Audiobooks narrated by Kate Handford

A Planet Called Happy: An uplifting sci-fi adventure from the award-winning author of The Last Gifts of the Universe

"The fun new sci-fi adventure from the award-winning author of The Last Gifts of the Universe, perfect for fans of T. J. Klune and Becky Chambers. Ellis appears to have it all – a great job, a loving girlfriend, and a loyal dog – yet each morning he wakes up feeling that something is missing. In a desperate quest for true happiness, he boards a luxury shuttle to Planet Happy, a hedonistic paradise where guests seek the elusive ‘Happiness X’, the trademarked secret to instant joy. There, he encounters Nara, a VIP attendant with her own dreams of freedom, whose job is to ensure Ellis has the time of his life. But when an activist group disrupts their plans, Ellis and Nara embark on a thrilling adventure that challenges their understanding of happiness and the influence of corporate power. Will they find what they’re searching for, or is there more to Planet Happy than what’s in the brochure? 'Riley August is a major new voice in science fiction and I will read anything they write' Nadia El-Fassi ‘Raw, funny, and wise.' Julie Leong ‘Last Gifts is a quietly profound story about grief, purpose, and our place in the universe – told with a touch of humor, and a dash of adventure. Come for the cat, stay for the story.’ Sunyi Dean © Riley August 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Riley August (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Wives of Murder Club: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller perfect for SUMMER 2026!

"The first rule of Murder Club? Don't trust the other wives. Marta and her true-crime book club escape to remote Snakebite Island for a long weekend of rosé, late-night confessions, and obsessive discussions about serial killers. No husbands. No responsibilities. Just four friends and a shared love of dark stories. Until one of them turns up dead on the shore. Murdered. They should call the police. But they can't. An investigation would expose everything the group has been hiding - including a husband who has mysteriously vanished. Instead, they stage the perfect disappearance. After all, they know how these stories work. They've read hundreds of them. But real life isn't a podcast or a paperback thriller. And the deeper Marta gets into the cover-up, the more she realises one terrifying truth: someone on Snakebite Island is a killer. And they're willing to do it again. Perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden, Valerie Keogh and Becca Day"

Emma White (Author), Joseph May, Kate Handford, Kathyrn Kohut (Narrator)

Audiobook

An Ordinary Sort of Evil: A Rip Through Time Novel

"New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Victorian Scotland in the latest in the genre-blending Rip Through Time series. Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Mitchell has grown accustomed to life in Victorian Scotland after travelling 150 years into the past into the body of a housemaid. She’s built a new life for herself. Even though she works as an assistant to forensic-science pioneer Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie, she considers them true friends. And with Gray in particular, perhaps, someday, something more. Late one night, Gray and Mallory are summoned urgently to the home of Lady Adler, a patron of Gray’s undertaking business, and they assume there's been a death in the household. But instead, they arrive in the midst of a seance with a ghost demanding Gray's presence. The ghost is Lady Adler's former maid, who had gone missing but now requests that Gray investigate her murder. Although Gray and Mallory are skeptical, they agree to look into the matter, whether she's dead or alive. But unsure if there's been a murder or not, unable to call out the medium as a fraud, and concerned for the fate of the young maid, Gray and Mallory are once again drawn into a mystery much more puzzling--and more dangerous—than it first seems. A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books"

Kelley Armstrong (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

Audiobook

Elizabeth and Marilyn: A standout novel about the friendship that might have blossomed between the world’s two most famous women

