BookTrib Staff Names Our Favorite Books of the Year

There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib

Megan’s Pick:
Hanif Abdurraqib’s memoir is a meditation on home, family, identity, love and belonging. Though its main focus is primarily the author’s experience of growing up in proximity to the Ohio basketball scene in the 90s — a subject I admittedly know nothing about — it’s a deeply accessible story that requires no prior knowledge.
There’s Always This Year is about community, growing up Black and Muslim in America, and being devoted to loving something, whether that something is basketball, music, friends, or life itself. Abdurraqib’s lyrical prose and intimate revelations are just part of the reason I’m already reading it for the second time this year.

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Jim’s Pick:
When this author came out with The Plot, her ingenious thriller in which a bestselling book becomes a matter of life or death, it immediately became one of my favorite reads of all time. Stephen King called it “one of the best novels I’ve ever read about writers and writing.” The Sequel is, well, just that — the sequel to The Plot. And the ingenious writing continues — it’s just as good.

Check out this list of similar books

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Barbara’s Pick:
I rarely cry when reading books (I’m a faucet, though, when it comes to stories on screen!) but once in a while a book comes along that brings me to tears. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters is one such book. This is a heartbreaking but beautifully written debut [is] that has been winning all kinds of awards and other accolades.
As the book description says, “It’s a riveting novel about the search for truth, the shadow of trauma, and the persistence of love across time.” It’s a powerful, emotional, and very well-paced novel. My whole book club loved it!

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

Kelsey’s Pick:
In my entire reading journey there have only been two books that have made me cry and it just so happens both are by the same author. Coco Mellors has perfected the raw and deeply flawed characters that you can’t help but root for, despite their messy lives. Blue Sisters is hands down my favorite read of this year.
After the unexpected death of the fourth Blue sister, Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky are now tasked with facing their demons they thought they left behind in their childhood New York apartment. This story is imbued with Coco Mellor’s signature mix of humor and heart as each sister learns how to keep living after loss and open up to loving life, and themselves again. 

Want more dysfunctional siblings books like Blue Sisters? Try these.

Crossed by Emily McIntire

Katie’s Pick:
At the beginning of the year, I spent the cold winter days curled up listening to the audiobook of Crossed by Emily McIntire. As a childhood fan of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this contemporary retelling, a dark romance between the enchanting dancer Amaya and the “holy” Father Cade — but I fell in love!
Not only were the steamy scenes top-tier, but the characters actually managed to capture my heart. And the voice actors really stole the show, setting some high expectations later audiobooks have struggled to meet.

Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers

Eileen’s Pick:
It is rare to find a creative as lovable, tenacious, and timeless as Joni Mitchell. As somebody who is fascinated by music history, and the lives of a musician such as Mitchell, I was instantly captivated by Ann Powers’ Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell. This deeply personal account of Mitchell’s legacy in the industry gives a profound look at her artistry and cultural impact she has had over decades. For anybody who admires Mitchell’s genius and influence, please read this book!

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

Cameron’s Pick:
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi came into my life when I needed an adventure, and boy did bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty deliver. On the surface, it’s a rollicking good time as a crew of semi-retired pirates take to the seas for one last shot at glory.
But underneath the swashbuckling surface, it’s a tender exploration of motherhood, family and the bonds that supersede all worldly treasures. It’s such a breath of fresh air to see a middle-aged woman lead a fantasy, and I cannot wait until the sequel is out (fingers crossed for 2025!).

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Olivia’s Pick:
Akbar’s writing is beautiful and poetic, unsurprisingly, as his debut novel follows two gorgeous poetry collections. Martyr! explores grief, sobriety, martyrdom, cultural identity, and existential philosophy. An introspective literary fiction laden with rich relationships and soul-searching in places one wouldn’t expect. It is an essential read for anyone pondering humanity and mortality, and finding solace in the not knowing.

Catch Me a Killer: A Profiler’s True Story by Micki Pistorius

Monique’s Pick:
Following Micki Pistorius, South Africa’s first profiler for the South African Police Service, readers are privy to the groundbreaking, albeit terrifying cases she worked on between 1994 and 2000. I would highly recommend this book (and the TV show based on the book) for true crime readers!