Launched in 2021, our Members' Choice Award provides members with the opportunity to vote for their favourite titles published in the previous 12 months, from a shortlist of 20 titles which includes a wide range of fiction and non-fiction titles. A highlight of the year for staff and members, read on to hear from the winners so far, and what winning this award means to them.
Our 2024 winner was Rebecca Yarros for Iron Flame, book 2 in the fantasy series, The Empyrean.
What our members said;
"Rebecca Yarros has done something incredible: she somehow found the perfect recipe for dragon drama and romance, and brought with it a whole host of people who are willing to try the fantasy genre now. This skilled writer deserves all the recognition."
Elly said of winning the award;
"I’m very honoured to win the Listening Books Members’ Choice Award," said Griffiths, "Audiobooks are a wonderful thing in themselves and that is partly, if not entirely due to the brilliance of the narrators. So, I have to share this award with the narrators of Bleeding Heart Yard”.
What our members said;
"Just loved the characters and plot and was totally entrenched in it." Val, Listening Books Member
Ben Aaronovitch said this about winning the award;
"This is a particularly good award.. it’s an honour. People look down on listening to books and I don’t see why. I listen to books all the time and I think it is a wonderful way to hear a story. After all when you write you are hearing it in your head and so having it spoken out loud is practically an extension of what you are doing!".
What our members say;
"I am addicted to the River’s series. The story is so engaging, the characters are deep and the voices are perfect. I love immersing myself into supernatural London, the London the rest of us don't know exists. The writing and the inflection in the reading takes me there. I can see the sights and smell the smells, feel the fear and nearly wet myself laughing at times. Never have I loved an author and a narrator more." Tania, Listening Books Member
In 2021, the winning title of the inaugural award was The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood, also known for his acclaimed Death in Paradise series.
“When I write a novel, I’m always saying the words out loud, because I believe that books should be read out loud. So, the fact that the award is for how [The Marlow Murder Club] sounds means so much to me.”