Best Books of the Year
Menu

Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly Best Books 2024

Publishers Weekly Best Books 2024 names 150 books across 13 categories. 58 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Comics

  1. Final Cut by Charles Burnssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: A Memoir by Maurice Vellekoopsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mothballs by Sole Otero, translated by Andrea Rosenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Heart That Fed: A Father, a Son, and the Long Shadow of War by Carl Sciacchitanosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Victory Parade by Leela Cormansource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan McDowellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fury by Clyo Mendoza, translated by Christina MacSweeneysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Great Expectations by Vinson Cunninghamsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Intermezzo by Sally Rooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Lazarus Man by Richard Pricesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Old King by Maxim Loskutoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurstsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Pink Slime by Fernanda Trías, translated by Heather Clearysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Praiseworthy by Alexis Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Rejection by Tony Tulathimuttesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Sister Deborah by Scholastique Mukasongasource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Small Rain by Garth Greenwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestusource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Anthropologists by Ayşegül Savaşsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Coin by Yasmin Zahersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Spoiled Heart by Sunjeev Sahotasource (opens in a new tab)
  18. This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messudsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Wild Houses by Colin Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Your Absence Is Darkness by Jón Kalman Stefánsson, translated by Philip Roughtonsource (opens in a new tab)

Lifestyle

  1. Amrikan: 125 Recipes from the Indian American Diaspora by Khushbu Shahsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bayou: Feasting Through the Seasons of a Cajun Life by Melissa M. Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food by Fadi Kattansource (opens in a new tab)

Middle Grade

  1. Beti and the Little Round House by Atinukesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadowssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Carnival Chaos by Tracey Baptistesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Felix Powell, Boy Dog by Erin Entrada Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundellsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Island of Whispers by Frances Hardingesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Mishka by Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel, translated by Nancy Forest-Fliersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Quagmire Tiarello Couldn't Be Better by Mylisa Larsensource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Shark Teeth by Sherri Winstonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of American Indian Boarding Schools by Dan SaSuWeh Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood by Robert Beattysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion by Ann Bausumsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Uprooted: A Memoir About What Happens When Your Family Moves Back by Ruth Chansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr.source (opens in a new tab)

Mystery

  1. Ash Dark as Night by Gary Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bright Objects by Ruby Toddsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. City in Ruins by Don Winslowsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lost Man's Lane by Scott Carsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. May the Wolf Die by Elizabeth Heidersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Once More from the Top by Emily Laydensource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Rough Trade by Katrina Carrascosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Smoke Kings by Jahmal Mayfieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussonisource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov, translated by Boris Dralyuksource (opens in a new tab)
  12. We Solve Murders by Richard Osmansource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. A Termination by Honor Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bitter Crop: The Heartache and Triumph of Billie Holliday's Last Year by Paul Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Burdened: Student Debt and the Making of an American Crisis by Ryann Liebenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI by Madhumita Murgiasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Context Collapse: A Poem Containing a History of Poetry by Ryan Rubysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey Among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See by Bianca Boskersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Ghosts of Crook County: An Oil Fortune, a Phantom Child, and the Fight for Indigenous Land by Russell Cobbsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosleysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Homeland: The War on Terror in American Life by Richard Becksource (opens in a new tab)
  10. In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife by Sebastian Jungersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Into the Unknown: The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Kelsey Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood's Hidden Genius by Carrie Courogensource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church by Gareth Goresource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Overshoot: How the World Surrendered to Climate Breakdown by Andreas Malm and Wim Cartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Planes Flying over a Monster: Essays by Daniel Saldaña París, translated by Christina MacSweeney and Philip K. Zimmermansource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Question 7 by Richard Flanagansource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Savings and Trust: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman's Bank by Justene Hill Edwardssource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kohei Saito, translated by Brian Bergstromsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Smoke and Ashes: Opium's Hidden Histories by Amitav Ghoshsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Big Freeze: A Reporter's Personal Journey into the World of Egg Freezing and the Quest to Control Our Fertility by Natalie Lampertsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Everything War: Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power by Dana Mattiolisource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without by John Oakessource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlangersource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Playbook: The Story of Theater, Democracy, and the Making of a Culture War by James Shapirosource (opens in a new tab)
  25. There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqibsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. We're Alone: Essays by Edwidge Danticatsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Whiskey Tender by Deborah Taffasource (opens in a new tab)

Picture Books

  1. Animal Albums from A to Z by Cece Bellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Being Home by Traci Sorellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dog vs. Strawberry by Nelly Buchetsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Emergency Quarters by Carlos Matiassource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J. McDanielsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limónsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Joyful Song: A Naming Story by Lesléa Newmansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Just Like Millie by Lauren Castillosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunellesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Little Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshisource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Mabel Wants a Friend by Ariel Bernsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. My Daddy Is a Cowboy by Stephanie Sealessource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Tamales for Christmas by Stephen Briseñosource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Last Stand by Antwan Eadysource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Pelican Can! by Toni Yulysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Squish by Breanna Carzoosource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Table by Winsome Bingham and Wiley Blevinssource (opens in a new tab)
  18. We Are Definitely Human by X. Fangsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America by Joanna Hosource (opens in a new tab)
  20. You Broke It! by Liana Fincksource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. A Year of Last Things by Michael Ondaatjesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bluff by Danez Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Solutions for the Problem of Bodies in Space by Catherine Barnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Invention of the Darling by Li-Young Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Wrong Norma by Anne Carsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Religion

  1. Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church by Eliza Griswoldsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Heretic: Jesus Christ and the Other Sons of God by Catherine Nixeysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamottsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World by Sharon Broussource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Bible: A Global History by Bruce Gordonsource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williamssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Novel Love Story by Ashley Postonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrunsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Prospects by KT Hoffmansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryansource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Memorials by Richard Chizmarsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Metal from Heaven by August Clarkesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Midnight Rooms by Donyae Colessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Ricesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The City in Glass by Nghi Vosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, translated by Jesse Kirkwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Coreysource (opens in a new tab)

Top 10

  1. All Fours by Miranda Julysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land by Rebecca Naglesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Herscht 07769 by László Krasznahorkai, translated by Ottilie Mulzetsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. James by Percival Everettsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. My Friends by Hisham Matarsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde by Alexis Pauline Gumbssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Book of Love by Kelly Linksource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Heart That Fed: A Father, a Son, and the Long Shadow of War by Carl Sciacchitanosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powerssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s by John Ganzsource (opens in a new tab)

Young Adult

  1. Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia A. Colesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brownstone by Samuel Teersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph Whitesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribaysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I'd Known by George M. Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Icarus by K. Ancrumsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívarsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobellsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire by Paula Yoosource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Songlight by Moira Buffinisource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Brightwood Code by Monica Hessesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertagsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Dividing Sky by Jill Tewsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Twenty-Four Seconds from Now... by Jason Reynoldssource (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 2024