The Plot of Harry Potter Summed Up in One Illustration

Neopolitan Novels

Though Ferrante's entire body of work is worth a read, the first thing that should be on your list is the Neopolitan Novels. This is a four-book series that explores the complex female friendship between Lila and Elena. The two start off as young girls who are being raised in a poor and tough neighborhood of Naples in the aftermath of World War II. The novels chart their complex bond as the two girls grow up, start families, begin careers, and deal with societal pressures and personal struggles.

The Lost Daughter

The Lost Daughter is a brilliant standalone novel of Ferrante's that is centered around a middle-aged woman named Leda. While on a solitary vacation on the coast, Leda observes a young mother named Nina who is struggling with her relationship with her daughter. This awakens memories of Leda's own struggles with motherhood, making for a raw and honest depiction of the complexities of parent-child relationships.

The Days of Abandonment

In The Days of Abandonment, Ferrante delves into the raw emotions of a woman named Olga after her husband abruptly leaves her and their two young children. The story follows Olga's descent into despair and rage as she grapples with his sudden absence and tries to maintain a sense of normalcy for her kids. Faced with a challenge she never expected, Olga goes on a quest to learn about her own identity and find strength within herself.

The Lying Lives of Adults

Incidental Inventions

Incidental Inventions isn't a novel, but a collection of essays that were originally published in The Guardian. Here, Ferrante offers a glimpse into her thoughts and observations on a variety of topics. Expect insightful and thought-provoking reflections on everyday experiences, personal fears, and the creative process itself!

Troubling Love

Troubling Love centers around Delia, who returns to her childhood home after her mother, Amalia, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. As Delia grapples with grief, she confronts repressed memories of her childhood that were made difficult by her mother's volatile relationships with abusive men. The narrative unfolds as Delia pieces together the events leading up to her mother's death and confronts the lingering effects of her complicated upbringing.

Frantumaglia: A Writer's Journey

"Frantumaglia" is a word borrowed from Ferrante's mother and means "a jumble of fragments". This collection of Ferrante's writings does not feel like a jumble, but rather a rich body of work that provides insight into the challenges and joys of her writing process and the inspirations behind her novels.

In The Margins: On the Pleasures of Reading & Writing

Fiction And Memoir Audiobooks Read By Celebrities

Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, Tom Hardy, Chukwudi Iwuji, Romesh Ranganathan, Natasia Demetriou, Francesca Mills, Alex Lawther, Katie Leung + 1984 by George Orwell

Step into the world of 1984 where individualism is considered a crime as much as it's frowned upon. Here you'll meet Winston Smith (Andrew Garfield) as he tries to maintain his duties at the Ministry of Truth. He'll lead you down a path that involves a struggle to adhere to Big Brother's (Tom Hardy) demands for uniformity and his desire to break free from the rules set in his place.

The lines become blurred as he crosses paths with Julia (Cynthia Erivo) and O'Brien (Andrew Scott), and it'll lead him down a winding path with an ending that may be more heartbreaking than the beginning.

Claire Danes + The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Despite being written 30 years ago, Margaret Atwood’s dark tale of a dystopian future, where women are essentially property of the state, became eerily relevant when it was adapted into a TV show last year. With two Golden Globe wins and a second season premiering in April, the series has made its mark, and its message is not slowing down anytime soon. Re-immerse yourself in the story via the audio version, narrated by Emmy-winner Claire Danes.

Maggie Gyllenhaal + Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy’s epic and tragic love story about an unhappily married countess is a must-read. But if you weren’t able to get through its thousand pages in high school, or just want to revisit the classic, listen to Maggie Gyllenhaal delve into what she says is one of her favorite books.

Nicole Kidman + To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Nicole Kidman is no stranger to Virginia Woolf, having won an Oscar for her portrayal of the troubled writer in the film The Hours. In To the Lighthouse, Kidman once again embodies the words of Woolf, reading the story of the Ramsey family and their visits to their summer home between 1910 and 1920.

Benedict Cumberbatch + Benedict Cumberbatch Reads Sherlock Holmes’ Rediscovered Railway Mysteries by John Taylor

We’d listen to Benedict Cumberbatch’s soothing voice read pretty much anything. The actor, who played Sherlock Holmes in the BBC TV adaption, brings the baritone to four new mysteries featuring the eccentric private detective.

Oprah Winfrey + What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey

When Oprah speaks, people listen. What I Know for Sure is a collection of life lessons Winfrey penned as a column in her magazine over the course of 14 years. Hearing her recite them will fill you with awe, inspiration, and joy all over again.

Betty White + If You Ask Me by Betty White

National Treasure Betty White just turned 96 years young, and you can legitimately say sliced bread (invented 1928) is the best thing since Betty White (born 1922). There is no better way to hear about seven decades of love, life, and television than directly from the Hollywood legend herself. (Photo via Amanda Edwards/Getty)

Tiffany Haddish + The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

Tiffany Haddish had a breakout year in 2017, which included an outrageous role in Girls’ Trip and a historic turn as the first female comic of color to host SNL. Let Haddish entertain you with her autobiography, which chronicles both heartbreaking struggles and inspiring triumphs. (Photo via Nicholas Hunt/Getty)

Mindy Kaling + Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling’s second book is another collection of relatable and often hilariously insightful essays. Listening to Kaling read them out loud is like hanging out with your wacky BFF. (Photo via Jonathan Leibson/Getty)

Rosamund Pike + Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Rosamund Pike, who played Jane Bennett in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, jumps back into Jane Austen’s classic by narrating not just Jane, but the entire Bennett family, as well as the other supporting characters.

