Contemporary Women Audiobooks | Fiction

"In lyrical and evocative prose, the New York Times bestselling author of the Tradd Street novels takes the scattered pieces of a life and weaves them into a tale of hope... Caroline Collier is a woman bogged down in the harsh realities of a life barely lived. Stress from her all-consuming job as an accountant has given her panic attacks, forcing her to take a leave of absence from work. And though her chances of relaxing in the presence of her overbearing, perfect mother are slim, she joins her at the family's vacation home in the mountains of North Carolina. Though Caroline loves the serene beauty of Lake Ophelia, peace of mind is not to be found. Memories of her beloved younger brother, who died when she was seventeen, continue to haunt her, while the tension between her mother and her still simmers. Only their neighbors, the husband and daughter of one of Caroline's childhood friends, seem able to penetrate her cool reserve, giving Caroline the courage to face her biggest fears-and dive headfirst into life..."

Karen White (Author), Bailey Carr (Narrator)

Audiobook

Shanty Gold

"After the deaths of her mother and infant sister during Ireland's Great Famine, thirteen-year-old Mary Boland makes her way to the Queenstown harbor and onto a coffin ship bound for America. But what happens during her transatlantic passage is enough to quash the strongest of dreams. After being assaulted by crewmembers, Mary thinks of ending her life—until a young Black slave named Kamua comes to her rescue . . . Forming a bond as strong as siblings, Mary and Kam reach Boston, determined to forge their own paths. No longer an innocent soul, Mary trusts no one, putting her faith in her own instincts. It is on the teeming streets of South Boston that she'll find a new home and a new purpose as a midwife, helping poverty-stricken women survive their pregnancies. And it is in this city, full of possibility, where Mary's heart will heal, and find the strength to survive the harsh choices she is forced to make, and grow into a woman true to herself . . . Contains mature themes."

Jeanne Charters (Author), Evelyn Dillon (Narrator)

Audiobook

Giant of Mesabi

"In the New York Times bestselling author's Americana romance, two brothers vie for a Minnesota beauty. One promises love. The other, passion. College student Alanna Powell has come back to her hometown of Hibbing, built on the rich ore of the Mesabi Iron Ridge in Northern Minnesota. But it's more than just a summer vacation. She's here to see Kurt Matthews, the man she plans to marry. But Alanna never considered a complication like Kurt's older brother, Rolt. It was Rolt's firm that took controlling interest in the Powell family iron mines years ago and made it a success. And now there's one more thing Rolt wants to take: Alanna's heart. For blood brothers, Kurt and Rolt are as different as day and night. Kurt is kind, humble, and considerate. Rolt is conceited and demanding, a strapping giant of a man who goes after what he wants. That includes Alanna. He delights in wreaking havoc on her senses and breaking down her resolve with each stolen kiss. Now, as unexpected as it is, Alanna can't help but admit that with every torrid summer night her resistance is beginning to melt away."

Janet Dailey (Author), Shaina Summerville (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Tower

"Brought to you by Penguin. They are imprisoned, but not contained. Three women cross a loch. It is 1567, one of them is pregnant, two of them fretful. The boat takes them to Lochleven castle in the middle of the water. Awaiting them are courtiers braying for blood, hellbent on keeping one of them under lock and key: Mary Queen of Scots. In the tower, Mary's maids Frenchwoman, Cuckoo and watchful Scot, Jane are her only allies, and the chamber their entire world. A new reality sets in where they are at the mercy of not only their keepers, but of raging Scotland itself. In the outside world, Mary's kin, Queen Elizabeth claims she can do little but write. Downstairs, the shrewd jailor-courtier Margaret Erskine places her daughter-in-law Agnes in the chamber as her pair of eyes. Hope seems futile until the bewitching Lady Seton arrives. Seton's power shifts everything in the tower and soon a plan is hatched. But which of them will risk it all to save their mistress? Which woman loves her queen best? The Tower is a triumphant story of desire, grit, God-given power and wiles from a striking new voice in historical fiction. 'The Tower is such a vivid, visceral read, you feel you're locked in the tower alongside the characters, acting out a royal family drama. I am moved and impressed' TRACY CHEVALIER ©2024 Flora Carr (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

Flora Carr (Author), Kristin Atherton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pride and Joy: A Novel

"Perfect for "fans of dark, laugh-out-loud family dramas" (Bust magazine), this is a heartwarming and hilarious novel about three generations of a Nigerian Canadian family grappling with their matriarch's sudden passing while their auntie insists that her sister is coming back. Joy Okafor is overwhelmed. Recently divorced, a life coach whose phone won't stop ringing, and ever the dutiful Nigerian daughter, Joy has planned every aspect of her mother's seventieth birthday weekend on her own. As the Okafors slowly begin to arrive, Mama Mary goes to take a nap. But when the grandkids go to wake her, they find that she isn't sleeping after all. Refusing to believe that her sister is gone-gone, Auntie Nancy declares that she had a premonition that Mama Mary will rise again like Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Desperate to believe that they're about to witness a miracle, the family overhauls their birthday plans to welcome the Nigerian Canadian community, effectively spreading the word that Mama Mary is coming back. But skeptical Joy is struggling with the loss of her mother and not allowing herself to mourn just yet while going through the motions of planning a funeral that her aunt refuses to allow. Filled with humor and flawed, deeply relatable characters "so rich in heritage and complexity that I can't believe these characters do not really exist" (Jesse Q. Sutanto, national bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties), Pride and Joy will draw you in as the Okafors prepare for a miracle while coming apart at the seams, praying that they haven't actually lost Mama Mary for good, and grappling with what losing her truly means for each of them."

Louisa Onomé (Author), Yinka Ladeinde (Narrator)

Audiobook

Autumn Skies & Pumpkin Pies

"Meghan Coleman has been head-over-heels for her husband, Hugo, for twenty-seven years. But one afternoon a few weeks before Thanksgiving, she discovers a box of letters from his ex-fiancé, which illustrate a smoldering love, one he never mentioned. Not long after that, she learns her children already knew about the ex-fiancé and kept it a secret. Tormented, she finds her world crumbling around her. Who can she trust? In downtown Oak Bluffs, Daniel owns a failing bookstore, struggles to sign the divorce papers for his wife, and cares for his ailing mother, who suffers from dementia. Growing up, his mother was manipulative and cruel to him and his sister, resulting in both of them fleeing the island as soon as they could. The difference between himself and his sister is that he actually kept in contact with his mother and returned when she couldn't care for herself. Lisa, on the other hand, abandoned everyone—and they never heard from her again. Through a chance encounter, Meghan and Daniel find one another in the midst of their sorrows and support one another. It's been a long time since either of them had a friend they could count on. But more than that: they're more connected than they think. Very soon, they find their stories coming together in a climactic ending—one that will change Meghan and Daniel's families forever."

Katie Winters (Author), Courtney Patterson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nosy Neighbours: The new heartwarming novel with a cosy mystery from the author of The Last Library

"'Brimming with hope, heart and intrigue' JESSICA RYN 'What a beautiful, compelling book! . . . I loved it' HEMA SUKUMAR 'A real hug of a book' HAZEL PRIOR You can choose your home, but you can't choose who lives next door . . . Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, especially not in crumbling Shelley House. The other residents think she's prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past and looking for somewhere to belong. Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived in Shelley House for longer than anyone else, and if you believe the other tenants, she's as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Dorothy may spend her days spying on the neighbours, but she has a closely guarded secret herself - and a good reason for barely leaving her home. When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home; and even less likely detectives when they suspect that foul play is coming from within Shelley House . . . 'The inhabitants of Shelley House will stay with me for a long time' EMILY CRITCHLEY"

Freya Sampson (Author), Unknown (Narrator)

