Best Books of the Year
Menu

The Guardian

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2017

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2017 names 176 books across 11 categories. 52 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Biography and memoir

  1. An Odyssey: A Father, a Son and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohnsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fragile Lives: A Heart Surgeon's Stories of Life and Death on the Operating Table by Stephen Westabysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gaysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes With Death by Maggie O'Farrellsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ma'am Darling: 99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Ravilious and Co: the Pattern of Friendship by Andy Friendsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Book of Forgotten Authors by Christopher Fowlersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Fearless Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Dwarf Who Became the First Revolutionary Abolitionist by Marcus Redikersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievichsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983-1992 by Tina Brownsource (opens in a new tab)

Children's

  1. A is for Art by Paul Thurlbysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fairy Tales by Hilary McKaysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Illegal by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin and Giovanni Riganosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Katinka's Tail by Judith Kerrsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Mopoke by Philip Buntingsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. One Christmas Wish by Katherine Rundellsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht and Jarvissource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Pirates Magnified by David Long and Harry Bloomsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Satellite by Nick Lakesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Book of Dust Vol 1: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullmansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Milwood Hargravesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker by Jessica Courtney-Ticklesource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Anna Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The World of Moominvalley by Philip Ardaghsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Things a Bright Girl Can Do by Sally Nichollssource (opens in a new tab)

Crime and thrillers

  1. A Legacy of Spies by John le Carrésource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Spot of Folly: Ten and a Quarter New Tales of Murder and Mayhem by Ruth Rendellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. An English Murder by Cyril Haresource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Lockesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Camino Island by John Grishamsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Did You See Melody? by Sophie Hannahsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. IQ by Joe Idesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Little Deaths by Emma Flintsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Missing Fay by Adam Thorpesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Persons Unknown by Susie Steinersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Since We Fell by Dennis Lehanesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales by PD Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Spook Street by Mick Herronsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Accident on the A35 by Graeme Macrae Burnetsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Dry by Jane Harpersource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Hours Before Dawn by Celia Fremlinsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Long Drop by Denise Minasource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Rooster Bar by John Grishamsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Switch by Joseph Findersource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitzsource (opens in a new tab)

Drink

  1. 20th Century Pub by Jessica Boak and Ray Baileysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. 9,000 Years of Wine: A World History by Rod Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Short History of Drunkenness by Mark Forsythsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bursting Bubbles: A Secret History of Champagne by Robert Walterssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Georgia: A Guide to the Cradle of Wine by Miquel Hudin and Daria Kholodilinasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Miracle Brew by Pete Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. That S*it Will Never Sell! by David Gluckmansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Way of Whisky: A Journey around Japanese Whisky by Dave Broomsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Whiskies Galore: A Tour Around Scotland's Island Distilleries by Ian Buxtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Wine Dine Dictionary by Victoria Mooresource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. Attrib. And Other Stories by Eley Williamssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmoresource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Dunbar by Edward St Aubynsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Exit West by Mohsin Hamidsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. First Love by Gwendoline Rileysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Flights by Olga Tokarczuksource (opens in a new tab)
  9. H(a)ppy by Nicola Barkersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsiesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasisource (opens in a new tab)
  12. House of Names by Colm Tóibínsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunderssource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Madame Zero by Sarah Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egansource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLavertysource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Mrs Osmond by John Banvillesource (opens in a new tab)
  18. My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallentsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregorsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Room Little Darker by June Caldwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Smile by Roddy Doylesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Spoils by Brian Van Reetsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Such Small Hands by Andrés Barbasource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The End of Eddy by Édouard Louissource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Golden House by Salman Rushdiesource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Lie of the Land by Amanda Craigsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roysource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The President's Gardens by Muhsin al-Ramlisource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Sparsholt Affair by Alan Hollinghurstsource (opens in a new tab)
  30. We That Are Young by Preti Tanejasource (opens in a new tab)
  31. When I Hit You: or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamysource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Winter by Ali Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Food

  1. At My Table by Nigella Lawsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Chai, Chaat and Chutney by Chetna Makansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Kaukasis the Cookbook: The Culinary Journey Through Georgia, Azerbaijan & Beyond by Olia Herculessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. On Eating Insects by Josh Evans, Roberto Flore, Michael Bom Frøst and Nordic Food Labsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Gohsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Syria: Recipes from Home by Itab Azzam and Dina Mousawisource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slatersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Comfort Food Diaries by Emily Nunnsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The French Country Housewife by Cora Millet-Robinetsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Little Library Cookbook by Kate Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Modern Cook's Year by Anna Jonessource (opens in a new tab)

