I mean, let’s be real, it takes a lot of time and commitment to finish a book. Especially amidst the teenage angst and constant impending doom in the form of pretty much any kind of responsibility. While taking the time to physically read an actual book is a privilege and an unmatched pleasure, sometimes you just don’t have the time. Whether your patience is fleeting or you’re just in a god-awful reading slump, audiobooks offer an alternative way to finish a book.

The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

It takes a few minutes to jump into the flow of Illuminae. Imagine different voices, tones, accents and even a near perfect imitation of a malicious artificial intelligence. Told through the perspectives of video footage, audio logs, text messages, and incident reports, Illuminae recounts an attack on a mining planet in the distant future and space refugees uncovering why it really happened.

The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín

There’s no better way to actually hear how character accents sound in a book unless it’s being dramatically narrated to you. The Call, set in Ireland, has characters with thick Irish accents in an alternate dystopian world where children disappear for three minutes and reappear dead or mutilated. Irish mythology and undiluted horror merge perfectly in an eerie and intriguing world where children fight for their lives in alternate dimensions.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Utopian fantasies of immortality and prolonged life with enhanced technology are a constant daydream for a lot of us. Scythe delves into a utopian world where nobody ever dies and deals with the overpopulation in an interesting way - having a group of trained people appointed to kill without bias. The audiobook follows two unwilling apprentices as they’re trained to be ‘Scythes’.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Humorous dialogues and vivid world building make Six of Crows a perfect book to listen to. Through narration, the story centres around six hooligans, runaways, and cryptic strangers that band together to pull off a heist across the sea. With strange people known as ‘Grishas’ that control ‘small sciences,’ the story revolves around the six bandits as they attempt to pull off a heist in a world full of secrets and lies.

Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Everyone’s heard of the Harry Potter books and if you haven’t read them yet, now’s as good a time as any. The original Harry Potter books are a staple for almost everyone and the audiobooks are narrated to near perfection. You’re never too old to read Harry Potter.

It sometimes takes considerable patience and habit to sit through a book. Whether you’re an avid reader or simply never got around to reading these books, listening to the audiobook will get you started on what is sure to be a marvellous journey.

Faiza enjoys the lazy company of her overweight cat and a mountain full of books that she shouldn’t have the time to read. Help her add to her endless stack of books at faiza2421@gmail.com