Award year

2023 Library Journal Best Books Winners

Browse the 2023 Library Journal Best Books winners and nominees by category. Each category starts with the winner, followed by nominees and other recognized titles.

Library Journal Best Books Awarded by Library Journal 9 categories shown

This page collects the full 2023 Library Journal Best Books results in one place. Each category starts with the winner, followed by the nominees, so readers can scan the results quickly.

Crime Fiction

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books Crime Fiction category.

View category archive

Age of Vice

Kapoor, Deepti

Standalone · Thriller

Jan-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

All the Sinners Bleed

Cosby, S.A.

Standalone · Thriller

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

City Under One Roof

Yamashita, Iris

Standalone · Thriller

Jan-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

A Disappearance in Fiji

Rao, Nilima

Standalone · Mystery

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Fall

Clark, Tracy

Detective Harriet Foster Series · Book 2 · Police Procedural

Dec-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Golden Gate

Chua, Amy

Standalone · Historical Mystery

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Guilt Strikes at Granger's Store

Shames, Terry

A Samuel Craddock Mystery Series · Book 10 · Police Procedural

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Mother-Daughter Murder Night

Simon, Nina

Standalone · Cozy Mystery

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Secret Hours

Herron, Mick

Standalone · Thriller

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Small Mercies

Lehane, Dennis

Standalone · Thriller

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Graphic Novels

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books Graphic Novels category.

View category archive

Impossible People

Wertz, Julia

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Mister Mammoth

Kindt, Matt

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Monica

Clowes, Daniel

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Naked Tree

Park, Wan-Suh

Standalone · General Fiction

Jun-1995 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Public Domain, Volume 1

Zdarsky, Chip

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Jan-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Roaming

Tamaki, Jillian

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Shubeik Lubeik

Mohamed, Deena

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Jan-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Talk

Bell, Darrin

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Horror

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books Horror category.

View category archive

Camp Damascus

Tingle, Chuck

Standalone · Horror

Jul-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Chlorine

Song, Jade

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Don't Fear the Reaper

Jones, Stephen Graham

Jade Daniels / Indian Lake Series · Book 2 · Horror

Feb-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

How to Sell a Haunted House

Hendrix, Grady

Standalone · Horror

Jan-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

A Light Most Hateful

Piper, Hailey

Standalone · Horror

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Lone Women

Lavalle, Victor

Standalone · Horror

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Reformatory

Due, Tananarive

Standalone · Horror

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Salt Grows Heavy

Khaw, Cassandra

Standalone · Horror

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Shoemaker's Magician

Pelayo, Cynthia

Standalone · Thriller

Mar-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Spin a Black Yarn

Malerman, Josh

Standalone · Horror

Aug-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Literary Fiction

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books Literary Fiction category.

View category archive

The Covenant of Water

Verghese, Abraham

Standalone · Literary

Jan-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Fraud

Smith, Zadie

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

McBride, James

Standalone · Historical

Aug-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Let Us Descend

Ward, Jesmyn

Standalone · Literary

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Light at the End of the World

Deb, Siddhartha

Standalone · Literary

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Like the Appearance of Horses

Krivak, Andrew

Standalone · Thriller

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

North Woods

Mason, Daniel

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

This Other Eden

Harding, Paul

Standalone · Literary

Jan-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Tremor

Cole, Teju

Standalone · Literary

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Wellness

Hill, Nathan

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Wren, the Wren

Enright, Anne

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Pop Fiction

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books Pop Fiction category.

View category archive

The Breakaway

Weiner, Jennifer

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Flames

Haydock, Sophie

Standalone · Historical

Mar-2022 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

A Grandmother Begins the Story

Porter, Michelle

Standalone · Literary

Nov-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

I Have Some Questions for You

Makkai, Rebecca

Standalone · Thriller

Feb-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Lucky Red

Cravens, Claudia

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

One Blood

Millner, Denene

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Only the Beautiful

Meissner, Susan

Standalone · Historical

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Pandora

Stokes-Chapman, Susan

Standalone · Historical

Feb-2022 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez

Jimenez, Claire

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Mar-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Yellowface

Kuang, R.F.

