LoveReading Top 10 Audiobooks in June 2025

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING SENSATION WINNER OF WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2025 A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK ‘A full-fat, Michelin-starred treat’ THE SUNDAY TIMES ‘A cult phenomenon’ iNEWS ‘Took the literary world by storm’ BBC ‘A killer Japanese novel’ THE TIMES 'I have been glued to Butter’ NIGEL SLATER The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story, and translated by Polly Barton. There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine. Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back. Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body. Might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought? Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, 'The Konkatsu Killer', Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, gripping exploration of misogyny, obsession and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan. Longlisted for the CWA Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger Award 2025 'It isn’t entirely clear whether to read the novel or devour it’ OBSERVER ‘Readers around the world are finding themselves utterly captivated’ DAILY MAIL ‘I really enjoyed it’ MEERA SYAL, on BBC Between the Covers 'Compelling, delightfully weird' PANDORA SYKES 'Unputdownable, breathtakingly original' ERIN KELLY 'You’ll be craving rice, butter and soy sauce in no time’ STYLIST ‘Nothing short of ingenious’ iNEWS ‘Ambitious and unsettling’ GUARDIAN 'Luscious … I devoured this' IMOGEN CRIMP 'A salty morsel with one hell of a bite’ ALICE SLATER

Asako Yuzuki (Author), Hanako Footman (Narrator)

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We Solve Murders

Brought to you by Penguin. FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a thrilling new murder to solve . . . Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now. Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job . . . Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy? 'The thing that shines through in Osman’s writing is that he really likes people and revels in all their foibles and eccentricities. All of which makes for a delightful read – and another little slice of warmth in time for autumn' THE OBSERVER 'This is a sitcom-meets-Bond, and a fine murder mystery’ DAILY EXPRESS 'Much as with the earlier books, I read We Solve Murders in a few pleasured gulps' SUNDAY TIMES ©2024 Richard Osman (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Richard Osman (Author), Nicola Walker (Narrator)

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James: The Heartbreaking and Ferociously Funny Novel from the Genius Behind American Fiction and the

Selected as one of the top 12 reads of 2024 by The Times and Sunday Times 'Percival Everett is a giant of American letters, and James is a canon-shatteringly great book' - Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Trust 'Who should read this book? Every single person in the country' - Ann Patchett, bestselling author of Tom Lake An enthralling and ferociously funny reimagining of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. Written by Booker Prize-shortlisted Percival Everett, his novel Erasure is now released as the critically acclaimed and Oscar-winning film American Fiction, and James is set to be the literary event of 2024. The Mississippi River, 1861. When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a new owner in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson's Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father who recently returned to town. Thus begins a dangerous and transcendent journey by raft along the Mississippi River, towards the elusive promise of the free states and beyond. As James and Huck begin to navigate the treacherous waters, each bend in the river holds the promise of both salvation and demise. With rumours of a brewing war, James must face the burden he carries: the family he is desperate to protect and the constant lie he must live. And together, the unlikely pair must face the most dangerous odyssey of them all . . . From the shadows of Huck Finn's mischievous spirit, Jim emerges to reclaim his voice, defying the conventions that have consigned him to the margins.

Percival Everett (Author), Dominic Hoffman (Narrator)

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Great Big Beautiful Life

Brought to you by Penguin. A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR & GLOBAL TIK TOK SENSATION, EMILY HENRY Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress with more than a few plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry. When Margaret Ives, the famously reclusive heiress, invites eternal optimist Alice Scott to the balmy Little Crescent Island, Alice knows this is it: her big break. And even more rare: a chance to impress her family with a Serious Publication. The catch? Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud, Hayden Anderson, is sure of the same thing. The proposal? A one-month trial period to unearth the truth behind one of the most scandalous families of the 20th Century, after which she’ll choose who’ll tell her story. The problem? Margaret is only giving each of them tantalising pieces. Pieces they can’t put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room. And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story – just like the tale Margaret’s spinning – could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad … depending on who’s telling it. 'Emily Knows how to craft a love story like the all time greats' - Taylor Jenkins Reid 'I've loved every single one of her books more than the previous' - Ali Hazelwood 'Great Big Beautiful Life has everything you love in a classic Emily Henry novel, plus so much more. Nobody writes chemistry like Emily Henry, and you're guaranteed to fall head over heels for Alice and Hayden.' - Beth O'Leary © Emily Henry 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Emily Henry (Author), Julia Whelan (Narrator)

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What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World’s Ocean

No matter where we live, 'we are all ocean people,' Helen Scales emphatically observes in her bracing yet hopeful exploration of the future of the ocean. Beginning with its fascinating deep history, Scales shows how the prehistoric ocean ecology was already working in ways similar to the ocean of today. In elegant, evocative prose, she takes listeners into the realms of animals that epitomize today's increasingly challenging conditions. Ocean life everywhere is on the move as seas warm, and warm waters are an existential threat to emperor penguins, whose mating grounds in Antarctica are collapsing. Shark populations—critical to balanced ecosystems—have shrunk by 71 percent since the 1970s, largely the result of massive and oft-unregulated industrial fishing. Orcas—the apex predators—have also drastically declined, victims of toxic chemicals and plastics with long half-lives that disrupt the immune system and the ability to breed. Offering innovative ideas for protecting coastlines and cleaning the toxic seas, Scales insists we need more ethical and sustainable fisheries and must prevent the other existential threat of deep-sea mining, which could significantly alter life on earth. Inspiring us all to maintain a sense of awe and wonder at the majesty beneath the waves, she urges us to fight for the better future that still exists for the Anthropocene ocean.