Music

  1. Can't Stand Up for Falling Down by Allan Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. David Bowie: A Life by Dylan Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. First Time Ever by Peggy Seegersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lou Reed: A Life by Anthony DeCurtissource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Uncommon People by David Hepworthsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Why Dylan Matters by Richard F Thomassource (opens in a new tab)

Nature

  1. As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Alex Preston and Neil Gowersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Beetles by Richard Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Beyond Spring by Matthew Oatessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bowland Beth: The Life of An English Hen Harrier by David Cobhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Britain's Spiders by Lawrence Bee, Geoff Oxford and Helen Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. British Mammals by Dominic Couzenssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Critical Critters by Ceri Levy and Ralph Steadmansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Early Humans by Nick Ashtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Farming and Birds by Ian Newtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Flight Lines by Mike Tomssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Inheritors of the Earth by Chris Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Islander: A Journey Around Our Archipelago by Patrick Barkhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Limestone Country by Fiona Sampsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Linescapes by Hugh Warwicksource (opens in a new tab)
  15. London's Street Trees by Paul Woodsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. My House of Sky: The Life of JA Baker by Hetty Saunderssource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Oak and Ash and Thorn: The Ancient Forests and New Forests of Britain by Peter Fiennessource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Songs of Love and War by Dominic Couzenssource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Dun Cow Rib: A Very Natural Childhood by John Lister-Kayesource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morrissource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Otter's Tale by Simon Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Seabird's Cry by Adam Nicholsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Waiting for the Albino Dunnock by Rosamond Richardsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Whittled Away: Ireland's Vanishing Nature by Pádraic Fogartysource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Wild About Britain by Brian Jackmansource (opens in a new tab)

Politics

  1. A Woman's Work by Harriet Harmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dream Hoarders by Richard Reevessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Everywoman by Jess Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fall Out by Tim Shipmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. How to Stop Brexit by Nick Cleggsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. I Was Told to Come Alone by Souad Mekhennetsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. I, Maybot: The Rise and Fall by John Cracesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. My Life, Our Times by Gordon Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Road to Somewhere by David Goodhartsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. WTF by Robert Pestonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. What Happened by Hillary Clintonsource (opens in a new tab)

Science fiction and fantasy

  1. After the Flare by Deji Bryce Olukotunsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Amatka by Karin Tidbecksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Austral by Paul McAuleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Borne by Jeff VanderMeersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Djinn City by Saad Z Hossainsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamedsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Gnomon by Nick Harkawaysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Son of the Night by Mark Aldersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette de Bodardsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Last Days of New Paris by China Miévillesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Rift by Nina Allansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Stone Sky by NK Jemisinsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Stone in the Skull by Elizabeth Bearsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ngsource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eigsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bird on a Wire by Andy McGrathsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Breaking Ground by Neville Gabie, Alan Ward and Jason Woodsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Clem by Chris Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Connie by Harry Pearsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Green Shoots by Michael Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Illustrated History of Football Hall of Fame by David Squiressource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Knowing the Score by Judy Murraysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. No Hunger in Paradise by Michael Calvinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Swell by Jenny Landrethsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The First Ever Women's Football Yearbook by Chris Slegg and Tom Garrysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Greatest Comeback by David Bolchoversource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The History Makers by Sarah Juggins and Richard Stainthorpesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Kings of Summer by Duncan Hamiltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. True Professional by James Oddysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Under the Lights and in the Dark by Gwendolyn Oxenhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Underdogs by Tony Hannansource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Working-Class Heroes by Robbie Dunnesource (opens in a new tab)

About the The Guardian Best Books of the Year

The Guardian's year-end picks, one list per category, each chosen by a Guardian critic (fiction, crime, science fiction and fantasy, poetry, biography, politics, nature, food, sport, children's, graphic novels and others). 2009-2012 lists ran as critics' Christmas books-for-giving pieces. Left out: Observer pieces (a separate source here), roundups where many writers or public figures each name favourites, readers' and publishers' picks, stocking fillers and gift guides, books a critic panned, and picks with no named author. theguardian.com's robots.txt bars Claude crawlers, so pages were read through the Wayback Machine. Missing: 2006-2008 (no qualifying critic list found) and some categories in 2009-2014 and 2016-2017 that Wayback did not capture or index. Approved for use by the site owner on 2026-11-05.

Organization: The Guardian. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2017