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Publishers Weekly Best Books 2018

Publishers Weekly Best Books 2018 names 160 books across 13 categories. 61 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Comics

  1. All the Answers: A Graphic Memoir by Michael Kuppermansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bad Friends by Anccosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Chlorine Gardens by Keiler Robertssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Upgrade Soul by Ezra Claytan Danielssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Young Frances by Hartley Linsource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. Asymmetry by Lisa Hallidaysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Census by Jesse Ballsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Circe by Madeline Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Comemadre by Roque Larraquy, translated by Heather Clearysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Flights by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Jennifer Croftsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Fox by Dubravka Ugrešić, translated by Ellen Elias-Bursać and David Williamssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyahsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Insurrecto by Gina Apostolsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Kudos by Rachel Cusksource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Melmoth by Sarah Perrysource (opens in a new tab)
  11. OK, Mr. Field by Katharine Kilaleasource (opens in a new tab)
  12. She Would Be King by Wayétu Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Slave Old Man by Patrick Chamoiseau, translated by Linda Coverdalesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Day the Sun Died by Yan Lianke, translated by Carlos Rojassource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Extinction of Menai by Chuma Nwokolosource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Frolic of the Beasts by Yukio Mishima, translated by Andrew Claresource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Governesses by Anne Serre, translated by Mark Hutchinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkaisource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Mars Room by Rachel Kushnersource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Shape of the Ruins by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, translated by Anne McLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Sparsholt Affair by Alan Hollinghurstsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. There There by Tommy Orangesource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolversource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Warlight by Michael Ondaatjesource (opens in a new tab)

Lifestyle

  1. Cooking in Iran: Regional Recipes & Cooking Secrets by Najmieh Batmanglijsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Cræft: An Inquiry into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts by Alexander Langlandssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Hype: A Doctor's Guide to Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims and Bad Advice—How to Tell What's Real and What's Not by Nina Shapiro and Kristin Lobergsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Israeli Soul: Easy, Essential, Delicious by Michael Solomonov and Steven Cooksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Soul: A Chef's Culinary Evolution in 150 Recipes by Todd Richardssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Organized Child: An Effective Program to Maximize Your Kid's Potential—in School and in Life by Richard Gallagher, Elana G. Spira and Jennifer L. Rosenblattsource (opens in a new tab)

Middle Grade

  1. A History of Pictures for Children: From Cave Paintings to Computer Drawings by David Hockney and Martin Gayfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeedsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Oldersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Front Desk by Kelly Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Halligansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. It Wasn't Me by Dana Alison Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medinasource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sanity and Tallulah by Molly Brookssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Small Spaces by Katherine Ardensource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxiersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdocksource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connorsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices: Words and Images of Hope by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Mystery

  1. American by Day by Derek B. Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. City of Ink by Elsa Hartsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriartysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Our House by Louise Candlishsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Red, White, Blue by Lea Carpentersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskicsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Savage Liberty: A Mystery of Revolutionary America by Eliot Pattisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The 8 Mansion Murders by Takemaru Abiko, translated by Ho-Ling Wongsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Fox by Frederick Forsythsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Man Who Came Uptown by George Pelecanossource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Masseysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitzsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. A Song for the River by Philip Connorssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrousource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bing Crosby: Swinging on a Star—The War Years, 1940–1946 by Gary Giddinssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westoversource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL by Jeff Pearlmansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke In the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarshsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander Cheesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamarasource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Paul Simon: The Life by Robert Hilburnsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Punishment Without Crime: How Our Massive Misdemeanor System Traps the Innocent and Makes America More Unequal by Alexandra Natapoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Reagan: An American Journey by Bob Spitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Reporter: A Memoir by Seymour M. Hershsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rushsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity by Carl Zimmersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Small Fry: A Memoir by Lisa Brennan-Jobssource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Tailspin: The People and Forces Behind America's Fifty-Year Fall—And Those Fighting to Reverse It by Steven Brillsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created by Jane Leavysource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Betrayal, and the Search for the Earth's Ultimate Trophy by Paige Williamssource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Last Palace: Europe's Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House by Norman Eisensource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border by Francisco Cantúsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Lost Education of Horace Tate: Uncovering the Hidden Heroes Who Fought for Justice in Schools by Vanessa Siddle Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewartsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath by Leslie Jamisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Souls of Yellow Folk by Wesley Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life by David Quammensource (opens in a new tab)
  29. What If This Were Enough?: Essays by Heather Havrileskysource (opens in a new tab)
  30. What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape by Sohaila Abdulalisource (opens in a new tab)

Picture Books

  1. A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Linsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peñasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dreamers by Yuyi Moralessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fox & Chick: The Party and Other Stories by Sergio Ruzziersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackallsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Lovesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Baileysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year by Fiona Waterssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cumminssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Thank You, Omu! by Oge Morasource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Crocodile and the Dentist by Taro Gomisource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Elephant by Jenni Desmondsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Eye That Never Sleeps: How Detective Pinkerton Saved President Lincoln by Marissa Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarkesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeldsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Ageesource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Up the Mountain Path by Marianne Dubucsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Be With by Forrest Gandersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lo terciario/The Tertiary by Raquel Salas Riverasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Moon: Letters, Maps, Poems by Jennifer S. Chengsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Real Life: An Installation by Julie Carrsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Carrying by Ada Limónsource (opens in a new tab)

Religion

  1. Christian: The Politics of a Word in America by Matthew Bowmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books by Karen Swallow Priorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Resist and Persist: Faith and the Fight for Equality by Erin Wathensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Seven Types of Atheism by John Graysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Why Religion? by Elaine Pagelssource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. A Wolf Apart by Maria Valesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Big Bad Cowboy: Once Upon a Time in Texas, Book 1 by Carly Bloomsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Desperate Girls by Laura Griffinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The One You Can't Forget: The Ones Who Got Away, Book 2 by Roni Lorensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Their Perfect Melody: Matched to Perfection, Book 3 by Priscilla Oliverassource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Blackfish City by Sam J. Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Temper by Nicky Draydensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowalsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Daniel Mallory Ortbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossnersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Unholy Land by Lavie Tidharsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Witchmark by C.L. Polksource (opens in a new tab)

Top 10

  1. Asymmetry by Lisa Hallidaysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westoversource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander Cheesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Insurrecto by Gina Apostolsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Melmoth by Sarah Perrysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Reagan: An American Journey by Bob Spitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity by Carl Zimmersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Shape of the Ruins by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, translated by Anne McLeansource (opens in a new tab)

Young Adult

  1. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Winter's Promise: Book One of the Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dabos, translated by Hildegarde Serlesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridgesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorramsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shustermansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczkasource (opens in a new tab)
  8. On a Sunbeam by Tillie Waldensource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Pride by Ibi Zoboisource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sadie by Courtney Summerssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholkesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouthsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedosource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wangsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The War Outside by Monica Hessesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnsonsource (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 2018