The New York Public Library: Best Books of 2020
The New York Public Library is proud to present our Best Books of 2020. Our annual recommendations for kids, teens, and adults, curated by our expert librarians, encompass fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, poetry, kids’ books in Spanish, and much more. Discover our top 10 books in five categories, then explore the lists in full.
All of these books are in the Library’s catalog and many are available in multiple formats, including e-books, audiobooks, and accessible editions. Happy reading!
Discover Our Top 10 Books for Kids, Teens, Adults, and More!
NYPL's Best Books committees have chosen from the full lists our top 10 books for kids (in English and Spanish), teens, and adults, as well as our top 10 poetry books.
Explore Best Books Titles Available in Accessible Formats
Find out which of our Best Books of 2020 are currently available in digital talking book, braille, and Bookshare editions.
Los mejores libros para edades 0–12
Descubra los mejores libros para niñas y niños de 2020 escritos en español, seleccionados por nuestro comité hispanohablante de expertas y expertos en literatura infantil.
The Harry Belafonte Black Liberation Speaker Series: Bryan Washington with Vinson Cunningham
Wednesday, December 2 at 8 PM
LIVE from NYPL presents this discussion between Bryan Washington, winner of the Library’s 2020 Young Lions Fiction Award, and New Yorker staff writer Vinson Cunningham as part of The Harry Belafonte Black Liberation Speaker Series, with thanks to Kenneth Cole. Washington will discuss his debut novel, Memorial, which features on our Best Books for Adults list.
KidsLIVE! Author Program with Simran Jeet Singh!
Wednesday, December 9 at 3:30 PM
Join NYPL’s children’s librarian for a special book talk and Q&A with Simran Jeet Singh, author of Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon, which features on our Best Books for Kids list.
Download the List
Tick off the titles on our Top 10 lists as you read them.
Shop the List
Shop gifts for the book lovers in your life and a range of contemporary classics, including titles from the Library's Best Books of 2020, at the Library Shop.
125 Years of The New York Public Library
The Library's 125th anniversary is a moment to honor and reaffirm the enduring power of libraries.
Give to the Library's Book Fund
Donate to help cover the cost of new books, e-books, and audiobooks.
Check Out Black Friday Travel Deals from NYPL
Our free books and e-books will take you around the world—and beyond—you don’t even need to leave your couch. The only passport you need this winter is a library card.