

New in October, and the site's most confident Listen verdict among the 2026 literary novels here.

Narrator

Megan Tusing

Length

14h 23mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.64 from 404Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Harper

Audiobook released

6 October 2026

Sources Audible US

Read or listen?Listen68% confidence. Livia tells the story in the first person and Megan Tusing reads it all, so one voice carries it naturally. The US Harper edition is reported to include six piano recordings by Han Chen, from Chopin to Bach, but the UK Faber listing mentions no music. Full verdict

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No.6

Black Bag

Luke Kennard

On the 2026 Booker Prize shortlist, and read by the author.

Narrator

Luke Kennard

Length

9h 6mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.69 from 100No UK ratings yet. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Zando Penguin Audio

Audiobook released

17 March 2026

Sources Booker Prize 2026 shortlist Audible US

Read or listen?Listen65% confidence. One unnamed narrator tells the whole story in the first person, often straight to the reader, and the author, Luke Kennard, reads it himself. One voice carries it naturally, and you hear it the way he meant it. Full verdict

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Also with 2026 evidence: Transcription by Ben Lerner (Seth Numrich, 4h 15m; Listen on the site); Whistler by Ann Patchett (read by the author; on Audible's midyear list; Read on the site); Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus (Listen on the site).

More: literary fiction and contemporary fiction, read or listen, book by book. The whole Booker shortlist has verdicts on the Booker Prize 2026 shelf.

Non-fiction

Memoir, history and ideas, mostly read by the people who wrote them.

No.1

Top pick

London Falling

Patrick Radden Keefe · Read by the author

On the Waterstones Book of the Year and British Audio Awards shortlists, Audible's midyear list and Kirkus's August best audiobooks list.

Narrator

Patrick Radden Keefe

Length

12h 59mAudible UK and US

Listener rating

UK 5.0 from 5US 4.74 from 2,097. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Random House Audio

Audiobook released

7 April 2026

Sources Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist (ITV) British Audio Awards shortlist (Pan Macmillan) Audible's midyear best list (Shop TODAY, paid partnership) Kirkus, August's best audiobooks Audible UK

Read or listen?Either50% confidence. Read it if you prefer the page, though nothing makes it easier to follow in print. Listen for Patrick Radden Keefe reading his own book across 12 hours 59 minutes, so you hear it the way he meant it, and listeners rate the reading highly. Full verdict

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No.2

Strangers

Belle Burden · Memoir, read by the author

On Audible's midyear list, and in Audible's US non-fiction top 10 in the last two weeks of July.

Narrator

Belle Burden

Length

7h 3mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.6 from 8,979Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Random House Audio

Audiobook released

13 January 2026

Sources Audible's midyear best list (Shop TODAY, paid partnership) Audible US top 10, week ending 24 July (AP) Audible US top 10, week ending 31 July (AP) Audible US

Read or listen?Listen65% confidence. Belle Burden reads her own memoir, as the publisher asked for the author rather than a hired reader, so you hear it the way she meant it. It's told in the first person throughout, so one voice carries it naturally. Full verdict

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No.3

Biological War

Annie Jacobsen · Read by the author

Number 1 on Audible's US non-fiction chart in its launch week (week ending 31 July).

Narrator

Annie Jacobsen

Length

11h 13mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.7 from 1,128Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Penguin Audio

Audiobook released

28 July 2026

Sources Audible US top 10, week ending 31 July (AP) Audible US

Read or listen?Read73% confidence. The book follows at least six separate storylines in turn, from a lab scientist and an infected priest to big-game hunters and the president, all read by one narrator. That can be hard to follow over audio, and on the page it's easier to keep track of whose part you're in. Full verdict

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No.4

Redwood

Ben Macintyre · History

On the Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist, and read by the author.

Narrator

Ben Macintyre

Length

17h 24mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.88 from 117No UK ratings yet. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Random House Audio

Audiobook released

15 September 2026

Sources Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist (ITV) Audible US

Read or listen?Listen65% confidence. Ben Macintyre reads his own true story, so you hear it the way he meant it to be told. At 464 pages in the UK hardback it is a long book, and 17 hours 24 minutes of listening goes further on commutes. Full verdict

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No.5

Protocols

Andrew D. Huberman

Read by the author, a podcaster.

Narrator

Andrew D. Huberman

Length

18h 5mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.56 from 151Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Audio

Audiobook released

15 September 2026

Sources Audible US

Read or listen?Listen77% confidence. Andrew D. Huberman reads his own book, so you hear it the way he meant it. At 688 pages it's a long read, which goes further on audio, and at one and a half times speed the 18 hrs 5 mins comes down to about 12 hours. Full verdict

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Also with 2026 evidence: Famesick by Lena Dunham (read by the author, 11h 46m, US 4.81 from 3,334).

More: the non-fiction and memoir shelf, and the best Christmas non-fiction audiobooks.

