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The New York Public Library: Best Books of 2023

The New York Public Library is proud to present our Best Books of 2023. 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!

For Adults: Explore the List

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For Teens: Explore the List

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Download Our 2023 Lists

Print and check off the titles as you read them!

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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.

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Available in Accessible Formats

Find out which of our Best Books of 2023 are currently available in digital talking book, braille, and Bookshare editions.

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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!

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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 2023! Access everything the Library has to offer, from free one-on-one online tutoring to e-books, with your library card.

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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:

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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:

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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!

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Shop the Library

Shop gifts for the book lovers in your life and discover a range of contemporary classics at the Library Shop. Library cardholders get 10% off in-store at the all-new Library Shop & Café on the first Saturday of every month! Plus, shop online and get things delivered direct to your home.

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Dedicate a Library Book

The perfect gift for book lovers! When you make a gift of $50 or more, we'll print your loved one's name and a personalized message inside a book in our circulating collection.

Donate 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!

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Thank You to Our Supporters

These programs and initiatives are part of the Library’s Tisch Youth Education Programs, led by the Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education. Major support for educational programming is provided by Merryl H. and James S. Tisch.

Major support for children's and young adult programming is provided by the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Family Endowment for Young Audiences.