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Hitchhikers
From
New York Times
and Audible best-selling author Ben H. Winters comes a twisty tale of time travel and two women who must save each other–no matter the cost.
Annie has always had high hopes for her future. But the reality of her life just isn’t measuring up. She loves her fiancé, Greg–doesn’t she? She’s going to get her degree and open her own business–won’t she?
Then, a strange old woman shows up outside her house, and she seems to know a lot about Annie. An awful lot.
Annie could tell the old woman to get lost. Yet there’s something about her Annie just can’t shake. And what she learns could change her life forever–but is it the life she envisioned?
Annie has always had high hopes for her future. But the reality of her life just isn’t measuring up. She loves her fiancé, Greg–doesn’t she? She’s going to get her degree and open her own business–won’t she?
Then, a strange old woman shows up outside her house, and she seems to know a lot about Annie. An awful lot.
Annie could tell the old woman to get lost. Yet there’s something about her Annie just can’t shake. And what she learns could change her life forever–but is it the life she envisioned?
3 pages, Audible Audio
Published March 13, 2025
13 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Ben H. Winters
70 books2,122 followersBen H. Winters is the author most recently of the novel The Quiet Boy (Mulholland/Little, Brown, 2021). He is also the author of the novel Golden State; the New York Times bestselling Underground Airlines; The Last Policeman and its two sequels; the horror novel Bedbugs; and several works for young readers. His first novel, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, was also a Times bestseller. Ben has won the Edgar Award for mystery writing, the Philip K. Dick award in science fiction, the Sidewise Award for alternate history, and France’s Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire.
Ben also writes for film and television. He is the creator and co-showrunner of Tracker, forthcoming on CBS. Previously he was a producer on the FX show Legion, and on the upcoming Apple TV+ drama Manhunt.
He has contributed short stories to many anthologies, as well as in magazines such as Lightspeed. He is the author of four “Audible Originals”– Stranger, Inside Jobs, Q&A, and Self Help — and several plays and musicals. His reviews appear frequently in the New York Times Book Review. Ben was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in Maryland, educated in St. Louis, and then grew up a bunch more, in various ways, in places like Chicago, New York, Cambridge, MA, and Indianapolis, IN. These days he lives in LA with his wife, three kids, and one large dog.
Ben also writes for film and television. He is the creator and co-showrunner of Tracker, forthcoming on CBS. Previously he was a producer on the FX show Legion, and on the upcoming Apple TV+ drama Manhunt.
He has contributed short stories to many anthologies, as well as in magazines such as Lightspeed. He is the author of four “Audible Originals”– Stranger, Inside Jobs, Q&A, and Self Help — and several plays and musicals. His reviews appear frequently in the New York Times Book Review. Ben was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in Maryland, educated in St. Louis, and then grew up a bunch more, in various ways, in places like Chicago, New York, Cambridge, MA, and Indianapolis, IN. These days he lives in LA with his wife, three kids, and one large dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
March 16, 2025
Audible audio
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This was a fun one 😁 I was on edge the whole way through.
I've wondered too what I would say to my younger self if I could. Would I tell her to make different choices 🤔 Would she listen? Would changing certain things mean I never meet the people in my soul family? Or would we meet a different way?
My thoughts went like this one and off throughout listening to this (had to take a break for the anxiety monster and psych myself up to start it today.. that's a compliment) and wondering how the heck it would end.
I got one part right that my brain 🧠 whispered to me early on but that last knocked me over.. realized a few seconds after a certain event happened 😳.
One part I almost couldn't listen to but thankfully it wasn’t too long.
Would recommend 👌 this one.
Only audiobook as of 3-16-2025.
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This was a fun one 😁 I was on edge the whole way through.
I've wondered too what I would say to my younger self if I could. Would I tell her to make different choices 🤔 Would she listen? Would changing certain things mean I never meet the people in my soul family? Or would we meet a different way?
My thoughts went like this one and off throughout listening to this (had to take a break for the anxiety monster and psych myself up to start it today.. that's a compliment) and wondering how the heck it would end.
I got one part right that my brain 🧠 whispered to me early on but that last knocked me over.. realized a few seconds after a certain event happened 😳.
