What We’re Reading: May ‘26
Audiobooks - the mental health break we all need
May 6, 2026
*Pauses audiobook*
Hey, hey readers,
One of my favorite parts about working for Libro.fm is getting to chat with booksellers—and I was able to do a lot of that over the past month. While in Los Angeles, I said hi to a ton of our partners across the city, bonding over how many steps we walked during the L.A. Times Festival of Books. Just outside of Chicago, Sammie from Anderson’s Bookshop shared great new recommendations for me to check out. And last week, I popped into a new romance bookshop in San Francisco to introduce myself and drop off some stickers.
Books—and the community they create—are obviously a huge part of my life. But they aren’t just a passion and a career for me; they play an integral role in how I care for my mental health. Whether reading before bed, or taking long audiobook walks, there’s a tangible difference in my headspace between when I make space to read…and when I don’t.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and audiobooks can do a ton for us. They help reduce negative thinking, help relax our eyes (which leads to better sleep), immerse us in different worlds, and much more. And beyond listening to audiobooks, we’re seeing more and more opportunities to connect with people over them. So many of our bookstore partners, for example, have launched audiobook walking clubs!
We’ll be chatting more about audiobooks and community in our next newsletter (stay tuned), but in the meantime, read on for some great recommendations from our bookselling partners. Your mental health will thank you.
A quick note: Please know that we will never monetize this newsletter. We are aware of and in opposition to Substack’s content moderation policies, and will actively monitor for alternative options.
Hot bookseller recs
Who better to suggest your next read than our partners? Here are a few of our booksellers’ most recommended audiobooks over the past month. Browse all their picks.
🎧 Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, narrated by Rebecca Lowman
Would I even be doing my job if I didn’t recommend this book? Not only is it sold out of print copies in many locations, but the audiobook has received almost 40 bookseller reviews on Libro.fm in the past month alone. “This book will take you through the making of the new ‘trad wife’ label and turn you all around until you don’t [know] what that means or the truth of anything you see on social media. The ending may be the twistiest I’ve read in a while.” —Amy, Park Books
🎧 The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
“Incredibly intelligent, passionate, and nerdy, Prescod-Weinstein makes science not just accessible but entertaining and relevant, inspiring you to both understand the deepest workings of the universe and imagine a better future.” —Jocelyn, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Upcoming reads for your radar
Here are some forthcoming releases our bookselling partners are raving about. Consider pre-ordering them! Pre-orders benefit the author and booksellers, and will show up in your library on release day.
🎧 You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings, narrated by Abigail Hardiman and Aleksander Varadian
“This queer-awakening romance follows Cubby and her band in what can only be described as Fleetwood Mac-levels of mess…just as juicy as you would want it to be.” —Lindsay, Bookshop Santa Cruz
…And, it features original music composed by the narrator with lyrics from the author!
🎧 Cat Love by Tomás Q. Morín, narrated by Kaniehtiio Horn and John Detty
“It’s bad practice to assume what cats like or dislike, but if they like books I know this one is a future cat cult classic. It’s wild, perfectly strange and funny, and then it’s sad…then wild, strange and funny all over again, exactly like sharing part of your life with a cat.” —Frank, The Book Stop
Backlist buzz
These reads may have been out for a while, but are definitely still worth your attention. Not only do our bookselling partners love them, but they’re also on our bestselling list!
🎧The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol I by Beth Brower, narrated by Genevieve Gaunt
While the first book in the print series was released in 2019, the series was released on audio in 2025—and with a steadily growing fanfare. “Emma M. Lion feels like the dearest of friends and this charming start to what is one of my most cherished series is not one to miss. The narrator is particularly lovely and brings life to these delightful characters perfectly. Listen when you need the warmth of finding just where you belong.” —Selena, Madison Street Books
🎧 The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, narrated by Mozhan Navabi and Nikki Massoud
“A touching portrayal of how two women from differing backgrounds weave in and out of each other’s lives over the decades as they navigate friendship, injustice, and revolution.” —Nia, Black Bond Books
Playlists to explore
🗽 Classic New York Novels: This one is pretty self explanatory! Curated by the Strand in NYC.
📣 R&R: “This playlist mixes fiction and non-fiction books across a variety of resistance/rebellion themes and expands to consider acts of resistance outside of the U.S.” Curated by Little Fox Coffee & Books.
💋 New May 2026 Adult Romance Audiobooks: This one is also self-explanatory, but I love to see all the new releases in one spot. Curated by Pleasure Reading.
What we’re reading on audio
Last month at the L.A. Times Festival of Books, I finally picked up a copy of The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang. The book has been on my TBR for years now, especially after seeing so many booksellers and readers recommend it. Switching off between the physical and audio copy—read by the author—is a must. There’s so much to unpack and appreciate, and she’s a great writer and narrator.
See all of our team’s favorites.
You don’t need headphones for these…
Things around the internet our team is loving.
🗞️ Okay, biased, but our CEO and Co-Founder wrote an op-ed for the L.A. Times and it’s giving hope! “A Boom of Independent Bookstores, Just When We Need Them Most”
🍕 Sorry, kids, I’m winning this one: BOOK IT! from Pizza Hut returns this summer.
🌎 Your new vacation bucket list, thanks to “The Best Independent Bookstores in America” from Condé Nast.
🚫 We don’t love this one, but it’s important: Here are the top 10 most banned books of 2025, from the American Library Association. Fight the bans.
Well, that’s the end of today’s newsletter—I hope you found something great to unplug with this May! Need one last recommendation? Check out The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann. Not only are booksellers loving it, but multiple Headphones On readers flagged it as a five-star read!
Don’t forget to let us know what you’re reading and loving in the comments; your pick could be featured in a future issue.
And congrats to Alyssa Scott for being the winner of our giveaway! Send us a DM and we’ll get you your audiobook copy of Twenty-Four Seconds from Now….
If you have a friend that would like this newsletter, why not send it their way?
Thanks again for reading! Feel free to now return to your audiobook.
*Presses play*
Coming to you from San Francisco, this newsletter is written by me, Olivia Butze—hi! As the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, you’ll find me running our social media accounts, creating brand campaigns, and working on all things email related. I’m passionate about storytelling as a catalyst for societal change, and my favorite activities include long audiobook walks, drinking matcha lattes, and reading in Golden Gate Park.
I'm reading Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Famous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist and just finished listening to The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett and performed by Mark Bramhall (5-glowing-stars!). Picking my next audiobook today!
Love the Emma M. Lion series! Such a cute and cozy audio read for basically anyone imo