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The New York Public Library: Best Books of 2021

The New York Public Library is proud to present our Best Books of 2021. 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.

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!

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  • For Adults: Explore the List

    Book cover collage on a light blue background including Crying in H Mart, The Book of Accounts, and Razorblade Tears among others.

  • For Teens: Explore the List

    Book cover collage on a light purple background including titles like Boys Run the Riot, From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry, and Queer as All Get Out among others.

  • For Kids: Explore the List

    Book cover collage on a light yellow background including Living with Viola, While I Was Away, and Star Fish among others.

  • Para pequeños: explore la lista

    Book cover collage on a light peach background including Hablo Como El Rio, Done van cuando llueve, and Bebe beisbol among others.

  • Download Our 2021 Lists

    Print and check off the titles as you read them!

    • Best Books for Adults
    • Best Books for Kids
    • Best Books for Teens
    • Los Mejores libros para pequeños
    Collage PDF pages filled with lists of NYPL's Best Books for Teens, Adults, Kids, and Spanish titles for kids; text on the PDF previews is illegible.

  • Discover Our Top 10 Picks for Kids, Teens, and Adults

    Not sure where to start? Check out our top 10 picks for kids, teens, and adults.

    Learn More
    Book cover collage featuring three titles over a light green background: How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe, How the Word Is Passed, Barakah Beats.

  • Los Mejores libros para pequeños

    Nuestro comité hispanohablante experto seleccionó los mejores libros infantiles publicados este año. ¡Tómelos prestados ya!

    Aprende más
    Book cover collage featuring three titles over a peach background: Un pájaro en casa, Érase una vez y mucho más será, Sunakay.

  • Available in Accessible Formats

    Find out which of our Best Books of 2021 are currently available in digital talking book, braille, and Bookshare editions.

    Learn More
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  • About Best Books at NYPL

    Every year the librarians and staff on our Best Books committees read thousands of titles to select noteworthy new books for readers of all ages. Find out more—and check out the highlights of previous years!

    Learn More
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  • Get a Library Card Today!

    If you don’t already have a library card, you can sign up for one for free online today and start reading the Best Books of 2021! Access everything the Library has to offer, from free one-on-one online tutoring to e-books, with your library card.

    Learn More
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  • Start Reading with SimplyE Now

    Prefer to read on your mobile device? Download the Library’s free e-reader app, SimplyE, and gain instant access to hundreds of thousands of books and e-books now, including many of this year’s Best Books.

    Information available in:

    • English
    • Español
    • 简体中文
    • বাংলা
    • Русский
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  • Download the NYPL App

    Get the power of The New York Public Library, anytime, anywhere. With the NYPL app, you can access everything the Library has to offer from home or while you’re on the go. Use the NYPL App in:

    • Español 
    • English
    • 简体中文
    • Русский
    • বাংলা
    • Français
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  • Try Shelf Help

    Discover the Library’s personalized book selection service! Tell us your reading interests and we’ll handpick five books just for you. Available for patrons of all ages!

    Learn More
    A stack of five books tied together with a pink bow sits atop a table; there is a personalized, handwritten note on a piece of paper with NYPL's Shelf Help logo in red at the top of the page.

  • Shop the Library

    Shop gifts for the book lovers in your life and a range of contemporary classics at the Library Shop. Library cardholders get 10% off in-store on the first Saturday of every month!

    Learn More
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  • Dedicate a Library Book

    The perfect gift for book lovers! When you make a gift of $35 or more, we’ll print your loved one’s name and a personalized message inside a book in our circulating collection.

    Join Today
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  • Daily Book Recommendations

    Sign up for our Book of the Day emails for fresh ideas for your to-be-read pile!

    Subscribe Now
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