Are Audiobooks Reading?

I’m just going to come right out and say it: if I listen to a book, I count it as read. End of story. If I spend twelve hours with my earbuds in, following a story from start to finish, I don’t care if the words came through my eyes or my ears—I read that book.

But, you’d be surprised at how many people side-eye me when I say that. There’s this persistent little debate floating around about whether audiobooks “count” as reading. Some folks are almost snobbish about it, insisting that unless you’ve physically flipped pages (or at least scrolled through an e-reader), you haven’t really read the book. Which… makes me laugh a little, honestly, because have you seen how massively popular audiobooks have become? Millions of people are doing it. The New York Times even has an audiobook best-seller list now. If it’s not “real,” then the entire publishing industry is in on a con.

Listening vs. Reading: Same Brain, Different Doorways

Here’s where it gets interesting: studies have shown that the brain processes listening to a story and reading a story in pretty similar ways. Sure, your eyes and ears are different input devices, but once the information gets into your head, it’s all about comprehension, retention, and experience. I know people who listen to history books and can spout off dates and battles better than I could after slogging through a dense hardcover. I also know people who can’t focus while listening but thrive when their eyes are on the page. Different brains, different doorways in.

For me, listening to an audiobook feels a little like being told a story around a campfire. It’s immersive in a different way—especially when the narrator is stellar. A great voice actor can make characters leap off the page in a way my silent inner voice doesn’t always manage. And let’s be real: who doesn’t want Julia Whelan or Kirt Graves reading them to sleep at night?

Why the Gatekeeping?

So why do people dig their heels in about this? I think part of it is old-school baggage. We’ve all been taught since grade school that reading equals sitting quietly with a book in your hands, eyes on text. Listening? That was “lazy.” Or worse, “cheating.” (As if there’s a secret rulebook of literature that someone forgot to tell us about.)

But let’s flip that around: audiobooks make books accessible. People with vision impairments, dyslexia, ADHD, or just busy schedules get to enjoy stories in a way that works for them. You can fold laundry, commute to work, or walk the dog and still sink into a good novel. That’s not cheating—that’s brilliant multitasking.

The Popularity Proof

I remember when my library first started offering downloadable audiobooks, and I thought, “Huh, neat.” Fast-forward a decade, and it’s now one of their most requested services. People devour books while driving cross-country, while working out, while mowing the lawn. Audible is basically a household name at this point. If audiobooks weren’t “real reading,” they wouldn’t be exploding in popularity the way they are.

Some Narrators Who Make Stories Unforgettable

Honestly, the narrator can make or break an audiobook. I’ve stopped listening to books simply because the voice didn’t click with me, and I’ve fallen in love with others just because the performance was that good. Here are some narrators (general, romance, and queer romance) who I think are worth seeking out:

General Fiction & Fantasy Favorites

• Julia Whelan – Contemporary romance & fiction goddess.
• Bahni Turpin – Emotional powerhouse (The Hate U Give).
• Stephen Fry – His Harry Potter readings are iconic.
• Jim Dale – Legendary character voices in Harry Potter.
• Kevin R. Free – Brilliant in the Murderbot Diaries.
• January LaVoy – Crystal-clear, nuanced performances.

Romance Powerhouses

• Teddy Hamilton – Smooth, warm, and swoony.
• Shane East – That British accent? Enough said.
• Andi Arndt – A queen of romance narration; great comedic timing.
• Sebastian York – A gravelly voice that screams “romantic lead.”

LGBTQ+ Romance Favorites

• Joel Leslie – Absolute chameleon. Hundreds of queer romances, nailing accents and emotion.
• Kirt Graves – Famous for narrating TJ Klune’s Wolfsong and Green Creek series.
• Michael Lesley – Hysterical and heartfelt in TJ Klune’s The Lightning-Struck Heart.
• Greg Tremblay (aka Greg Boudreaux) – Warm, intimate performances that shine in M/M romance.
• Cornell Collins – Smooth and expressive, with great chemistry.
• Nick J. Russo – Solid choice for engaging queer romance reads.

Starter LGBTQ+ Romance Audiobooks Worth Your Ears

If you’re curious where to start, here are a couple of audiobooks where narration really takes the story to the next level:

• Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune, narrated by Kirt Graves — A story about life, death, and love, told with tenderness. Graves gives each character nuance, and his pacing makes the humor and grief hit just right.
• Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall, narrated by Nicholas Boulton — A queer Regency romp that’s ridiculously fun and over-the-top. Boulton leans into the melodrama and makes it sparkle.

And if you want to branch out even further, look up narrators like Michael Crouch, Kevin R. Free, Laura Sackton, and Nicky Endres—all of whom bring queer and trans stories vividly to life.

My Take

At the end of the day, stories are meant to be absorbed. The format is secondary. Oral storytelling is as old as humanity itself—way older than the printed page. Homer’s epics were spoken aloud long before anyone scratched them onto parchment. If listening to The Iliad counted back then, why shouldn’t listening to Project Hail Mary or Circe count now?

So yeah, I’m firmly in the “audiobooks are reading” camp. If you listen to it, if you live inside the world of that book for however many hours, if you can come out the other side with the experience of it—that counts. You’ve read the book.

And if anyone gives you grief about it? Just smile and say, “Actually, I’ve read twice as many books as you this year.”