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.

2020

O Magazine: 20 Best Books of 2020

19 November 2020

Deacon King Kong - James McBride

O, The Oprah Magazine: 20 Best Books of 2020

[see also 201920182017]

Washington Post: 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 2020

19 November 2020

The Washington Post: 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 2020

[see also The 10 Best Books of 202350 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 202350 Notable Works of Fiction in 202350 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 202250 Notable Works of Fiction in 2022The 10 Best Books of 202250 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 202150 Notable Works of Fiction in 2021The 10 Best Books of 202110 Best Books of 202050 Notable Works of Fiction in 2020Best Books of 201910 Best Books of 2018100 Notable Books of 201810 Best Books of 2017The 10 Best Books of 201610 Best Books of 2015The Ten Best Books of 2014Top 10 Books of 2013The 10 Best Books of 2012]

Washington Post: 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2020

19 November 2020

The Glass Hotel - Emily St. John Mandel

The Washington Post: 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2020

[see also The 10 Best Books of 202350 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 202350 Notable Works of Fiction in 202350 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 202250 Notable Works of Fiction in 2022The 10 Best Books of 202250 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 202150 Notable Works of Fiction in 2021The 10 Best Books of 202110 Best Books of 202050 Notable Works of Nonfiction in 2020Best Books of 201910 Best Books of 2018100 Notable Books of 201810 Best Books of 2017The 10 Best Books of 201610 Best Books of 2015The Ten Best Books of 2014Top 10 Books of 2013The 10 Best Books of 2012]

National Book Award: Fiction 2020

18 November 2020

Interior Chinatown - Charles Yu

National Book Award: Fiction 2020

[see also Fiction 2023Nonfiction 2023Fiction 2022Nonfiction 2022Fiction 2021Nonfiction 2021Nonfiction 2020Fiction 2019Nonfiction 2019Fiction 2018Nonfiction 2018Fiction 2017Nonfiction 2017Fiction 2016Nonfiction 2016Fiction 2013Nonfiction 2013]

Winner

Finalists

Longlist

National Book Award: Nonfiction 2020

18 November 2020

The Dead Are Arising - Les Payne and Tamara Payne

National Book Award: Nonfiction 2020

[see also Fiction 2023Nonfiction 2023Fiction 2022Nonfiction 2022Fiction 2021Nonfiction 2021Fiction 2020Fiction 2019Nonfiction 2019Fiction 2018Nonfiction 2018Fiction 2017Nonfiction 2017Fiction 2016Nonfiction 2016Fiction 2013Nonfiction 2013]

Winner

Finalists

Longlist

Time: The 100 Must-Read Books of 2020

15 November 2020

The City We Became - N.K. Jemisin

Time Magazine: The 100 Must-Read Books of 2020

[see also The 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2020The 10 Best Fiction Books of 2020The 10 Best Fiction Books of the 2010sThe 10 Best Nonfiction Books of the 2010sThe 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2019The 10 Best Fiction Books of 2019Best Books of 2018Top 20 Books of 2017]

Powell's Books: Best Fiction of 2020

09 November 2020

Luster - Raven Leilani

Powell's Books: Best Fiction of 2020

[see also Best Nonfiction of 2023Best Fiction of 2023Best Nonfiction of 2022Best Fiction of 2022The 14 Best Nonfiction Books of 2021The 18 Best Novels of 2021Best Nonfiction of 2020Best Fiction of 2019Best Nonfiction of 2019Best Fiction of 2018Best Nonfiction of 2018Best Nonfiction of 2017Best Fiction of 2017Best Fiction of 2016Best Nonfiction of 2016Best Nonfiction Books of 2015Best Fiction Books of 2015Best Fiction of 2014Best Nonfiction of 2014]

Kirkus Prize: Nonfiction 2020

05 November 2020

Stakes Is High - Mychal Denzel Smith

Kirkus Prize: Nonfiction 2020, awarded by Kirkus Reviews

[see also Fiction 2023Nonfiction 2023Nonfiction 2022Fiction 2022Nonfiction 2021Fiction 2021Fiction 2020Nonfiction 2019Fiction 2019Nonfiction 2018Fiction 2018Nonfiction 2017Fiction 2017Nonfiction 2016Fiction 2016Nonfiction 2015Fiction 2015Nonfiction 2014Fiction 2014]

Winner

Finalists

Kirkus Prize: Fiction 2020

05 November 2020

Luster - Raven Leilani

Kirkus Prize: Fiction 2020, awarded by Kirkus Reviews

[see also Fiction 2023Nonfiction 2023Nonfiction 2022Fiction 2022Nonfiction 2021Fiction 2021Nonfiction 2020Nonfiction 2019Fiction 2019Nonfiction 2018Fiction 2018Nonfiction 2017Fiction 2017Nonfiction 2016Fiction 2016Nonfiction 2015Fiction 2015Nonfiction 2014Fiction 2014]

Winner

Finalists

Powell's Books: Best Nonfiction of 2020

02 November 2020

Surviving Autocracy - Masha Gessen

Powell's Books: Best Nonfiction of 2020

[see also Best Nonfiction of 2023Best Fiction of 2023Best Nonfiction of 2022Best Fiction of 2022The 14 Best Nonfiction Books of 2021The 18 Best Novels of 2021Best Fiction of 2020Best Fiction of 2019Best Nonfiction of 2019Best Fiction of 2018Best Nonfiction of 2018Best Nonfiction of 2017Best Fiction of 2017Best Fiction of 2016Best Nonfiction of 2016Best Nonfiction Books of 2015Best Fiction Books of 2015Best Fiction of 2014Best Nonfiction of 2014]