Best Books of the Year
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The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2018

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2018 names 182 books across 14 categories. 64 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Biography and memoir

  1. Debussy: A Painter in Sound by Stephen Walshsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Educated by Tara Westoversource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Reporter: A Memoir by Seymour Hershsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Cost of Living by Deborah Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Language of Kindness: A Nurse’s Story by Christie Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Last Landlady: An English Memoir by Laura Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Thomas Cromwell by Diarmaid MacCullochsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Where Shall We Run To? by Alan Garnersource (opens in a new tab)

Children's and young adult

  1. A Year in the Wild by Helen Ahpornsirisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An Anthology of Intriguing Animals by Ben Hoaresource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland by Kevin Crossley-Holland and Frances Castlesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Flying Tips for Flightless Birds by Kelly McCaughrainsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Inside the Villains by Clotilde Perrinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Karl James Mountfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Natboff! One Million Years of Stupidity by Andy Stanton and David Tazzymansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Santa’s Wonderful Workshop by Elys Dolansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sign Here by Gabrielle Djanogly and Adèle Mildredsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Spinning Silver by Naomi Noviksource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Tales from the Inner City by Shaun Tansource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Human Body by Richard Walker and Rachel Caldwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Story Orchestra: The Sleeping Beauty by Katy Flint and Jessica Courtney-Ticklesource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Where’s Santa Claus? by Ingela P Arrheniussource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Women in Battle by Marta Breen and Jenny Jordahlsource (opens in a new tab)

Crime and thrillers

  1. Brothers in Blood by Amer Anwarsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fear by Dirk Kurbjuweitsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. London Rules by Mick Herronsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lullaby by Leïla Slimanisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Resin by Ane Rielsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Snap by Belinda Bauersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Chalk Man by CJ Tudorsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O’Donnellsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Tombland by CJ Sansomsource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. All the Lives We Never Lived by Anuradha Roysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Asymmetry by Lisa Hallidaysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brother by David Chariandysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Muratasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Country by Michael Hughessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Everything Under by Daisy Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyahsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Ghost Wall by Sarah Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratnesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Kudos by Rachel Cusksource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Melmoth by Sarah Perrysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Middle England by Jonathan Coesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Milkman by Anna Burnssource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Murmur by Will Eavessource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Never Anyone But You by Rupert Thomsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Normal People by Sally Rooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Painter to the King by Amy Sackvillesource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Perfidious Albion by Sam Byerssource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Red Birds by Mohammed Hanifsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Sight by Jessie Greengrasssource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The End by Karl Ove Knausgaardsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Long Take by Robin Robertsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowarsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Overstory by Richard Powerssource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barkersource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The Western Wind by Samantha Harveysource (opens in a new tab)
  29. There There by Tommy Orangesource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Washington Black by Esi Edugyansource (opens in a new tab)
  31. West by Carys Daviessource (opens in a new tab)

Food and drink

  1. Basque Country by Marti Buckleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. How to Eat a Peach by Diana Henrysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Jamie Cooks Italy by Jamie Oliversource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Let’s Eat France by François-Régis Gaudrysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Mazi by Christina Mouratoglou and Adrien Carrésource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghisource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Planted by Chantelle Nicholsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Green Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Mezze Cookbook by Salma Hagesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Nordic Baking Book by Magnus Nilssonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Together by Hubb Community Kitchensource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Zaitoun by Yasmin Khansource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic novels

  1. Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Ari Folman and David Polonskysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Cassandra Darke by Posy Simmondssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. City of Light by Jason Lutessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fruit of Knowledge by Liv Strömquistsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Heimat by Nora Krugsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Imagine Wanting Only This by Kristen Radtkesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Kingdom by Jon McNaughtsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sabrina by Nick Drnasosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Square Eyes by Anna Mill and Luke Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Drunken Sailor by Nick Hayessource (opens in a new tab)

