NYPL's Best Books of 2024

Updated November 27, 2024
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Agnes Sharp and the trip of a lifetime /
Swann, Leonie,
Paper Book
This highly anticipated follow-up to The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp finds Agnes and her octogenarian friends face-to-face with a killer after winning a trip to a beautiful hotel in the seaside town of Cornwall The year is rapidly drawing to an end, Hettie the tortoise is...
Any duke in a storm /
Howard, Amalie,
Paper Book
Historical romance takes to the high seas. Famed spy Lady Lisbeth Medford is on a ship bound for the West Indies, and the only thing more dangerous than her mission is the elusive Duke she's trying to capture. Lady Lisbeth Medford, Countess of Waterstone and famed international spy, is...
Bride /
Hazelwood, Ali
Paper Book
#1 Indie Next Pick! A Hall of Fame LibraryReads pick! One of People's Best Books to Read in February A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the...
Challenger :
Higginbotham, Adam
Paper Book
Winner of the 2024 Kirkus Nonfiction Prize * Shortlisted for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction * A New York Times Notable Book of 2024 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "Stunning...A heart-pounding thriller...Challenger is a...
The Coin
Zaher, Yasmin
Paper Book
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice A bold and unabashed novel about a young Palestinian woman's unraveling as she teaches at a New York City middle school, gets caught up in a scheme reselling Birkin bags, and strives to gain control over her body and mind ...
A Daughter of Fair Verona
Dodd, Christina
Paper Book
I'm the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn't die in the tomb. They're alive and well and living in fair Verona with their six wildly impetuous children and me, their nineteen-year-old daughter Rosaline... Knives Out<...
The dead cat tail assassins /
Clark, P. Djáelâi,
Paper Book
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats. Nor do they have tails. But they are most assuredly dead. Nebula and Alex Award winner P. Djèlí Clark introduces a brand-new world and a fantastical city full of gods and assassins. ...
The ex vows /
Joyce, Jessica,
Paper Book
An Instant USA Today Bestseller! An Indie Next Pick A Library Reads Pick Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend's wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance from the USA Today bestselling...
The familiar /
Bardugo, Leigh.
Paper Book
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER * #1 INDIE BESTSELLER * NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "An immersive, sensual experience." --The New York Times "Essential." --The Washington Post From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh...
Forest of Noise :
Toha, Mosab Abu
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK * "A powerful, capacious, and profound" (Ocean Vuong) new collection of poems about life in Gaza by an award-winning Palestinian poet. You are alive for a moment when living people run after you.<...
The God of the Woods
Moore, Liz
Paper Book
THE RUNAWAY NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK  ONE OF NPR's "BOOKS WE LOVE"  "Extraordinary . . . Reminds me of Donna Tartt's 1992 debut, The Secret History . . . I was so thoroughly submerged in a...
Horror movie :
Tremblay, Paul.
Paper Book
Instant New York Times Bestseller! PLEASE NOTE: the limited edition with red stained edges is sold out, but we invite you to purchase an unstained one -- same haunting story, same chilling twists! A chilling twist on the "cursed film" genre from the bestselling author of The...
Hum
Phillips, Helen
Paper Book
A Most Anticipated Book for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, Goodreads, LitHub, and Book Riot A Best Book of the Summer for Esquire, Electric Lit, and Town & Country A People Book of the...
The last murder at the end of the world /
Turton, Stuart
Paper Book
"A gripping tale that reads like a Sherlock Holmes novel set in a broken future...Turton is an exciting writer with a knack for strange tales that push the envelope, and this strange story of murder, survival, and the importance of memory might be his best work yet." --Gabino Iglesias for NPR ...
The light eaters :
Schlanger, Zo?e,
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER TIME's 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 * Washington Post's 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction of 2024 * A Best Book of the Year: New York Public Library, Barnes & Noble, and Publishers Weekly * An Amazon Best Nonfiction Book of the Year "A...
Martyr! /
Akbar, Kaveh,
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD * A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, embarks on a remarkable search for a family secret that leads him to a terminally ill painter...
The mercy of gods /
Corey, James S. A.
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER From the New York Times bestselling author of the Expanse comes a spectacular new space opera that sees humanity fighting for its survival in a war as old as the universe itself. ...
Nuclear war :
Jacobsen, Annie
Paper Book
The INSTANT New York Times bestseller Instant Los Angeles Times bestseller One of NPR's Books We Love Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize "In Nuclear War: A Scenario, Annie Jacobsen gives us a...
