Year archive

Best books of 2021

Books selected by independent literary juries and editorial teams in 2021, gathered into one transparent, source-linked reading list. The chronology uses the award year for prizes and list year for editorial recommendations.

Selections
388
Authors
385
Lists & prizes
16

Showing 97–144 of 388

2021Nonfiction

Folklorn

Angela Mi Young Hur

NPR Books We Love

2021Poetry

Girlhood

Melissa Febos

NPR Books We Love

2021Fiction & literature

Hard Like Water

Yan Lianke, translated by Carlos Rojas

NPR Books We Love

2021Poetry

Hoarders

Kate Durbin

NPR Books We Love

2021Fiction & literature

Honey Girl

Morgan Rogers

NPR Books We Love

2021Science fiction & fantasy

Jade Legacy

Fonda Lee

NPR Books We Love