"Brought to you by Penguin. It's 1956, and the two most famous women in the world are about to meet for the first and only time . . . London, October, 1956. A glittering Royal Film Premiere. The whole world is watching . . . Tonight, Elizabeth II will formally greet an array of stars. Though she was not born to be Queen, this young mother and wife has embraced her patriotic duty and its unforgiving demands. A limousine pulls up. Out steps a vision in dazzling gold: Marilyn Monroe. A money-making machine for Hollywood, with curves that drive men wild and a smile that lets women know she’s in on the joke. As the two most famous women in the world come face to face, they look to be worlds apart. Yet beneath the glamorous costumes, both are fighting to keep the men they love, while trying to do their work in a man’s world. And they have spent the summer of 1956 battling secret demons the public could never imagine. Now, Marilyn steps forward. These photographs will be on the front page of every newspaper in the morning. But this isn’t their first meeting. And the story behind the headlines is even more sensational . . . Perfect for fans of American Wife, The Christie Affair and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this stunning novel imagines the secret lives of two of the 20th century’s most famous women – set during a momentous summer that brought them face to face, and publishing 100 years after their births. ‘Bold, original and captivating. I loved it!’ Daisy Buchanan ‘Julie is a writer you can ALWAYS trust in the way she portrays women … they are believable, flawed, complex and fascinating' Georgina Moore 'Gorgeous, glamorous and moving' Anna Mazzola 'A vibrant imagining of the inner lives of two iconic women’ Charmaine Wilkerson © Julie Owen Moylan 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Julie Owen Moylan (Author), Alby Baldwin, Ina Marie Smith, Kate Handford (Narrator)

Audiobook

Whatever Happened to Madeline Stone?: The addictive new book club novel from the bestselling author of IDOL

"Brought to you by Penguin. The compulsive, glamorous and timely new novel from #1 bestselling author Louise O'Neill 2002. Twin sisters Madeline and Chelsea Stone are joint stars of the AtomicKids sitcom Double Trouble, but everyone knows it’s Maddie who shines most brightly. Until Chelsea beats her sister out for the role of a lifetime and is catapulted into the spotlight. And just as Chelsea’s star reaches impossible new heights, Maddie disappears. 2025. Chelsea Stone retired from acting after her sister’s disappearance – but living life under the radar is easier said than done when you’re the most famous woman of your generation. When a storage locker is found containing heart-breaking truths about the year Maddie went missing, Chelsea feels a flicker of hope for the first time in twenty years. This is her chance to discover what really happened to her twin, but to follow the trail she’ll have to face the past and step back into the spotlight . . . PRAISE FOR LOUISE O'NEILL 'Darkly delicious' ELIZABETH DAY 'Fresh, glamorous, surprising' MARIAN KEYES 'Compulsive, brilliant' ABIGAIL DEAN 'Utterly gripping and unsettling' LUCY FOLEY 'An absolute page turner; addictive' CECILIA AHERN 'Unflinching, clever and completely riveting' FABULOUS 'An absolute must for your book club, with so many issues up for discussion' PRIMA 'A compelling, clever and beautifully crafted thriller' OBSERVER 'A smart, addictive page-turner' STYLIST © Louise O'Neill 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Louise O'Neill (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Library of War and Peace: A gripping and emotional story of courage, love and friendship inspired by a true story

"Brought to you by Penguin. As the war rages on outside, it is the battle within that must be won, through the quiet strength of words. Josie Everley may have survived the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, but she lost the man she loves most to the sea. Broken-hearted and destitute, Josie must start afresh as a library assistant at a groundbreaking, all-female-run military hospital in Endell Street. As she focuses on her work, she never expected to meet Theo, a wounded soldier suffering his own trauma who finds solace amongst the books. As Josie steps up to the role of librarian and loses her heart to Theo, the war around them continues to be a cruel companion and Josie must muster all her strength and courage to make it through. Will Josie find her happy-ever-after amongst the heartbreak? For fans of THE MYSTERIOUS BAKERY ON RUE DE PARIS, THE FORGOTTEN PARIS BOOKSHOP, and Kristin Hannah's THE WOMEN 'A beautiful, powerful book that I will read again' Suzanne Goldring 'This is a beautiful book to savour and treasure' Gill Thompson 'Such a beautiful ode to libraries and reading...It's also a big warm hug of a book' Kate Thompson 'There are few other writers who can winkle out the stories of heroines from the past as splendidly as Louise Morrish' Julie Ma © Louise Morrish 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Louise Morrish (Author), Kate Handford, Montserrat Lombard (Narrator)

