Do you know when the mood strikes and you just want to listen to a good rom-com? Or maybe you’re in the market for something a little more wistful and looking for a good cry. But don’t worry, there are no devastating endings in this list. Buckle up because I’m about to share my favorite romance audiobooks…
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I work on renovation projects every day, and the one thing that reliably makes the time fly by is a good audiobook. They’re an art in themselves, and there are plenty of amazing books out there that I wouldn’t recommend on audio because either I don’t love the narration or the production. Similarly, there are some books that I find good but not great, but when in audio format, they suddenly come alive and extra special.
After years of listening to hundreds of audiobooks, here is my definitive top 10 list of romance audiobooks WITH NO SPOILERS. And PS: Some of these titles may be exclusive to an Audible subscription, which I find definitely worth my while. If you’re interested in checking out Audible, you can use this link for a free 30-day trial.
Looking for more fairies and vampires? Check out My Top 10 Best Romantasy Audiobooks. Plus, you can find all of my audiobook favorites here.
1. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Book Lovers is the definitive rom-com for, well… book lovers. That’s right, both protagonists come from the literary world and become mixed up in a Hallmark-worthy small town setting. I love all of Emily Henry’s romances, and the great news is that they’re all narrated by my favorite audiobook narrator and one of the most-awarded narrators of all time, Julia Whelan. She also happens to be the author of one of the audiobooks on this list (keep reading for that). But Book Lovers is my favorite of Henry’s books. I love how it follows tropes while subverting them with unexpected character traits and more nuanced storylines. Her stories have a literary merit and emotional depth that many other romance novels fail to achieve while still remaining light and fun overall. She strikes that perfect balance for me, and if that sounds good to you, too, I know you’ll love this audiobook.
2. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Abby Jimenez is another prolific contemporary romance author whose beach reads fly off the shelves in bookstores and airport kiosks alike. An interesting element to her books is that she weaves all of the romances together into the same world and also sprinkles in a little magical realism. Her novels don’t always hit the same mark for me as Emily Henry’s books consistently do, but Just for the Summer is the exception to that. I think it’s a beautiful rom-com with just enough emotional weight and well-developed love interests. And don’t worry, each book stands alone, so you don’t need to read all of the books in her literary world to make sense of this one.
3. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
For fans of classic rock, music history, and the romantic drama behind Fleetwood Mac, look no further than Daisy Jones & The Six. If you’ve seen the Prime Video adaptation, I have to say… I think this audiobook is better. It has a full cast of narrators performing the book, including well-known actors like Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality), and it’s beautifully produced. If you’re looking for more of a dramatic love story with ups and downs tied into the ’70s music scene, this audiobook is for you.
4. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
While we’re at it, let’s talk about my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid audiobook, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. If you haven’t heard of this book by now, I’d be surprised. It’s one of the buzziest books of the past 10 years, full of romance, scandal, and old Hollywood intrigue. If you’ve always been fascinated by figures like Elizabeth Taylor and their complicated love lives, this audiobook is for you and will take you on a wild journey. And as a bonus, it has three voice actors, including my favorite, Julia Whelan.
5. Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
Speaking of Julia Whelan, did you also know that she’s an author? She’s written two romance novels herself, one of which (My Oxford Year) has been adapted into a movie on Netflix. It’s also a great listen but I’d skip the movie… they alter and (in my opinion) butcher the ending. But this review is for my favorite of her books, Thank You for Listening. Because not only is Whelan one of the premier audiobook narrators working today, she also wrote this rom-com about audiobook narrators… and then narrated the audiobook herself. It’s a fascinating look into the world of audiobook narration and, as always, beautifully performed by Whelan. Highly recommend.
6. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
A sexy summer romance set in the literary world? Second-chance romance? Black love interests who don’t have to experience great hardship to get a happy ending? Yes, please. Meet Seven Days in June. And no, that wasn’t a spoiler because I already told you that every book on this list has a happy ending. That’s how I like my romances… you can make me sad for a little bit, but I expect a nice pay-off at the end! And this book does not disappoint. In fact, I think I’m overdue for another listen…
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
“Pride and Prejudice? What a basic romance choice, Renee.” Okay, hear me out! This is the next best thing to Mr. Darcy’s 2005 hand flex, I promise you. You’re getting a full cast of narrators to bring this story to life including Harris Dickinson as Mr. Darcy (if you’ve seen Babygirl, you’ll understand the hype) and other A-list actors like Will Poulter, Jessie Buckley, and Glenn Close. Be aware that this adaptation is abridged, so book purists may hate that it’s not full-length, but the “stage play” feel is immersive and a beautiful ride. And again, Harris Dickinson’s voice for Mr. Darcy in your ear… if you get it, you get it. This is an Audible Original, so it’s exclusive to Audible and free with a subscription. If you’re interested, you can use this link for a free 30-day trial.
8. Maybe This Time by Cara Bastone
A full cast of narrators including Noah Reid from Schitt’s Creek help to create this sweet and entertaining audiobook for Maybe This Time. There’s a wormhole, time travel, and of course… romance. It’s also a short listen at less than six hours long, so it’s perfect for a quick and satisfying romance fix. This is written as an audiobook only, so it’s tailored perfectly for narration, and you can’t deny that it’s a very unique premise!
9. Persuasion by Jane Austen
“Another Jane Austen adaptation, Renee?” You betcha, especially when Florence Pugh is leading the full cast production of Persuasion. Personally, I love these high-end dramatizations of old classics. I feel like you can understand the real meaning behind the antiquated-feeling words when they’re read and interpreted by actors for you. Especially when it’s an actor like Pugh with such great emotional range (and such a satisfying reading voice). This is an Audible Original, so it’s exclusive and free to Audible subscribers. If you’re interested in checking out Audible, you can use this link for a free 30-day trial.
10. Funny Story by Emily Henry
I figured it was only appropriate to bookend this list with my two favorite audiobooks from my favorite romance author, Emily Henry. And this second favorite is Funny Story. It’s a fresh take on the typical rom-com setup with the protagonists meeting under very unusual relationship circumstances. Plus, the male love interest is one of the most adored in Henry’s works. And, of course, it’s narrated by my beloved Julia Whelan. You can’t go wrong.
I hope this list was helpful to you as you find some new romance audiobooks to add to your queue! And if you’re interested in checking out an Audible subscription so you can access exclusive adaptations like Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion for free, you can use this link for a free 30-day trial.
PS: Looking for a little more magic and small-town charm in your romance? Check out My Top 10 Best Cozy Fantasy Audiobooks. Or you can find all of my audiobook favorites here.
