Buzz
Audiobooks possess the unique ability to enhance and entirely reshape storytelling. Take celebrity memoirs, for instance; when narrated by their authors, these audiobooks offer an unparalleled experience that feels both personal and captivating. But did you realize that many Hollywood stars also lend their talents to narrating fiction?
Over the past few years, renowned actors, comedians, and public figures have taken on the role of narrators for audiobook editions of acclaimed fiction. From cherished childhood tales to powerful modern narratives, these performances breathe new life into stories. With platforms like Audible, enjoying these titles has never been more convenient.
Whether you're just starting to explore audiobooks or have been a longtime fan, here are some exceptional titles—unexpectedly narrated by celebrities—that deserve a spot in your listening queue.
1. Daisy Jones & The Six
"Daisy Jones & The Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid | Random House Audio / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)Before it turned into a wildly popular series on Prime Video, the story of Daisy Jones & The Six was first captured in Taylor Jenkins Reid’s 2019 novel. Reid, known for her other bestsellers like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017), Malibu Rising (2021), and Carrie Soto is Back (2022), has crafted a universe where all her books are interconnected.
Similar to the show, Daisy Jones & The Six follows the journey of a fictional 1970s rock band as they climb to fame. The narrative unfolds through candid interviews with each band member, revealing hidden secrets and the drama behind their infamous breakup. (Imagine Fleetwood Mac during their Rumours phase—Reid aimed to capture the essence of a gripping Behind the Music episode.) The audiobook format enhances this fictional oral history, brought to life by an exceptional cast of 21 voice actors, including Jennifer Beals (Flashdance), Pablo Schreiber (Orange Is The New Black), Benjamin Bratt, and Judy Greer.
2. Little Women
"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott | Audible Originals / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)More than a century and a half since its debut, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women continues to be a cherished classic. This autofictional novel is heavily influenced by Alcott’s personal experiences, following the lives of four sisters—Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth—as they navigate adolescence and adulthood in New England during the Civil War.
Laura Dern, a longtime admirer of Little Women, first read the book as a teen with her grandmother, coinciding with her early aspirations to become an actress. Her connection to Alcott’s work deepened when she narrated Audible’s exclusive audiobook version and portrayed Marmee March in Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film adaptation. (It was a Little Women-filled year for Dern; the movie premiered on Christmas Day, just two days after the audiobook’s release.)
3. Heartburn
"Heartburn" by Nora Ephron | Random House Audio / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)Meryl Streep, a Hollywood legend, shared a long-standing creative partnership with the late Nora Ephron. They teamed up for the 1986 adaptation of Ephron’s bestselling novel, Heartburn, a fictionalized account of her divorce from journalist Carl Bernstein. In the film, Streep starred as Rachel Samstat, opposite Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of a D.C. political columnist named Mark—a clear reference to Bernstein. Her performance earned her the Best Actress award at the Valladolid International Film Festival.
During the 32nd American Film Institute Life Achievement Award ceremony in 2004, Ephron paid tribute to Streep with a heartfelt and witty speech: “She portrays all of us better than we can portray ourselves, though it’s a bit disheartening to know that if you auditioned to play yourself, you’d lose the role to her.”
This likely explains why Streep was the natural choice when Audible decided to create an audiobook version of Heartburn in 2013, coinciding with the book’s 30th anniversary. Tragically, Ephron never got to hear Streep’s masterful narration, as she passed away from pneumonia due to leukemia complications in 2012.
4. Dispossession
"Dispossession" by Tayari Jones | Audible Originals / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)The briefest audiobook on this list is Tayari Jones’s Audible Original, Dispossession, which runs just under an hour (at standard playback speed). This poignant novella delves into themes of race, class, and the intricacies of motherhood, narrated through the perspective of Cheryl, a reflective middle-aged mother struggling to mend her strained relationship with her son.
Gabrielle Union, named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020, was chosen to voice this captivating character. Union is renowned for her roles in Scandal, 10 Things I Hate About You, and the cult classic
5. Upstate
"Upstate" by Kalisha Buckhanon | Macmillan Audio / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)“Baby, the first thing I need to know is, do you believe I killed my father?” Delivered with the late Chadwick Boseman’s powerful and emotional tone, this haunting opening line from Kalisha Buckhanon’s debut novel, Upstate, leaves a lasting impression. The narrative follows Antonio and Natasha, a young couple exchanging poignant letters over ten years after Antonio is imprisoned for a shocking crime.
Set against the backdrop of 1990s New York City, the story highlights systemic racial injustices and the grim realities of mass incarceration. Despite its weighty themes, Upstate is a young adult novel, winning the Alex Award from the American Library Association (ALA) in 2006 for its resonance with teen readers. That same year, the audiobook, narrated by Chadwick Boseman and Heather Simms, received the Audie Award for Literary Fiction.
6. The Lying Life of Adults
"The Lying Life of Adults" by Elena Ferrante | Random House Audio / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)Staying true to its title, The Lying Life of Adults captures the rebellious spirit of adolescence. The narrative immerses readers in the mind of Giovanna, a teenager grappling with the unsettling truth that her family is not as honest as she once thought. Like Ferrante’s acclaimed Neapolitan Novels, this 2019 work weaves in themes of faith, class, and family turmoil with remarkable depth.
The 2020 audiobook release marked Marisa Tomei’s first solo narration project. In a statement, the Oscar-winning actress described the experience as deeply moving: “Recording was intensely emotional—both the director and I shed tears as we revisited the challenging, heartbreaking, and joyful moments of our own adolescence, so vividly captured in Ferrante’s extraordinary prose.”
After experiencing Tomei’s heartfelt narration, you can also watch the story come to life on screen; The Lying Life of Adults has been adapted into an Italian-language Netflix series.
7. Breakfast at Tiffany’s
"Breakfast at Tiffany’s" by Truman Capote | Audible Studios / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)Michael C. Hall’s narration of Breakfast at Tiffany’s might seem unexpected, given his fame for darker roles like the titular killer in Showtime’s Dexter and his debut in Six Feet Under. (The Golden Globe winner has also voiced audiobooks for classics like Stephen King’s Pet Sematary.)
Hall seamlessly channeled the quiet, observant nature of Truman Capote’s unnamed narrator in the audiobook version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, one of the author’s most celebrated works. The story revolves around the narrator’s fascination with his enigmatic neighbor, Holly Golightly, as their unlikely friendship grows, forcing him to navigate her world of secrets and schemes.
While Audrey Hepburn famously portrayed Holly in the 1961 film adaptation, Marilyn Monroe was Capote’s original pick for the role—a fact he openly shared.
8. Piranesi
"Piranesi" by Susanna Clarke | Bloomsbury Publishing Plc / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)Acclaimed actor Chiwetel Ejiofor lends his voice to Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi, earning the 2021 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year. The novel immerses readers in a parallel universe where Piranesi navigates an infinite labyrinth, contemplating themes of purpose, humanity, and solitude.
Released in 2020, Clarke’s highly anticipated second novel arrived 16 years after her celebrated debut, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Piranesi lived up to expectations, winning the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction and earning spots on the shortlists for the Costa Book Awards and the BSFA Awards.
9. Our Missing Hearts
"Our Missing Hearts" by Celeste Ng | Penguin Audio / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)Even without reading Celeste Ng’s novels, you might recognize her work. Her second book, Little Fires Everywhere, was adapted into Hulu’s most-watched drama, starring Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon.
After the show’s success in 2020, Ng published her latest work, Our Missing Hearts, in 2022. She spent nearly seven years crafting this dystopian literary thriller while juggling another project.
In 2022, Lucy Liu, a two-time SAG Award winner, debuted as a solo narrator with the audiobook version of Our Missing Hearts. (Fans might also know her voice from animated hits like Strange World, Star Wars: Visions, and Kung Fu Panda.) In a statement, Liu shared, “Narrating an entire book is a monumental task, as you immerse yourself in the author’s intent through the characters and story. I hope listeners grasp the weight of Celeste’s message about discrimination, racism, family separation, and their profound impact on humanity.”
10. The Color Purple
"The Color Purple" by Alice Walker | Audible Originals / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)In 1982, Alice Walker captivated the world with The Color Purple, becoming the first Black author to win both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for Fiction in the same year.
Widely considered Walker’s magnum opus, this epistolary novel traces the journey of a Black Southern woman as she finds her identity amidst severe abuse and poverty. While it’s a staple in many English classrooms, it’s also one of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books (2010-2019) due to its graphic content.
The Color Purple has been adapted into multiple formats, including a Tony Award-winning musical (with a film adaptation releasing in December 2023) and a 1985 movie directed by Steven Spielberg, featuring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. For Audible’s 2020 version, Samira Wiley of Orange Is The New Black delivers a moving narration, calling the experience deeply personal. In a behind-the-scenes video, Wiley shared, “Sometimes, I feel like Miss Alice Walker wrote this just for me.”
11. The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
"The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz | Penguin Audio / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)Lin-Manuel Miranda, a multi-talented actor, writer, composer, and Pulitzer Prize-winner, is well-versed in vocal performances. Beyond creating and starring in Broadway hits like In The Heights (2005) and Hamilton (2015), he’s also composed soundtracks for beloved animated films such as Moana (2016) and Encanto (2021).
One lesser-known entry on the almost-EGOT winner’s impressive resume is his narration of Junot Díaz’s acclaimed The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao in 2016, alongside actor Karen “KO” Olivo. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows Oscar Wao, a romantic, overweight teen from New Jersey, who dreams of love and becoming “the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien.” Miranda has called Oscar one of his favorite fictional heroes.
12. Lincoln in the Bardo
"Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders | Random House Audio / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)George Saunders, a celebrated creative writing professor at Syracuse University, is often regarded as one of the finest short story writers of our era. His debut novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, offers a fictionalized portrayal of Willie Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s late son, who lingers in a ghostly purgatory. (In Tibetan Buddhism, bardo signifies the transitional state between death and rebirth, literally meaning “between two.”)
The audiobook version of this acclaimed novel features an ensemble of 166 actors, each lending a unique voice to the restless spirits. This Audie Award-winning production includes performances by stars like Nick Offerman, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, and Bill Hader, alongside unexpected appearances by Saunders, his parents, and even his former geology teacher. Lincoln in the Bardo won the 2017 Man Booker Prize and was a finalist for the Golden Man Booker, a special award celebrating the best fiction from the prize’s 50-year history.
13. Persuasion
"Persuasion" by Jane Austen | Audible Originals / Audible; Justin Dodd, Mytour (background)“Do not claim that men forget faster than women, or that their love dies sooner. I have loved no one but you.” Florence Pugh, an Academy Award-nominated actress, considers this line from Jane Austen’s Persuasion the most powerful in the book. “Can you imagine receiving a letter with those words?” she enthused in a promotional video for Audible.
Pugh’s deep admiration for Austen’s writing shines through in her captivating narration of the 2020 Audible-exclusive audiobook, part of the Jane Austen Collection. Written in the 1810s and published posthumously by Austen’s siblings, Persuasion explores themes of second chances, class, and societal norms.
Pugh’s rendition of this timeless story follows numerous adaptations, such as the original 1960 BBC miniseries and various theatrical performances. Most recently, Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis brought Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth to life in Netflix’s 2022 feature film.
