There’s something for everyone on our annual list of favorite books. Happy Holidays!

For Adults: Fiction

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

A touching story narrated by a dog named Enzo who believes he
will be reincarnated as a human. Enzo pours his exceptional
spirit into this book as he shares his experiences with the reader. 

 Bill Warrington’s Last Chance by James King

The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd

The Confession by John Grisham

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

An epic tale with themes of family, travel, drama, love, loyalty, mystery, history, patriotism, racism, all bundled up in one powerful story. Reading this seems like a guilty pleasure you don’t need to feel guilty about.

Father of the Rain by Lily King

A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morten

Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville

Half a Heart by Rosellen Brown

Hollywood Hills by Joseph Wambaugh.

Honolulu by Alan Brennert

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

Innocent by Scott Turow

Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian

The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall

What’s a man to do when the economy tanks and you have a family to support – four wives and 28 children, to be precise? Even if you think a fundamentalist Mormon tragicomic novel isn’t really your thing, the unique and quirky characters in this book will stay with you for a long time. 

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Matterhorn: A novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes

Perhaps one of the greatest novels if not the greatest novel about the Vietnam War. Marlante’s writing reveals the raw brutality and painful experiences of terrified Marines involved in a pointless war.

The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson

The New Yorker Stories by Ann Beattie

One Day by David Nicholls

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

It reminds me of the absolute innocence of young love – so full of naïve passion, fear and the inevitability of harrowing pain.

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman

Rescue by Anita Shreve

Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz

Room by Emma Donoghue

The Royal Ghosts: Stories by Samrat Upadhyay

A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay

Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

Author is acclaimed author of Black Swan Green and Cloud Atlas. Dense, literary, rewarding.

Tinkers by Paul Harding

Beautiful “luminous” writing. A story within a story within a story.

For Adults: Memoir and Biography

Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

How Did You Get This Number? by Sloane Crosley

Promise Me by Nancy C. Brinker

The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner

The Long Run by Matt Long

Lost Boy by Brent Jeffs

Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt

Nomad by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Open by Andre Agassi

Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

Talking to Girls About Duran Duran by Rob Sheffield

Growing up is tricky. Getting girls to talk to you is even trickier. A quick and funny memoir about an 80s childhood dominated by overbearing sisters and a deep love of pop, including the titular band, this is a great choice for your favorite music lover.

 True Compass by Ted Kennedy

For Adults: Non-Fiction

At Home by Bill Bryson

Bloody Crimes by James Swanson

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

The Boys of the Dark by Gaby Fisher

The Fiddler in the Subway by Gene Weingarten

What if an illustrious violin virtuoso played anonymously in a crowded metro station? Would you stop for the beautiful music if you didn’t know the musician was famous? The surprising answer is revealed in just one of the masterful essays in this collection from the two-time Pulitzer winner. A perfect gift for any reader: One page will make you laugh, and the next will break your heart.

 Game Change by John Heilemann

The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America’s Childhood by Jane Leavy

Let’s Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell

God I loved this book – a tribute to friendship, dogs and the “hole in your heart” pain of losing a friend.

 My Teenage Werewolf by Lauren Kessler

That First Season by John Eisenberg

Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

For Teens

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk

Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Believe the hype – read it now before the movies come out!

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

The Kids Table by Andrea Seigel

What does it take to move up to the grown-up table: Having a boyfriend – or maybe stealing one from your cousin? A great choice for those soulful young readers who may just be wiser than their adults.

 Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Two boys meet on a cold night in Chicago. They are both named Will Grayson, but they could not be more different. Touching, hysterically funny, and featuring the most entertaining supporting character in recent memory (the fabulous Tiny Cooper,) this book will open your heart and mind.

 

Zombies vs Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

That’s right: this book will solve the most important question known to man: Which is better – zombies or unicorns! The best writers for young adults contribute to this rollicking (and surprisingly touching) collection of short stories.

 For Little Kids

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps by Jennifer LaRue Huget

Little Yoga by Rebecca Whitford

One by Kathryn Otoshi

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead

Starring the Boss Baby as Himself by Marla Frazee

That Cat Can’t Stay by Thad Krasnesky

We Are In A Book!  by Mo Willems

 For Big Kids

Alchemy and Meggy Swan by Karen Cushman

Best Friends Forever by Beverly Patt

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

Emmaline and the Bunny by Katherine Hannigan

First Light by Rebecca Stead

Guys Read: Funny Business by Jon Scieszka

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper