Audiobooks narrated by Natalie Simpson

The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive

"Brought to you by Penguin. Bracing and essential, a radical reframing of British Romanticism through the lens of Black experience – for fans of David Olusoga, Gretchen Gerzina, Saidiya Hartman and Emma Dabiri Wordsworth, Shelley, Byron, Keats – the Romantic poets are titans of English literature, taught and celebrated around the world. Their work is associated with sublime passions, violent stormscapes and a questing search for the inner self. It is rarely associated with the racial politics of the transatlantic slave economy. But these literary icons lived through a period when individual and collective resistance by Black people in Britain and her overseas colonies was making it increasingly difficult – and increasingly costly – to ignore their demands for freedom. A time when popular support for the abolition movement exploded across the country – and was met by a vehement, reactionary campaign from the establishment. A time when white supremacist ideologies were fomented to justify the abuse and exploitation of non-white 'races'. This cultural context is not immediately obvious in the canon of Romantic poetry. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there. The Trembling Hand turns an urgent critical gaze onto six major Romantic authors, examining how their lives and works were entangled with the racist realities of their era. Mathelinda Nabugodi pores over carefully preserved manuscripts, travels to the houses where these writers lived and died, examines the personal objects which survived them: a teacup, a baby rattle, a lock of hair. Amid this archive, she searches for traces of Black figures whose lives crossed paths with the great Romantics. And she grapples with the opposing forces of reverence and horror as her fascination with literary relics collides with feelings of sorrow and rage. © Mathelinda Nabugodi 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Mathelinda Nabugodi (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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The Manual for Good Wives: A powerful and heartbreaking novel about love, family and reclaiming Blac

"'The Manual For Good Wives, a fast-paced tale of courage and resilience is beautifully written and remarkably moving. An absolute masterpiece' - Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely People 'I couldn't put this book down. Simply brilliant' - Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up ***** Everything about Adeline Copplefield is a lie . . . To the world Mrs Copplefield is the epitome of Victorian propriety: an exemplary society lady who writes a weekly column advising young ladies on how to be better wives. Only Adeline has never been a good wife or mother; she has no claim to the Copplefield name, nor is she an English lady . . . Now a black woman, born in Africa, who dared to pretend to be something she was not, is on trial in the English courts with all of London society baying for her blood. And she is ready to tell her story . . . From the author of The Attic Child, Lola Jaye, comes a powerful dual narrative historical novel. The Manual for Good Wives is about love, generational trauma, second chances and hope. ***** 'An unforgettable voice within a breathtaking story about love, lineage, and the intergenerational effect of bravery in the face of misfortune' - Jessica George, author of Diverse Book Awards winning My Name is Maame 'Poignant, captivating and thoroughly enjoyable' - The Yorkshire Times"

Lola Jaye (Author), Natalie Simpson, Precious Mustapha (Narrator)

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Christmas at Dumpster Corral

"When Noel Dupree’s mother passes away from a sudden illness, she inherits the family home and their much-loved florist business. While still in mourning, her unscrupulous father resurfaces after many years’ absence and finds a way to undermine her mother’s will. Without regard for Noel’s welfare, he claims everything is rightly his, and the family lawyer can’t produce documents to prove otherwise. By invitation from her best friend, Noel makes a hard choice to leave her childhood hometown in upstate New York and journey to the friend’s house in Pensacola, Florida. Together they will try to devise a plan for Noel’s future. Fate steps in when a blinding rainstorm causes her to miss a turn, leading her to an unlikely place, and an uncertain destiny. Brought low by circumstances and struggling to make ends meet, she takes shelter in the least desirable location and accepts a graveyard-shift job. The last thing Noel is looking for is romance, but a chance meeting with a handsome, young lawyer named Liam Grant makes her reconsider. Could she accept his dinner invitations and make it through the Christmas holiday without revealing her destitute condition?"

Irene Onorato (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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Seven Summers

"Brought to you by Penguin. Two epic love stories. One impossible choice. The stunning new novel from Paige Toon. Six summers ago Liv and Finn meet working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn's life is in LA with his band, and Liv's is in Cornwall with her family - so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together. This summer Liv crosses paths with Tom - a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. As the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, they find themselves falling for one another. For the first time Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn't broken every year. Now Liv must make an impossible choice. And when she discovers the shocking reason that Tom has left home, she'll need to trust her heart even more . . . Priase for Paige Toon: 'Heartwarming and heartbreaking' Giovanna Fletcher 'Deep, emotional, powerful' Milly Johnson 'It swept me away!' Beth O'Leary ©2023 Paige Toon (P)2023 Penguin Audio"

Paige Toon (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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A House for Alice: From the Women’s Prize shortlisted author of Ordinary People

"Brought to you by Penguin. THE INTIMATE AND COMPELLING NOVEL FROM THE PRIZEWINNING AUTHOR OF ORDINARY PEOPLE After fifty years in the wilderness of London, Alice wants to live out her days in the land of her birth. Her children are divided on whether she stays or goes, and in the wake of their father's death, the imagined stability of the family begins to fray. Meanwhile youngest daughter Melissa has never let go of a love she lost, and Michael in return, even within the sturdy walls of his marriage to the sparkling Nicole, is haunted by the failed perfection of the past. As Alice's final decision draws closer, all that is hidden between Melissa and her sisters, Michael and Nicole, rises to the surface . . . Set against the shadows of a city and a country in turmoil, Diana Evans's ordinary people confront fundamental questions. How should we raise our children? How to do right by our parents? And how, in the midst of everything, can we satisfy ourselves? 'A gorgeous novel from one of our most outstanding writers' BERNARDINE EVARISTO 'A wise, tender novel' MONICA ALI 'A lyrical and glorious writer' NAOMI ALDERMAN 'Evans is always, always on the finest of forms' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS 'A writer at the top of her game' LEONE ROSS 'I adored A House for Alice. Her writing is exquisite: every sentence a jewel' ELIZABETH DAY ©2023 Diana Evans (P)2023 Penguin Audio"

Diana Evans (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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The Return: Undermined

"Book 2 in The Return series of novels. Signe Brask is having a hard time with her new boss. In an attempt to humiliate her, he has sent her to Klitmøller, where she will work as a substitute patrol officer. But it doesn't take long before Signe faces a new case. The priest's young, beautiful wife has disappeared without a trace, and it turns out that beneath the surface there is a fierce religious war simmering in the small community of fishermen and surfers. The investigation with the local officer Dennis is difficult and is further complicated by the fact that Signe is confronted with her own past in a way that wants to change her life and self-understanding forever. Klitmøller has never been darker. Undermined is the second volume in the series about Signe Brask."

Lone Theils (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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Wish For Love

"Queen’s Ford, seat of the Forde family for centuries, is crumbling into ruin. Devastated by their reduced circumstances, handsome and bored Jeremy Forcombe is determined to find a solution. He persuades his sister, Mariota, to go along with his outlandish plan to masquerade as highwaymen. Things go awry when they meet their match in their victim and there is an accident with a gun. Now the handsome Earl of Buckenham is injured, and the siblings are praying for his recovery – to save them from the gallows, and perhaps so much more... Chaos, scandal, and a romance to sweep you off your feet, 'The Wish for Love' is perfect for fans of Julia Quinn and Georgette Heyer. - Barbara Cartland wrote over 700 novels and was most famous for her historical romances. A prominent figure in London society, the young Cartland began her writing career as a gossip columnist for the Daily Express. After marrying into the McCorquodale family, she began writing romance and holds a Guinness World Record for the most number of books published in one year: 191. She is beloved worldwide and even counts the young Princess Diana as one of her many fans."

Barbara Cartland (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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Nemesis the Warlock: The Complete Books 1-4: The Classic 2000 AD Graphic Novel in Full-Cast Audio

"Brought to you by Penguin. Termight, a world at the heart of a cruel galactic empire. A world devastated by nuclear warfare. Deep below ground its inhabitants try to eke out a mere existence, continually threatened by the Terminators, led by the diabolically evil Torquemada. Torquemada, a twisted human despot intent on purging all alien life from the galaxy and punishing the deviants. His motto: Be pure! Be vigilant! Behave! There is a resistance though, and a new kind of hero. Meet Nemesis the Warlock, champion of the coming rebellion! This vast and arcane tome contains the first four books of the Nemesis saga. Featuring Patrick Warner as Nemesis and an ensemble cast including Keith Allen, Natalie Simpson and Roy Macmillan, long-time fans of Nemesis the Warlock and newcomers alike will be transported to the brutal world of Termight for an immersive listening experience like no other. Also available: Judge Dredd: Dredd v Death Judge Dredd: America Judge Dredd: The Pit Judge Anderson: Shambala © Rebellion 2000 AD Ltd 2006 (P) Penguin Audio and Rebellion Publishing 2022"

