I listen to audiobooks almost every day. Walks. Dishes. Long drives where the road hums and the sky stays wide. Gay stories keep me company. They make me laugh out loud at crosswalks. They also make me hush up in the cereal aisle. You know what? A good narrator can do that—flip a switch in your chest. If you’re curious about the real voices doing that magical switch-flipping, Book Riot’s roundup of eight incredible queer audiobook narrators is a fantastic rabbit hole to tumble into.
For extra guidance (and the occasional rabbit hole of queer lit discussion), I dip into Gay Book Reviews to see what fellow listeners are raving about before I hit “play.”
If you want the full, unabbreviated diary of every queer audiobook I’ve devoured, I laid it all out in this extended review.
Here’s what I’ve actually listened to, with the good and the “hmm, not for me,” and a few odd little notes you might find helpful.
Quick picks if you’re busy
- For big, warm comfort: The House in the Cerulean Sea (narrated by Daniel Henning)
- For flirty, funny romance: Boyfriend Material (narrated by Joe Jameson)
- For teen heart squeeze: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (narrated by Michael Crouch)
- For epic pain and beauty: Call Me by Your Name (narrated by Armie Hammer)
- For loud, goofy fantasy: The Lightning-Struck Heart (narrated by Michael Lesley)
Still browsing? Audible’s guide to the best LGBTQIA+ audiobooks written by queer authors lines up plenty more gems to add to your queue.
Red, White & Royal Blue — Casey McQuiston (narrated by Ramon de Ocampo)
I played this while meal prepping on a Sunday. My onions cried. I did too. The narration feels bright and fast. The banter snaps. His British prince voice has polish, and Alex sounds bold. A few side voices blur in group scenes, which made me replay a bit. Not a deal-breaker. I still smiled through it.
- Loved: The emails and texts sound alive.
- Quirk: Crowded scenes can get muddy on a noisy bus.
Boyfriend Material — Alexis Hall (narrated by Joe Jameson)
This one got me through a week of laundry. Sock after sock. Joe’s range is wild. Luc sounds messy yet sweet. Oliver is steady and dry. It’s snarky, but soft in the middle. Some of the side characters feel a tad cartoon-ish at times. I didn’t mind. I needed the laugh.
- Loved: Sharp humor and real warmth.
- Quirk: A few voices lean big, like a stage show.
The House in the Cerulean Sea — TJ Klune (narrated by Daniel Henning)
I saved this for a rainy day. Good choice. The narration is calm and kind. You can hear the sea, even when you can’t. The kids each have their own voice. The high, squeaky bits for one child took me a minute to like. Then I did. This is a hug of a book.
- Loved: Cozy tone; great for winding down.
- Quirk: Some child voices start a little twee.
The Lightning-Struck Heart — TJ Klune (narrated by Michael Lesley)
I listened while baking brownies and burned the edges. Why? I laughed too hard. Michael Lesley goes big. Joke timing is crisp. The voices—Knight! Wizard!—are huge and campy. It’s silly and sweet. Once or twice I wanted a quieter beat to catch my breath.
- Loved: Laugh-out-loud performance.
- Quirk: Humor never sits still; it’s a lot, in a good way.
Craving even more queer magic on the page (or in your ears)? I rounded up the gay fantasy books that lit up my 2024 TBR in this article.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda — Becky Albertalli (narrated by Michael Crouch)
This took me back to high school lockers and bad cafeteria pizza. Michael Crouch nails the teen vibe without making it whiny. It’s sweet, a bit shy, and real. Some scenes lean very YA, so I listened at 1.25x speed during slow parts. Still, that email reveal? Butterflies.
- Loved: Tender, believable voice work.
- Quirk: A few beats feel very teen. Which…they are.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe — Benjamin Alire Sáenz (narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda)
I walked a long city loop with this one. Quiet streets. Big sky. Lin-Manuel Miranda keeps it soft and steady. The pauses land. It’s slow burn and reflective. Once or twice, I wanted a little more heat in tense scenes. But the hush fits the story.
- Loved: Gentle pacing; words breathe.
- Quirk: If you want fast drama, this isn’t it.
Call Me by Your Name — André Aciman (narrated by Armie Hammer)
I listened at 1.25x. The tone is lush and heavy, like a summer that won’t end. The Italian names roll well, and the mood clings. Sometimes the low, smooth voice made me feel sleepy at night, so I switched to daytime walks. The emotion hits hard, though. Very hard.
- Loved: Rich, dreamy vibe; vivid inner life.
- Quirk: Slow and dense; works better with focus.
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Him — Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy (narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan)
Two narrators. Hockey romance. I put this on at the gym and turned the volume down during spicy parts—small gym, thin walls, you get it. The dual POV is clean, and the chemistry sizzles. Sports bits feel real. Some locker room talk runs long for me, but fans will like the detail.
- Loved: Clear voices for each lead; strong heat.
- Quirk: Explicit scenes are, well, explicit. Plan your setting.
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Wolfsong — TJ Klune (narrated by Kirt Graves)
I hit this one on a long road trip. Kirt Graves carries a lot of feeling. The story is big and rugged. Family. Pack. Love. I had to pause for a stretch break and a deep breath, not kidding. It’s long and can be heavy, so don’t start it at 11 p.m. like I did.
- Loved: Raw, steady voice; soaring emotion.
- Quirk: Length and weight; best in chunks.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue — Mackenzi Lee (narrated by Christian Coulson)
Road-trip candy. Christian Coulson sounds crisp and sharp, like a period drama on the radio. The jokes land dry. The romance has spark. Every now and then, background characters blend a bit, but the lead voice is clear and witty, which carries it.
- Loved: Charming, fast, and clever.
- Quirk: Side voices can feel similar.
The Guncle — Steven Rowley (narrated by Steven Rowley)
Author-narrated can be hit or miss. Here, it hits. He knows where the jokes live. He knows where the grief sits. A few lines feel read, not acted, which is normal for authors behind the mic. But I teared up in the produce aisle. Twice.
- Loved: Heartfelt and funny from the source.
- Quirk: Lightly “writerly” delivery in spots.
Little notes from my earbuds
- Playback speed helps. I switch between 1.0x and 1.5x. Depends on the narrator and my brain that day.
- I use Libro.fm for most buys, Audible for credits, and Libby for library borrows. Sleep timers save me from losing my place.
- Pride month listening is fun. I make a little rainbow queue. Then I keep going all year.
- Public listening tip: If your pick is spicy (hey, Him), check your volume at the gym. Learned that fast.
- Planning to hit an author event soon? My play-by-play of the “So Gay For You” book tour lives [here](https://gaybookreviews