Contemporary Women Audiobooks | Fiction

The Usual Family Mayhem: A Novel Audiobook

"Revenge is a dish best served cold—especially when it comes in the form of one of Grandma’s “special” pies. Get the best of family hijinks, girl power, and hilariously justifiable crime in the latest novel from award-winning author HelenKay Dimon. Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors—her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags’ Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in “best friend” Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal…and now she has a problem. Mags and Celia aren’t interested, which isn’t a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they’re hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business. As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia’s nephew and Kasey’s long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey’s boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands—even if those husbands deserve it—might be impossible…but Kasey never shied away from a challenge. "

HelenKay Dimon (Author), Mia Barron (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Saint Laurent Muse: A Novel

"“Between the decadence and the dazzling details, I love historical fiction books centered around fashion. And C. W. Gortner’s latest enthralled me. This story transported me to Paris. It was a perfect blend of fiction and fact.” – First for Women The Paris runways of the 70s come to wild and splashy life in this novel of fashion's “It Girl” Loulou de la Falaise and her life partying and designing with Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, and Halston. Nightlife! Gowns! Cocaine! Glamour! It’s the 1970s, and from hippie London to Warhol’s Factory in New York, reluctant aristocrat Loulou de la Falaise is desperately seeking adventure. Having escaped an early, unhappy marriage, she arrives on a whim in Paris—the champagne-soaked heart of the fashion world, where the rigid old world of haute couture and the ffast-paced new world of ready-to-wear are vying for supremacy. Glamour, sex, and cocaine nights fuel the Paris fashion scene. Its crown prince is the soulful and intensely gifted Yves Saint Laurent, whose sexy tuxedos for women and chic Rive Gauche boutiques reflect women’s desire for seductive independence, a desire Loulou knows all too well. Loulou’s bohemian flair immediately captures Saint Laurent’s attention, and they embark on a glorious intimate friendship as artist and muse. Together they revel in the excesses of high society, decadent parties, and the hedonistic underworld of gay nightclubs, where the young and beautiful become prey, and dangerous rivalries start to emerge. Their course collides with eccentric designer Karl Lagerfeld, intent on his own conquest. Lagerfeld’s bitter professional rivalry with Yves divides Paris even in an era when anything goes. As Yves plunges into a dangerous, secret affair with Karl’s enigmatic young companion, and Loulou finds herself falling in love with a colleague’s handsome boyfriend, evanescent illusion and savage deception will bring them to the brink of ruin. Intoxicating and unforgettable, The Saint Laurent Muse is the dramatic imagining of a lifelong friendship between two kindred spirits, and of a tumultuous time and place in fashion history that will never be seen again."

C. W. Gortner (Author), Ell Potter (Narrator)

Audiobook

Kiss Me in Sweetwater Springs: A Sweetwater Springs short story

"A heartwarming novella in the Sweetwater Springs series from USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains, perfect for fans of RaeAnne Thayne and Debbie Mason. If Lacy Shaw could have one wish, it's that the past would stay in the past. And with her high school reunion coming up, she has no intention of reliving the worst four years of her life. Especially when all she has to show for the last decade is how the shy bookworm blossomed into...the shy town librarian. Ditching the event seems the best option until a blistering hot alternative roars into Lacy's life. Perhaps riding into the reunion on the back of Paris Montgomery's motorcycle will show her classmates how much she really has changed... While growing up as a foster kid, Paris Montgomery only felt at home in Sweetwater Springs, which is why he picked the small town to start over after his divorce. He can't afford to ruin this refuge with another doomed relationship - especially one with a woman who is his total opposite. But when the town's sweet librarian offers to help him reconnect with his foster dad, he finds they have more in common than he thought. Both are about to discover that home is where the heart is. "

Annie Rains (Author), Katie Thompson, Nathan Agin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Kills Well with Others

""Much like fine wine, battle-hardened assassins grow better with age."-#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner Four women assassins, senior in status-and in age-sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age. After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone...literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers. Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next. Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum's mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they've faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive."

