Audiobooks with Multiple Narrators
When it comes to choosing audiobooks, you can't go wrong with one narrated by multiple narrators! Especially when a book is written from more than one perspective, having multiple narrators helps with immersing yourself in the characters heads. This works particularly well for crime novels, for short stories, and for adapting books that rely on illustrations. But, everything from two character voices to a full cast can help to enhance the story!
Here are some of our favourite choices for audiobooks with multiple narrators:
Daisy Jones and the Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Despite being published in 2019, Daisy Jones and the Six has already been snapped up by Reese Witherspoon's production company. It's an addictive story, written as a combination of interviews, but the best way to experience it as an audiobook. Over thirteen narrators voice each character so they are all distinctive. Combined with the oral history style of the writing, listening to this audiobook feels like a documentary. By the end, you may even with that the meteoric rise and fall of a fictional 1970s band was real!
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He Said/She Said - Erin Kelly
Jim Broadbent and Helen Johns split the narration of He Said/She Said, which helps bring this audiobook to life. The story hinges on an attack that takes place during a solar eclipse, so that neither Laura nor her boyfriend, Kit, see the whole picture. Having two narrators is perfect for relating to each characters perspective so that you're guessing the whole way through. What really happened? You'll have to read to the end of this audiobook to find out!
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The Lost Words - Jackie Morris and Robert MacFarlane
The idea for The Lost Words was originally sparked after a children's dictionary removed words like acorn, kingfisher, and wren. These words simply weren't being used enough to justify needing definitions anymore. However, the authors wanted to make sure that children would know these words, so they came up with what they call a 'book of spells'. It is quite a short book, full of poems and illustrations, but this makes it a perfect audiobook for multiple narrators. Edith Bowman and Benjamin Zephaniah, as well as several others, lend their voices to each poem, while their words are interpersed with natural soundscapes and bird calls. This makes listening to the audiobook a wonderfully immersive experience, almost like taking a walk outside. It may only be short, but it's absolutely worth it.
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White Teeth - Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith's first novel was a sensation when it was first published in 2000 and remains a stunning read. It follows two wartime friends - Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal - and the families around them. Narrators such as Lenny Henry and Ray Panthaki bring the tensions between immigrants and native-born Britons living in contemporary London to life. A truly impressive audio experience.
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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls - Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls introduces young women to over one hundred inspirational women, including Ada Lovelace, Malala, and Serena Williams. Plus, a wide cast narrates these stories, from Samira Wiley to Alicia Keys to Philippa Soo. This is a collection for ambitious heroines, and the narrators will help you keep track of the different stories.
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Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
This romantic and poignant love story is the first in a series by Jojo Moyes. The story follows two people who have very little in common, but they burst into each others lives and change them forever. One main narrator and full cast of supporting voices help to create the world. But just make sure you have some tissues near you while listening to this audiobook as you'll almost definitely cry!
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The Good Immigrant - various, edited by Nikesh Shukla
This hard-hitting collection of essays looks at the realities of being an immigrant in contemporary UK. 21 contributors write about issues such as constantly being considered a potential threat, feeling that you must always be an ambassador for your race, and always feeling that you are 'other'. Also, each contributor narrates their own essay, which makes the audiobook a truly personal experience. It gives a voice to people who are usually unheard in British culture which means that this is an essential listen.
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The Art of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson
The Art of Being Normal follows David Piper, a transgender girl still living as a boy, and Leo Denton, who only has one goal: to be invisible. Their unlikely friendship changes both their lives. This is a young adult story about two teenage boys trying to navigate their lives, and it is narrated by trans actors. That choice gives the story a realism that makes the characters feel real and the story much more immersive.
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Madness - Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl may be most famous for his children's books, but he also wrote many short stories. Madness collects some of his darkest stories about losing control of sanity. On top of that, some big names read these macabre tales, including Andrew Scott, Adrian Scarborough, and Tamsin Grieg. If you're looking for short stories then you can't go wrong with this audiobook!
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Illegal - Eoin Colfer
Illegal is the story of Ebo, who makes the long and dangerous journey from Ghana to Europe as a refugee. A full ensemble cast bridges the gap between the print picture book and the audiobook. Along with music and sound effects, this brings the audiobook totally to life. This is a short audiobook but it is still heartwrenching.
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There There - Tommy Orange
An ensemble cast is the most effective way to make this book about contemporary Native Americans powerful. There are twelve different perspectives, and the narrators make each one distinct. Individual stories slowly unfold and intertwine with each other that really brings to life this novel about family, violence, identity, and power.
Borrow There There from our library
What audiobooks with multiple narrators do you enjoy? Let us know in the comments!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy: 23 Celebrity Autobiographies Read by the Author and An Interview with an Audiobook Narrator.
