Barnes & Noble shares its 2023 Book of the Year finalists

Bookstores feel like they’re moving to the wayside in favor of online shopping yet Barnes & Noble still remains a favorite.

As someone who is a huge book shopper, I’m either constantly browsing the website or headed to the store. Essentially what I don’t find in the store, I’ll look for online or vice versa.

That’s why I was so excited to pop on and see that Barnes & Noble shared its finalists for the 2023 Book of the Year and this list is full of so many great books along with some I’ve never heard of.

Whether you’re new to reading or have a favorite genre, I’m sure you’ll find a book on here that you have an opinion on.

See the finalists for the Barnes & Noble Book of the Year!

Let’s get into the coveted titles for this year and honestly, there are a lot of great ones and a few surprises. As someone who is primarily a romance reader and enjoys more contemporary stories, a lot of these are new to me and there are also some I knew would likely make the cut.

With that being said, the first title featured is The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Julie Morstad. This is a kid’s book that is a fairytale featuring the story of five puppets looking to make a change. Even though I’ve never heard of this one before, it already looks promising.

David Grann makes the list with The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder as it’s a swashbuckling tale of pirates, savagery, and more. With a comparison to Lord of the Flies, this is one to get excited about if you’re looking for something historical. Next up is The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel. This is a look at art history but with a focus on female artists including Plautilla Neil. For a non-fiction pick, this cover and concept seem like it has such mass appeal.

Moving onto a contemporary/literary story, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang is on the list. This one has been heavily discussed and is Kuang’s first foray into contemporary fiction. Of all the books on the list, this is the one I’m most looking forward to picking up. Then there’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride which is a small-town story with a focus on marginalized groups.

Heading back to the kid’s books, there’s Zilot & Other Important Rhymes by Bob Odenkirk illustrated by his daughter, Erin Odenkirk. While this one is marketed towards kids, this is a fun one for all ages. Speaking of all ages, everyone will likely enjoy a recipe from Chili Crisp: 50+ Recipes to Satisfy Your Spicy, Crunchy, Garlicky Cravings by James Park and Heami Lee.

The next group of titles is another mix of genres with The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters which is an Indigineous mystery, The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin which is a self-help story and then, Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward which is a historical story following an enslaved girl pre-Civil War.

These final two titles are both incredibly hyped romances for this year and that’s Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. Both of these are popular, beloved, and two of the most talked-about romances of the year so it wouldn’t surprise me to see one of these make the cut.

Ultimately though, it’s up to Barnes & Noble. There were so many great books released in 2023 so this couldn’t have been easy. Either way, I’d love to know your thoughts on these books and the list in general.