Audie Award Finalists | Texas Talking Books Blog

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced the finalists for the 2026 Audie Awards on Thursday January 29, “recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.” Winners will be announced at the Audie Awards Gala at The Avalon in Los Angeles on Monday March 2, 2026.

For more information check out the Audie Awards website.

Here are the finalists for 2026 that are in the TBP collection.

Audiobook of the Year

DEVIL REACHED TOWARD THE SKY: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE MAKING AND UNLEASHING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB by Garrett M. Graff and narrated by Edoardo Ballerini and the author (DB 132078)

KING OF ASHES by S. A. Cosby and narrated by Adam Lazarre-White (DB 130044)

SHIELD OF SPARROWS by Devney Perry and narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke (DB 131076, LB 0005766)

SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by Suzanne Collins and narrated by Jefferson White (DB 127954, BR 26205)

WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy and narrated by Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West (DB 127669, BR 26326 IN PROCESS)

Autobiography/Memoir

CHER: PART 1 by Cher and narrated by Cher and Stephanie J. Block (DB 125936, BR 26311 IN PROCESS, LB 0001238)

CODE NAME: PALE HORSE: HOW I WENT UNDERCOVER TO EXPOSE AMERICA’S NAZIS by Scott Payne with Michelle Shephard and narrated by Scott Payne (DB 131185)

MATRIARCH by Tina Knowles and narrated by Tina Knowles, Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly Rowland, and Angie Beyincé (DB 130053, LB 0003863)

NOBODY’S GIRL: A MEMOIR OF SURVIVING ABUSE AND FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE by Virginia Roberts Giuffre and narrated by Thérèse Plummer and Gabra Zackman (DB 133461 IN PROCESS, LB 0008608)

Best Fiction Narrator

Marin Ireland for FOR MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman (DB 122178)

Best Nonfiction Narrator

Dion Graham for REMEMBER US: AMERICAN SACRIFICE, DUTCH FREEDOM, AND A FOREVER PROMISE FORGED IN WORLD WAR II by Robert M. Edsel (DB 130169)

Blair Underwood for TRULY by Lionel Richie (DB 133699 IN PROCESS, LB 0005632)

Helen Stern for WOMEN’S ORCHESTRA OF AUSCHWITZ: A STORY OF SURVIVAL by Anne Sebba (DB 132439)

Dion Graham for ZORG: A TALE OF GREED AND MURDER THAT INSPIRED THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY by Siddharth Kara (DB 133314)

Business/Personal Development

LET THEM THEORY: A LIFE-CHANGING TOOL THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT written and narrated by Mel Robbins (DB 128550, en español DB 130218 narrado por Leyla Ragnel)

NEXT CONVERSATION: ARGUE LESS, TALK MORE written and narrated by Jefferson Fisher (DB 128074, LB 0003153)

STRONG GROUND: THE LESSONS OF DARING LEADERSHIP, THE TENACITY OF PARADOX, AND THE WISDOM OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT written and narrated by Brené Brown (DB 133337 IN PROCESS, LB 0005812)

Ensemble Performance Finalists (New)

BIRD IN THE AIR MEANS WE CAN STILL BREATHE by Mahogany L. Browne and narrated by Emana Rachelle, Ozzie Jacobs, Elena Rey, Karen Dziekonski, Nile Bullock, Nile, Andrea Emmes, Brandon Miles, Kiebpoli Calnek, Ali Nasser, Tyla Collier, Tyla, Marie-Françoise, Ron Butler, Chantelle Ramdeen, Chantelle, Mahogany L. Browne, Mahogany L., and Amir Royale (DB 128246)

CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans and narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, Jeff Ebner, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Cerris Morgan-Meyer, Peter Ganim, Jade Wheeler, Jim Seibert, and Steve West (DB 129105, en español DB 132482 traducción de Renata Somar Aragón)

HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige and narrated by Cary Hite, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Helen Laser, and Justine Lupe (DB 128729)

SOUNDTRACK by Jason Reynolds and narrated by Khaya Fraites, Nile Bullock, Robb Moreira, Rocky Anicette, Jasmin Richardson, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Mekhi Hewling, We Ani, Brandon Miles, Amir Royale, Nadine Simmons, Brandiss Seward, Christopher Grant, and Jade Williams (DB 130348)

Español – Spanish Language

EL HOMBRE por Guillermo Arriaga narrado por Javier Poza, Noé Velázquez, Dan Osorio, Chava Reyes, Pilar Escandón y Ariel Sainz (DB 133880 EN PROCESO)

ESPERANZA: LA AUTOBIOGRAFIA por Papa Francisco narrado por Gerardo Prat (DB 129367, in English DB 127574 narrated by Peter Ganim)

