Last week, we revealed the Top 20 Best Books of the Year, as determined by votes from our subscribers. Now it's time to announce our Award Winners in the categories of Best Fiction, Best Nonfiction and Best Debut.

After checking out the winners, scroll down to take part in our Big Holiday Wordplay, a 21-year BookBrowse tradition that's perfect for sharing with family and friends.

We also have new books for members to request and upcoming discussions to look forward to in January and February.

Finally, if you're considering making charitable donations during the holidays, we suggest two organizations supporting Ukrainian refugee children through access to books and stories: Better Time Stories and the Universal Reading Foundation (both organizations were featured recently in Publishers Weekly).

With best wishes,

Davina Morgan-Witts

BookBrowse Publisher

Last week, we announced the Top 20 Books of the Year, as chosen by our subscribers. Thanks to everyone who took part in the voting!

Now, we’re excited to bring you the Award Winners for Best Debut, Best Fiction and Best Nonfiction.

The Best Fiction award goes to Horse by Pulitzer winner Geraldine Brooks, a complex novel combining dual timelines that explores aspects of racism, human relationships and the world of thoroughbred horse racing.

Amy Bloom's impactful memoir In Love is the Best Nonfiction winner. Recently featured in our Best Nonfiction for Book Clubs in 2023, it follows the difficult journey undertaken by the author and her husband after his Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Remarkably Bright Creatures, a heartwarming story following widow Tova Sullivan and an octopus of unusual abilities named Marcellus, not only made the list by popular demand but emerged as the winner of our Best Debut award.

Members! This month's First Impressions and Book Club books are now available. Request at bookbrowse.com/arc before end of Saturday, December 10.

Books are provided to U.S. resident members free of charge with the understanding that they'll do their best to either write a short review or take part in an online discussion forum (depending on whether the book is assigned for First Impressions or the Book Club). Members who choose to take part generally receive a book about every 3-4 months.

Join BookBrowse or renew a lapsed membership by the end of this Saturday (the 10th), and you'll have the opportunity to request the book of your choice from these six titles--if you request just one title you have a very good chance of receiving it; if you request two or more titles, you will definitely receive one of them. And, if you join this week, you'll also save 20% during our Fall Sale.

To enter, decipher the 10 books and their authors from the clues below (e.g. the answer to M B by G F would be Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert).

This year, all 10 books are set on islands and are in publication date order below.

The answers to the Big Holiday Wordplay will be revealed in our first January issue.

The answer to the last Wordplay: W N, W Not

Meaning: The less we waste, the less we need

This expression has been with us since at least the late 18th century, but it is preceded by an earlier version: wilful waste makes woeful want.

A number of sources say that the first recording of this earlier version is found in 1576, but they do not say where. The second half of the 16th century saw a surfeit of proverb collections being published, inspired by the success of John Heywood's 1546 collection, but we were unable to find which specific collection this phrase is attributed to.

However, we did find an 1885 illustration of the expression, which is part of the Delaware Art Museum’s collection.

Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification. You can also find inspiration for your book club among our almost 200 past discussions.

Beginning in January, we'll be discussing The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict and The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh, followed by Laura L. Engel's You'll Forget This Ever Happened in Feburary.