Standalone · Women's Fiction

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Romance

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books Romance category.

View category archive

All the Right Notes

Lim, Dominic

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Ana Maria and the Fox

De la Rosa, Liana

The Luna Sisters Series · Book 1 · Historical Romance

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Boyfriend Candidate

Winstead, Ashley

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Chef's Choice

Alexander, T.J.

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Forever Your Rogue

Langston, Erin

Standalone · Historical Romance

Feb-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Georgie, All Along

Clayborn, Kate

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Jan-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

How to Tame a Wild Rogue

Long, Julie Anne

The Palace of Rogues Series · Book 6 · Historical Romance

Aug-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Mrs. Nash's Ashes

Adler, Sarah

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen

Charles, K.J.

The Doomsday Books Series · Book 1 · Historical Romance

Mar-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason

Holton, India

Dangerous Damsels Series · Book 3 · Contemporary Romance

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

SF/Fantasy

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books SF/Fantasy category.

View category archive

Chain-Gang All-Stars

Adjei-Brenyah, Nana Kwame

Standalone · Literary

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Generation Ship

Mammay, Michael

Standalone · Dystopian

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Magician's Daughter

Parry, H.G.

Standalone · Fantasy

Mar-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Mimicking of Known Successes

Older, Malka

Standalone · Science Fiction

Mar-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Shamshine Blind

Pardo, Paz

Standalone · Literary

Feb-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Some Desperate Glory

Tesh, Emily

Standalone · Science Fiction

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Terraformers

Newitz, Annalee

Standalone · Science Fiction

Feb-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Translation State

Leckie, Ann

Standalone · Science Fiction

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

We Are the Crisis

Turnbull, Cadwell

The Convergence Saga Series · Book 2 · Fantasy

Nov-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

World Running Down

Hess, Al

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Short Stories

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books Short Stories category.

View category archive

After the Funeral and Other Stories

Hadley, Tessa

Standalone · Psychological Suspense

Jul-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Disruptions: Stories

Millhauser, Steven

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Hive and the Honey: Stories

Yoon, Paul

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Holler, Child: Stories

Watkins, LaToya

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

House Gone Quiet: Stories

Norris, Kelsey

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

I Am My Country: And Other Stories

Orhan, Kenan

Standalone · Literary

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Jewel Box: Stories

Yu, E. Lily

Standalone · Fantasy

Mar-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Normal Rules Don't Apply: Stories

Atkinson, Kate

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Sidle Creek: Stories

McIlwain, Jolene

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Wednesday's Child: Stories

Li, Yiyun

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Witness: Stories

Brinkley, Jamel

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

World Literature

Winner and nominees for the 2023 Library Journal Best Books World Literature category.

View category archive

Beyond the Door of No Return

Diop, David

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Body of the Soul: Stories

Ulitskaya, Ludmila

Standalone · General Fiction

Nov-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Greek Lessons

Kang, Han

Standalone · Thriller

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

I Went To See My Father

Shin, Kyung-Sook

Standalone · Literary

Apr-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Kairos

Erpenbeck, Jenny

Standalone · Literary

Jun-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Milwaukee Blues

Dalembert, Louis-Philippe

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Postcard

Berest, Anne

Standalone · Literary

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Professor Schiff's Guilt

Schiff, Agur

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

The Suicide Museum

Dorfman, Ariel

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2023 2023 Library Journal Best Books *

Browse Award Categories

Literary Fiction Archive Horror Archive Romance Archive Graphic Novels Archive Crime Fiction Archive SF/Fantasy Archive Pop Fiction Archive Fantasy Archive Short Stories Archive World Literature Archive Crime Fiction: Mystery Archive Contemporary Romance Archive

Browse Award Years

2025 Full results 2024 Full results 2023 Current page 2022 Full results 2021 Full results 2020 Full results View all Historical archive