By Kathryn Alley, Nathasya Gunawan and Cameron Phillips
Whether you're seeking thrilling adventures, heart-warming tales, or thought-provoking insights, we are here to enrich your weeks with enthralling new stories.
Nathasya’s Pick: The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, Narrated by multi cast
One genre I loved listening to in audiobook format is crime and thriller, as audiobooks often heighten the tension and suspense in the book. A skilled narrator can control pacing, use tone and give distinct voices to characters which help make the story more engaging and memorable. The vivid descriptions and atmospheric narration make the twists and turns feel even more thrilling and immediate than reading a physical copy.
The first thriller I am excited about is The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. I listened to her previous releases, The Paris Apartment and The Guest List, in audiobook and I really enjoyed them both. Her writing style translates in a really great way to audiobook, and they are always performed by brilliant narrators. The Midnight Feast is classic Lucy Foley, with a multiple-narrator approach that makes it hard to identify who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist in the story. The book follows a group of old friends who reunite for what should be an evening of nostalgia and celebration. However, as the night unfolds, the gathering takes a darker turn. Secrets, lies, and past betrayals bubble to the surface, turning the once jovial reunion into a nightmarish experience.
The audiobook is narrated by multiple narrators including Tuppence Middleton whose performance I really liked for the audiobook of How Do You Like Me Now by Holly Bourne. I’m excited about the prospect of multiple narrators, which I’m sure will add to the the performance of the story.
Cameron’s Pick: Made in Manchester, written by Brian Groom, Narrated by David Judge
I think that it is important to learn about the places we are from and the places we reside in. I know a fair bit about the city I’m from, but I’ve always wanted to learn more about the origins, history and culture of Manchester. Brian Groom, a journalist mainly concerned with British national and regional affairs, has already written a history of Northern England, but this new book is really exciting. Much like Liverpudlians, Mancunians are often accused of being arrogant, in the “we do things differently here” sort of way, and whether there is a tinge of truth in that or not, this book will look to explore our truly great city. When people think of Manchester, most people think (appropriately so) of the music, but there is so much more to be explored and understood. With his journalistic background, this should be an investigative and objective look into our history, but with the added flair of someone who was born and raised in Stretford.
This perhaps on the surface might seem an uninspired pick, but I’ve been listening to more and more books about regional history, as there is so much variety in this tiny island we call home. Within this audiobook, I am especially interested in the arts and literature side of the city, and the exploration of “northern voices,” which is bizarre in itself because we don’t talk about “southern” or “south-eastern UK voices.” As a northern writer, it’s something that I’ve never really thought about, but it seems to hold a strange place in discourse surrounding regional divides, opportunities and discrimination.
Kathryn’s Pick: Is Everyone Happier Than Me? An Honest Guide to the Questions That Keep You Up At Night, written and narrated by Sarah Bragg
Sarah Bragg’s Is Everyone Happier Than Me? is an insightful and relatable exploration of the modern dilemma of the comparison trap. With a warm and conversational tone, Bragg delves into the psychological and emotional impacts of comparison, offering practical advice and encouraging self-reflection.
The audiobook tackles how social media and societal expectations often lead us to measure our worth against others, contributing to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Although I tend to be wary when listening to “self-help audiobooks,” Bragg offers a lot of simple, actionable steps within an approachable narrating style that makes forming a strategy quite easy. Bragg’s thoughtful perspective on cultivating self-acceptance and focusing on personal growth really resonated with me, as she offered practical tools to shift my mindset and foster a healthier self-image.
The narration adds an extra layer of sincerity to the book, making it a compelling and enriching listen for anyone grappling with similar struggles. Is Everyone Happier Than Me? encourages you to let go of the illusion of a perfect cookie-cutter lifestyle and simply be exactly as you are and where you are. There is no better place to discover true, lasting happiness than in the middle.
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