Spring Break Listens

Shout out to springtime! Every year we trudge through February, our hope as low as our vitamin D stores only to stumble into the remembrance that things begin anew! But then, just as soon as we begin to feel the stirrings of serotonin, we encounter spring break. Visions of clawing apart our children as they fight to the death over a marker flash before our eyes, and we once again feel like we can’t go on. The crowded airports, the botched hotel reservations, your in-laws with you in a finite timeshare- really is it a break if the thought of it makes you want to shake your fists at the mocking blue sky? Well, we can’t make sure you all have seats together on the plane or plan out home activities to ensure your children remain entertained and keep all their limbs. We CAN, however, offer you intriguing and inspiring audiobooks to distract you/cover up your futile screams from the bathroom. Enjoy!

Veronika Decides to Die – Paulo Coelho

Trigger warning: this one is an upbeat story concerning… attempted suicide? And what does one do after consuming too many pills/waiting on the deliberate shedding of their mortal coil? Well, Veronica reads a magazine, during which she’s perturbed to see that no one knows where her homeland of Slovenia is located on a map. This lack of geographical knowledge will not stand. Instead of a suicide note, she ends up writing in to said magazine and gains notoriety after she wakes up in a mental hospital instead of heaven. What follows is a tale about learning to appreciate that life is for the living, and we’re lucky to be here.

The Immortalists – Chole Benjamin

Ultimately, what is a life lived? The result of fate or choices? Both? Have a listen to this one if you also have wrestled with those questions. Set in the 1960s, we follow the 4 Gold children who decide to visit renowned physic who is visiting their hometown. Hailed as a mystical woman who can predict the exact date you will die (seems chill) the audiobook continues on as we see the events of the siblings’ lives unfold, impacted by the predictions of some random lady their parents let them visit on a whim. What would you do if you knew when you were going to die? What wouldn’t you do? But perhaps most importantly, what was the 60s?

The Last Thing He Told Me – Marie-Helen Bertino

Things aren’t going well for Hannah Hall; her new husband is missing, and she just received some cryptic note from him and basically, nothing is as it seems. Not only that, but she’s in charge of his angsty teenage daughter who was less than thrilled with their marriage. Come for the spy thriller about a potential spy cover-up, stay for the heartwarming tale of a stepmom and stepdaughter working together to find a missing husband and father/probably learning to be best friends.

Dare Me – Megan Abbott 

Puberty, vicious cheerleaders, and a classic tale of ambition gone wrong? Oh and if that’s not enough, throw in a murder/suicide plot and listen to the Machiavellian melodrama unfold. The plot is a classic thriller that delivers on desperate intrigue, while still managing to be a fun romp when you remember it revolves around teenage cheerleaders and their nemesis. We feel like this one would be an ideal breezy beach listen since it feels like a well-written Lifetime Movie.

Thanks for reading! All these audiobooks and more are available now on AudiobookSTORE.com! We hope these audiobooks will help the time pass more quickly, as you cross off the days until school is back in session, and your sanity is back in place. And make sure to check out our FlexPass Membership for the ultimate roster of podcasts, savings on audiobooks, and more!