My friends and I absolutely loved all the books and couldn't stop talking about them/referencing them for months on end.

I agree 

I really want to know when the audiobook is coming out also

Yes why is it so hard to give a release date for the audio book when the written book is out.

Sept 1 is ”a sure thing” according to Jeff Hays

The actor:writer dtrike may have something to do with it.

No kidding. I'm over here searching every day to see if it is out. Just give a date.

Oh, that's a really good point; I hadn't considered the strike.  If that's the source of the delay, then I'm happy to wait.

  -- Another fan excited for the audiobook but wanting fair compensation for artists