Expanding out a bit from our monthly Editors’ Picks column, this collection draws from the collective reading enthusiasm of our longtime editorial team. To wit: hand-selected recommendations, sorted by genre, of books published in the past five years. Straightforward. Earnest. Occasionally weird because, well, we’re us.
 
Some of these books were big hits in their respective categories upon publication. Some were slow-burners that gradually found a readership via word of mouth. Some are criminally under-read in a way that makes us foist them on everyone we meet. Others pioneered new territories within their genre, and many were debuts that heralded the arrival of an exciting new literary voice.
 
You’re likely to see some familiar names here—there’s a good array of Goodreads Choice Award winners and nominees. You might also spot a Pulitzer Prize winner or two. But this is mostly a good collection for making discoveries. The sheer range of stories on offer is pretty astounding. Merman romance in New York City circa 1910. Family drama on India’s Malabar Coast. Dystopian visions of the future. Overdue excavations of the past. Oogy eyeball stuff.
 
Click on the book cover images for more information about each title. You can also use the Want to Read button to add interesting leads to your digital shelf.