This Book Is Full of Spiders

Nick Podehl is the reason this audiobook works as well as it does. His narration elevates *This Book Is Full of Spiders* from a clever but messy novel into an immersive experience. He nails the protagonist’s snarky, self-aware voice, but it’s his delivery of the book’s more horrific passages—where the spider’s influence distorts reality—that lingers. The way he modulates between David Wong’s sarcastic internal narration and the frantic, almost stream-of-consciousness dialogue among his friends creates a rhythm that keeps you hooked, even when the plot spirals into outright absurdity. That said, there are moments where the sheer amount of exposition—Wong’s endless tangents about pop culture and internet culture—can feel like a sitcom script trying to outrun its own pacing. But here’s the thing: it *works*. The digressions aren’t filler; they’re the glue holding together a story that’s equal parts horror, comedy, and existential horror show. The production is top-notch, with clear audio that never lets Podehl’s performance get lost in the chaos. The only real critique? Some of the sound design—like sudden jumpscares or eerie ambient noises—can feel a little heavy-handed at times, undercutting the subtlety of Wong’s writing. But this is a minor gripe in a production that otherwise serves the material brilliantly. If you love horror that doesn’t just scare you but *annoys* you with its relentless creativity, this is your audiobook. Just be prepared for Wong’s voice to burrow into your brain like that spider—whether you want it to or not.