PEOPLE’s best books of 2024 are a ranked selection by Lizz Schumer, the magazine’s Senior Books Editor. The list runs from Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods at No. 1 to JFK Jr. by Rosemarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil at No. 10. It is an editor’s selection—not a sales chart, reader vote, or documented consensus award.
PEOPLE’s 10 book picks, in list order
The titles and authors below follow the order attributed to PEOPLE’s list in accessible records. The available information establishes the ranking and selector, but does not provide a scoring rubric or enough verified book-by-book detail to compare plots, genres, or reading experiences.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Lost Bookshop: A most charming and uplifting novel, the perfect gift for book lovers! | $10.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Theo of Golden: A Novel | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Yesteryear: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Project Hail Mary: A Novel | $13.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Book Club for Troublesome Women: A Novel | $10.91 | Buy on Amazon |
- The God of the Woods — Liz Moore
- Intermezzo — Sally Rooney
- The Ministry of Time — Kaliane Bradley
- The Pairing — Casey McQuiston
- James — Percival Everett
- Catalina — Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
- Wandering Stars — Tommy Orange
- My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me — Caleb Carr
- Sonny Boy — Al Pacino
- JFK Jr. — Rosemarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil
How to interpret the ranking
The list identifies Schumer as the selector and presents the books in ranked order. The records do not explain how she assessed or scored them, so the sequence should be read as PEOPLE’s editorial ordering rather than a measurable comparison of quality or popularity.
What the list does—and does not—tell you
The picks include novels and nonfiction, but the accessible records do not provide reliable descriptions for every title. For a choice based on subject, genre, edition, or format, check the book’s publisher or author page before buying. The list confirms the title and author, not a particular paperback, price, stock status, or audiobook edition.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11#1 Best Overall
About PEOPLE’s list
An index dates the entry December 8, 2024, and attributes the picks to Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE’s Senior Books Editor. The original PEOPLE article was not retrievable in the records available for this list, so its date and any further title-specific details should be treated as less firmly established than the selection and ordering cross-checked in accessible list records.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Rank #3
Rank #2
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
