Books by Women of Color to Read in 2026

Whidbey

'In the realm of Patricia Highsmith and Gone Girl' (Chelsea Bieker)

By: T Kira Madden
Narrated by: Christina Moore, Eunice Wong, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw & Rebecca Lowman
Length: TBA

'In the realm of Patricia Highsmith and Gone Girl' Chelsea Bieker
'A masterpiece' Carmen Maria Machado
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You want to know who did it, but that was never the question. Or, it was never the right one.

Birdie Chang doesn't know much about Whidbey Island, only that it is far. On the ferry, she has an unnerving encounter with a stranger, where she... Read more about Whidbey

Whidbey

A Novel

By: T Kira Madden
Narrated by: Eunice Wong, Christina Moore, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw & Rebecca Lowman
Length: 13 hours 37 minutes

A Most Anticipated Book by People • Vogue • Esquire • Harper’s Bazaar • USA Today • Seattle Times • Bookpage •Chicago Review of Books • Crimereads • Goodreads • The Millions • Publishers Weekly • Kirkus Reviews • Book Riot • Literary Hub . . . and many more! “Epic in its scope, intimate in its evocation, Whidbey reads like a thriller, compels... Read more about Whidbey

Sisters in Yellow

A Novel

By: Mieko Kawakami
Narrated by: Annie Q. Riegel
Length: TBA

From Mieko Kawakami, award-winning author of Breasts and Eggs, comes a bold novel of sacrifice and the tumultuous bonds of sisterhood, set in the gritty Tokyo of the 1990s.

“I can never forget the sense of pure astonishment I felt when I first read Mieko Kawakami.” —Haruki Murakami

Hana has nothing – she’s fifteen years old and living in a tiny... Read more about Sisters in Yellow

The Poet Empress

By: Shen Tao
Narrated by: Eric Yang & Katharine Chin
Length: 15 hours 43 minutes

“The power of literacy and the written word are exemplified in this debut novel. A world where poetry is magic, and it is illegal for women to learn to read and write. Still, when a starving village girl sees an opportunity to support her family by becoming an evil Prince's concubine, she does not hesitate. As famine is decimating the country,... Read more

Queen of Faces

Queen of Faces: Book #1

By: Petra Lord
Narrated by: Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, E. A. Castillo & Nicky Endres
Length: 16 hours 27 minutes

“The way this book started had me thinking it was going to be the typical "poor girl miraculously gets into magic school and proves them so wrong", but I was so wrong. Completely unexpected and delightfully twisty - this one will stick with me. Read more

Life After Ambition

A "Good Enough" Memoir

By: Amil Niazi
Narrated by: Amil Niazi
Length: 5 hours 21 minutes

“Refreshingly candid...Niazi is telling her story in medias res, inviting readers to figure the whole mess out with her—and in this era of gentle-parenting TikToks and general advice oversaturation, that feels like a gift.” —Emma Specter, Vogue

Channeling the subversive and sharp-eyed voice showcased in her popular column for The Cut, Amil Niazi... Read more about Life After Ambition

I Don't Wish You Well

By: Jumata Emill
Narrated by: André Santana, Erin Spencer, Matt Godfrey, Angel Pean & Aaron Goodson
Length: 10 hours 7 minutes

A teen investigative podcaster decides to dig into the truth behind a grisly murder spree that rocked his hometown five years ago, but soon discovers that this cold case is still hiding deadly secrets—in this chilling thriller perfect for fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

Five years ago, the infamous Trojan murders turned the small... Read more about I Don't Wish You Well

A Guardian and a Thief

The National Book Award-shortlisted new novel from the author of A Burning

By: Megha Majumdar
Narrated by: Leela Tapryal, Sid Sagar, Rajib Bhattacharya, Soneela Nankani, Reena Dutt, Shawn K. Jain & Mayuri Bhandari
Length: 7 hours 4 minutes

“Set in the near future in Kolkata, a city at boiling point. Over the course of seven days, two lives will intersect. Desperate, these people and will do whatever it takes to protect their families. What makes one a guardian, and another a thief? Challenging, compelling, gripping. An exceptional story. Read more

To Ride a Rising Storm

The Second Book of Nampeshiweisit

Nampeshiweisit: Book #2

By: Moniquill Blackgoose
Narrated by: Charley Flyte
Length: 17 hours 35 minutes

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A young indigenous woman and her dragon fight for the independence of their homeland in this epic sequel to the bestselling and multi-award-winning To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, “a remarkable novel that is bound to be a staple of fantasy shelves for years to come” (BuzzFeed).

