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Library Journal Best Books 2020

Library Journal Best Books 2020 names 143 books across 15 categories. 58 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Arts & Humanities

  1. Glitter Up the Dark: How Pop Music Broke the Binary by Sasha Geffensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar by Oliver Craskesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Made Men: The Story of Goodfellas by Glenn Kennysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shaplandsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock by Christina Lanesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Toni Morrison Book Club by Juda Bennettsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Unfinished Business: Notes of a Chronic Re-Reader by Vivian Gornicksource (opens in a new tab)
  8. What Becomes a Legend Most: A Biography of Richard Avedon by Philip Geftersource (opens in a new tab)

Biography & Memoir

  1. All the Young Men by Ruth Coker Burks and Kevin Carr O’Learysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fairest by Meredith Talusansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness by Catherine Chosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Tretheweysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America by Maria Hinojosasource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Rebel Cinderella: From Rags to Riches to Radical, the Epic Journey of Rose Pastor Stokes by Adam Hochschildsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Paynesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Dragons, the Giant, the Women by Wayétu Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Fixed Stars by Molly Wizenbergsource (opens in a new tab)

Cooking

  1. 100 Cookies: The Baking Book for Every Kitchen, with Classic Cookies, Novel Treats, Brownies, Bars, and More by Sarah Kieffersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dinner in French: My Recipes by Way of France by Melissa Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing by Meera Sodhasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day, Every Day by Eden Grinshpansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Everyone Can Bake: Simple Recipes To Master and Mix by Dominique Anselsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Falastin by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigleysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Milk Street: Cookish: Throw It Together: Big Flavors by Christopher Kimballsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Plants-Only Kitchen: Over 70 Delicious, Super-Simple, Powerful and Protein-Packed Recipes for Busy People by Gaz Oakleysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Simply: Easy Everyday Dishes from the Bestselling Author of Persiana by Sabrina Ghayoursource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained in More Than 100 Essential Recipes by Nik Sharmasource (opens in a new tab)

Crime Fiction

  1. All the Devils Are Here by Louise Pennysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosbysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anapparasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Hide Away by Jason Pintersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Searcher by Tana Frenchsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osmansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Unspeakable Things by Jess Loureysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weidensource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novels

  1. Billionaire Island by Mark Russellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dancing After TEN by Vivian Chongsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Inappropriate by Gabrielle Bellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics by Tom Sciolisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderfsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Pulp by Ed Brubakersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Slaughter House-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and Ryan Northsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sports Is Hell by Ben Passmoresource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen? by Matt Fractionsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tominesource (opens in a new tab)

Horror

  1. Boneset & Feathers by Gwendolyn Kistesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guesssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Crossroads by Laurel Hightowersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Djèlí by P. Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforthsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Boatman’s Daughter by Andy Davidsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Living Dead by George A. Romero and Daniel Kraussource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrixsource (opens in a new tab)

Literary Fiction

  1. A Burning by Megha Majumdarsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Apeirogon by Colum McCannsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtarsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alamsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Little Family by Ishmael Beahsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Migrations by Charlotte McConaghysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Index of Self-Destructive Acts by Christopher Behasource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The New American by Micheline Aharonian Marcomsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasisource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Conjure by Rae Armantroutsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dearly: New Poems by Margaret Atwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Every Day We Get More Illegal by Juan Felipe Herrerasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Field Music by Alexandria Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lean Against This Late Hour by Garous Abdolmalekiansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Living Weapons: Poems by Rowan Ricardo Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Summer Snow: New Poems by Robert Hasssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Absurd Man by Major Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jefferssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Three Poems by Hannah Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)

Pop Fiction

  1. Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Mediesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mercy House by Alena Dillonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel Westsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Self Care by Leigh Steinsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reidsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooleysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Darésource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlowsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Gray Tedrowesource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypassource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albertsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fair as a Star by Mimi Matthewssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Here To Stay by Adriana Herrerasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. If the Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Kiss My Cupcake by Helen Huntingsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Starbreaker by Amanda Bouchetsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Truth About Dukes by Grace Burrowessource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Ties That Tether by Jane Igharosource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy

  1. A Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagerssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorsesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Driftwood by Marie Brennansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Goldilocks by Laura Lamsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschotssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Burning God by R.F. Kuangsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The City We Became by N.K. Jemisinsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Vo Nghisource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Memory of Souls by Jenn Lyonssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Science & Technology

  1. A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America’s Hurricanes by Eric Jay Dolinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved To Do Is Healthy and Rewarding by Daniel Liebermansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolkersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest To Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl by Jonathan C. Slaghtsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think by Jennifer Ackermansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svenssonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Human Cosmos: Civilization and the Stars by Jo Marchantsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move by Sonia Shahsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Sirens of Mars: Searching for Life on Another World by Sarah Stewart Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Short Stories

  1. A Registry of My Passage upon the Earth: Stories by Daniel Masonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. I Hold a Wolf by the Ears: Stories by Laura Van den Bergsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. If I Had Two Wings: Stories by Randall Kenansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Inheritors by Asako Serizawasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Likes by Sarah Shun-lien Bynumsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories by Danielle Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. To Be a Man: Stories by Nicole Krausssource (opens in a new tab)

Social Sciences

  1. After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America by Jessica Goudeausource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Barnstorming Ohio: To Understand America by David Giffelssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Down Along with That Devil’s Bones: A Reckoning with Monuments, Memory, and the Legacy of White Supremacy by Connor Towne O’Neillsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City by Wes Moore and Erica L. Greensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Race Against Time: A Reporter Reopens the Unsolved Murder Cases of the Civil Rights Era by Jerry Mitchellsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Show Them You’re Good: A Portrait of Boys in the City of Angels the Year Before College by Jeff Hobbssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Second Chance Club: Hardship and Hope After Prison by Jason Hardysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicenciosource (opens in a new tab)

World Literature

  1. At Night All Blood Is Black by David Diop, translated by Anna Moschovakissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Difficult Light by Tomas González, translated by Andrea Rosenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Echo on the Bay by Masatsugu Ono, translated by Angus Turvillsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Friend: A Novel from North Korea by Nam-nyong Paeksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Igifu by Scholastique Mukasonga, translated by Jordan Stumpsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Our Riches by Kaouther Adimi, translated by Chris Andrewssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Belle Créole by Maryse Condé, translated by Nicole Simeksource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar, translated by Anonymoussource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yu, translated by Morgan Gilessource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Tropic of Violence by Nathacha Appanah, translated by Geoffrey Strachansource (opens in a new tab)

About the Library Journal Best Books

Starts in 2010, the year LJ named its first Top Ten (its own announcement calls it the inaugural list); LJ's 2006-2009 Best Books lists are not online and no archived copy was found. Top Ten for 2010-2017; LJ dropped the Top Ten in 2018 and publishes only section lists after that. Category is LJ's section name, with spelling variants merged (Crime = Crime Fiction, Cookbooks = Cooking, Memoir = Biography & Memoir, Sci-Tech = Science & Technology). 2010 has the Top Ten only: the genre lists were not recovered. 2011-2015 come from reviews.libraryjournal.com and 2016-2017 from the lj.libraryjournal.com microsites, both read through the Wayback Machine because the originals are gone; some genre lists for those years were not archived (for example 2013 mystery, SF, and thrillers). SELF-e indie ebook picks (2016-2017), Best Media, and Best Reference are left out. 2025 has the Stellar Selections list (~790 titles); the 100 Editors' Picks are published only as prose and are left out. ISBNs are the ones LJ prints in each citation.

Organization: Library Journal. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2020