Best Books of the Year
Menu

Library Journal

Library Journal Best Books 2023

Library Journal Best Books 2023 names 149 books across 15 categories. 55 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Arts & Humanities

  1. And Don’t F&%k It Up: An Oral History of RuPaul’s Drag Race (The First Ten Years) by Maria Elena Fernandezsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Art of Custom Sneakers: How To Create One-of-a-Kind Kicks; Paint, Splatter, Dip, Drip, and Color by Xavier Kickzsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. August Wilson: A Life by Patti Hartigansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bogie & Bacall: The Surprising True Story of Hollywood’s Greatest Love Affair by William J. Mannsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy by Charles Buschsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Lives of the Wives: Five Literary Marriages by Carmela Ciurarusource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Living Theravada: Demystifying the People, Places, and Practices of a Buddhist Tradition by Brooke Schednecksource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Loving Our Own Bones: Disability Wisdom and the Spiritual Subversiveness of Knowing Ourselves Whole by Julia Watts Belsersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Madonna: A Rebel Life by Mary Gabrielsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson by Ashley Brownsource (opens in a new tab)

Biography & Memoir

  1. A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, a History, a Memorial by Viet Thanh Nguyensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Floppy: Tales of a Genetic Freak of Nature at the End of the World by Alyssa Graybealsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. How To Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclairsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I Would Meet You Anywhere: A Memoir by Susan Kiyo Itosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. King: A Life by Jonathan Eigsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming by Ava Chinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sufferah: The Memoir of a Brixton Reggae-Head by Alex Wheatlesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Loneliness Files: A Memoir in Essays by Athena Dixonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Race To Be Myself: A Memoir by Caster Semenyasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Cooking

  1. 100 Morning Treats: With Muffins, Rolls, Biscuits, Sweet and Savory Breakfast Breads, and More by Sarah Kieffersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. 50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the United States Through Pie by Stacey Mei Yan Fongsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice: Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pomegranates and Artichokes: A Food Journey from Iran to Italy by Saghar Setarehsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit by Abra Berenssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Smithsonian American Table: The Foods, People, and Innovations That Feed Us by Smithsonian Institutionsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Snacking Bakes: Simple Recipes for Cookies, Bars, Brownies, Cakes, and More by Yossy Arefisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook by Sohla El-Wayllysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Vegan Vietnamese: Vibrant Plant-Based Recipes To Enjoy Every Day by Helen Lesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Yogurt & Whey: Recipes of an Iranian Immigrant Life by Homa Dashtakisource (opens in a new tab)

Crime Fiction

  1. A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Raosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosbysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashitasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Fall by Tracy Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Guilt Strikes at Granger’s Store by Terry Shamessource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Small Mercies by Dennis Lehanesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Golden Gate by Amy Chuasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Secret Hours by Mick Herronsource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novels

  1. Impossible People: A Completely Average Recovery Story by Julia Wertzsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Mister Mammoth by Matt Kindtsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Monica by Daniel Clowessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Public Domain, Vol. 1: Past Mistakes by Chip Zdarskysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed, translated by Deena Mohamedsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Naked Tree by Park Wan-suh, translated by Janet Hongsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Talk by Darrin Bellsource (opens in a new tab)

Horror

  1. A Light Most Hateful by Hailey Pipersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Camp Damascus by Chuck Tinglesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Chlorine by Jade Songsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. How To Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrixsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Lone Women by Victor LaVallesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Spin a Black Yarn: Novellas by Josh Malermansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Reformatory by Tananarive Duesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khawsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Shoemaker’s Magician by Cynthia Pelayosource (opens in a new tab)

Literary Fiction

  1. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Like the Appearance of Horses by Andrew Krivaksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. North Woods by Daniel Masonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghesesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Fraud by Zadie Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBridesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Light at the End of the World by Siddhartha Debsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Wren, the Wren by Anne Enrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. This Other Eden by Paul Hardingsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Tremor by Teju Colesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Wellness by Nathan Hillsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Calligraphies: Poems by Marilyn Hackersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. From From: Poems by Monica Younsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. How Fire Descends: New and Selected Poems by Serhiy Zhadansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. School of Instructions: A Poem by Ishion Hutchinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. So To Speak by Terrance Hayessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Tanya: Poems by Brenda Shaughnessysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Many Hundreds of the Scent: Poems by Shane McCraesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. To 2040 by Jorie Grahamsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. West: A Translation by Paisley Rekdalsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. What You Want: Poems by Maureen N. McLanesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. suddenly we by Evie Shockleysource (opens in a new tab)

Pop Fiction

  1. A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Portersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkaisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Lucky Red by Claudia Cravenssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. One Blood by Denene Millnersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissnersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapmansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Breakaway by Jennifer Weinersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Flames by Sophie Haydocksource (opens in a new tab)
  9. What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménezsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Yellowface by R.F. Kuangsource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. All the Right Notes by Dominic Limsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ana María and the Fox by Liana De la Rosasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Chef’s Choice by TJ Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langstonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Georgie, All Along by Kate Claybornsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. How To Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adlersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winsteadsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charlessource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holtonsource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy

  1. Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyahsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Generation Ship by Michael Mammaysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Teshsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parrysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Oldersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Terraformers by Annalee Newitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Translation State by Ann Leckiesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbullsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. World Running Down by Al Hesssource (opens in a new tab)

Science & Technology

  1. Hospital City, Health Care Nation: Race, Capital, and the Costs of American Health Care by Guian A. McKeesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Mountains of Fire: The Menace, Meaning, and Magic of Volcanoes by Clive Oppenheimersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Policing Pregnant Bodies: From Ancient Greece to Post-Roe America by Kathleen M. Crowthersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rekha’s Kitchen Garden: Seasonal Produce and Homegrown Wisdom from a Year in One Gardener’s Plot by Rekha Mistrysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden by Camille T. Dungysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Hank Show: How a House-Painting, Drug-Running DEA Informant Built the Machine That Rules Our Lives by McKenzie Funksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Voices of Nature: How and Why Animals Communicate by Nicolas Mathevonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Yellowstone’s Birds: Diversity and Abundance in the World’s First National Park by Douglas W. Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Short Stories

  1. After the Funeral and Other Stories by Tessa Hadleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Disruptions: Stories by Steven Millhausersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Holler, Child: Stories by LaToya Watkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. House Gone Quiet: Stories by Kelsey Norrissource (opens in a new tab)
  5. I Am My Country: And Other Stories by Kenan Orhansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Lily by E. Yusource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Normal Rules Don’t Apply: Stories by Kate Atkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sidle Creek: Stories by Jolene McIlwainsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Hive and the Honey: Stories by Paul Yoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Wednesday’s Child: Stories by Yiyun Lisource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Witness: Stories by Jamel Brinkleysource (opens in a new tab)

Social Sciences

  1. A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot To Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ayu by L. Saraswatisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Black Grief/White Grievance: The Politics of Loss by Juliet Hookersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Holy American Burnout!: Essays by Sean Enfieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Living the Vanlife: On the Road Toward Sustainability, Community, and Joy by Noami J. Grevembergsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmondsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Bars Are Ours: Histories and Cultures of Gay Bars in America, 1960 and After by Lucas Hilderbrandsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Kneeling Man: My Father’s Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. by Leta McCollough Seletzkysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure by Maggie Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Until Our Lungs Give Out: Conversations on Race, Justice, and the Future by George Yancysource (opens in a new tab)

World Literature

  1. A Present Past: Titan and Other Chronicles by Sergei Lebedev, translated by Antonina W. Bouissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop, translated by Sam Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Greek Lessons by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Wonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I Went To See My Father by Kyung-Sook Shin, translated by Anton Hursource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Michael Hofmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Milwaukee Blues by Louis-Philippe Dalembert, translated by Marjolijn de Jagersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Professor Schiff’s Guilt by Agur Schiff, translated by Jessica Cohensource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Body of the Soul: Stories by Ludmila Ulitskayasource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Postcard by Anne Berest, translated by Tina Koversource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Suicide Museum by Ariel Dorfmansource (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 2023