Anequs has not only survived her first year at... Read more about To Ride a Rising Storm

Well Endowed

The Secrets to Strategic Spending, Building a Financial Foundation for You and Your Family, and Creating Lasting Generational Wealth

By: Vivian Tu
Narrated by: Vivian Tu
Length: 8 hours 10 minutes

From New York Times bestselling author of Rich AF and CEO and founder of Your Rich BFF, Vivian Tu, comes a guide to leveling up your finances to improve your life, relationships, and legacy.You’ve mastered the basics of becoming Rich AF. Your bills are paid, your loans are shrinking, and you’ve even started saving. But what’s next? Every dollar... Read more about Well Endowed

Shiva

By: Nilima Chitgopekar
Length: 11 hours 12 minutes

In the stillness of the cosmos exists a force both boundless and paradoxical – Shiva.

More than a god, he is the formless essence that both creates and consumes the universe. His realms transcend time, his actions defy logic, yet within them lies a cosmic rhythm governing all beings.

Shiva: God of Gods is a journey into the heart of Shaivism.... Read more about Shiva

Oxford Blood

By: Rachael Davis-Featherstone
Narrated by: Dédé Davi
Length: 8 hours 19 minutes

“So many twists, turns, and surprises! I did NOT see ANY of it coming! Honestly, I had to keep listening because the author keeps readers guessing. The exploration of racism, privilege, white-washed/biased history, family legacy, and prestigious higher education institutions was so well done, and the topics had been woven seamlessly into the... Read more

Graceless Heart

By: Isabel Ibañez
Narrated by: Beatrice Grannò
Length: 18 hours 13 minutes

“The narration is so well done, the setting is unique and lush, the story is unlike any other. Read more

Bad Asians

A Novel

By: Lillian Li
Narrated by: Katharine Chin
Length: 10 hours 47 minutes

From the acclaimed author of Number One Chinese Restaurant comes an affecting novel about an unforgettable group of friends trying to make their way in the world without losing themselves, or one another. This program is read by Thérèse Plummer, winner of multiple Audie and Earphone awards.

Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian were always told that... Read more about Bad Asians

Heart's Gambit

Heart's Gambit: Book #1

By: J.D. Myall
Narrated by: Alaska Jackson, Eric Lockley & Khaya Fraites
Length: 12 hours 17 minutes

“Heart's Gambit by JD Myall is a dual POV upper YA fantasy rooted in slavery in the real world. It is dark, but it's also hopeful and glittering and has time travel, so it's not all set in pre-Civil War America. It's such a beautiful, heart-wrenching read. Read more

If I Ruled the World

A Novel

By: Amy DuBois Barnett
Narrated by: Kristolyn Lloyd
Length: 11 hours 49 minutes

“This book felt like sitting with a mentor, listening to her tell me how she made it, while finally saying the quiet parts out loud. As I read, I kept hearing echoes of my own experience navigating corporate America. Moments I lived through and carried, but never always had a safe or supported space to unpack in real time. The book honestly... Read more

The Swan's Daughter

A Possibly Doomed Love Story

By: Roshani Chokshi
Narrated by: Ell Potter
Length: 10 hours 13 minutes

“A sweeping fairy tale that combines beautiful world-building with humor, adventure, court intrigue and a slow-burn romance. Read more

When Trees Testify

Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy

By: Beronda L. Montgomery
Narrated by: Melinda Sewak
Length: 8 hours 3 minutes

“Fascinating merging of family history, anthropology, botany, and American history. Each chapter focuses on a specific type of tree - sycamore, oak, willow, apple, etc. - and its place in the cultural history of the US. These trees are intrinsically tied to Black history, both during enslavement and after. Thank you to Libro.fm for the advanced... Read more

The Fair Weather Friend

A Novel

By: Jessie Garcia
Narrated by: Gail Shalan
Length: 8 hours 31 minutes

“A beloved meteorologist found dead- why was she killed? Who killed her? All the clues are found in the story, but the reveal is not ruined. Each character and suspect are multidimensional and could have easily done it. Read this engaging story and find out the truth. Read more

The Body

By: Bethany C. Morrow
Narrated by: Nesta Cooper
Length: 8 hours 13 minutes

“Mavis is hard to understand/love and it was so hard rooting for her. However, the whole concept being cursed was intriguing. Was it all in her head? Was it a curse? Something else? Supernatural forces? I loved trying to figure this out. Read more