On The Sunny Side #6 Favorite Audiobooks of 2024

The ones I'd happily relisten to in a heartbeat

On The Sunny Side is a weekly round-up where I share a few sunny things that have brightened my days, what I’m reading, watching, and obsessing over too.

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday week (if you celebrate) and are enjoying some time off with friends and family. I was rudely hit with a nasty stomach bug the night following Christmas which bled into the next day. It gave me flashbacks to the one Christmas I got sick in a movie theater while watching Benjamin Button and my mom told me I was being dramatic… I never got to see the ending of that movie, nor do I plan, too. It will forever live in my memory as that one Christmas.

There’s nothing that screams the post-holiday blues like getting wrecked with a bug of some kind. Tis the season, honestly. All I can say, is I’m glad it didn’t take me out on Christmas, and it (again, so rudely) seems I was the only one affected.

a canadian tuxedo, a festive tablescape and lots and lots of Manacled

It did give me a day to lay on the couch and consume hours worth of Manacled on my kindle. This is the second fanfic I’ve ever read, and arguably one of the most popular ones (esp in the Harry Potter/Dramione world). The first half had me in a chokehold, and then the flashback chapters dragged however with only 1.5 hours left I can’t get enough. I’m so nervous something else is going to go wrong…

But enough about fanfic—for now—let’s chat my favorite audiobooks of 2024. One of my reading goals for 2024 was to read books I ‘wanted’ to read. Which could seem like a ‘duh’ but after joining Bookstagram that got lost in the shuffle of needing to read more, more, more rather than taking a look at my taste in books, and tailoring my reading accordingly. I was pickier about the books I read and listened to this year. Resulting in what has been one of my best reading years.

These are the eight-ish audiobooks that stuck with me long after I listened to the final lines. *Note, if you want to know my top ten books of 2024, keep your eyes peeled for the newsletter next Wednesday.*

The Briar Club is captivating, and arguably narrated by one of my favorite audiobook narrators, Saskia Maarleveld. If she reads it, I’ll be listening to it.

Ready or Not was a surprise I didn’t see coming. I don’t typically like to listen to romcoms as I prefer to eye ball read them, but boy am I glad I listened to this! Our female lead, Eve, comes alive with the audio narration. She jumped right off the page and straight into my heart.

The Wedding People is a gem. A pure, delightful, witty gem of a book and the audio was incredible. I mean, like, sooooooo good. I think if you pick this book up and you don’t listen to it, you’re doing yourself a disservice (I’m mostly joking, I’m sure the physical book is wonderful too, but the audio is top tier).

Margo’s got Money Troubles when I heard Elle Fanning, who is starring as Margo in the Apple TV adaption of the book, was narrating this novel I knew that’s how I’d be consuming it. Elle encapsulated Margo for me and I can’t wait to see this on tv soon!

Starling House on audio adds a bit more of a creepy element to the reading experience. Don’t worry, this isn’t that creepy, but the audio really brings it to life, and had me visualizing aspects of the story more vividly.

The Last Love Note is heartwarming and heart wrenching, but in a good way, I promise. And the narrator has an Aussie accent, I mean come on?!

Listen for the Lie is written in a semi-podcast narrative so I knew I’d be listening to this one. I love the bleed over between these mediums and always prefer to listen to books with a podcast recording element for the full effect.

Throne of Glass was a reread for me, but first time listening to the series. I can say both are wonderful options! Depending on how much time you have, or if you have a long commute, I’d recommend the audiobooks. You’ll get the same experience and not have to stress about the pronunciations. Although, be warned, the narrator does mispronounce Chaol’s (it should be pronounced Kale) name.

Like always lets close out with a reading update and a few extras:

Reading as mentioned above I am deep into Manacled and will probably never recover. Look I am loving my fanfic journey, but why are they all like 300,000 words minimum…. ?!

Watching Love at First Sight on Netflix, and oh my god. This was so precious. I can’t believe I’ve slept on this movie for so long. It is one of the best romcoms I’ve watched all year.

Listening to Heartless Hunter. I’m only a few hours in, and I’m intrigued. It’s giving Bridgerton X Serpent and Dove vibes.

Cooking not a whole lot after my little bout with the stomach bug. Although I did make Swedish meatballs for Christmas lunch. This is my third year in a row making them and they’re always a crowd pleaser.

Obsessing over my new planner from Papier. Normally I get my daily planners from Appointed, but this year I wanted to switch it up and I’m really liking the layout!

Alright, that’s it from me! I hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday. I’d love to hear something that has brightened your week!

Until next time,

MacKenzie