\n(NASDAQ: AMZN)\u2014Today, Amazon announced its picks for 2023\u2019s Best Books of the Year So Far<\/a>, naming Ann Napolitano\u2019s novel Hello Beautiful <\/i>as the No. 1 selection, with Amazon editors calling it \u201cbig-hearted and addicting.\u201d They go on to say that \u201cNapolitano writes with gusto and compassion about the transition from idyllic youth to the complexities of adulthood; love and loss; and the secrets that hold people together and tear them apart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe other top picks are All the Sinners Bleed<\/i> by S.A. Cosby, who proves what a master storyteller he is in this standout Southern Gothic mystery that takes readers\u2014and one courageous sheriff\u2014to dark corners of a small-town in Southern Virginia; Jean M. Twenge\u2019s Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents\u2014and What They Mean for America’s Future<\/i>, a captivating look at the six living generations in the U.S. that will change the way you see yourself and everyone you know; and Dave Eggers\u2019 middle-grade book The Eyes and the Impossible<\/a><\/i>, <\/i>a heartwarming story of friendship and community\u2014featuring a lovable dog that can run like the wind\u2014which tops the children\u2019s books category.<\/p>\n \nThroughout the year, Amazon Books editors pore over thousands of pages and hundreds of books to determine the Best Books of the Month<\/a>, Best Books of the Year So Far<\/a>, and Best Books of the Year<\/a>, discussing and debating new releases across various categories.<\/p>\n \nAfter reading titles released from January through June, Amazon Books editors selected the overall top 20 Best Books of the Year So Far, as well as the top 20 in popular categories like literary fiction; mystery and thrillers; romance; history; biographies and memoirs; cookbooks; and children\u2019s books.<\/p>\n \n\u201cThe Amazon Books Editors are passionate about connecting readers to books they love. Whether you\u2019re a narrative nonfiction lover, someone looking for a book that will keep you up all night, or a devout reader of juicy romances, this list has something for everyone,\u201d said Sarah Gelman, editorial director, Amazon Books.<\/p>\n \nAfter being told Hello Beautiful<\/i> was Amazon Books\u2019 top pick for the first half of 2023, Napolitano said, \u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful for this recognition of Hello Beautiful<\/i>. I wrote this novel because I was looking for a glimmer of hope during a difficult time, and immersing myself in the world of William and the Padavano sisters felt like a way to heal. I\u2019ve been so moved hearing from readers that the story has given them some of that same comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n \nGelman said, \u201cHello Beautiful<\/i> was, by far, our team\u2019s favorite book for the first half of the year. This deeply touching and gorgeously written book about relationships\u2014familial, romantic, friend\u2014will root itself in your heart and refuse to leave, which is why we knew it had to be our number one pick. I ached for the characters long after I finished the last page. You will too.\u201d<\/p>\n \nHere are the Amazon Books Editors\u2019 Top 10 picks of 2023 so far:<\/p>\n 1. Hello Beautiful: A Novel<\/a><\/i> by Ann Napolitano<\/p>\n With gusto and compassion, Ann Napolitano crafts a tear-jerker of a story that centers on the Padavano sisters, who are thick as thieves\u2014until they aren\u2019t. Hello Beautiful offers big emotion, and that\u2019s exactly what makes it so powerful and so page-turning, which is why we named it the Best Book of 2023 So Far.\u2014Al Woodworth, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 2. All the Sinners Bleed: A Novel<\/a><\/i> by S.A. Cosby<\/p>\n This Southern Gothic serial killer mystery comes out of the gate dark, and S.A. Cosby rarely takes his foot off the gas\u2014but his storytelling: lean but vivid, and emotionally intelligent, nails every beat, and I couldn\u2019t read it fast enough.\u2014Vannessa Cronin, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 3. Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents\u2014and What They Mean for America’s Future<\/a><\/i> by Jean M. Twenge<\/p>\n Mind-changing revelations, fascinating facts\u2014Jean M. Twenge’s compulsively readable book will transform the way you see yourself and everyone you know (and finally put all those tired tropes about baby boomers, millennials, and more, to rest). You\u2019ll quote it every day.\u2014Lindsay Powers, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 4. Weyward: A Novel<\/a><\/i> by Emilia Hart<\/p>\n Though divided by centuries, three women, who share a unique connection to the natural world and to one another, tell their fascinating stories of persecution, danger, and resilience in a beautifully written novel that is a fierce and dazzling read.\u2014Seira Wilson, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 5. You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live: Ten Weeks in Birmingham That Changed America<\/a><\/i> by Paul Kix<\/p>\n This is the best kind of narrative nonfiction: your heart will pound, your blood will boil, you\u2019ll feel the rush of adrenaline as Paul Kix tells the history\u2014complete with the unsung heroes, villains, and funders\u2014 of how Martin Luther King Jr., his team, and thousands of children in Birmingham, Alabama changed America.\u2014Al Woodworth, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 6. <\/i>Pomegranate: A Novel<\/a><\/i> by Helen Elaine Lee<\/p>\n Sorry\/not sorry for the simile: This empathy-expanding novel, a sly paeon to the power of great fiction and its ability to be a Trojan horse delivering the truth, is like a pomegranate\u2014open it and you\u2019ll find a treasure trove inside.\u2014Erin Kodicek, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 7. Age of Vice: A Novel<\/a><\/i> by Deepti Kapoor<\/p>\n Power, pleasure, drugs, and violence collide in this page-turner with Crazy Rich Asians, Narcos, and The Godfather vibes. From extreme wealth to extreme poverty, and narrated by a cast of characters on both sides of the spectrum, Deepti Kapoor\u2019s juicy novel centers on a sprawling Indian family that controls\u2014or attempts to control\u2014all that\u2019s around them, and at any cost.\u2014Al Woodworth, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 8. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder<\/a><\/i> by David Grann<\/p>\n Batten down the hatches, this true story of mayhem and murder, adventure and reckless ambition, on the high seas is a thrill to read. You can almost feel the salt spray on your skin as the HMS Wager and its hurly-burly crew fight the elements and each other in pursuit of fame and fortune. David Grann, once again, has made history come alive.\u2014Al Woodworth, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 9. The Covenant of Water: A Novel<\/a><\/i> by Abraham Verghese<\/p>\n We didn\u2019t want this book to end\u2014told over the course of three generations, Abraham Verghese weaves a magnetic story of how cultural, social, and racial politics play out in the lives of wives, doctors, and artists who strive to find a home and purpose in a world that is ever-shifting and ever-dangerous. Filled with characters who love deeply and dream big, this novel will sweep you off your feet.\u2014Al Woodworth, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n 10. Happy Place: A Novel<\/a><\/i> by Emily Henry<\/p>\n Emily Henry’s latest has all the feels! More than your standard second-chance romance, Happy Place is about the beauty, pain, and joy that come with biological families, chosen families, growing up and apart, and how \u2013 as adults \u2013 we deal with this thing called life.\u2014Kami Tei, Amazon editor<\/i><\/p>\n \nTo celebrate their appearances on the annual list of Best Books of the Year So Far, three of the authors\u2014Ann Napolitano, Angeline Boulley (Warrior Girl Unearthed<\/a><\/i>), and Curtis Sittenfeld (Romantic Comedy<\/a><\/i>)<\/i>\u2014will appear on the Amazon Live Author series with Sarah Gelman on June 14 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss their stories, their favorite books of the year so far, and more. Viewers can watch, listen, and join the conversation by visiting Amazon Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n \nTo view the complete list covering children\u2019s, romance, science, mysteries, business, history, and more, visit Amazon\u2019s page on the Best Books of the Year So Far<\/a>.<\/p>\n \nOn the Amazon Book Review<\/a> customers can find book reviews, author interviews, celebrity picks, and book round-ups including Most Anticipated Books of Summer<\/a>, Page-turning LGBTQIA+ young adult books to celebrate Pride<\/a>, and A decade of Best Books of the Year So Far<\/a>. You also can follow the Amazon Book Editors team recommendations and conversations on Amazon Books\u2019 Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n About Amazon<\/b><\/p>\n \nAmazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth\u2019s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth\u2019s Best Employer, and Earth\u2019s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com\/about<\/a> and follow @AmazonNews.<\/p>\n View source version on businesswire.com: <\/span>https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20230614065912\/en\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \nAmazon.com, Inc. KEYWORDS:<\/b> United States North America Washington<\/p>\n INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:<\/b> Technology Generation X Retail Entertainment Millennials Books Consumer Baby Boomers Online Retail Electronic Commerce Teens Children LGBTQ+ Generation Z<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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