Contemporary Women Audiobooks | Fiction

"From a New York Times bestselling author comes a dazzling Victorian romance featuring a haughty businessman and the headstrong event planner who steals his heart-perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Evie Dunmore, and Amalie Howard! Delia Stratham is an unconventional woman. While other ladies learned proper decorum at finishing school, she composed naughty limericks and admired the gardener's muscular legs. So naturally when she's widowed for the third time, she does the unthinkable: she gets a job. Planning events for the Savoy Hotel is perfect for someone with her skills. But her dream career turns into a nightmare when she's forced to work with the most annoying-and gorgeous-man she's ever met. Hotel magnate Simon Hayden knows something fishy is going on at the Savoy: the hotel is constantly busy, yet the books say it's in the red. He's determined to root out the fraud and its perpetrators, and that means spending time with one of the most likely suspects: the delectable, infuriating Lady Stratham. She's definitely getting in his way and under his skin and he can't decide whether to fire her or kiss her until she stops arguing. But when the sparks between them flare into flame, Simon must choose between his love for Delia and his duty to the hotel. Will his choice bring them together or tear them apart?"

Laura Lee Guhrke (Author), Marisa Calin (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Silence In Between

"Brought to you by Penguin. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2024 The Silence in Between is a historical novel based in Berlin in 1961 and during the Second World War. Lisette lives in East Berlin but brings her new-born baby to a hospital in West Berlin. Under doctor's orders, she goes home to rest, leaving the baby in the care of the hospital. But overnight the border between East and West closes, slicing the city - and the world - in two. With a city in chaos and armed guards ordered to shoot anyone who tries to cross, her situation is desperate. Lisette's teenage daughter, Elly, has always struggled to understand the distance between herself and her mother. Both live for music but while Elly hears notes surrounding every person she meets, for her mother - once a talented pianist - the world has gone silent. Perhaps Elly can do something to bridge the gap between them. What begins as the flicker of an idea turns into a daring plan to escape East Berlin, find her baby brother, and bring him home.... Featuring music composed by Carl-Michael Bonde. ©2024 Josie Ferguson (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

Josie Ferguson (Author), Josie Ferguson, Rosina Aichner (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Summer of Keeping Secrets

""With humor and heart, Jill Lynn explores the power of family, the complicated nature of love, and the price we pay for things left unsaid. An unforgettable read from a standout voice in romance." -Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Songbirds For fans of Denise Hunter and Susan Mallery, a captivating story about a single summer that could completely break a family apart-or bring them back together. Recently widowed Marin Henderson considers time with her two adult children a gift. And she's intent on not prying into their lives while they're all together, cleaning out her late parents' Colorado home. But from the start, nothing goes as planned. Her free-spirited daughter, Slade, and her strait-laced son, Reed, both arrive ahead of schedule, and no one is explaining why. Marin knows they're hiding issues in their personal lives. But she can only push so far because she, too, is keeping secrets. Setting aside family tensions, the three of them get to work purging the house. But when Slade discovers a decades-old newspaper clipping about a body found on the rocks below the house, questions arise. Marin insists the death was ruled an accident, but Slade's curiosity is piqued. And when a roof leak compels Marin to call on an old friend and flame for help, it's the catalyst for a wave of revelations. Between a daughter bent on distracting herself from her own career turmoil, a son desperate to hold on to his marriage and a mother forced to confront her choices from that long-ago summer, pieces of the past and present begin to unravel. And before the summer is over, they each must decide what to hold on to and what to let go…"

Jill Lynn (Author), Tanya Eby (Narrator)

Audiobook

All the Summers In Between

""Make room in your beach bag for this mesmerizing book" (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author) about two estranged friends whose unexpected reconnection in the Hamptons forces them to finally confront the terrible event that drove them apart. When wealthy, impulsive Margot meets hardworking and steady Thea in the summer of 1967, the unlikely pair become fast friends, working alongside one another in a record store and spending every spare moment together. But after an unspeakable incident on one devastating August night, they don't see one another for ten years…until Margot suddenly reappears in Thea's life, begging for help and harboring more than one dangerous secret. Thea can't bring herself to refuse her beloved friend—but she also knows she can't fully trust her either. Unfulfilled as a housewife, Thea enjoys the dazzling sense of adventure Margot brings to her life, but will the truth of what happened to them that fateful summer ruin everything? Testing the boundaries of how far she'll go for a friend, Thea is forced to reckon with her uncertain future while trying to decide if some friends are meant to remain in the past. Set in the dual timelines of 1967 and 1977, All the Summers In Between is at once "a taut, dynamic examination" (Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Wartime Sisters) of a complex friendship, a delicious glimpse into a bygone Hamptons, and a powerful coming-of-age story of two young women during a transformative era."

Brooke Lea Foster (Author), Emily Ellet (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nice Work, Nora November: A Novel about Second Chances

"'A delightful novel about fate, second chances, and how our worst moments are only the gateways to the best moments to come. When you're finished, you'll be writing your own reverse bucket list to check off.' --Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author New York Times bestselling author Julia London returns with a 'perfect blend of women's fiction and romantic comedy' (Kristan Higgins) for fans Matt Haig, Linda Holmes, and Abi Waxman. Now that Nora is not dead, only one question remains: What does she want to do with her life? Nora November is alive--but she wasn't always. She was once clinically dead, having spent several minutes under water after a terrible surfing accident she doesn't remember. What she does remember from her time in a coma is her grandfather, who passed away over a year ago. And a beautiful garden. And the most delicious tomato she ever tasted. Now that she's awake again her life has been cleaved in two. In the Before, Nora lived like a ghost, drowning under the weight of her parents' expectations. In the After, she's determined to accomplish the things she left undone before she died. Her reverse bucket list is simple: She wants to learn to cook and to be a better older sister to Lacey. She wants to quit her terrible job as a personal injury lawyer at her dad's firm. She wants to bring Grandpa's now-neglected garden back to life. And she wants to find the guy she met in a corner store months ago--the one she never called but never stopped thinking about. As Nora's attempts at a new life prove disastrous at best, her mission to fulfill her reverse bucket list leads her to a reckoning with the truth she almost hid from herself. Nice Work, Nora November blends humor, hope, and romance with a relatable heroine and her reverse bucket list. With the included discussion questions, it's the perfect book club book, and will have you asking yourself: what would you do if given a second chance at life?"

Julia London (Author), Karissa Vacker (Narrator)

Audiobook

Birding with Benefits

"A divorcee embarks on her "year of yes" and crosses paths with a shy but sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life in this charming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood. Newly-divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, cliches be damned. So when a friend asks Celeste to "partner" with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn't looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson's biggest bird-watching contest if he's ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they've become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple. Celeste can't tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste's hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. Since they're both committed to the single life, Celeste suggests a status upgrade: birders with benefits, just until the contest is done. But as the bird count goes up and their time together ticks down, John and Celeste will have to decide if their benefits can last a lifetime, or if this love affair is for the birds."

Sarah T. Dubb (Author), Evan Sibley, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Art of Vanishing: A novel

"'A fascinating glimpse into the intersection of art, class, and the complexity of adult friendship. . . . I couldn't put this book down." -Waubgeshig Rice, author of Moon of the Turning Leaves An intimate, explosive story of creativity and friendship between two young Japanese women in 1970s Tokyo. Akemi's desire for independence and aversion to marriage are unusual in her small village. A gift for drawing allows her to move to a rooming house in Tokyo where she studies medical illustration, finding satisfaction in the precision and purpose of her work. Sayako is the first roommate to pay Akemi attention, and they quickly become inseparable-Sayako drawn to Akemi's humble origins, so distinct from her own insufferable, wealthy family; Akemi attracted to Sayako's rebelliousness and her aspiration to be a painter. As Akemi begins to model for Sayako, their connection deepens. Together, they attend 'happenings,' encounters arranged by two enigmatic artists, Nezu and Kaori, in random locations, intended to free them from their worldly attachments. Following a devastating betrayal, Sayako disappears, and Akemi becomes determined to find her-and in the process, must newly face herself. Tender, enthralling, and evocative of the energy of Japan in the 1970s, The Art of Vanishing is the story of a young woman struggling to see and be seen; of authenticity and art; of the thin line between loyalty and obsession."

Lynne Kutsukake (Author), Emily Shelton (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances

"New and Noteworthy from USA Today A Best New Book of the Week from People "This book will grab your heart and not let go." -John Grogan, author of Marley & Me "A wise, engaging meditation on dogs, love, and recovery from pain. Come. Sit. Read!" -Lily King, author of Euphoriaand The Pleasing Hour "If you've ever loved a dog, this book is a must-read." -Missourian The Sanctuary is a refuge for strays and rescued dogs. Evie has joined a training program there, though she knows almost nothing about animals. Like the greyhound who won't move, the Rottweiler with attitude problems, or the hound who might be a candidate for search-and-rescue, Evie has a troubled past. But as they all learn, no one should stay prisoner to a life she didn't choose. Heartfelt and hilarious in turn, this is a deeply moving story of the countless ways in which humans and canines help each other find new lives, new selves, and new hope. "This is a miracle of a book . . . Cooney is such a wise genius of a writer, and her sentences keep surprising you, but are never the point in themselves. I read with a kind of mental breathlessness. If Cooney needs someone to convince her to write a sequel, I volunteer." -Gail Godwin, author of Evensong and Publishing "A moving and joyous romp . . . All the dogs are wonderfully, fully drawn characters . . . A brilliantly crafted, uplifting book." -The Bark"

Ellen Cooney (Author), Carrington MacDuffie, Jensen Olaya (Narrator)