Tina Fey + Bossypants by Tina Fey

Tina Fey’s book is a showcase of everything you love about the actress and self-proclaimed nerd: intelligence, wit, and weirdness. Fey’s narration is the icing on the cake.

Amy Poehler + Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Like her pal Tina Fey, Amy Poehler has written a memoir full of charm and laughs. The audio version features the effervescent Poehler along with a whole crew of her celeb friends, including Seth Meyers, Carol Burnett, and Patrick Stewart.

Michelle Williams + The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

The Woman in Mewas one of 2023's groundbreaking memoirs and Michelle Williams doesn't disappoint while reading it. You'll get a kick out of hearing her repeat the way Justin Timberlake mimicked urban vernacular when he saw another R&B artist.

Barbra Streisand + My Name is Barbraby Barbra Streisand

EGOT winner Barbra Streisand knows what it takes to create a legend because she is one in the entertainment industry. But, she was a child in Brooklyn who grew up to frequent the night scene in New York before becoming who we know her to be today. Listen to her share all the highs and lows of her journey in My Name is Barbra.

Paris Hilton + Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton

Celebrity memoirs aren't hard to come by, but there's something about hearing Paris Hilton detail her upbringing and things that led her to create her famous persona that we can't get enough of.

Jada Pinkett Smith + Worthy by Jada Pinkett Smith

Children's And Young Adult Audiobooks Read By Celebrities

Eddie Redmayne + Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themby J.K. Rowling

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was required reading at Hogwarts, and should also be required reading (or listening) for every Harry Potter fan. Eddie Redmayne, who played Newt Scamander in the film version, reads the textbook featuring descriptions of the magical creatures of the wizarding world.

Kate Winslet + Matilda by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl was a master at crafting creative stories of unexpected kid heroes, and Matilda is no exception. Oscar winner Kate Winslet enthusiastically animates Matilda’s entertaining adventures, including her pranks on Miss Trunchbull. (Photo via Daniel Zuchnik/Getty)

Hope Davis + A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'engle

If you haven’t seen any of the star-studded (Oprah! Reese! Mindy!) posters or trailer for the highly anticipated upcoming A Wrinkle in Timemovie, we don’t know where you’ve been hiding. While you wait for the release, get a proper education in the time-traveling fantasy via actress Hope Davis’s excellently narrated version.

Samuel L. Jackson + Go the F–k to Sleepby Adam Mansbach

Who better to narrate this profanity-laden mock bedtime story than Samuel L. Jackson? This audiobook is not appropriate for minors, but any adult with a sense of humor will love hearing Jackson as a parent desperately trying to get his child to sleep.

Lin-Manuel Miranda + The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda brings his Tony award-winning vocal talents to the sweet story of Oscar, a nerdy overweight Dominican boy who dreams of finding love.

Reese Witherspoon + Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

The discovery and release of Harper Lee’s second novel, Go Set a Watchman, thought to be a first draft of her famous To Kill a Mockingbird, was highly controversial (and, thus, highly successful). But for any fans of Lee that are looking for a thought-provoking take on Atticus and Scout, Reese Witherspoon’s audio version is worth a listen. (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty)

Wil Wheaton + Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One is social commentary wrapped up in a fun, sci-fi quest with plenty of throwback references to the ’80s. Before you catch Steven Spielberg’s movie adaption this March, do yourself a favor and dive into the audio version narrated by everyone’s favorite geek, Wil Wheaton (who is even briefly mentioned in one of the chapters).

Rachel McAdams + Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

The beloved tale of a plucky and spirited orphan sent to live on a farm has inspired numerous films, TV series, and musicals. Actress Rachel McAdams’s upbeat narration will help you relive your favorite childhood book.

Anne Hathaway + The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

We’ve all grown up with the journey of Dorothy and her little dog too, but versatile actress Anne Hathaway truly brings the iconic journey to life, lending her voice as the narrator and all the characters in Oz.

Nick Offerman + The Adventures of Tom Sawyerby Mark Twain

Actor and real-life woodworker Nick Offerman is the perfect choice to read this all-American story about a mischievous boy and his adventures growing up along the Mississippi River.

Where can I watch The Watchers?

The Watchers hits theaters June 14, 2024. Even though the story takes place in chilly Ireland (and the costumes feature a lot of chunky knits), the lighting and color palette still feel summery. Plus there's something about the edge of horror movies that feels just right for summer.

Who's in The Watchers cast?

Dakota Fanning stars in The Watchers as Mina alongside Georgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan, and Olwen Fouere. Throughout the trailer, we can hear the titular Watchers (especially when they applaud Mina's arrival. Creepy!!) but we don't know who will be playing them — or if they're even human.

Is The Watchers a horror movie?

Yes, The Watchers is definitely a horror movie! It's officially described as a supernatural horror movie, and it looks like it'll be a blend of the contemporary horror we know and love, with additional fantasy elements. I would love if the Watchers end up being part of Irish lore or mythology.

What is the Watchers 2024 movie about?

The Watchers follows Mina (Dakota Fanning), an artist who gets stranded with her pet bird in a large Irish forest. Thankfully it doesn't take long for Mina to find shelter with three strangers, but her relief turns to fear when she learns they're being watched and stalked by unseen creatures every night.

The fact Mina and her new companions can hear the Watchers but can never see them feels like a contrast to John Krasinski's A Quiet Place, especially since the Death Angels and Watchers sound very similar to me. I love how A Quiet Place emphasizes family and connection in the face of horror and I hope we see the same in The Watchers!

What book is the movie The Watchers based on?

The Watchers is based on the novel by A.M. Shine. If you're into horror books, add these 20 Spine-Tingling Horror Books and The 17 Best Mystery And Thriller Books to your summer reading list!