Librarians Share the 13 Best Audiobooks Narrated by Julia Whelan
- - Librarians Share the 13 Best Audiobooks Narrated by Julia Whelan
Chrissy CallahanJanuary 4, 2026 at 12:40 AM
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Julia Whelan is a true triple threat. In addition to writing her own captivating books, the author has also built quite a career for herself as a popular audiobook narrator, and she's even dabbled in acting. Whelan's narration work has left countless readers feeling moved—especially the two librarians Parade enlisted to share a list of the 13 best audiobooks narrated by Whelan. RoxanneLape, a middle school librarian who is known as @lapethelibrarian on TikTok, describes herself as an "avid audiobook listener" and has listened to several of the audiobooks that Whelan has narrated."I usually have an audiobook and a Kindle book on rotation since I need something to listen to in my car," she says. Retired librarian Kris Morahan, AKA @theretiredlibrarian, is also a big fan of Whelan's narration work and even had the opportunity to speak with the author about her work over the summer during an Instagram Live session."Julia connects with characters on a deeper level," Morahan says while explaining why Whelan is such a talented audiobook narrator.Below, we're sharing 13 of the best audiobooks she has narrated throughout her career. From novels to memoirs, there's something for every reading personality on this list.Related: The 19 Best Books on Kindle Unlimited Right Now, According to Librarians
Who Is Julia Whelan?
Whelan is an award-winning author who is known for hit books, including My Oxford Year, Thank You for Listening, Casanova LLC. and more. Per her website, Whelan's accolades include a Society of Voice Arts award, a Gracie Award for Best Fiction Narrator, a SOVAS Lifetime Achievement Award, an Audie Award for Best Fiction Narrator of 2025, a Grammy nomination for audiobook director and more.In addition to writing and narrating, she has several acting credits to her name, including her breakout role in the ABC TV series Once and Again at the age of 14; it aired from 1999 to 2002.Whelan is also the founder of Audiobrary, a publishing and distribution platform.
How Many Audiobooks Has Julia Whelan Narrated?
According to her website, Whelan has narrated over 700 books throughout her career. Author Taylor Jenkins Reid has called her "The Meryl Streep of Audiobooks," and The New Yorker has referred to her as "The Adele of Audiobooks."In 2025, Spotify named Whelan its Narrator of the Year.
What Makes Julia Whelan a Great Narrator?
Morahan believes that Whelan's early acting experience "provides the base for her narration work.""She doesn’t just read a story. She inhabits it," she shares. "Her control of tone, pitch, accent and pacing creates characters who feel alive. She always seems to understand exactly what a scene needs. She elevates every story she touches."Meanwhile, Lape says audiobook narrators like Whelan don't get enough credit."Narrators don’t just read stories; they perform them. They bring texture, emotion and personality that heighten the entire experience," she says. "Yes, audiobooks count as reading, and in some cases, they are the best way to enjoy a book."Related: The 44 Best Greek Mythology Books of All Time, According to Librarians
13 Best Audiobooks Narrated by Julia Whelan, According to Librarians1. ‘Part of Your World‘ by Abby Jimenez
"Part of Your World" may tell the tale of a romance between a city girl (Alexis Montgomery) and a small town guy (Daniel Grant), but Morahan says there's more than meets the eye with this book.When Alexis meets Daniel, a carpenter who's 10 years younger than her, sparks fly. The only problem? Their lives are completely different. Alexis's wealthy parents really want their daughter to follow in their footsteps and be a successful surgeon, but she's satisfied with her job as an ER doctor. As she gets to know Daniel, Alexis questions her life path. She's left to decide if she wants to give up the life she knows and pursue a long-term romance with this refreshing human and a new pace of life.Morahan says Whelan's narration of the story enhances the book."Whelan nails the humor and the heartbreak. She moves effortlessly between light banter and the book’s deeper themes of toxic relationships and family pressure," she shares. "She also shows off how well she can voice male characters."
2. ‘Atmosphere‘ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
"Whelan’s narration of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere turns Joan from a quiet, hesitant woman into someone who sheds her fears and fights for her dreams and love. Her emotional performance made me tear up and cheer in the same chapter," Morahan states. In the novel, the protagonist Joan Goodwin works as a professor of physics and astronomy. When she sees an ad looking for female scientists to join NASA's space shuttle program, she is eager to join. Luckily, Joan is selected as a candidate for the program and heads off to undergo training. While there, she forms friendships with her fellow astronauts and prepares for their first flight. Flash forward a few years, and mission STS-LR9 changes everything.
3. ‘Thank You for Listening' by Julia Whelan
"There’s something so meta about Whelan, the best narrator in the business, writing a romance about two audiobook narrators and then performing it herself," Morahan says. "It’s a love story wrapped in a journey of self-discovery, with an irresistible peek behind the curtain of audiobook production. She gets to play every note she’s great at."Thank You for Listening follows Sewanee Chester, an audiobook narrator who dreams of becoming a film star once again. When Sewanee learns that a hit romance novelist who passed away wanted her to perform her last book, she is flattered. However, she's not really into romance novels, and she's made it a point not to narrate them. Sewanee always admired the late author, though, and she could use the money to help her grandmother, so she decides to take the gig.Sewanee has to team up with Brock McNight, the industry's "hottest, most secretive voice," per the book description, and she forms an unexpected connection with him while working under her prior pseudonym. Along the way, Sewanee follows a journey of "self-discovery, love and acceptance."
4. ‘The Great Alone' by Kristin Hannah
Lape felt a personal connection to this book because of its setting.“The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, which takes place in a fictional Alaskan town, really captured my attention as an Alaskan resident myself," she shares. "Although the town is fictional, you are able to picture yourself walking the dirt roads and preparing the cabin for winter right alongside the characters. This book is incredibly well-written, but hearing the book is an experience that you can’t fully get from reading the book alone."Set in Alaska in 1974, the book follows former POW Ernt Allbright as he returns home from the Vietnam War. Ernt's time in the war has made him "volatile," per the book description, and he decides to uproot his family and move to Alaska to live off the grid. When Ernt and his family arrive, they find community with the locals, but everything changes when winter approaches. His already "fragile mental state" worsens, and his wife, Cara, and their 13-year-old daughter Leni soon have to band together to save themselves.
5. ‘When the World Tips Over' by Jandy Nelson
"Recently, my book club read When the World Tips Over, and I chose to listen instead of reading it on my Kindle," Lape shares. "There are so many characters in this story that without Whelan’s use of voice, I would not have been able to follow the story as easily, with each character being distinct and having personality."The novel follows the three Fall siblings, who live in North Carolina wine country. When their father disappeared years ago, the family became fractured. Flash forward a few years, and a mysterious rainbow-haired girl shows up."She might be an angel. Or a saint. Or an ordinary girl. Somehow, she is vital to each of them. But before anyone can figure out who she is, catastrophe strikes, leaving the Falls more broken than ever. And more desperate to be whole," the book description reads.
6. ‘The Four Winds' by Kristin Hannah
"Readers may call Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds bleak, but I found it to be a story about grit and survival," Morahan says. "Whelan’s narration radiates strength and maternal determination as she brings the Dust Bowl story to life. She makes you feel every sacrifice."Lape also says the story is "heartbreaking and full of love."The book begins in Texas in 1921 during a time when Americans are optimistic about the future of the country. The protagonist, Elsa Wolcott, is considered to be too old to marry at this point, but she meets a man named Rafe Martinelli and decides to marry him. Flash forward to 1934, the country is suffering, and millions of Americans are out of work. The Martinelli farm is suffering, and so is Elsa's marriage. In the midst of the Great Depression, Elsa has to decide if she will fight for her land or travel west to California to find a better life for her family.Related: Parade’s Handy Guide to Its "Best Books of All Time" Lists
7. ‘Funny Story' by Emily Henry
"Emily Henry’s Funny Story gives Whelan the perfect playground to show off her versatility," Morahan gushes. "It’s a warm, funny, second-chance-at-love story, and she lands both the comedy and the emotional gut punches. It’s proof that she can deliver all the feels without tipping into melodrama."The novel's protagonist, Daphne, experiences heartbreak when her fiancé, Peter, leaves her for his childhood best friend, Petra. Daphne finds herself living in Michigan without friends or family, but still has her dream job as a children's librarian. Since the gig doesn't pay much, she needs a roommate. Daphne asks Petra's ex, Miles Nowak, to move in with her, and they mostly avoid each other. All that changes one day when they grow closer and form a plan to post misleading photos of their summer adventures together. But the question remains: Is it all for show, or will they actually grow to enjoy each other's company?