Audiobook

One of Our Own: An Audio Original Thriller

"A suicide prevention hotline volunteer answers a call that turns her world upside down in this edge-of-your-seat audio original thriller by the bestselling author of The Perfect Child and The Best of Friends, performed by A.J. Cook (Criminal Minds) and Tessa Albertson (Younger). Felicia, a single mother and lawyer by day, volunteers at a local crisis center to give back to her tightknit community in a small Wisconsin town. One night, she answers a horrifying call: through tears, a frantic teenage girl tells her that she was a victim of sexual assault at a local house party. Felicia is shocked, and breaking protocol, she begins communicating with the girl on her own, determined to keep her safe and hold her assailants accountable. But as she gets closer and closer to the truth, she can't shake the feeling that she and the girl are connected by more than the phone call. As the girl shares more details, Felicia begins to think the unthinkable—someone close to her may be involved in this heinous crime. As Felicia earns the girl's trust and more facts emerge about the incident, she faces a gut-wrenching battle between her protective instincts and the moral responsibility to do what's right. This taut thriller is the perfect listen for fans of The Push, Wrong Place Wrong Time, and We Need to Talk About Kevin."

Lucinda Berry (Author), A.J. Cook, Tessa Albertson (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Dubrovnik Book Club

"'The perfect summer escape, I adored it!’ USA Today bestselling author Faith Hogan In a tiny bookshop in Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town, a book club begins… Newly arrived on the sun-drenched shores of Croatia, Claire Thomson’s life is about to change forever when she starts working at a local bookshop. With her cousin Vedran, employee Luna and Karmela, a professor, they form an unlikely book club. But when their first book club pick – an engrossing cosy crime – inspires them to embark upon an investigation that is close to the group’s heart, they quickly learn the value of keeping their new-found friends close as lives and stories begin to entwine… Readers can’t get enough of The Dubrovnik Book Club: 'Eva Glyn’s writing gets better and better. I love this book.’ USA Today bestseller Angela Petch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another beautiful book from Eva Glyn … I absolutely loved it.’ Kitty Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A warm, page-turning delight, full of believable and relateable characters who I didn't want to leave.’ Alexandra Walsh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A warm and compelling story filled with sensory detail and emotion.’ Bestselling author Rosanna Ley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A touching story about friendship, the power of books to bring people together, and finding the courage to live fully and truthfully.’ Luisa Andreou-Jones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I found myself sneaking away at all hours of the day to read a little more and was totally wrapped up in their stories.’ Jayne Hall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Makes me want to join every book club I can find!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Eva Glyn's best book yet … A book to be treasured.’ Bestselling author Maisie Thomas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

Eva Glyn (Author), Melanie Crawley (Narrator)

Audiobook

Alcestis

"WINNER OF THE EDMUND WHITE DEBUT FICTION AWARD FINALIST FOR THE LAMBDA LITERARY ASSOCIATION'S LESBIAN DEBUT FICTION AWARD A fiercely feminist retelling of a little-known Greek myth: the ultimate story of sacrifice and forbidden desire In Greek myth, Alcestis is known as the ideal wife; she loved her husband so much that she died and went to the underworld in his place. But who was Alcestis before she was married? Other than her love for Admetus, what circumstances led her to make this ultimate sacrifice? And what happened to her in the three days she spent in the underworld? Katharine Beutner’s lush, emotionally devastating debut explores the magical reality of ancient Greece, where gods attend weddings and the underworld is just a river away. As Alcestis goes from sheltered princess to wise savior, she redefines love and discovers her own power—a poignant heroine’s journey that resonates more than ever today. Giving an achingly beautiful voice to the most misunderstood wives of Greek mythology, Alcestis reveals the underworld as you’ve never seen it before. “Beutner helps us re-see the familiar … Alcestis is nobody’s celebratory gayed-up Greek myth (for that, try Ovid). Instead, Beutner’s retelling is resolutely queer: strange, beautiful, ambivalent, sexually fluid, full of human complexity and godly simplicity.”—Andrea Lawlor, Lambda Literary Quotes Author Bio Narrator Bio © Print Copyright ©2010 by Katharine Beutner ? Audio Copyright ?2024 by Recorded Books Cover Design Artwork Credits Cover art: Cristina Bencina Arrangement Recorded by arrangement with Soho Press, Inc. ISBNs C084629 5062607 9798891783164 Alcestis Z20737 5062607 9798891783171 Alcestis DG16918 5062607 9798891783188 Alcestis Images Insert cover JPG and cover PDF here Alcestis Title Alcestis Subtitle Series Author Katharine Beutner Narrator Eva Kaminsky Copy WINNER OF THE EDMUND WHITE DEBUT FICTION AWARD FINALIST FOR THE LAMBDA LITERARY ASSOCIATION'S LESBIAN DEBUT FICTION AWARD A fiercely feminist retelling of a little-known Greek myth: the ultimate story of sacrifice and forbidden desire In Greek myth, Alcestis is known as the ideal wife; she loved her husband so much that she died and went to the underworld in his place. But who was Alcestis before she was married? Other than her love for Admetus, what circumstances led her to make this ultimate sacrifice? And what happened to her in the three days she spent in the underworld? Katharine Beutner’s lush, emotionally devastating debut explores the magical reality of ancient Greece, where gods attend weddings and the underworld is just a river away. As Alcestis goes from sheltered princess to wise savior, she redefines love and discovers her own power—a poignant heroine’s journey that resonates more than ever today. Giving an achingly beautiful voice to the most misunderstood wives of Greek mythology, Alcestis reveals the underworld as you’ve never seen it before. “Beutner helps us re-see the familiar … Alcestis is nobody’s celebratory gayed-up Greek myth (for that, try Ovid). Instead, Beutner’s retelling is resolutely queer: strange, beautiful, ambivalent, sexually fluid, full of human complexity and godly simplicity.”—Andrea Lawlor, Lambda Literary"

