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.

2021

Electric Lit: Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2021

28 December 2021

Girlhood - Melissa Febos

Electric Lit: Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2021

[see also Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2022Favorite Novels of 2022Favorite Novels of 2021Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2020Favorite Novels of 202015 Best Novels of 201915 Best Nonfiction Books of 2019]

The Top 3 Nonfiction Books of the Year

Other Nonfiction Favorites

Electric Lit: Favorite Novels of 2021

28 December 2021

Intimacies - Katie Kitamura

Electric Lit: Favorite Novels of 2021

[see also Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2022Favorite Novels of 2022Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2021Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2020Favorite Novels of 202015 Best Novels of 201915 Best Nonfiction Books of 2019]

The Top 3 Novels of the Year

Other Favorite Novels

Atlantic: The 20 Best Books of 2021

28 December 2021

Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro

The Atlantic: The 20 Best Books of 2021

[see also 20222019]

Parade Magazine: 40 Best Books of 2021

28 December 2021

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev - Dawnie Walton

Parade Magazine: 40 Best Books of 2021

New Statesman: Best Books of 2021

21 December 2021

Orwell's Roses - Rebecca Solnit

New Statesman: Best Books of 2021

Non-fiction

Fiction

Los Angeles Times: Bethanne Patrick: The 5 Best Novels of 2021

17 December 2021

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois - Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

Bethanne Patrick: The 5 Best Novels of 2021, as published by The Los Angeles Times

[see also 2022]

Los Angeles Times: Mary Ann Gwinn: The 5 Best Nonfiction Books of 2021

17 December 2021

The Agitators - Dorothy Wickenden

Mary Ann Gwinn: The 5 Best Nonfiction Books of 2021, as published by The Los Angeles Times

[see also 2022]

Los Angeles Times: Mark Athitakis: The 5 Best Fiction Books of 2021

17 December 2021

Afterparties - Anthony Veasna So

Mark Athitakis: The 5 Best Fiction Books of 2021, as published by The Los Angeles Times

[see also 2022]

Barack Obama: Favorite Books of 2021

17 December 2021

Crying in H Mart - Michelle Zauner

Barack Obama: Favorite Books of 2021, as posted to Twitter

[see also 20222020201920182017]

Books I Recommended Earlier This Year

Thrillist: The Best Books of 2021

16 December 2021

The Last Graduate - Naomi Novik

Thrillist: The Best Books of 2021

[see also 2020]