20 Best Books Of 2106 (2023 Update)

#1 new york times bestseller – witness what the gods do after dark in the third volume of a stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in greek mythology, featuring a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator rachel smythe.“ a refreshingly modern and surprisingly poignant take on the hades and persephone myth . . . steamy, often laugh-out-loud funny, and emotional.”—jennifer l. armentrout, #1 new york times bestselling author of from blood and ash one of the best books of the year: cosmopolitan, gizmodo“it is natural for a king to be curious about his future queen. . . .” all of olympus—and the underworld—are talking about the god of the dead and the sprightly daughter of demeter. but despite the rumors of their romance, hades and persephone have plenty to navigate on their own.since coming to olympus, persephone has struggled to be the perfect maiden goddess. her attraction to hades has only complicated the intense burden of the gods’ expectations. and after apollo’s assault, persephone fears she can no longer bury the intense feelings of hurt and love that she’s worked so hard to hide. as persephone contemplates her future, hades struggles with his past, falling back into toxic habits in minthe’s easy embrace. with all the mounting pressure and expectations—of their family, friends, and enemies—both hades and persephone tell themselves to deny their deepest desires, but the pull between them is too tempting, too magnetic. it’s fate. this edition of smythe’s original eisner-winning webcomic lore olympus brings greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel. this volume collects episodes 50–75 of the #1 webtoon comic lore olympus.

Official u.s. edition with full color illustrations throughout.new york times bestsellera summer reading pick for president barack obama, bill gates, and mark zuckerberg from a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.” one hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited earth. yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. what happened to the others? and what may happen to us? most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but dr. yuval noah harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. from examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas.dr. harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of jared diamond, james gleick, matt ridley, robert wright, and sharon moalem.

On november 22, 1963, three shots rang out in dallas, president kennedy died, and the world changed. what if you could change it back? in this brilliantly conceived tour de force, stephen kingwho has absorbed the social, political, and popular culture of his generation more imaginatively and thoroughly than any other writertakes readers on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it. it begins with jake epping, a thirty-five-year-old english teacher in lisbon falls, maine, who makes extra money teaching ged classes. he asks his students to write about an event that changed their lives, and one essay blows him awaya gruesome, harrowing story about the night more than fifty years ago when harry dunnings father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a sledgehammer. reading the essay is a watershed moment for jake, his lifelike harrys, like americas in 1963turning on a dime. not much later his friend al, who owns the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to the past, a particular day in 1958. and al enlists jake to take over the mission that has become his obsessionto prevent the kennedy assassination. so begins jakes new life as george amberson, in a different world of ike and jfk and elvis, of big american cars and sock hops and cigarette smoke everywhere. from the dank little city of derry, maine (where theres dunning business to conduct), to the warmhearted small town of jodie, texas, where jake falls dangerously in love, every turn is leading eventually, of course, to a troubled loner named lee harvey oswald and to dallas, where the past becomes heart-stoppingly suspenseful, and where history might not be history anymore. time-travel has never been so believable. or so terrifying.

The instant #1 new york times bestselling mystery and reese witherspoon book club pick that’s captivated more than two million readers about a woman searching for the truth about her husband’s disappearance…at any cost. despite her confusion and fear, hannah hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, bailey. bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. as hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to owen go unanswered, as the fbi arrests owen’s boss, as a us marshal and federal agents arrive at her sausalito home unannounced, hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. and that bailey just may hold the key to figuring out owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared. hannah and bailey set out to discover the truth. but as they start putting together the pieces of owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated. with its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists, and evocative family drama, the last thing he told me is a riveting mystery, certain to shock you with its final, heartbreaking turn.

An indie bestseller! an indie next pick! a gold nautilus book award winner! some people are extraordinary. some are just extra. new york times and usa today bestselling author tj klune's ya debut, the extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with adhd and the heroes he loves.nick bell? not extraordinary. but being the most popular fanfiction writer in the extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? after a chance encounter with shadow star, nova city’s mightiest hero (and nick’s biggest crush), nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. and he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of seth gray, nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life). rainbow rowell's fangirl meets marissa meyer's renegades in tj klune's ya debut.

