I've spent most of my life dodging audiobooks—not because I think they're wrong or less than a textbook, but because my ADHD brain treats them like background noise at a chaotic coffee shop. One minute, I’m listening; the next, I’m deep into some random thought about whether Gremlins can ever be fed aside from the single midnight second because it's technically always after midnight. Suddenly, I have no clue what's happening in the story. The one I am supposed to be listening to instead of trying to create an existential crisis for the Mogwai.

The narrators couldn't hold me. It's a tough job, so I respect anyone in the VO game. I just have not had much luck with audiobooks in the past.

But not this time! On a whim (read: the audiobook became available before the eBook on Libby), I gave Cackle a try, and it completely sucked me in. Full disclosure: I did crank it up to 1.5x speed at some point because the pacing felt like a stroll when I needed a brisk power walk. Still, the narrator was so good that I’d happily listen to them read a menu or even the side effect risk list of those late-night commercials for some random new syndrome — but better yet, every other Rachel Harrison book ever written, which I’ve now started devouring with very sharp teeth..

I love books that mix supernatural chaos with a healthy dose of female rage. Bonus points for characters who start out frustratingly flawed but slowly grow into themselves (yes, even if they make stupid decisions along the way).

Oh, one last thing: if you have arachnophobia, brace yourself. Seriously.