Using Audible app - stopping

I am beyond frustrated with using the app with my AirPods. I will start listening and it just stops. Showing up on the listening log as it has been paused. I will hit play and it will play for sometimes a few words, a few sentences, a few minutes, to not having any more problems. Most of the time I will play the game of being ready to press play again. Then when I think it will be smooth sailing it “pauses” again. There is not any consistency with when this happens.

I have closed everything out to make sure that Audible is the only thing running. I have also restarted my iPhone. I have removed iPods from iPhone and reinstalled with case open. Looking for some advice .

thanks