The Top Reviewed Fiction of 2016

I love this time of year, with its festive music, colorful lights, AND for book geeks like me, all the best books lists.

Every December I keep track of some of the more prominent book reviewers’ best books of the year to see what titles receive the most acclaim. I use a variety of sources, so if a book makes the cut several times, chances are it could be worth reading because it rose to the top among hundreds of titles.This year I used the lists from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal (or School Library Journal for young adult titles), Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Amazon. In my compilation for you, dear readers, I’ve included the genre after each title and who listed it in the best of 2016. The book had to be listed at least 3 times to make my list. Click on the title to find the book in our catalog with book descriptions. Many of these books also made our staff favorites of 2016, and I indicated which one of us recommended the book. Don’t forget to come in and pick up our fiction and nonfiction booklets at the reference desk.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post about the Top Reviewed Nonfiction of 2016.

Listed 7 Times:

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (historical fiction); cited in all 7 lists: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, BookPage, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Library Journal. Also recommended by staffers Andrea and Ellen.

The Underground Railroad (historical fiction); cited in all 7 lists: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, BookPage, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Library Journal. Also recommended by staffers Jo and Ellen.

Listed 6 Times:

Barkskins by Annie Proulx (historical fiction); recommended by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, BookPage, The Washington Post, The New York Times.

The Nix by Nathan Hill (historical fiction); Recommended by Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Amazon. Also recommended by staffer Ellen.

Listed 5 Times:

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue (contemporary); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, BookPage, The Washington Post,  The New York Times. Also recommended by staffer Jo.

LaRose by Louise Erdrich (contemporary) recommended by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, The Washington Post, The New York Times. Also recommended by staffer Ellen.

Swing Time by Zadie Smith (contemporary); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, BookPage, The Washington Post, The New York Times.

Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple (contemporary); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, BookPage, The Washington Post, The New York Times. Also recommended by staffer Andrea.

Listed 4 Times:

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson (historical fiction); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, The Washington Post, The New York Times. Also recommended by staffer Jo.

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (contemporary); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, The Washington Post,The New York Times.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (historical fiction); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, BookPage, The Washington Post. Also recommended by staffer Andrea.

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (mystery); recommended by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage,The Washington Post. Also recommended by staffers Jo and Ellen.

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (historical fiction); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, The Washington Post, The New York Times. Also recommended by staffers Jo and Ellen.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman (young adult science fiction); recommended by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon and School Library Journal.

Listed 3 Times:

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (young adult fantasy); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, The Washington Post, Also recommended by staffer Ellen.

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (suspense); recommended by Amazon, The Washington Post, The New York Times. Also recommended by staffers Ellen, Jane and Becky.

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina (young adult); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, School Library Journal.

The Fortunes by Peter Ho Davies (historical fiction); recommended by Publishers Weekly, Amazon, The Washington Post.

The Girls by Emma Cline (historial fiction); recommended by Publishers Weekly, The New York Times, The Washington Post. Also recommended by staffers Becky and Andrea.

Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer (contemporary); recommended by Amazon, The New York Times, The Washington Post.

Hot Milk by Deborah Levy (contemporary). Recommended by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, The New York Times.

If I was Your Girl by Meredith Russo (young adult). Recommended by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon.

Mischling by Affinity Konar (historical fiction); recommended by Publishers Weekly, Amazon, The New York Times.

Miss Jane by Brad Watson (historical fiction); recommended by Amazon, BookPage, The Washington Post.

Moonglow by Michael Chabon (contemporary); recommended by Amazon, The Washington Post, The New York Times.

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (contemporary); recommended by Amazon, BookPage,The Washington Post.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles (historical fiction); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, BookPage,The Washington Post. Also recommended by staffer Jo.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (young adult historical fiction); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, School Library Journal. Also recommended by staffer Andrea.

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (young adult); recommended by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon. Also recommended by staffer Cyndi.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (young adult); recommended by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon. Also recommended by staffer Cyndi.

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey (historical fiction); recommended by BookPage, The Washington Post, Library Journal. Also recommended by staffer Jo.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang (contemporary); recommended by Publishers Weekly, BookPage, The New York Times. Also recommended by staffer Becky.

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue (historical fiction); recommended by Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, The Washington Post. Also recommended by staffer Ellen.