AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR

PROJECT HAIL MARY

by Andy Weir

narrated by Ray Porter, published by Audible Studios

FINALIST TITLES

A Promised Land, written and narrated by Barack Obama, published by Penguin Random House Audio

The Storyteller, written and narrated by Dave Grohl, published by HarperAudio

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris, narrated by William DeMeritt, published by Hachette Audio

HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY

CLANLANDS: WHISKY, WARFARE, AND A SCOTTISH ADVENTURE LIKE NO OTHER

by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish

narrated by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, published by Hodder & Stoughton

FINALIST TITLES

Music Is History, written and narrated by Ahmir Khalib Thompson (Questlove), published by Recorded Books

Somersett: Benjamin Franklin and the Masterminding of American Independence by Phillip Goodrich, narrated by Robert Petkoff, Joe Morton, Simon Jones, Euan Morton, Nicola Barber, and the author (reading the author's note and afterword), published by Blackstone Publishing and May Wuthrich Productions

The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson, narrated by Kathe Mazur with Walter Isaacson, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, written and performed by Herbert Sigüenza, published by L.A. Theatre Works

HUMOR

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

by Leslie Jordan

narrated by Leslie Jordan, published by HarperAudio

FINALIST TITLES

Brackish Waters by Matt Boren, narrated by Christina Applegate, published by Audible Originals

A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris, narrated by David Sedaris and Tracey Ullman Published by Hachette Audio

The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit by John V. Petrocelli, narrated by Larry Herron, published by Macmillan Audio

The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms, narrated by Arielle DeLisle and Megan Tusing Published by Brilliance Publishing

MULTI-VOICED PERFORMANCE

HERESY

by Melissa Lenhardt

narrated by Barrie Kreinik, Bailey Carr, Ella Turenne, Nikki Massoud, Natalie Naudus, Imani Jade Powers, and James Fouhey, published by Hachette Audio

FINALIST TITLES

The Anatomy of Desire by L. R. Dorn, narrated by Santino Fontana, Shelby Young, Marin Ireland, JD Jackson, Dan Bittner, Vikas Adam, Gabra Zackman, Fred Berman, Darrell Dennis, Oliver Wyman, Jonathan Davis, Hillary Huber, Lisa Flanagan, and Sharahn LaRue, published by HarperAudio

Bourdain by Laurie Woolever, narrated by Laurie Woolever, Christopher Bourdain, José Andrés, Nigella Lawson, W. Kamau Bell, Adam Epstein, Alex Getmanov, Alex Lowry, Alison Mosshart, Amy Entelis, Ben Selkow, Beth Aretsky, Bonnie McFarlane, Chris Collins, Christiane Amanpour, Daniel Halpern, Dave McMillan, David Choe, David Rosenthal, Diane Schutz, Eileen Opatut, Fred Morin, Helen Cho, Helen Lang, Hilary Snyder, James Graham, Jared Andrukanis, Jason Rezaian, Jeff Allen, Jeff Formosa, Jeff Zucker, Joe Coleman, Joel Rose, John Lurie, Josh Ferrell, Karen Rinaldi, Kimberly Witherspoon, Laurie Barnett, Lenny Mosse, Lizzie Fox, Lolis Elie, Lydia Tenaglia, Maria Bustillos, Matt Goulding, Matt Walsh, Michael Ruhlman, Michael Steed, Mike Ruffino, Morgan Fallon, Mustafa Bhagat, Nari Kye, Natasha Phan, Nathan Thornburgh, Nick Brigden, Panio Gianopoulos, Pat Younge, Patrick Radden Keefe, Patti Jackson, Peter Meehan, Philip Lajaunie, Rennik Soholt, Rob Stone, Robert Vuolo, Robin Standefer, Roy Choi, Sally Freeman, Sam Goldman, Sam Sifton, Sandy Zweig, Shant Petrossian, Steven Tempel, Todd Liebler, Tom Vitale, Web Stone, Whitney Ward, Yeganeh Rezaian, Aspen Miller, Barbara Rosenblat, Billie Fulford-Brown, Cheryl Smith, Dan Bittner, Ewan Chung, Gabra Zackman, George Newbern, Hillary Huber, James Lurie, Jason Culp, Jean Brassard, Joe Knezevich, Oliver Wyman, Rob Shapiro, and Roger Wayne, published by HarperAudio