From the new york times bestselling author kristin hannah comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship. . . . now a #1 netflix series! in the turbulent summer of 1974, kate mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. tully hart seems to have it all—beauty, brains, ambition. on the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. they make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer's end they've become tullyandkate. inseparable.so begins kristin hannah's magnificent new novel. spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the pacific northwest, firefly lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives. from the beginning, tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. in the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. but in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. she will follow her own blind ambition to new york and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness. kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. in her own quiet way, kate is as driven as tully. what she doesn't know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she'll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. and how much she'll envy her famous best friend. . . . for thirty years, tully and kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship—jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. they think they've survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.firefly lane is for anyone who ever drank boone's farm apple wine while listening to abba or fleetwood mac. more than a coming-of-age novel, it's the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. it's about promises and secrets and betrayals. and ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you—and knows what has the power to hurt you . . . and heal you. firefly lane is a story you'll never forget . . . one you'll want to pass on to your best friend.

#1 new york times bestseller – from the author of small great things and a spark of light comes a “powerful” (the washington post) novel about the choices that alter the course of our lives. named one of the best books of the year by marie claire everything changes in a single moment for dawn edelstein. she’s on a plane when the flight attendant makes an announcement: prepare for a crash landing. she braces herself as thoughts flash through her mind. the shocking thing is, the thoughts are not of her husband but of a man she last saw fifteen years ago: wyatt armstrong. dawn, miraculously, survives the crash, but so do all the doubts that have suddenly been raised. she has led a good life. back in boston, there is her husband, brian, their beloved daughter, and her work as a death doula, in which she helps ease the transition between life and death for her clients. but somewhere in egypt is wyatt armstrong, who works as an archaeologist unearthing ancient burial sites, a career dawn once studied for but was forced to abandon when life suddenly intervened. and now, when it seems that fate is offering her second chances, she is not as sure of the choice she once made. after the crash landing, the airline ensures that the survivors are seen by a doctor, then offers transportation to wherever they want to go. the obvious destination is to fly home, but she could take another path: return to the archaeological site she left years before, reconnect with wyatt and their unresolved history, and maybe even complete her research on the book of two ways—the first known map of the afterlife. as the story unfolds, dawn’s two possible futures unspool side by side, as do the secrets and doubts long buried with them. dawn must confront the questions she’s never truly asked: what does a life well lived look like? and who would you be if you hadn’t turned out to be the person you are right now?

#1 new york times bestseller – goodreads choice award winner – meet elizabeth zott: a “formidable, unapologetic and inspiring” (parade) scientist in 1960s california whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved tv cooking show in this novel that is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel” (the new york times book review) and “witty, sometimes hilarious . . . the catch-22 of early feminism.” (stephen king, via twitter) a best book of the year: the new york times, washington post, npr, oprah daily, entertainment weekly, newsweek“the most delightful novel i read this year . . . fresh and surprising . . . i laughed out loud!” —philip galanes, the new york times "a unique heroine . . . you'll find yourself wishing she wasn’t fictional." —seattle times chemist elizabeth zott is not your average woman. in fact, elizabeth zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. but it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at hastings research institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. except for one: calvin evans; the lonely, brilliant, nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. true chemistry results. but like science, life is unpredictable. which is why a few years later elizabeth zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of america’s most beloved cooking show supper at six. elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. but as her following grows, not everyone is happy. because as it turns out, elizabeth zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. she’s daring them to change the status quo. laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, lessons in chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.

#1 national bestseller #1 international bestsellerwhat does everyone in the modern world need to know? renowned psychologist jordan b. peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.humorous, surprising and informative, dr. peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.what does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? why did ancient egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? what dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant and vengeful? peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 rules for life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith and human nature, while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its readers.

