Attack of the Best Lists 2024: LitHub's Best Book Coverage Including the Ultimate Best List

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Attack of the Best Lists 2024" coverage [and more backlist best of the year options] you can click here. 

This is my last Attack of the Best Lists post of the year, although I will be revisiting all of this for my 2024 installment of Keeping Up with Books: Year in Review with Yaika Sabat for Novelist. It will be FREE and in February. Details soon, but here is the link describing the 2023 program so you get a sense of what to expect.

But back to day. Here is the list we all have been waiting for-- LitHub's aggregation of all the major best lists. From the landing page:

The Ultimate Best Books of 2024 List
Reading All the Lists So You Don’t Have To Since 2017
By Emily Temple 

The end of the year is approaching, the universe is expanding, and the internet is updating—right now, it is mostly updating its Best Of lists. Therefore, per Literary Hub tradition, I now present to you the Ultimate List, otherwise known as the List of Lists—in which I read all the Best Of lists and count which books are recommended most. 

In all the time I’ve done this, I’ve never seen a book run away with this list like Percival Everett’s James has this year: it was recommended a full dozen more times than the next most popular books. (It also won the National Book Award and the Kirkus Award, and was a finalist for the Booker—and with good reason.) 

Overall, this year, I processed 69 lists from 39 outlets, which collectively recommended more than 1,200 individual books (RIP my spreadsheet). As always, these are probably not all the lists, but all universes have to end sometime. Anyway, 90 of those books made it onto 5 or more lists, and I have collated these for you here, in descending order of frequency.

This is the only single list you need to look at because Temple has done the most focused work of anyone out there. And the results, are RA gold for you. The post she has created seamlessly combines adult fiction, nonfiction, and GNs into one list. Further, she not only does the compiling for you, the sources are listed and linked (!) at the bottom of the page, so you can have DIRECT access to the 69 most influential publications' best lists, and the aggregation of which titles are on the most lists, with just this one click. It is crowdsourcing first, but also, a resource to dive deeper, all in one place.

But wait, there's more....

Multiple layer of backlist and indexing are happening here, meaning you can embrace "Best" across multiple years. Reminder, "Best" titles have a longer shelf life than the current year. Last year's best titles, even 5 years ago, are great suggestions for a wide swath of readers. Here's how LitHub makes it easy, all year long, with their clear, consistent, and accessible tags at the bottom of their posts:

• Click here for every Ultimate Best List going back to 2017. And not just end of the year Ultimate Lists
• Click here  and here for all of LitHub's Best Books 2024 coverage, which look at everything from best books to biggest news stories (the top 50) to covers to genre reads, and more. They split the tags this year by mistake. Use both links. 
• I really like this list-- the best old and new books the Lit Hub staff read in 2024.
• You can scroll to the bottom of any of the posts in the "Ultimate Best List" link and click on the page for that year's full Best Books Coverage. So, when you click on "The Ultimate Best Books of 2022 List" you can scroll to the bottom of that post and then click on the tag, "Best of 2022" for full coverage from that year. This can be repeated going back to 2017.
• Also, I wanted to remind people of the extremely useful Best of the Decade lists they made in 2019. Those are also a great "best" resource, one that truly embraces the treasure trove that is the backlist.

All of these tags pull up useful information in reverse chronological order, meaning you decide how far into the backlist you want to dig.

But wait, there is even more...

LitHub owns CrimeReads and they have their own Best of 2024 lists (but no useful tags to collection them all. Here are those best lists:

• Best Crime Novels of 2024
• Best True Crime Memoirs of 2024
• Best Debut Crime Novels of 2024
• Best Gothic Novels of 2024
• Best Espionage Fiction of 2024
• Best Speculative Crime Fiction of 2024
• Best Historical Fiction of 2024
• Best Horror Fiction of 2024

I AM NOT DONE YET. I told you I was saving the best for last. 

LitHub also owns Book Marks a review aggregator. Full disclosure, they include Booklist and Library Journal so my reviews are part of this database. Here are their best reviewed fiction and nonfiction of 2024.

Okay, now that is the end. The final day of Attack of the Best Lists 2024. But please remember, you can use these lists all year long and the back lists as well. Click here for my Attack of the Best Lists consolidated coverage for 2023, 2022, and 2021. And note, each of those posts goes into the backlist for each list as well. going back to 2021 will take you back even further. There are literally hundred of titles here for you with one or 2 clicks that are sure to be on your shelves and satisfy a wide range of readers. 

