Reader favorites: Novels, picture books, poems and more
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Books keep us company at home, at the beach, on vacation and more. They transport us to worlds unlike our own, as well as teach us, inspire us and entertain us. We’ve covered all sorts of books this year, like Amanda Gorman’s recent release “Call Us What We Carry,” which she published after reading her poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration. We also rounded up books recommended by Goodreads members, books on climate change, books by Black and Asian American authors and books that cover queer history. And of course, we put together a list of gift ideas for the book lover in your life this holiday season.
If you’re looking to pick up a new book — whether it’s on your e-reader, an audiobook or a paperback — check out the books that Select readers purchased most this year.
1. ‘The Hill We Climb’ by Amanda Gorman
4.9-star average rating from 12,393 reviews on Amazon
Covered in Amanda Gorman and other inaugural poets’ books and poems
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country $9.58 at Amazon
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country $9.58 at Target
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country $9.99 at Barnes and Noble
2. ‘Change Sings: A Children's Anthem’ by Amanda Gorman
4.9-star average rating from 2,188 reviews on Amazon
Covered in Amanda Gorman releases new children’s book
Change Sings: A Children's Anthem
Change Sings: A Children's Anthem $9.31 at Amazon
Change Sings: A Children's Anthem $12.41 at Target
Change Sings: A Children's Anthem $18.99 at Paper Source
3. ‘We Begin at the End’ by Chris Whitaker
4.4-star average rating from 11,312 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 20 Best books in 2021, according to Amazon’s editors
We Begin at the End
We Begin at the End $16.79 at Amazon
We Begin at the End $16.79 at Target
We Begin at the End $16.79 at Walmart
4. ‘The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race’ by Walter Isaacson
4.7-star average rating from 7,455 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 20 Best books in 2021, according to Amazon’s editors
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race $21.49 at Amazon
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race $27.99 at Barnes and Noble
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race $20.49 at Target
5. ‘Malibu Rising’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4.2-star average rating from 22,419 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 10 Best beach reads for summer 2021, according to Goodreads
Malibu Rising: A Novel
Malibu Rising: A Novel $16.80 at Amazon
Malibu Rising: A Novel $16.80 at Target
Malibu Rising: A Novel $21.49 at Barnes and Noble
6. ‘The Four Winds’ by Kristin Hannah
4.5-star average rating from 84,326 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 20 Best books in 2021, according to Amazon’s editors
The Four Winds: A Novel
The Four Winds: A Novel $14.00 at Amazon
The Four Winds: A Novel $14.00 at Target
The Four Winds: A Novel $22.99 at Barnes and Noble
7. ‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama
4.9-star average rating from 1,252 reviews on Amazon
Covered in Michelle Obama memoir ‘Becoming’ gets two new editions
Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers
Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers $9.59 at Amazon
Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers $15.99 at Barnes and Noble
Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers $9.59 at Target
8. ‘Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It’ by Ethan Kross
4.5-star average rating from 1,625 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 20 Best books in 2021, according to Amazon’s editors
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It $17.00 at Amazon
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It $21.99 at Barnes and Noble
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It $21.54 at Walmart
9. ‘Klara and the Sun’ by Kazuo Ishiguro
4.3-star average rating from 22,233 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 20 Best books in 2021, according to Amazon’s editors
Klara and the Sun: A novel
Klara and the Sun: A novel $16.09 at Amazon
Klara and the Sun: A novel $16.09 at Target
Klara and the Sun: A novel $22.99 at Barnes and Noble
10. ‘The Plot’ by Jean Hanff Korelitz
4.2-star average rating from 10,357 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 20 Best books in 2021, according to Amazon’s editors
The Plot: A Novel
The Plot: A Novel $15.99 at Amazon
The Plot: A Novel $23.49 at Barnes and Noble
The Plot: A Novel $15.99 at Target
11. ‘Great Circle' by Maggie Shipstead
4.5-star average rating from 5,340 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 20 Best books in 2021, according to Amazon’s editors
Great Circle: A novel
Great Circle: A novel $18.00 at Amazon
Great Circle: A novel $18.00 at Walmart
Great Circle: A novel $18.00 at Target
12. ‘The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine’ by Janice P. Nimura
4.2-star average rating from 750 reviews on Amazon
Covered in 10 Best biographies about incredible women in history
The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine
The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine $22.99 at Amazon
The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine $13.29 at Target
The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine $22.99 at Walmart
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