Holliday Grainger is narrating Dolly Alderton's latest book (2024)

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Stage and screen actress Holliday Grainger (known for her roles in Great Expectations, Cinderella and Animals) has been announced as the voice of Dolly Alderton's latest book and first novel, Ghosts - which will be released in October 2020 by Penguin Random House.

Ghosts tells the story of Nina Dean, who has arrived at her early thirties as a successful food writer with loving friends and family, plus a new home and neighbourhood. When she meets Max, a beguiling romantic hero who tells her on date one that he's going to marry her, it feels like all is going to plan.

Holliday said: ‘Dolly Alderton’s writing is incredibly intimate, tender, and observant. Ghosts is a fantastic novel about friendship, family, and love, that felt incredibly real to me. It was an honour to be part of Nina’s story, and I hope listeners enjoy the audiobook as much as I enjoyed recording it.’

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Normal People star Daisy Edgar-Jones is narrating the audiobook of The Shelf by Helly Acton (out now).

Described as a ‘a funny, fresh and subversive take on society’s obsession with coupling up, settling down, and reality TV,’ The Shelf explores the ‘unrealistic and outdated standards placed on women by a patriarchal society and the battle for self-acceptance’.

Telling the story of Amy Wright, who, after being brutally dumped live on TV alongside five other women on the UK’s newest reality show The Shelf, decides to stay on the show in an attempt to become ‘The Keeper’ and win £1m. But she ends up turning the show’s rules on it’s head.

Partly inspired by author Acton’s own life (marrying young and then divorcing six months later and her subsequent experience of online dating later than her peers), Edgar-Jones was drawn to the book because it's ‘thought-provoking and unapologetically feminist, shining a light on the pressures felt by so many women’.

Nigella Lawson is an avid reader but, as she explained in her Sunday Times Style column, she's struggled to find the focus to read a physical book during lockdown.

So instead she's turned to audiobooks and swapped novels for memoirs and self-help type reads to help her relax and drift off to sleep.

Her isolation reading list includes some brilliant recommendations: 'anything [read] by Brene Brown (she has a beautiful voice and is a natural storyteller and soul-salver)'. We've also found Brown's lockdown podcast hugely helpful.

'The same is true of Elizabeth Gilbert: I calmed myself to sleep with Big Magic, and then reread — if that’s the correct way to put it — Eat, Pray, Love.'

'I am currently on my third listen to Emily Nussbaum’s I Like to Watch (a collection of her television reviews, I should add) and I’m as mesmerised as I was the first time.'

'I have also found that books I didn’t enjoy when I read them suddenly seem truer when they’re spoken. On the page, Tara Westover’s Educated made me suspicious; on audio, I find myself enthralled and convinced.'

Read Nigella's Sunday Times Style column here.

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If, like us, you're nursing a Normal People-shaped hole in your life since binge-watching the BBC drama then we have some good news.

Sally Rooney's publisher, Faber, has announced the release of audiobook Two Short Stories featuring, you guessed it, two of the Irish author's short stories, Mr Salary and Colour and Light.

The first was published by Faber in 2019 and is narrated by actor Aoife McMahon, while the latter previously featured in The New Yorker and is read by actor Sam O’Mahony.

Both explore 'fleeting, sometimes awkward moments of attraction between people', according to Faber. So, exactly what Rooney does best. That's our weekend plans sorted.

Last year saw this classic, heart-warming tale of love and sisterhood beautifully adapted for the screen byGreta Gerwig, with an all-star cast including Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and yes, Laura Dern – sowho better to narrate the audiobook than Marmee herself?

Often overlooked as insipid to the sisters, Dern’s depiction of Marmee shows a grittier, more suppressed side; a depth and complexity perhaps not seen before.

Joined by an audio cast of Suzanne Toren, Lauren Fortgang and Allison Hiroto, Dern leads the storytelling tobreathe new life into the character – and therefore to the audiobook.

Go Set a Watchmanwas a hotly anticipated novel when published in 2015, 55 years after Harper Lee’s original classic.

