The Barnes & Noble Book of the Year

by Charlie Mackesy

This is the story that wowed our booksellers. Presenting our Book of the Year 2019.

Few of us could resist the sublime illustrations in Charlie Mackesy’s luminous fable, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. This gorgeous book is an inspirational (but not saccharine) story about loneliness and courage for readers of all ages. Read more in our blog.

"In the world we live in today, this book touches the heart and reminds us of who we want to be and the world we want to create for ourselves and others. The simple messages from a mole or compassionate words from a horse tells us that we don't need a complex answer when we are confused. Life is simple. We are the ones who make it so complicated. A beautiful book for the soul as well as the eyes." -- Glenda Moret, Bookseller, Brentwood, TN

by Margaret Atwood

It was really worth the wait: Margaret Atwood thought about a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale for thirty-five years before she sat down to write The Testaments. You’ll never see Aunt Lydia or Gilead the same way again.

"The Testaments by Margaret Atwood is eerily reminiscent of the inhumane atrocities that have been committed since the beginning of time, while also reminding the reader that there is hope to be found in even the darkest of places. This novel implores you to fight for the rights of minorities and to avoid a dystopian future as bleak as the one Atwood has conjured." -- Sydney Boesch, Bookseller, Fenton, MO

by Fuchsia Dunlop

The Food of Sichuan is a new, updated and very beautiful edition of the classic Land of Plenty cookbook by Fuschia Dunlop.

"This is a beautiful book, from the eye-catching red cover to the interior photos! I love the history and descriptions of the Sichuan culinary style as well as the individual dishes and their origin. Easily accessible to all levels of cooks and each recipe leaves my mouth watering." -- Robbie Bryan, Bookseller, Brentwood, TN

by Stephen Fry

Actor Stephen Fry delivers Mythos, a witty and emotionally resonant interpretation of classic Greek tales that’s both timely and timeless. Perfect for grown-up fans of Rick Riordan’s Trials of Apollo and The Lightning Thief.

"Whether you love the Greek myths or you loathe them, you’ve never read them with the distinctive voice, style, and wit of Stephen Fry. A definitive version for a modern audience." -- Kevin Robinson, Bookseller, Houston, TX

by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is a thriller about marriage and obsession that stuck with readers. Fascinating premise, terrific pacing, an unreliable narrator -- and a twist at the end that’s too good to spoil.

"There are three rules for reading The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides: 1) Don’t read it after dark 2) Remember, it’s just a book 3) Seriously, you’re going to want a nightlight. The Silent Patient is a novel that is all-consuming. It's fast-paced, with twists that you will never see coming. Interspersed with poignant epigraphs, this psychological thriller is for fans of Shutter Island, The Haunting of Hill House, and In a Dark, Dark Wood. Michaelides’s writing will keep you trapped in this book until the very end." -- Laurel Faye, Bookseller, Newnan, GA

by Elizabeth Strout

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout is a wonderful novel about love, life, and loss from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. You don’t have to read Strout’s earlier books to appreciate this universal story, but there are unexpected rewards for longtime fans.

"Elizabeth Strout, master storyteller, does not disappoint in this second installment and continuing story of Olive Kitteridge. Olive returns as well as a cast of characters that both diverse and fascinating to read. This is the continuing story of Olive, now in her eighties, as she reflects on her past experiences and the new relationships she is forming in the present." -- Ellie Zur, Bookseller, Mishawaka, IN

by Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg’s extraordinary address to the UN Climate Action Summit put her front and center for adults and teens around the world, and No One is Too Small to Make a Difference is a $10 trade paperback edition of her collected speeches.

"If you want to be an activist or have concerns about climate change - this is the book for you. Thunberg makes a powerful argument for fighting for your beliefs, now. Everyone can make the world a better place." -- Heather R, Bookseller, Pittsburgh, PA

by Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead planned to write a fun heist story after his Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning novel The Underground Railroad, but The Nickel Boys is the blistering, brilliant story he needed to tell now.

"The Nickel Boys is an important story told with breathless and devastating concision by one of the best writers working today! You won’t be able to put it down, and when you finish won’t be able to leave the characters behind." -- Josh Barronton, Bookseller, Birmingham, AL