Award year

2020 Booklist Editors Choice Winners

Browse the 2020 Booklist Editors Choice winners and nominees by category. Each category starts with the winner, followed by nominees and other recognized titles.

Booklist Editors Choice Awarded by ALA: The American Library Association 3 categories shown

Adult

Winner and nominees for the 2020 Booklist Editors Choice Adult category.

View category archive

Blacktop Wasteland

Cosby, S.A.

Standalone · Thriller

Jul-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Book of the Little Axe

Francis-Sharma, Lauren

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

A Burning

Majumdar, Megha

Standalone · Literary

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows

Waite, Olivia

Feminine Pursuits Series · Book 2 · Historical Romance

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Catherine House

Thomas, Elisabeth

Standalone · Gothic

May-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Chicken Sisters

Dell'Antonia, K.J.

Standalone · General Fiction

Dec-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The City We Became

Jemisin, N.K.

The Great Cities Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Code Name Helene

Lawhon, Ariel

Standalone · Historical

Apr-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Crooked Hallelujah

Ford, Kelli Jo

Standalone · Literary

Jul-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Deacon King Kong

McBride, James

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Eight Perfect Murders

Swanson, Peter

Standalone · Thriller

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Exile Music

Steil, Jennifer

Standalone · Historical

May-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Here We Are

Swift, Graham

Standalone · Historical

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Homeland Elegies

Akhtar, Ayad

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Janes

Luna, Louisa

An Alice Vega Novel Series · Book 2 · Private Investigator

Jan-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Last Great Road Bum

Tobar, Hector

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Leave the World Behind

Alam, Rumaan

Standalone · Literary

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Lives of Edie Pritchard

Watson, Larry

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Love, Death & Rare Books

Hellenga, Robert

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Network Effect

Wells, Martha

Murderbot Diaries Series · Book 5 · Science Fiction

May-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Night Watchman

Erdrich, Louise

Standalone · Literary

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Office of Historical Corrections

Evans, Danielle

Standalone · General Fiction

Nov-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

On the Corner of Hope and Main

Jenkins, Beverly

A Blessings Novel Series · Book 10 · Women's Fiction

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Parakeet

Bertino, Marie-Helene

Standalone · Literary

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Party of Two

Guillory, Jasmine

Wedding Series · Book 5 · Contemporary Romance

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Plain Bad Heroines

Danforth, Emily M.

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Real Life

Taylor, Brandon

Standalone · Literary

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Ring Shout

Clark, P. Djeli

Standalone · Dark Fantasy

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Searcher

French, Tana

Cal Hooper Series · Book 1 · Thriller

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Sun Down Motel

St. James, Simone

Standalone · Horror

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Top of the List

These Ghosts Are Family

Card, Maisy

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice top of the list

Tiny Nightmares

Michel, Lincoln

Standalone · Horror

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Upright Women Wanted

Gailey, Sarah

Standalone · Dystopian

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Utopia Avenue

Mitchell, David

Standalone · Literary

Jul-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Vanishing Half

Bennett, Brit

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Well-Behaved Indian Women

Dave, Saumya

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Jul-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

When No One Is Watching

Cole, Alyssa

Standalone · Thriller

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Top of the List

Year of the Rabbit

Veasna, Tian

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2019 2020 Booklist Editors Choice top of the list

Adult: Audio

Winner and nominees for the 2020 Booklist Editors Choice Adult: Audio category.

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All the Devils Are Here

Penny, Louise

Chief Inspector Gamache Series · Book 16 · Police Procedural

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Apeirogon

McCann, Colum

Standalone · Literary

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Case of the Reincarnated Client

Hall, Tarquin

A Vish Puri Mystery Series · Book 5 · Amateur Sleuth

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Top of the List

Clap When You Land

Acevedo, Elizabeth

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice top of the list

Deacon King Kong

McBride, James

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

A Deadly Education

Novik, Naomi

The Scholomance Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Top of the List

The Girl with the Louding Voice

Dare, Abi

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice top of the list

The Lehman Trilogy

Massini, Stefano

Standalone · Literary

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Miss Austen

Hornby, Gill

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

My Mother's House

Momplaisir, Francesca

Standalone · Thriller

May-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Resisters

Jen, Gish

Standalone · Dystopian

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Saving Ruby King

West, Catherine Adel

Standalone · General Fiction

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Switch

O'Leary, Beth

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Tokyo Ueno Station

Miri, Yu

Standalone · General Fiction

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Vanished Birds

Jimenez, Simon

Standalone · Science Fiction

Jan-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Vanishing Half

Bennett, Brit

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Vineyards of Champagne

Blackwell, Juliet

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Jan-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Youth

Winner and nominees for the 2020 Booklist Editors Choice Youth category.

