I Listen to These 8 Audible Books When I Need a Break From My Own Thoughts

Photo Credit:@cozy.games

There’s something about winter that makes every walk feel like an emotional journey. You bundle up, put your headphones in, and suddenly you’re the lead in a coming-of-age film where the soundtrack is… you healing.

This season, I’ve been swapping out my same old “mindset podcasts” for something way better: stories that move me while I move. Think thrillers that make your heart race, love stories that hit a nerve, and drama that reminds you how resilient women really are.

So grab your coat, tighten your laces, and cue up one of these listens. Because growth doesn’t always come from journaling — sometimes it comes from a really good story.

1. The Abyssinians — Banna Desta

If you love a slow burn with rich atmosphere and emotional pull, Banna Desta’s The Abyssinians is it. Set against the backdrop of Ethiopia, it’s layered, haunting, and beautifully told — a reminder that home and heritage can be both comfort and conflict.

Listen when: you want your walk to feel cinematic and soul-stirring.

2. Halfway — Michael Hannah

Part mystery, part meditation on grief and second chances, Halfway follows a man trying to rebuild after tragedy — and what happens when he meets someone who challenges everything he thought he knew. It’s reflective without dragging, the kind of story that sneaks up on you emotionally.

Listen when: you’re in your “let me process my feelings but still make my steps” era.

3. Take Me Away — Kami Holt

Kami Holt writes romance that feels grown — tender but realistic, full of chemistry and second chances. Take Me Away is for when you want your walk to feel like a romantic montage. It’s emotional but hopeful, reminding you that love isn’t something you chase — it’s something you choose.

Listen when: you need a dose of escapism that doesn’t insult your intelligence.

4. The Room Next Door — Wendy Walker

This one’s for my thriller girls. The Room Next Door is tightly paced, psychological, and impossible to pause. It’s about secrets, survival, and the quiet strength it takes to outsmart danger — both physical and emotional.

Listen when: you want a brisk walk that turns into a full-on power stride.

5. Behind a Locked Door — Sarah A. Denzil

Dark, gripping, and full of tension, this one explores what happens when isolation starts to feel like safety. It’s the kind of story that keeps your mind busy and your pace quick.

Listen when: you’re walking at night and want to feel like you’re in a Netflix thriller (in the best way).

6. Kingsland — Dwayne Alexander Smith

Think social commentary meets cinematic storytelling. Kingsland dives into power, politics, and identity in a way that feels current, thought-provoking, and bold. It’s for the walker who wants something meaty — a story that makes you think long after you’ve hit your step goal.

Listen when: you want to leave your walk with more perspective than when you started.

7. Coming Home — Kennedy Ryan

No one writes emotional depth like Kennedy Ryan. Coming Home is a love story about healing, rediscovery, and belonging. It’s vulnerable but empowering — the kind of book that makes you cry in the best way.

Listen when: you need to be reminded that soft doesn’t mean weak.

8. Technically Speaking — Michael Elliot

This one’s clever, romantic, and funny — a modern love story with heart and sharp dialogue. Perfect pacing, great chemistry, and just enough tech-world intrigue to keep things interesting.

Listen when: you’re in the mood for a little lightness that still feels stylish.