Music

  1. All Gates Open by Irmin Schmidt and Rob Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Boys Keep Swinging by Jake Shearssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Chamber Music: About the Wu-Tang (in 36 Pieces) by Will Ashonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Coal Black Mornings by Brett Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Grime Kids: The Inside Story of the Global Grime Takeover by DJ Targetsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Inner City Pressure: The Story of Grime by Dan Hancoxsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far by Stormzysource (opens in a new tab)

Nature

  1. Chasing the Ghost by Peter Marrensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Curlew Moon by Mary Colwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Darwin Comes to Town by Menno Schilthuizensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Europe: A Natural History by Tim Flannerysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ghost Trees by Bob Gilbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. How to Be an Urban Birder by David Lindosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Ice Diaries by Jean McNeilsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Landfill by Tim Deesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Orchid Summer by Jon Dunnsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Our Place by Mark Cockersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Owl Sense by Miriam Darlingtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rushsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Silver Shoals by Charles Rangeley-Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Bumblebee Flies Anyway by Kate Bradburysource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Library of Ice by Nancy Campbellsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Light in the Dark by Horatio Claresource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Wren: A Biography by Stephen Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Wilding by Isabella Treesource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Duppies by DS Marriottsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods by Tishani Doshisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Spells: 21st Century Occult Poetry by Sarah Shin and Rebecca Tamássource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Healing Next Time by Roy McFarlanesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Penguin Book of the Prose Poem by Jeremy Noel-Todsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobussource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Venus as a Bear by Vahni Capildeosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Who Is Mary Sue? by Sophie Collinssource (opens in a new tab)

Politics

  1. Beautiful Country Burn Again: Trump’s Rise to Power, and the State of the Country That Voted for Him by Ben Fountainsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Becoming by Michelle Obamasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging by Afua Hirschsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodwardsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolffsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Game Changer: Eight Weeks That Transformed British Politics by Steve Howellsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. How Democracy Ends by David Runcimansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Jeremy Corbyn and the Strange Rebirth of Labour England by Francis Beckett and Mark Seddonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Punch & Judy Politics by Tom Hamilton and Ayesha Hazarikasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Start Again: How We Can Fix Our Broken Politics by Philip Collinssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The World As It Is: Inside the Obama White House by Ben Rhodessource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows by Christine Burnssource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Why We Get the Wrong Politicians by Isabel Hardmansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Yes She Can: Why Women Own the Future by Ruth Davidsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Science fiction and fantasy

  1. 84K by Claire Northsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Before Mars by Emma Newmansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Circe by Madeline Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Empire of Sand by Tasha Surisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Europe at Dawn by Dave Hutchinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrichsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. I Still Dream by James Smythesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. In the Vanishers’ Palace by Aliette de Bodardsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Little Eve by Catriona Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Noumenon Infinity by Marina J Lostettersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chamberssource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Rosewater by Tade Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Body Library by Jeff Noonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Poppy War by RF Kuangsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Rig by Roger Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Smoke by Simon Ingssource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintoshsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Thin Air by Richard Morgansource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Unholy Land by Lavie Tidharsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. XX by Angela Chadwicksource (opens in a new tab)

Science, nature and ideas

  1. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B Petersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Brainstorm by Suzanne O’Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawkingsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Hello World by Hannah Frysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Nervous States by William Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Nine Pints by Rose Georgesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Book of Humans by Adam Rutherfordsource (opens in a new tab)

Showbusiness

  1. Always Look on The Bright Side of Life by Eric Idlesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Blowing the Bloody Doors Off by Michael Cainesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brave by Rose McGowansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. In Pieces by Sally Fieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. My Love Story by Tina Turnersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allensource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Thanks a Lot Mr Kibblewhite by Roger Daltreysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. To Throw Away Unopened by Viv Albertinesource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. A Boy in the Water by Tom Gregorysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket by David Kynaston and Stephen Faysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Berlin 1936 by Oliver Hilmessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Butterfly by Yusra Mardinisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Kaiser! by Rob Smythsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sevens Heaven by Ben Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Skybound by Rebecca Loncrainesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Big Fella by Jane Leavysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Tiger Woods by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyiansource (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 2018