Staff Picks: Audiobooks to Get You Out of a Reading Slump
Even the most voracious of readers can fall into a reading slump every now and then. Whether you’re victim of an attention span that’s been bested by too many short form videos or the book hangover that follows a particularly impactful story, there’s no shame in hitting a wall. It happens to the best of us, even those of us who work in (audio)books.
Though we’re not immune to a rut, being professional books lovers means that we’re experts at bringing those walls down and straightening up even the slouchiest of slumps. We asked the PRH Audio staff which audiobook they’d recommend to beat the book blues, and they delivered. Reading slump, begone.
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
“Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green recently helped me through a rough reading patch. John’s storytelling style is so conversational, it really just feels like you are listening to a voice memo from a friend who wants to tell you all about the history of tuberculosis. It is a story about the consequences of colonialism and capitalism, but John carefully balances this with a message of hope: it doesn’t have to be this way.”–Kate Smith, Publicist
Empire of AI by Karen Hao
“I’ve recently been listening to Karen Hao’s Empire of AI. Hao is the first journalist to have extensive access to Open AI, and her book chronicles the history of AI companies like Open AI and Anthropic, explores how these technologies were trained, and examines the impacts they have on the communities in which they operate. It’s a fascinating look at the technology that seems to be dominating recent headlines.”–Brian Laurito, Marketing & Publicity Associate
Blood and Treasure by Ryan Pote
“Blood and Treasure grabs the listener right from the start. It’s fast-paced, full of tension, and packed with memorable characters, all brought to life by William DeMeritt’s outstanding narration. Pote also loves to tuck in clever Easter eggs throughout the story, making the listen even more fun and rewarding for those who catch them. Highly recommended!”–Juan Garcia Ticoulat, Associate Producer
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
“Downtown Abbey meets Bridgerton with an all Black cast of characters and based in Chicago–it’s as deliciously addictive and fun as it sounds.”–Dakota Cohen, Marketing Manager
A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
“A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar is the perfect antidote to any reading slump. Set in a near-future dystopia where one family’s chance of survival relies on recovering their stolen passports, this story twists and turns when you least expect it. The audiobook is fast-paced, thought-provoking, high-stakes, and its 7-hour runtime is on the shorter side for prestige contemporary fiction.”–Olivia Langen, Associate Producer
Summers End by Juneau Black
“I was in a reading slump recently, feeling I had no time or interest for pleasure reading. I found myself away from home on a Saturday, with no phone, no tv, no computer, and no manuscript for work available, and there it was, sitting on the desk in a corner… a book. I recognized the cover, having produced the audiobook, but had never sat back, relaxed and turned every page to fully engage with it.
Summers End, the fifth book in the Shady Hollow Mystery Series by Juneau Black, held me captive for the rest of the day. Since all the characters in Shady Hollow are anthropomorphized animals, I relished the opportunity to leave the human world for a while, but also enjoyed the well-drawn and playful peculiarities of the characters that gently mock our own human foibles. I have heard much of Cassandra Campbell’s narration of this series, which will also get you out of your audiobook slump, but that day, the physical book was my companion. Any of the Shady Hollow mysteries are likely to break your slump, and while the story of corruption and murder may ring typical, Shady Hollow is anything but and is a refreshing speedy multi-level read that reminded me of how sweet it is to be enveloped by the quiet, a cup of tea and a good, just for fun, book. It definitely beats doom scrolling! The inner pages of the books on my nightstand that have been lonely for my perusing are now seeing my face buried inside them once again.”–Linda Leah Korn, Senior Executive Producer
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén
“When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén is a cozy, heartfelt listen about love, friendship, and family. It’s a tearjerker, but sometimes you need a good cathartic cry. It’s a story that will move you and help break you out of that reading slump. And there’s an adorable dog!”–Marissa Secreto, Associate Marketing Manager
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
“Torrey is one of the smartest writers working today, and this collection of stories is by turns hilarious, heartbreaking, and harrowing – and compulsively readable the whole way through. The short story format makes it easy to squeeze in time to listen, and the outstanding performances and chewy themes mean these stories will stick with you long after they’re over.”–Sarah Jaffe, Senior Executive Producer
