Best Books of 2023

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Best Books of 2023 - Amazon.com
The Amazon Editors' #1 Book of 2023
Irresistible. We fell in love with this cacophonous cast of characters and McBride's unforgettable story of a small community. It's a profound as it is ingeniously entertaining, making it one of the great American novels of our time.
Top 20 Books of the Year
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  1. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel
    The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel
    James McBride
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
    40,170
  2. The Berry Pickers: A Novel
    The Berry Pickers: A Novel
    Amanda Peters
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $27.00
    9,005
  3. The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
    The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
    Michael Finkel
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $28.00
    3,955
  4. Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Book 1)
    Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Book 1)
    Rebecca Yarros
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $29.99
    184,641
  5. King: A Life
    King: A Life
    Jonathan Eig
    Kindle Edition
    $16.99 $35.00
    781
  6. Wellness: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)
    Wellness: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)
    Nathan Hill
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $30.00
    3,004
  7. The Covenant of Water (Oprah's Book Club)
    The Covenant of Water (Oprah's Book Club)
    Abraham Verghese
    Kindle Edition
    $9.24 $28.00
    61,616
  8. Holly
    Holly
    Stephen King
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $30.00
    29,167
  9. Elon Musk
    Elon Musk
    Walter Isaacson
    Kindle Edition
    $16.99 $35.00
    13,561
  10. Small Mercies: A Detective Mystery
    Small Mercies: A Detective Mystery
    Dennis Lehane
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
    15,667
  11. Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
    Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
    Ann Napolitano
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $28.00
    72,856
  12. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
    The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
    David Grann
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $30.00
    25,547
  13. Let Us Descend: A Novel
    Let Us Descend: A Novel
    Jesmyn Ward
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
    1,786
  14. Age of Vice: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
    Age of Vice: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
    Deepti Kapoor
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
    4,336
  15. The Future
    The Future
    Naomi Alderman
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $28.99
    1,124
  16. Bright Young Women: A Novel
    Bright Young Women: A Novel
    Jessica Knoll
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
    6,564
  17. Pomegranate: A Novel
    Pomegranate: A Novel
    Helen Elaine Lee
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $18.99
    402
  18. The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel (Molly the Maid Book 2)
    The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel (Molly the Maid Book 2)
    Nita Prose
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $29.00
    7,605
  19. Flee North: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery's Borderland
    Flee North: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery's Borderland
    Scott Shane
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
    70
  20. All the Sinners Bleed: A Novel
    All the Sinners Bleed: A Novel
    S. A. Cosby
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
    11,451
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Editors' Personal Picks
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Holly by Stephen King
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
Pomegranate by Helen Elaine Lee
Best Kids' Books of 2023
Amazon editors' top 100
Holiday gift picks
Amazon Book Review
Best Best Books by Category
BIOGRAPHIES & MEMOIRS
BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
COOKBOOKS, FOOD & WINE
HISTORY
LITERATURE & FICTION
MYSTERY, THRILLER & SUSPENSE
NONFICTION
ROMANCE
SCIENCE
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
TEEN & YOUNG ADULT
Previous Years' Picks
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Best Books of 2022

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  1. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A novel
    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A novel
    Gabrielle Zevin
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $28.00
    89,673
  2. Solito: A Memoir
    Solito: A Memoir
    Javier Zamora
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $18.00
    7,095
  3. Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again
    Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again
    Johann Hari
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99
    6,702
  4. Fairy Tale
    Fairy Tale
    Stephen King
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $20.00
    58,804
  5. Horse: A Novel
    Horse: A Novel
    Geraldine Brooks
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99 $19.00
    38,005
  6. Carrie Soto Is Back: A Novel
    Carrie Soto Is Back: A Novel
    Taylor Jenkins Reid
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
    35,925
  7. Demon Copperhead: A Pulitzer Prize Winner
    Demon Copperhead: A Pulitzer Prize Winner
    Barbara Kingsolver
    Kindle Edition
    $16.99
    97,465
  8. Our Missing Hearts: Reese's Book Club (A Novel)
    Our Missing Hearts: Reese's Book Club (A Novel)
    Celeste Ng
    Kindle Edition
    $6.99 $18.00
    20,353
  9. The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World
    The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World
    Jonathan Freedland
    Kindle Edition
    $1.99
    5,382
  10. City on Fire: A Novel (The Danny Ryan Trilogy Book 1)
    City on Fire: A Novel (The Danny Ryan Trilogy Book 1)
    Don Winslow
    Kindle Edition
    $11.49 $18.99
    10,686
  11. Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel
    Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel
    Bonnie Garmus
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
    278,166
  12. Sea of Tranquility: A novel
    Sea of Tranquility: A novel
    Emily St. John Mandel
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99 $17.00
    26,693
  13. I'm Glad My Mom Died
    I'm Glad My Mom Died
    Jennette Mccurdy
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $27.99
    66,986
  14. All the Broken Places: A Novel
    All the Broken Places: A Novel
    John Boyne
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $18.86
    16,131
  15. Take My Hand
    Take My Hand
    Dolen Perkins-Valdez
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99 $17.00
    9,577
  16. The Door of No Return
    The Door of No Return
    Kwame Alexander
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99 $16.99
    252
  17. Butts: A Backstory
    Butts: A Backstory
    Heather Radke
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99
    233
  18. Memphis: A Novel
    Memphis: A Novel
    Tara M. Stringfellow
    Kindle Edition
    $8.99
    5,148
  19. The Maid: A Novel (Molly the Maid Book 1)
    The Maid: A Novel (Molly the Maid Book 1)
    Nita Prose
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
    90,564
  20. Book Lovers
    Book Lovers
    Emily Henry
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
    78,202
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Best Books of 2021

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  1. The Lincoln Highway: A Novel
    The Lincoln Highway: A Novel
    Amor Towles
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
    81,366
  2. Crying in H Mart: A Memoir
    Crying in H Mart: A Memoir
    Michelle Zauner
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $17.00
    22,510
  3. The Plot: A Novel (The Book Series 1)
    The Plot: A Novel (The Book Series 1)
    Jean Hanff Korelitz
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99 $13.47
    22,063
  4. How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America
    How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America
    Clint Smith
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99 $18.99
    4,808
  5. The Four Winds: A Novel
    The Four Winds: A Novel
    Kristin Hannah
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99
    151,494
  6. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
    Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
    Patrick Radden Keefe
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $18.00
    11,754
  7. Harlem Shuffle: A Novel
    Harlem Shuffle: A Novel
    Colson Whitehead
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99 $17.00
    13,994
  8. Great Circle: A Novel (Man Booker Prize Finalist)
    Great Circle: A Novel (Man Booker Prize Finalist)
    Maggie Shipstead
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
    15,816
  9. Project Hail Mary: A Novel
    Project Hail Mary: A Novel
    Andy Weir
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $20.00
    119,812
  10. Klara and the Sun: A novel
    Klara and the Sun: A novel
    Kazuo Ishiguro
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99
    50,404
  11. Razorblade Tears: A Novel
    Razorblade Tears: A Novel
    S. A. Cosby
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
    13,123
  12. Sankofa: A Novel
    Sankofa: A Novel
    Chibundu Onuzo
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
    5,317
  13. The Beatryce Prophecy
    The Beatryce Prophecy
    Kate DiCamillo, Sophie Blackall
    Kindle Edition
    $9.11 $14.99
    1,281
  14. What Storm, What Thunder
    What Storm, What Thunder
    Myriam JA Chancy
    Kindle Edition
    $13.49 $17.95
    239
  15. Beautiful World, Where Are You: A Novel
    Beautiful World, Where Are You: A Novel
    Sally Rooney
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99 $18.00
    24,269
  16. The Sentence
    The Sentence
    Louise Erdrich
    Kindle Edition
    $15.99 $19.00
    8,250
  17. When Ghosts Come Home: A Novel
    When Ghosts Come Home: A Novel
    Wiley Cash
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $17.99
    1,402
  18. The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel
    The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel
    Laura Dave
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $17.99
    151,138
  19. Count the Ways: A Novel
    Count the Ways: A Novel
    Joyce Maynard
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
    5,992
  20. Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
    Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
    Brené Brown
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $30.00
    19,716
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Best Books of 2020

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  1. A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom
    A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom
    Brittany K. Barnett
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99 $18.00
    1,736
  2. Migrations: A Novel
    Migrations: A Novel
    Charlotte McConaghy
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99
    11,712
  3. Blacktop Wasteland: A Novel
    Blacktop Wasteland: A Novel
    S. A. Cosby
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99 $16.99
    10,031
  4. Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life
    Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life
    Christie Tate
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99
    5,031
  5. The Vanishing Half: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
    The Vanishing Half: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
    Brit Bennett
    Kindle Edition
    $10.99 $18.00
    122,076
  6. Fifty Words for Rain: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
    Fifty Words for Rain: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
    Asha Lemmie
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99 $17.00
    12,338
  7. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
    Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
    Isabel Wilkerson
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $21.00
    45,022
  8. The Girl with the Louding Voice: A Read with Jenna Pick (A Novel)
    The Girl with the Louding Voice: A Read with Jenna Pick (A Novel)
    Abi Daré
    Kindle Edition
    $13.99 $17.00
    20,350
  9. Memorial: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
    Memorial: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
    Bryan Washington
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
    2,813
  10. Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
    Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
    Robert Kolker
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99 $17.00
    20,061
  11. Mexican Gothic
    Mexican Gothic
    Silvia Moreno-Garcia
    Kindle Edition
    $8.99 $17.00
    29,658
  12. Dear Child: A Novel
    Dear Child: A Novel
    Romy Hausmann
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99 $16.99
    7,385
  13. A Burning: A Read with Jenna Pick
    A Burning: A Read with Jenna Pick
    Megha Majumdar
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99 $16.00
    5,106
  14. Luster: A Novel
    Luster: A Novel
    Raven Leilani
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
    8,172
  15. Oona Out of Order: A Novel
    Oona Out of Order: A Novel
    Margarita Montimore
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99 $17.99
    8,084
  16. Sigh, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In
    Sigh, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In
    Phuc Tran
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99 $19.99
    1,047
  17. Pretty Things: A Novel
    Pretty Things: A Novel
    Janelle Brown
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
    14,612
  18. Deacon King Kong (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
    Deacon King Kong (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
    James McBride
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99 $15.25
    19,848
  19. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
    The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
    V. E. Schwab
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99 $19.99
    84,448
  20. Midnight Sun (The Twilight Saga)
    Midnight Sun (The Twilight Saga)
    Stephenie Meyer
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99 $17.99
    34,493
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FAQs

What is the Best Books of the Year program?

The Amazon Books’ Editorial team reads more than a thousand books annually to inform our Best Books of the Month and Year lists. Each month we pick incredible reads that delight, inform, and intrigue, across popular categories like fiction, nonfiction, mystery, history, sci-fi, romance, children’s, and more.

We champion books we love, and that we think will resonate with every type of reader. At the end of the year, we look back at our monthly picks, and also consider other titles, before casting our ballots—ultimately agreeing on our Best Books of the Year.

You may recognize some of your favorite authors and best-selling books, and we’ll also help you discover some hidden gems and debuts. No matter what you like to read, you’ll find something to add to your TBR list—and plenty to give as holiday gifts.

Can I suggest a book to be considered for the Best Books of the Year list?

The books included in the Best Books program are hand-selected by the Amazon Books’ Editorial team, and are not influenced by sales, paid placements, or publishers. Our team reads broadly and deeply, and we’re passionate about uniting readers of all ages and tastes with their next favorite reads, helping our customers find terrific gifts for book lovers, and shining a spotlight on the best books by exceptional authors of all stripes.

Do you have a newsletter or notification service for book updates?

Yes! We publish daily on the Amazon Book Review, including author interviews, celebrity recommendations, ideas on what to read next, and our Best Books of the Month and Year lists. If you’re interested in receiving weekly updates from the Amazon editors, subscribe to our newsletter HERE to stay in the know of everything happening in the world of books.

What are the best books to read from this list? (topic-wise)

Last updated: Nov 15, 2023