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Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly Best Books 2023

Publishers Weekly Best Books 2023 names 150 books across 13 categories. 65 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Comics

  1. Blood of the Virgin by Sammy Harkhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Impossible People: A Completely Average Recovery Story by Julia Wertzsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Monica by Daniel Clowessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Roaming by Jillian and Mariko Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. A Cowardly Woman No More by Ellen Cooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. August Blue by Deborah Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bariloche by Andrés Neuman, translated by Robin Myerssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop, translated by Sam Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Company by Shannon Sanderssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Eastbound by Maylis de Kerangal, translated by Jessica Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Greek Lessons by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Wonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkaisource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. North Woods by Daniel Masonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Terrace Story by Hilary Leichtersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Fraud by Zadie Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBridesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The People Who Report More Stress: Stories by Alejandro Varelasource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Unsettled by Ayana Mathissource (opens in a new tab)
  18. This Is Salvaged by Vauhini Varasource (opens in a new tab)
  19. This Other Eden by Paul Hardingsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Tremor by Teju Colesource (opens in a new tab)

Lifestyle

  1. Ed Mitchell's Barbeque by Ed and Ryan Mitchellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen by Molly Bazsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sofreh: A Contemporary Approach to Classic Persian Cuisine by Nasim Alikhanisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Everlasting Meal Cookbook: Leftovers A-Z by Tamar Adlersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Yiayia: Time-Perfected Recipes from Greece's Grandmothers by Anastasia Miarisource (opens in a new tab)

Middle Grade

  1. Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmithsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Linsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Duel by Jessixa Bagleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Gone Wolf by Amber McBridesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Jawbreaker by Christina Wymansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Mexikid by Pedro Martínsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Shira & Esther's Double Dream Debut by Anna E. Jordansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bowsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggerssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Daysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Otherwoods by Justine Pucella Winanssource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everettsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Story of Gumluck the Wizard by Adam Rexsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincolnsource (opens in a new tab)

Mystery

  1. A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Sealessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosbysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knollsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Everybody Knows by Jordan Harpersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Excavations by Hannah Michellsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burkesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. How Can I Help You by Laura Simssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugentsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Tell Me What I Am by Una Mannionsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Devil's Playground by Craig Russellsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Eden Test by Adam Sternberghsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Most Secret Memory of Men by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, translated by Lara Vergnaudsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. A Rome of One's Own: The Forgotten Women of the Roman Empire by Emma Southonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. America's Black Capital: How African Americans Remade Atlanta in the Shadow of the Confederacy by Jeffrey O.G. Ogbarsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America by Edwin Raymond and Jon Sternfeldsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. August Wilson: A Life by Patti Hartigansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation That Saved the Soul of the NBA by Theresa Runstedtlersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Everything/Nothing/Someone: A Memoir by Alice Carrièresource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It by Adia Harvey Wingfieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World by Deb Chachrasource (opens in a new tab)
  9. How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclairsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope by Sarah Bakewellsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. In Levittown's Shadow: Poverty in America's Wealthiest Postwar Suburb by Tim Keoghsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. King: A Life by Jonathan Eigsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Lesbian Love Story: A Memoir in Archives by Amelia Possanzasource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederersource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Sedition Hunters: How January 6th Broke the Justice System by Ryan J. Reillysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkelsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Bathysphere Book: Effects of the Luminous Ocean Depths by Brad Foxsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race by Farah Karim-Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Last Ships from Hamburg: Business, Rivalry and the Race to Save Russia's Jews on the Eve of World War I by Steven Ujifusasource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial by David Lipskysource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Thin Skin: Essays by Jenn Shaplandsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America by Roxanna Asgariansource (opens in a new tab)
  23. What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackermansource (opens in a new tab)
  24. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramseysource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Women Who Challenged a Nation by Tiya Milessource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began by Leah Hazardsource (opens in a new tab)

Picture Books

  1. A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An American Story by Kwame Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art by Hannah Salyersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Ancient Night by David Álvarez and David Bowlessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Before, Now by Daniel Salmierisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Big by Vashti Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers? by Junauda Petrussource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Do You Remember? by Sydney Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Eclipse by Andy Rashsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Elena Rides by Juana Medinasource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Evergreen by Matthew Cordellsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanansource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Mr. S by Monica Arnaldosource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Oh, Panda by Cindy Derbysource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Summer Is for Cousins by Rajani LaRoccasource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Tree and the River by Aaron Beckersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Truth About Max by Alice and Martin Provensensource (opens in a new tab)
  18. There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Tomfoolery! Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children's Books by Michelle Markelsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. When You Can Swim by Jack Wongsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. All Souls by Saskia Hamiltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. From From: Poems by Monica Younsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Suddenly We by Evie Shockleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Shared World by Vievee Francissource (opens in a new tab)
  5. To 2040 by Jorie Grahamsource (opens in a new tab)

Religion

  1. How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Hope and Survival in the American South by Esau McCaulleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. I Felt the End Before It Came: Memoirs of a Queer Ex-Jehovah's Witness by Daniel Allen Coxsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise by Pico Iyersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins by Jacob L. Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair by Christian Wimansource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enochsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. I Am Ayah: The Way Home by Donna Hillsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Art of Scandal by Regina Blacksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. To Have and to Heist by Sara Desaisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastiansource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyahsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Like Smoke Like Light by Yukimi Ogawasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquezsource (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)
  6. The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huangsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Translation State by Ann Leckiesource (opens in a new tab)

Top 10

  1. Biography of X by Catherine Laceysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Flee North: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery's Borderland by Scott Shanesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. My Work by Olga Ravn, translated by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Parksource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight by Andrew Lelandsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Maniac by Benjamin Labatutsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History by Ned Blackhawksource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Talk by Darrin Bellsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Wren, the Wren by Anne Enrightsource (opens in a new tab)

Young Adult

  1. A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History by Ariel Aberg-Rigersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Phamsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. From Here by Luma Muflehsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Houses with a Story: A Dragon's Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore by Seiji Yoshida, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cashsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Invisible Son by Kim Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Mascot by Charles Waters and Traci Sorellsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Spin by Rebecca Caprarasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Blood Years by Elana K. Arnoldsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufmansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The King Is Dead by Benjamin Deansource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Queer Girl Is Going to Be Okay by Dale Wallssource (opens in a new tab)
  14. What Stalks Among Us by Sarah Hollowellsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrestsource (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 2023