If you spent 2025 with your headphones permanently attached, you aren’t alone. Audible’s ‘Best of the Year’ list has officially landed, and it confirms one thing: we’ve traded the “doomscroll” for the “deep listen.”
This year’s top picks prove that audiobooks have moved far beyond just “reading on the go.” With multi-cast productions and authors stepping into the recording booth, the best listens of 2025 felt less like books and more like private cinema for your ears. From dystopian prequels to high-stakes suburban thrillers, here is the definitive top 10 list of audiobooks that defined the year.
1. The Sci-Fi Sensation: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo traded Hollywood for Houston this year. Set against the 1980s space shuttle program, Atmosphere is a masterclass in tension. Narrated by a powerhouse trio including Julia Whelan, it follows the first wave of female scientists at NASA. It’s a soaring, emotional story about the lengths we go to for love, and for the stars.
2. The Grit and the Glory: Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton
Trent Dalton has a knack for making Brisbane feel like the centre of the universe. In Gravity Let Me Go, he gives us a dark, rhythmic thriller about a man whose life is unraveling just as a massive storm hits the city. Dalton’s lyrical prose is made for audio; it’s frantic, heartfelt, and impossible to pause.
3. The Leadership Blueprint: A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern
There is something uniquely grounding about hearing a world leader narrate their own story. Jacinda Ardern’s memoir isn’t a dry political play-by-play. Instead, it’s a candid reflection on leading with empathy and the reality of being the world’s youngest female head of state while navigating new motherhood.
4. The Dystopian Return: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Hunger Games fever was officially reignited in 2025. This prequel takes us back to the 50th Games, the “Second Quarter Quell”, and follows a young Haymitch Abernathy. Narrated by Jefferson White, it’s a grim, gripping reminder of why we fell in love with Panem’s rebellion in the first place.
5. The Two-Word Revolution: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
The most viral non-fiction listen of the year. Mel Robbins’ philosophy is simple: if people want to misjudge you or exclude you, let them. In this audiobook, she breaks down how to stop the exhausting cycle of trying to control everyone else. It’s the ultimate guide to reclaiming your peace of mind.
6. The Historical Heartbreak: I Am Nannertgarrook by Tasma Walton
Based on the true story of the author’s own ancestor, this is a gut-wrenching tale of a Boonwurrung woman kidnapped by sealers. Narrated by Tasma Walton herself, the performance is raw and poetic, highlighting a side of colonial history that demands to be heard.
7. The Mystery with Heart: Murder at the Patel Motel by Maulik Pancholy
If you like your mysteries with a side of family drama and a hint of humour, this is your pick. It features a brilliant ensemble cast (including Anna Camp and Padma Lakshmi) and turns a tragic death at a Montana motel into a poignant exploration of identity and reconnection.
8. The Modern Masterpiece: My Friends by Hisham Matar
Winner of the Orwell Prize for Fiction, this is a deeply moving story of three friends living in political exile. Read by the author, it captures the emotional weight of living between two worlds and the profound homeland that friendship can provide.
9. The Healing Narrative: Jilya by Dr. Tracy Westerman AM
In this ground-breaking memoir, Dr. Westerman reflects on her journey from the remote Pilbara to becoming a leading psychologist. It’s an essential listen on self-determination, intergenerational trauma, and the power of Indigenous-led healing.
10. The Formula for Success: The Winning Formula by Cara Veloce
For the “Romantasy” and sports fans, this F1-centered romance was the sleeper hit of the year. Combining the high-octane world of Grand Prix racing with a “forced proximity” romance, it’s a pulse-pounding listen that proves love is the ultimate prize.
