Our 2023 Book of the Year: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

“I would have never dreamed a book about a simple grocery store would make this kind of difference in the world, but love makes everything possible. Books make noise, but love moves the world. It is the greatest story plot imaginable. It lets us heal the world one book at a time.” — James McBride, author of the 2023 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

Each year our booksellers vote for the book that they have been most proud to sell, and this year, our first round of voting produced an eclectic range of finalists. But in the end, our hearts kept pulling us back to Chicken Hill and the indelible cast of The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.

“Everyone who reads The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store becomes a passionate advocate for the book. You just want others to share in the sheer pleasure it gives,” said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. “Booksellers pride themselves on their ability to initiate the exponential surge of recommendation, reader to reader, that makes a spectacular bestseller. Thank you to the booksellers who started this ball rolling. In James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store we have a stunningly good 2023 Book of the Year, one in which we take great pride and great joy in celebrating. Please read it!”

Meet James McBride on our Poured Over podcast: