Top YA Audiobooks I listened to in 2018 | Blogmas
Top YA listens on Audible in 2018 | Blogmas
I think as kids we all listen to Audiobooks and then for some reason as adults we stop? I only got back into reading Audiobooks a few years ago and now I listen all the time: when I’m driving, cleaning… doing anything that uses my hands and stops me reading physical books to be honest. I use Audible and I highly recommend if you want to get audiobooks cheaply, not sponsored!
It’s not just that people don’t think to try Audiobooks, oh no, there are people who actively insist that audiobooks don’t count as reading. Now, I don’t mean in the literal sense. I know that reading and listening are two different words (duh), but if one person listened to an audiobook of Harry Potter (you should by the way, Stephen Fry is EPIC) and one read the physical copy, and hey one person even reads it on an ereader – THEY ALL READ HARRY POTTER. So I tweeted about this, as you can see below.
|￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣|
Audiobooks count
as reading
and ereaders are as
good as paperbacks
|＿___＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿|
(•◡•) /
/
—
| |— Jenn ✨ ⋆ (@JennieLy) September 11, 2018
The response was unbelievable! Some were shocked that people didn’t count it as reading, others were shocked I would even suggest it was. Let’s forget how ableist this is for a moment, wait, no let’s not. People that can’t read physical books anymore due to disability may only be able to read via audiobooks. Saying that it doesn’t count is so ableist and just ridiculous.
I got so much hate for this tweet that was so unexpected. Yes I got a lot of support too, but trolls literally retweeted this calling me horrible names which just shocked me? I did not think people would get so up in arms about Audiobooks?!
Some examples of what people said were that if listening to an audiobook counted as reading, then so did watching the film.. and I just… no comment. If you want to see some of the ridiculous things people said, feel free to peruse the 157 replies haha.
ANYWAY. I thought that it was high time that I do a post solely about the amazing Audibooks I’ve read recently. Here are the ones I read this year! There are slightly less than usual as I didn’t commute from September so it cut my listening time down.
Hunger Games Trilogy
The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset (The Hunger Games, #1-3) by Suzanne Collins The extraordinary, ground breaking New York Times bestsellers The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, along with the third book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay, are available for the first time ever in a beautiful boxset edition. Stunning, gripping, and powerful. The trilogy is now complete!
Published by Scholastic Press on August 24th 2010
Narrator: Carolyn McCormick
Length: 11hrs Each
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 1155
Goodreads
The Cruel Prince
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) by Holly Black
on January 2nd 2018
Narrator: Caitlin Kelly
Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 370
Goodreads
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
From a Distant Star
When Lucas Walker inexplicably recovers from a terminal illness, everyone is astonished --except for his girlfriend Emma, who never gave up hope. However, as friends and family celebrate the miracle, Emma becomes alarmed: Lucas has changed. He speaks haltingly, can't recall past events, and even his own dog doesn't recognize him. Emma begins to suspect something is terribly wrong. What happened to the Lucas she loved? Does his strange behavior have something to do with the shooting light that fell into Lucas's backyard the night he recovered? As the two set off on a road trip in search of the truth, the journey takes an unexpected turn. First they're shot at by unknown enemies and then helped by unlikely allies. Before long, Emma and Lucas are plunged into a desperate life or death race against time. Packed with intrigue and emotion, FROM A DISTANT STAR is a riveting novel about loyalty and the power of love.
From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion
Published by Skyscape on May 19th 2015
Narrator: Kate Rudd
Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 272
Goodreads
Shadow and Bone Trilogy
The Grisha Trilogy (Grisha Verse #1-3) by Leigh Bardugo In a lavish world where darkness reigns and science collides with superstition, Alina Starkov has the power to save her country…but it comes with a price in The Grisha Trilogy by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo. Included in this bundle are Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising.
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on November 17th 2015
Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
Length: 9-11hrs each
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 1248
Goodreads
Carve the Mark Duology
The Carve the Mark Duology by Veronica Roth From Book 1: #1 New York Times bestseller * Wall Street Journal bestseller * USA Today bestseller * #1 IndieBound bestseller Praise for Carve the Mark: “Roth skillfully weaves the careful world-building and intricate web of characters that distinguished Divergent.” —VOYA (starred review) “Roth offers a richly imagined, often brutal world of political intrigue and adventure, with a slow-burning romance at its core.” —ALA Booklist Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth have grown up in enemy countries locked in a long-standing fight for dominance over their shared planet. When Akos and his brother are kidnapped by the ruling Noavek family, Akos is forced to serve Cyra, the sister of a dictator who governs with violence and fear. Cyra is known for her deadly power of transferring extraordinary pain unto others with simple touch, and her tyrant brother uses her as a weapon against those who challenge him. But as Akos fights for his own survival, he recognizes that Cyra is also fighting for hers, and that her true gift—resilience—might be what saves them both. When Akos and Cyra are caught in the middle of a raging rebellion, everything they’ve been led to believe about their world and themselves must be called into question. But fighting for what’s right might mean betraying their countries, their families, and each other. When the time comes, will they choose loyalty or love?