Faith-Based Fiction or Nonfiction

REBEL GIRLS OF ROME by Jordyn Taylor and narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya and Jesse Vilinsky (DB 131115)

Fantasy Finalists

ANIMA RISING by Christopher Moore and narrated by Mary Jane Wells (DB 130461, LB 0004776)

BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V. E. Schwab and narrated by Marisa Calin, Katie Leung, and Julia Whelan (DB 130243, BR 26386 IN PROCESS, LB 0005773)

EVERLASTING by Alix E. Harrow and narrated by Sid Sagar and Moira Quirk (DB 133195)

KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig and narrated by Samantha Hydeson (DB 130050, BR 26391 IN PROCESS)

Fiction

ATMOSPHERE: A LOVE STORY by Taylor Jenkins Reid and narrated by Julia Whelan and Kristen DiMercurio (DB 129909, BR 26357 IN PROCESS, en español DB 132477 en proceso y traducción de Bruno Álvarez Herrero)

FAVORITES by Layne Fargo and narrated by Christine Lakin, Christine, Louisa Zhu, Amy Landon, Elena Rey, Valerie Rose Lohman, Suzanne Toren, Graham Halstead, Julia Emelin, Eric Yang, and Johnny Weir (DB 126912, en español DB 130314 narrado por Jane Santos, Lalo Garza, Melissa Ocasio, Noemí Jiménez Furquet, Susana Ballesteros, Carolina Ayala, Victor Mares, Fabiola Stevenson, Julieth Restrepo, Beto Castillo, and Elisa Veiga)

JUNIE by Erin Crosby Eckstine and narrated by Angel Pean (DB 127478)

History/Biography

BALDWIN: A LOVE STORY by Nicholas Boggs and narrated by Ron Butler (DB 131983 IN PROCESS)

FATE OF THE DAY: THE WAR FOR AMERICA, FORT TICONDEROGA TO CHARLESTON, 1777-1780 by Rick Atkinson and narrated by the author and Grover Gardner (DB 129522)

SPINACH KING: THE RISE AND FALL OF AN AMERICAN DYNASTY by John Seabrook and narrated by Dion Graham (DB 130984)

ZORG: A TALE OF GREED AND MURDER THAT INSPIRED THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY by Siddharth Kara and narrated by Dion Graham (DB 133314)

Horror

BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker and narrated by Natalie Naudus (DB 129589)

BREATHE IN, BLEED OUT by Brian McAuley and narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker (DB 132583)

BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER by Stephen Graham Jones and narrated by Shane Ghostkeeper, Shane, Marin Ireland, and Owen Teale (DB 128581, BR 26200 IN PROCESS)

COFFIN MOON by Keith Rosson and narrated by Pete Cross (DB 132618)

THEY BLOOM AT NIGHT by Trang Thanh Tran and narrated by Nhi Do (DB 128117)

Literary Fiction and Classics

33 PLACE BRUGMANN by Alice Austen and narrated by Joshua Riley, Shiromi Arserio, Jilly Bond, Nicholas Boulton, Billie Brown Fulford, Danielle Cohen, Raphael Corkhill, Matthew Lloyd Davies, James Meunier, and Simon Slater

DIRECTOR by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin, and narrated by Nicholas Boulton (DB 130035)

EMPEROR OF GLADNESS by Ocean Vuong and narrated by James Aaron Oh (DB 129518, BR 26312 IN PROCESS)

SO FAR GONE by Jess Walter and narrated by Edoardo Ballerini (DB 130251)

Middle Grade Finalists

ALL BLUES IN THE SKY by Renée Watson and narrated by Bahni Turpin (DB 129740)

J VS. K written and narrated by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft (DB 131093)

TROUBLE WITH HEROES by Kate Messner and narrated by Mack Gordon (DB 130798, LB 0005921)

WHALE EYES: A MEMOIR ABOUT SEEING AND BEING SEEN written and narrated by James Robinson (IN PROCESS)

Mystery Finalists

GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben and narrated by Kiff VandenHeuvel, Peter Ganim, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Reese Witherspoon, Saskia Maarleveld, James Fouhey, Harlan Coben, and Chris Pine (DB 133207, LB 0005813)

QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict and narrated by Bessie Carter (DB 127315, LB 0003116)

VERA WONG’S GUIDE TO SNOOPING (ON A DEAD MAN) by Jesse Q. Sutanto and narrated by Eunice Wong (DB 128361, LB 0005664)

Narration by Author

EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS: THE HISTORY AND PERSISTENCE OF OUR DEADLIEST INFECTION written and narrated by John Green (DB 128745, LB 0005821)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: ESSAYS AND RUMINATIONS written and narrated by Alton Brown (DB 129920)