Smoke Kings :
Mayfield, Jahmal
Paper Book
Nate Evers, a young black political activist, struggles with rage as his people are still being killed in the streets 62 years after Emmett Till. When his little cousin is murdered, Nate shuns the graffiti murals, candlelight vigils, and Twitter hashtags that are commonplace after these senseless...
A sunny place for shady people :
Enriquez, Mariana,
Paper Book
A diabolical collection of stories featuring achingly human characters whose lives intertwine with ghosts, goblins, and the macabre, by "Buenos Aires's sorceress of horror" (Samanta Schweblin, The New York Times) "Entertaining, political and exquisitely gruesome, these...
There's always this year :
Abdurraqib, Hanif,
Paper Book
A poignant, personal reflection on basketball, talent and allegiance, and of course, LeBron James-from the author of the National Book Award finalist A Little Devil in America While Hanif Abdurraqib is an acclaimed author, a gifted poet, and one of our culture's most...
You dreamed of empires /
Enrigue, Alvaro,
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR ONE OF NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S TOP 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR "Enrigue's genius lies in his ability to bring readers close to its tangled knot of priests, mercenaries, warriors and princesses while adding a pinch of...
Age 16
Fung, Rosena/ Mcmahon, Serah-marie (TRN)
Paper Book
Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, The Globe and Mail * Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024, Ms. magazine * Kids Indie Next Pick A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down--and rebel against--standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and worth. ...
American wings :
Smith, Sherri L.
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of Flygirl and the bestselling author of Code Name Verity comes the thrilling and inspiring true story of the desegregation of the skies. "This beautiful and brilliant history of not only what it means to be Black and dream of...
Black girl you are atlas /
Watson, Renâee.
Paper Book
A thoughtful celebration of Black girlhood by award-winning author and poet Renee Watson. In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renee Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender.
The blonde dies first /
Wellington, Joelle,
Paper Book
A group of friends fight to choose their own fates when faced with a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in this trope-savvy, "script-flipping hair-raiser" (Publishers Weekly) from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games. Devon is always...
Chronically dolores /
Van Wagenen, Maya
Paper Book
Maya Van Wagenen, bestselling author of Popular, tells Dolores's story with humor, heartache, and an occasional bit of telenovela flair. "A striking fiction debut." --Publishers Weekly, starred review "An insightful, funny, and realistic coming-of...
The color of a lie /
Johnson, Kim,
Paper Book
In 1955, a Black family passes for white and moves to a "Whites Only" town in the suburbs. Caught between two worlds, a teen boy puts his family at risk as he uncovers racist secrets about his suburb. A new social justice thriller from the acclaimed author of This Is My America! ...
A crane among wolves /
Hur, June,
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today's world, based on a true story from Korean history. Hope is dangerous. Love...
The deep dark
Ostertag, Molly,
Paper Book
From Molly Knox Ostertag, writer-illustrator of the New York Times and ABA Indie bestselling The Witch Boy trilogy and The Girl from the Sea, comes a darkly beautiful story of identity, family, love, loss, and magic. Everyone has secrets. Mags's has teeth. Magdalena...
Four Eids and a funeral /
áAbâikâe-âIyâimâidâe, Faridah,
Paper Book
Ex-best friends, Tiwa and Said, must work together to save their Islamic Center from demolition, in this romantic story of rekindling and rebuilding by award-winning authors Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé & Adiba Jaigirdar! The town of New Crosshaven has it all--even its own...
How the boogeyman became a poet /
Keith, Tony.,
Paper Book
Poet, writer, and hip-hop educator Tony Keith Jr. makes his debut with a powerful YA memoir in verse, tracing his journey from being a closeted gay Black teen battling poverty, racism, and homophobia to becoming an openly gay first-generation college student who finds freedom in poetry. Perfect...
Icarus /
Ancrum, K.
Paper Book
"The sparse prose in this unconventional, must-read of a trauma-infused borderline thriller is packed with emotional breadth." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "In this intimate poetic reimagining of the Icarus myth, Ancrum crafts a subversive triumph that is a love letter...
Kindling /
Chee, Traci,
Paper Book
From bestselling and award-winning author Traci Chee comes a standalone fantasy set against a war-ravaged world where kindling warfare--the use of elite, magic-wielding teenage soldiers--has been outlawed. In this rich and evocative novel, seven kindlings search for purpose and...
Looking for Smoke /
Cobell, K. A.