Back Monday and Tuesday with my most popular posts and my favorite reads of the year. Until then, stay safe.

Attack of the Best Lists 2023: BookPage and Book Riot

 This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Attack of the Best Lists 2023" coverage [and more backlist best of the year options] you can click here.

Friday I had a post about best lists from the widest possible view, for anyone, even those who aren't big readers. But today, I want to focus on lists that are for committed readers. People who follow the book world a bit more closely. 

To be clear, when it comes to end of year best lists, it is a different audience. And what I do with these posts is to try to help you understand that every best lists has a different audience and you need to use that knowledge to help your readers better. 

If you learn nothing else from my Attack of the Best Lists series it should be this: Best lists are NEVER one size fits all.

The right list, used as a resource for the right type of reader will garner amazing results. The wrong list for that type of reader may still work, but not as well.

Let's start with a resource that most library workers and regular library users know and trust very well-- BookPage.

BookPage is the newspaper that most libraries have available for patrons to take for free at their service desks. They have released their Top 10 books for 2023 in print and online. They have titles for al types of readers, yes, but also, these are books that they know have worked well for a wide swath of each type of reader as well. 

Click here for that list with fiction, nonfiction, adult, YA and MG. It also includes multiple genre choices including one of my top reads of the year, Lone Women by Victor LaValle.

But more importantly, they also have easy access on that page to all of the 2023 lists of best books by genre AND one click access to the lists going back to 2019. This is a one stop shop for you and your patrons to find "best" titles from this year and the recent backlist.

Next up is the unique Best Books list from Book Riot. 

But first, as I have said here on the blog many times, Book Riot is the best resource to see what hard core readers are interested in. Book Riot is the largest independent website focused on readers. All of their content is directed at readers directly. They want to get the most clicks as well, which means their content is purposefully up to date, interesting, and written in a conversational tone. It is exactly what we need to stay on top of the hottest trends because it is their mission to provide the most "clickable" content to readers, meaning they have the time and resources to do this work for us. Everything there is reader focused which dovetails perfectly with RA Service.

Their best books of the year site is made by having each writer, editor, contributor, etc... give one title for their book of the year. Because each person who works for them has a slightly different specialty, the list covers all ages and genres by default. Also they have a commitment to providing diverse voices as part of their policy.

The editors then take all of the titles and allow you, the user of this resource to browse all or to click on tags in a sidebar to help narrow your choices down.

Click here to get started using it for yourself, to build displays, or to help a specific patron.

The only downside to this reader focused resource is that they do not have easy access to past lists on the current year's page. And when I try to search, the same site we have for 2023 is not available for past years. 

However, when I went to Largehearted Boy's Ultimate List of Lists for past years (more on this resource soon), I was able to get into the past Book Riot best lists with ease. I have posted them here for you, so you can have 1 click access from my blog:

• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019

Kelly Jensen also published her annual Best Book Covers of the year 2023 today. Please click here to see what else I have to say about how covers are a great way to start the RA conversation and that you can absolutely judge books by their covers in order to help readers.

Here is access (again thanks to Largehearted Boy) to the best covers backlists as well:

• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019

Best Books 2021: Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books and Insert Your Library Here

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Best Books 2021" series you can use the best lists tag. 

Yesterday, I mentioned how I do not post every single best list here, rather I focus on those that will help you the most. Well today I have an example of a list you can both use to help patrons AND to inspire you to make a similar list for your library.

Library generated best lists are one of your best end of year tools, especially when you use the largest library near your physical location as a guide. Why? Here are a few reasons:

1. Library generated best lists reflect the opinions of actual staff and readers. What did staff most enjoy and what was popular? It is not just critical acclaim or sales data. Remember bestselling mainstays like Daniel Silva, Louise Penny, and Colson Whitehead were extremely popular in libraries well before they became household names. Library workers and patrons often know what is popular and good long before the rest of the world catches up.
2. Library generated best lists take into consideration all ages of readers because they serve all ages of readers.
3. Library generated best lists always have genre choices because library workers know patrons love genre-- especially Romance and Crime Fiction.
4. Library generated best lists ALWAYS consider local or regional authors which is why I advocate for you to prioritize using the best list from the library in the largest city closest to you [in the same state if possible]. 
5. Library generated best lists are not commercial in anyway. There are no publishers submitting books to their sites. No one is buying ads to be include. There are no links to encourage those using the list to buy the titles. 