on January 1st 1970
Narrator: Austin Butler, Emily Rankin, Aaron Spencer, MacLeod Andrews
Length: 14hrs Each
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Goodreads
Globally bestselling Divergent author Veronica Roth delivers a breathtaking fantasy featuring an unusual friendship, an epic love story, and a galaxy-sweeping adventure.
The Last Girl on Earth
Raised among them.> Li has a father and a sister who love her. A best friend, Mirabae, to share things with. She goes to school and hangs out at the beach and carefully follows the rules. She has to. Everyone she knows--her family, her teachers, her friends--is an alien. And she is the only human left on Earth. A secret that could end her life. The Abdoloreans hijacked the planet sixteen years ago, destroying all human life. Li's human-sympathizer father took her in as a baby and has trained her to pass as one of them. The Abdoloreans appear human. But they don't think with human minds or feel with human hearts. And they have special abilities no human could ever have. Fit in or die. When Li meets Ryn, she's swept up in a relationship that could have disastrous consequences. How far will Li go to stay alive? Will she save herself--and in turn, the human race--or will she be the final witness to humanity's destruction?
The Last Girl on Earth by Alexandra Blogier
Published by Delacorte Press on January 23rd 2018
Narrator: Kim Mai Guest
Length: 6hrs22min
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 256
Goodreads
Starbound Trilogy
These Broken Stars (Starbound, #1) by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner Luxury spaceliner Icarus suddenly plummets from hyperspace into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive – alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a cynical war hero. Both journey across the eerie deserted terrain for help. Everything changes when they uncover the truth. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.
Published by Disney Hyperion on December 10th 2013
Narrator: Cynthia Holloway, Johnathan McClain, Sarge Anton, Kim Mai Guest, MacLeod Andrews, Callard Harris, Donnabella Mortel, Lincoln Hoppe
Length: 14+hrs
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 384
Goodreads
Unearthed
When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered. For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance. In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...
Unearthed by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner
on January 9th 2018
Narrator: Steve West, Alex McKenna
Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 384
Goodreads
Hold Back the Stars
‘We’re going to be fine.’ He looks around, but there’s nothing out here: nothing but the bottomless black universe on their left, the Earth suspended in glorious technicolour to their right. Carys and Max have ninety minutes of air left.None of this was supposed to happen.But, perhaps this doesn’t need to be the end…Adrift in space with nothing to hold on to but each other, Carys and Max can’t help but look back at the well-ordered world they have left behind – at the rules they couldn’t reconcile themselves to, and a life to which they might now never return.For in a world where love is banned, what happens when you find it? Hold Back the Stars is a love story like no other.
Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan
Published by Black Swan on November 30th 2017
Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 320
Goodreads
So that’s what I listened to this year! They were all pretty great, have you read any of them? What’s your favourite audiobook?
Follow Jenniely on WordPress.com
35 Comments
My favorite audiobook this year was The Poet X! It was read by the author and hearing her read a novel in verse was really cool.
That’s awesome! I’ve seen that book about but it’s not something I’d usually read, but I love the idea of an author reading their own book. I think Neil Gaiman does that?
I haven’t listened to these ones yet as I tend to use audible for non fiction books and books that are way too long for me to read. But I’ll give carve the Mark a go. Honestly the audio books doesn’t count as reading losses me off a lot especially when the people who use it the most are disabled people. We should learn to love books whatever format they come in and not discredit one or another. Great post !!❤
Thank you! I think I’d find non-fiction too boring via audiobook! Though it’s just not something I’m very interested in reading right now, though I have on occasion enjoyed non-fiction.
Same, Audiobooks help so many people continue or discover reading where they wouldn’t be able to otherwise, it’s awful to suggest it doesn’t count.
So the 100+ audiobooks I’ve listened to this year…. Not one of those were on my list. Looks like I have more audios to listen to!
Yes you do! Honestly there are so many great audiobooks out there, especially YA. I tend to judge by narrator though.
I only started listening to audiobooks again a little over a year ago but I love them!! Great list 🙂
Thank you! I love them too, it’s only been a few years that I’ve been listening to them, except when I was a kid!