The book features many of the characters from Lee’s belovedTo Kill a Mockingbird, some 20 years later on.The story is brought to life byReese Witherspoon, who is a noted gem, as we are invited back once again into the lives of Jean Louise and Atticus Finch.

There’s absolutely no shame in finding comfort in children’s classics; sometimes these novels epitomise escapism, and there’s truly no greater escape than over the rainbow itself.

Narrated by the Princess of Genovia herselfAnne Hathaway(no, really, she also narrates The Princess Diaries audiobooksif you feel like treating yourself),The Wizard of Oz audiobook is the perfect opportunity to join Dorothy on her journey and get swept up in the whimsy of the story we all know and love.

Looking to go a bit more old-school? Award winning actress, and star of recent filmA Private War,Rosamund Pikehas you covered.

ThroughPride and Prejudice,Pike will whisk you all the way back to the era ofJane Austenas she takes you through Elizabeth Bennett going toe to toe with Fitzwilliam Darcy.

This audiobook is a great way of modernising an old classic and is the perfect opportunity to get to the heart of Austen’s wit and charm.

InWe Are The Beaker Girls, a grown-up Tracy Beaker considers becoming a foster carer. Wilson wants the novel to dispel common myths around the achievement and parenting abilities of those brought up in the care system, and to recognise the important work foster carers do.

Smith said: 'I love Jacqueline Wilson and read all of her books when I was growing up. It’s a real honour for me to be recording this audiobook, meeting Jacqueline in the studio, and a joy to be reunited with Tracy Beaker.'

She’s a veritable powerhouse, full of wit, wisdom and an inspiration to women everywhere. So it’s no wonder, therefore, that the former First Lady won a Grammy award for best spoken word album for the audiobook of her memoir, Becoming, earlier this year.

It also picked up Non-Fiction Narrative Book Of The Year and Audiobook Of The Year at the 2019 British Book Awards, and was the bestselling audio download of 2019 through Audible in the UK. Hearing the story of Michelle Obama’s life, told by the woman herself, will leave you feeling uplifted, moved and hopeful, ready to find your own voice and achieve your boldest dreams.

Whilst Ephron’s original comic novel about the demise of a marriage was first published over thirty years ago, this audiobook version brings to life every word of its original genius.

Streep, who also played the role ofRachel Samstat in the 1986 film adaptation, perfectly combines her world-renowned acting prowess with Ephron’s self-deprecating humour, whilst also delivering flawless voices for the rest of the cast of characters. A joy to listen to.

Ann Dowd, who plays Aunt Lydia in the hit TV series The Handmaid’s Tale and won an Emmy for her performance, is just one of the compelling narrators of Atwood’s gripping sequel.

The audiobook has brilliant cast of multiple voices, including Derek Jacobi and even Margaret Atwood herself. One of the biggest books of 2019 and the winner of last year’s Booker prize, the audio version will transport you to Gilead, with power, drama and pace to get your heart racing right until the very last moment.

Audiobooks are a great way of tackling the classics so why not revisit Charles Dickens with this Audible Exclusive featuring actress and writer Meera Syal?

She does sterling work bringing together the many characters and subplots ofMy Mutual Friend, a story about a working class couple, Mr and Mrs Boffin, who inherit a fortune. Who knew that Dickens could be so funny?

If you’re one of the few people left in the country who are yet to read the much lauded and applauded Normal People, then may I recommend the audiobook?

Aoife McMahon’s narration and Irish accent give an added dimension to this minutely observed depiction of love between two very different people.

Pretty much everyone I know who has children adores these audiobooks and have listened to them on many a long (and otherwise fractious) car journey.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a famous dragon trainer but he had to learn the hard way. Proper LOL funny as read by former Doctor WhoDavid Tennant, you’ll love listening to them too.

To get you in the holiday spirit, there is no better guide than one of the five funniest men in the world, David Sedaris.

In Calypsohe narrates his own memoir about buying a beach house, imagining an idyllic vacations full of sun, sea and board games until he realises that it’s impossible to take a holiday from yourself.