David A. Roach, Pat Mills (Author), Keith Allen, Natalie Simpson, Patrick Warner, Roy Mcmillan (Narrator)

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Black in Time: The Most Awesome Black Britons from Yesterday to Today

"Brought to you by Puffin. Hiya! Alison Hammond here! I love getting to know all about different people and I'll tell you a secret . . . sometimes people we don't know much about are the most interesting of all! Which is really what this book is all about. Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people? Yes? That's great! But if you haven't, don't worry, you're not alone, which is why I'm so excited to tell you all about them. Because the people in this book should be totally famous given the AMAZING things they've done! And we're not going to stop in the past, I'll introduce you to people making waves right here and now! From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, we're going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are ready for you a journey Black in time?? Course you are, let's go! © Alison Hammond 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Alison Hammond, E.L. Norry (Author), Alison Hammond, Daniel Reid-Walter, Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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One of the Girls

"The scorching, escapist new thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Castaways ‘An addictive sun-soaked thriller’MARIE CLAIRE ‘The perfect holiday read’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS ‘Brimming with tension’ CLARE MACKINTOSH ‘Talk about twists and turns’ EMMA STONEX ‘Utterly addictive . . . her best yet’ ERIN KELLY WE WERE DYING FOR A HOLIDAY The six of us arrived on that beautiful Greek island dreaming of sun-drenched beaches and blood orange sunsets, ready to lose ourselves in the wild freedom of a weekend away with friends. On the first night we swam under a blanket of stars. On the second night the games began on our clifftop terrace. On the third night the idyll cracked, secrets and lies whispering on the breeze. And by the final night there was a body on the rocks below . . . WHO WOULD KILL FOR IT? What readers are saying about One of the Girls: ‘If you are looking for a sun-soaked, fast-paced, keep-you-up-till-the-early-hours thriller for summer 2022 then my god this is it!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this, a thrilling murder mystery read about friendship, love, deception, lies and secrets’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely gripping, a perfect summer read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This was an absolutely delicious read that grabbed me from the get-go’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The ending, and the revelations leading up to it, blew me away’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘WHAT A READ! . . . I was whizzing through the pages just to find out anything out’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Unputdownable! The ideal holiday read’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

Lucy Clarke (Author), Natalie Simpson, Sofia Zervudachi (Narrator)

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Companion piece: The new novel from the Booker-shortlisted author of How to be both

"Brought to you by Penguin. The unmissable new work from Ali Smith, following the dazzling Man Booker-shortlisted Seasonal quartet 'A story is never an answer. A story is always a question.' Here we are in extraordinary times. Is this history? What happens when we cease to trust governments, the media, each other? What have we lost? What stays with us? What does it take to unlock our future? Following her astonishing quartet of Seasonal novels, Ali Smith again lights a way for us through the nightmarish now, in a vital celebration of companionship in all its forms. 'Every hello, like every voice, holds its story ready, waiting.' © Ali Smith 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Ali Smith (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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Wahala: Three friends, three ‘perfect’ lives. Here Comes Trouble

"Brought to you by Penguin. Sex and the City' with a killer edge for fans of QUEENIE, EXPECTATION and MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER See me, see trouble Ronke, Simi, Boo are three mixed-race friends living in London. They have the gift of two cultures, Nigerian and English, though they don't all choose to see it that way. Everyday racism has never held them back, but now in their thirties, they question their future. Ronke wants a husband (he must be Nigerian); Boo enjoys (correction: endures) stay-at-home motherhood; while Simi, full of fashion career dreams, rolls her eyes as her boss refers to her 'urban vibe' yet again. When Isobel, a lethally glamorous friend from their past arrives in town, she is determined to fix their futures for them. Cracks in their friendship begin to appear, and it is soon obvious Isobel is not sorting but wrecking. When she is driven to a terrible act, the women are forced to reckon with a crime in their past that may just have repeated itself. A darkly comic and bitingly subversive take on love, race and family, Wahala will have you laughing, crying and gasping in horror. Boldly political about class, colorism and cooking, here is a truly inclusive tale that will speak to anyone who has ever cherished friendship, in all its forms. © Nikki May 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Nikki May (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Natalie Simpson

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