Audiobook

Honey: An addictive story of pop stardom

"I didn't like to perform. I liked to be loved. 'Like Daisy Jones soaked in Britney Spears' Curious' HOLLY BOURNE 'It's a delightfully bubblegum novel of hot summer nostalgia' LITHUB 'A sexy swagger of a debut' EMMA STRAUB It is 1997, and Amber Young has received a life-changing call. It's a chance thousands of girls would die for: the opportunity to join girl group Cloud9 in Los Angeles and escape her small town. She quickly finds herself in the orbits of fellow rising stars Gwen Morris, a driven singer-dancer, and Wes Kingston, a member of the biggest boy band in the world, ETA. As Amber embarks on her solo career and her fame intensifies, she increasingly finds herself reduced to a body, a voice, an object. Surrounded by the wrong kind of people and driven by a desire for recognition and success, for love and sex, for agency and connection, Amber comes of age at a time when the kaleidoscope of public opinion can distort everything, and one mistake can shatter a career. Inspired by the starlets of the 90s and noughties who became as infamous for their personal lives as their hypersexualised music videos and lyrics, Honey is a novel about the journey from girlhood to womanhood and how far we are willing to go in the pursuit of love . . . Readers LOVE Honey 'Honey is going to be one of THE books of the summer' 'A knockout debut novel' 'Daisy Jones meets 90s/00s early pop!' 'From start to finish the nostalgia I felt while reading this book was UNREAL!' 'This definitely gives Britney Spears, Mandy Moore and Christina Aguilera vibes' 'I was captivated every second' 'My favourite book of the year so far, hands down' 'I loved each and every character'"

Isabel Banta (Author), Brittany Pressley, Helen Laser, Max Meyers (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Story Hour: A Novel

"“Thrity Umrigar has an uncanny ability to look deeply into the human heart and find the absolute truth of our lives. The Story Hour is stunning and beautiful. Lakshmi and Maggie will stay with readers for a very long time.” — Luis Alberto Urrea, author of The Hummingbird's Daughter From the critically beloved, bestselling author of The World We Found and The Space Between Us, whom the New York Times Book Review calls a “perceptive and . . . piercing writer,” comes a profound, heartbreakingly honest novel about friendship, family, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. An experienced psychologist, Maggie carefully maintains emotional distance from her patients. But when she meets a young Indian woman who tried to kill herself, her professional detachment disintegrates. Cut off from her family in India, Lakshmi is desperately lonely and trapped in a loveless marriage to a domineering man who limits her world to their small restaurant and grocery store. Moved by her plight, Maggie treats Lakshmi in her home office for free, quickly realizing that the despondent woman doesn’t need a shrink; she needs a friend. Determined to empower Lakshmi as a woman who feels valued in her own right, Maggie abandons protocol, and soon doctor and patient have become close friends. But while their relationship is deeply affectionate, it is also warped by conflicting expectations. When Maggie and Lakshmi open up and share long-buried secrets, the revelations will jeopardize their close bond, shake their faith in each other, and force them to confront painful choices."

Thrity Umrigar (Author), Sneha Mathan (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Last Twelve Miles: A Novel

"1926, Washington, DC In the Prohibition Rum Wars, the Coast Guard is losing. But the Coast Guard has a new, secret weapon. That secret weapon is a 5'2' mastermind in heels, who also happens to be a wife and mother: Mrs. Elizebeth Smith Friedman. Bahamas When Marie Waite notices discrepancies in cargo, she insists on accompanying her husband, Charlie, on a run. There, not only does Marie witness her husband's shortcomings, but she becomes enthralled by Cleo Lythgoe, 'The Bahama Queen,' who announces her retirement. Marie knows an opportunity when she sees it, and she wants the crown for herself so badly she can taste it. So begins Marie's plan to rise as rumrunner royalty long enough to get her family in the black. What she didn't count on was that the more sophisticated her operation grows, the more she comes on the radar of the feds, nabbing criminals by the daily dozen. Once Marie knows who she's up against, she's more determined than ever to triumph. On the other side of the law, Elizebeth is the only codebreaker battling scores of smugglers. Once the work becomes personal, and she discovers Marie as a premier adversary, Elizebeth's desire to catch the woman becomes almost obsessive."

Erika Robuck (Author), Romy Nordlinger (Narrator)

Audiobook

Forever Her Marquess

"Lady Clementine Hammond may be polite society’s most notorious matchmaker, but she’s perfectly happy remaining unattached herself. A series of unfortunate missteps at a country house party, however, leaves her with no choice but to feign an engagement to the last man in all England she’d ever want to marry—the annoyingly handsome Marquess of Dorset. Dorset needs a wife with a sizable dowry to save his estate, but thanks to Lady Clementine’s machinations, the woman he intended to wed became someone else’s wife. Much to his dismay, when fate inconveniently throws Lady Clementine into his arms, he’s forced to claim she’s his future bride. The bitter enemies strike a reluctant understanding. One fortnight of false smiles and pretending to be head over heels for each other, followed by a return to London and the quiet ending of their betrothal. It should be quite simple. Except, the more time Clementine and Dorset spend together, the more real their engagement feels. And when their mutual enmity heats into a surprising passion, Clementine is shocked to realize she wants far more from Dorset than two weeks. She wants his forever. Publisher's Note: This is an all-new, rewritten happily ever after for Clementine and Dorset."

Scarlett Scott (Author), Cornell Collins (Narrator)

Audiobook

Contemporary Women Audiobooks in Fiction