Tag: editors picks

7 Can’t-Miss Audiobooks Available in Spotify Premium

Summer is the perfect time to dive into a new story, whether you’re on the move or just looking for an escape. With Spotify Premium, eligible listeners in select markets can enjoy hours of audiobook listening time each month included with their plan. Our audiobook offerings continue to grow, and with hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from, there’s never been a better moment to discover your next great listen.

Not sure where to start? Our editorial team has handpicked a collection of standout audiobooks that span genres, continents, and cultures.

“When we curate titles for a campaign like this, we take it seriously—but we also have a lot of fun doing it,” said Suzanne Galvez, Director of Editorial and Spotify Publishing. “There’s real responsibility in choosing stories that speak to the moods and moments that matter to our listeners, many of whom aren’t traditional readers. So getting it right? That’s the goal.”

“Music memoirs always strike a chord—Tina Knowles’s Matriarch and Mark Hoppus’s Fahrenheit-182 have been big wins,” she continued. “And when a household name like Stephen King is having a pop culture moment? Even better. His latest Holly Gibney installment, Never Flinch, is a standout. Romantasy continues to be a powerhouse with our listeners, and we had a blast weaving in some buzzy new releases to keep things fresh. We’re excited about this lineup and hope our listeners fall in love with these titles just like we did.”

From romantasy sensations to international bestsellers, here are seven titles Suzanne and her fellow editors are loving:

A Court of Thorns and Roses

By Sarah J. Maas
Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda

After killing a wolf in the woods, young huntress Feyre is dragged to a treacherous magical land as punishment. What begins as captivity soon transforms into something deeper, darker, and more seductive. The first in Sarah J. Maas’s wildly popular series, A Court of Thorns and Roses topped Spotify’s Global Audiobooks of the Year list in 2024.

Why our editors love it: It’s a TikTok sensation for a reason—Sarah J. Maas’s immersive worldbuilding, action-packed scenes, flirtatious banter, and satisfying slow-burn romance easily drew in both the traditional fantasy readers and romance lovers on our team.

Atmosphere: A Love Story

By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by Kristen DiMercurio, Julia Whelan, and Taylor Jenkins Reid

Set during the 1980s space shuttle era, Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, a quiet physics professor who dreams of the stars. When she’s selected to join a newly recruited group of women scientists training for spaceflight, she finds friendship, passion, and love—but everything changes when a mission takes a devastating turn.

Why our editors love it: Our team has long been fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, and her newest did not disappoint. We loved exploring a tender, emotional, and forbidden love story during such a pivotal moment in history. Plus, we’re absolute suckers for a great story about found family.

Never Flinch: A Novel

By Stephen King
Narrated by Jessie Mueller and Stephen King

Stephen King’s latest thriller follows two converging threats: a revenge-obsessed killer threatening mass murder, and a stalker targeting a feminist speaker on tour. With Holly Gibney on the case, the clock is ticking. Twisting and relentless, Never Flinch introduces an exciting new cast of characters and builds to a chilling conclusion.

Why our editors love it: We fell for the character of Holly Gibney back when reading Mr. Mercedes and have eagerly awaited each new installment of her story. And typical of King, this one doesn’t shy away from moral extremes, highly twisted motives, and the profound effects of trauma.

Matriarch: A Memoir

By Tina Knowles
Narrated by Tina Knowles, Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly Rowland, and Angie Beyincé

Tina Knowles traces her journey from a spirited girl in 1950s Galveston, Texas, to the matriarch of a family whose influence spans music, style, and culture. Told in her voice and those of her daughters, Matriarch celebrates love, resilience, and motherhood.

Why our editors love it: Matriarch is a beautifully honest portrayal of Black motherhood in America. We loved this listen for its candor, emotional depth, and for Tina’s ability to transcend the role of mother to a celebrity and create a highly relatable story about motherhood that spans generations.

Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir

By Mark Hoppus and Dan Ozzi
Narrated by Mark Hoppus

In this sharp, funny, and heartfelt memoir, blink-182’s Mark Hoppus traces his path from angst-ridden kid to pop-punk icon. Along the way, he opens up about identity, anxiety, fame, and his fight with cancer—all in his own unmistakable voice.

Why our editors love it: We adored Mark Hoppus’s candid and honest memoir. From his relatable struggles with chronic anxiety and depression to behind-the scenes blink-182 band lore, there was something for everyone. And Mark’s narration was the icing on the cake.

The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher

By Andrzej Sapkowski
Narrated by Peter Kenny

Trained, mutated, and armed with magic, Geralt the Witcher is no ordinary killer. But in a world where the fair can be foul and the monstrous may yet be good, each hunt carries unexpected truths. The Last Wish begins the epic fantasy saga that inspired a hit TV series and popular video game franchise.

Why our editors love it: There’s little our team loves more than a morally gray hero, so the Witcher series is right up our alley. This book is clever and gritty, and it introduces an amazingly immersive world that’s enjoyable by both fans of the television series as well as people who just love great fantasy.

The Three-Body Problem 

By Cixin Liu
Narrated by Luke Daniels

The first novel in Cixin Liu’s visionary sci-fi epic is set against the backdrop of China’s cultural revolution. When a secret military signal reaches an alien world on the brink of collapse, Earth becomes the target of invasion. As the threat grows, factions begin to choose sides: resistance or surrender.

Why our editors love it: It’s a thought-provoking exploration of astrophysics and theoretical physics told through a fresh non-Western lens with highly complex, relatable characters in high-stakes situations. This series will challenge your worldview in the best possible way.

