From attics filled with secrets and dragon war colleges to the jungles of Vietnam and the beaches of Newport, audiobooks can transport listeners to some unforgettable places.
Brought to life by captivating narrators, these stories can accompany you on daily commutes, long walks and cozy evenings at home, transforming everyday moments into immersive adventures. This month, we’re highlighting the 10n most-listened-to audiobooks at Naperville Public Library, all available for checkout with a library card.
Here’s a look at the titles that had listeners reluctantly pressing pause and enthusiastically recommending them.
“Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros
After nearly 18 months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. Now, Violet must journey beyond the failing wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves — her dragons, her family, her home and him. Even if it means keeping a secret so big that it could destroy everything. A storm is coming … and not everyone can survive its wrath.
“The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden
“The Housemaid” is a psychological thriller about Millie, a woman with a troubled past who is desperate for a fresh start. She accepts a live-in housemaid job for the wealthy Winchester family. At first, the job seems almost too good to be true — beautiful house, steady pay, a chance to rebuild her life. But things quickly feel… off. Her boss behaves erratically and cruelly, the house has strange rules and Millie is forced to sleep in a small, locked attic room. As Millie becomes more entangled in the family’s secrets, she begins to question who’s really in control and who’s actually in danger.
“The Wedding People” by Alison Espach
On a beautiful day in Newport, Phoebe Stone arrives alone at a grand inn packed with wedding guests, all of whom assume she’s part of the celebration. In truth, she’s at rock bottom, without her husband and clinging to a long-held dream of visiting the Cornwall Inn for one last indulgent escape. As the meticulously organized bride prepares for every possible disaster except Phoebe, the two women form an unexpected connection and begin confiding in each other in surprising ways.
“The Women” by Kristin Hannah
In 1965, inspired by the belief that women can be heroes, nursing student Frankie McGrath joins the Army Nurse Corps and serves in Vietnam. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets ― and becomes one of ― the lucky, the brave, the broken and the lost. But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.
“Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
Ordered by her formidable mother to join Navarre’s deadly dragon rider academy, Violet Sorrengail must survive brutal training where most cadets would gladly see her dead. As war looms and secrets unravel, she faces ruthless rivals, hidden truths and a simple choice: graduate or die.
“The Tenant” by Freida McFadden
After losing his job and struggling to pay the mortgage, Blake rents a room to Whitney, who seems perfect … at first. Soon, strange smells, noises and shifting neighbor behavior unsettle him, and he fears his darkest secrets are exposed. Danger lives right at home and by the time Blake realizes it, it’ll be far too late. The trap is already set.
“Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry
Optimistic writer Alice Scott and brooding Pulitzer winner Hayden Anderson compete to write the biography of reclusive heiress Margaret Ives on Little Crescent Island. Given a one-month trial and bound by strict NDAs, they receive different pieces of Margaret’s story, while a growing attraction complicates their rivalry and blurs the line between competition and love.
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt
After her husband’s death, Tova Sullivan works nights at an aquarium to cope with the decades-old disappearance of her son, Erik. There she befriends Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who uncovers the truth about the night Erik vanished and sets out to reveal it to her before it’s too late.
“The Crash” by Freida McFadden
Eight months pregnant and alone, Tegan heads to Maine to stay with her brother but drives into a blizzard and never arrives. She is rescued by a couple offering shelter, only to realize their cabin isn’t the safe haven it seems. Trapped and in danger, Tegan must now fight to save herself and her unborn child.
Ashlee Conour is the marketing specialist at Naperville Public Library.