Fantasy

New fantasy and romantasy audiobooks from 2026.

No.4

Threshing Day

Rebecca Yarros · Fourth Wing stories

Thirteen Fourth Wing stories read by a cast of 14, and number 4 on Audible's US fiction chart in October.

Narrator

14 narrators

Length

5h 52mAudible UK and US

Listener rating

UK 4.82 from 836US 4.84 from 8,866. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Recorded Books

Audiobook released

29 September 2026

Sources Audible US fiction chart, week ending 9 October (Books of Brilliance) Audible UK

Read or listen?Listen100% confidence. There are 14 narrators across the 13 stories, so the collection moves between many different voices rather than resting on one reader. The whole audiobook runs to 5h 52m, just under six hours. Full verdict

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No.5

A Court of Splintered Harmony

Sarah J. Maas · A Court of Thorns and Roses, book 6

The sixth A Court of Thorns and Roses book, read by the series narrator.

Narrator

Elizabeth Evans

Length

12h 1mAudible UK and US

Listener rating

UK 4.73 from 478US 4.74 from 3,519. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Recorded Books

Audiobook released

27 October 2026

Good to know: A GraphicAudio dramatisation is due on 23 December 2026.

Sources Audible UK

Read or listen?Read65% confidence. The story passes between as many as seven characters, from Azriel and Feyre to Gwyn and Mor, and Elizabeth Evans reads them all. In print the chapter headings tell you whose head you’re in, which is easy to lose over audio with one voice. Full verdict

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No.6

The Sweetest Fiend

Raven Kennedy · Played by the Piper, book 1

Two narrators, one for each of the two leads.

Narrator

Isabelle Turner and Sean Masters

Length

16h 35mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.79 from 492Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Avon

Audiobook released

22 September 2026

Sources Audible US

Read or listen?Listen100% confidence. Isabelle Turner and Sean Masters read it as a duet, and on the US edition original music by Lindsay Dills runs alongside, so it's a full production rather than a reading. At 480 pages it's a long read, which goes further on audio. Full verdict

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Also with 2026 evidence: Tempest by Victoria Aveyard (Read on the site); Victorious by V.E. Schwab (Read on the site).

More: the best fantasy audiobooks of all time and the fantasy and romantasy shelf.

Science fiction

New science fiction audiobooks from 2026.

More: the best sci-fi audiobooks of all time and the sci-fi and dystopian shelf.

Thrillers and crime

The top five from our full thriller list.

No.1

Top pick

Mad Mabel

Sally Hepworth

Rated 4.86 for narration by over 18,000 US listeners, the most ratings of any 2026 crime audiobook checked.

Narrator

Hannah Fredericksen and Jenny Seedsman

Length

9h 20mAudible UK and US

Listener rating

UK 4.8 from 16US 4.86 from 18,614. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Macmillan Audio

Audiobook released

21 April 2026

Subgenre

Crime, darkly comic

Sources Audible UK

Read or listen?Listen67% confidence. The chapters switch between the 1950s and the present, and each has its own narrator (Jenny Seedsman as Mabel at 81, Hannah Fredericksen as Mabel as a girl), so you always know which time you’re in. It won ABIA Audiobook of the Year 2026. Full verdict

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No.4

The Witch

Freida McFadden

Number 3 in the UK top 10 and number 3 on Audible's US fiction chart in October, with one narrator for each timeline.

Narrator

Saskia Maarleveld and Marin Ireland

Length

9h 31mAudible UK and US

Listener rating

UK 4.65 from 572US 4.57 from 7,375. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Dreamscape Media

Audiobook released

6 October 2026

Subgenre

Psychological, dual timeline

Sources Audible US fiction chart, week ending 9 October (Books of Brilliance) Audible UK

Read or listen?Listen56% confidence. Listen for the two narrators, Marin Ireland reading Julia's present day and Saskia Maarleveld reading Caroline's chapters, so you always know which century you're in. Read it if you like to track the jumps, as the book cuts between the present and 1692 at each turning point. Full verdict

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No.5

The Keeper

Tana French

On Penguin UK's best crime and thrillers of 2026 list.

Narrator

Roger Clark

Length

19h 45mAudible UK and US

Listener rating

UK 5.0 from 2US 4.76 from 1,952. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Penguin Audio

Audiobook released

31 March 2026

Subgenre

Crime

Sources Penguin UK's best crime and thrillers of 2026 Audible UK

Read or listen?Listen63% confidence. Listen for Roger Clark, whose rendition Kirkus calls ‘dazzling’ as he ‘lyrically renders the voices of the village in western Ireland’. Read it for prose The Guardian’s review roundup calls ‘dense, compelling and superbly atmospheric’, which is easier to take in on the page than over audio. Full verdict

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See all the picks in the best thriller audiobooks of 2026, or browse the crime and thrillers shelf.

Romance

New romance audiobooks from 2026.