Deanna Raybourn (Author), Christina Delaine, Jane Oppenheimer (Narrator)

Audiobook

Twelve Stories by American Women

"A collection of twelve essential short stories by iconic American women writers that introduces a more diverse canon and emphasizes non-white and queer writers to better represent the experiences of all American women and to understand the importance of the short story for women A Penguin Classic One of The Millions' Winter Most Anticipated. "Zibrak curates a dozen short stories by women writers who have long been left out of American literary canon-most of them women of color-from Frances Ellen Watkins Harper to Zitkala-Ša." - The Millions When Four Stories by American Women was first published by Penguin Classics in 1990, it understandably reflected the second-wave feminist interpretations of that time-a period marked by an impressive recovery of what were then considered to be minor American writers. Since then, the four white women writers included in the volume-Rebecca Harding Davis, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Sarah Orne Jewett, and Edith Wharton-have become canonical figures, and scholars have grown to see their work as only a small part of the rich tapestry of American women's lives, values, and political beliefs in the fertile period of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century American literature. Today, we not only have a deeper understanding of the significance of these texts and the complicated nature of their authors' ideological orientations, scholars and educators have also expanded the canon of American women writers to more frequently foreground the voices of non-white and queer writers whose work speaks more fully to the experiences and beliefs of all American women. This updated and expanded volume, Twelve Stories by American Women edited by Arielle Zibrak, offers a more diverse selection of writers--including Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, María Cristina Mena, Zitkala-Ša, Sui Sin Far, and Barbara E. Pope--; covers hot-button issues such as environmentalism, queerness, and marital status; and provides a new introduction that highlights the developments in the critical understanding of turn-of-the-century American women writers in all of their complexity."

Arielle Zibrak (Author), Arielle Zibrak, Caroline Hewitt, Catherine Ho, Elena Rey, Karen Murray, Tanis Parenteau (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Lady Sparks a Flame

"A Lady with a past. A man with ambition. A romance far from London society that might bridge their divides. Lady Phoebe Hunt never anticipated returning from exile. A fatal choice drove her from England, but the death of her father-and the revelation of his debts-has brought her home. Once she settles her father's estate, she will return to America, where she has reinvented herself. There's no reason to remain, not even for one gravitationally challenged but deliciously tempting entrepreneur: Sam Fenley. Samuel Fenley is all ambition. Rising from shop boy to wealthy investor, he's left knocking on doors that open only for those with a title. Unless he buys the damned door itself-and the estate that goes with it. Sam offers to relieve Phoebe of her burdens, but is her crumbling mansion all Sam wants? Or is it the Lady herself? When threats from Phoebe's past spark new dangers, Sam and Phoebe discover that neither is what the other expected. Standing on the edge of disaster, the disgraced Ice Queen will have to decide if she wants to forge through life alone, or let an unlikely hero melt her heart."

Elizabeth Everett (Author), Elizabeth Jasicki (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Bookshop of New Beginnings

"'A real page turner' SCOTTISH FIELD It’s never too late to rewrite your story… Emily Cotton has always dreamed of owning a bookshop, but when her dreams finally become a reality, she realises she’s going to need some help. So after a couple of glasses of Merlot, she emails her childhood best friend, Kate Vincent. Kate jumps at the chance to return to scenic Wigtown and to see Emily and the Cotton clan again. But after a six-year absence, the happy family she once thought of as her own has changed. Kate has one summer to help save the bookshop and bring the fractured Cotton family back together. But with so much left unsaid between the two best friends, will they have to save their friendship first? This charming and uplifting tale of friendship, family, and love will whisk you away to Scotland’s picturesque book town. Previously published as Summer at Bluebell Bank Readers love The Bookshop of New Beginnings! 'I cannot recommend this book enough. I was absolutely hooked within the first couple of pages! I love the way the backstory is teased out little by little to give real depth and honesty to the characters. I found myself completely transported' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I absolutely loved it. The characters were real from the first page and I really cared about them all. Beautifully written and full of family drama' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A superb story with vivid descriptions of the location and the characters, who are so complex and believable. A roller coaster for your emotions as you are drawn into the antics of the family and their friends. I highly recommend this book' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Much more than just a summer read – it's a story which pulls you in immediately and keeps you hooked right to the very end, leaving you wanting to know what happens next!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

Jen Mouat (Author), Kirsty Eila McIntyre (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Love We Found