Paper Book
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK In her powerful debut novel, Looking for Smoke, author K. A. Cobell (Blackfeet) weaves loss, betrayal, and complex characters into a thriller that will illuminate, surprise, and engage readers until the final word. A must-pick for readers who enjoy books by...
Lunar New Year love story
Yang, Gene Luen.
Paper Book
Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, and falling in love. She was destined for heartbreak. Then fate handed her love. Val is ready to give up on love. It's led to nothing but...
The no-girlfriend rule /
Randall, Christen,
Paper Book
An instant USA TODAY bestseller Four starred reviews! Julie Murphy meets Heartstopper with a D&D twist in this "magical, heartwarming" (Rachael Lippincott, #1 New York Times bestselling author of She Gets the Girl) queer romance about a...
Punk rock karaoke
Xunise, Bianca,
Paper Book
"Stole my heart from the first page to the last. Endlessly funny and sincere." --Tillie Walden, Eisner & Ignatz Award-winning cartoonist A debut graphic novel from Ignatz Award-winning and nationally syndicated cartoonist Bianca Xunise. When life gives you guitars...
Snowglobe /
Park, Soyoung
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The groundbreaking Korean phenomenon that Entertainment Weekly called "The Hunger Games meets Squid Game"--now in English for the first time! A COSMOPOLITAN BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR "An...
Wildfire :
Anderson, Ferin Davis,
Across so many seas /
Behar, Ruth,
Ebook
"As lyrical as it is epic, Across So Many Seas reminds us that while the past may be another country, it's also a living, breathing song of sadness and joy that helps define who we are." --Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee Spanning over 500...
Barracoon /
Hurston, Zora Neale
Paper Book
In the first middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, young readers are introduced to the remarkable and true-life story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic human trade, in an adaptation of the internationally bestselling and...
Being home /
Sorell, Traci,
Paper Book
From Sibert Honor-winning author Traci Sorell and Caldecott Medal-winning artist Michaela Goade comes a heartwarming picture book about a Native American family and the joy of moving back to their ancestral land. Today is a day of excitement-it's time to move! As a young Cherokee...
The iguanodon's horn :
Rubin, Sean,
Paper Book
Highlighting the role of artists in the scientific process, this crowd-pleasing look at dinosaurs explores how new discoveries deepen our understanding of the world. Ever since mysterious bones were found in 1822, scientists and artists have tried to figure out what the creature they came...
Impossible creatures /
Rundell, Katherine.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Two kids race to save the world's last magical place in the first book of a landmark new fantasy series, from "a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination." (Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass) *This...
Magnolia Wu unfolds it all /
Miller, Chanel,
Paper Book
An instant New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestseller! Award-winning author and artist Chanel Miller tells a fun, funny, and poignant story of friendship and community starring Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old sock detective bent on returning all the lonely...
My Antarctica :
Neri, Greg.
Paper Book
Follow Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author G. Neri to the end of the world in a captivating travel memoir that explores Antarctica through the curiosity and wonder of his inner child--the kid who dreamed of one day becoming an explorer. Antarctica is a land of extremes--the...
The ocean gardener /
Anganuzzi, Clara,
Paper Book
Ayla notices that the once-vibrant corals in the reef near her beautiful island home have turned pale. She and her mom decide that they need to save the corals--but is it too late? Ayla lives on a beautiful tropical island surrounded by a coral reef. Her mom is a marine biologist...
Red Bird danced /
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
With lyrical verse and powerful emotion, Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe) tells the story of urban Native kids who find strength in connection with those who came before and in the hope that lets them take flight. Ariel and Tomah have lived in the city's intertribal housing complex all...
School for invisible boys /
Hutchinson, Shaun David.
Paper Book
What would you do if no one could see you? In this surreal adventure, a boy who is used to being overlooked literally becomes invisible, only to realize there may be far more dangerous threats in his school than bullies. Sixth grade takes a turn for the weird when Hector Griggs...
Taxi ghost /
Escabasse, Sophie,
Paper Book
In this hilarious and heartwarming graphic novel, a young girl's first period brings an unexpected gift- the ability to see ghosts! As she meets these spectral visitors, she uncovers her family's secret lineage of mediums, while learning about the power of compassion and community.
Viewfinder /
Chung, Christine D. U.,
A young space traveler happens upon Earth in the future in this gorgeous wordless adventure for fans of Shaun Tan. A transportive graphic novel for ages 6 to 9, perfect for Earth Day. A young space traveler visits Earth on a whim and finds a planet empty of people. She happens...

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