No.2

Into the Blue

Emma Brodie

A Reese's Book Club pick, read by Julia Whelan.

Narrator

Julia Whelan

Length

15h 9mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.71 from 3,471Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Random House Audio

Audiobook released

7 April 2026

Sources Audible US

Read or listen?Listen100% confidence. The story stays with AJ throughout and Julia Whelan reads all of it, so one voice carries it naturally. Kirkus called her “a powerhouse” whose timing in the improv scenes is “spot-on”, and the 448-page hardback goes further as a 15 hour 9 minute listen. Full verdict

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No.6

Bad Words

Ríoghnach Robinson

New in October, with two narrators.

Narrator

Katharine Chin and Major Curda

Length

12h 29mAudible US

Listener rating

No ratings yetAudible UK and US, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Macmillan Audio

Audiobook released

6 October 2026

Sources Audible US

Read or listen?Listen100% confidence. The story switches between two main characters, and each has their own narrator (Major Curda as Parker, Katharine Chin as Selina), so you can tell whose chapter you’re in by the voice alone. Kirkus praised both performances. Full verdict

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More: the romance and rom-com shelf.

Historical fiction

New historical fiction audiobooks from 2026.

No.1

Top pick

The Calamity Club

Kathryn Stockett

Number 1 on Audible's US fiction chart (week ending 31 July), and the most-rated 2026 audiobook in this guide.

Narrator

Jenna Lamia and January LaVoy

Length

28h 44mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.94 from 31,720Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks

Audiobook released

5 May 2026

Sources Audible US top 10, week ending 24 July (AP) Audible US top 10, week ending 31 July (AP) Audible US

Read or listen?Listen100% confidence. There are two main characters, and each has their own narrator (Jenna Lamia for Meg, January LaVoy for Birdie), so you always know whose chapter you're in. Kirkus says the dual narration is why the audiobook shines, and a 656-page book goes further on audio. Full verdict

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No.2

Land

Maggie O'Farrell

On the Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist and Kirkus's July best audiobooks list.

Narrator

Dane Whyte O'Hara

Length

16h 47mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.81 from 1,720Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Random House Audio

Audiobook released

2 June 2026

Sources Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist (ITV) Kirkus, July's best audiobooks Audible US

Read or listen?Either53% confidence. Read it for the three timelines, 1865, the narrator’s childhood and a time many millennia back, which are easier to keep track of on the page than over audio. Listen for the Irish actor Dane Whyte O’Hara, who Kirkus says “gives a striking performance”. Full verdict

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No.3

Adam and Eve

Jeffrey Archer

Archer's final novel, partly read by him. It sold 27,900 UK copies in its first week (NielsenIQ BookData, via ITV).

Narrator

Jeffrey Archer and Ben Miles

Length

15h 38mAudible UK and US

Listener rating

UK 4.87 from 353US 4.87 from 83. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

HarperCollins

Audiobook released

6 October 2026

Sources Audible UK

Read or listen?Listen65% confidence. Ben Miles and Jeffrey Archer himself are credited on the recording, and at 464 pages in hardback it's a long read that goes further on audio. Full verdict

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Also with 2026 evidence: May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry (Booker and Waterstones shortlists; Read on the site); Lázár by Nelio Biedermann (Waterstones shortlist; Read on the site).

More: the historical fiction shelf, and the books everyone is reading on the Everyone's talking about shelf.

Horror

New horror audiobooks from 2026.

No.2

Solace House

Will Maclean

On the Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist.

Narrator

Sebastian Humphreys and Greg Wagland

Length

16h 12mAudible US

Listener rating

US 4.6 from 10Audible US. Narration rating, 2 Nov 2026

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Audio

Audiobook released

13 October 2026

Sources Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist (ITV) Audible US

Read or listen?Read75% confidence. A four-line verse opens every chapter, and a cipher hidden in it, read from the first letters of printed words, is central to the plot. You need the words in front of you to spot it, which is hard to do by ear. Full verdict

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More: the horror shelf. The Red Winter, in Fantasy above, is on Book Riot's horror list too.

Christmas

These came out this autumn and most have few ratings yet. For proven Christmas listens, see the best Christmas audiobooks.

More: every Christmas verdict on the Christmas page, and book gift ideas.

New recordings of classics in 2026

Both are new full-cast dramatisations made by Audible, not readings of the full text. For full readings of the classics, see the classics and gothic shelf.

2026 award winners

These recordings were first released in 2025, so they are not in the picks above. Find more prize books on the Waterstones Book of the Year 2026 shelf.

Questions people ask

More guides

Thrillers in full

The best thriller audiobooks of the year

Psychological, crime, spy and legal, ranked.

All-time fantasy

The best fantasy audiobooks

Ranked, with full cast, series and romantasy picks.

All-time sci-fi

The best sci-fi audiobooks

Ranked, with the edition to buy.

Giving a book?

Book gift ideas

Which format to give, book by book.