Best Forbidden Love Audiobooks

The highest-rated audiobooks featuring the Forbidden Love trope, ranked by listeners and readers. Browse 50 titles across Romance, Fantasy, Literature & Fiction.

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Forbidden love strips romance down to its rawest element: desire that refuses to obey. It's compelling because the obstacles aren't misunderstandings or bad timing—they're real, structural forces that make the relationship itself dangerous or transgressive. You feel the weight of what's at stake, which makes every stolen moment matter. The emotional payoff isn't just 'they got together'—it's watching characters choose each other despite devastating consequences.

You'll find this trope across romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and literary fiction. Some books lean into the ache of separation, others into defiant passion. Expect tension, moral complexity, and relationships that exist in the cracks of systems designed to keep people apart.

  1. 1
    Written in My Own Heart's Blood cover

    Written in My Own Heart's Blood

    Outlander • Book 8

    by Diana Gabaldon

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4.91 ABR Score (166.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Goodreads (141.6K) ★ 4.84 Audible (24.9K)
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    Jamie Fraser's presumed death during the Revolutionary War throws Claire and their family into chaos in this emotionally devastating installment. Davina Porter handles the sprawling cast with her trademark Scottish authenticity.

  2. 2
    One Last Rainy Day: The Legacy of a Prince cover

    One Last Rainy Day: The Legacy of a Prince

    Ravenhood Legacy • Book 1

    by Kate Stewart

    Narrated by Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell

    4.81 ABR Score (59.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.53 Goodreads (55.7K) ★ 4.9 Audible (3.9K)
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    Arden and Mitchell's dual narration weaves romance and suspense as Dominic's dark secrets threaten the love story that will define the next generation of the Ravenhood.

  3. 3
    Reverse cover

    Reverse

    The Bittersweet Symphony Duet • Book 2

    by Kate Stewart

    Narrated by Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell

    4.79 ABR Score (30.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.63 Goodreads (29.0K) ★ 4.9 Audible (1.9K)
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    Rock star romance continues with star-crossed lovers navigating a scandal spanning generations in this duet conclusion. Stewart explores how past secrets threaten to destroy a budding relationship in the music industry.

  4. 4
    Dragonfly in Amber cover

    Dragonfly in Amber

    Outlander • Book 2

    by Diana Gabaldon

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4.79 ABR Score (434.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.34 Goodreads (387.7K) ★ 4.76 Audible (46.8K)
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    Claire returns to 18th-century Scotland with plans to prevent Culloden, while the 1960s storyline reveals her daughter's search for Jamie Fraser. Davina Porter handles the complex dual timeline and Scottish accents with remarkable skill.

  5. 5
    The Song of Achilles cover

    The Song of Achilles

    by Madeline Miller

    Narrated by Frazer Douglas

    4.66 ABR Score (2.1M ratings)
    ★ 4.3 Goodreads (2.0M) ★ 4.61 Audible (40.8K)
    More about this pick

    Miller reimagines the Trojan War through Patroclus's eyes, transforming mythology into an achingly intimate love story.

  6. 6
    It Ends with Us cover

    It Ends with Us

    It Ends with Us • Book 1

    by Colleen Hoover

    Narrated by Olivia Song

    4.65 ABR Score (4.8M ratings)
    ★ 4.08 Goodreads (4.7M) ★ 4.67 Audible (87.8K)
    More about this pick

    Olivia Song handles Hoover's emotional gut-punches with sensitivity, making Lily's impossible choices between love and safety feel achingly real.

  7. 7
    Outlander cover

    Outlander

    Outlander • Book 1

    by Diana Gabaldon

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4.65 ABR Score (1.2M ratings)
    ★ 4.26 Goodreads (1.2M) ★ 4.6 Audible (80.1K)
    More about this pick

    Davina Porter handles both Claire's modern sensibility and 18th-century Scottish dialect as a WWII nurse gets trapped 200 years in the past.

  8. 8
    Death Masks cover

    Death Masks

    The Dresden Files • Book 5

    by Jim Butcher

    Narrated by James Marsters

    4.61 ABR Score (178.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (148.8K) ★ 4.81 Audible (29.4K)
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    Dresden faces a vampire duel, professional assassins, and the missing Shroud of Turin all in one chaotic case. James Marsters continues to be the perfect voice for Harry's sarcastic commentary as the stakes get personal.

  9. 9
    Tower of Dawn cover

    Tower of Dawn

    Throne of Glass • Book 6

    by Sarah J. Maas

    Narrated by Elizabeth Evans

    4.61 ABR Score (1.1M ratings)
    ★ 4.28 Goodreads (1.1M) ★ 4.76 Audible (27.7K)
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    Paralyzed Chaol seeks healing in the southern continent while forging military alliances and uncovering ancient magic that could save or damn his homeland.

  10. 10
    Nightwork cover

    Nightwork

    by Nora Roberts

    Narrated by Will Damron

    4.60 ABR Score (46.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.25 Goodreads (41.6K) ★ 4.74 Audible (4.6K)
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    Harry Booth perfected the art of high-end burglary until a job goes wrong and forces him to confront his past. Will Damron captures both Harry's criminal precision and his unexpected capacity for love.

  11. 11
    The Rose and the Thorn cover

    The Rose and the Thorn

    The Riyria Chronicles • Book 2

    by Michael J. Sullivan

    Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

    4.57 ABR Score (46.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.4 Goodreads (31.0K) ★ 4.79 Audible (15.8K)
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    Tim Gerard Reynolds returns to voice Royce and Hadrian's darkest adventure as they confront abuse, corruption, and the birth of their legendary partnership. Reynolds captures each character's distinct voice perfectly.

  12. 12
    Caught Sleeping cover

    Caught Sleeping

    The Senator's Wife • Book 2

    by Jen Lyon

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.57 ABR Score (5.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.59 Goodreads (4.5K) ★ 4.88 Audible (591)
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    Abby Craden's narration captures the devastating intimacy of a love that must hide, making every stolen moment an act of defiance.

  13. 13
    1984 cover

    1984

    by George Orwell, Thomas Pynchon

    Narrated by Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, Tom Hardy, Chukwudi Iwuji, Romesh Ranganathan, Natasia Demetriou, Francesca Mills, Alex Lawther, Katie Leung

    4.56 ABR Score (5.6M ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (5.5M) ★ 4.67 Audible (14.8K)
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    Orwell's totalitarian masterpiece unfolds with chilling precision in this haunting performance that makes surveillance state horror feel terrifyingly plausible.

  14. 14
    If I Don't Ask cover

    If I Don't Ask

    Ask, Tell • Book 4

    by E.J. Noyes

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.54 ABR Score (2.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.59 Goodreads (1.8K) ★ 4.9 Audible (878)
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    Abby Craden captures every suppressed longing as Rebecca's armor cracks under forbidden desire and military duty. It's absolutely devastating.

  15. 15
    Bad Bishop cover

    Bad Bishop

    Society of Villains • Book 1

    by L.J. Shen

    Narrated by Lucy Rivers, Corvin King

    4.54 ABR Score (56.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.24 Goodreads (53.8K) ★ 4.78 Audible (2.5K)
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    Lila's teenage trauma leads to an arranged marriage with Tiernan, a ruthless mafia enforcer twenty years her senior who might be her salvation or destruction. Lucy Rivers and Corvin King capture the dangerous chemistry between victim and predator.

  16. 16
    Call Me cover

    Call Me

    Call Me By Your Name • Book 1

    by André Aciman

    Narrated by Armie Hammer

    4.53 ABR Score (618.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.1 Goodreads (604.6K) ★ 4.68 Audible (13.5K)
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    Seventeen-year-old Elio recounts his intense summer romance with Oliver, his father's graduate student, at their Italian villa. Armie Hammer's reading captures the story's sensual longing.

  17. 17
    The Book of Life cover

    The Book of Life

    All Souls • Book 3

    by Deborah Harkness

    Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda

    4.51 ABR Score (251.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.21 Goodreads (221.0K) ★ 4.72 Audible (30.0K)
    More about this pick

    Diana and Matthew's time-traveling return from Elizabethan London concludes the All Souls trilogy through Jennifer Ikeda's familiar character voices.

  18. 18
    A Court of Thorns and Roses cover

    A Court of Thorns and Roses

    A Court of Thorns and Roses • Book 1

    by Sarah J. Maas

    Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda

    4.50 ABR Score (4.4M ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (4.3M) ★ 4.6 Audible (78.4K)
    More about this pick

    Jennifer Ikeda captures Feyre's transformation from desperate huntress to powerful fae as she navigates deadly courts and complicated romantic entanglements.

  19. 19
    The Assassin's Blade cover

    The Assassin's Blade

    Throne of Glass #0.1-0.5

    by Sarah J. Maas

    Narrated by Elizabeth Evans

    4.47 ABR Score (1.3M ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (1.2M) ★ 4.66 Audible (15.6K)
    More about this pick

    These five prequel novellas gain new depth through Elizabeth Evans' performance, revealing how Celaena's relationship with Sam changed everything before Throne of Glass.

  20. 20
    A Court of Thorns and Roses (Part 2 of 2) cover

    A Court of Thorns and Roses (Part 2 of 2)

    A Court of Thorns and Roses [Dramatized Adaptation] #1, Part 2 • Book 1

    by Sarah J. Maas

    Narrated by Bradley Foster Smith, Karen Novack, Scott McCormick, Anthony Palmini, Henry W. Kramer, Natalie Van Sistine, Debi Tinsley, Gabriel Michael, Melody Muze, Ann Flandermeyer, Karenna Foley

    4.46 ABR Score (16.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.56 Goodreads (13.3K) ★ 4.69 Audible (3.1K)
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    Huntress Feyre kills a wolf and faces terrifying consequences in this dramatized adaptation of Maas's fantasy romance debut. The full cast and cinematic production create an immersive fae world.

  21. 21
    Out of the Dark cover

    Out of the Dark

    The Grey Wolves • Book 4

    by Quinn Loftis

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.46 ABR Score (17.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.47 Goodreads (16.7K) ★ 4.72 Audible (638)
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    Four Grey wolf packs unite in Transylvania to help members find mates, but betrayal from within threatens their supernatural alliance in this paranormal romance.

  22. 22
    The Viscount Who Loved Me cover

    The Viscount Who Loved Me

    Bridgertons • Book 2

    by Julia Quinn

    Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

    4.45 ABR Score (511.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.99 Goodreads (498.5K) ★ 4.66 Audible (12.4K)
    More about this pick

    Landor's sharp Regency delivery elevates the best enemies-to-lovers pairing in the Bridgertons series.

  23. 23
    What Remains of Heaven cover

    What Remains of Heaven

    Sebastian St. Cyr • Book 5

    by C.S. Harris

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4.43 ABR Score (10.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.24 Goodreads (9.6K) ★ 4.72 Audible (1.1K)
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    Sebastian investigates a murdered Bishop found beside a decades-old corpse in an ancient London crypt. Davina Porter captures the Regency atmosphere and Sebastian's methodical detective work beautifully.

  24. 24
    The Senator's Wife cover

    The Senator's Wife

    The Senator's Wife • Book 1

    by Jen Lyon

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.42 ABR Score (6.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.36 Goodreads (5.9K) ★ 4.68 Audible (775)
    More about this pick

    Soccer player saves a stranger in a sailing accident, then discovers love worth risking her career for. Romance meets small-town Southern charm in this compelling listen.

  25. 25
    The Inmate cover

    The Inmate

    by Freida McFadden

    Narrated by Leslie Howard

    4.38 ABR Score (1.1M ratings)
    ★ 4 Goodreads (1.1M) ★ 4.37 Audible (14.9K)
    More about this pick

    Nurse practitioner Brooke starts working at a maximum-security prison, but she's hiding a dangerous secret connection to one of the inmates.

  26. 26
    Warrior Fae cover

    Warrior Fae

    Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac • Book 5

    by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

    Narrated by Angelina Rocca, Troy Duran

    4.37 ABR Score (79.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.26 Goodreads (76.7K) ★ 4.7 Audible (2.3K)
  27. 27
    Dark Desire cover

    Dark Desire

    Dark • Book 2

    by Christine Feehan

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.37 ABR Score (34.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (32.8K) ★ 4.67 Audible (1.5K)
    More about this pick

    American surgeon Shea O'Halloran feels an ancient Carpathian's psychic call across continents, and Abby Craden's narration captures both the medical precision and supernatural passion of their connection.

  28. 28
    The Handmaid's Tale cover

    The Handmaid's Tale

    The Handmaid's Tale • Book 1

    by Margaret Atwood

    Narrated by Claire Danes

    4.36 ABR Score (2.5M ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (2.5M) ★ 4.41 Audible (45.4K)
    More about this pick

    In Gilead, fertile women become walking wombs for the ruling class in this chilling theocracy. Claire Danes captures Offred's quiet resistance and desperate humanity under totalitarian control.

  29. 29
    The Sins of the Father cover

    The Sins of the Father

    The Clifton Chronicles • Book 2

    by Jeffrey Archer

    Narrated by Alex Jennings, Emilia Fox

    4.36 ABR Score (67.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (67.7K)
    More about this pick

    Alex Jennings and Emilia Fox tackle this WWII-era saga where Harry Clifton joins the Merchant Navy to escape family secrets and impossible love.

  30. 30
    The House of the Spirits cover

    The House of the Spirits

    Trilogía Involuntaria • Book 3

    by Isabel Allende, Magda Bogin

    Narrated by Thom Rivera, Marisol Ramirez

    4.35 ABR Score (328.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.3 Goodreads (325.3K) ★ 4.45 Audible (3.0K)
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    Three generations of the Trueba family navigate love, politics, and supernatural forces in an unnamed Latin American country. The magical realist epic spans decades of political upheaval while exploring how personal relationships intersect with larger historical forces in unforgettable ways.

  31. 31
    Bride cover

    Bride

    Bride • Book 1

    by Ali Hazelwood

    Narrated by Thérèse Plummer, Will Damron

    4.35 ABR Score (730.9K ratings)
    ★ 4 Goodreads (722.4K) ★ 4.56 Audible (8.5K)
    More about this pick

    Thérèse Plummer and Will Damron are perfectly cast for this paranormal rivals-to-lovers romance; their vocal chemistry makes the tension and payoff undeniable.

  32. 32
    The Tenant of Wildfell Hall cover

    The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

    by Anne Brontë

    Narrated by Alex Jennings, Jenny Agutter

    4.34 ABR Score (135.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.04 Goodreads (133.4K) ★ 4.64 Audible (1.8K)
    More about this pick

    Gilbert Markham falls for mysterious widow Helen Graham, who guards dark secrets about her past marriage. Jennings and Agutter handle Brontë's dual narrative structure, revealing a shocking tale of alcoholism and domestic abuse.

  33. 33
    The Guy on the Left cover

    The Guy on the Left

    The Underdogs • Book 2

    by Kate Stewart

    Narrated by Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell

    4.34 ABR Score (9.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (8.9K) ★ 4.81 Audible (246)
  34. 34
    The Wolf King cover

    The Wolf King

    The Wolf King • Book 1

    by Lauren Palphreyman

    Narrated by Zara Hampton-Brown, Shane East

    4.33 ABR Score (177.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.14 Goodreads (175.2K) ★ 4.57 Audible (2.5K)
    More about this pick

    Princess Aurora's mercy toward a captive werewolf sparks war between humans and shifters in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy. Zara Hampton-Brown and Shane East create palpable tension between the royal and her alpha captor.

  35. 35
    Birthday Girl cover

    Birthday Girl

    by Penelope Douglas

    Narrated by Andrew Eiden, Jennifer Mack

    4.32 ABR Score (514.5K ratings)
    ★ 3.92 Goodreads (500.9K) ★ 4.56 Audible (13.6K)
    More about this pick

    Dual narration makes the forbidden tension hit twice as hard, with Eiden and Mack each capturing the ache of wanting what you shouldn't.

  36. 36
    A Court of Thorns and Roses (Part 1 of 2) (Dramatized Adaptation) cover

    A Court of Thorns and Roses (Part 1 of 2) (Dramatized Adaptation)

    A Court of Thorns and Roses • Book 1

    by Sarah J. Maas

    Narrated by Bradley Foster Smith, Christopher Graybill, Eric Messner, Henry W. Kramer, Natalie Van Sistine, Debi Tinsley, Julie Hoverson, Gabriel Michael, Karen Foley, Karen Novack, Melody Muze, Alejandro Ruiz

    4.32 ABR Score (20.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.47 Goodreads (16.0K) ★ 4.54 Audible (4.1K)
    More about this pick

    Feyre kills a faerie wolf and faces terrifying consequences when dragged into the magical realm as retribution. The full cast adaptation transforms Maas's fantasy into an immersive audio experience with layered voices and atmospheric effects.

  37. 37
    The Year We Hid Away cover

    The Year We Hid Away

    The Ivy Years • Book 2

    by Sarina Bowen

    Narrated by Nick Podehl, Saskia Maarleveld

    4.31 ABR Score (19.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (16.9K) ★ 4.66 Audible (2.1K)
  38. 38
    Reaping the Benefits cover

    Reaping the Benefits

    by E.J. Noyes

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.30 ABR Score (2.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (1.3K) ★ 4.76 Audible (1.1K)
    More about this pick

    Death office worker Morgan must reveal her supernatural nature to administer an employee's afterlife package—unfortunately, it's her workplace crush Jane. Abby Craden handles both the comedy and romance with perfect timing.

  39. 39
    Kingdom of the Cursed cover

    Kingdom of the Cursed

    Kingdom of the Wicked • Book 2

    by Kerri Maniscalco

    Narrated by Marisa Calin

    4.30 ABR Score (225.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.08 Goodreads (222.4K) ★ 4.65 Audible (3.2K)
    More about this pick

    The sequel trades infatuation for intrigue: you're trapped in a demon's court with princes who desire and betray you, where every secret is a lethal gamble.

  40. 40
    Unloved, a love story cover

    Unloved, a love story

    by Katy Regnery

    Narrated by Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell

    4.30 ABR Score (13.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.1 Goodreads (11.3K) ★ 4.66 Audible (1.7K)
    More about this pick

    The son of an executed serial killer lives in isolation until unexpected connection changes everything. Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell handle this story of inherited guilt and the possibility of redemption.

  41. 41
    Honor Bound cover

    Honor Bound

    Honor • Book 2

    by Radclyffe

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.30 ABR Score (3.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.31 Goodreads (2.7K) ★ 4.69 Audible (846)
    More about this pick

    Secret Service Agent Cameron Roberts breaks her promise to Blair Powell when presidential orders force her back into the President's daughter's security detail, risking everything.

  42. 42
    The Space Between cover

    The Space Between

    Outlander #7.5 • Book 7

    by Diana Gabaldon

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4.30 ABR Score (26.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.25 Goodreads (21.8K) ★ 4.6 Audible (5.0K)
    More about this pick

    Joan MacKimmie travels to Paris to become a nun, fleeing mysterious voices that predict death. Davina Porter's narration captures both Joan's supernatural burden and the historical setting of this Outlander universe story.

  43. 43
    All the Ugly and Wonderful Things cover

    All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

    by Bryn Greenwood

    Narrated by Jorjeana Marie

    4.27 ABR Score (237.7K ratings)
    ★ 3.97 Goodreads (213.3K) ★ 4.4 Audible (24.4K)
    More about this pick

    Eight-year-old Wavy, daughter of meth dealers, forms an unlikely bond with Kellen, one of her father's associates. This controversial love story examines how two damaged people find healing in each other despite impossible circumstances.

  44. 44
    Andrea Vernon and the Superhero-Industrial Complex cover

    Andrea Vernon and the Superhero-Industrial Complex

    Andrea Vernon • Book 2

    by Alexander C. Kane

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin

    4.27 ABR Score (5.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.23 Goodreads (1.5K) ★ 4.67 Audible (4.5K)
    More about this pick

    More than a year after helping save Earth, Andrea enjoys greater responsibilities and romance with The Big Axe, though her coffee-making replacement remains hopeless at the job.

  45. 45
    Wuthering Heights cover

    Wuthering Heights

    by Emily Brontë, Jennifer Donnelly

    Narrated by Joanne Froggatt, Rachel Atkins - introduction

    4.27 ABR Score (2.2M ratings)
    ★ 3.9 Goodreads (2.2M) ★ 4.42 Audible (8.4K)
    More about this pick

    Patricia Routledge's seasoned voice guides you through Heathcliff's methodical destruction of the families that cast him out as a child.

  46. 46
    The Rose and the Thorn : The Riyria Chronicles 2 (Riyria Chronicles) cover

    The Rose and the Thorn : The Riyria Chronicles 2 (Riyria Chronicles)

    The Riyria Chronicles • Book 2

    by Michael J. Sullivan

    Narrated by Bradley Foster Smith, Chris Genebach, Danny Gavigan, Jeff Allin, Nora Achrati, Shanta Parasuraman, Terence Aselford, Kay Eluvian, Earl Fisher, Andrew James Spooner, David M. Jourdan

    4.27 ABR Score (31.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.4 Goodreads (31.0K) ★ 4.77 Audible (143)
    More about this pick

    Thieves Royce and Hadrian return to confront the woman who saved their lives, only to find her trapped by a powerful noble's abuse. This full-cast production brings Sullivan's ensemble to vibrant life.

  47. 47
    Magdalene Nox cover

    Magdalene Nox

    The Headmistress • Book 2

    by Milena McKay

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.27 ABR Score (1.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.52 Goodreads (1.6K) ★ 4.85 Audible (289)
    More about this pick

    After thirty years, a powerful woman returns to exact revenge on those who abandoned her — until an unexpected night changes everything. Abby Craden's commanding performance captures Magdalene's conflict between vengeance and desire.

  48. 48
    Honor Under Siege cover

    Honor Under Siege

    Honor • Book 6

    by Radclyffe

    Narrated by Abby Craden

    4.27 ABR Score (2.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (1.6K) ★ 4.77 Audible (433)
    More about this pick

    Blair Powell and her Secret Service agent lover plan their wedding while terrorist threats loom over post-9/11 America. Abby Craden handles both the intimate romance and political thriller elements with equal skill.

  49. 49
    Lady Tremaine cover

    Lady Tremaine

    by Rachel Hochhauser

    Narrated by Bessie Carter

    4.26 ABR Score (9.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (8.9K) ★ 4.74 Audible (459)
    More about this pick

    This widow's desperate scheme to secure her daughters' futures reveals the real story behind Cinderella's stepmother. A brilliant reimagining that exposes the economic realities forcing women into impossible choices.

  50. 50
    Scherben der Ehre cover

    Scherben der Ehre

    Vorkosigan Saga (Publication Order) • Book 1

    by Lois McMaster Bujold, Michael Morgental

    Narrated by Grover Gardner

    4.26 ABR Score (44.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (40.7K) ★ 4.61 Audible (4.0K)
    More about this pick

    Cordelia Naismith leads a planetary survey that becomes a diplomatic nightmare when Barrayaran forces capture her expedition. This German edition of Bujold's space opera debut explores military honor across cultures.

How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

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