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Friday, February 9, 2018

Why Audiobooks Are Amazing + A Massive Giveaway!


If you've been paying attention, you might have noticed that most of my reviews over the last few months have been audiobook reviews. This is because at some point during fall of last year, I became extremely overwhelmed with work and life and the blog, and at one point it got so bad that I honestly didn't have any time to read books—like, at all. The prospect of not reading anymore was horrifying and I was struggling for months. Then, I discovered the magic of audiobooks and everything changed. And now? I'm hooked. So today, I'm going tell you why audiobooks are amazing AND give some away, plus a cool pair of headphones!




Literally anywhere. Think I'm kidding? You can...
  • Listen while bathing, showering, or.. while performing other bodily functions in the restroom.
  • Listen while driving, or while commuting—it will make taking public transport slightly more bearable.
  • Listen while cooking, cleaning, or doing almost any household chores.
  • Listen while exercising! Hell, your entire monthly book club can work out together while listening to an audiobook.
  • Listen while working. If you have a desk job like me, audiobooks are fabulous for when you're doing mundane tasks. At the same time though, if you're at an important meeting or performing brain surgery or something, it might not be the best idea. 


I hate DNFing (or not finishing) books. In fact, before I ever became a book blogger, I outright refused to DNF a book because I felt that by not finishing it, I didn't have the right to criticize it. What if it got better exactly on the next page after the point I stopped? Anyway, it took becoming a book blogger and having a massive TBR pile to make me realize that life is too short for books you're not enjoying. However, audiobooks have actually revived books from my DNF pile! 

How, you ask? Audiobook narrators are fantastic. And because many audiobook narrators are also actors or voice actors, they know exactly how to bring that seemingly boring book to life.

Also, listening to an audiobook version of my favorite books is utterly magical because somehow, it feels like I'm re-experiencing the book for the first time... for a second time. It's wonderful.  



Physical books are beautiful, majestic creatures that deserve to be loved and cared for but let's be honest, they are heavy. Before discovering audiobooks, I always carried at least two books in my purseone that I was currently reading, and another in case I finished the first. 

Audiobooks, on the other hand, you can download onto your phone, which—let's be honest—you are taking with you anyway.


Yes, you heard that correctly. Audiobooks are better for your health than print books or ebooks. For example...
  • They don't hurt your eyes like print and ebooks do.
  • Your heart won't break every time a page or cover is dented or scratched from being in your bag... 
  • Listening to them can help to soothe anxiety... unless it's a scary book, but I don't do scary books anyway. For me, it helps to listen to a calm voice (that doesn't expect a response from me) when I'm feeling anxious, so for thisaudiobooks are perfect. I often listen to them before bed, and the only downside is having to try and remember what in the world was the last thing I heard before falling asleep and finding that spot.



Have you been studying a language but you have nobody to practice speaking with, so you're having trouble improving your pronunciation? Try listening to one of your favorite books in another language via audiobook! To be even more helpful, read along with the print or ebook version. This way, there's no pressure of needing to know what's going on because you've read the book before and you'll hear how words are pronounced by a narrator who is fluent in the language.


Who doesn't love having a story read to them before bed? We all loved it as children, but somehow parents just get less cooperative as you get older. I don't know about you, but my mom is all "tuck yourself in" and "I'm not going to drive to the other end of the city to read you a bedtime story, Brittany." 

Well FINE, mom. God.

But I digress. who wants to keep the light on while you're trying to relax before bed anyway? Now, you don't have to! Just put your earphones in or play the CD on your computer and drift off to dreamland, and feel like a little kid again. (Though on that note, audiobooks are great for all ages!)


This post isn't sponsored and I have no coupon codes for you, but I do know how you can get free audiobooks to listen to.

  • Through your library! Check if your local library also has audiobooks, and you can listen to the CDs on your computer or in your car!
  • If you have the Overdrive app, you can get audiobooks straight from your phone or other device. Just create an account, look for your library, and start requesting!
  • Bloggers, did you know that you could get review copies of audiobooks?! Well, you can.
Here are some of the emails where you can send requests.
  • Penguin Random House:  audio@penguinrandomhouse.com
  • Hachette Book Group: audiobooks.Generic@hbgusa.com
  • Simon & Schuster: AudioPublicity@simonandschuster.com
  • HarperCollins: Beth.Ives@harpercollins.com
  • Macmillan: brisa.robinson@macmillan.com


Speaking of free audiobooks... I'm giving away a bunch, PLUS these brand new Beats headphones!


The giveaway prize pack is open internationally, and includes:
  • Beats Headphones
  • Audiobook of Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
  • Audiobook of Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh
  • Audiobook of Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
  • Audiobook of Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
  • Audiobook of Warcross by Marie Lu
  • Audiobook of Alex & Eliza by Melissa De La Cruz
You must be over the age of 13 or have permission of a parent or guardian to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

56 comments:

  1. I've never listened to an audio-book before, but I really want to!
    Thanks for the giveaway :)

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    1. You really should! They are great and you can be listening to a book while doing other not fun things!

      Thanks for stopping by ^_^

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  2. I've actually never listened to an audiobook but you made it sound awesome. Thank you for this amazing giveaway!

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  3. I used to listen to audio books years ago and if you get the right voice for the story they can be wonderful. I really should get back to them...

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    1. Exactly, the narrator has to fit the book for it to work. I hope you find a good one for your next listen!

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  4. Seriously?! What is this awesomeness??!!

    I absolutely LOVE listening to audiobooks and I always kind of feel alone out there sometimes when I do review them. I have a few favourite narrators, but if I have to choose, Bailey Carr is excellent in Noteworthy. Thanks for the info on how to get review copies. It is something that I have always been curious about and never researched it. :)

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    1. I am waiting on Noteworthy from the library right now, I can't wait! I'm glad I could provide the helpful contacts to you, I hope you get something good!

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  5. I've been really wanting to get into audiobooks more, but I always forget! I've never been great at it in the past, but I am so determined because I love being told stories! Thanks for the amazing giveaway opportunity!

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  6. Oh my this post is so me! I agree... life got super crazy after my third child was born, and audiobooks are the best save - I totally listen while I shower and when I run... I thought Illuminae series was the best audio... and you're right the narrator can totally save a boring read. Audio is the only way I got through The Raven Boys series - the narrator for that is amazing... seriously.

    Marissa

    Reading List

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    1. Yes, audiobooks are especially great for mothers! You're not the first one to tell me how great it is for when you're running errands or in between naps.

      I wasn't a fan of that narrator for The Raven Boys books but I did finish the entire series because I had them in audiobook form.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. Thank you for the opportunity! I love audiobooks and consistently recommend them to the high school patrons I serve as a high school librarian!

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  8. I don't listen to audiobooks often because I need to find the right audiobook to listen to, if that makes any sense? I get bored easily with them but there are a few that I have really loved. My favorites are Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, the narrator even has an Irish accent so it was perfection. I also loved the audiobook of The Host by Stephenie Meyer and Phantom's Dance by Lesa Howard. <3

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    1. It's important to find a good audiobook to make it worth the listen. I definitely recommend the audiobook for The Night Circus, that one is just magical.

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    2. Ooooh and that book just happens to be one of my favorites!

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  9. I loooooooove audiobooks. My sister tried to get me to listen to them for ages and I refused, but a couple of years ago I gave in and they are the best. I mostly listen when I am eating alone or riding the bus, but I also listen when I'm doing my nails, crocheting, and folding laundry. I have even figured out that I can listen while I play scales and finger exercises on guitar, ha ha. 🎸

    My favorite narrator is Tim Curry. He and Alan Cummings narrated a lot of the free Kindle Classics. I found that I am much more likely to re-read classics as audiobooks. Everyone keeps telling me I need to listen to some celebrity autobiographies narrated by the celebrity themselves, so that's my next adventure. I finally paid the five dollars to get my library card upgraded for cyber use. 🎧

    Thanks for the fab giveaway, and I am happy you are enjoying audiobooks, too. 💜

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    1. I was resistant towards audiobooks at first too, insisting that I only wanted books in print form but when other life aspects got in the way of my reading time it was audiobooks or no books... and no books wasn't an option I could live with.

      I haven't heard any audiobooks from those narrators but I will keep an eye out for their names.

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    2. Good luck on the giveaway, and I hope the links are helpful!

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  10. I absolutely love audiobooks! I think my favorite one is Six of Crows...I listened to it after I had already read the book and damn the full cast brought that book to such a deeper level! Lately I have listened to so many backlist titles through overdrive that they might revoke my membership. LOL Thanks for this kickass post and giveaway!

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    1. So do I! I haven't tried Six of Crows as an audiobook but I'm glad to hear that it's amazing. Overdrive is amazing, and I've been listening to a lot of my back list stuff too.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  11. Ohhh, I've read Warcross but I haven't heard the audiobook! My favourite would have to be Six of Crows' audiobook, though! I love the different voice actors!

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    1. Sounds like my next reread of Six of Crows will be via audiobook!

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  12. So far my favorite audiobooks are the Harry Potter series. I just love the narrator.

    Also, I accidentally put the google info instead of the bloglovin' info in the rafflecopter above. The bloglovin' I followed with is: https://www.bloglovin.com/ @danajan

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    1. That narrator is amazing, I believe he's the same one for The Night Circus as well. His voice is magical.

      And regarding the giveaway, if your name comes up, I'll keep this in mind!

      Delete
  13. My family always listens to audiobooks on roadtrips. We love the Harry Potter audiobooks, The Ables by Jeremy Scott, and Ready Player One. (Wil Wheaton does the audiobook of that one!)

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    1. The Harry Potter audiobooks are fantastic, and I would imagine they are great for road trips. I'll keep an eye out for those other narrators!

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  14. It has been far too long, like early last year long, since I last listened to an audiobook. I love listening to Shakespeare's plays, MacBeth and Hamlet in particular, and the classics the most when it comes to audiobooks. Though Blood Red Road was the first audiobook that got me hooked on listening to books. =)

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    1. I really wanted to listen to Shakespeare via audiobook since there are so many of his plays I still want to read. I heard Blood Red Road is an amazing book!

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  15. I discovered my love for Audiobooks last year. So far my favorites are the Inheritance Cycle, starting with Eragon, that's narrated by Gerard Doyle. His voice acting is amazing. I'm currently listening to Six of Crows and I'm loving it so far. The multiple narrators are doing a great job. I haven't read or listened to any of your giveaway choices so it would be an awesome chance!

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    1. I've heard the Six of Crows one is fantastic, I need to listen to it!

      Good luck on the giveaway!

      Delete
  16. Well you've sold me on audiobooks! Loved this post and all the commenters, there's definitely some old and new titles I'd love to listen to :) thanks for doing this giveaway!

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  17. Fabulous reasons. I really should try audio books again. I always feel like I don't have the concentration for them! :-)

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    1. Thank you! And you really should, they are great. Hopefully, the right narrator can keep you focused.

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  18. I LOVE audiobooks but I haven't listened to any of these. My favorite audiobook so far was probably One of Us Is Lying. Thanks for the chance! :)

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    1. I'll have to check that one out!

      Good luck on the giveaway ^_^

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  19. I listen to audiobooks on my commute to and from work. I love picking up series because then I always know which audiobook to listen to next. I have read Flame in the Mist, but I have not read any of the other books.

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    1. Yes! Series are great via audiobook, you'll read them so much faster this way haha.

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  20. And sewing! You can definitely listen to them while sewing---which is when I do most of my audiobook listening these day. I love them. I'm still really picky about narrators (and I've come across some stinkers in the past few months) but when you get a good one aahhhhhh it's amazing. Does your library have Hoopla, Britt? It's a bit like Overdrive, except NO WAITLIST. It's the best. I was actually planning a monthly post talking about new audios & ebooks come out on Hoopla because they get some great ones, brand new releases. (sorry, I'm in library offering talk-up mode haha).

    Love this post, sweetie! We definitely have a love of audiobooks in common!♥

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  21. I've never listened to an audio-book before but I would like to give it a try. I was quite afraid I may not understand enough the spoken English but I have tried some video reviews and posdcasts, so I know I can manage depending on the narrators.

    Thanks for the giveaway

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  22. I have listened to audio books for years! Started back when they were cassette tapes! There are so many narrators that I really like - Steve West, Lorelei King, Katherine Kellgren (so sad she passed away)
    There are so many others that are really good!
    I am always listening to audio books, I can't imagine life without them!

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  23. I have tried audiobooks a few times and loved it, though I haven't tried them in a while. This post convinced me that I should try again though! It's so true about learning a language - I listened to the audiobooks of The Hunger Games and Divergent in German and it really helped me at the time. And you're right, when life gets busy, audiobooks are a perfect solution because you can multitask!