"TEN YEARS. TWO LOVES. ONE LAST CHANCE. 'Santopolo is a true master of matters of the heart’ Taylor Jenkins Reid 'No one writes about love, in all its beautiful mess, the way Santopolo does' Carley Fortune 'The Light We Lost broke my heart, The Love We Found mended it' Paige Toon *** FATE BROKE HER HEART … It’s been ten years since Lucy Carter Maxwell lost her soulmate. Having hidden from love ever since, she’s stunned to find it pulling at her when she discovers an old, forgotten box of Gabe’s photographs. Desperate to find the hope she has been searching for, Lucy begins to unravel the secrets that Gabe left behind. … CAN NEW LOVE SET HER FREE? The journey leads Lucy to Italy and into the path of Dr. Dax Armstrong. The pain in his sad, intense eyes, matches Lucy’s own – his touch reignites her in a way that no one has since Gabe. Afraid of these newly awakened parts of herself, Lucy can feel the comfort of her old life tugging at her. But with an earth-shattering secret waiting in the shadows, can Lucy ever embrace love, if she doesn’t embrace the truth? A devastating love story about fate, and the enduring power of love. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Paige Toon and Claire Daverley. READERS HAVE BEEN SWEPT AWAY BY THE LOVE WE FOUND: 'A love story for the ages. If love is not like this I don't want it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Beautiful, sad, hopeful, loving, and more' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Santopolo masterfully captures the raw and complex emotions of love, loss, and healing…an absolute must-read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I truly adored this amazing story' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Folks, grab another box of tissues… a beautifully crafted tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of second chances' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Do yourself a favor and add this wonderful book to the top of your TBR list. I promise you’ll be happy you did' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

Jill Santopolo (Author), Jill Santopolo (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pomona Afton Can So Solve A Murder: A Novel

"A spoiled heiress must investigate her grandmother's death in order to gain back her trust fund, all while discovering how to be her own person and maybe even falling in love in this "enormously fun, witty, and warm" (Kristen Perrin, nationally bestselling author) rom-com meets murder mystery that is perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building. When Pomona Afton, Upper East Side hotel heiress, stumbles out of a gala and upon the scene of her grandmother's murder, her first thought is that the society queen won't be missed for her kind, cookie-baking ways. In fact, she was mean, greedy, and paranoid—so paranoid that she secretly slipped a clause into her will mandating that, should she die an unnatural death, all the family assets get frozen. And if the "unnatural death" isn't explained? Those accounts stay frozen. Practically overnight, Pomona is locked out of her penthouse with no other option than to move in with a roommate: Gabe, the irritable (yet handsome) son of her former nanny. Not only is his apartment cramped, but it doesn't even have a doorman. Or a chef! Pom needs someone to solve this murder, like, yesterday, so she can get her trust fund back. And Gabe? He needs this murder solved because that's the only way his mother, who toiled for the Afton family for years, will ever get the retirement money she deserves. As Pom's family clams up, blocking the police at every turn, Pom quickly realizes that if she wants her glamorous life back, she's going to have to put on her big-girl Manolos and do it herself…with the help of Gabe, who she's falling for more and more by the day. Can Pomona Afton (who previously couldn't solve a crossword in the bath on a hungover Sunday) actually solve this murder? And if she does return to her former life of luxury, will it be worth the possibility of losing Gabe?"

Bellamy Rose (Author), Jennifer Jill Araya (Narrator)