One part I almost couldn't listen to but thankfully it wasn’t too long.
Would recommend 👌 this one.
Only audiobook as of 3-16-2025.
December 8, 2025
3.5 rounded up.
March 21, 2025
Story 3.5 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Therese Plummer
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Therese Plummer
April 5, 2025
Easy listen and kept my interest. I call these Palate Cleansers, refreshing short stories, while you try to find your next great read.
April 23, 2025
Winters has written some very good novels. This is nowhere near one of them. A short novel that is all concept and not much else, sadly.
March 29, 2025
Great time travel twist!
March 16, 2025
Basically, Back to the Future rewritten as a horror novel.
June 18, 2025
Life is to short
March 20, 2025
Annie from the future comes back to prevent Annie from present day from ruining her life.
I'm not offering up ANY spoilers. But the story takes a sharp and rapid turn toward the end, and I was totally surprised (even though other reviews mentioned the surprise ending). Not what I was expecting. Excellent book. Nonstop action.
I'm not offering up ANY spoilers. But the story takes a sharp and rapid turn toward the end, and I was totally surprised (even though other reviews mentioned the surprise ending). Not what I was expecting. Excellent book. Nonstop action.
May 1, 2025
How far would you go to prevent your past self from making a huge mistake? I liked this story and concept. I was definitely surprised by the ending- thought I knew how it was going to go.
May 18, 2025
good audiobook! i liked all the twists, turns, & gore at the end. didn’t feel drawn out either!
March 23, 2025
I made it through 1.5 hours of this audible audio. Then had to abandon. A clear DNF. It was very slow and written in a repetitive manner. Essentially a short story highlighting a young lady in a bad relationship who meets a time traveler version of herself from the future. The premise seemed uncreative and the story far too dull. No desire to listen to more hours to find out if the lady gets out of her relationship or marries her less than ideal fiancé. Avoid this one.
March 27, 2025
Super boring for an insanely intriguing story idea. There are plot holes the size of Asia. The amount of changes one person going back into the past would domino forward would have ridiculous gravity. If one person does, a ton of people will and it would be absolute chaos. "A" turns on a dime. Annie is super slow, makes silly decisions. This was painful and I had to put the speed up to 3X to get through how imbecilic and absurd this story is.
July 10, 2025
This was a fast and easy read! I completely stopped listening for the sciency explanation of how the time travel was possible and then regretted that choice a bit at the end 😬 But I was still able to get the gist and understand the plot twist. Honestly the twist was the only thing that stood out about this story. It definitely gave me plenty to think about it!
April 12, 2025
This was good. Thrilling in fact. I was fully engaged the entire book. The twist at the end everyone is raving about was pretty good. I suspected it would happen, but the way it went fit the story perfectly.
April 13, 2025
Interesting small time travel story wit a twist, even for a short rather light story it still have a decent take on partner abuse and the problems of breaking the pattern
April 19, 2025
Victims can be abusers too… especially when they’re the types of people to threaten you with knives, smash your phone, and literally chain you to a table and slice you open. All of a sudden, that “victim” is something to acknowledge but not feel sympathy for in the slightest. It just becomes ironic at best, and she’s the true abuser at worst.
In all the length of the book, pretty much nothing was mentioned about the abuse. All that was mentioned, which we could only guess because she gave no detail, was that she was pushed from the stairs once throughout all those 80 years. No other abuse was mentioned apart from the isolation, but then again there was no context for that and she could drive a car.
In all the length of the book, pretty much nothing was mentioned about the abuse. All that was mentioned, which we could only guess because she gave no detail, was that she was pushed from the stairs once throughout all those 80 years. No other abuse was mentioned apart from the isolation, but then again there was no context for that and she could drive a car.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
Good short read. Felt reasonably predictable until a wild twist.
October 10, 2025
Now this is a short story done right! It kept me intrigued from start to finish, and the ending genuinely surprised me. I was a bit shocked to see the average rating [3.46], but I assume people probably comparing/rating this like a full novel.
Perfect little quick listen for a morning of chores! Give it a go!