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  24. Whoaaa thank you for this amazing giveaway!

    I'm SO picky with my audiobooks Brittany. I'm totally not an audiobook person and I usually only get one if it's by HUGE recommendation. But they're SO SO SO convenient, and I'm so happy they exist lol. Awesome post!!

    - Aila @ One Way Or An Author

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  25. This giveaway is seriously superb! I am really digging the headphones! I actually just listened to my ~first~ audiobook recently - Beautiful Broken Hearts by Kami Garcia - and I really enjoyed it! The story in general, but also the audiobook. I've heard great things about The Scorpio Races' audiobook so I might look into getting that one. I want to listen to more audiobooks to see if I'm a good fit for them - for years I told myself that I wasn't, because I'm not an auditory learner. But then I really liked the audiobook of Beautiful Broken Hearts. Who knew! LOL. Thank you for the chance!

    Have a fantastic week, Brittany. =)

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  26. I love audiobooks in the car so much I don't even listen to music that much because I can't wait to listen to my book. I can't turn the lights off and go to bed, because I'll fall asleep and miss what I'm listening to. Hmm, I love Sebastian York and Andi Arndt, and then Will Watt, who reads Amy Daws Harris Brothers series is one of my favorites! Thanks for the awesome giveaway, and I love this post!

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  27. This was such a great post! I also am obsessed with audiobooks. I discovered them after a free trial with Audible and I've been hooked ever since! I love listening to my book as I run, it makes it so much more enjoyable. I too listen to mine while I work. I am glad you enjoy them as well. How amazing are these narrators?!?! I feel like they are so beyond talented!!

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  28. I've actually just started getting into audiobooks recently as well (after listening to Illuminae and Gemina of course), and I'm only seeing the benefits now especially listening to them at work! Lovely post Brittany!

    Jeann @ Happy Indulgence

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  29. I love listening to audiobooks. I have to travel 3 hours on the bus daily to get to and from university, and usually reading on the bus makes me motion sick, so I've turned to audiobooks and its the best thing ever. I've been listening to audiobooks of the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead and it really does feel like I'm reading them all over again, mostly because I read the books in a day and missed out on small little details the first time.
    Aneta @ Angelic Book Reviews 
    I'm so glad you're spreading the word on Audiobooks :) Great post.

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  30. I LOVEEE audiobooks! Hoopla is also another great avenue for borrowing audiobooks. You can borrow up to six per month. :)

    Thanks for sharing the request emails for audiobooks, I've been on Penguin's list and forgot that there are other publishers. Haha.

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  31. I haven't listened to many audiobooks yet, but I did just recently listen to one of In The Heat Of The Night that had a full cast and kind of was like an audio version of a play, it was really well done.

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  32. Omg SO much agreement. Audiobooks change my life! I do a lot of exercise so I get a lot of reading done during that, yesss my TBR thanks me. 😂😂 Plus I find them easier to understand/remember?! I think I'm more of an auditory learner, to be honest, so if I listen to an audio of like a complex adult fantasy or sci-fi, I understand it waaaay better. Also some of the narrators are just SO FANTASTIC!!! I'm so glad you're a fan of audios too!!

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  33. I haven't really listened to too many audiobooks, but I am in love with the Talon series. I listened to the first book on Audible Channels for free, and then I went and bought the rest of the series, and love them!

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  34. EEE! This post is so so so awesome :D I'm thrilled that you love audiobooks so much Brittany. <3 I.. have yet to listen to any o.O But I want to. One day, haha :D And so it would be so amazing to win this stunning giveaway. Sigh. Thank you so, so much for the chance lovely. <3 You are awesome :) Loved reading all the reasons for why you think audio books are the best, haha :)

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  35. I completely agree with almost everything about this post. I often find that books that are too slow for me when I'm reading them come alive with an audiobook. Rebecca Soler is definitely my favorite narrator. Love her!!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  36. OMG I love this post! I've never been a huge audio book fan, but when my work commute went from 10 to 40 mins a day, I started giving them a chance. I try to just listen while I'm driving, but I get so addicted to the books that I start listening while doing dishes, making dinner etc. Thank god we don't have to lug around boomboxes and cassettes anymore haha.

    Lauren @ bookslaying.com

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