Another year comes to a close, our eleventh running For Reading Addicts, and for the last few years we’ve run a book of the year. Each year we ask you to nominate a book released either this year or last for the For Reading Addicts Book of the Year. You can catch the 2022 list here and I’ve just collated this year’s list, which you can see below.
We hope this list offers some recommendations for the coming year, and we hope you have a joyful 2024 full of books!
FRA Book of the Year
Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver
Demon Copperhead was released in October 2022 and despite its late release last year, made it to number 5 on the 2022 but is a clear winner this year with 28 of your votes, and is also the Pulitzer Prize winner 2023.
2
Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby van Pelt
Released in May 22, Remarkably Bright Creatures didn’t make last year’s list but was named Book of the Summer by the Chicago Tribune. With 17 votes it’s a clear second place for our book of the year list.
3
The Last Devil to Die – Richard Osman
Released in September of this year, The Last Devil to Die is the latest in the Thursday Murder Club series and was an instant Number 1 in the NY Times bestseller list and with thirteen votes is number 3 in our Book of the Year.
4
Horse – Geraldine Brooks
Published last summer, Horse made second place in last year’s Book of the Year and fourth this year with a dozen votes. It’s also had critical acclaim and rave reviews from reviewers such as the NY Times, Oprah, and Time Magazine.
5
The River We Remember – William Kent Kruger
Released in September 2023, The River We Remember was an instant NY Times bestseller and with eleven votes is number 5 on our FRA Book of the Year.
6
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
Released in April 22, Lessons in Chemistry came in third place in the 2022 Book of the Year, and is holding firm this year too, making sixth place with ten votes.
7
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store – James McBride
Released in August of this year, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store was an instant bestseller and one of Barack Obama’s favourite books this year. It was also a firm favourite of yours, coming in at number 7 with nine votes.
8
Fourth Wing – Rebecca Yarros
Released in May of this year, Fourth Wing is book one in the Empyrean fantasy series and with eight votes makes eighth place in our Top Ten books of 2023.
9
Hello Beautiful – Anne Napolitano
Released in March of this year, Hello Beautiful is an Oprah Book Club pick, an NY Times bestsellers, and is one of Chigaco Libraries most borrowed book of the year. With seven votes it’s also number 9 in our Top Ten list.
10
Tom Lake – Anne Patchett
Tom Lake was released in August of this year, and is already a NY Times bestseller and a Reese’s bookclub pick, and with six votes completes our Top Ten!
Other books that received your votes were Stephen King’s Holly, and Fairytale with four votes each, Someone Else’s Shoes, the latest release from Jojo Moyes with three votes, and Little Liar by Mitch Albom, which also received three votes.
Thanks to everyone who got involved! If you didn’t get to vote because you missed the post, let us know what your pick would be in the comments!
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