Stitch and Listen: 5 Audiobooks I Listened to While Crocheting in March

So, as we know, crocheting is not just a hobby; it’s a form of therapy, a creative outlet, and a way to bring handmade joy into your life and the lives of your loved ones.

But I don’t know about y’all, but I need something to occupy my mind while my hands create. While some may enjoy music or podcasts while crocheting, I find an engaging audiobook the perfect way to keep my mind busy while my hands are.

Audiobooks are perfect companions for crocheting sessions. They keep your mind busy while you delve into a fictional (or nonfictional) world, and they’re my favorite way to keep my mind going while I’m crocheting.

Today, I’ll review five audiobooks I listened to during March while crocheting and sharing my thoughts.

From gripping thrillers to beach reads, these five audiobooks are each a different genre and explore a variety of topics, so there’s something for everyone.

I love reading just as much as I love crocheting, and I hope this gives you some ideas for your next crocheting companion. Let’s dive in.

Crochet Meets Audiobook: Discovering the Perfect Soundtrack for Your Next Project

1. Queen Hereafter by Isabelle Schuler

Summary:

Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Lady Macbeth by Isabelle Schuler is a historical fiction reimagining of the life of Lady Macbeth, a character made famous by William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth.” The book takes a closer look at the woman behind the infamous character and explores her life, turmoils, and victories. 

Gruoch, the daughter of an exiled king growing up in eleventh-century Scotland, has been told by her grandmother that she will one day become Queen and must survive.

As she navigates the meaning of her grandmother’s prophecy and the political landscape of medieval Scotland, Gruoch faces various challenges and experiences that shape her into the strong and ambitious woman she becomes.

It also explores Gruoch’s relationships and magical roots and delves into her motivations and actions as she strives to protect her family and secure her power.

Gruoch is a multifaceted and compelling character. The novel offers a fresh perspective on a figure often vilified by history and literature, presenting her as a complex woman grappling with the challenges of her time.

Review:

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and Queen Hereafter did not disappoint.

Learning that this book is based on a real person from history was fascinating, and the author includes a section detailing some of the real-life inspiration behind the character of Gruoch.

It felt like a Scottish medieval soap opera in the best way possible: thoroughly entertaining, sharp, and powerful. Fans of Circe and The Song of Achilles should definitely add Queen Hereafter to their TBR.

Rating: 5/5

Buy on Amazon here

2. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Summary:

“Luckiest Girl Alive” is a psychological thriller novel written by Jessica Knoll. The story follows the protagonist, Ani FaNelli, a successful magazine writer living in New York City.

On the surface, Ani appears to have it all—a glamorous career, a wealthy fiancé, and a seemingly perfect life. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that She is haunted by dark secrets from her past.

The novel alternates between Ani’s present-day life and flashbacks to her teenage years, revealing the traumatic events that have shaped her into the person she is today.

As Ani prepares for her upcoming wedding and reflects on her past, she grapples with issues of identity, trauma, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. Ani’s character is complex and morally ambiguous, and the reader questions her motivations and actions.

As the story progresses, shocking revelations emerge, forcing Ani to confront the truth about her past and her choices.

Review:

I enjoyed the beginning of this book, but I found the rest to be a bit forgettable.

I was just waiting for it to end, and I don’t remember most of what happened. The character of Ani is hard to root for because it’s crystal clear from page one that she’s an unlikeable and unreliable narrator.

I normally love unreliable narrators, but Ani’s lack of empathy and personality, which was devoid of anything even remotely redeemable, made it hard to like and connect with her.

I love a psychological thriller, but unfortunately, this one missed the mark.

Rating: 2/5

3. The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

Summary:

When Geeta’s husband disappeared five years ago, her village in India automatically saw her as a cold-blooded killer.

Despite having nothing to do with her husband’s disappearance and having no clue where he is, Geeta takes advantage of her status as a murderess by relishing her solitary lifestyle, making jewelry for her village, and living alone.

But when a fellow villager comes to Geeta asking for help to kill her husband, the life she’s built starts to crumble.

As more women line up at Geeta’s door in hopes that she will help them get rid of the men making their lives miserable, her reputation starts to become a double-edged sword. 

