Year-End Lists

A hand-curated, browsable index of notable year-end lists. Follow the link for each list to see essential commentary from its author, at the source.

2016

San Francisco Chronicle: 100 Recommended Books of 2016

19 January 2017

The San Francisco Chronicle: 100 Recommended Books of 2016

[see also Favorite Books of 2022100 Recommended Books of 2018Top 10 Books of 2018Top 10 Books of 2016Top 10 Books of 2015]

Fiction and Poetry

Nonfiction

San Francisco Chronicle: Top 10 Books of 2016

13 January 2017

The San Francisco Chronicle: Top 10 Books of 2016

[see also Favorite Books of 2022100 Recommended Books of 2018Top 10 Books of 2018100 Recommended Books of 2016Top 10 Books of 2015]

Fiction

Nonfiction

Boston Globe: Kate Tuttle: 20 Best Nonfiction Books of 2016

02 January 2017

Kate Tuttle: 20 Best Nonfiction Books of 2016, as published by The Boston Globe

[see also 2017]

Boston Globe: John Freeman: 15 Best Fiction Books of 2016

02 January 2017

The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead

John Freeman: 15 Best Fiction Books of 2016, as published by The Boston Globe

[see also 2017]

Dennis Cooper: 52 Favorite Books of 2016

01 January 2017

Dennis Cooper: 52 Favorite Books of 2016 (“in no order”)

[see also 201920182012]

Fiction

Nonfiction

Publishers Weekly: 10 Best Books of 2016

31 December 2016

Barkskins - Annie Proulx

Publishers Weekly: 10 Best Books of 2016

[see also 202320222021202020192018201720152014201320122011]

Library Journal: 10 Best Books of 2016

31 December 2016

Library Journal: 10 Best Books of 2016

[see also 20232022202120202019201720122011]

Time: Sarah Begley: Top 20 Books of 2016

23 December 2016

The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead

Sarah Begley: Top 20 Books of 2016, as published by Time Magazine

Fiction

Nonfiction

Maria Popova: 16 Favorite Books of 2016

22 December 2016

The Lonely City - Olivia Laing

Maria Popova: 16 Favorite Books of 2016

[see also 20182015]

Fresh Air: Maureen Corrigan: 10 Best Books of 2016

21 December 2016

The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead

Maureen Corrigan: 10 Best Books of 2016 (as aired on NPR’s Fresh Air)

[see also 202320222021202020192018201720152011]