Perfect little quick listen for a morning of chores! Give it a go!
October 25, 2025
Another quick one. I originally thought it was a thriller but it was really science fiction with a thriller twist. Quick and enjoyable.
July 23, 2025
What an interesting and engaging short story. Using the tropes of time travel and technology (VR & AI) as an allegory for self discovery. It really made me think outside the box.
December 6, 2025
The writing style is fine, the narration great - I just find the story cheesy and predictable.
April 8, 2025
Just ok nothing special, good ending tho
April 28, 2025
I didn't see the twist coming. All good. I'm a fan of the narrator and will listen to quite a lot of her work.
March 20, 2025
I would actually give this like a 3.25 or a 3 and 1/2 star rating. It's a short book but I really enjoyed the concept of it I thought it was kind of fun overall. It wasn't the best book I ever read but it definitely was entertaining for me
unfinished
April 25, 2025Annoying characters. Meh
May 11, 2025
3.5 🌟 This crazy phenomenon was a good and quick ride. Nicely written without fluff. The twist was not expected at all! It doesn't mean the typical definition of hitchhiker FYI.
April 15, 2025
This one completely took me by surprise—in the best possible way. It started with that eerie, quiet unease I love in a good psychological story: a woman stuck somewhere between the life she’s built and the one she quietly questions. Annie’s world was all familiar on the surface—engaged to a solid guy, working toward her degree, planning her future—but something in her tone made it clear early on that she was restless, maybe even haunted by the possibility that she’d taken a wrong turn somewhere.
Then came the twist: the arrival of an old woman who didn’t just know Annie’s name, but her truths—the messy, hidden stuff even Annie barely admitted to herself. And that’s where it got weird in the best, most unsettling way. What unfolded was a smart, mind-bending exploration of regret, identity, and what it means to actively choose your own life rather than drift into it out of fear or obligation.
The setting shifted seamlessly between the real and the surreal, grounding the story just enough to make the stranger elements feel plausible. I loved that slow-burn reveal of something off lurking beneath every interaction—how the mundane became uncanny the second the old woman entered the picture. It gave me the same kind of chills as stepping into a dream where everything’s almost right but not quite.
The writing was incredibly effective—sparse when it needed to be, sharp when the emotions ran high, and reflective without veering into melodrama. It carried the weight of Annie’s internal tug-of-war beautifully, and the audiobook narration added that extra punch of vulnerability and tension. The emotion came through in the pauses, in the shift of a voice, in the weight behind a single word.
Themes of choice, fate, and self-doubt ran deep, but never in a heavy-handed way. It asked big questions without pretending to have neat answers, and I appreciated that. There was something incredibly human in Annie’s confusion, her longing, and her fear of what it might cost to change her life—especially when she wasn’t even sure what that change should look like.
By the end, I was completely invested in her journey—not just the external mystery, but the quiet war happening inside her. It was unsettling, intimate, and oddly empowering. Definitely one of those stories that sticks with you long after the final word.
Read more here: https://annietheinkdrinker.wordpress....
Then came the twist: the arrival of an old woman who didn’t just know Annie’s name, but her truths—the messy, hidden stuff even Annie barely admitted to herself. And that’s where it got weird in the best, most unsettling way. What unfolded was a smart, mind-bending exploration of regret, identity, and what it means to actively choose your own life rather than drift into it out of fear or obligation.
The setting shifted seamlessly between the real and the surreal, grounding the story just enough to make the stranger elements feel plausible. I loved that slow-burn reveal of something off lurking beneath every interaction—how the mundane became uncanny the second the old woman entered the picture. It gave me the same kind of chills as stepping into a dream where everything’s almost right but not quite.
The writing was incredibly effective—sparse when it needed to be, sharp when the emotions ran high, and reflective without veering into melodrama. It carried the weight of Annie’s internal tug-of-war beautifully, and the audiobook narration added that extra punch of vulnerability and tension. The emotion came through in the pauses, in the shift of a voice, in the weight behind a single word.
Themes of choice, fate, and self-doubt ran deep, but never in a heavy-handed way. It asked big questions without pretending to have neat answers, and I appreciated that. There was something incredibly human in Annie’s confusion, her longing, and her fear of what it might cost to change her life—especially when she wasn’t even sure what that change should look like.
