Simon & Schuster Audio Setup: A Complete Guide for Beginners
Simon & Schuster is one of the Big Five publishers, and its audio division produces hundreds of new titles every year — from Stephen King’s latest to celebrity memoirs and literary fiction. But unlike some publishers that run their own audiobook apps, S&S Audio doesn’t have a standalone platform. That’s actually good news: it means you can listen to their catalog through the apps you already use.
Here’s what you need to know to get S&S audiobooks playing on your phone, tablet, or speaker — without the setup headaches.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before you cover any setup, gather these basics:
- An active account for whichever platform you choose (Amazon for Audible, a library card for Libby/Hoopla, Google or Apple ID for direct purchases)
- The app installed from your device’s official app store
- A stable Wi-Fi connection for downloading audiobook files — some titles run 300–500 MB, so cellular downloads can eat data fast
- Your listening device ready — Bluetooth headphones, car stereo, or smart speaker within reach
The setup steps differ per platform, but the core principle is the same: you’re not installing a “Simon & Schuster app.” You’re adding their audiobooks to an existing audiobook platform.
Setting Up on Audible: The Most Direct Route
If you want the largest selection of S&S titles with the fewest steps, Audible is the default choice. The service carries thousands of Simon & Schuster titles, including bestsellers like The Institute by Stephen King and The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, both of which feature narrators who’ve earned strong listener followings.
Here’s the setup flow:
1. Create or sign in to an Amazon account — Audible uses Amazon credentials, so if you already shop on Amazon, you’re halfway there.
2. Download the Audible app on iOS or Android from your app store.
3. Sign in with the same Amazon credentials.
4. Search for a Simon & Schuster title — you’ll see the publisher listed on the product page.
5. Use a credit or buy outright — Audible’s membership model gives you one credit per month, which covers most S&S titles regardless of list price.
One thing to know: Audible uses a proprietary format (AAX) with DRM. You can only play these files inside the Audible app or on Kindle devices with Audible support. You can’t transfer them to a standalone MP3 player or share them with family members.
Try Audible Free for 30 Days — Start your free trial on Amazon and get two free audiobooks.
Using Libby for Free Simon & Schuster Audiobooks
If you have a library card, Libby is the most cost-effective way to access S&S Audio titles. The setup takes about five minutes:
1. Download the Libby app from your app store.
2. Find your library — Libby will ask for your location and let you search for your local library system.
3. Enter your library card number — you’ll need the number from your physical card or your library’s online portal.
4. Browse or search for Simon & Schuster titles — Libby lets you filter by publisher, so you can pull up their entire catalog.
5. Borrow and download — the audiobook downloads directly to your phone for offline listening.
The catch: popular S&S titles often have waitlists. If you’re trying to get a new release, you might wait weeks. But if you’re flexible about what you listen to, Libby’s catalog is deep.
One feature worth knowing about: Libby’s Library Sync automatically keeps your borrowed audiobooks in sync across devices. Start listening on your phone during your commute, then pick up on your tablet at home without losing your place.
Hoopla: The Instant-Borrow Alternative
Hoopla works differently from Libby. Instead of waitlists, Hoopla gives you instant access to titles — but your library pays per borrow, so most libraries cap you at a certain number of borrows per month (typically 4–8).
Setup is similar:
1. Download the Hoopla app.
2. Select your library from the list.
3. Enter your library card credentials.
4. Search for Simon & Schuster Audio — you’ll find a dedicated publisher page.
5. Borrow and stream or download.
Hoopla’s interface is a bit more visual than Libby’s, which some listeners prefer. The trade-off is the monthly borrow cap. If you’re a heavy listener, you’ll hit the limit fast.
Buying Direct: Google Play Books and Apple Books
If you’d rather own your audiobooks outright (no subscription, no DRM restrictions on playback), Google Play Books and Apple Books both sell S&S titles as individual purchases.
Google Play Books setup:
1. Download the Google Play Books app.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Purchase the title — it’s tied to your Google account.
4. Download for offline listening.
Google Play Books audiobooks play in the app, but they also support casting to Chromecast and Google Nest speakers. The app’s variable playback speed goes up to 3x, which is useful if you’re a speed listener.