Katharine Beutner (Author), Samara Naeymi (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Girls We Sent Away

"Girls in your condition don't get to have their say. It’s the 1960s in North Carolina, and Lorraine Delford has it all—an upstanding family, a perfect boyfriend, and an idyllic home complete with a white picket fence. Yet every time she looks through her father’s telescope, she dreams of leaving it all behind to go to space. It’s ambitious, but Lorraine has always been exceptional. But when this darling girl-next-door gets pregnant, she’s forced to learn firsthand the realities that keep women grounded. To hide their daughter’s secret shame, the Delfords send Lorraine to a maternity home for wayward girls. But this is no safe haven—it’s a house with dark secrets and suffocating rules. And as Lorraine begins to piece together a new vision for her life, she must decide if she has the power to fight for the future she wants or if she must submit to the rules of a society she once admired. Powerful and affecting, The Girls We Sent Away is a timely novel set during the intersection of the Baby Scoop Era and Space Race that explores autonomy, belonging, and a quest for agency when the illusions of life-as-you-know-it fall away. “Readers will be entranced as author Meagan Church steadily peels away the veneer of the era, revealing the dark underbelly of a secretive and unforgiving society.”—Tracey Enerson Wood, international bestselling author of The Engineer’s Wife and The War Nurse"

Meagan Church (Author), Susan Bennett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sisters with a Side of Greens

"The recipe for forgiveness begins with an open heart and a full belly. Sisters Rose Tillman and her sister Marvina Nash haven't spoken in decades—not since Rose sent Marvina $40 to register their business and Marvina used that money for her own personal purposes. Now retired, Rose wants to open the restaurant they'd once dreamed of. But, to her horror, Rose realizes she's forgotten their mother's secret spice mix recipe, known to only one other person in the world. With no other option, Rose embarks on a two-hour drive to Marvina's house back in Fork City, Texas. Marvina has her own version of what caused their falling out, and it's a far cry from what Rose recalls. Marvina, skeptical and still indignant, but incurably polite, figures she'll give Rose a chance to speak her piece before closing the door in her face. As the sisters fight their way to forgiveness, they unpack their complicated past, form an unexpected alliance with a young mother-to-be, and reconnect through the tantalizing aroma of chicken dinners that hold the power to heal—or divide—a community. In a tale rich with Southern charm, Rose and Marvina discover through fussing, laughter, and tears that the secret ingredient to a bright future might just be found in facing who they are today—and in forgiving the past to embrace a second chance at sisterhood. 'A charming novel about sisterhood, regrets, and second chances … an utter delight from start to finish.'—Terah Shelton Harris, author of One Summer in Savannah"

Michelle Stimpson (Author), Susan Spain (Narrator)

Audiobook

Contemporary Women Audiobooks in Fiction