Best Contemporary Audiobooks
The best contemporary audiobooks in one handy list.
Contemporary audiobooks wear hats of all shapes and sizes. Visit Audible or Amazon and you'll find everything from Nick Hornby’s satire to the saucy works of Jilly Cooper to Anne Rice's darker Interview with a Vampire in the contemporary audiobooks section.
What is Contemporary Fiction?
This is not to say that the literary world has abandoned the task of defining contemporary fiction. The general consensus is that contemporary audio books must be set after World War II, Beyond that, criteria are less clear, but usually include character based stories based in reality. They tend to examine aspects of society, politics and social interactions.
Phew. That narrows it down a bit. And does start to bring certain authors to mind. That done, I think it's time to meet some of our lovely contestants. Book 1: What's your name and where'd you come from? (Apologies all non-UK readers. This reference will elude you. And those who do understand, I'm sorry for the song now stuck in your head).
Contemporary Audiobooks 2021
In 2021, contemporary means murder, with audiobooks such as How To Kill Your Family and The Thursday Murder Club at the top of bestseller lists.
Top 10 Contemporary Audiobooks
1
By
Nick Hornby
Read By
Scott Brick, Simon Vance, Kate Reading
Endearing, witty, an entertaining commentary on human nature.
2
By
Gail Honeyman
Read By
Cathleen McCarron
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Charming
3
By
Paul Torday
Read By
John Sessions, Samantha Bond, Fenella Woolgar
Simply Ex-squid-site, Gill-Splitting Brilliance.
6
By
Nick Spalding
Read By
Heather Wilds, Napoleon Ryan
Big Fat Fun - Great For Fans of Nick Hornby and Mike Gayle.
Rest of the Best: Contemporary Audiobooks
Phew. That was difficult. Selecting just ten top contemporary audiobooks was a wrench. So here are yet more brilliant examples of this genre, listed A-Z.
By
Read By
Joshua Ferris
Nick Offerman
Combine a bit of Shameless, some Modern Family and a touch of The Royal Tenenbaums with a soupçon of sadness.
By
Read By
Nick Spalding
Napoleon Ryan, Heather Wilds
Think Homes Under The Hammer interpreted as an awfully British comedy. Maybe performed by the cast of Outnumbered or Teachers.
By
Read By
Rachel Yoder
Cassandra Campbell
This is a literary art installation. Think Damien Hirst meets American Beauty.
By
Read By
Christopher Brookmyre
David Tennant
Witty, gritty, dark and entertaining. If a cosy mystery got thrown in a blender with the works of David Wong. In Scotland.
By
Read By
Rowan Coleman
Juanita McMahon
The second instalment of the series is just as engaging as the first.
By
Read By
Rowan Coleman
Phoebe James
Funny, endearing and filled with colourful characters.
By
Read By
Lauren Weisberger
Laurel Lefkow
A classic. The audiobook that started it all.
By
Read By
Shaun Bythell
Robin Laing
Charming and funny, sardonic and quirky.
By
Read By
Paul Torday
David Rintoul
A full-bodied, fruity satire that hits all the right notes.
By
Read By
Liane Moriarty
Caroline Lee
Tangled webs as only Moriarty knows how.
By
Read By
Rhett McLaughlin
Link Neal, Vikas Adam
A layer cake of secrets, lies and divisive characters, addictive to the last bite.
By
Read By
Matt Haig
Carey Mulligan
Mesmerising Story, Powerfully Delivered by Carey Mulligan and with a Kate Atkinson Feel
By
Read By
Audrey Niffenegger
Fred Berman, Phoebe Strole
Staggeringly Beautiful. Incomparable
By
Read By
Joanna Cannon
Paula Wilcox
Quirky and Endearing. Plot takes Second Place.
By
Read By
Sophie Kinsella
Phoebe James
Funny and Sweet: A Satisfying Life Makeover
By
Read By
Stacey Madden
Cherlanda Estrada and Nate Drury
A Satisfying Rummage Through Tangled Minds and Stories
By
Read By
Gill Sims
Gabrielle Glaister
The ultimate in mum-lit is back.
By
Read By
Kathleen Whyman
Natalie Dew
A fun, playful, witty listen with plenty of personality.
By
Read By
Matt Rudd
Simon Shepherd
If you like your comedy as British as the queue to Wimbledon, this is for you.
By
Read By
Matt Rudd
Simon Shepherd
A Chip Off The Old Book
By
Read By
Adele Parks
Phil Hearne, Sara Markland, Clare Wille, Peter Kenny
Snarky, brilliant, fun