Audiobooks

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.”

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So here’s a little confession: I used to be that guy. You know the one—I had a recurring Audible subscription and a library of audiobooks narrated by overly peppy voices that I kept meaning to finish. It was convenient. It was easy. But somewhere along the way, I realized I was quietly funneling money into the great, sprawling Amazonian beast. And the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me.

Then I found Libro.fm, and suddenly, I felt like I’d just discovered some magical little indie coffee shop in a world full of Starbucks. You know that feeling when you walk into a used bookstore and the air smells like paper, dust, and endless possibility? That’s what Libro.fm feels like, but for audiobooks.

Not Just Another Audiobook App

At first glance, Libro.fm works pretty much like Audible. You pay a monthly fee (currently $14.99), and in return, you get one audiobook credit per month plus access to a bunch of great deals and curated playlists. But here’s the kicker: instead of handing over your money to Amazon, you’re supporting a local independent bookstore of your choice. Every. Single. Time.

Yes, seriously.

You get your audiobook, and your chosen indie bookstore gets a cut. It’s like the ultimate bookish win-win. I chose Boswell Books in Milwaukee, which is one of my favorite real-world bookstores—friendly staff, great events, and that dreamy smell of old wood floors and new pages. But there are tons of bookstores you can pick from, depending on where you live or just who you want to support. No gatekeeping.

Why I’m Smitten With Libro.fm

Let’s talk pros. Because there are many. Grab a snack.

1. It Feels Good to Shop Here
There’s something deeply satisfying about knowing my audiobook habit is actually helping keep indie bookstores afloat. Every time I hit “Buy,” I don’t feel that little pang of regret like I used to with Amazon. I feel… kinda noble? Like a literary Robin Hood, but less arrows and more earbuds.

2. You Actually Own Your Audiobooks
This is a big one. With Audible, you’re kinda renting your books—if you ever cancel your membership, you can keep what you’ve downloaded but you’re still locked into Amazon’s ecosystem. With Libro.fm, you’re buying DRM-free audio files. That means you can download them, back them up, play them on any device. It’s yours. Forever. Like in the Before Times.

3. The App is Pretty Dang Good
I was skeptical. I mean, could they really rival Audible’s slick interface? But yeah, they totally can. The Libro.fm app has all the good stuff: sleep timer, variable speed playback (hello, 1.25x, my old friend), bookmarks, and an intuitive layout that doesn’t require a PhD in “why won’t this play on my phone.” I’ve used it on both iOS and Android with no hiccups.

4. The Staff Picks and Playlists Are Actually Cool
They’ve got these themed playlists curated by real bookstore employees—people who actually read and care. Not weird algorithm-generated “You might also like this 27-hour lecture on 18th-century plowing techniques.” I’ve found some absolute gems this way. It’s like having your favorite bookseller whispering in your ear.

5. You Can Gift Credits or Start a Membership for Someone
Perfect for that friend who says they don’t have time to read (but you know they’re stuck in traffic for 40 minutes every morning). Or just for someone who could use a pick-me-up that isn’t socks or a scented candle. Audiobooks = serotonin.

6. They’re Transparent AF
I love that they’re super open about where the money goes. You can see how much your bookstore earns, what the revenue split is, and they’re big on community and ethics. It’s refreshing. There’s no sleazy corporate fog hanging over them.

The (Very Tiny) Cons

Okay, I promised to be honest, so here are a couple of minor nitpicks:

• They don’t have every single book Audible does. Some publishers are still being weird about distribution. But I’ve only run into this a handful of times, and it’s getting better.
• No fancy “free Audible Originals” or whatever. But honestly, I never listened to those anyway, so… no real loss?

So yeah…

Libro.fm just feels better. Like, spiritually. It aligns with my “support small, skip the Bezos empire” values, and it doesn’t ask me to compromise on quality or convenience to do it. If anything, it makes me feel more connected to the book world—and more excited to hit “play” on the next story.

So if you’ve ever felt a little icky sending your audiobook money into the Bezos void, give Libro.fm a try. You might just fall for it like I did. And hey, if you do sign up, pick your favorite indie bookstore to support. Or copy me and go with Boswell Books—those folks are the real deal.

Currently listening to: “The House in the Cerulean Sea” and crying in public like it’s a lifestyle.