Our Favorite Audiobook Narrators

The Ultimate List of YA Fantasy 21

The 2019 Audie Awards were just recently announced and we were eager to see the big winners. Not familiar with the Audies? They are awards given to the best audiobooks and narrators each year. Jackie and I are both huge audiobook fans. I listen to probably 60% of my books in any given year. Since I’ve clocked in quite a few audiobooks over the years, I wanted to recommend some of my favorite audiobook narrators. These are the narrators that truly elevate the listening experience to serious performance levels. We’ve shared their information and some of our favorite audiobooks with you below.  Hopefully, you will find your next great listen in the list below!

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outlander by diana gabaldonthe miniaturistDavina Porter

Davina Porter is one of my favorite audiobook narrators because her soft accent is lovely and soothing. I first found her because she Narrates my beloved Outlander seriesir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=8483357b1af9506be9a334bc09c5630c& cb=1556936261899, but she’s also narrated other greats like The Mists of Avalonir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=acd242f6222733f7dccc871619e9494b& cb=1556936219449, The Miniaturistir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=53f9adca85737f3c38bb5d62c83b5cb9& cb=1556936410123, and The Virgin’s Loverir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=ac4b30806222411a272dd4b23e856258& cb=1556936239189.

the night circus by erin morgensternharry PotterJim Dale

If you listen to Harry Potter on audiobook, then you know Jim Dale. Did you know that he created over 400 different voices for that series? He’s incredible! We also love his work on The Night Circusir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=b354f911b190bfbbc4b64e3fef06c867& cb=1556937195548 and Peter and the Starcatchersir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=ae737e80d320fedead3af0452bb26a74& cb=1556937214481. This Grammy award winner will always hold a special place in our hearts.

educated51HRLXZYlL. SY346Julia Whelan

I’ve loved Julia’s voice since I first heard her on Fates and Furiesir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9d6e52ea8332cef9d8621957005db989& cb=1556937945393. I remember loving her voice and it’s stuck with me over the years. She recently wrote her own book – My Oxford Yearir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=be6a182eba06c4608f44e686219323c5& cb=1556937911339 and narrated it (it’s fabulous) and she won 2 audies this year for her reading of Tara Westover’s Educated.ir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=ffcb7b90976bc04f2f1f5e261d09b2ac& cb=1556937929783 Other favorites of mine include:  The Wife Between Usir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=f16468b9dcc15b6171aeadfbc93379dc& cb=1556937857868, Far from the Treeir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=8123ba79a26c3b1a78178336b6081f99& cb=1556937885574, and A Study in Charlotteir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=35f38d03f7f2caa1f3a3c1dfb963f1b1& cb=1556937896990.

The lost Vintagewar stormSaskia Maarleveld

When I was listening to The Lost Vintageir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=c9e903745d31b195b23be9a411020d6a& cb=1556990538988, I vividly remember thinking “I’ve heard this voice before.” Turns out Saskia narrates lots of great books! From historical fiction like The Alice Networkir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=af7de623d7d76e250ae371d5a21670b3& cb=1556990605185 to romance (Fallen Crest Highir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=2a51dcfbaf433c3866d5d2b8bca629a9& cb=1556990615639) to fantasy (War Stormir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=21c7a89ecc9bbf75391a45973367f7f3& cb=1556990626716) and beyond (how does one classify The Jane Austen Projectir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=ebaa7b7a645c5748e247ec8b6cd91bc8& cb=1556990640588?) she’s got a breath of work to explore.

best day ever by kaira roudafallen crest university by tijanGraham Halsted

HELLO, HOTSTUFF. Literally, I picture him as a Sam Heughan or some other hot beefy piece of man meat. #sorrynotsorry. His voice is like butter even when he’s being a full-on creeper (Best Day Everir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=6feffe6ed1d914828d11848c98684bcf& cb=1556990695668), solving a mystery (The Case for Jamieir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=58f2d465abe57934a54fa9ecb0a61c09& cb=1556990708997), or acting like the resident cool kid (Fallen Crest Universityir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=d654066edb114ce3c655c581e21e6129& cb=1556990723153.)

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton - A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick! #reesewitherspoonbookclub #nextyearinhavanarefugee by alan gratzKyla Garcia

Kyla Garcia first came to my attention when she narrated the middle-grade book, Refugeeir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=06fd2cd7bb497d4d4f3ce89380112725& cb=1556993015509. I then noticed her work popping up in Next Year in Havanair?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=1b5decfd1f38555dd67ce22f06d34a76& cb=1556993025262The Orphan’s Tale ir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9a63712eab21d86b43a109ec7888776e& cb=1556993039157and There, Thereir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=88715047396315fa660049c27976704c& cb=1556993056455. She’s a newer narrator but one to watch.

still life by louise pennykingdom of the blindRalph Cosham and Robert Bathurst

Ralph started out reading the Louise Penny mystery series that Jackie and I love. In both of our minds, he embodied the series, but sadly he passed between books 10ir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9079a7eeaa5d6b0a141bfbfb12f07c29& cb=1556993132492 and 11ir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9e02f916f5d396f7d5f8d5b4aed52868& cb=1556993148333. We were devasted. We didn’t think anyone could rise to the challenge and have us enjoying the audiobook experience again. However, Robert Bathurst rose to the occasion! Whew!

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas soon to be a major motion picture.hum if you dont know the words by bianca maraisBahni Turpin

Talk about a catalog of work! Bahni narrates some of the best audiobooks ever recorded. The Hate You Giveir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=06629ff3c1885d1e058bf7d11e3143a6& cb=1556993161662 The Sun is Also a Starir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=df2555718c432b4f68122a9134e94a1c& cb=1556993171638, The Helpir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=85ba54e84585ebca55b874cd5b113e19& cb=1556993181051, The Underground Railroadir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=8c791b93b8019b019d7b18e29c455f2d& cb=1556993191534, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacksir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=fb4fe9a476d7942457ac35b1a17c0fc2& cb=1556993202187, and our beloved Hum if You Don’t Know the Wordsir?source=bk&t=beyondth06 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=21c5078867526cbf86f61b47a472422d& cb=1556993224607. See? She’s killing it in the world of audiobook narrators!

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