I could go on, but you get the point.

Click here to enter the site.

I am very lucky that my local large library system is the Chicago Public Library [there is a great branch 5 miles from my house, 2 turns to get there!] whose annual BEST OF THE BEST BOOKS is one of the best library generated best lists available anywhere. You all should use it.

From the BEST OF THE BEST landing page:

Chicago Public Library recommends the Best of the Best, our selections of the very best books published in 2021. Every year, our librarians evaluate the year’s new books and select the very best for Chicagoans — making these the only booklists for Chicago, by Chicago. Happy reading!

The list goes on the have books for Adults, Teens, Kids [down to birth] and this amazingly easy backlist access right at the bottom of the main page:

Past Best of the Best Selections

• Adults Best of the Best
• Teens Best of the Best
• Kids Best of the Best

Everyone everywhere can and should use this resource to help patrons, but I also want you to use this list as an inspiration to create your own best of the best. As CPL says about their lists [above], "making these the only booklists for Chicago, by Chicago. "

Yes, your library is not as large as CPL, but you easily can do a version for your community by your community. And you most definitely should NOT go at it alone. Get the entire staff involved.

Now I know you are thinking: "Becky, I am so overworked already. I do not have time to organize this."

Ahh, but you don't have to do much. Also, you should not try to emulate CPL, but rather make it your own. And I would suggest NOT limiting to titles that came out in 2021 or you will have less buy in.

Here is how you begin to create your "Favorite Reads of 2021" list at your library for your patrons.

Send out an email to all staff and ask them a few leading questions to make this process easy. I suggest using both of these:

• What is the most fun you had reading a book this year?
• What book surprised you the most this year?

Again make it clear that these items do NOT have to have a 2021 copyright nor do the titles have to come from the area in which the person works, and furthermore, they do not need to limit themselves to one or two-- let people go at it with their passion. Don't gate-keep the responses. Use them all no matter what your personal opinion about the "quality" of the title included happens to be.

The goal here is the have as many staff members participating as possible. The only rule is that it has to be something that you have in your collection. This also serves as a reminder to staff and patrons that "BEST" does not have an expiration date.

Also these questions work very well because they invoke an immediate emotional response. I know because I use them in my presentations as we begin as a way to get people in the correct frame of mind for the training I am about to provide. 

When you ask someone to name a "best" anything, they overthink it. Asking for most fun and or biggest surprise allows for a wider variety of responses, ones that are more personal and less self conscious.

Send out that all staff email this week and ask people to reply in the next week and watch the responses roll in. Your library's best list made by your community for your community will build itself. Gather all the responses and build a physical display, hopefully one that offers titles from across your collection in one place [so not just the youth books in the youth section, for example]. Add hyperlinks to the catalog and make a list for the website and social media. Print one out for patrons to take. Go one step further and put said print out [with call numbers] in every book on the hold shelf. 

Not only will everyone on staff who chooses to participate have fun, but it is a wonderful team building exercise as you will all learn something new about each other through an activity that is directly tied to your brand-- Books.

And your community gets it's own fancy best list just like the citizens of the big cities get.

Don't forget, by doing this list this year that means next year, when you do it again, you have just doubled your options of "best" books.

Thanks again to CPL for making one of the best "Best" books list of the year once again. Use it to help readers and as an inspiration to make your own version.

Attack of the Best Lists 2024: Audio Books Edition

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Attack of the Best Lists 2024" coverage [and more backlist best of the year options] you can click here. 

Today I have Audio specific 2024 best lists from Audible and AudioFile Magazine.

Both are separated into useful categories/genres and include extra appeal information in their reviews, most importantly, comments about the narrators. The Audible list includes Podcasts as well.

The appeal info is useful all year long, especially via AudioFile Magazine because they have reviews all year long, with monthly "earphone" winners-- think of that as equivalent to a star for a print book. And the reviews are written to help you match the audio with its best reader. I use AudioFile to help readers (including myself) all the time. It helps me help readers to figure out if they would prefer a specific title on audio versus print. I have had great success using it and honestly, have yet to find a better resource for Audio RA.

A few more notes about RA for Audio readers. For some readers, the format doesn't matter, they want the book they want as fast as possible. But for others, myself included, I prefer audio in specific genres (for me it is nonfiction and mystery). Still others use audio for commuting, exercising, shores, etc.... How and when people listen can matter for audio. These are considerations that need to come up in the RA conversation for audio readers.