Apple Books setup:
1. Open the Apple Books app (preinstalled on iPhone and iPad).
2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Purchase and download.
Apple Books integrates with CarPlay, which makes it a solid choice for commuters. The app also supports chapter bookmarks and sleep timers natively.
Both options let you keep your library in the cloud and re-download anytime. No subscription required.
What About Libro.fm?
Libro.fm is a smaller player, but it’s worth mentioning if you care about supporting independent bookstores. They sell DRM-free audiobooks in MP3 format, which means you own the files and can play them in any app that supports MP3.
Setup:
1. Create a Libro.fm account — you can choose a local bookstore to support.
2. Download the Libro.fm app.
3. Purchase titles individually or join their monthly membership.
4. Download the MP3 files if you want to use a third-party player.
The trade-off: Libro.fm’s catalog is smaller than Audible’s, and some S&S titles may not be available. But for the titles they do carry, you get true ownership.
Getting Simon & Schuster Audiobooks on a Kindle
If you’re a Kindle user, you have two paths:
- Kindle devices with Audible support — newer Kindle models (Paperwhite, Oasis, Scribe) can play Audible audiobooks via Bluetooth. The setup is automatic once you’ve linked your Audible account to your Amazon account.
- Whispersync for Voice — some S&S titles support Whispersync, which lets you switch between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook without losing your place. You’ll need both the Kindle ebook and the Audible audiobook for this to work.
To check if a specific title supports Whispersync, look for the “Whispersync for Voice” badge on the Amazon product page. For example, The Body by Stephen King (originally published in Different Seasons) has Whispersync enabled, so you can read a chapter on your Kindle and pick up the audio version on your phone during your commute.
How to Verify Your Setup Is Working
Before you commit to a long listen, run a quick check to confirm everything works:
1. Play the first 60 seconds of any audiobook you’ve downloaded. You should hear clear audio with no skipping or buffering.
2. Test offline playback — put your phone in airplane mode and try playing the title. If it plays, your download completed properly.
3. Check your bookmark — pause mid-chapter, close the app, then reopen it. Your place should be saved. If it resets to the beginning, your sync settings need attention.
4. Confirm your library sync (Libby users) — start a title on your phone, then open the app on your tablet. You should see the same title with your progress intact.
If any step fails, the fix is usually simple: re-download the title, check your account credentials, or confirm your device’s storage has enough space.
Troubleshooting Common Setup Issues
“I can’t find a Simon & Schuster title on Libby.”
Not every library subscribes to the same catalog. If your library doesn’t have a title, try searching for it on Hoopla or request it through your library’s purchase suggestion form.
“My Audible audiobook won’t play on my car’s infotainment system.”
Audible app support varies by car manufacturer. If your car doesn’t have an Audible app, connect your phone via Bluetooth and control playback from the phone.
“I bought an audiobook on Google Play, but it won’t play on my iPhone.”
Google Play Books has an iOS app, so you can play your purchases there. But you can’t transfer the files to Apple Books — the two ecosystems don’t share DRM-protected content.
“The narration sounds weird at 1.5x speed.”
This is a narrator-specific issue, not a setup problem. Some narrators handle speed-up better than others. If a book sounds choppy at 1.5x, try 1.25x or switch to a different narrator’s work.
Which Setup Is Right for You?
The best setup depends on your listening habits:
- If you listen daily and want the newest releases immediately — Audible’s subscription model is the most practical. You’ll pay a monthly fee, but you’ll never face a waitlist.
- If you’re budget-conscious and flexible about titles — Libby is the clear winner. Free, legal, and with a surprisingly deep S&S catalog.
- If you want to own your audiobooks without a subscription — Google Play Books or Apple Books are your best bets. You pay per title, but you keep access forever.
- If you want DRM-free files you can play anywhere — Libro.fm is the only major option, but their catalog is smaller.
No matter which route you choose, the setup itself takes less than ten minutes. The hard part isn’t getting the app installed — it’s deciding which of the hundreds of Simon & Schuster titles to start with.
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