Audiobooks are the ultimate soothers. Whether it’s a self-care day for ultimate relaxation or a work day when you somehow manage to squeeze in a half-hour run, listening to an audiobook is always the best companion for both. And when your favorite celebrity narrates the audiobook, it becomes a no-brainer to listen to it either while running on a treadmill or curled up on your couch with a hot chocolate. This list will help you find the best celebrity-narrated audiobooks. I have ensured that the recommendations combine the greatness of the plot and the narration done by the celebrities. All these awesome audiobooks are available on Audible right now; you can get the Free Audible Trial now 🎧 and use the free credit to get your favorite audiobook!
Best Celebrity Narrated Audiobooks!
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Narrated by Rosamund Pike
I had to start with this one here. I was floored when I learned that Rosamund Pike had narrated Jane Austen‘s Pride and Prejudice. Rosamund played the role of the eldest sister, Jane Bennet, alongside Kiara Knightley, who played the role of Elizabeth Bennet in the movie adaptation of the novel. She wholly owned the character. Her narration of the book is simply fantastic.
⭐ RECOMMENDED READING: Learn Why Is “Pride and Prejudice” Still So Popular!
The book was published in 1813 and tells the Bennet family’s story. Mrs. Bennet’s only goal is to marry her five daughters into wealthy families. And hence, she begins the expedition to look for ideal suitors, which takes us through magnificent balls, gossip, tension, and some significant character development. Since the book has many conversational scenes with a humungous amount of dialogue, listening to an audiobook makes the experience even more enjoyable. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Narrated by Tim Robbins
Fahrenheit 451 is nothing short of a masterpiece. The history of wiping away literature and book burnings performed in Nazi Germany inspired Ray Bradbury to write this dystopian novel that follows Guy Montag, a fireman. After several events, Guy Montag quit his job and devoted his life to preserving literary and cultural writings. Tim Robbins, well-known for his role in the movie The Shawshank Redemption, gave his voice to this book. He is also an Academy Award winner. Fahrenheit 451 needed a voice that would exude grace and power, and Tim Robbins nailed it. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Narrated by Sissy Spacek
To Kill A Mockingbird, the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, has managed to shake society unfathomably. Author Harper Lee tells us the story of Atticus Finch, a lawyer defending a black man falsely accused of raping a white girl. We get to see the irrationality of the adults through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, children of Atticus Finch. Sissy Spacek has received the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and several other accolades. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the book, she came on board to narrate this novel. Her beautiful and expressive voice makes the audiobook an immersive experience for the listeners. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
4. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, Narrated by Tom Hanks
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett is one of those books that makes you long for something or someone you have never known. The Pulitzer-nominated novel takes us through loss, grief, and family dysfunction. You can feel the nostalgia of remembering your childhood home. Ann Patchett’s writing style is poetic and comforting. And do I even need to mention Tom Hanks’ greatness as a narrator? He brings humor and warmth with his extraordinary voice and personality. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
5. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, Narrated by Reese Witherspoon
Go Set A Watchman features several characters from To Kill A Mockingbird. Scout, a kid in the book To Kill A Mockingbird, is now a 26-year-old woman who came to Maycomb from New York to meet her father, Atticus Finch. Scout is trying to comprehend her father’s outlook toward society as well as her understanding of the place where she spent her childhood.
The narration for this book is done by none other than Reese Witherspoon. I love her so much that her name was enough to push me to listen to this audiobook, and I’m happy I listened to this gem. Now, Reese has her book club, one of the most famous celebrity-owned book clubs. And her understanding of books and literature reflects in her narration. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
6. The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli, Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch
This one has to be my favorite from this list. Benedict Cumberbatch has a unique personality. He exudes intelligence and smartness. Whether you love him as Sherlock, Doctor Strange, or Alan Turing, Benedict will charm you into believing him. His narration of The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli is nothing but perfection. Carlo Rovelli is a theoretical physicist, and in this book, he talks about the mystery of time. If you ask yourself what it means when we say that time flows, if it itches your brain to understand whether we exist in time or time lives in us, then you must listen to this audiobook. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
7. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Narrated by Scarlett Johansson
Published in 1865, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is still one of the most loved books in the history of literature. It amazes me how Lewis Carroll, a mathematics professor at Oxford University, came up with a story of a young girl Alice who makes her way into a fantasy world comprising an array of anthropomorphic creatures through a rabbit hole. And what amazed me, even more is Scarlett Johansson’s narration of this book. She is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors of our times, but how she narrated every character in a different voice left me enthralled with her immense talent. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
8. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is one of the most important books I have ever read. It combines many themes and literary tools to tell a story that must come out and scream into the world. Esther Greenwood, the book’s protagonist, gets an internship at a fashion magazine in New York. This accomplishment fills her with exceptional joy. However, Esther soon starts losing herself and gets into depression.