A few more  things about these lists from you RA Service standpoint:

• You can use these lists to make displays online with links to eAudio-- use QR codes online AND in the stacks to provide easier access directly to your services where patrons can access them. Make lists on Libby to make it even easier for people to find the titles.
• You can use these lists to help fill out your in library displays even if ou have to put the print book on display. No one is double checking if you got the format correct and there is no library jail to send you to if they figure it out. With best lists, the more titles, the better.
• Some of the Audible best titles may not be available anywhere but Audible, but a quick glance  reveals that the big ones are going to be available on your library's eAudio streaming sites.
• Neither is great with obvious backlist access, so I have it here for you. The best audio books from the past few years will be on the shelf and are still a great listen. Remember, if a book is a few years old but the patron has not read it yet, it is still "new" to them:
• Audible Best of 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 (I love how Audible's presentation of these lists has changed so much over the 5 years listed. That alone illustrates how much the popularity of eAudio has exploded in the last few years)
• Audiofile's Best of 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
• Back to the first bullet point: if you make a list in Libby for this year's best audio, please go back and use the links I have provided to also make lists for the past few year's best audio. And link to this lists in other lists. See yesterday's Best of the Best post from Chicago Public Library for a great example of how to make sure past best lists are accounted for with a single click.

Attack of the Best Lists 2025: Audiobooks Edition

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Attack of the Best Lists 2025" coverage [and more backlist best of the year options] you can click here. 

Today I have Audio specific 2025 best lists from Audible and AudioFile Magazine.

Both are separated into useful categories/genres and include extra appeal information in their reviews, most importantly, comments about the narrators. The Audible list includes Podcasts as well.

The appeal info is useful all year long, especially via AudioFile Magazine because they have reviews all year long, with monthly "earphone" winners-- think of that as equivalent to a star for a print book. And the reviews are written to help you match the audio with its best reader. I use AudioFile to help readers (including myself) all the time. It helps me help readers to figure out if they would prefer a specific title on audio versus print. I have had great success using it and honestly, have yet to find a better resource for Audio RA.

A few more notes about RA for Audio readers. For some readers, the format doesn't matter, they want the book they want as fast as possible. But for others, myself included, I prefer audio in specific genres (for me it is nonfiction and mystery). Still others use audio for commuting, exercising, chores, etc.... How and when people listen can matter for audio. These are considerations that need to come up in the RA conversation for audio readers.

A few more  things about these lists from you RA Service standpoint:

• You can use these lists to make displays online with links to eAudio-- use QR codes online AND in the stacks to provide easier access directly to your services where patrons can access them. Make lists on Libby to make it even easier for people to find the titles.
• You can use these lists to help fill out your in library displays even if you put the print book on display. No one is double checking if you got the format correct and there is no library jail to send you to if they figure it out. With best lists, the more titles, the better. So you have the print in your department and not the audio, or the audio is e only. Who cares. Put that print version on the shelf.
• Some of the Audible best titles may not be available anywhere but Audible, but a quick glance  reveals that the big ones are going to be available on your library's eAudio streaming sites.
• Neither is great with obvious backlist access, so I have it here for you. The best audio books from the past few years will be on the shelf and are still a great listen. Remember, if a book is a few years old but the patron has not read it yet, it is still "new" to them:
• Audible Best of 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 (I love how Audible's presentation of these lists has changed so much over the 5 years listed. That alone illustrates how much the popularity of eAudio has exploded in the last few years)
• Audiofile's Best of 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
• Back to the first bullet point: if you make a list in Libby for this year's best audio, please go back and use the links I have provided to also make lists for the past few year's best audio. And link to this lists in other lists. See last week's Best of the Best post from Chicago Public Library for a great example of how to make sure past best lists are accounted for with a single click.

Attack of the Best Lists 2025: Barnes & Noble

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Attack of the Best Lists 2025" coverage [and more backlist best of the year options] you can click here.

Barnes & Noble has released their Best Books 2025 portal making them the first major outlet to release their list and they are covering a lot of bases with many categories including books in Spanish.

And for the second year in a row, this is also marks the beginning of my Attack of the Best Lists coverage for 2025. 

From the portal landing page: 

The Best Books of 2025

The wait is over – meet the best books of 2025. This year delivered stories that inspired us, magical tales that transported us, novels that made us fall in love and thrillers that kept us guessing. There were picture books that left us laughing and fiction that moved us, nonfiction that helped us thrive and gave us something to think about and cookbooks we couldn’t live without. Celebrate the books that kept us turning pages.

There are 19 categories for all ages here.

Of course B&N has more than one best list. The more the merrier in their eyes because ultimately they want to sell as many books as possible. And as the holidays and gift giving opportunities approach, they want it to be as easy as possible to help you find the right books for your people.

While getting the most sales is the reason, it is nice to see the categories themselves and the books found within as more inclusive than previous years. They have categories for Best Audiobooks, Best Spanish Books for adults and kids, and have multiple nonfiction categories. They are thinking about how people read and making sure they see a category that works for them or their friends and family.

Speaking of the ease at which the average reader can access enticing titles, keep a list of those B&N categories to use as display titles and conversation starters anytime of year.

You can make a display anytime of year with these categories as well especially if you use the backlist of best lists. So while at the end of a year you can use these categories as a way to ask patrons to weigh in on their best reads of the last year, you can also use these categories and the backlist "Best" options  to make genre or reading category displays anytime of year. 

Ask you patrons to help by using  this link to see how to turn a conversation starter into a display. 

Access the backlist of Best titles through with my attack of the best lists coverage from year to year to have all the best lists, from any of the past years, all in one. But specifically, here is the B&N Best Books portal from, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.

Look for MANY more "Attack of the Best Lists" post coming soon. 

Attack of the Best Lists 2024: Barnes & Noble

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Attack of the Best Lists 2024" coverage [and more backlist best of the year options] you can click here.

Barnes & Noble has released their Best Books 2024 portal making them the first major outlet to release their list and they are covering a lot of bases with many categories including books in Spanish.

And this also marks the beginning of my Attack of the Best Lists for 2024.

Of course B&N has more than one best list. The more the merrier in their eyes because ultimately they want to sell as many books as possible. And at the holidays (which the graphics clearly imply-- example image on the left), they want it to be as easy as possible to help you find the right books for your people.

While getting the most sales is the reason, it is nice to see the categories themselves and the books found within as more inclusive than previous years. They have categories for Best Audiobooks, Best Spanish Books for adults and kids, and have celebrity memoirs and general memoirs as separate categories. They are thinking about how people read and making sure they see a category that works for them or their friends and family.

Speaking of the ease at which the average reader can access enticing titles, keep a list of those B&N categories to use as display titles and conversation starters anytime of year.

You can make a display anytime of year with these categories as well especially if you use the backlist of best lists . So while at the end of a year you can use these categories as a way to ask patrons to weigh in on their best reads of the last year, you can also use these categories and the backlist "Best" options  to make genre or reading category displays anytime of year. 

Ask you patrons to help by using  this link to see how to turn a conversation starter into a display. 

Access the backlist of Best titles through with my attack of the best lists coverage from year to year to have all the best lists, from any of the past years, all in one. But specifically, here is the B&N Best Books portal from, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.

Look for more "Attack of the Best Lists" post coming soon.

Best Books 2021: Largehearted Boy's Online List of All the Best Lists

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Best Books 2021" series you can use the best lists tag.  

There are too many best lists. Just like I remind you that you will never read all the books, I want to also remind you that you will never see all the best lists. 

However, you can have an single archive of all the best lists that you can access to help readers thanks to Largehearted Boy's epic "Best of 2021" list.

This year marks the 14th year of this list of all of the lists! And you can scroll to the bottom of this year's archive for easy access to past year's lists  because [and I feel like a broken record] when it was best doesn't matter. If it was on a best list in the last 5 years it is still a great option for your readers right now.

A few notes about this awesome service Largehearted Boy provides each and every year because it is way more than just a lost of all the year-end lists.

• The scope of lists included is wide: It does not just include year-end best lists. This archives has links to every "Spotlight" issue Top Ten list from Booklist. Those are spread out over the course of the year. There are even some major genre awards included, and again, those are given out throughout the year not only at the year's end. 
• It is annotated: This means you can quickly scan the archive for your more specific requests. Someone wants ideas for great photography books, memoirs, crime fiction, kid's nonfiction, etc... it is very easy to grab a list or two to help that reader.
• It is a great outside the box recommendation tool: Are you having a hard time helping a patron who cannot easily articulate what they are in the mood to read? This is a common issue. Well this list of lists provides its own conversation starters to help your patrons help you to help them better. When someone is looking for a suggestion and gives you nothing more than they want a good read, why not ask them what their favorite magazine or website is. Then you can look for it in this archive and go directly to that resource's list. Or, use the listed lists there to start the RA conversation. Read off some of the options such as BBC History Magazine or Financial Times. Whether they are interested in those resources or not, patrons will be drawn into a conversation about all of the varied resources at your disposal, hence beginning a more fruitful conversation about what they are looking for. 

Bookmark the Largehearted Boy Online Best of 2021 list [with its backlist access] to use throughout the year. You will thank me later when you get an obscure request and it helps you help that reader quickly and easily.

Best Books 2021: Barnes and Noble Book of the Year Finalists

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Best Books 2021" series you can use the best lists tag. 

Halloween is over. November has begun. And now, the attack of the year end best lists begins in earnest.

I alerted you [here] to the bellwether for all best lists, the PW Best Books portal, which came out already, but now you should expect different opinion on "the best" to be coming at you multiple times a week for the last 2 months of the year. 

Today I want to alert you to the Barnes and Noble Book of the Year. They just announced the finalists. 

What I enjoy about this list is that the B&N staff don't worry about categorizing titles. They don't worry about fiction, nonfiction, genre, age level. These are the booksellers on the floor at stores all over the country getting together to talk about the books that "defined" their year. From the finalist announcement:

Which books have defined 2021? As we look back on another extraordinary year, we once again turn to our amazing booksellers for the best recommendations. What stories moved us? What were the books that captured those pivotal moments? How many times did we watch that BookTok?! Connecting with a great book is more important than ever, and this year our Book of the Year finalists offer a wonderful snapshot of 2021. From epic world-building to a world-class cookbook, musical memoirs, and explorations into the origin of the American identity, this year’s finalists are as captivating as they are reflective.

This "best" list is one of your most useful as it identifies titles that have been proven to work with the broadest of readers, from all over the country. All of these books are a great "best" option to give to readers right now. 

Last year's pick, World of Wonders, was one of my first reads of 2021 and it was fantastic! One of my favorite reads of this year. I would have never read [and loved it] without B&N. They know what they are talking about.

Most "best" books readers who come into the library at this time of year are asking for books from these year end lists not because the only want to read award winners. No. They ask for these titles because they have limited leisure reading time and don't want to "waste" it on something they won't like. When we expand our notion of "best," we help more readers find a book they will enjoy. 

Obviously this is a conversation that I will keep having for the next few weeks with you, just as I always do this time of year. 

Speaking of, you can use the "Best Lists" tag to pull up all of my Best Books coverage in reverse chronological order anytime. It will have the most current first, but it will also have the backlist of best and I have been addressing this issue for many years, so there is much to read on the topic.

Attack of the Best Lists 2024: Book Riot Staff Best Picks

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Attack of the Best Lists 2024" coverage [and more backlist best of the year options] you can click here. 

Still working on best books week here on the blog as I catch up on the lists that came out around Thanksgiving. 

Today it is Book Riot's Best Books of 2024. 

I try to feature lists that have something interesting about them and Book Riot is the epitome of that. Why? Because as I have said here on the blog many times, Book Riot is the best resource to see what hard core readers are interested in.

 Book Riot is the largest independent website focused on readers. All of their content is crafted to reach readers directly. They want to get the most clicks as well, which means their content is purposefully up to date, interesting, and written in a conversational tone. It is exactly what we need to stay on top of the hottest trends because it is their mission to provide the most "clickable" content to readers This means they have the time and resources to do the work for us: identifying trends and staying on top of what readers want right this second. Everything there is reader focused which dovetails perfectly with RA Service.

Their best books of the year site is made by having each writer, editor, contributor, etc... give one title as their book of the year. Because each person who works for them has a slightly different specialty, the list covers all ages and genres by default. Also they have a commitment to providing diverse voices as part of their policy.

The editors then take all of the titles and allow you, the user of this resource to browse all or to click on tags in a sidebar to help narrow your choices down. While the tags are not as compressive and stackable as the NPR Books We Love portal (yesterday's list), they are still extremely helpful 

Click here to get started using it for yourself, to build displays, or to help a specific patron.

The only downside to this reader focused resource is that they do not have easy access to past lists on the current year's page. And when I try to search, I was unable to find them

However, when I went to Largehearted Boy's Ultimate List of Lists for past years (more on this resource soon), I was able to get into the past Book Riot best lists with ease. I have posted them here for you, so you can have 1 click access from my blog:

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019

More best lists tomorrow.

Remember to use my link at the top of these Attack of the Best Lists 2024 posts to access all of my coverage. I do not post every best list, but I do post ones that are interesting and useful. 

Best Books 2021: Publisher's Weekly

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Best Books 2021" series you can use the best lists tag.  

The annual onslaught of Best Books has officially begun, with PW setting the pace, as usual, with their EXCELLENT Best Books Website. 

At the end of last week, Publishers Weekly, announced their Best of 2021 in 12 categories across all reading levels, here.

I mention this every year when this list comes out [and when their summer reading list comes out too] and the main reason I love to promote this best list is because it is so useful.

Why?

Because no one makes using the backlist of best titles easier than PW.  Look at these screen shots I took of the opening page:

Click on any screen shot to load the page

While the shiny new list is exciting to browse though, I want to draw your attention to to bar across the top. The bar that lists, clearly and on every single page, 1-click access to EVERY YEAR'S Best Lists and all of the Summer lists. Again, with 1-click!

I have said this hundreds of times before, but I keep repeating it because it is so important...

The back list is your best friend in RA Service.

A book that is best this year is great. But honestly, in a few weeks, they will all be checked out. Plus, your patrons are coming in to request these title specifically. They don't need much help from you to identify and request this year's best titles.

But... a book suggestion of a title that was "Best" a few years ago [especially 2-5 years ago] is like a present to your patrons. #1, the title will probably be one they would not have thought of themselves, thus making your intervention in suggesting it vital to their reading pleasure and #2, and this is the key, it will be on the shelf.

You will make a bigger service impact on your patrons and help your great collection circulate better by suggesting more backlist options. A "Best" book from a few years ago is still a sure bet. It is still a great option, one that many people thought was worth calling out then, even 5 years later, it is still an awesome read. Also if it was on one of those lists up to 5 years ago there is a very good chance that you added it to your collections and that you still have it. Give it out to someone who will love it right now!

And one final reason I love the PW Best Books portal is because it is a whole collection resource. They break titles down by genre, have nonfiction [in a few popular categories], Graphic Novels, YA, Middle Grade, and Picture Books all called out in separate lists. You can help just about every reader with this resource, and it's backlist options. There are hundreds of proven titles to suggest on one easy to use webpage.

The annual attack of the best lists has just begun, but any time of year, the PW "Best" platform is an awesome go-to resource for sure bet titles across all reading interests. And because it keeps getting added to every year and the backlist is easily accessible, it only gets more useful with age.

Best Books 2021: Fated Mates Podcast's Best Romance of the Year

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Best Books 2021" series you can use the best lists tag. 

While the vast majority of "best lists" that receive mainstream attention are literary fiction based, it is the genre lists that are my favorites. Why? Because they help our most loyal patrons; genre readers are the ones we see on a regular basis. As genre lists go, I love ones that include the voice of experts-- both authors and readers. 

Fated Mates is one such stellar example in the Romance genre. Fated Mates is a Romance Novel podcast with author Sarah MacLean and Romance critic [and English teacher] Jen Prokop. Click here to learn more about them and the podcast, but also from the homepage:

Fated Mates is a romance novel podcast co-hosted by author Sarah MacLean and romance critic Jen Prokop. Weekly episodes include romance novel read-alongs and discussions of the work of the genre, highlighting the romance novel as a powerful tool in fighting patriarchy…with absolutely no kink shaming.

You should be using Fated Mates, the podcast, the website, and their Twitter feed [as well as Jen's personal Twitter] to follow the goings on in the Romance genre at all times. But specifically, the current episode is their Best Romances of 2021 spectacular.

This is my favorite episode of theirs each year. Why? Well first, I am not a Romance fan myself. I listen to this podcast to understand what is going on in the genre, but I don't listen to every episode. However, this one is RA and Collection Development gold. MacLean and Prokop always discuss the genre with respect. They are clearly fans but also have a lot of fun. Hearing their "best" of any year is not only a great way for me to get up to speed on the best title in Romance, but it also gives me a sense of the "why" they are best including a discussion of trends and issues in the genre.

All of you need to be using best lists to make sure you have the copies mentioned in your collections and to make displays for your patrons. But please, with the onslaught of the more literary based lists, don't forget GENRE. Those are just as important. Actually, I would argue that genre based beast lists are even more important. Why? Because genre best lists are not as easily available or apparent to your patrons. Help them to help themselves. 

Whether or not you are a romance reader, we all know that Romance is in the top 3 of circulating genres at your library. I know many of you are disparaging of this fact. Get over yourselves. Romance readers are THE BEST at talking about why they love the books they love. They are some of the most passionate readers out there. [all puns intended] End of discussion. 

Click here to access the podcast to listen to why these are they Best Romance Novels of 2021 and to see the covers and titles. Or go to this excellent Twitter thread with all of the titles.

Now if you will excuse me, I have a few holds to place thanks to Fated Mates.

Click here to subscribe in your app of choice
 or to enter the podcast website for more info.

Attack of the Best Lists 2025: Book Riot

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Attack of the Best Lists 2025" coverage [and more backlist best of the year options] you can click here.

Ending this short week with a list that pairs well with yesterday's list (NPR Books We Love); it is a smiler idea but on a smaller scale-- Book Riot's Best Books of 2025. 

I try to feature lists that have something interesting about them and Book Riot is the epitome of that. Why? Because as I have said here on the blog many times, Book Riot is the best resource to see what hard core readers are interested in.

Book Riot is the largest independent website focused on readers. All of their content is crafted to reach readers directly. They want to get the most clicks as well, which means their content is purposefully up to date, interesting, and written in a conversational tone. It is exactly what we need to stay on top of the hottest trends because it is their mission to provide the most "clickable" content to readers This means they have the time and resources to do the work for us: identifying trends and staying on top of what readers want right this second. Everything there is reader focused which dovetails perfectly with RA Service.

Their best books of the year site is made by having each writer, editor, contributor, etc... give one title as their book of the year. Because each person who works for them has a slightly different specialty, the list covers all ages and genres by default. Also they have a commitment to providing diverse voices as part of their policy.

The editors then take all of the titles and allow you, the user of this resource to browse all or to click on tags in a sidebar to help narrow your choices down. While the tags are not as compressive and stackable as the aforementioned NPR Books We Love portal, they are still extremely helpful 

Click here to get started using it for yourself, to build displays, or to help a specific patron.

The only downside to this reader focused resource is that they do not have easy access to past lists on the current year's page. And when I try to search upon the Book Riot site, I was unable to find them

However, when I went to Largehearted Boy's Ultimate List of Lists for access to past years (more on this resource here), I was able to get into the backlist of Book Riot best lists with ease. I have posted them here for you, so you can have 1 click access from my blog:

• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020

Remember to use my link at the top of these Attack of the Best Lists 2025 posts to access all of my coverage. I do not post every best list, but I do post ones that are interesting and useful. 

Next week I will have a mix of best lists and other year in review content.

Have a safe Thanksgiving break to my American readers.

Best Books 2021: Lit Hub's Ultimate Best List

This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Best Books 2021" series you can use the best lists tag. 

Yesterday one of my favorite best lists dropped-- Lit Hub's annual data crunch, of best lists from 33 major outlets. They make a list of the books that got the most "best" nods so you can get a sense of a consensus. And the outlets they check are both literary and populist.

I do not just love this list for the obvious reason that it gives you a sense of the overall "best" books but I also use it to build my annual "Year in Review" presentation that I give for PCI Webinars. More on that in January.

But that is next most, for today here is the Ultimate Best Books of 2021via LitHub.

Click here to enter the article.

 The Ultimate Best Books of 2021 List

Reading All the Lists So You Don't Have to Since 2017

 By Emily Temple

For good or for ill, no matter what happens in any given year—be it insurrection, new variants, the rise of #BookTok, or even a free Britney—the end-of-year lists will go on. And therefore, per Literary Hub tradition, we will count them. After all, didn’t 2021 teach us anything about the value of personal opinions vs. actual data? (No, actually, I’m sorry to say that it looks like it didn’t, but for the record: listen to the data.) 

So this year, I counted up 49 lists from 33 outlets (as ever, there are . . . even more out there, but life and time are both finite), which recommended 785 total books of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. 138 of those appeared on 3 or more lists, and I have collated those for you here, in descending order of frequency. 

Does this mean that these are the absolute Best Books of the Year? Who knows! But if you pay attention to a single popularity contest this year, you could do worse than choosing this one.

CLICK HERE for the list. They also offer backlist access in the post.