The Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Finalists are Here!

Leave the World Behind
Rumaan Alam
“A vacation story on the surface, Leave the World Behind rises above a thrilling narrative to take aim at the inherent bias we have for our fellow humans, the brotherhood in our shared fears and the catastrophic fallout of threats both prosaic and otherworldly. This is a striking novel that will leave you looking at your own world in a different way.” —Marie C, Bookseller
“Alam deftly and captivatingly deals with race, class, marriage, parenthood, our conscious and unconscious reliance on technology … and the possible end of the world. I really felt the tension and confusion that permeates this novel, while thinking deeply about the way I make my own assumptions.” —Margie H, Bookseller

The Vanishing Half
Brit Bennett
“This is one of those books that leaves you in awe and makes you want to recommend it to everyone you know. The plot centers around Black twins, one trying to pass as white and the other owning her Black identity. Brit Bennett does an excellent job of character development and entices you to keep reading until the end.” —Adele E, Bookseller
“Although the concept itself is not new, the skill and imagery Bennett employs to deliver this narrative is prepossessing. The characters become close friends and enemies, people who you can empathize with and, as a result, simultaneously be annoyed with yourself and the world for it. Although fictitious, this book is history.” —Taj C, Bookseller

Accidentally Wes Anderson 
Wally Koval, Wes Anderson (Foreword by)
“So much fun here. If you are a fan of Wes Anderson, you’ll want to live in these photos. And then it hits you — these are real places! Which is now confusing me: Do we live in his world or is he like a secret detective finding all those places we walk by in OUR world? The color. The symmetry. The whimsy. Such a beautiful world.” —Jules H, Bookseller
“The Book of the Year should be one with legs — one you can pick up again and again over time. This book, with its stunning photography and corresponding narratives, is just that. Fans of the filmmaker Wes Anderson will devour the photographs which pay homage to his distinctive colorful and stylized technique. Armchair travelers will relish scenes of unexpected and quiet beauty. The book itself is a work of art.” —Kathy J, Bookseller

World of Wonders
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
“World of Wonders is a mesmerizing work of essays and tender illustrations, meditations on nature, cumulative in effect; nature as memoir, nature as metaphor, nature as simply and joyously itself. Each chapter captures a moment, each centered around a different natural phenomenon and charts the reverberations of the lived experience it evokes, be it family, identity or the notion of belonging. A centering book, delightful and unexpected.” —Sallye L, Bookseller
“This isn’t your typical dry and stuffy nature writing essayist that you were forced to read in college. No, this ecologist’s take on the natural world is more akin to lyrical prose with social commentary and pop culture references laced throughout. Relevant and inspiring, Aimee Nezhukumatathil reminds us once again why nature is so absolutely amazing and beautiful.” —Mike O, Bookseller

Untamed 
Glennon Doyle
“More than just a memoir, this book seeks to liberate women from the societal expectations that bind them, to honor beauty and rage equally — it speaks to the soul. While Doyle’s previous books Love Warrior and Carry On, Warrior started the conversation, Untamed started a movement.” —Kat S, Bookseller
“Untamed is transcendent. A book that asks more of us by asking us to examine what we want and to stop feeling we must deny ourselves out of a misguided sense of obligation. Glennon Doyle manages to be, at turns, laugh-out-loud relatable and movingly profound. Buy a copy for every woman you care about and another for yourself. We all need to find our wild.” —Rose Y, Bookseller

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times 
Katherine May
“To Katherine May, the secret to coping with the darkest of days lies in the life-affirming power of the natural world. While the average person may not want to swim in the ocean for solace, we can embrace the cold and learn from these fallow periods when life is simultaneously dormant and alive. Beautiful prose and an inspirational read.” —Edward A, Bookseller
“When things don’t go as planned in life, we search for meaning in books, nature and the wisdom of others. Wintering is a philosophical journey of how Katherine May learned to cope with her sadness in a difficult time by embracing these challenges and finding comfort in the depth of beauty that life offers.” —Kelsey F, Bookseller

Pieometry: Modern Tart Art and Pie Design for the Eye and the Palate
Lauren Ko
“Ko breaks down how to recreate her artfully stunning pies in your own kitchen. Yes, they’re gorgeous, elaborate-looking and a bit intimidating at first glance, but Ko is funny and inspiring — she welcomes experts and novices alike with her self-taught approach and warm, encouraging tone.” —Laura R, Bookseller
“Pieometry is truly a “berried” treasure. This book satisfies the mind, the eye and the tummy. Equal parts art, cooking and puns make this an all-around balm for the soul. Pie is comfort and everyone can dough it!” —Kathleen M, Bookseller

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning
Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi
“An essential read covering everything from the history of racism in our country, how that history has evolved into the systemic racism we know today and what we can do in our daily lives to become actively antiracist. Reynolds’ writing is compelling, conversational and extremely engaging.” —Stephanie P, Bookseller
“Jason calls this one out as ‘NOT a history book.’ And that’s a pretty fair description. It covers the construct of race and the way racism has taken hold, and really, never left. This book may make you feel uncomfortable, it may challenge your ideas, it may challenge the idea of what you thought of your own attitudes — and that’s ok. That is kind of the point, to be aware of your thoughts and ideas and how to move into the antiracist way of thinking. Jason has a way of writing that makes you feel and think without feeling like you are being lectured at or talked down to but gets through and hits the mark.” —Wendy A, Bookseller