Four Hundred Souls, edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Amir Abdullah, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Kristen Ariza, Dashawn Barnes, Joshua Bennett, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Andre Blake, Torian Brackett, Donte Bonner, Mahogany L. Browne, Ron Butler, Kellie Carter-Jackson, Brianna Collette, Karen Chilton, Sean Crisden, Keith David, Angela Y. Davis, William DeMeritt, Leonard Dozier, Robin Eller, Kevin R. Free, James Fouhey, Alicia Garza, Dion Graham, Danai Gurira, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, Jamal Henderson, Ethan Herisse, Susan Heyward, Cary Hite, Dominic Hoffman, Sherrilyn Ifill, James Monroe Iglehart, JD Jackson, Zainab Jah, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Sullivan Jones, Peter Francis James, Terrence Kidd, January LaVoy, Adam Lazarre-White, Keylor Leigh, Nicole Lewis, Dennis Logan, Chanté McCormick, Desmond Manny, Jesus Martinez, Heather McGhee, Sheryl Mebane, Robin Miles, Karen Murray, Soneela Nankani, Leon Nixon, Soledad O’Brien, Leslie Odom, Jr., Adenrele Ojo, Genesis Oliver, Prentice Onayemi, Tovah Ott, Morgan Parker, Imani Parks, Lisa Renee Pitts, Imani Jade Powers, Rhett Samuel Price, Bill Quinn, Phylicia Rashad, David Sadzin, Joshua David Scarlett, Heather Alicia Simms, Shayna Small, Patricia Smith, Marisha Tapera, Tashi Thomas, Damian Thompson, TL Thompson, Ella Turenne, Bahni Turpin, Anita Welch, Jade Wheeler, Samira Wiley, Zenzi Williams, Mirron Willis, Andia Winslow, Kai Wright, and with co-editors Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, published by Penguin Random House Audio

Twins by Varian Johnson, narrated by Ahnya O'Riordan, Grace Capeless, Mashari Bain, Malcolm Bowen, Antoinette Comer, André Blake, Armand Xavier, and Rufen-Blanchette, published by Scholastic Audio

MIDDLE GRADE

PLAYING THE CARDS YOU'RE DEALT

by Varian Johnson

narrated by Dion Graham, published by Scholastic Audio

FINALIST TITLES

Class Act by Jerry Craft, narrated by Nile Bullock, Jesus Del Orden, Guy Lockard, Marc Thompson, Peyton Lusk, Rebecca Soler, Dan Bittner, January LaVoy, Phoebe Strole, Jordan Cobb, A.J. Beckles, Robin Miles, Ron Butler, Miles Harvey, Kim Mai Guest, Kyla Garcia, and Soneela Nankani, published by HarperAudio

Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman, narrated by Stockard Channing, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Stamped (for Kids) by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul, narrated by Pe'Tehn Raighn-Kem Jackson, published by Hachette Audio

Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba and Avery Fischer Udagawa (translator), narrated by Traci Kato-Kiriyama, published by Yonder: Restless Books for Young Readers

LITERARY FICTION & CLASSICS

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

by James Herriot

narrated by Nicholas Ralph, published by Macmillan Audio

FINALIST TITLES

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, published by Macmillan Audio

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau, narrated by Caitlin Kinnunen, published by HarperAudio

Matrix by Lauren Groff, narrated by Adjoa Andoh, published by Penguin Random House Audio

Moby Dick by Herman Melville, narrated by Jonathan Epstein, published by Alison Larkin Presents

MYSTERY

LATER

by Stephen King

narrated by Seth Numrich, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

FINALIST TITLES

The Bucket List by Peter Mohlin and Peter Nystrom, narrated by Dion Graham, published by Recorded Books

Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March, narrated by Vikas Adam, published by Macmillan Audio

The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie, narrated by Gabrielle de Cuir, with John Lee, published by Blackstone Publishing and Skyboat Media

The Midnight Man by Caroline Mitchell, narrated by Emma Gregory and Elliot Fitzpatrick Published by Embla Books

NON-FICTION

THE JOY OF SWEAT

by Sarah Everts

narrated by Sophie Amoss, published by Penguin Random House Audio

FINALIST TITLES

Freedom, written and narrated by Sebastian Junger, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Last Call by Elon Green, narrated by David Pittu, published by Macmillan Audio

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism, written and narrated by Dr. Jen Gunter, published by HighBridge Audio, a division of Recorded Books

The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis, narrated by Adenrele Ojo, published by Audible Studios

This Is Your Mind on Plants, written and narrated by Michael Pollan, published by Penguin Random House Audio

NARRATION BY THE AUTHOR

A PROMISED LAND

by Barack Obama

narrated by Barack Obama, published by Penguin Random House Audio

FINALIST TITLES

All the Rage: A Partial Memoir in Two Acts and a Prologue, written and narrated by Brad Fraser, published by Penguin Random House Canada

Going There, written and narrated by Katie Couric, published by Hachette Audio

Stories to Tell, written and narrated by Richard Marx, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

The Truth About Lies, written and narrated by Aja Raden, published by Brilliance Publishing

Vulnerable AF, written and narrated by Tarriona Ball, published by Andrews McMeel Publishing

