Audiobooks

9 Winners of This Year’s Audie Awards

Kendra Winchester

Contributing Editor

Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.

On March 4, the winners were announced for the 27th annual Audie Awards. Winners are announced in 25 categories, including best female narrator, best audiobook in Spanish, and best multi-voiced performance. As a judge for an earlier round of the awards, I’ve loved seeing what audiobooks made it to the last round and am delighted to see all of the different winners. To get you started on your listening extravaganza as you make your way through these incredible audiobooks, here are some highlights from this year’s Audie Awards!

A graphic of the cover of Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Audiobook of the Year & Science Fiction: Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Narrated by Ray Porter

When Ryland Grace, the last survivor of a mission to save Earth, realizes that he is the only astronaut left on his crew, he desperately begins running the numbers to try to find a way to complete his mission. Narrator Ray Porter perfectly narrated Grace’s point of view, making this a delightful listening experience from start to finish.

A graphic of the cover of Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford

Autobiography/Memoir: Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford

Narrated the Author

In one of the most incredible memoirs of 2021, Ashley C. Ford shares the story of her girlhood, examining her life from several different angles. As the daughter of a single mom and an incarcerated father, Ford tries to understand how the woman she is today came from the girl she used to be. Plus, her performance reading the audiobook edition is phenomenal.

A graphic of the cover of The Parted Earth by Anjali Enjeti

Best Female Narrator: The Parted Earth by Anjali Enjeti

Narrated by Deepti Gupta

In present day Atlanta, Shan begins searching for more information about her ancestors who lived through the partition of India and Pakistan in the late 1940s. Jumping back and forth between these two timelines, Anjali Enjeti weaves together an incredible story of the ties that bind a family across the decades. Deepti Gupta performs this incredible story, creating such an emotional journey for listeners.

A graphic of the cover of Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Best Male Narrator: Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Narrated  by Lin-Manuel Miranda

I adored Lin-Manuel Miranda’s performance reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, so I was thrilled that Miranda was back to narrate Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s sequel. In Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World, our protagonists again face the world, this time together, and their love will be tested as they head into adulthood.

A graphic of the cover of A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Narration by the Author(s): A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Narrated by the Author

In the first volume of his autobiography, President Barack Obama tells the story of his career and first term as President of the United States. His performance adds so much depth to his memoir as listeners can hear the former President tell his story in his own words.

A graphic of the cover of Heroine by Mary Jane Wells

Original Work: Heroine by Mary Jane Wells

Narrated by Mary Jane Wells

Inspired by true events, Mary Jane Wells performs her play based on the life of a woman’s experience in the military before and after her sexual assault. The whole experience of Wells’s performance and the crafting of this narrative created a moving experience unlike anything I’ve listened to before. I was incredibly impressed by this audiobook — don’t let it pass you by!

A graphic of the cover of Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Romance: Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Narrated by Eboni Flowers, Jakobi Diem, Nicole Small

Actress Neevah Saint has been waiting for her chance to shine in the spotlight. Canon Holt, a famous film director, finally casts Neevah in the role of a lifetime. Neevah resists her attraction at first, but when she wonders if what she’s feeling might be love, is she willing to risk it all? The narrators create a different feel for every point of view, giving listeners an incredible audiobook performance.

A graphic of the cover of Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon

Short Stories/Collections: Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon

Narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Dion Graham, Imani Parks, Jordan Cobb, Shayna Small, A.J Beckles, Bahni Turpin

An all-star group of young adult writers joined forces to create this collection of intertwined short stories. A team of incredible audiobook narrators perform the anthology, giving each story a unique feel and helping listers move from one story to the next.

A graphic of the cover of Clanlands: Whiskey, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan, Graham McTavish

History/Biography: Clanlands: Whiskey, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan, Graham McTavish

Narrated by the Authors

Travel literature at its finest, Clanlands takes listeners on a journey through Scotland and celebrates Scottish culture. Outlander actors Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish are the perfect tour guides for this audio expedition into the highlands.


To see even more winners from this year’s Audie Awards, check out the list over on AudioFile Magazine’s website.