The Audiobooks List

I've always been more of a visual person, so I was never really interested in podcasts or audiobooks, but I promised myself that I'd spend less time scrolling on social media and more time reading. I also promised myself I wouldn't buy any more books until I finish every single book I own. With that said, I turned to my public library account online to see what they had. I didn't love their listening experience and a lot of the audiobooks I was interested in were checked out (booo!). To my delight, I discovered that Spotify has audiobooks and gives premium subscribers 15 hours of listening time each month! So I've been in my audiobook bag since.

Below is the list of audiobooks I have listened to. The most recent will be at the top. Feel free to reach out if you've already read or heard any of these or plan to!

I'm Glad My Mother Died by Jennette McCurdy

This one was just heartbreaking. It's a memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy. She writes about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders and a complicated relationship with her overbearing and abusive mother. Through dark humor, she recounts her journey from when she starting acting at six years old (her mother's dream --- not hers) and how she retook control of her life.

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants. --- Wikipedia

Down the Drain by Julia Fox

I became fascinated with Julia Fox after she broke up with you know who and started popping up on my social media feeds. The things she would say in interviews and post on her own page made me relate to her and really like her. She doesn't identify as the average celebrity, she says what the girls, gays, and theys are thinking, and I just knew that bitch (respectfully) had stories for days. In her memoir, she recounts her tumultuous childhood and coming of age story, troubles with drug abuse, struggles with abusive men, complicated friendships, loss and so much more.

I listened to this audiobook at the perfect time. What draws me the most to Julia is that she's so authentic and real and raw and honest and you just love her more for it. She leveled up in life being unapologetically herself. I identify with that and I want my future successes to come to me in the same way. I don't want to change myself even a little to get the jobs, connections or experiences that I want. I'm inspired by "the weird white girl with the fat ass" to continue to stay true to myself. That's the only way the opportunities and connections that I'm aligned with will find me.

Your Faith is Your Fortune by Neville Goddard

Recommended to me by a dear friend. It reiterated some messages for me, but the main takeaway is that we are what we believe in. If you believe in God and Jesus, you are God and you are Jesus. We are our own faith. We are in charge of our destiny. There are lot of bible versus that it breaks down, so if that's not your thing, it can be hard to keep up, but I liked the overall message.

What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey

Someone said this felt like "a nice, warm hug" and I've been needing those lately. This audiobook is narrated by Oprah herself and explores themes of joy, resilience, gratitude and such. In theory it should've accomplished the job, but I found it boring and truthfully did not enjoying her narration. I also felt like she was namedropping a lot and then I had to remind myself that she's Oprah...😂