Award year

2021 New York Public Library Best Books Winners

Browse the 2021 New York Public Library Best Books winners and nominees by category. Each category starts with the winner, followed by nominees and other recognized titles.

New York Public Library Best Books Awarded by New York Public Library 7 categories shown

This page collects the full 2021 New York Public Library Best Books results in one place. Each category starts with the winner, followed by the nominees, so readers can scan the results quickly.

Comics

Winner and nominees for the 2021 New York Public Library Best Books Comics category.

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Asadora!, Vol. 1

Urasawa, Naoki

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Jan-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Ballad for Sophie

Melo, Filipe

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Nov-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Barbalien: Red Planet--From the World of Black Hammer

Lemire, Jeff

Standalone · Graphic Novel

May-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History

Walker, David F.

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Jan-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Cyclopedia Exotica

Dhaliwal, Aminder

Standalone · Graphic Novel

May-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Department of Truth, Volume 1: The End Of The World

Tynion, James, IV

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Mar-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

For Justice: The Serge & Beate Klarsfeld Story

Bresson, Pascal

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Shadow Life

Goto, Hiromi

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Apr-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Thirsty Mermaids

Leyh, Kat

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Feb-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Fantasy

Winner and nominees for the 2021 New York Public Library Best Books Fantasy category.

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The Chosen and the Beautiful

Vo, Nghi

Standalone · Fantasy

Jun-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Jasmine Throne

Suri, Tasha

The Burning Kingdoms Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Jun-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

A Master of Djinn

Clark, P. Djeli

Dead Djinn Universe Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

May-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

No Gods, No Monsters

Turnbull, Cadwell

The Convergence Saga Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Sep-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

She Who Became the Sun

Parker-Chan, Shelley

The Radiant Emperor Duology Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Jul-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Tangleroot Palace

Liu, Marjorie M.

Standalone · Paranormal Romance

Nov-2009 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Unbroken

Clark, C.L.

Standalone · Fantasy

Mar-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Fiction

Winner and nominees for the 2021 New York Public Library Best Books Fiction category.

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Afterparties: Stories

So, Anthony Veasna

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Bolla

Statovci, Pajtim

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Jul-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Hao: Stories

Chun, Ye

Standalone · Magical Realism

Sep-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Hell of a Book

Mott, Jason

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Hummingbird Salamander

VanderMeer, Jeff

Standalone · Literary

Apr-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

I Will Die in a Foreign Land

Pickhart, Kalani

Standalone · Literary

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Matrix

Groff, Lauren

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Sep-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

My Monticello: Fiction

Johnson, Jocelyn Nicole

Standalone · Literary

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Rock Eaters: Stories

Peynado, Brenda

Standalone · Magical Realism

May-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Velvet Was the Night

Moreno-Garcia, Silvia

Standalone · Thriller

Aug-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Walking on Cowrie Shells: Stories

Nkweti, Nana

Standalone · Literary

Jun-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

What Storm, What Thunder

Chancy, Myriam J.A.

Standalone · Literary

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Horror

Winner and nominees for the 2021 New York Public Library Best Books Horror category.

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The Book of Accidents

Wendig, Chuck

Standalone · Thriller

Jul-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed: Stories

Enriquez, Mariana

Standalone · Psychological Suspense

Jan-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Death of Jane Lawrence

Starling, Caitlin

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Flowers for the Sea

Rocklyn, Zin E.

Standalone · Fantasy

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Lighthouse Witches

Cooke, C.J.

Standalone · Thriller

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Never Have I Ever: Stories

Yap, Isabel

Standalone · Science Fiction

Mar-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Red X

Demchuk, David

Standalone · Horror

Sep-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Revelator

Gregory, Daryl

Standalone · Horror

Sep-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Route of Ice and Salt

Zarate, Jose Luis

Standalone · Horror

Jan-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

This Thing Between Us

Moreno, Gus

Standalone · Horror

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Unfortunate Elements of My Anatomy

Piper, Hailey

Standalone · Horror

May-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

When Things Get Dark

Datlow, Ellen

Standalone · Horror

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense

Winner and nominees for the 2021 New York Public Library Best Books Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense category.

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56 Days

Howard, Catherine Ryan

Standalone · Thriller

Aug-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

All Her Little Secrets

Morris, Wanda M.

Standalone · Police Procedural

Nov-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Bullet Train

Isaka, Kotaro

Standalone · Thriller

Aug-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Echo Wife

Gailey, Sarah

Standalone · Thriller

Feb-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Cosimano, Elle

Finlay Donovan Series · Book 1 · Amateur Sleuth

Feb-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Hostage

Mackintosh, Clare

Standalone · Thriller

Jun-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Mirrorland

Johnstone, Carole

Standalone · Thriller

Apr-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Never Saw Me Coming

Kurian, Vera

Standalone · Thriller

Sep-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Ruby Red Herring

Gardner, Tracy

An Avery Ayers Antique Mystery Series · Book 1 · Law Enforcement

Jun-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Romance

Winner and nominees for the 2021 New York Public Library Best Books Romance category.

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Act Your Age, Eve Brown

Hibbert, Talia

Brown Sisters Series · Book 3 · Contemporary Romance

Mar-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Duchess Hunt

Heath, Lorraine

Once Upon a Dukedom Series · Book 2 · Historical Romance

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting

Charles, K.J.

Standalone · Historical Romance

Feb-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Intimacy Experiment

Danan, Rosie

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Apr-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Invitation

Keeland, Vi

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Jan-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

A Lot Like Adios

Daria, Alexis

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Sep-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Out of Character

Albert, Annabeth

True Colors Series · Book 2 · Contemporary Romance

Jul-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

People We Meet On Vacation

Henry, Emily

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

May-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Roommate

Bowen, Sarina

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Jan-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Waiting for a Scot Like You

Leigh, Eva

Union of the Rakes Series · Book 3 · Historical Romance

Feb-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

The Wildest Ride

Bell, Marcella

A Closed Circuit Novel Series · Book 1 · Contemporary Romance

Aug-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Science Fiction

Winner and nominees for the 2021 New York Public Library Best Books Science Fiction category.

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The Last Watch

Dewes, J.S.

The Divide Series · Book 1 · Science Fiction

Apr-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Light From Uncommon Stars

Aoki, Ryka

Standalone · Science Fiction

Oct-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Remote Control

Okorafor, Nnedi

Standalone · Science Fiction

Jan-2021 2021 New York Public Library Best Books *

Browse Award Categories

Kids: Picture Books Archive Kids: Middle Grade Archive Romance Archive Fiction Archive Comics Archive Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Archive Horror Archive Kids: Graphic Novels Archive Fantasy Archive Teens: Realistic Archive Teens: Comics Archive Teens: Fantasy Archive

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