Winter Audiobook Discoveries: My Favorite Listens from January to February 2026
Every season brings its own flavor and atmosphere to audiobook listening. In winter, I love the coziness and calm, with long dark evenings, blankets, hot drinks, and a really good story in my ears.
January and February delivered some unexpected gems this year: a magical train that broke my heart in the best way, a goblin love story I didn’t know I needed, and a sociopath who became one of my favorite audiobook heroines!
Whether you’re shaking off your start-of-year reading slump or are deep in mid-winter hibernation mode, I have something for you here.
Updates: January ✓ | February ✓ | March
January 2026: Starting the Year Strong
The Elsewhere Express
By Samantha Sotto Yambao
Narrated by Amanda Centeno
Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
The Elsewhere Express came out of nowhere and hit me hard!
It isn’t quite cozy, there’s a bit too much at stake, and at times, things get genuinely bleak for our protagonists. But they are on a magical train!
This is a book with real depth that reflects on what it means to truly “live your life”. Amanda Centeno’s narration is beautiful, bringing warmth to the entire cast of characters.
Perfect for: Anyone looking for an unexpected book to shake off their start-of-year slump, and generally for fans of magical realism!
I Don’t Wish You Well
By Jumata Emill
Narrated by André Santana, supported by Erin Spencer, Matt Godfrey, Angel Pean, Aaron Goodson
Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
An André Santana narration is always a strong selling point for me – and he delivered beautifully with this YA Thriller!
The story is set in a conservative small town shaken by the deaths of four of their golden boys – and the gay drug dealer believed to have killed them. Our protagonist Pryce returns to create a true crime podcast about his hometown, the place he was so happy to leave behind.
I loved the mystery aspect of this book, as we uncover with Pryce bit by bit what really happened. The personal stakes for him are high: how can he come out to his parents when everyone in their hometown believes being gay means something is deeply wrong with you?
Perfect for: Fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (and those who weren’t fans but love YA Thrillers)
The Murder at World’s End
By Ross Montgomery
Narrated by Joe Jameson, supported by Derek Jacobi
Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
A manor house, locked down by a storm. Sealed rooms. And then… a dead body! And everything ties in with Halley’s Comet…
I was absolutely smitten with Miss Decima Stockingham, an 80-year-old agent of chaos and the perfect partner for our protagonist Steven, newly hired as an under-butler in the manor house.
Between the fantastic sense of humor and genuine warmth for its main characters, this is the perfect murder mystery for me. Joe Jameson excels at bringing out exactly this mix of feeling and atmosphere. And Derek Jacobi’s old-timey radio passages bring flair to the audio production.
Perfect for: Fans of classic murder mysteries!
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days
By Jessie Sylva
Narrated by Maggie Bain
Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
Think How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, but make it a Cozy Romantasy about a halfling girl and a nonbinary goblin who both want the same cottage and decide to live there together until one of them leaves voluntarily.
The setting is cozy and whimsical as we explore what goblins and halflings love: Goblins are all about connection to nature, growing plants, and putting to good use anything nature provides them with. While halflings can appreciate the good things in life, like a lavish meal, colorful decor, and a cozy home.
There are some Romeo and Juliet undertones in this book, too, because halflings and goblins have a deep-rooted distrust of each other, which makes the slow thaw between Pansy and Ren all the more satisfying.
Maggie Bain did an incredibly charming narration of this adorable love story that I can wholeheartedly recommend to you!
Perfect for: Fans of romantic Cozy Fantasy and anyone looking for nonbinary books!
February 2026: Mid-Winter Gems
Read Between the Lies
By Jesse Q. Sutanto
Narrated by Eunice Wong
Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
Jesse Q. Sutanto is a fantastic author, and Read Between the Lies is a story that plays with many different layers and leaves you with many questions.
Fern can be an exhausting main character, which is why this audiobook doesn’t appeal to everyone. She is highly paranoid, and it’s often hard to tell whether she is imagining things or right on point about her bully, Haven. But that was also an aspect that pulled me in deep.
