15 Best Books of 2019

In books as in life, 2019 was a year of monstrous revelations—trusted figures abusing their power, cities uncovering their cruelest corners, family structures imploding when long-held secrets came to light. There were also small, illuminating moments of joy and wonder, of clarity and connection. Our picks for the year are far from exhaustive, but they span multiple genres and forms, and they grabbed our attention with their vibrant ingenuity.