How we review
Honest scores, clearly labelled
So you always know what we have heard and how each score was decided.
Listening status
Every review carries one of these badges, so you can see at a glance whether our editor has heard the full audiobook.
Our editor has listened to the complete audiobook, start to finish, before scoring it.
We are partway through. The review and score may change when we finish.
Written from the published details, samples and the print edition. The score is provisional until we have listened in full.
How the score works
Each review gets an overall score out of 10, built from three parts. We also show the narration and production scores on their own.
Narration
Clarity, pacing, character voices, emotional range and whether the narrator suits the book. We note listening speed where it helps.
The book in audio
Story, ideas and structure, judged by how well they work by ear: can you follow it on a walk, do the chapters hold your attention?
Production
Audio quality, editing, music and effects, chapter markers and any bonus material such as PDFs.
What the numbers mean
Service ratings
Listening services are rated out of 5 stars on catalogue, value, app quality and ownership (whether you keep your books). Prices and free trials come from each service's own pricing page and are rechecked regularly.
Independence
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Publishers and services never pay for reviews, never see them before publication, and never influence a score. Read our affiliate disclosure.