I found the topic of online revenge and bullying very fascinating. And since this is a Kindle Unlimited audiobook, I believe you should give this book a try if you are a subscriber and can borrow it.
Eunice Wong is an amazing narrator who brought out Fern’s emotions perfectly!
Perfect for: Anyone with an interest in books about the publishing world, and readers who enjoy difficult main characters.
To the Death
By Andrea Tang
Narrated by Mirai, Jo Yuan
Length: 9 hrs
This novel has gritty Urban Fantasy vibes as we delve into the world of underground magic duels. But at the center is a rivals-to-lovers sapphic romance.
Tamsin is trying to figure out her own place in the world, getting out of her father’s shadow – one of the most successful magical duelists in his time. And Sam has secret plans to get revenge for her brother’s death.
I loved all elements of this book: the tender love story, the magical dueling that felt fast-paced and captivating, as well as the character development, as both girls have to figure out what is driving and influencing them.
Mirai and Jo Yuan did great narrations, and I love that the publisher went for dual narration here. It adds so much depth to the audio experience to hear the characters in different voices.
Perfect for: Fans of Urban Fantasy!
A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage
By M. K. Oliver
Narrated by Perdita Weeks
Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
If you are, like me, a sucker for a morally grey (or darker) heroine, then you will have an amazing time with Lalla!
Lalla’s sardonic tone and ruthless actions make this an absolutely addictive audiobook. She knows what she wants for her marriage and for her children, and nothing will stand in her way!
Perdita Weeks found the perfect dry tone to bring Lalla to life, and I found this such an entertaining Thriller!
Perfect for: Fans of satire and dark humor!
March 2026: Outstanding Spring Starters
Come back as this post grows with more audiobook recommendations for March!
Winter 2026 Listening Trends
Looking across my January and February listens, a few things stand out – some personal discoveries and some wider patterns in what’s being published and how.
Morally complex women are having a moment. Lalla in A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage and Fern in Read Between the Lies could not be more different, but they share something: neither of them is particularly likable, and that’s exactly what makes them compelling. I hope this will become a real trend in 2026 fiction: authors daring to lean into difficult, contradictory female protagonists and trusting readers to come along for the ride.
Ensemble narrations are elevating genre fiction. I Don’t Wish You Well uses five narrators to bring its small-town thriller to life, and Heir of Illusion is an enthralling new Romantasy with duet narration. Publishers have noted that listener demand for duet and full-cast productions has been growing steadily, and early 2026 is already reflecting that. It feels like single voices become a deliberate choice for intimate storytelling, and not the standard to lower production costs.
Cozy fantasy and romantasy are not slowing down. The Elsewhere Express and How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days come from very different corners of the genre. One takes the direction of magical realism with real emotional weight, the other is a whimsical forced-proximity romance. But both confirm that readers want warmth, whimsy, and characters that aren’t just stereotypes. Spotify’s editorial team called 2026 “another blockbuster year” for romantasy, and if my January listening list is any indication, they’re right.
LGBTQ+ representation is woven in, not bolted on. Several of my winter picks feature queer protagonists or romance at their center, and in each case, it feels organic to the story rather than a selling point to be flagged. I Don’t Wish You Well uses its gay protagonist’s homecoming to say something real about shame and community. How to Lose a Goblin centers a nonbinary love interest with total ease. To the Death builds its entire emotional arc around a rivalry. This is what progress in publishing actually looks like in practice.
Ready to dive into any of these winter gems? Check out my guide to the Best Audiobook Apps to find the best prices and services for your listening habits.
Looking for more audiobook recommendations? Here are my Favorite Audiobooks of 2025!
Happy listening!
Eline Blackman (pronouns: she/they) fell in love with books as a child – with being read to and reading herself. 11 years ago, she bought her first Audible book. It was love at first listen! An average of 200 audiobooks per year has become the new normal, and you will rarely see Eline without a wireless earbud. Romance and Fantasy are the go-to genres for this audiobook fan.
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