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The Guardian

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2024

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2024 names 171 books across 15 categories. 62 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Biography and memoir

  1. A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherrysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Voyage Around the Queen by Craig Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Woman Like Me by Diane Abbottsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Chersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Citizen by Bill Clintonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Didion and Babitz by Lili Anoliksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Hardy Women by Paula Byrnesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Kingmaker: Pamela Churchill Harriman by Sonia Purnellsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Knife by Salman Rushdiesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirstsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. My Family and Other Rock Stars by Tiffany Murraysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. My Family: The Memoir by David Baddielsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Nightshade Mother by Gwyneth Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Question 7 by Richard Flanagansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Clintonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Sonny Boy by Al Pacinosource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Art of Power by Nancy Pelosisource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Rebel’s Clinic by Adam Shatzsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Strangers by Ekow Eshunsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. We Will Not Be Saved by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Wild Thing by Sue Prideauxsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. You’re Embarrassing Yourself by Desiree Akhavansource (opens in a new tab)

Children's

  1. A World of Flavour by Gabrielle Langholtzsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Boats: Steamers, Icebreakers, and Ghost Ships by Jan van der Vekensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ghostlines by Katya Balensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I Follow the Fox by Rob Biddulphsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Pernickety Boo by Sally Gardnersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Relic Hamilton, Genie Hunter by Joseph Coelhosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Snowman Code by Simon Stephensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The World to Come by Robert Macfarlane, Johnny Flynn and Emily Suttonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. We, the Curious Ones by Marion Dane Bauer, Hari and Deeptisource (opens in a new tab)
  10. When the Stammer Came to Stay by Maggie O’Farrell and Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzinisource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jefferssource (opens in a new tab)

Crime and thrillers

  1. All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitakersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bonehead by Mo Haydersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Hunted by Abir Mukherjeesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkawaysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankinsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Missing Person: Alice by Simon Masonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Nightwatching by Tracy Sierrasource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Case of the Lonely Accountant by Simon Masonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Kellerby Code by Jonny Sweetsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfreysource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Peacock and the Sparrow by IS Berrysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. What a Way to Go by Bella Mackiesource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. All Fours by Miranda Julysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Choice by Neel Mukherjeesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Clear by Carys Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Creation Lake by Rachel Kushnersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Crooked Seeds by Karen Jenningssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Dogs and Monsters by Mark Haddonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Enlightenment by Sarah Perrysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Girl in the Making by Anna Fitzgeraldsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Gliff by Ali Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Going Home by Tom Lamontsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Headshot by Rita Bullwinkelsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Held by Anne Michaelssource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Intermezzo by Sally Rooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  17. James by Percival Everettsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Long Island by Colm Tóibínsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Aknersource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlandssource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Orbital by Samantha Harveysource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurstsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Playground by Richard Powerssource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking by Han Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Rosarita by Anita Desaisource (opens in a new tab)
  26. She’s Always Hungry by Eliza Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Spent Light by Lara Pawsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Woodsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Borrowed Hills by Scott Prestonsource (opens in a new tab)
  30. The Echoes by Evie Wyldsource (opens in a new tab)
  31. The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barrysource (opens in a new tab)
  32. The Land in Winter by Andrew Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  33. The Lodgers by Holly Pestersource (opens in a new tab)
  34. The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh by Ingrid Persaudsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. The Night Alphabet by Joelle Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  36. The Pages of the Sea by Anne Hawksource (opens in a new tab)
  37. The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan Coesource (opens in a new tab)
  38. The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Woudensource (opens in a new tab)
  39. The Unwilding by Marina Kempsource (opens in a new tab)
  40. The Voyage Home by Pat Barkersource (opens in a new tab)
  41. The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doylesource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Wandering Stars by Tommy Orangesource (opens in a new tab)
  43. Wild Houses by Colin Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  44. You Are Here by David Nichollssource (opens in a new tab)

Food

  1. Agak Agak: Everyday Recipes from Singapore by Shu Han Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dinner: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes by Meera Sodhasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Easy Wins: 12 Flavour Hits, 125 Delicious Recipes, 365 Days of Good Eating by Anna Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavor by Arielle Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Make More With Less: Foolproof Recipes to Make Your Food Go Further by Kitty Colessource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic novels

  1. Adrift on a Painted Sea by Tim Birdsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Book Two by Emil Ferrissource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Chernobyl: The Fall of Atomgrad by Matyás Namaisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Elena: A Hand Made Life by Miriam Goldsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Evil Eyes Sea by Özge Samancısource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Final Cut by Charles Burnssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. GLEEM by Freddy Carrascosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together by Maurice Vellekoopsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Self-Esteem and the End of the World by Luke Healysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Spiral and Other Stories by Aidan Kochsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Sunday by Olivier Schrauwensource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Russian Detective by Carol Adlamsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Victory Parade by Leela Cormansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. World Without End by Jean-Marc Jancovici and Christophe Blainsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Young Hag by Isabel Greenbergsource (opens in a new tab)

Ideas

  1. Cypria: A Journey to the Heart of Cyprus by Alex Christofisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Everything to Play For by Marijam Didsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. How the World Made the West by Josephine Quinnsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Playing With Reality: How Games Shape Our World by Kelly Clancysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Rat City: Overcrowding and Urban Derangement in the Rodent Universes of John B Calhoun by Jon Adams and Edmund Ramsdensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Rumbles: A Curious History of the Gut by Elsa Richardsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sociopath by Patric Gagnesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Afterlife of Data by Carl Öhmansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Genetic Book of the Dead: A Darwinian Reverie by Richard Dawkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Why Animals Talk by Arik Kershenbaumsource (opens in a new tab)

Music

  1. 1984: The Year Pop Went Queer by Ian Wadesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Hip-Hop Is History by Questlovesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Rebel Musix, Scribe on a Vibe: Frontline Adventures Linking Punk, Reggae, Afrobeat and Jazz by Vivien Goldmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Street-Level Superstar: A Year With Lawrence by Will Hodgkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Pop Culture 1955-1979 by Jon Savagesource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Adam by Gboyega Odubanjosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. After You Were, I Am by Camille Ralphssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bluff by Danez Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Collected Poems by Wendy Copesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. God Complex by Rachael Allensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Goodlord by Ella Frearssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Joe Hill Makes His Way Into the Castle by Katy Evans-Bushsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Monster by Dzifa Bensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Ruin, Blossom by John Burnsidesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Butterfly House by Kathryn Bevissource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Wickedest by Caleb Femisource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Top Doll by Karen McCarthy Woolfsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. With My Back to the World by Victoria Changsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. [...] by Fady Joudahsource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. Say You’ll Be My Jaan by Naina Kumarsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Echoes of Us by Emma Steelesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Wedding People by Alison Espachsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. What Does it Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsellasource (opens in a new tab)

Science and nature

  1. A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmithsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Everything Is Predictable by Tom Chiverssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Elements of Marie Curie by Dava Sobelsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Impossible Man by Patchen Barsssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Last of Its Kind by Gísli Pálssonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarkesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Twelve Trees by Daniel Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Your Face Belongs to Us by Kashmir Hillsource (opens in a new tab)

Science fiction and fantasy

  1. Calypso by Oliver K Langmeadsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Juice by Tim Wintonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Toward Eternity by Anton Hursource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. Godwin by Joseph O’Neillsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. My Beautiful Sisters by Khalida Popalsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Richie Benaud’s Blue Suede Shoes by David Kynaston and Harry Rickettssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqibsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Warming Up by Madeleine Orrsource (opens in a new tab)

Translated fiction

  1. Aednan by Linnea Axelssonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bad Habit by Alana S Porterosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Hungry for What by María Bastaróssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. My Heavenly Favourite by Lucas Rijneveldsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enriguesource (opens in a new tab)

Young adult

  1. Black History for Every Day of the Year by David Olusoga, Yinka Olusoga and Kemi Olusogasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel by William Golding and Aimée de Jonghsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifuekosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Twelve by Liz Hydersource (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 2024