Best of 2016: Romance Audiobooks Rated A for Narration

As we approach the end of a year, we always take a look back at what our favorite audiobooks and narrations were. In 2016, AudioGals reviewers gave the following narrations an A (or A- or A+) – some might have been published in previous years, but all were reviewed this year. Chime in with your favorites in the comments!

• All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins

  July 4, 2016

  Narrator: Xe Sands
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• The Angels’ Share by J.R. Ward

  August 4, 2016

  Narrator: Alexander Cendese
  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Shannon
  Publisher: Penguin Audio
  

• Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

  April 5, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• Julian Fellowes’s Belgravia by Julian Fellowes

  August 10, 2016

  Narrator: Juliet Stevenson
  Narration: A+
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Hachette Audio
  

• Blissed by Jamie Farrell

  July 19, 2016

  Narrator: Karen White
  Narration: A
  Story: C+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Jamie Farrell
  

• Bossman by Vi Keeland

  November 24, 2016

  Narrator: Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden
  Narration: A-
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Bounty by Kristen Ashley

  December 21, 2016

  Narrator: Emma Taylor
  Narration: A-
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Brilliance Audio
  

• The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

  April 18, 2016

  Narrator: James Langton
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Kaetrin
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• Charming by Dannika Dark 

  February 22, 2016

  Narrator: Nicole Poole
  Narration: A
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Covert Evidence by Rachel Grant

  November 23, 2016

  Narrator: Nicol Zanzarella
  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Audible Studios
  

• A Dangerous Beauty by Sophia Nash

  October 11, 2016

  Narrator: Bianca Amato
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Harper Audio (originally Recorded Books)
  

• The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

  January 18, 2016

  Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
  Narration: A
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Kaetrin
  Publisher: Hachette Audio
  

• A Date at the Altar by Cathy Maxwell

  December 15, 2016

  Narrator: Mary Jane Wells
  Narration: A-
  Story: B-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• The Dissolute Duke by Sophia James

  September 13, 2016

  Narrator: Carolyn Morris
  Narration: A-
  Story: C+
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Harlequin Audio
  

• Don’t Tempt Me by Loretta Chase

  April 28, 2016

  Narrator: Kate Reading
  Narration: A+
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: NYLA
  

• The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

  September 26, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

  December 20, 2016

  Narrator: Ashford MacNab
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Diana
  Publisher: Hachette Audio
  

• Eternally Yours – Roxton Letters, Vol.1 by Lucinda Brant

  February 1, 2016

  Narrator: Alex Wyndham
  Narration: A+
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Sprigleaf Pty Ltd
  

• The Fairest of Them All by Cathy Maxwell

  July 18, 2016

  Narrator: Mary Jane Wells
  Narration: A
  Story: C-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• Forevermore by Kristen Callihan

  August 16, 2016

  Narrator: Moira Quirk
  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Hachette Audio
  

• Glitterland by Alexis Hall

  January 25, 2016

  Narrator: Nicholas Boulton
  Narration: A+
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Hedgehog Inc
  

• Happily Ever Ninja by Penny Reid

  August 9, 2016

  Narrator: Em Eldridge and Will M. Watt
  Narration: A-
  Story: C+
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Penny Reid
  

• Her Every Wish by Courtney Milan

  June 29, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Courtney Milan
  

• Her Wicked Proposal by Lauren Smith

  March 16, 2016

  Narrator: Heather Wilds
  Narration: A
  Story: B-
  Reviewer: Shannon
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• The Highlander by Kerrigan Byrne

  September 27, 2016

  Narrator: Derek Perkins
  Narration: A
  Story: B-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• The Hunter by Kerrigan Byrne

  March 31, 2016

  Narrator: Derek Perkins
  Narration: A-
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Jane Steele by Lindsay Faye

  June 8, 2016

  Narrator: Susie Riddell
  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Penguin Audio
  

• Jed Had to Die by Tara Sivec

  November 14, 2016

  Narrator: Amy McFadden
  Narration: A
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Audiobooks.com Publishing
  

• Last Night’s Scandal by Loretta Chase

  January 26, 2016

  Narrator: Kate Reading
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: NYLA
  

• Legal Briefs by N.M. Silber

  January 14, 2016

  Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Post Hypnotic Press Inc
  

• Listen to Me by Kristen Proby

  September 7, 2016

  Narrator: Sebastian York & Arielle DeLisle
  Narration: A-
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Kaetrin
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• Longing by Mary Balogh

  February 8, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• Manners & Mutiny by Gail Carriger

  February 2, 2016

  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Diana
  Publisher: Hachette Audio
  

• Marriage Games by CD Reiss

  December 15, 2016

  Narrator: Elena Wolfe and Sebastian York
  Narration: A+
  Story: A
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Flip City Media, Inc
  

• Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

  June 9, 2016

  Narrator: Mary Jane Wells
  Narration: A
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Kaetrin
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• The Mésalliance by Stella Riley

  April 6, 2016

  Narrator: Alex Wyndham
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Kaetrin
  Publisher: Stella Riley
  

• Midnight Games by Elle Kennedy

  July 28, 2016

  Narrator: Allyson Ryan
  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Mister O by Lauren Blakely

  May 30, 2016

  Narrator: Sebastian York
  Narration: A+
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Lauren Blakely Books
  

• Must Love Breeches by Angela Quarles

  May 14, 2016

  Narrator: Mary Jane Wells
  Narration: A
  Story: C+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Unsealed Room Press
  

• My American Duchess by Eloisa James

  March 21, 2016

  Narrator: Kate Reading
  Narration: A+
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• My Fair Princess by Vanessa Kelly

  October 25, 2016

  Narrator: Beverly A. Crick
  Narration: A-
  Story: B-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• My Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis

  January 4, 2016

  Narrator: Karen White
  Narration: B+
  Story: B-
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Hachette Audio
  

• My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

  February 18, 2016

  Narrator: Xe Sands
  Narration: A
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• Ninja at First Sight by Penny Reid

  July 13, 2016

  Narrator: Em Eldridge
  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Penny Reid
  

• Noble Satyr by Lucinda Brant

  February 1, 2016

  Narrator: Alex Wyndham
  Narration: A+
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Sprigleaf Pty Ltd
  

• Nobody But You by Jill Shalvis

  April 30, 2016

  Narrator: Karen White
  Narration: A
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Hachette Audio
  

• Not Quite a Lady by Loretta Chase

  January 26, 2016

  Narrator: Kate Reading
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: NYLA
  

• Once Upon a Marquess by Courtney Milan

  May 7, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Courtney Milan
  

• One Second by Dannika Dark

  August 2, 2016

  Narrator: Nicole Poole
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Only Beloved by Mary Balogh

  July 11, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• The Parfit Knight by Stella Riley

  January 19, 2016

  Narrator: Alex Wyndham
  Narration: A+
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Stella Riley
  

• The Player by Stella Riley

  April 19, 2016

  Narrator: Alex Wyndham
  Narration: A+
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Stella Riley
  

• The Player by Kresley Cole 

  November 3, 2016

  Narrator: Kimberly Alexis
  Narration: A-
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Valkyrie Press
  

• A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

  December 28, 2016

  Narrator: Mia Barron
  Narration: A-
  Story: A
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• Ransomed Jewels by Laura Landon

  July 7, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: B-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Brilliance Audio
  

• Rock: A Rock Star Romantic Suspense by J.A. Huss

  August 15, 2016

  Narrator: Sebastian York
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Podium Publishing
  

• Salt Hendon Collection by Lucinda Brant

  December 19, 2016

  Narrator: Alex Wyndham
  Narration: A
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Kaetrin
  Publisher: Sprigleaf Pty. Ltd.
  

• The Sapphire Affair by Lauren Blakely

  August 8, 2016

  Narrator: Sebastian York
  Narration: A
  Story: B-
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Brilliance Audio
  

• A Seditious Affair by K. J. Charles

  January 4, 2016

  Narrator: Matthew Lloyd-Davies
  Narration: A-
  Story: A+
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Audible Studios
  

• Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

  July 6, 2016

  Narrator: Angela Dawe
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Shannon
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Silent Melody by Mary Balogh

  March 8, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• Simply Love by Mary Balogh

  September 20, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Simply Magic by Mary Balogh

  October 3, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh

  December 26, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh

  July 26, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Sins of Sevin by Penelope Ward 

  February 16, 2016

  Narrator: Sean Crisden and Aletha George
  Narration: Sean Crisden B+ / Aletha George A
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: BJ
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Six Degrees of Scandal by Caroline Linden

  July 14, 2016

  Narrator: Beverly A. Crick
  Narration: A-
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• Slightly Married by Mary Balogh

  October 17, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Tantor Audio
  

• The Soldier’s Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian

  November 1, 2016

  Narrator: Gary Furlong
  Narration: A-
  Story: A-
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• A Splendid Defiance by Stella Riley

  December 20, 2016

  Narrator: Alex Wyndham
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Stella Riley
  

• A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

  November 8, 2016

  Narrator: Kate Reading
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Blackstone Audio
  

• Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

  June 28, 2016

  Narrator: Karen White
  Narration: A
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Harper Audio
  

• The Taming of Malcolm Grant by Paula Quinn

  May 28, 2016

  Narrator: Carrington MacDuffie
  Narration: A
  Story: C+
  Reviewer: Diana
  Publisher: Blackstone Audio
  

• Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins

  January 6, 2016

  Narrator: Xe Sands
  Narration: A-
  Story: B+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• Unforgiven by Mary Balogh

  October 27, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Caz
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

  May 5, 2016

  Narrator: Xe Sands
  Narration: A
  Story: A
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

  November 7, 2016

  Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
  Narration: A+
  Story: A+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: Recorded Books
  

• Well Hung by Lauren Blakely

  October 6, 2016

  Narrator: Sebastian York
  Narration: A
  Story: B
  Reviewer: Kaetrin
  Publisher: Lauren Blakely Books
  

• Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase

  April 25, 2016

  Narrator: Kate Reading
  Narration: A+
  Story: A+
  Reviewer: Melinda
  Publisher: NYLA