The sexy, action-packed first book in the #1 new york times bestselling court of thorns and roses series from sarah j. – when nineteen-year-old huntress feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world. – at least, he’s not a beast all the time. – as she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the fae. but something is not right in the faerie lands. an ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom tamlin—and his world—forever. – from bestselling author sarah j. maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.

A reese's book club pickthe new york times bestsellerone of the new york times best thrillers of the year"i loved this book. it gave me the same waves of happiness i get from curling up with a classic christie… the alternating points of view keep you guessing, and guessing wrong." — alex michaelides, #1 new york times bestselling author of the silent patient"evok[es] the great agatha christie classics… pay close attention to seemingly throwaway details about the characters' pasts. they are all clues." — new york times book review – a wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of agatha christie from the new york times bestselling author of the hunting party. – the bride – the plus one – the best man – the wedding planner – the bridesmaid – the body – on an island off the coast of ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. the groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. the bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. it's a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. the cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. – but perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. as the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. the groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. the bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. the bride's oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. – and then someone turns up dead. who didn't wish the happy couple well? and perhaps more important, why?

A new york times bestseller"at once a scholar's homage to the iliad and startlingly original work of art…. a book i could not put down." –ann patchett, author of the dutch housea thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the legend of achilles and the trojan war from the bestselling author of circea tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, the song of achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines homer's enduring masterwork, the iliad. an action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, miller's monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction's brightest lights–and fans of mary renault, bernard cornwell, steven pressfield, and colleen mccullough's masters of rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient greece in the age of heroes." a captivating retelling of the iliad and events leading up to it through the point of view of patroclus: it's a hard book to put down, and any classicist will be enthralled by her characterisation of the goddess thetis, which carries the true savagery and chill of antiquity." — donna tartt, the times

Jennette mccurdy details how she overcame harrowing struggles as a child tv star—including anorexia and bulimia, addiction, severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and a traumatic relationship with her mother. a heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by icarly and sam & cat star jennette mccurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life. jennette mccurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. so she went along with what mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. she endured extensive at-home makeovers while mom chided, “your eyelashes are invisible, okay? you think dakota fanning doesn’t tint hers?” she was even showered by mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income. in i’m glad my mom died, jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. cast in a new nickelodeon series called icarly, she is thrust into fame. though mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“hi gale!”), jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. these issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the icarly spinoff sam & cat alongside ariana grande, her mother dies of cancer. finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants. told with refreshing candor and dark humor, i’m glad my mom died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

Instant #1 new york times bestseller! for readers of gillian flynn and tana french comes one of the decade’s most anticipated debuts, published in forty-one languages around the world and in development as a major film from fox: a twisty, powerful hitchcockian thriller about an agoraphobic woman who believes she witnessed a crime in a neighboring house. – it isn’t paranoia if it’s really happening . . . anna fox lives alone—a recluse in her new york city home, unable to venture outside. she spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors. – then the russells move into the house across the way: a father, mother, their teenaged son. the perfect family. but when anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble and its shocking secrets are laid bare. – what is real? what is imagined? who is in danger? who is in control? in this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems. – twisty and powerful, ingenious and moving, the woman in the window is a smart, sophisticated novel of psychological suspense that recalls the best of hitchcock.

An instant new york times bestseller – a barnes & noble best book of 2022a library reads pick – an indie next pick – a goodreads best fantasy choice award nominee – the much-beloved book *this new edition includes a very special, never-before-seen bonus story, 'pages to fill.' *after a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. but old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. if viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone. – but the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. and whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.“ take a break from epic battles and saving the world. legends & lattes is a low-stakes fantasy that delivers exactly what's advertised: a wholesome, cozy novel that feels like a warm hug. this is my new comfort read.”—genevieve gornichec, author of the witch's heart

#1 new york times bestsellerone of barack obama's favorite books of the yearnamed a best book of 2020 by the new york times * the washington post * npr * people * time magazine* vanity fair * glamour 2021 women's prize finalist“bennett’s tone and style recalls james baldwin and jacqueline woodson, but it’s especially reminiscent of toni morrison’s 1970 debut novel, the bluest eye.” —kiley reid, wall street journal “a story of absolute, universal timelessness …for any era, it's an accomplished, affecting novel. but after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. the other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. what will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect? weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the deep south to california, from the 1950s to the 1990s, brit bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the american history of passing. looking well beyond issues of race, the vanishing half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins. as with her new york times-bestselling debut the mothers, brit bennett offers an engrossing page-turner about family and relationships that is immersive and provocative, compassionate and wise.