Audiobook

Banning Books in America: Not a How-to

"Bloomsbury presents Banning Books in America edited by Samuel Cohen, read by Kenneth Medford and Kate Handford This is a book about banned books in the U.S. — about reading them, teaching them, and lending them under the shadow of political pressure not to. Banning Books in America features novelists on banning and being banned, arguments about the histories and politics of book banning, readings of banned books in national and international contexts, and responses to new legislation by anti-censorship advocates, teachers, and librarians. Together, these writers and educators provide a view from the trenches of the wars on reading. They offer, if not a single blueprint, models for how to think about what it means to ban books and how to fight back against the forces that would ban them. This book shows that at the heart of this issue is the question of what books mean to people. Some Americans are determined to decide which books other Americans shouldn’t get to read. Why these books? Why now? Anyone who seeks to answer these questions must examine the context, historical and current, in which Americans allow this to happen. This is a book about book banning in America, and so it is a book about America. C 2026 Samuel Cohen P 2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"

Samuel Cohen (Author), Kate Handford, Kenneth Medford (Narrator)

Audiobook

So Thirsty

"A woman must learn to take life by the throat after a night out leads to irrevocable changes in this juicy, thrilling novel from the USA Today-bestselling author of Such Sharp Teeth and Black Sheep. Sloane Parker is dreading her birthday. She doesn’t need a reminder she’s getting older, or that she’s feeling indifferent about her own life. Her husband surprises her with a birthday-weekend getaway?not with him, but with Sloane’s longtime best friend, troublemaker extraordinaire Naomi. Sloane anticipates a weekend of wine tastings and cozy robes and strategic avoidance of issues she’d rather not confront, like her husband’s repeated infidelity. But when they arrive at their rental cottage, it becomes clear Naomi has something else in mind. She wants Sloane to stop letting things happen to her, for Sloane to really live. So Naomi orchestrates a wild night out with a group of mysterious strangers, only for it to take a horrifying turn that changes Sloane’s and Naomi’s lives literally forever. The friends are forced to come to terms with some pretty eternal consequences in this bloody, seductive novel about how it’s never too late to find satisfaction, even though it might taste different than expected."

Rachel Harrison (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

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An American Scandal

"Lose yourself in this Gilded Age historical fiction, perfect for fans of Luisa A. Jones and Beatriz Williams … ORDER NOW! ‘Offers a glimpse into the lives and dilemmas of women in America’s Gilded Age … a clever reworking of Mansfield Park’ Luisa A. Jones Newport, 1895. After failing to make a positive impression on New York’s ‘old money’, Madeline Crosby and her beloved brother and protector, Hugh, escape to their inherited summer house in Newport. As Hugh’s half-sister who spent most of her childhood in a brothel until her mother died – something society is unwilling to forgive – Beachlands is the fresh start Madeline desperately needs. The siblings expand their social circle, making ‘new money’ acquaintances. Despite his good nature, Hugh is prone to flirting and Madeline captures the unwanted attention of the man whose family destroyed her mother and continues to exploit women. As lines are crossed and reputations threatened, Madeline becomes determined to ignore her heart and fix the situation. But can she keep her tarnished past buried? And will she ever allow herself to love? ***** ‘This meticulously researched book is a delight for lovers of American historical fiction … Howes recreates the glittering world of polo, picnics and parties’ Imogen Martin 'A deliciously fresh take on Jane Austen's Mansfield Park set in Gilded Age New York and Newport. Socially conscious, intrepid, and soulful, Madeline is a heroine to root for!' Hope C. Tarr Praise for Theresa Howes: ‘Truly gripping… I loved it’ Jill Mansell ‘I absolutely loved this… Vivid and heartbreaking’ Lana Kortchik ‘War, passion and tragedy unite in this atmospheric and moving tale’ S D Sykes ‘A wonderfully immersive, emotional read’ Annabelle Thorpe 'Achingly romantic with lashings of Gilded Age glamour.' Jessica Bull"

