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The Guardian

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2023

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2023 names 183 books across 15 categories. 66 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Biography and memoir

  1. A Flat Place by Noreen Masudsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Before the Light Fades by Natasha Waltersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Erotic Vagrancy by Roger Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Good Girls by Hadley Freemansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclairsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Madonna: A Rebel Life by Mary Gabrielsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisandsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. O Brother by John Nivensource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Red Memory by Tania Branigansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Stay True by Hua Hsusource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosensource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Thunderclap by Laura Cummingsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Two Sisters by Blake Morrisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Wifedom by Anna Fundersource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Winnie & Nelson by Jonny Steinbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Wish I Was Here by M John Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)

Children's

  1. A Really Short Journey Through the Body by Bill Brysonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Way to the Stars by David Almond and Gill Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Begin Again by Oliver Jefferssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Foxlight by Katya Balensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. On the Tip of a Wave by Joanna Ho and Cátia Chiensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Oscar’s Lion by Adam Baron and Benji Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Poetry Prompts by Joseph Coelhosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Big Dreaming by Michael Rosen and Daniel Egnéussource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Ogre Who Wasn’t by Michael Morpurgo and Emily Gravettsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Ultrawild by Steve Mushinsource (opens in a new tab)

Crime and thrillers

  1. Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoorsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All the Sinners Bleed by SA Cosbysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Beware the Woman by Megan Abbottsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Black Thorn by Sarah Hilarysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Case Sensitive by AK Turnersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Death and the Conjuror by Tom Meadsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Death of a Lesser God by Vaseem Khansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Everybody Knows by Jordan Harpersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkaisource (opens in a new tab)
  10. In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghansource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Moscow Exile by John Lawtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Murder in the Family by Cara Huntersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Other Women by Emma Flintsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranorsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Palace of Shadows by Ray Celestinsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihysource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Squeaky Clean by Callum McSorleysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugentsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroffsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallettsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osmansource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Man Who Lived Underground by Richard Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallettsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Scarlet Papers by Matthew Richardsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Second Murderer by Denise Minasource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Secret Hours by Mick Herronsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The Translator by Harriet Crawleysource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Turnglass by Gareth Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  30. The Wheel of Doll by Jonathan Amessource (opens in a new tab)
  31. The Winter List by SG MacLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Thirty Days of Darkness by Jenny Lund Madsensource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Uncle Paul by Celia Fremlinsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. Viper’s Dream by Jake Lamarsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. Word Monkey by Christopher Fowlersource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. A House for Alice by Diana Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. After the Funeral by Tessa Hadleysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. August Blue by Deborah Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Birnam Wood by Eleanor Cattonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Blackouts by Justin Torressource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spuffordsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Caret by Adam Mars-Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Cuddy by Benjamin Myerssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crookssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain by Victoria MacKenziesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Gunflower by Laura Jean McKaysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Innards by Magogodi oaMphela Makhenesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Julia by Sandra Newmansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Kala by Colin Walshsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Lord Jim at Home by Dinah Brookesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. No One Dies Yet by Kobby Ben Bensource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barrysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Orbital by Samantha Harveysource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Penance by Eliza Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Prophet Song by Paul Lynchsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroysource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Bee Sting by Paul Murraysource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Coiled Serpent by Camilla Grudovasource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Fraud by Zadie Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Ghost Theatre by Mat Osmansource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Glutton by AK Blakemoresource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Long Form by Kate Briggssource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The New Life by Tom Crewesource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groffsource (opens in a new tab)
  30. The Wren, the Wren by Anne Enrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Tremor by Teju Colesource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Victory City by Salman Rushdiesource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Wandering Souls by Cecile Pinsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. Western Lane by Chetna Maroosource (opens in a new tab)

Food

  1. East Winds by Riaz Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. More Daily Veg by Joe Woodhousesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. National Dish by Anya von Bremzensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Rice Book by Sri Owensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Secret of Cooking by Bee Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic novels