8. ‘Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn
If you've only seen the movie Gone Girl, the book is worth a read, especially if you're listening to the audiobook.The book tells the story of Nick and Amy Dunne, a couple celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary. When Amy disappears, Nick is suddenly a suspect. As he tries to clear his name, Nick "parades an endless series of lies, deceits and inappropriate behavior," per the book description. Meanwhile, excerpts from Amy's diary paint a complicated picture, leading the reader to question what's behind her disappearance."In Gone Girl, Whelan lures listeners into believing Amy isn’t that bad until she very much is," Morahan says. "Her performance of the calculating and sociopathic Amy makes every twist hit harder. It’s one of those narrations that becomes part of the cultural moment."
9. ‘Year One' by Nora Roberts
"Nora Roberts’ Year One is a post-apocalyptic fantasy that follows a group of survivors in a world ravaged by a deadly plague. As governments collapse, magic, both good and evil, rises, and danger is everywhere." Morahan explains. "The sprawling story gives Whelan room to bring a large cast of characters and their relationships to life. Her performance is nuanced, clearly distinguishing those with life-affirming qualities from the truly monstrous."In the book, Lara Bingham practices good witchcraft in the apartment she shares with her lover, Max. As society continues to deteriorate, Lara and Max leave New York City. They're not the only ones who are heading West."In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them know exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain," the book description reads.
10. ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' by V. E. Schwab
In the 1700s, Addie LaRue makes a deal that will allow her to live forever, with one catch: No one she meets will ever remember her. The book follows Addie over the course of several centuries as she travels the world. Nearly 300 years after she made her initial deal, she meets a man in a hidden bookstore who remembers her. "Addie escapes the life chosen for her and pays a high price," Lape explains. "It's a beautiful story about freedom, love and the power of memory."Morahan is also a fan of Whelan's narration of this book."Whelan moves from fiery young woman to someone who’s watched centuries of history pass around her, layering determination, loneliness, hope and heartbreak into a single performance. It’s my favorite audiobook of all time, and some of Whelan's finest work," she gushes.
11. ‘Educated' by Tara Westover
Lape's book club doesn't usually read nonfiction books, but they tried something different with this memoir. The librarian says Whelan "shines in this genre" and lends a "grounded tone" to the author's words. "In fact, she performs the book with such authenticity that I confidently told my book club that the author narrated the book herself. I was wrong, of course, but that’s just how good Whelan is," Lape gushes. "This audiobook felt alive."Tara Westover was born to survivalist parents in Idaho and was isolated from mainstream society. Tara didn't visit a classroom until she was 17 years old, but when one of her brothers got into college, she was determined to learn more. Her journey for knowledge took her to Harvard and Cambridge University."Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home," the book description reads.
12. ‘The People We Keep' by Allison Larkin
"Allison Larkin’s The People We Keep follows a teenage girl, neglected by her mostly absent father, as she leaves her small town to find a bigger life and pursue music," Morahan explains. "Whelan is magnificent as April, pulling listeners into her emotional world, her travels and her songs. It’s an intimate, empathetic performance that makes April unforgettable."After leaving home to embark on a career in music, she ends up in Ithaca and begins to feel at home."As April moves through the world, meeting people who feel like home, she chronicles her life in the songs she writes and discovers that where she came from doesn’t dictate who she has to be," the book description reads.
13. ‘Girl in Pieces' by Kathleen Glasgow
"This is the harrowing story of Charlie, a teenage girl coping with abuse, self-harm and homelessness. She’s been broken in countless ways, yet still has the resilience to rebuild herself," Morahan says. "Whelan’s narration is raw and deeply moving, making listeners care deeply for Charlie and root for her survival."Charlotte Davis, the protagonist of the story, has lost many people in her life by the age of 17, but she's learned to cope."Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge," the book description reads.Up Next:
Related: 29 'Must-Read' Magical Realism Books, According to Librarians
Sources: -
Roxanne Lape is a middle school librarian who is known as @lapethelibrarian on TikTok.
Kris Morahan is a retired librarian known as @theretiredlibrarian on Instagram.
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Books section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