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111 Trees

Singh, Rina

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Ana on the Edge

Sass, A.J.

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Barnabus Project

Fan, Terry; Fan, Eric

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Black Is a Rainbow Color

Joy, Angela

Standalone · General Fiction

Jan-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Top of the List

Burn

Ness, Patrick

Standalone · Horror

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice top of the list

Camp

Rosen, L.C.

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

May-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Dear Justyce

Stone, Nic

Dear Series · Book 2 · General Fiction

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Top of the List

Dragon Hoops

Yang, Gene Luen

Standalone · Graphic Novel

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice top of the list

Dress Coded

Firestone, Carrie

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Dungeon Critters

Riess, Natalie

Standalone · Fantasy

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Efren Divided

Cisneros, Ernesto

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Everything Sad Is Untrue

Nayeri, Daniel

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Felix Ever After

Callender, Kacen

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Fighting Words

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Flamer

Curato, Mike

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Fly on the Wall

Lai, Remy

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Foul Is Fair

Capin, Hannah

Standalone · Mystery

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Gimme Everything You Got

Palmer, Iva-Marie

Standalone · Paranormal Romance

Jul-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Given

Taylor, Nandi

Standalone · Fantasy

Jan-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Grown

Jackson, Tiffany D.

Standalone · Thriller

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Hike

Oswald, Pete

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

I Am Every Good Thing

Barnes, Derrick

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

If You Come to Earth

Blackall, Sophie

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Isaiah Dunn is My Hero

Baptist, Kelly J.

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

King and the Dragonflies

Callender, Kacen

Islands of Blood and Storm Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Last Mirror on the Left

Giles, Lamar

A Legendary Alston Boys Adventure Series · Book 2 · General Fiction

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Legendborn

Deonn, Tracy

Legendborn Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Lobizona

Garber, Romina

Standalone · Paranormal Romance

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Lupe Wong Won't Dance

Higuera, Donna Barba

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Magic in Changing Your Stars

Henderson, Leah

Standalone · Fantasy

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Magic Fish

Nguyen, Trung Le

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Top of the List

Nana Akua Goes to School

Walker, Patricia Elam

Standalone · General Fiction

Jun-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice top of the list

The Ocean Calls

Cho, Tina

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Ohana Means Family

Loomis, Ilima

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Old Truck

Pumphrey, Jarrett; Pumphrey, Jerome

Standalone · General Fiction

Jan-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Overground Railroad

Cline-Ransome, Lesa

Standalone · General Fiction

Jan-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Paper Boat

Lam, Thao

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Puppetmaster's Apprentice

DeSelm, Lisa

Standalone · Action Adventure

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Red Hood

Arnold, Elana K.

Fairytale Retellings: Red Riding Hood Series · Fantasy

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

See the Cat

LaRochelle, David

See the Cat Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Skunk and Badger

Timberlake, Amy

Skunk and Badger Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Spindlefish and Stars

Andrews, Christiane M.

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

They Went Left

Hesse, Monica

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Time of Green Magic

McKay, Hilary

Standalone · Fantasy

Aug-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Twins

Johnson, Varian

Twins Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Oct-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Up On Bob

Sullivan, Mary (1)

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

The Voting Booth

Colbert, Brandy

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Jul-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

We Are Water Protectors

Lindstrom, Carole

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

A Wish in the Dark

Soontornvat, Christina

Standalone · Fantasy

Mar-2020 2020 Booklist Editors Choice *

Browse Award Categories

Youth Archive Adult Archive Adult: Genre Fiction Archive Adult: Audio Archive Youth: Younger Readers Archive Youth: Older Readers Archive Adult Books for Young Adults Archive Youth: Middle Readers Archive Youth: Audio Archive Youth: Graphic Novel Archive Adult: Graphic Novel Archive

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