Best Books 2020: Worst Year, Best Books
By LJ Reviews

 

In a year that many would call one of the worst in recent memory, we were still rewarded with great books. The LJ Best Books of 2020 gathers 144 titles across 15 categories to help get libraries and readers through to better days. Comfort reads mix with fresh new perspectives in this selection of outstanding titles published in 2020.

Best Crime Fiction of 2020
By Vicki Briner, Liz French, Lesa Holstine

A wheelman-turned-family man, four crafty retirees, a newly made vigilante. The best crime fiction published in 2020.

Best Horror of 2020
By Cody Daigle-Orians, Stephanie Klose, Becky Spratford

Zombies, vampires, and assorted monsters stalk the pages of the best horror novels published in 2020.

Best Literary Fiction of 2020
By Sarah Bissell, Joshua Finnell, Barbara Hoffert, Barbara Love

Belonging and acceptance, ecological disaster, Shakespeare's child. The best literary fiction published in 2020.

Best Pop Fiction of 2020
By Liz French, Jane Jorgenson, Lynnanne Pearson

A girl with a louding voice, a bawdy observer, a woman making her own happy ending. The best pop fiction novels published in 2020.

Best Romance of 2020
By Melanie Duncan, Kathryn Howe, Annalisa Pešek

A railway magnate, a brothel owner, and two gamers all find love in the best romance novels published in 2020.

Best SF & Fantasy of 2020
By Kristi Chadwick, Marlene Harris, Anja Webb

Supervillains, an ancient storyteller, gods and monsters. The best science fiction & fantasy novels published in 2020.

Best Short Stories 2020
By Barbara Hoffert, Lisa Peet

Historical corrections, a fascination with science, burdens of the past. The best short stories published in 2020.

Best World Literature of 2020
By Barbara Hoffert, Terry Hong, Lawrence Olszewski

Translated novels first written in French, Farsi, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean comprise the best world literature published in 2020.

Best Arts Books of 2020
By Bill Baars, Mahnaz Dar, Peter Thornell

Toni Morrison, Ravi Shankar, and Richard Avedon star in the best arts books published in 2020.

Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2020
By Stephanie Klose, Barrie Olmstead, Stephanie Sendaula

Malcolm X, Rose Pastor Stokes, Natasha Trethewey. The best biographies & memoirs published in 2020.

Best Cooking & Food Books of 2020
By Gricel Dominguez, Kelsy Peterson, Stephanie Sendaula

Pan-banging cookies, baking simplified, science of cooking. The best cooking and food books published in 2020.

Best Poetry of 2020
By Barbara Hoffert, Fred Muratori, Annalisa Pešek

Ravishing verse, lyrical contemplations, limpid language. The best poetry books published in 2020.

Best Science & Technology Books of 2020
By Matt Enis, Wade Lee-Smith, Stephanie Sendaula

Birds and whales and eels, oh my! The best science & technology books published in 2020.

Best Social Sciences Books of 2020
By Mattie Cook, Rebekah Kati, Stephanie Sendaula

Caste and control, the power of protest, a portrait of boys. The best social science books of 2020.

Best Graphic Novels of 2020
By Tom Batten, Annalisa Pešek

Kent State, Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse, a loving look at a comics icon. The best graphic novels published in 2020.