Award year

2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Winners

Browse the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books winners and nominees by category. Each category starts with the winner, followed by nominees and other recognized titles.

Publishers Weekly Best Books Awarded by Publishers Weekly 8 categories shown

This page collects the full 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books results in one place. Each category starts with the winner, followed by the nominees, so readers can scan the results quickly.

Fiction

Winner and nominees for the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Fiction category.

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Census

Ball, Jesse

Standalone · Literary

Mar-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Circe

Miller, Madeline

Standalone · Fantasy

Apr-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Comemadre

Larraquy, Roque

Standalone · Literary

Jul-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Day the Sun Died

Lianke, Yan

Standalone · Literary

Dec-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Extinction of Menai

Nwokolo, Chuma

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Flights

Tokarczuk, Olga

Standalone · Fantasy

Aug-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Fox

Ugresic, Dubravka

Standalone · Literary

Apr-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Friday Black: Stories

Adjei-Brenyah, Nana Kwame

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Frolic of the Beasts

Mishima, Yukio

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Great Believers

Makkai, Rebecca

Standalone · Literary

Jun-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Kudos

Cusk, Rachel

Outline Series · Book 3 · Literary

Jun-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Mars Room

Kushner, Rachel

Standalone · Suspense

May-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Ok, Mr. Field

Kilalea, Katharine

Standalone · Psychological Suspense

Jul-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

She Would Be King

Moore, Wayetu

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Slave Old Man

Chamoiseau, Patrick

Standalone · Literary

May-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Sparsholt Affair

Hollinghurst, Alan

Standalone · Historical

Mar-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

There There

Orange, Tommy

Standalone · Literary

Jun-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Unsheltered

Kingsolver, Barbara

Standalone · Historical

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Warlight

Ondaatje, Michael

Standalone · Literary

May-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Middle Grade

Winner and nominees for the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade category.

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Amal Unbound

Saeed, Aisha

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Dactyl Hill Squad

Older, Daniel Jose

Dactyl Hill Squad Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Front Desk

Yang, Kelly

A Front Desk Novel Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Jun-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

It Wasn't Me

Levy, Dana Alison

Standalone · General Fiction

Nov-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Merci Suarez Changes Gears

Medina, Meg

Merci Suarez Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Parker Inheritance

Johnson, Varian

Standalone · Historical

Apr-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Sanity & Tallulah

Brooks, Molly

Sanity & Tallulah Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Small Spaces

Arden, Katherine

Small Spaces Quartet Series · Book 1 · Mystery

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

Auxier, Jonathan

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

Connor, Leslie

Standalone · Mystery

Jan-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

Hudson, Wade

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Mystery/Thriller

Winner and nominees for the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller category.

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The 8 Mansion Murders

Abiko, Takemaru

Standalone · Mystery

May-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

American by Day

Miller, Derek B.

Standalone · Cozy Mystery

Apr-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

City of Ink

Hart, Elsa

A Li Du Novel Series · Book 3 · Historical Mystery

Aug-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Fox

Forsyth, Frederick

Standalone · Thriller

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Man Who Came Uptown

Pelecanos, George P.

Standalone · Private Investigator

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Nine Perfect Strangers

Moriarty, Liane

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Nov-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Our House

Candlish, Louise

Standalone · Thriller

Aug-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Red, White, Blue

Carpenter, Lea

Standalone · Action Adventure

Aug-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Resurrection Bay

Viskic, Emma

Caleb Zeli Series · Book 1 · Thriller

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Savage Liberty

Pattison, Eliot

Bone Rattler / A Mystery of Colonial America Series · Book 6 · Thriller

May-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Widows of Malabar Hill

Massey, Sujata

A Perveen Mistry Novel Series · Book 1 · Police Procedural

Jan-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Word Is Murder

Horowitz, Anthony

Detective Daniel Hawthorne Series · Book 1 · Amateur Sleuth

Jun-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Picture Books

Winner and nominees for the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Picture Books category.

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A Big Mooncake for Little Star

Lin, Grace

Big Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Book of Boy

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert

Standalone · Historical

Feb-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Carmela Full of Wishes

De La Pena, Matt

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Crocodile and the Dentist

Gomi, Taro

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-1994 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Day You Begin

Woodson, Jacqueline

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Dreamers

Morales, Yuyi

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Elephant

Desmond, Jenni

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Hello Lighthouse

Blackall, Sophie

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Julian Is a Mermaid

Love, Jessica

Julian Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

May-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Kitten and the Night Watchman

Sullivan, John

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Mary, Who Wrote Frankenstein

Bailey, Linda

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Party

Ruzzier, Sergio

Fox & Chick Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Apr-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Patchwork Bike

Clarke, Maxine Beneba

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Rabbit Listened

Doerrfeld, Cori

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Stumpkin

Cummins, Lucy Ruth

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Thank You, Omu!

Mora, Oge

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Up the Mountain Path

Dubuc, Marianne

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Wall in the Middle of the Book

Agee, Jon

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Romance

Winner and nominees for the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Romance category.

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Big Bad Cowboy

Bloom, Carly

Once Upon a Time in Texas Series · Book 1 · Contemporary Romance

Nov-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Desperate Girls

Griffin, Laura

Wolfe Security Series · Book 1 · Romantic Suspense

Aug-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The One You Can't Forget

Loren, Roni

Ones Who Got Away Series · Book 2 · Contemporary Romance

Jun-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Their Perfect Melody

Oliveras, Priscilla

Matched to Perfection Series · Book 3 · Contemporary Romance

Nov-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

A Wolf Apart

Vale, Maria

Legend of All Wolves Series · Book 2 · Paranormal Romance

Aug-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

SF/Fantasy/Horror

Winner and nominees for the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books SF/Fantasy/Horror category.

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Blackfish City

Miller, Sam J.

Standalone · Science Fiction

Apr-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Calculating Stars

Kowal, Mary Robinette

Lady Astronaut Series · Book 1 · Science Fiction

Jul-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Merry Spinster

Ortberg, Mallory

Standalone · Horror

Mar-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Sisters of the Winter Wood

Rossner, Rena

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Temper

Drayden, Nicky

Standalone · Fantasy

Aug-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Unholy Land

Tidhar, Lavie

Standalone · Literary

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Witchmark

Polk, C.L.

Standalone · Fantasy Romance

Jun-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Top 10

Winner and nominees for the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Top 10 category.

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Asymmetry

Halliday, Lisa

Standalone · Literary

Feb-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Insurrecto

Apostol, Gina

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2019 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Largesse of the Sea Maiden

Johnson, Denis

Standalone · General Fiction

Jan-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Melmoth

Perry, Sarah

Standalone · Gothic

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Shape of the Ruins

Vasquez, Juan Gabriel

Standalone · Historical

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Young Adult

Winner and nominees for the 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Young Adult category.

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The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

Anderson, M.T.

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Boneless Mercies

Tucholke, April Genevieve

Standalone · Dark Fantasy

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Children of Blood and Bone

Adeyemi, Tomi

Legacy of Orisha Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Mar-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Khorram, Adib

Darius the Great Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Dry

Shusterman, Neal; Shusterman, Jarrod

Standalone · Action Adventure

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Light Between Worlds

Weymouth, Laura E.

Standalone · Fantasy

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

On a Sunbeam

Walden, Tillie

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Poet X

Acevedo, Elizabeth

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Pride

Zoboi, Ibi

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Series · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The Prince and the Dressmaker

Wang, Jen

Fairytale Retellings: Cinderella Series · Graphic Novel

Feb-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Sadie

Summers, Courtney

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Oct-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings

Oh, Ellen

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Truly Devious

Johnson, Maureen

Truly Devious Series · Book 1 · Mystery

Dec-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

The War Outside

Hesse, Monica

Standalone · Historical

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

A Winter's Promise

Dabos, Christelle

Mirror Visitor Quartet Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2018 2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books *

Browse Award Categories

Fiction Archive Picture Books Archive Young Adult Archive Middle Grade Archive Mystery/Thriller Archive SF/Fantasy/Horror Archive Romance Archive Top 10 Archive Comics Archive

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