What makes a book “best”? That question holds within it multiple considerations. It should triumph across a list of long-established criteria, with, for example, language that makes one stop and marvel, and characterizations crafted to the point that readers feel they know a character to their bones. It should offer insights and theories that elucidate. Best books must also fulfill some of the most fundamental desires of readers, offering experiences that are transporting, addictive, expanding, delightful, or thrilling. They must also meet a standard of technical brilliance and expertise. 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.”

An index to all Best Books is here. 

CONTRIBUTORS Tom Batten, creative writing, the Coll. of William & Mary, and LJ graphic novels columnist; Kristi Chadwick, Consultant, Massachusetts Lib. Sys., and LJ SFF columnist; Jill Cox-Cordova, Associate Editor, LJ Reviews; Melissa DeWild, Associate Editor, LJ Reviews; Liz French, Senior Editor, LJ Reviews; Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, LLC, and LJ SFF columnist; Barbara Hoffert, Editor, Prepub Alert, LJ; Lesa Holstine, Collections Manager, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., Evansville, IN, and LJ mystery columnist; Kevin Howell, LJ performing arts assigning columnist; Lisa Peet, Senior News Editor, LJ; Becky Spratford, readers’ advisory specialist and LJ horror columnist; Sarah Tansley, Branch Manager, Chicago P.L., and LJ cookbook columnist; Neal Wyatt, Reviews Editor, LJ.