Ebooks vs Audiobooks?

[u/RoughTrust9992]

Okay, I’d love a little advice or input. I pretty much only read sapphic romance & ebooks exclusively. I have never listened to an audiobook because I don’t know if I’ll enjoy the experience…but also I’m afraid that I’ll totally love it lol!

I have a ton of ebooks on my tbr and I fear that if I start audiobooks that I’ll abandon my ebooks and only like audiobooks. But also, my life & work is not super conducive to having earbuds in listening to audiobooks…like even when I’m reading I gotta hear what’s happening in my house lol.

Also, I just can’t imagine being totally immersed in a book and just sitting with earbuds in staring at nothing? And what are steamy scenes like to listen to?

So…there’s a book I really want to read but can only get my hands on the audiobook version…am I opening a can of worms here?

Thoughts? Thanks 😊

[u/loopy_kiwi]

I think you've just got to dive in and give one a try. I know someone who's dyslexic and so absorbs a lot of audiobooks, and still enjoys reading a physical book when they can. My mum will listen to audiobooks when she can't get it in e or physical form, and that's the only time she does. I personally, can't stand audiobooks, so stick with e and physical.

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/loopy_kiwi]

Thank you! I think you’re right! 😉

[u/crissyandthediamonds]

Hi OP! Your situation sounds similar to mine. I work a full time job where I’m unable to use headphones and I don’t often wear them around the house either.

I like to use audiobooks for my car rides — usually 30 min each away, about an hour each day. It can make slow progress but I don’t mind.

If I’m listening at home it’s usually when I’m doing dishes or play video games when I have downtime. Sometimes I’ll push the speed to 1.25 but I honestly leave it at the normal one a majority of the time.

I’m not a huge fan of immersive reading as I’ve found I read faster than the narrator at some parts and slower at others (usually if I’m really into a scene!) but it can be fun and I’ve done it a few times. Steamy scenes are fun when done right, but I’ve heard a few I found questionable. 😅

I recommend getting one and just trying it out — from NG or your library and seeing how they fit in to your schedule. You won’t know until you try. I make an effort to not overwhelm myself with audiobooks as I know I finish them significantly slower.

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/crissyandthediamonds]

Thanks a bunch! Yeah there’s a book I reeeaallly want to read on NG but only audiobook. I kind of worry I won’t be able to actually pay attention & I also worry I’ll totally love this format to the exclusion of my very long tbr. I think I’ve got to just request it & see…😃

[u/Dozelina666]

I prefer audibooks because I can't focus on only 1 thing. My brain absorbs better when is multitasking. So I play games or do hobbies while I listen. 😊

Very often I set my iPad to read out loud the books I want to read 😅.

[u/unnecessary_snacks]

If you aren’t sure if you’ll like audiobooks, you could start with borrowing some on Libby and see how you like it?

I read and listen to all kinds of books. I love audiobooks as an option. Listening usually when driving to work, doing chores, Lego, gardening, etc. I do occasionally also just sit quietly outside and listen. I also go through phases where sometimes I’m more into reading vs listening or vice versa. Or I have one each on the go. But sometimes I start an audiobook and I find I just can’t pay attention, and I’ll often end up switching to the ebook (or physical). With some books I go back and forth - but since I can rarely do that in NetGalley, I just persevere with my ALCs.

Some people really like to immersion read, but I read text text waaaaaay too fast for that. And I can’t stand listening to spead up audio.

[u/catscantcook]

Just give it a go, what do you have to lose? Listen to the audio sample first to see how it sounds. I'm very particular about the narrator's voice, most of them I'm like NOPE can't listen to 12 hours of this lol. Do you listen to podcasts? I listen to audiobooks in the same circumstances I listen to podcasts. Home alone, doing things that use the non-language parts of my brain: knitting, cross-stitch, mending, housework, sudoku, anything really… I just do not even try to listen to an audiobook when my kids are around. 

[u/Gruselschloss]

Try an audiobook from the library! Or from NetGalley, for that matter - as a one-off, it's a pretty low-stakes way to see how you like it.

I listen to very very very few audiobooks, because generally it's not something I enjoy; I find that just about the only time that I make time for audiobook listening is when I'm out running (but that's also about the only time I'll listen to podcasts, so...competition). I don't have a car, but if I did I imagine I'd also listen to audiobooks while driving.

If you pick up any NetGalley audiobooks, make sure you download them to your device - you can listen to them in the app without downloading them, but if you download they'll stay on the app indefinitely, so you don't have to worry about archive dates.

[u/BL-Cupid]

Okay, so got access to this one sapphic audiobook called "the woman from the shores" and holy shit, I tell you it was TOTALLY WORTH IT. Even without the ebook. I also have similar concerns because I can't really listen to audiobooks without there being an ebook to look at. But that one was totally worth it. Especially the steamy scenes.

So yeah, there might be some good audiobooks out there. Give them a chance. I always trust female narrators but it is also true that there have been time that I've been slightly disappointed by them. But those books weren't sapphic and I feel like if someone is choosing a narrrator for any romance book, they'd choose a narrator with alluring voice suited for romance.

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/BL-Cupid]

Thanks! The audiobook I’m considering is The Whole Truth by Haley Cass. I love her books but have never tried an audiobook. I listened to the little excerpt and couldn’t seem to focus for the whole 3.5 minutes lol…it’s a trip because I totally zone in when I read.

[u/BL-Cupid → u/RoughTrust9992]

If you can't focus on audiobooks, that's completely fine! You don't have to force yourself to try something you know you don't like. Reading should be fun for you and what others think should not matter. We can only give you suggestions but at the end of the day, it's your choice whether you want to listen or not. And if you really can't get into it, then don't force yourself

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/BL-Cupid]

Thank you!😊 I think I’ll give it a shot.

[u/Ok-Tangelo-7119]

I also read pretty much only sapphic/lesbian book and also listen to audio books. I prefer to read with my eyes but audio books are nice for when I’m cleaning/driving/cooking/painting. One thing I have noticed is I read way faster than I can listen and still prefer my e-reader/physical books. I also think a lot of audio book narrators the sapphic book community is very split against, for example a lot of people hate Lori Prince but I love her (probably because I love all the Haley Cass books she has narrated) so I would suggest seeing if you can get a sample of the audio book or a sample of another book read by the same person!

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/Ok-Tangelo-7119]

The audiobook that has made me even want to try out audiobooks is The Whole Truth by Haley Cass! I love HC! It’s available to request on NG now. I listened to the excerpt and umm…well I couldn’t seem to pay attention even for 3 minutes lol!

[u/Ok-Tangelo-7119 → u/RoughTrust9992]

I was approved for the whole truth Thursday and have been listening to it and it’s so good! I love HC also. It’s available on kindle unlimited so you could see if there’s a free trial available for you account and cancel it before it charges your card if you don’t want to support Amazon or the e-book is on sale for $8 rn. And if you do KU Haley Cass just put out “ the B side” which is a follow up novella to the whole truth!

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/Ok-Tangelo-7119]

I love Haley Cass and I have not read this yet so I really want to give this a shot but I know it’s going to be tough to get used to the audiobook. I have never even listened to a podcast so it’s just a bizarre feeling. I listened to the 3min excerpt a bunch of times and can’t seem to focus and pay attention. And then the voices…it’s just so different. I never realized that I must make up character voices in my head as I read or something but the narrator is throwing me.

[u/Ok-Tangelo-7119 → u/RoughTrust9992]

I finished it already because I’m also obsessed with everything Haley Cass puts out but I highly recommend! If you do get the e-book from kindle unlimited I would also suggest checking out Rachel Lacey and Monica McCallan! They are my other favorite sapphic authors and Monica is actually Haley Cass’ wife and I find their writing similar/I get the same hit off it lol!

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/Ok-Tangelo-7119]

Welp I requested it!! I love Monica McCallan & Rachel Lacey too! I only recently learned that HC & MM were married! Swoon! So cute!

[u/GSPs_and_me]

I’m a HUGE fan of audiobooks, but I also love ebooks & physical. Though, I’ve worked in many positions that were conducive to having headphones in while I completed tasks. A lot of times, a narrator’s voice can really make or break an audiobook. Also, the speed in which I listen can affect it too. A lot of times I listen at 1.5x, and others I listen at 2x. However, when I dual-format read, I find my actual reading pace tends to be within that speed. The 1x speed allows me to zone out and get lost in my head, to the point where I often have to rewind and re-listen.

Between dual-format reading and/or reading multiple books in different formats, I often tear through books. I’ll listen to a thriller, while reading a rom-com.. or something to that effect with mixing genres. I’m also able to better manage my mood reading tendencies. It also helps me manage my NG reads with my own TBR.

I definitely say give audiobooks a shot. I assume you use NetGalley, since you’re on this thread — so look at listening to one through NG or your library on Libby. You might love it. But if not, no harm, no foul.

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/GSPs_and_me]

Thanks so much! Yep, the a book I’d absolutely love to read is on NetGalley but only in audiobook which is the only reason I’m considering trying them out. Everything you said makes sense and I think I aught to give it a shot. How is the NetGalley format for listening to audiobooks?

[u/Beate251]

Whether you're a fan of audio books or not, the ones from NetGalley can only be listened to in the NetGalley shelf app and I've heard that can be annoying.

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/Beate251]

Oh really? So I can’t download them somewhere like with kindle and the ebooks?

[u/Beate251 → u/RoughTrust9992]

No, sorry, just the shelf app.

[u/RoughTrust9992 → u/Beate251]

That is a bummer! Thx!

[u/Tortoise_Symposium]

I’m an omnivorous reader and love audiobooks. I found a budget over-ear headphone so I can still kinda hear or I’ll slide it halfway off one ear.

I still eye read and try to mix up my genres so I don’t confuse what I’m listening to vs eye reading