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If you’ve been around here a while, you know I love a good audiobook. Between school drop-offs, grocery runs, and early-morning coffee-shop hours at Werewolf, listening to a book feels like the one kind of multitasking that actually fills me up.
For years, I’d find audiobooks wherever I could — Spotify, Audible, Apple Music— it was easy, familiar, everywhere. But a few months ago, I made the switch to Libro.fm, and it completely changed how I think about where my money goes every time I press “play.”
Supporting Local, Even When You’re Listening
Libro.fm looks and functions just like Audible — same clean app, same seamless downloads, same library of bestsellers, memoirs, and book-club favorites. The difference? Every single purchase supports an independent bookstore of your choice.
So when I buy the latest thriller or romance, part of that sale supports my favorite Chicago indie bookstores — places like Three Aveunues Bookshop in Lakeview (my personal choice), The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square, Volumes Bookcafe in Wicker Park, and Women & Children First in Andersonville.
It’s a small shift that makes a big impact. Instead of padding Amazon’s profits, my monthly membership helps the local shops that make our neighborhoods vibrant, inclusive, and full of stories that reflect us.
How It Works
- Download the Libro.fm app (available on iOS and Android)
- Choose your local bookstore — or any indie you want to support
- Sign up for a membership (same price as Audible — $14.99/month and get TWO FREE BOOKS)
- Start listening and feel good knowing your purchase makes a difference
You still get monthly credits, you still own your audiobooks forever, and you can still download them offline for car rides, workouts, or those quiet post-bedtime moments. The only difference? You’re voting with your dollars for community instead of corporations.
What I’m Listening to Right Now
🎧 Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben & Reese Witherspoon — fast-paced, twists you don’t see coming, surprisingly heartfelt, and read by the queen herself, Reese Witherspoon.
🎧 How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang — witty, romantic, and full of that bittersweet nostalgia we all feel in our 30s.
🎧 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas — because sometimes you just need to escape into a fierce, magical world and start a super long series that will keep you reading forever.
🎧 Remain by Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shyamalan — equal parts emotional and eerie so far; this is my “currently reading” audiobook courtesy of Penguin Audio House.
Why It Matters
As someone who runs a small business and loves this city fiercely, I know firsthand how much local support matters. Independent bookstores aren’t just places to buy books — they’re community spaces, safe havens, and creative hubs that remind us why stories matter.
Switching to Libro.fm feels like an easy, everyday way to live out those values — to align what I love (a good story) with what I believe in (community, connection, and supporting local).
Try It Yourself
If you’re ready to make the switch, head to Libro.fm and choose your favorite Chicago bookstore to support. You can even gift memberships (perfect for fellow book-loving parents, teachers, or friends who live on audiobooks). Small choices add up — and in this case, they sound really good, too.
Shop Small Audiobook Sale — Coming November 25–December 1
PLUS If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to make the switch to Libro.fm or grow your audiobook library, mark your calendar! November 25–December 1, Libro.fm is hosting their annual Shop Small Audiobook Sale — with major discounts on bestselling titles, staff picks, and new releases.
It’s the ultimate way to kick off the holiday season: support local bookstores, grab a few stories you’ve been eyeing, and maybe even gift a membership to a fellow book lover. Every purchase during the sale still supports the independent bookstore of your choice — so you’re giving twice with every listen.
Whether you’re catching up on your TBR list or shopping for cozy holiday listens, it’s a small action that makes a big impact on our Chicago bookstore community.
Happy listening,
looking for a local bookstore to support— check these indie shops out ⬇️
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