I audiobook 90% of the time and totally consider it reading!! Also, Stephen Fry’s version of HP is masterful!! This is such a great list! I love all of Bardugo’s books in audio! There are some amazing narrators out there!
Thank you! It is, isn’t it? I managed to get my boyfriend to listen to the HP audiobooks, he hasn’t read them before, and he’s hooked! He’s very cynical of the plot but he’s still enjoying it haha.
Haha! I may try to get my husband to listen to those. We will see! I have only listened to the first five books so I’ve not finished the series yet.
Awesome! I should try audio books
Yes you should! They are brilliant. Great for multitasking!
Thank you for this post! It means the world to me when someone who is able-bodied recognizes readers like me who cannot physically consume strictly hardbacks and paperbacks like they can. 💗 My favorite audiobook this year is My Lady Jane!! I haven’t laughed that much in too long! 😂
You are so welcome! I think it’s important for everyone to understand how great they are, especially for those less abled. Honestly I find it hard to read bigger books so I really do love them for that too! I’ve not read that one, or heard of it, I’ll add it to my tbr!
So many cool audiobooks 😍 I’m including them more on my reading habits now, it took me a while to get used to them, like with anything new, but it’s awesome! Yay for audiobooks
Yay I’m so glad! Yes at first it took me a little while, I only listened when driving. Now I listen whenever I feel like the mood has struck me haha.
Jenn, you are such a positive light in this community ilysm and i also second the Starbound trilogy as an awesome audiobook series! I’ve got the Shadow and Bone audiobook but i haven’t listened yet, looks like it’s bumping up on my audio TBR!
D’awwwww that is such a sweet thing to say!! <3 I do try xx
Yes the Starbound trilogy is amazing! It took me a bit to get used to the changing protagonists but once I'd gotten used to that it was AMAZING.
Yessss good plan! I'm gonna listen to the Wicked King
I’m listening to The Cruel Prince on audio right now!! My favorite audiobooks are the ones narrated by the author! There’s something so simplistic about it and I love the way the authors read their own work!
I’m going to listen to the Wicked King, even though I’ve already read it! I loved The Cruel Prince audiobook so much so I really want to listen to The Wicked King too.
Yes that’s true! I haven’t listened to many read by their authors
2019 will hopefully be the year when I get better at listening to audiobooks. I have a few books on my shelf that I have only read 50% of. Audiobooks, for me, are great at making me finish books I would have DNFed if I were reading a hardcopy of it. Last year I listened to a few books narrated by Neil Gaiman and they were incredible.
Yes I hope you manage it!! And yes I’ve heard that he’s a great narrator, I haven’t listened to any of his yet though.
I haven’t been able to get used to listening to audiobooks yet myself, but I’m definitely bookmarking this page for recommendations. Great list!
Thank you! I hope you give it a try, I know you’ll love it!!
Love this list! I’m gonna have to admit that I’ve never listened to an audiobook… I know, I know, I can’t believe it either. I’ve just never felt the urge to do it, but I’ve been seeing so many amazing recs lately, especially for books like Sadie, that I know 2019 is going to be the year I start audiobooks (and probably get through more books in a year this was too haha), so this list has come at the right time for me! I can’t wait to try out some of these audiobooks.
YESSSS doooo ittt! Honestly in 2017 I didn’t have time to read physical books because I was doing my dissertation, I only got books read in the first half of the year because I was listening to them. SUCH a life saver.
Great list and I will never get over how people police what other people do and read as if it affects them in any way. I have always struggled with audiobooks, for some reason listening doesn’t capture my brain’s attention enough and I tend to zone out more often. I have been trying to get into them a bit this year (the one time I wish I had a commute for work!), and I have found that I love it when I can read along! The Illuminae Files have converted me completely and I am looking forward to more audios in my future, and I might listen when I drive 8 hours back home this weekend.
I keep hearing amazing things about the audiobooks of the Illuminae files! I’ve never read along, I think it is something I want to try this year!
And yes I don’t get it. If it doesn’t affect anyone else in a negative way then why even have an issue with it?!
I loved the Fury Born and Aristotle and Dante audio books
Ohhh I might check out Furyborn as that’s on my list!
AUDIOBOOKS DEFINITELY COUNT! I listened to the cruel prince and the Shadow and Bone trilogy too, really like them. Also recommend the illuminae files as they have a full cast!
Yes I keep hearing that but I’ve read the paperback twice so will have to wait a while to listen!
Everyone keeps recommending that to me! I REALLY need to pick them up. Later this year I think once it’s faded from my mind a bit.
I took on the 2019 Audio Books Challenge in January. Your post came just in time. TY!