Gobble Up These Audiobooks! Our Staff Picks for the Thanksgiving Weekend
By Penguin Random House Audio
Thanksgiving weekend is upon us, and the PRH Audio staff is out of office and hitting the road (well, some of us. Others are hitting the couch and the kitchen for a staycation).
If you’re at a loss for what audiobook to bite into while you prep food and take crisp autumnal walks, let us help: we, your friendly audio experts, have shared which audiobooks we’ll be listening to over the weekend.
There’s something for everyone: literary fiction, memoirs, sci-fi, fantasy—an audio cornucopia! We welcome you to listen to clips below and take your pick.
James by Percival Everett
James by Percival Everett has been on my to-be-listened to list for a while, but after it was named Audiobook of the Year by Audible and then won the National Book Award for Fiction it shot right to the top. I actually started listening to it over the weekend while I was driving to a doctor’s appointment. I plan to finish it this holiday week as I food prep, straighten up my apartment for guests, and go for my daily walks that keep me grounded when life gets crazy! —Heather Dalton, Vice President of Marketing
Rental House by Weike Wang
I’ll be listening to Rental House by Weike Wang as I recently saw a review from one of our influencers about this fascinating lit fic title. I’ll be listening to it while I tend to my holiday decor shopping and decorating around my apartment. —Jasmin Ayala, Social Media & Special Projects Associate
Sonny Boy by Al Pacino
I’ll be spending the long weekend in the company of one Al Pacino, listening to Sonny Boy while chopping sweet potatoes and eating more cranberry sauce than is generally advisable. I’ve truly been savoring this listen—the New Yorkiness and actorlyness of it all for sure, but what has surprised me most about this book and Al’s narration is its sweetness. As a fan of Al’s 1970’s oeuvre, I was delighted to find the soft heart of a theater geek beating under the streetwise, inscrutable Pacino exterior. He’s a sweetie pateetie folks, and a joy to listen to. —Becca Stumpf, Assistant Director, Marketing
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
I’ll be hiding away in the Catskills over the holiday, and have been tasked with leading the charge on the most classic of Thanksgiving dishes: lasagna. I can think of no one better to keep me company while I bubble a vat of my grandmother’s sauce than Ina Garten (and not just because I’ll also be using her ricotta mixture recipe). In Be Ready When the Luck Happens, Ina talks about the many beautiful and delicious things in her orbit, which of course makes for thematic Big Meal Listening. But beyond that, I’m warmed by her dedication to fun, her curiosity, her decisiveness, and how she never stops growing. Ina can hang with me anytime. —Erin Murphy, Associate Marketing Manager
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, The Rivals by Jane Pek, The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I just downloaded the Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao audiobook from my library after seeing it on a handful of lists the past few weeks. I’ve been trying to get back into sci-fi for over a year now. I also plan to finish listening to one of our upcoming titles, The Rivals by Jane Pek. And if there’s time left, I’ll start The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates because I’ve been seeing it everywhere. —Justina Vasquez, PRH Audio Intern
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
I was first introduced to the world of The Magicians by my partner who loves the TV show. When I found out we published the books, I knew I had to listen to them. They’re all great love letters to/deconstructions of other fantasy series (namely, Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia), but I’ll be listening to the first one over the holiday as the magical school setting is particularly cozy. —Brian Laurito, Marketing & Publicity Assistant
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
I downloaded the Listening Library audio edition of Twilight years ago as one of my first audiobooks. Everyone already knows I’m one of the resident Twilight-obsessed people, but listening to the audio version was a new experience for me after years of rereading the print edition. During November I especially like to listen to it because all the movies (with the exception of Eclipse) came out in November. I finished the first book and saw the first movie on the same day, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 2008. So I like to listen to the audiobook in November every year! Twilight was what really kicked off my love of reading and wanting to work in publishing, so it’s kind of full circle. —Kayla Kohlmeister, Publicist
When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson
When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson is read by an incredible five-person cast and is an achingly beautiful story about California, family, and the lies we tell to ourselves that keep us away from our loved ones. Mostly contemporary fiction, with gorgeous family lore/mythology braided in. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving listen as I prepare Basque meatballs for my family gathering this year. —Kate Smith, Publicist
mother by m.s. RedCherries
I’ll be listening to the author-read audiobook mother by m.s. RedCherries while prepping for my 10-person, poultry-themed Friendsgiving. I’m in charge of making deviled eggs, chicken soup, and chicken pot pie. m.s. RedCherries’ collection blends poetry, traditional storytelling, and essays into a powerful, emotional experience that celebrates family, community, and the complexities of being Indigenous in America. Around Thanksgiving, I find reading and listening to Indigenous literature is especially meaningful. It challenges romanticized narratives of the holiday, amplifies voices historically silenced or misrepresented, and deepens understanding of Indigenous resilience and contributions. By engaging with their work, we honor their histories and support their stories being told authentically. —Alexis Patterson, Associate Director, Marketing
The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis
I’ll be drinking hot apple cider in front of a fire while listening to The Davenports: More Than This!
—Dakota Cohen, Marketing Manager