Audiobook

When Sally Killed Harry

"‘Dark and funny’ Jackie Kabler, author of The Murder List ‘Deliciously dark and hilariously witty’ Sunday Post 'A razor-sharp revenge thriller with bite, brains and a body count' The Observer Say hello to Sally. This is the story of how I killed Harry Collins. Destined to be the great love of my life – until one day I wake up in the Big Apple with the world's worst hangover, an empty bank account, and the sinking feeling that my life just nosedived. How it happened is a blur, but one thing is clear: I’ve been swindled and I’m not happy about it. She’s the woman of your dreams. And it's all thanks to Harry – a total dreamboat and a devil in disguise. He’s got charm, secrets, and a smile that screams trouble. Little did I know, Harry's not just a pretty face – he's a liar and conman. Or is she your worst nightmare? When I discover I’m not the only victim, I decide it’s only right I take my revenge. And with a group of wronged women behind me, murder isn’t on the agenda yet because Harry’s in for a nightmare and I’m only just getting started… A wicked, whip-smart revenge thriller, perfect for fans of Katy Brent, Bella Mackie and anyone who wants to take their revenge on The Tinder Swindler or Sweet Bobby. Readers LOVE When Sally Killed Harry! ‘Darkly funny’ i News ‘Witty and sharp’ Bella ‘Everything a romcom gone wrong should be’ BookTrib ‘Sharp, brilliantly written, addictive’ Cosy Moose ‘Incredibly pacy, funny, oh-so-dark, devious and dare I say, relatable… I loved everything about it!’ Noelle Holton, author of His Truth Her Truth ‘Wow! I loved it. Devoured it in two days. It was dark, delicious and deadly.’ Louise Swanson, author of End of Story ‘I couldn't put it down … I'll have what Lucy Roth is having’ L.M. Chilton, author of Don’t Swipe Right ‘A bold and clever coming-of-rage story that gives a razor sharp twist on the classic romcom’ Victoria Hawthorne, author of The Darkest Night ‘The characters leapt off the page, their back stories were compelling and drove the story well. The Sally and Harry names riff was also good fun.’ Kay Wilson, author of The Stand-Up Mam 'Whip-smart characters and a compelling story' Lucy Vine, author of Date with Destiny ‘Found family, found salvation and found mission – plus a few surprises along the way. And yep, you will root for all of them.’ Reader review ‘Sally is a compelling anti-heroine who reminds me of Jason Dean – Christian Slater’s character from Heathers. She’s unhinged… and watching her unravel is part of the glee.’ Reader review ‘A darkly funny and unhinged wish fulfilment tale about women pushed to the edge to get justice in a patriarchal society.’ Reader review ‘If you’re looking for a rom-com that’s anything but conventional When Sally Killed Harry will have you laughing, gasping and rooting for Sally and her crew every step of the way.’ Reader review ‘Sardonic and sharply written… a fun, fast-paced read’ Reader review ‘A bold, unapologetic and raw exploration of frustration, fury, and the simmering rage women feel when the world constantly asks them to tiptoe around their own pain’ Reader review ‘Hilariously witty, sharp and unfiltered’ Reader review ‘A book that tackles toxic masculinity head-on, not with kid gloves, but with a sledgehammer’ Reader review ‘It’s about amplifying the voices that have been silenced and empowering women to claim their space, their stories and their anger.’ Reader review"

Lucy Roth (Author), Grace Blyth (Narrator)

Audiobook

Best, First and Last

"A young woman stuck in a rut is dragged by her grieving grandmother to hike the Inca Trail - but can a holiday heal heartbreak, or will long-held secrets tear them apart? A heartwarming novel from the acclaimed author of Someone Else's Bucket List. Heather Russo is miserable - work is non-stop, and her love life is in tatters. But she's not the only one struggling. Her mother, Sandy, is finally separating from Heather's womanising father, while her grandmother, Bonnie, is grieving her third husband by carrying his urn everywhere she goes… even the supermarket. Sick of everyone's moping, Bonnie plans a surprise girls' trip: they're going to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Heather is a reluctant hiker - until she meets charming Owen on the trail and things start to get interesting. Of course, that's when Bonnie decides to share some long-held secrets that just might send them all over the edge. With every twist in the trail, Heather learns more about her family - and herself. And as her time with Owen becomes precious, she's forced to reconsider what she really wants."

Amy Matthews (Author), Charlotte North (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Beautiful Lack of Consequence

"Brought to you by Penguin. Across thirty striking tales, Monika Radojevic weaves together the surreal with the everyday, confronting the experiences of contemporary womanhood with a tender ferocity shot through with humour. A woman walks into a bar, and nobody notices. A newly married couple are punished for their childlessness with an unsettling nocturnal invasion. A girl trades her vocal cords for a chance at freedom. A door-to-door salesperson offers the antidote to women’s fear – but it comes at a high price. Bubbling with an urgent rage that occasionally tips over into vengeance, Radojevic deftly charts the moments that make a life: from the warmth of first love to the recognition of anger, and the possibilities that take shape as we find or lose our ability to speak. A Beautiful Lack of Consequence explores the ways in which the world bends and breaks women with the pressure it puts on them – and what happens when those women snap back. Moving and irreverent, dark and otherworldly, A Beautiful Lack of Consequence is a blazing debut collection from the winner of the #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize. © Monika Radojevic 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Monika Radojevic (Author), Monika Radojevic (Narrator)

Audiobook

Contemporary Women Audiobooks in Fiction