Theresa Howes (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

Audiobook

Where the Dawn Finds Us

"In this powerful conclusion to the Lost Lake trilogy, a mother faces her greatest test yet in a reborn but dangerous America. After years of survival and devastating loss, the promise of a new settlement in North Dakota feels like salvation. A chance for my children to reclaim some semblance of normalcy, studying and making friends again, and for me to find new purpose, reporting on this strange new world we’re living in for a newspaper. I’m even forming new friendships as I grow closer to Jack Norman, the settlement’s deputy leader. But I can’t help feeling haunted by what—and who—we left behind. I desperately miss my eldest daughter, Mattie, who chose to stay in Canada, forging her own future in the community I left behind. I tell myself she’s safe there. But as I learn more about the world I belong to, I begin to understand the disturbing truth of how it has been formed—and I am terrified that Mattie might be in their sights. I've already lost too much to this broken world—I won't lose my daughter too. A heartwrenching story of a mother’s love for her children and the sacrifices we make in the name of survival from a million-copy bestselling author. Fans of Boo Walker, Julianne McLean and Where the Forest Meets the Stars will be changed forever by this unforgettable novel. What readers are saying about this series: “Omg I didn’t expect this!... heartbreaking, raw, powerful and tense… couldn’t turn the pages fast enough… will leave you asking yourself just how far you would go for you and your family to survive.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “One of the best books I’ve read this year… I couldn’t put this one down and was so bummed when it was finished… Highly recommend!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Such an emotionally charged novel… I couldn’t stop reading, and when I reluctantly had to tear myself away from my Kindle I was continually thinking of the story… I’d give it double the number of stars if I could.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This fabulous book kept me enthralled… A nail-biter and cliffhanger with a positive feel, all in one… five stars for this one.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “An emotionally charged page-turner that I could not put down!… resonates long after the final page. The book urges readers to find beauty in the mundanity and to not take a second of life for granted.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “What a gripping, thought-provoking, page-turner of a novel.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Wow! What a book!... raw and unfiltered and left me stunned.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

Kate Hewitt (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom

"From the award-winning author of Soldier Girls and Just Like Us, an "extraordinary" (The Denver Post) account of refugee teenagers at a Denver public high school and their compassionate teacher and "a reminder that in an era of nativism, some Americans are still breaking down walls and nurturing the seeds of the great American experiment" (The New York Times Book Review). The Newcomers follows the lives of twenty-two immigrant teenagers throughout the course of the 2015-2016 school year as they land at South High School in Denver, Colorado. These newcomers, from fourteen to nineteen years old, come from nations convulsed by drought or famine or war. Many come directly from refugee camps, after experiencing dire forms of cataclysm. Some arrive alone, having left or lost every other member of their original family. At the center of their story is Mr. Williams, their dedicated and endlessly resourceful teacher of English Language Acquisition. If Mr. Williams does his job right, the newcomers will leave his class at the end of the school year with basic English skills and new confidence, their foundation for becoming Americans and finding a place in their new home. Ultimately, "The Newcomers reads more like an anthropologist's notebook than a work of reportage: Helen Thorpe not only observes, she chips in her two cents and participates. Like her, we're moved and agitated by this story of refugee teenagers…Donald Trump's gross slander of refugees and immigrants is countered on every page by the evidence of these students' lives and characters" (Los Angeles Review of Books). With the US at a political crossroads around questions of immigration, multiculturalism, and America's role on the global stage, Thorpe presents a fresh and nuanced perspective. The Newcomers is "not only an intimate look at lives immigrant teens live, but it is a primer on the art and science of new language acquisition and a portrait of ongoing and emerging global horrors and the human fallout that arrives on our shores" (USA TODAY)."

Helen Thorpe (Author), Kate Handford (Narrator)

Audiobook

Realm of Stone and Starlight

C.L. Mecca (Author), Kate Handford, Max Dowler (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Kate Handford

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