  1. A Guest in the House by Emily Carrollsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Blood of the Virgin by Sammy Harkhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brooklyn’s Last Secret by Leslie Steinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Hip Hop Family Tree: The Omnibus by Ed Piskorsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Monica by Daniel Clowessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Okinawa by Susumu Higasource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Great Beyond by Léa Murawiecsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Talk by Darrin Bellsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Thomas Girtin: The Forgotten Painter by Oscar Zaratesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. W the Whore by Anke Feuchtenberger and Katrin de Vriessource (opens in a new tab)
  12. What Awaits Them by Liam Cobbsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Why Don’t You Love Me? by Paul B Raineysource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Your Wish Is My Command by Deena Mohamedsource (opens in a new tab)

Ideas

  1. Doppelganger by Naomi Kleinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. End Times by Peter Turchinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Eve by Cat Bohannonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fire Weather by John Vaillantsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Foreign Bodies: Vaccines and the Health of Nations by Simon Schamasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. On Being Unreasonable by Kirsty Sedgmansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskarsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Guru, the Bagman and the Sceptic by Seamus O’Mahonysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Toxic by Sarah Ditumsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Travellers to Unimaginable Lands by Dasha Kipersource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Wasteland by Oliver Franklin-Wallissource (opens in a new tab)

Music

  1. Black Punk Now by Chris L Terry and James Spoonersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Curepedia: An A-Z of the Cure by Simon Pricesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dance Your Way Home: A Journey Through the Dancefloor by Emma Warrensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Queer Blues: The Hidden Figures of Early Blues Music by Darryl W Bullocksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Reach for the Stars 1996-2006: Fame, Fallout and Pop’s Final Party by Michael Craggsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Bad Diaspora Poems by Momtaza Mehrisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Balladz by Sharon Oldssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bright Fear by Mary Jean Chansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Contraflow: Lines of Englishness, 1922-2022 by John Greening and Kevin Gardnersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Crisis Actor by Declan Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Isdal by Susannah Dickeysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Mapping the Future by Nathalie Teitler and Karen McCarthy Woolfsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Octopus Mind by Rachel Carneysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Pitch & Glint by Lutz Seilersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Self-Portrait As Othello by Jason Allen-Paisantsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Home Child by Liz Berrysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Iliad by Homersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. To 2040 by Jorie Grahamsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Trace Evidence by Charif Shanahansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. We Play Here by Dawn Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. indiom by Daljit Nagrasource (opens in a new tab)

Politics

  1. Breathe by Sadiq Khansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Depraved New World by John Cracesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Enough by Cassidy Hutchinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad by Danny Finkelsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Labour Takes Power by Denis MacShanesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Marcia Williams: The Life and Times of Baroness Falkender by Linda McDougallsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up by Wes Streetingsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Out of the Blue by Harry Cole and James Healesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Politics on the Edge by Rory Stewartsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Abuse of Power by Theresa Maysource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Right to Rule by Ben Riley-Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabesssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarrossource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Tackle! by Jilly Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Burnout by Sophie Kinsellasource (opens in a new tab)

Science fiction and fantasy

  1. Conquest by Nina Allansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Him by Geoff Rymansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. In Ascension by Martin MacInnessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Teshsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Circumference of the World by Lavie Tidharsource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Sally H Jacobssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bazball: The Inside Story of a Test Cricket Revolution by Lawrence Booth and Nick Houltsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Kick the Latch by Kathryn Scanlansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Unbreakable by Ronnie O’Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Watford Forever by John Preston and Elton Johnsource (opens in a new tab)

Translated fiction

  1. Kairos by Jenny Erpenbecksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Annual Banquet of the Gravediggers’ Guild by Mathias Enardsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Tomás Nevinson by Javier Maríassource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Vengeance Is Mine by Marie NDiayesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Whale by Cheon Myeong-Kwansource (opens in a new tab)

Young adult

  1. Catch Your Death by Ravena Guronsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Island of Whispers by Frances Hardinge and Emily Gravettsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mexikid by Pedro Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemiansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewissource (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 2023