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND HATE: A SANE PERSON’S GUIDE TO TAKING BACK THE BIBLE FROM FUNDAMENTALISTS, FASCISTS, AND FLOCK-FLEECING FRAUDS by John Fugelsang (DB 133578 IN PROCESS)

New Voice Award: Judges Category Finalists (New)

Lily Newmark for BOG QUEEN written by Anna North (DB 133593 IN PROCESS)

Shane Ghostkeeper for DEVIL IS A SOUTHPAW written by Brandon Hobson (DB 134023 IN PROCESS)

James Aaron Oh for EMPEROR OF GLADNESS written by Ocean Vuong (DB 129518, BR 26312 IN PROCESS)

Gem Carmella for RIVER HAS ROOTS by Amal El-Mohtar (DB 128099)

Nicole Cash for WE DON’T TALK ABOUT CAROL by Kristen L. Berry (DB 129901)

Nonfiction Finalists

DEATH IN THE JUNGLE by Candace Fleming and narrated by Karen Murphy (DB 129360)

EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS: THE HISTORY AND PERSISTENCE OF OUR DEADLIEST INFECTION written and narrated by John Green (DB 128745, LB 0005821)

FINE LINE BETWEEN STUPID AND CLEVER: THE STORY OF SPINAL TAP written and narrated by Rob Reiner with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer with David Kamp (DB 132923)

RICK STEVES ON THE HIPPIE TRAIL: FROM ISTANBUL TO KATHMANDU written and narrated by Rick Steves (DB 127216)

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND HATE: A SANE PERSON’S GUIDE TO TAKING BACK THE BIBLE FROM FUNDAMENTALISTS, FASCIASTS, AND FLOCK-FLEECING FRAUDS by John Fugelsang (DB 133578 IN PROCESS)

Production and Sound Design Finalists (New)

KING SORROW by Joe Hill and narrated by Jaime Lamchick, Mike Ortego, Micky Shiloah, Kristen Sieh, Pete Simonelli, Kevin Stillwell, Peter Ganim, Ari Fliakos, Virginia Kull, Dominic Hoffman, Marin Ireland, Kristen Ariza, Ian Shaw, Kate Mulgrew, and Tim Sample (DB 133680 IN PROCESS)

MILLIE FLEUR SAVES THE NIGHT by Christy Mandin and narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden (DB 131098)

RIVER HAS ROOTS by Amal El-Mohtar and narrated by Gem Carmella (DB 128099)

Romance Finalists

GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry and narrated by Julia Whelan (DB 129103, BR 26246, LB 0003604, en español DB 132355 Traducido por Ana Isabel Domínguez Palomo y María del Mar Rodríguez Barrena)

SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez and narrated by Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter (DB 128459, BR 26395 IN PROCESS)

Science Fiction

SIMULTANEOUS by Eric Heisserer and narrated by Marin Ireland, Stephanie Sheh, and Ray Porter (DB 133613)

Short Stories/Collections Finalists

END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: NEW TALES OF STEPHEN KING’S THE STAND edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene and narrated by Sean Patrick Hopkins and Adenrele Ojo (DB 132544, BR 26600 IN PROCESS)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: ESSAYS AND RUMINATIONS written and narrated by Alton Brown (DB 129920)

NOTES TO JOHN by Joan Didion and narrated by Julianne Moore (DB 129704, LB 0005725)

Thriller/Suspense Finalists

BEAUTIFUL UGLY by Alice Feeney and narrated by Richard Armitage, Tuppence Middleton, and Alice Fenney (DB 126338, LB 0002874)

DON’T LET HIM IN by Lisa Jewell and narrated by Tamaryn Payne, Louise Brealey, Patience Tomlinson, Richard Armitage, Joanne Froggatt, and Gemma Whelan (DB 131308, LB 0005870)

EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU by Jo Piazza and narrated by Vas Eli, Saskia Maarleveld, Sarah Reny, and Rachel F. Hirsch (DB 130936, LB 0005722)

HAVOC by Christopher Bollen and narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed (DB 126616)

TO DIE FOR by David Baldacci and narrated by Zach Villa, Mela Lee, Cassandra Morris, Rena-Marie Villano, Christine Lakin, Christine, Will Collyer, Kiff VandenHeuvel, and Erin Bennett (DB 125480, LB 0001131)

Young Adult Finalists

LADY OR THE TIGER by Heather M. Herrman and narrated by Sophie Amoss (DB 130674)

OTHERWHERE POST by Emily J. Taylor and narrated by (DB 127649 IN PROCESS)

SCAMMER by Tiffany D. Jackson and narrated by January LaVoy (DB 133733 IN PROCESS)