A new york times bestseller – from the master of the novel of international intrigue comes a riveting new book as timely and unsettling as tomorrow's headlines. – it is summer 1999 in russia, a country on the threshold of anarchy. an interim president sits powerless in moscow as his nation is wracked by famine and inflation, crime and corruption, and seething hordes of the unemployed roam the streets. – for the west, russia is a basket case. as he waits in the wings for the presidential election of january 2000, his striking voice rings out over the airwaves offering the roiling masses hope at last—not only for law, order, and prosperity, but for restoring the lost greatness of their land. – who is this man with the golden tongue who is so quickly becoming the promise of a russia reborn? a document stolen from party headquarters and smuggled to washington and london sends nightmare chills through those who remember the past, for this black manifesto is pure mein kampf in a country with frightening parallels to the germany of the weimar republic. – officially the west can do nothing, but in secret a group of elder statesmen sends the only person who can expose the truth about komarov into the heart of the inferno. colonel anatoli grishin, the kgb officer who tortured and murdered four of monk's agents after they had been betrayed by aldrich ames, is now komarov's head of security. – monk has a dual mission: to stop komarov, whatever it takes, and to prepare the way for an icon worthy of the russian people. but he has a personal mission as well: to settle the final score with grishin. to do this he must stay alive–and the forces allied against him are ruthless, the time frighteningly short. . . . praise for icon“vintage forsyth, intricate, exact and gripping.”—the new york times book review“another strong performance by a writer who knows exactly what he's about, and who here catalyzes narrative with another memorable protagonist, the stealthy and daring monk.”—publishers weekly (starred review)“one of his best works for a long time, which provides an all-too-real look at a chilling new millennium.”—the sunday times, london

Avert the cataclysmic return of tiamat in this adventure for the world’s greatest roleplaying game the cult of the dragon leads the charge in an unholy crusade to bring tiamat back to the realms, and the situation grows more perilous for good people with each passing moment. the battle becomes increasingly political as opportunities to gather allies and gain advantage present themselves. from waterdeep to the sea of moving ice to thay, it is a race against evil. succeed or succumb to the oppression of draconic tyranny. win or lose, things will never be the same again. – the second of two adventures in the tyranny of dragons story arc, the rise of tiamat provides everything a dungeon master needs to create an exciting and memorable adventure experience. – fans of the dungeons & dragons roleplaying game can get a sample of what this product has in store for them through the d&d encounters in-store play program. – adventure design and development by kobold press.

A good morning america book club pick | a new york times bestseller! “utterly addictive.” —paula hawkins, author of the girl on the train “hooks you from the very first page and will have you racing to get to the end.”—good morning america a tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family—and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for—and everything she feared – blythe connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby violet that she herself never had. – but in the thick of motherhood's exhausting early days, blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter—she doesn't behave like most children do. – or is it all in blythe's head? her husband, fox, says she's imagining things. – then their son sam is born—and with him, blythe has the blissful connection she'd always imagined with her child. even violet seems to love her little brother. but when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces blythe to face the truth.

#1 national bestseller * new york times bestseller “terrifying…buckle up for a chilling summer read.” —people (best books of the week) “the perfect thriller! a must-read.” —gillian flynn “stunning and relentless. this is jaws at 35,000 feet.” —don winslowyou just boarded a flight to new york. there are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard. what you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped. for his family to live, everyone on your plane must die. the only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane. enjoy the flight.