THE EMPUSIUM by Olga Tokarczuk, Antonia Lloyd-Jones [Trans.], read by Natasha Soudek

Stanley Tucci may someday be as famous as a food writer as he is as an actor. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the fun of listening to Tucci narrate his candid memoir. He plays with tone and tempo like a jazz musician, and he knows how to be ironic, self-effacing, witty, and charming, yet his performance is most satisfying because of his restraint. Tucci is a creative gourmand who is mischievous (he whispers his preparation of pigeon breasts) and masterfully ends each section with suggestions, recipes, appreciations, and observations. Since he’s an Italophile and pasta devotee, his greatest love is, of course, la cucina Italiana.  Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.      Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Siena East—a Choctaw writer, comedian, and actor—performs this romance novel from debut Chickasaw author Danica Nava. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the author’s delightful storytelling and narrator’s ear for dialogue, making for an all-around enjoyable listen. After sending out countless job applications with few responses, Ember Lee Cardinal decides to exaggerate her work experience on her next application. She lands the job and meets her new co-worker, Danuwoa Colson, the only other Native person at her new office and the most handsome man she’s ever seen. East’s strong comedic timing enhances Ember and Danuwoa’s witty banter, and she captures their whirlwind workplace romance. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this new horror story from Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk. Natasha Soudek performs this story of a young Polish man suffering from tuberculosis who arrives at a health resort in the Silesian mountains in 1913. There he meets other men with similar conditions, each of whom is sure the mountain air will cure him. But when they learn about all the men who have gone missing from the resort, they fear they will meet the same mysterious fate. Soudek uses her skill to advance the suspense of the sinister happenings. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.      Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabby Beans performs this suspenseful novel about a Black nonbinary protagonist who is haunted by the events that occurred at their childhood home. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this tale of suburban horror from Rivers Solomon. After years of living in the UK, Ezri finds themself on a plane back to the U.S. to visit their parents in their suburban home outside Dallas, Texas. There, Ezri finds their parents dead and begins trying to reconstruct their last moments.  Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.  Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.      Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a new collection of stories from one of Argentina’s most beloved authors, Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan McDowell. It’s performed by an ensemble cast, and the dark tales often feature the magical, mysterious, and bizarre. One standout includes Lee Osorio’s narration of “A Face of Disgrace,” in which Osorio’s voice is full of the protagonist’s panic and horror as her face begins to disappear. Annette Amelia Oliveira expertly performs “My Sad Dead,” capturing the protagonist’s nonchalance as she explains that she can see ghosts as they wander her neighborhood. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National Book Award finalist Sarah Smarsh performs a collection of her essays written from 2013-2024. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Smarsh’s narration captures the emotional depth of her essays. After growing up on a wheat farm in Kansas, Smarsh went on to join academia and found herself writing about her working-class childhood. Smarsh’s essays are full of sharp observations that are as relevant now as when they were first published. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster.  Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.      Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashley Callingbull gives a heartfelt narration of Violet Duncan’s story of a young girl who starts having strange dreams while visiting family on the Cree reservation. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this National Book Award finalist for young people’s literature. Everyone is talking about researchers discovering unmarked children’s graves at the nearby residential school.Twelve-year-old Summer is curious to learn more, but it is a painful history. Callingbull brings a youthful enthusiasm to her narration of Summer and deeper, more resonant voices for the elders who share their stories. Summer slowly realizes that her dreams of a girl’s escape from the residential schools might be more real than she first thought. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Listening Library. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guy Lockard narrates this fresh and funny novel YA from Jason Reynolds. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss another excellent collaboration between Reynolds and Lockard. Told from the perspective of 17-year-old Neon, this novel explores moments leading backwards from Neon’s past twenty-four months. As Neon prepares to celebrate his anniversary with his girlfriend, Aria, he reflects on everything that has happened since they first met. Lockard’s deep, resonant voice is expressive and full of humor that fits Neon’s youth and the bright banter between Neon and his friends. This contemplative novel is a joyful celebration of young love. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this delightful romance audiobook set in a fantasy world. Omari Douglas has a teasing, mischievous lilt to his narration that perfectly suits Marske’s vivid world building. Dutiful Mattinesh Jay is entering into an arranged marriage to save his family’s failing textile business. An encounter with conman and duelist Luca Pierre leads Matti to hire him as his ceremonial best man; Luca also reluctantly agrees to give Matti sword-fighting lessons. Douglas captures the sparking, zinging dynamic between Matti and Luca. The more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist each other, and the more secrets are revealed. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Éanna Hardwicke's narration highlights the rich emotionality of Sally Rooney’s newest novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Hardwicke’s skill at capturing every mood—becoming desperately angry, bitter, and frantic, yet also achingly tender, patient, and loving—as he performs a story of two grieving brothers. Peter and Ivan’s father has died, leaving them unmoored and their relationship strained. Hardwicke subtly captures the shifting perspectives of each character as he performs a story full of pain, hope, and love. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices