Sounds of the Season: Audiobooks to Match Your Summer Anthem

After one of the gloomiest winters on record here in LA, things are starting to look up. The Jacaranda trees are finally blooming, dropping purple flowers on every sidewalk. At least five fruit vendors have popped up along my commute to the audiobook studios, so I’ve already eaten more cups of freshly sliced mango and watermelon with tajin and chamoy than I can count. And, just like the weather, my summer soundtrack has been heating up.

The time has come to share with you the third annual Summer Anthems Audiobook Playlist! Here are some songs I’ve had on repeat recently, paired with audiobooks I adore. Whatever type of summer you’re in for, there should be something here for you:

Original singles for the Barbie Movie soundtrack have been dropping like bombs (no relation to the Oppenheimer movie), and Barbie-in-Chief Nicki Minaj joined the lineup. Just as live action Barbie (Margot Robbie) is stepping out of her plastic box in search of a greater truth this summer, we can all work towards enlightenment alongside her. A good way to start is by downloading the audiobook for Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital by Elise Hu. Being the phenomenal broadcast journalist she is, Hu narrates her own work with expertise, nuance, and charm, investigating the shiny plastic promise of capitalism that tells us spending money on our looks will improve our lives. It was an absolute joy to produce this audiobook, and an even greater joy to listen to the finished product. I’d recommend it to K-Beauty fans, skincare enthusiasts, and honestly, anyone with a body.

“Padam Padam” by Kylie Minogue was the unofficial theme song of Pride Month, and I think it’s here to stay for the summer. The Australian pop princess released this heart-pumping, glitter-coated club track just in time for June, and its ubiquity in queer spaces is no coincidence. In Glitter Up the Dark, Sasha Geffen explores how pop music has been used as a tool for artists and listeners alike to transcend the gender binary and build solidarity. It’s a history-packed listen that will leave you with an even greater appreciation of your favorite silly songs.

If the nostalgic, dreamy landscape of new wave oldies is more your speed, I think you’ll love listening to The Half Known Life by Pico Iyer. When I first discovered Pico’s work a few years back, I was totally absorbed by his mindful approach to travel writing and storytelling. Then, when I got the opportunity to work on the audio edition of his latest book, I was most excited about the fact that we’d finally have a full-length audiobook read in the author’s own gentle, grounded voice. The Half Known Life is a thoughtful exploration of the concept of paradise and the unexpected places it can be found, from warzones to monasteries to cemeteries to our very own homes. In the words of David Byrne, “Home is where I want to be, but I guess I’m already there.”

Listening to Arlo Parks’ latest album “My Soft Machine” makes me feel like I’m in a coming-of-age movie. It’s lush, meandering, and at times, really intense—much like Aisha Abdel Gawad’s debut novel Between Two Moons. The story takes place over the course of one Ramadan in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where twin sisters Amira and Lina stand on the precipice of adulthood as high school grads. When they learn that their older brother has been released early from his prison sentence, their lives take an unexpected turn. Between Two Moons is a necessary story that explores the impacts of Islamophobia, the importance of community, and the complexity of identity.

It’s Ice Spice’s world and we’re just living in it. Of course she’s on the playlist twice. “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” is a certified summer anthem, and The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff is a certified summer read about lying boys. In this dark comedic thriller, protagonist Geeta is tasked with exacting revenge on the deceptive and abusive husbands of her village. Expertly narrated by Soneela Nankani, The Bandit Queensaudiobook is an especially great listen for anyone who has a sort of twisted sense of humor.

You might be wondering why a book titled Wintering ended up on your summer listening list. Well, in the words of author Katherine May, “some winters happen in the sun.” As much as we can hope for a solid three months of nothing but sunshine and good times, things are never that simple. The sentiment of “Not Strong Enough” by Boygenius is that, no matter how rough things get, you’re always worthy of love. Paired with May’s sage wisdom on grief, acceptance, and healing, you’ll be well on your way to a restful season of recovery, whatever that may look like for you. And whenever your personal winter starts to melt away, May has a new release waiting for you called Enchantment. It’s a vulnerable meditation on how we can fall back in love with the world and reignite a childlike sense of wonder. May writes, “We should encourage enchantment to bolt like a weed. It is, after all, native here. The stones, and the dried-out heather, and the sound of the sea, and the moon above our heads have all been storing it like a battery, waiting for its current to be found again.”