By the end, I was completely invested in her journey—not just the external mystery, but the quiet war happening inside her. It was unsettling, intimate, and oddly empowering. Definitely one of those stories that sticks with you long after the final word.
Read more here: https://annietheinkdrinker.wordpress....
April 23, 2025
3,5*
Life hasn't been nice to Annie for a very long time. But now, now she can say she is living a good life - together with her fiancee in their big house, catching up on her education while planning their wedding. Sounds nice, right?
At least until this strange old woman appears, claiming she is Annie's older self coming back from the future to save her, pointing out her fiancee isn't as dotting as Annie thinks him to be.
Annie is appalled at first, but as days progress she starts to pay more attention to his snide remarks about how she dresses, how he is bringing the money into his house and how she is wasting time with the college degree she is trying to get. When all escalates into a hands on confrontation, Annie runs. She searches for her older self, who is lingering by and together they set out to change both of their lives by helping Annie hide away from her fiancee.
Seems like a standard time travel back to fix my life story, right? Now, don't be entirely sure about that.
I really like the progress of the story, the whole build up where both Annies get closer and try coming up with different options how to change the course of their life until you are hit with the twist
I wasn't much fan of some things that happened after the twist, they just didn't make any sense to me and were just convenient conclusion to get the story to end how it ended, that's why it gets a few stars down. Tho I loved the notion at the end that this might
Conclusion of the story? Never trust very old, very nice ladies, who want to help you.
Life hasn't been nice to Annie for a very long time. But now, now she can say she is living a good life - together with her fiancee in their big house, catching up on her education while planning their wedding. Sounds nice, right?
At least until this strange old woman appears, claiming she is Annie's older self coming back from the future to save her, pointing out her fiancee isn't as dotting as Annie thinks him to be.
Annie is appalled at first, but as days progress she starts to pay more attention to his snide remarks about how she dresses, how he is bringing the money into his house and how she is wasting time with the college degree she is trying to get. When all escalates into a hands on confrontation, Annie runs. She searches for her older self, who is lingering by and together they set out to change both of their lives by helping Annie hide away from her fiancee.
Seems like a standard time travel back to fix my life story, right? Now, don't be entirely sure about that.
I really like the progress of the story, the whole build up where both Annies get closer and try coming up with different options how to change the course of their life until you are hit with the twist
I wasn't much fan of some things that happened after the twist, they just didn't make any sense to me and were just convenient conclusion to get the story to end how it ended, that's why it gets a few stars down. Tho I loved the notion at the end that this might
Conclusion of the story? Never trust very old, very nice ladies, who want to help you.
August 13, 2025
I listened to Hitchhikers by Ben Winters on Audible. This is a short 3.5 hour listen, but absolutely worth it. The narration by Therese Plummer is phenomenal… seriously, I need to go hunt down more of her work. She brought so much energy and nuance to the story that it felt like she wasn’t just reading it - she was living it. Her performance made the whole thing click in such a vivid, immersive way.
Ben Winters’ writing is equally impressive. It’s crisp, atmospheric, and pulled me right into the characters’ world. Now I’m tempted to track down his full-length novels, because his storytelling voice is that good.
Go into this blind. I didn’t read the title details beforehand, so I had no clue what it was about, and it ended up being way different than I expected. Not necessarily better or worse, just… different. It’s not the kind of story I usually pick up, but I still found myself really enjoying it.
If you’re looking for a quick, high-quality listen with awesome narration and strong writing, this one’s an easy recommendation.
Ben Winters’ writing is equally impressive. It’s crisp, atmospheric, and pulled me right into the characters’ world. Now I’m tempted to track down his full-length novels, because his storytelling voice is that good.
Go into this blind. I didn’t read the title details beforehand, so I had no clue what it was about, and it ended up being way different than I expected. Not necessarily better or worse, just… different. It’s not the kind of story I usually pick up, but I still found myself really enjoying it.
If you’re looking for a quick, high-quality listen with awesome narration and strong writing, this one’s an easy recommendation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews