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In-depth explorations of racism, divorce, and money. The best social sciences titles of 2022.

What makes a book “best”? That question holds within it multiple considerations. At LJ, we consider best books on many fronts, but mostly we are searching for titles that stop us in our tracks for more reasons than we could possibly articulate. Because that is what great reads do. They overwhelm any criteria we can list and reduce us to “Yes, that, and that too, and even more.” Listed here are books we stayed up all night reading and started the day wanting to discuss. Books we read and re-read, together and apart, books that some of us are already re-reading again. Books we shared with family and neighbors and, if they would listen, strangers too. We hope you find treasures among these lists and that they make you, and the readers you help, stop and say, “Yes, that.”

Sisters on the run from racists, senior assassins dodging bullets, and a photographer plagued by ghosts featured in the best crime fiction of 2022.

Full of frights both real and supernatural, the best horror novels of 2022 are a terrifying joy to read.

The best literary fiction of 2022 embraces a Wall Street tycoon, an Appalachian upbringing, and the women surrounding a jazz musician.

The best romance books of 2022 feature pitch-perfect dialogue and swoony scenes with well-executed tropes that make for engrossing and deeply satisfying reading.

The best pop fiction titles of 2022 enable readers to travel to an isolated mountain village where women disappear, Hollywood during its Golden Age, and revolutionary-era Saint-Domingue and France.

Witches, spaceships, and dragons appear in the most spellbinding and thrilling science fiction and fantasy books of 2022.

With authors ranging from Jonathan Escoffery to Maggie Shipstead, the best short story collections of 2022 loom large.

The best world literature of 2022 travels from a plague during the Ottoman Empire to Russia and Ukraine today.

Masterful visual storytelling and atmospheric illustration accompany memoirs and inventive tales in the best graphic novels of 2022.

The best poetry of 2022 captures the moment—and “the ragged white moth of history.”

Contemporary activism, moments and words of joy, and a memorable debut. The best arts and humanities titles of 2022.

From bagels to liángbàn dòufu and from hand pies to moghrabiyeh the best cookbooks of 2022 offer delicious food alongside stories, history, and cultural journeys.

A landmark biography about George Floyd, an unprecedented work from Alice Walker, and a first for a Missouri political figure are among the highlights of the best memoirs of 2022.

Wasps, bees, and the Milky Way are personified and celebrated in the best science and technology titles of 2022.

The story of a family keepsake, a forgotten utopia, and the evolution of a neighborhood. The best social science books of 2021.

A resonant road trip, a sterling caper, and a debut cozy. The best crime fiction of 2021.

The term girl power gets new meaning, fairy tales are retold, and dark magic rules in the best horror novels of 2021.

A 12th century prioress, a contemporary astrobiologist, and a cattle driver trying to survive the siege of Constantinople populate the best literary fiction of 2021.

Annie Oakley, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, and a young mother becoming…something else inhabit the best pop fiction of 2021.

A M/M historical trilogy concludes, a Victorian epistolary romance addresses colonialism, and a sassy, sexy romantic comedy explores geek culture and racism. The best romance novels of 2021.

An imprisoned princess, the multiverse, and customized dragons. The best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2021.

Characters seeking connection, some weathering loss, and many uneasy in the relationships they do have wander the pages of the best short stories of 2021.

Translated novels first written in Serbo-Croatian, Arabic, and Finnish highlight the best world literature of 2021.

Chill-inducing, black-and-white manga; stunning, full-color web-toons debuting in print; and delicate illustrations are showcased in the best graphic novels of 2021.

Intimate lyrics, focused visions, and forceful, arresting lines illuminate the best poetry of 2021.

Music across decades, women observed, and the legacy of Lolita. The best arts books of 2021.

Black foodways, Middle Eastern ingredients, and treats from Chinese bakeries. The best cookbooks of 2021.

A poetic life, a fractured family, and a tale of second chances. The best memoirs and biographies of 2021.

Dark matter, seashells, and CRISPR feature in the best science and technology books of 2021.

LJ’s Best Books of 2021 celebrate titles to treasure, indelible works that build and shape collections. They offer reads of solace and community, insight and joy. These 144 titles across 15 categories highlight the essential books of the year

A girl with a louding voice, a bawdy observer, a woman making her own happy ending. The best pop fiction novels published in 2020.

A railway magnate, a brothel owner, and two gamers all find love in the best romance novels published in 2020.

Supervillains, an ancient storyteller, gods and monsters. The best science fiction & fantasy novels published in 2020.

Historical corrections, a fascination with science, burdens of the past. The best short stories published in 2020.

Translated novels first written in French, Farsi, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean comprise the best world literature published in 2020.

Kent State, Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse, a loving look at a comics icon. The best graphic novels published in 2020.

Ravishing verse, lyrical contemplations, limpid language. The best poetry books published in 2020.

Toni Morrison, Ravi Shankar, and Richard Avedon star in the best arts books published in 2020.

Malcolm X, Rose Pastor Stokes, Natasha Trethewey. The best biographies & memoirs published in 2020.

Pan-banging cookies, baking simplified, science of cooking. The best cooking and food books published in 2020.

Birds and whales and eels, oh my! The best science & technology books published in 2020.

Caste and control, the power of protest, a portrait of boys. The best social science books of 2020.

In a year that many would call one of the worst in recent memory, we were still rewarded with great books. The LJ Best Books of 2020 gathers 144 titles across 15 categories to help get libraries and readers through to better days. Comfort reads mix with fresh new perspectives in this selection of outstanding titles published in 2020.

A wheelman-turned-family man, four crafty retirees, a newly made vigilante. The best crime fiction published in 2020.

Belonging and acceptance, ecological disaster, Shakespeare's child. The best literary fiction published in 2020.

Zombies, vampires, and assorted monsters stalk the pages of the best horror novels published in 2020.

The best mysteries, thrillers, and suspense works published in 2019.

Read with the light on! The best horror published in 2019.

Radiant. Soaring. Extraordinarily original. The best literary fiction published in 2019.

Read on the plane, train, beach, and with your book club. The best pop fiction published in 2019.

Dukes, spies, and dating apps. The best romance published in 2019.

Aliens, magical gangsters, and demons welcome here. The best sf and fantasy published in 2019.

These shorts linger long. The best short story collections published in 2019.

Tales from Iceland, Spain, China, Syria, and around the globe. The best world literature translated into English and published in 2019.

Dig in for music history, trailblazing animators, and incisive critiques of film and TV. The best arts titles published in 2019.

Lives and times. The best biographies and memoirs published in 2019.

Mouth-wateringly good reads. The best cooking and food books published in 2019.

Pure artistry on the page. The best poetry published in 2019.

Explorations of faith, history, and culture. The best religion and spirituality books published in 2019.

Disappearing ice, air pollution, the wonders of algae. The best science and technology titles published in 2019.

Deep dives into contemporary issues of mass incarceration, gun violence, systemic injustice. The best social science books published in 2019.

Parenting, self-help, and self-care. The best wellness titles published in 2019.

Visual storytelling at the higest level. The best graphic novels published in 2019.

The ravages of the opioid crisis, an elusive serial killer, ghosts of past and present. Stories spanning Regency England to Depression-era Kentucky to 1980s Australia. Explorations of racism and privilege, a journey through music history, and searing indictments of systemic injustice. Achingly intimate memoirs and practical guides to living one’s best life. Readers will discover all of these themes and more in our selection of the most distinguished titles published in 2019.

LJ’s annual Top Ten Best Books of the year, selected by our editors, as well as Top Five lists for genre fiction, nonfiction, poetry and literature, graphic novels, and SELF-e titles.