ORIGINAL WORK

HEROINE

by Mary Jane Wells

narrated by Mary Jane Wells, published by Author's Republic

FINALIST TITLES

Beatrix Greene by Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parsons, and Vicky Alvear Shecter, narrated by Shiromi Arserio and Alister Austin Published by Realm

The Man She Never Met, written and narrated by Annie Hulley, published by Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson, narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt and Erik Larson, published by Penguin Random House Audio

Sunset Springs by Kacen Callender, narrated by Qamar Yochanan, published by Audible Originals

SHORT STORIES/COLLECTIONS

BLACKOUT

by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon

narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Dion Graham, Imani Parks, Jordan Cobb, Shayna Small, A.J. Beckles, and Bahni Turpin, published by HarperAudio

FINALIST TITLES

The Best American Short Stories 2021, edited by Jesmyn Ward and Heidi Pitlor, narrated by Lisa Flanagan, Robin Eller, Tre Hall, Katy Tang, Emily Ellet, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Alex Meraz, Adan Rocha, Piper Goodeve, Frankie Maria Corzo, Sterling Sulieman, JD Jackson, Brittany Pressley, Robert Fass, Bahni Turpin, Jonathan Davis, Priya Ayyar, Graham Halstead, Michael Crouch, and Catherine Ho, published by HMH Audio (HarperCollins)

Binge by Douglas Coupland, narrated by Douglas Coupland, Anna Faris, Bret Easton Ellis, Michael Stipe, Chuck Klosterman, Jarvis Cocker, Jane Pratt, Will Ferguson, Genki Ferguson, Salvatore Antonio, Katie Ryerson, Andrew Moodie, Lorna Wilson, Victoria Carr, Stephanie Belding, Liz Dunn, Selena Dhillon, Charlotte Shaifer, and Caleb Stull, published by Penguin Random House Canada

How It Ends: A Novella by Rachel Howzell Hall, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, published by Audible Originals

Lyrics for Rock Stars by Heather Mateus Sappenfield, narrated by Michael Crouch, published by V Press LC

SCIENCE FICTION

PROJECT HAIL MARY

by Andy Weir

narrated by Ray Porter, published by Audible Studios

FINALIST TITLES

Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill, narrated by Vikas Adam, published by HarperAudio

Orphan Wars by Scott Moon and J.N. Chaney, narrated by Luke Daniels, published by Podium Audio

Pastel Pink (Book 1 of The Zadok Series), written and published by Nikki Minty, narrated by Khristine Hvam, James Patrick Cronin, and Jodie Harris

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, narrated by Wil Wheaton, published by Penguin Random House Audio

ROMANCE

REEL: HOLLYWOOD RENAISSANCE, BOOK 1

by Kennedy Ryan

narrated by Eboni Flowers, Jakobi Diem, Nicole Small, and April Christina, published by Scribechick Media LLC, produced by Lyric Audiobooks

FINALIST TITLES

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun, narrated by Vikas Adam, Graham Halstead, and Cassandra Campbell, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Mine to Protect by Kennedy L. Mitchell, narrated by Maxine Mitchell and Teddy Hamilton Published by Blue Nose Audio

Pause by Kylie Scott, narrated by Andi Arndt, published by Audible Originals

The Wrong Heart, written and published by Jennifer Hartmann, narrated by Stefanie Kay and Neill Thorne

YOUNG ADULT

BE DAZZLED

by Ryan La Sala

narrated by Pete Cross, published by Dreamscape Media

FINALIST TITLES

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc, published by Macmillan Audio

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni, narrated by Jeanette Illidge, published by HMH Audio (HarperCollins)

The Project by Courtney Summers, narrated by Therese Plummer and Emily Shaffer Published by Macmillan Audio

A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia, narrated by Machelle Williams, published by HarperAudio

THRILLER/SUSPENSE

LOCAL WOMAN MISSING

by Mary Kubica

narrated by Brittany Pressley, Jennifer Jill Araya, Gary Tiedemann, and Jesse Vilinsky, published by HarperAudio

FINALIST TITLES

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, narrated by Rebecca Lowman, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Never Far Away by Michael Koryta, narrated by Robert Petkoff, published by Hachette Audio

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell, narrated by Joanne Froggatt, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby, narrated by Adam Lazarre-White, published by Macmillan Audio

YOUNG LISTENERS

I AND I BOB MARLEY

by Tony Medina

narrated by Jaime Lincoln Smith and Tony Medina, published by Live Oak Media

FINALIST TITLES

Boogie Boogie, Y'all, written and narrated by C. G. Esperanza, published by HarperAudio

The Couch Potato by Jory John, narrated by Kirby Heyborne, published by HarperAudio

Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence, narrated by Allison Hiroto, published by OrangeSky Audio

Remember to Dream, Ebere, written and narrated by Cynthia Erivo, published by Hachette Audio