Ready to find your next great listen? Explore more titles in the Audiobooks hub on Spotify. To learn more about our audiobook offerings, visit Spotify.com/audiobooks.

Spotify’s Editors Pick Their Best Podcasts of the Year (So Far)

Spotify’s podcast editorial team is always on the hunt for shows and episodes that spark conversation, push boundaries, and keep us coming back for more. As 2025 hits its halfway mark, our editors have curated their picks for the year’s standout podcasts so far—spanning celebrity-driven interviews, deep-dive investigations, true crime, comedy, and the best in film and TV commentary.

“It would be impossible to overlook all the famous faces on our ‘Best New Podcasts of 2025 (So Far)’ list. From Michelle Obama’s heartfelt real talk on IMO to Amy Poehler’s star-studded hangouts (did we mention Kylie Kelce and the Living Single ladies also made the cut?), shows hosted by megawatt talent have definitely stepped up their game this year,” said Rachel Selvin, Editorial and Audience Development Manager, Spotify. “But even with all the buzz around viral celebrity moments, the old rules of podcasting still hold true: A great investigation usually equals a great show. That’s why half of our picks focus on a single issue, unspooling it in all its complexity through a compassionate lens.”

From breakout new series to unforgettable episodes, here’s what topped our editors’ lists for 2025 (so far):

Best New Podcasts of 2025 (So Far)

Best Episodes of 2025 (So Far)

Best True Crime of 2025 (So Far)

Funniest Episodes of 2025 (So Far)

Best Movies of 2025 (So Far)

Best TV of 2025 (So Far)

Explore the Best of the Year (So Far) hub on Spotify to find your next favorite show or episode.

Spotify’s Editors Pick Their Best Songs of the Year (So Far)

When it comes to new music, Spotify’s team of editors across North America is always on the hunt for songs that make them feel, think, and move. They’re at the forefront of new trends around the world, working to uncover new genres and introduce listeners to emerging artists. And though 2025 is only just heating up, they’ve been hard at work to help fans discover the best of the best.  

Now, we’re excited to reveal Editors’ Picks: Best Songs of the Year (So Far), a genre-spanning playlist of the 50 standout tracks that caught our editors’ attention. As they narrowed the list down, they considered tracks with exceptional songwriting, musicality, uniqueness, and cultural impact. 

The Editorial Watch Feed, which first appeared in our playlist alongside our year-end list in 2024, is also back, allowing our editors to share their expertise with fans directly. Providing dynamic insights into every song on the list, our in-house experts break down the qualities that make their picks great.

“Our Editors’ Picks playlist isn’t about what’s trending—it’s about the tracks that stood out for all the right reasons,” said Sulinna Ong, Spotify’s Global Head of Editorial. “Our music editors dug deeper to spotlight songs that intrigued us; sonically, culturally, or through exceptional songwriting. From the comeback of trip hop and dreamy indie-folk anthems to modern R&B staples, hard-hitting hip-hop, and genre-blending Latin tracks, each selection reflects the depth and range of the music that resonated with us. It’s a playlist shaped by real human editorial perspective, and we hope listeners find something meaningful in it.”

Curious who made the cut? Here are our editors’ picks for the best songs of 2025 so far. 

Addison Rae – “Headphones On”
After – “300 Dreams”
Baby Nova – “Too Pretty For Buffalo”
Bad Bunny – “DtMF”
Balu Brigada – “Backseat”
Bon Iver – “There’s A Rhythmn”
CA7RIEL, Paco Amoroso – “IMPOSTOR”
Cameron Winter – “Love Takes Miles”
Central Cee, 21 Savage – “GBP”
chloe moriondo – “shoreline”
Chloe Qisha – “21st Century Cool Girl”
Clipse, Pusha T, Malice – “Ace Trumpets
Dasha – “Not at This Party”
Ecca Vandal – “CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE”
Erika de Casier – “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Ethel Cain – “Nettles”
Fontaines DC – “Before You I Just Forget”
Four Tet – “Into Dust (Still Falling)”
Fridayy, Meek Mill – “Proud of Me”
Girl Group – “Yay Saturday”
GIVEON – “TWENTIES”
Hannah Cohen – “Earthstar”
Jaze, Caloncho – “pensé en ti”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Khamari – “Head in A Jar”
kwn – “back of the club”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist – “Life Is Beautiful”
Leon Thomas – “NOT FAIR”
Leon Vynehall, Beau Nox – “Cruel Love”
MacKenzie Porter, Jake Etheridge, Thelma & James – “Happy Ever After You”
Mariah the Scientist – “Burning Blue”
Mei Semones – “Animaru”
Miley Cyrus – “End of the World”
Model/Actriz – “Diva”
MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng, Shenseea – “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)”
Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov – “Flowers”
Obongjayar – “Sweet Danger”
PLUTO, YKNIECE – “WHIM WHAMIEE”
Rema – “Baby (Is It A Crime)”
Robert Randolph, Judith Hill – “When Will The Love Rain Down”
rusowsky – “malibU”
Sam Barber – “Man of the Year”
Sammy Virji – “I Guess We’re Not The Same”
Saya Gray – “..THUS IS WHY (I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE)”
sombr – “undressed”
The Marias – “Back To Me”
Turnpike Troubadours – “On The Red River”
Turnstile – “LOOK OUT FOR ME”
Wednesday – “Elderberry Wine”

Press play below to hear all of our top songs of the year so far: