When I first got into audiobooks a couple of years ago, I never thought reading books with my ears could match the pleasure of reading them with my eyes. But wow, has that changed! Audiobooks have become a staple in my literary diet. In fact, I now listen to at least one audiobook for every print book I read.

I love the way this new habit has not only increased my bookish intake but made driving and chores so much more pleasurable. It’s not hard to fold one more load of laundry when you’ve got just one more chapter to listen to at the same time!

Here are 3 best practices for making the most of audiobooks:

Keep it free. Your local library makes it easy.  Install their app on your phone (for me, that’s Libby, by OverDrive), and you’ve got free access to their digital collection of both ebooks and audio. There, you can search for favorite authors as well as specific recommended titles. 

Listen at 1.25 speed. Upping the speed just a notch keeps you better engaged. At 2x the normal speed, the human voice starts taking on chipmunk quality, but 1.25x is perfect.

Be picky. This is really key: the narrator matters. I can’t tell you how many audiobooks I’ve quit because the narrator doesn’t appeal. I abandon as many audiobooks as I finish and can usually tell within five minutes whether a narrator is going to work for me. Also, some books are better suited to audio than others. Me, I’m partial to memoir, historical non-fiction, and some — but not all — fiction. Experiment a bit to see what works best for you.

With that to go on, here are several audio titles I particularly recommend .

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown. Narrated by Edward Hermann. The first audiobook I listened to, and — as it turns out — one of the very best. Hermann’s narration is terrific, the storytelling breathtaking in its scope. Not to mention, the story itself is so fantastic you’ll hardly believe it’s absolutely true. A lengthy listen at nearly 14.5 hours, but you’ll hardly want it to end.

These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner. Narrated by Amy Ruminate. Frontier adventure with a great love story at its heart, this book celebrates beauty above life’s harsh realities. I loved its unexpected turns, quick pace, and Sarah’s earthy insights and way of looking at the world. One caveat: I didn’t love the narrator at first, but the story so hooked me that I stuck with it — and then the narrator grew on me. In the end, I liked the book so much that I bought a print copy for my forever shelf. 

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth. Narrated by Barrie Kreinik. I thoroughly enjoyed this perfectly paced thriller with masterfully drawn characters. It’s mystery and compelling relational drama all wrapped up in one gripping story. Top notch narration.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Narrated by Dan Stevens. Even if you already know the ending, it won’t spoil the pleasure of listening. Superb storytelling and narration, its eerie tone is just right for this time of year.

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. Narrated by Richard Armitage. You don’t have to be a Austen fan to enjoy this story, though of course it doesn’t hurt. A fresh, wholly enjoyable tale of surprising complexity and nuance, beautifully narrated.

The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History by Andy Greene. Narrated by various. Even casual viewers of The Office won’t want to miss this, and if you’re a fan, you’ll hardly be able to take out your earbuds. Fascinating insights into how the sausage is made. Heads up: language.

Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate. Narrated by Susanna Parker, Scott Sowers. Masterful storytelling. Skillfully paced with nuanced characters, well-developed plot, and an especially artful use of voice and metaphorical language. I think it’s one of Lisa’s best. Also very well-presented dual narration.