Helen Scales (Author), Helen Scales (Narrator)

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Obsessed: The Autobiography

Brought to you by Penguin. 'Sexton will go down as Ireland's greatest ever player' Gordon D'Arcy, Irish Times No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton. All of this would have seemed highly unlikely as late as May 2009, when – aged 24 – he was nowhere near first choice at Leinster, and still uncapped by Ireland. In his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny will tell the story of his life, and explore the sources of his unmatched will to win. The Sexton era – marked by four European Cups, four Six Nations championships (and two Grand Slams), unprecedented victories in the Southern Hemisphere, two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the world, and the World Player of the Year award – was above all the time when Leinster and Ireland went from being underachievers to being overachievers. Always outspoken on and off the field, Sexton will offer an honest look at his childhood, his sometimes unpromising-seeming early experiences in club and professional rugby, his relationships with key teammates and coaches (including Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game. ©2024 Johnny Sexton (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Johnny Sexton (Author), Johnny Sexton, Sam O'Mahoney, TBD (Narrator)

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I Thought It Would Be Better Than This: Rise From Disappointment, Regain Control, and Rebuild a Life

Learn how to recover from life's disappointments and rebuild a life you love. What happens when you look at your life and think, I thought it would be better than this? You know you can't stay where you are, but have no idea what to do next. When Jessica N. Turner, a mom of three, lost her 16-year-marriage after her husband came out as gay, her life shattered. With grit and determination, she picked up the pieces, chose hope and courageously rebuilt a beautiful next chapter. During this process, Jessica discovered universal tools that can support you, no matter what you're facing. Using thoughtful reflections and exercises, vulnerable storytelling, and practical takeaways, Jessica will help you: - Evaluate your disappointments, heartaches, and unmet expectations so that you can move forward in healing. - Talk candidly about your feelings to forge healthier and more meaningful relationships. - Practice forgiveness and empathy for yourself and others so that you live with more love and less pain. - Regain control over the parts of life where you have agency instead of passively waiting for things to happen to you. - Discover creative practices to cultivate daily satisfaction and contentment. - Learn to love yourself and the characteristics that make you unique so that you can be more confident and content. I Thought It Would Be Better Than This is a manifesto of hope that will empower you to transform your circumstances and move forward with intention and purpose.

Jessica N. Turner (Author), Jessica N. Turner (Narrator)

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Start With Why: 15th Anniversary Edition: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Brought to you by Penguin. ISN'T IT TIME YOU READ START WITH WHY? Simon Sinek's iconic global bestseller has sold more than three million copies by asking a simple fundamental question: Why are some people and organisations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? The answer to why is another why. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright Brothers had little in common, but they all started with a WHY. They realized that people won't truly buy into an idea, a movement, a product or a service until they understand the WHY behind it. With a new foreword, and updates throughout – like the importance of holding onto our WHY in a social media obsessed world - this 15th anniversary edition celebrates the simple but transformative idea that leads people to inspire greatness. 'One of the most incredible thinkers of our time,' Steven Bartlett, podcaster and author of Diary of a CEO ‘A deep, abiding understanding of what you want to inspire, and how you want to lead is the basis of this inspirational book’ Forbes © Simon Sinek 2011 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Simon Sinek (Author), Simon Sinek (Narrator)

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What A Way To Go

THE MILLION COPY #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF HOW TO KILL YOUR FAMILY IS BACK WITH THE NEW BOOK OF THE MOMENT As featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Sunday Times Style, You Magazine… 'Delicious' JOJO MOYES 'Very funny… I inhaled it' JOE LYCETT ‘Taut, pacy, seamless… a huge pleasure to read’ MARIAN KEYES *Available to pre-order now* ‘I was immensely grateful that despite the gruesome way my husband died, he’d done it with his clothes on.’ Anthony Wistern is wealthy beyond imagination. Fragrant wife, gaggle of photogenic children, French chateau, Cotswold manor, plethora of mistresses, penchant for cutting moral corners, tick tick tick tick tick tick. Unfortunately for him, he’s also dead. Suddenly poised to inherit his fortune, each member of the family falls under suspicion. And that’s when everything comes crashing down… 'Still not over Succession? A dysfunctional family with four inheritance-obsessed children gives the Roy clan a run for its money, with a murderous twist' SUNDAY TIMES STYLE 'The right side of spiky and the right kind of fun, with huge personality' ADELE PARKS ‘It takes a lot of skill to write a novel in which none of the characters are particularly likeable, and yet you still find yourself propelled forwards, desperate to see what happens. In Bella Mackie’s second novel – What A Way To Go – a wealthy patriarch dies at an obscenely opulent party, and we witness the fallout through the eyes of various family members and protagonists. God, they’re all deliciously awful. I loved her first, How to Kill Your Family, and her she seems to have found a rich and poisonous vein. Think a very English Succession, with just as much intrigue, backstabbing, and narcissism’ JOJO MOYES WHAT READERS LOVE ABOUT BELLA MACKIE: ‘Just when you think you're a step ahead, she pulls something out of the bag’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Caustic sarcasm… delivered with elegance’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Mackie’s writing is sharp and funny’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I never thought it was possible for someone to write a book about murder in a light-hearted way. But Bella Mackie smashed it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Her sarcasm knows no bounds and I love it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Sparky, slick, wildly compulsive’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Her chatty style which speaks directly to the reader’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Macabre, flippant, and darkly hilarious’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Incredibly refreshing reading’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Her irreverent, withering put-downs and sharply observed comments’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bella Mackie, Colin Mace (Author), Colin Mace, Gabrielle Glaister, Kimberley Capero, Tbc Tbc (Narrator)

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Assistant to the Villain

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits. With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn's most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don't find evil so attractive, Evie. But just when she's getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat . . . and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out. Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work . . . and ensure he makes them pay. After all, a good job is hard to find. Contains mature themes.

Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Author), Em Eldridge (Narrator)

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