Reaching for a good book? Grab your headphones. If you haven’t heard, audiobooks are on the rise. With nearly 23% growth in library checkouts in 2023, everybody’s got their earbuds in these days. A big reason why audiobooks are so popular is that we can keep up with our busy lives while still getting through our TBR list, not to mention a whole host of other benefits. Nothing beats sitting down with a good book, but when life gets in the way, audiobooks are a favorite for multitasking, powering us through chores with the help of a spicy romance or a dystopian thriller.

You might even be listening to an audiobook right now. We hope so. If not, here are a few suggestions for audiobooks you can borrow for free from your library through the Libby app.

🎧 The best audiobooks to listen to while you exercise
🎧The most popular audiobooks of the year (and all time!)
🎧 Podcast listener? You’ll love these audiobook recommendations
🎧 Most popular celebrity memoir audiobooks
🎧 Bedtime stories: Audiobooks to help you sleep

Since so many of us love to listen, we asked Libby users on social media about their favorite thing to do while listening to audiobooks. Here’s what they love to do while plugged into a good book:

1. Do household chores
2. Drive or commute
3. Exercise
4. Knit or craft
5. Cook
6. Do yard work/garden
7. Puzzles
8. Play video games
9. Fall asleep
10. Do absolutely nothing

Other reader responses included getting a mani/pedi, shopping, packing for a trip, eating, working and showering. A few readers said they listened to audiobooks to ignore other people (whatever works!) and some said they like to follow along in the actual book while they listen to help them focus on the words (very smart!).

Perhaps the most comprehensive response of them all—“Literally anything! Audiobooks make doing everything better.”

Couldn’t agree more. ✨