Published in 1963, The Bell Jar spoke about mental illness and focused on feminist issues. It’s easy to say that The Bell Jar is a masterpiece. Maggie Gyllenhaal, an American actress and filmmaker, is known for her roles in The Lost Daughter and several critically acclaimed movies. She brings the story to life with her crisp and powerful narration. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
9. Matilda by Roald Dahl, Narrated by Kate Winslet
There are n number of reasons to love Kate Winslet. But the moment I heard her narration in The Holiday, I knew she would be a fantastic narrator for an audiobook. Kate has a wonderfully expressive voice. She can easily express a range of emotions just with the help of her voice. And that’s precisely what she does with her narration of Roald Dahl’s book Matilda. Matilda Wormwood, the protagonist of the book, is a bookworm.
She started reading at the age of just three and a half. However, her mother and father are both emotionally abusive. To make it worse, the headmistress of her school, Miss Trunchball, is nothing less than brutal. As a result, we can see Matilda pulling off pranks on her parents. Although Matilda is categorized as a children’s book, everyone should listen to this audiobook. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
10. To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, Narrated by Nicole Kidman
Virginia Woolf‘s literary works are some of the most revered classics. And To The Lighthouse is no exception. The book captures the day-to-day happenings of domestic life, but the philosophical introspection makes it one of the most revered classics. The best part is that Nicole Kidman, who played the role of Virginia Woolf in the drama The Hours narrated this audiobook. Kidman also won the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing Woolf’s role. Now, isn’t that amazing? I highly recommend listening to this audiobook. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
11. Heartburn by Nora Ephron, Narrated by Meryl Streep
Heartburn is not for the weak-hearted. The book is about marital infidelity and revenge, which are very much connected with Nora Ephron’s life. Nora wrote Heartburn after discovering that her husband, Carl Bernstein, was cheating on her while pregnant. No other than Meryl Streep could have done a better job at narrating Heartburn. The book can sometimes feel like a monologue, and Meryl Streep does a fantastic job of keeping the listener hooked. Heartburn is one of those books that is best if consumed in the audiobook format. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
12. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, Narrated by Anne Hathaway
I’m a huge Anne Hathaway fan. But listening to her narrate my favorite childhood classic made me even more of a fan. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is the story of a young girl Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto. Dorothy and Toto were caught up in a cyclone and ended up in the Land of Oz. You will find several interesting characters in the book, such as munchkins, witches, winkies, quadlings, etc.
Anne Hathway shines as a narrator. She gives each character a different style and identity with many variations in expression. Even if you have already read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, you should still listen to its audiobook version to experience Anne Hathaway’s brilliance. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
13. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Narrated by Rachel McAdams
Some books have a cultural impact on people. Anne of Green Gables is one such classic children’s book. Although categorized as a children’s book, it is not age-specific. One can enjoy reading it at any point in their life. Since the cottage core aesthetic has grown in popularity on social media, Anne of Green Gables has developed an even greater audience.
Seeing Genz readers enjoying this gem makes me so happy. Also, what makes me happy is that Rachel McAdams has given her voice to this book. From Mean Girls to The Notebook, Rachel McAdams is a people’s favorite. She brings a spark to Anne’s cheerful character, which is full of life. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
14. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Narrated by Nick Offerman
Isn’t it astonishing that a novel published in 1876 is still relevant and loved fiercely by readers in 2023? The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are two of the greatest literary treasures. Tom Sawyer is an orphan boy who lives in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, based in Hannibal, Missouri. Tom lives with his aunt Polly and half-brother Sid. He is mischievous, fun, and innocent. Nick Offerman, who is an American actor and also a comedian writer, has narrated this classic. Nick’s comic timing and narration are on point. You will instantly feel connected to his voice. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
15. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adam, Narrated by Stephen Fry
The opening line of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adam goes like this, “Far Out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.” Now imagine the same line in the voice of Stephen Fry. This is what we call perfection! This book is a combination of lots of humor, a fascinating storyline, and a bunch of captivating characters. Stephen Fry’s narration is like the cherry on a lovely cake. I highly recommend this one! You can get the audiobook here! 🎧
The joy of losing yourself in a story and your favorite celebrity’s voice filling the spaces inside your mind is unparalleled. Get the Audible Free Trial now 🎧 and start these great audiobooks right away! Let us know which audiobook(s) you chose from this list.