Things quickly become out of control, and as more men turn up dead, people come knocking. This novel explores female empowerment in the midst of an abuse of power and control, second-chance romance, and the power of sisterhood against the backdrop of a small village in India.

Review:

Listen. I absolutely LOVED this book. It was hilarious, dark, sharp, and witty, and I loved all of the characters.

Geeta has been one of my favorite literary leading ladies this year, and her companions and enemies were all loveable in their own way.

I could not stop listening and frankly didn’t want to. There is some dark subject matter, but it’s perfectly undercut by wry and witty humor, giving the perfect balance.

The Bandit Queens is in my top 5 of the year so far for sure, and you should definitely get your hands (or ears) on it.

Rating: 5/5

Buy now on Amazon here.

4. The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

Summary 

“The Five-Star Weekend” by Elin Hilderbrand centers around the life of Hollis Shaw, a famous food blogger married to a surgeon living a picture-perfect life.

But tragedy strikes when Hollis’ husband is killed in a car crash just moments after an unsavory argument with Hollis. Struggling to come to terms with her husband’s death and increasingly anxious about her relationship with her estranged daughter Caroline, Hollis has an idea.

Four women-Tatum, Dru-Ann, Brooke, and Gigi-are invited by Hollis to a Nantucket girls’ getaway labeled The Five Star Weekend. Each woman is from a different point in Hollis’ life, including the magnetic Gigi, who Hollis actually has never met in person.

The story unfolds over this luxurious weekend getaway in Nantucket, where the women confront their personal struggles and secrets.

Throughout the weekend, the women navigate challenges, face unexpected revelations, and strengthen their friendship bonds.

Set against the backdrop of Nantucket’s picturesque scenery and lavish lifestyle, the novel delves into themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery in the midst of tragedy.

Review:

This was my first Elin Hilderbrand book; unfortunately, I was not a fan.

I was hoping for a relaxing beach novel with low stakes and female friendship, but the overuse of modern terminology easily overtook the plot and characters.

It came off as cringy and trying a bit too hard, which made it hard to fully connect with the characters. I certainly enjoyed some parts, but the writing ruined it a little for me.

However, I will try other Hilderbrand books because she has such an extensive catalog, and I’m sure this was just a one-off.

Rating: 3/5

Buy now on Amazon here.

5. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Summary: 

In July 1962, a four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl named Ruthie disappeared from the blueberry fields of Maine right under her family’s nose.

Her brother Joe is the last to see her, and this haunts him for years and years to come. The family continues to search for her, coming down from Nova Scotia to Maine each year to pick blueberries. But as time goes on, the chances of finding Ruthie again begin to slim.

Around this same time, we follow a girl named Norma, also living in Maine, the only child of a wealthy but overprotective and secretive family.

As Norma grows up, she is constantly plagued by dreams that feel much more like reality than fiction, and she soon starts to realize that they may not be dreams after all.

Plagued by these dreams and her mother’s constant hovering, Norma begins to investigate her past to uncover what her family is hiding.

The book goes back and forth between Joe and Norma’s past and present perspectives as the mystery of Ruthie’s disappearance and Norma’s strange dreams start to unravel.

Set in 1960s Maine, this story explores the family bond across time and space, the grappling of betrayal and childhood trauma, and the unrelenting search for the truth.

Review:

Friends, I saved the best one for last. This was easily one of the greatest books I’ve ever read.

I absolutely cannot imagine the nightmare this family went through, and the full exploration of their grief and grappling with the events surrounding their family was beautiful and devastating.

The character development and depth were incredible, especially Joe and Norma, and I frequently had visceral reactions to some of the events in the book.

I didn’t know about the Mi’kmaq people before this book, and it was fascinating to learn about them. What shocks me about this novel is that it’s the author’s debut and a stunning debut it was.

I think about this book all the time, and I urge you to give it a listen (or a read). I will be reading everything from Amanda Peters in the future.

Rating: 5/5

Buy now on Amazon here.

Share with us Your Favorite Audiobooks!

If you have a favorite on this list or another audiobook you loved listening to while crocheting, please let us know in the comments below. I’m always (and I mean always) looking for new reads. Happy crocheting (and reading)!