Best Books of the Year
Menu

Library Journal

Library Journal Best Books 2021

Library Journal Best Books 2021 names 143 books across 15 categories. 54 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Arts & Humanities

  1. A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqibsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping by Matthew Salessessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. by Daniel De Visésource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lolita in the Afterlife: On Beauty, Risk, and Reckoning with the Most Indelible and Shocking Novel of the Twentieth Century by Jenny Minton Quigleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres by Kelefa Sannehsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Shooting Midnight Cowboy: Art, Sex, Loneliness, Liberation, and the Making of a Dark Classic by Glenn Frankelsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop by Clover Hopesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Women in the Picture: What Culture Does with Female Bodies by Catherine McCormacksource (opens in a new tab)

Biography & Memoir

  1. Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouadsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zaunersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. My Remarkable Journey by Katherine Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Poet Warrior by Joy Harjosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broomesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Fordsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood by Dawn Turnersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement by Tarana Burkesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Unprotected by Billy Portersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamasource (opens in a new tab)

Cooking

  1. Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora by Bryant Terrysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bress ’n’ Nyam: Gullah Geechee Recipes from a Sixth-Generation Farmer by Matthew Raiford and Amy Paige Condonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dada Eats Love To Cook It: 100 Plant-Based Recipes for Everyone at Your Table; An Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook by Samah Dadasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Flavors of the Sun: The Sahadi’s Guide to Understanding, Buying, and Using Middle Eastern Ingredients by Christine Sahadi Whelansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Grains for Every Season: Rethinking Our Way with Grains by Joshua McFadden and Martha Holmbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Jew-Ish: A Cookbook: Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch by Jake Cohensource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Life Is What You Bake It: Recipes, Stories, and Inspiration To Bake Your Way to the Top; A Baking Book by Vallery Lomassource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Mooncakes and Milk Bread: Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Chinese Bakeries by Kristina Chosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Pati Jinich Treasures of the Mexican Table: Classic Recipes, Local Secrets by Pati Jinichsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day by Rodney Scott and Lolis Eric Eliesource (opens in a new tab)

Crime Fiction

  1. Clark and Division by Naomi Hiraharasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dream Girl by Laura Lippmansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whiteheadsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lightning Strike by William Kent Kruegersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosbysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Killing Hills by Chris Offuttsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Turnout by Megan Abbottsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Tricky by Josh Stallingssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novels

  1. Asadora, Vol. 1 by Naoki Urasawasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bliss by Sean Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Everyone Is Tulip by Dave Bakersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I Cannot Reach You by Mika, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cashsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Monster by Barry Windsor-Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness by Kristen Radtkesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sensor by Junji Itosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Solo Leveling by Chugong, translated by Hye Young Imsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Stone Fruit by Lai Leesource (opens in a new tab)

Horror

  1. Body Shocks by Ellen Datlowsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Goddess of Filth by V. Castrosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Queen of Teeth by Hailey Pipersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Reprieve by James Han Mattsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendigsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrixsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRoccasource (opens in a new tab)

Literary Fiction

  1. Bewilderment by Richard Powerssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth by Wole Soyinkasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerrsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Matrix by Lauren Groffsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quadesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.source (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Removed by Brandon Hobsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. What Storm, What Thunder by Myriam J.A. Chancysource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. A Thousand Times You Lose Your Treasure by Hoa Nguyensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Double Trio: Tej Bet, So’s Notice, Nerve Church by Nathaniel Mackeysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Floaters: Poems by Martín Espadasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pilgrim Bell: Poems by Kaveh Akbarsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Stones: Poems by Kevin Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Tethered to Stars: Poems by Fady Joudahsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Renunciations by Donika Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Wild Fox of Yemen by Threa Almontasersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Vertigo & Ghost: Poems by Fiona Bensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Winter Recipes from the Collective: Poems by Louise Glücksource (opens in a new tab)

Pop Fiction

  1. A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chancesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Annie and the Wolves by Andromeda Romano-Laxsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. L.A. by María Amparo Escandónsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidgesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Nightbitch by Rachel Yodersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrinosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Great Mistake by Jonathan Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murraysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adamssource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Dariasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words by Annika Sharmasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albertsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Subtle Blood by KJ Charlessource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Love Con by Seressia Glasssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridleysource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy

  1. A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrowsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Domesticating Dragons by Dan Koboldtsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbullsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weirsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Surisource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Unbroken by C.L. Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwellsource (opens in a new tab)

Science & Technology

  1. A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds by Scott Weidensaulsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fear of a Black Universe: An Outsider’s Guide to the Future of Physics by Stephon Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simardsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roachsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Life’s Edge: The Search for What It Means To Be Alive by Carl Zimmersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Brilliant Abyss: Exploring the Majestic Hidden Life of the Deep Ocean, and the Looming Threat That Imperils It by Helen Scalessource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Disordered Cosmos: A Journeyinto Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans by Cynthia Barnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbertsource (opens in a new tab)

Short Stories

  1. Afterparties: Stories by Anthony Veasna Sosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Filthy Animals: Stories by Brandon Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. First Person Singular: Stories by Haruki Murakamisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Look for Me and I’ll Be Gone: Stories by John Edgar Widemansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Monizsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Prayer for the Living: Stories by Ben Okrisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Songs for the Flames: Stories by JuanGabriel Vásquez, translated by Anne McLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. That Old Country Music: Stories by Kevin Barrysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Souvenir Museum: Stories by Elizabeth McCrackensource (opens in a new tab)

Social Sciences

  1. All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Milessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s by Elizabeth Hintonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City by Andrea Elliottsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Soul City: Race, Equality, and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia by Thomas Healysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood by Mark Oppenheimersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America by Carol Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGheesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Trouble with White Women: A Counterhistory of Feminism by Kyla Schullersource (opens in a new tab)

World Literature

  1. After the Sun by Jonas Eika, translated by Sherilyn Nicolette Hellbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bolla by Pajtim Statovci, translated by David Hackstonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brotherhood by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, translated by Alexia Trigosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Art of Losing by Alice Zeniter, translated by Frank Wynnesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Book of Mother by Violaine Huisman, translated by Leslie Camhisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Death of Murat Idrissi by Tommy Wieringa, translated by Sam Garrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Italian by Shukri Mabkhout, translated by Miled Faiza and Karen McNeilsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Twilight Zone by Nona Fernández, translated by Natasha Wimmersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Zabor, or The Psalms by Kamel Daoud, translated by Emma Ramadansource (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 2021