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Publishers Weekly Best Books 2017

Publishers Weekly Best Books 2017 names 160 books across 13 categories. 56 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Comics

  1. Boundless by Jillian Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferrissource (opens in a new tab)
  3. My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata Kabisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sex Fantasy by Sophia Foster-Diminosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Hunting Accident: A True Story of Crime and Poetry by David Carlsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. A Working Woman by Elvira Navarro, translated by Christina MacSweeneysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Stroutsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Augustown by Kei Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Borne by Jeff VanderMeersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Chasing the King of Hearts by Hanna Krall, translated by Philip Boehmsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. For Isabel: A Mandala by Antonio Tabucchi, translated by Elizabeth Harrissource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Forest Dark by Nicole Krausssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag, translated by Srinath Perursource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Grief Cottage by Gail Godwinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machadosource (opens in a new tab)
  11. I Am the Brother of XX by Fleur Jaeggy, translated by Gini Alhadeffsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Ill Will by Dan Chaonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. In the Distance by Hernán Díazsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbisource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Marlena by Julie Buntinsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Motherest by Kristen Iskandriansource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Pachinko by Min Jin Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregorsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidtsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Locals by Jonathan Deesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Mountain by Paul Yoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Seventh Function of Language by Laurent Binet, translated by Sam Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimahsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. White Tears by Hari Kunzrusource (opens in a new tab)

Lifestyle

  1. Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants by Stefani Bittner and Alethea Harampolissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. King Solomon's Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World by Joan Nathansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosratsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts That Make Us Overeat by Stephan Guyenetsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. WD~50: The Cookbook by Wylie Dufresne and Peter Meehansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walkersource (opens in a new tab)

Middle Grade

  1. All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamiesonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Big & Little Questions (According to Wren Jo Byrd) by Julie Bowesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan, translated by Helen Wangsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws That Affect Us Today by Cynthia and Sanford Levinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. I'm Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-ups by Chris Harrissource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Pablo and Birdy by Alison McGheesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Real Friends by Shannon Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Refugee by Alan Gratzsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Doorman's Repose by Chris Raschkasource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valentesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghuesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Road to Ever After by Moira Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Wishtree by Katherine Applegatesource (opens in a new tab)

Mystery

  1. A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjeesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Besieged by A.J. Tatasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Flashmob by Christopher Farnsworthsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Little Deaths by Emma Flintsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Nine Lessons: A Josephine Tey Mystery by Nicola Upsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMillesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Force by Don Winslowsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Nine-Tailed Fox by Martin Limónsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Vicious Circle: A Joe Pickett Novel by C.J. Boxsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Wolf's Revenge: A Leo Maxwell Mystery by Lachlan Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Animals Strike Curious Poses by Elena Passarellosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India by Sujatha Gidlasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Coming to My Senses: The Making of a Counterculture Cook by Alice Waterssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America by Nancy MacLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Extreme Cities: The Perils and Promise of Urban Life in the Age of Climate Change by Ashley Dawsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Fear City: New York's Fiscal Crisis and the Rise of Austerity Politics by Kim Phillips-Feinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Greater Gotham: A History of New York City from 1898 to 1919 by Mike Wallacesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Henry David Thoreau: A Life by Laura Dassow Wallssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gaysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. I Couldn't Even Imagine That They Would Kill Us: An Oral History of the Attacks Against the Students of Ayotzinapa by John Giblersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. I Was Told to Come Alone: My Journey Behind the Lines of Jihad by Souad Mekhennetsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grannsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman Jr.source (opens in a new tab)
  15. Night Thoughts by Wallace Shawnsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump's Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need by Naomi Kleinsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. October: The Story of the Russian Revolution by China Miévillesource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Queen of Bebop: The Musical Lives of Sarah Vaughan by Elaine M. Hayessource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln's Ghost by Peter Manseausource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Biggest Prison on Earth: A History of the Occupied Territories by Ilan Pappesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Exile: The Stunning Inside Story of Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda in Flight by Cathy Scott-Clark and Adrian Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Gourmands' Way: Six Americans in Paris and the Birth of a New Gastronomy by Justin Springsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Prestonsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South by John T. Edgesource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Secret Life: Three True Stories of the Digital Age by Andrew O'Hagansource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The Shadow in the Garden: A Biographer's Tale by James Atlassource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease by Meredith Wadmansource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Word by Word: The Secret Lives of Dictionaries by Kory Stampersource (opens in a new tab)

Picture Books

  1. A Different Pond by Bao Phisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Accident! by Andrea Tsurumisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santatsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Baabwaa and Wooliam: A Tale of Literacy, Dental Hygiene, and Friendship by David Elliottsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Grand Canyon by Jason Chinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Her Right Foot by Dave Eggerssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Mama Lion Wins the Race by Jon J Muthsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Soldier Song: A True Story of the Civil War by Debbie Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC's (the Hard Way) by Patrick McDonnellsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! by Carmen Agra Deedysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  15. What Does Baby Want? by Tupera Tuperasource (opens in a new tab)
  16. When's My Birthday? by Julie Foglianosource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Why Am I Me? by Paige Brittsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Don't Call Us Dead by Danez Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. In the Still of the Night by Dara Wiersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Complete Poems of A.R. Ammons by Robert M. Westsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Happy End/All Welcome by Mónica de la Torresource (opens in a new tab)
  5. We're On: A June Jordan Reader by Christoph Keller and Jan Heller Levisource (opens in a new tab)

Religion

  1. Bible Nation: The United States of Hobby Lobby by Candida R. Moss and Joel S. Badensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America by Frances FitzGeraldsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Meaning of Belief: Religion from an Atheist's Point of View by Tim Cranesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege by Ken Wytsmasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Colesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Positively Pippa by Sarah Heggersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Souljacker by Yasmine Galenornsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Under Her Skin by Adriana Anderssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. You May Kiss the Bride by Lisa Bernesource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy/Horror

  1. A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chamberssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. In Calabria by Peter S. Beaglesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Noumenon by Marina J. Lostettersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulleysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Witch Who Came in from the Cold by Lindsay Smith et al.source (opens in a new tab)

Top 10

  1. Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India by Sujatha Gidlasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Extreme Cities: The Perils and Promise of Urban Life in the Age of Climate Change by Ashley Dawsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fear City: New York's Fiscal Crisis and the Rise of Austerity Politics by Kim Phillips-Feinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Grief Cottage by Gail Godwinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ill Will by Dan Chaonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. In the Distance by Hernán Díazsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln's Ghost by Peter Manseausource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. White Tears by Hari Kunzrusource (opens in a new tab)

Young Adult

  1. A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardingesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. American Street by Ibi Zoboisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Far from the Tree by Robin Benwaysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Gem & Dixie by Sara Zarrsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullmansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Landscape with Invisible Hand by M.T. Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Long Way Down by Jason Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Spinning by Tillie Waldensource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Turtles All the Way Down by John Greensource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligmansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Warcross by Marie Lusource (opens in a new tab)
  16. We Are Okay by Nina LaCoursource (opens in a new tab)
  17. You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkinssource (opens in a new tab)

About the Publishers Weekly Best Books

Year is PW's list year, not the publication year. 2009-2025 come from the PW Best Books site, one page per section; category is that page's section name. 2006-2008 come from PW's magazine articles, which list the year's picks by section and have no Top 10, so those years have no Top 10 rows. 2009 has no Romance list (PW added it in 2010). A Top 10 book also appears in its genre section, so it has two rows. Illustrator and photographer credits are dropped; translators are kept.

Organization: Publishers Weekly. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2017