It was the best-of times (you know, that period in December when we do the best-of lists). But it could feel like the worst of times: There’s so much to read before the year finishes! Well, there’s good news. You can read these books whenever you want — this year, next year, Leap Day, anytime. This best-of thing isn’t really a competition — it’s a collaboration between writers, editors, designers, publicists, booksellers, journalists and readers like you. And the prize isn’t a trophy: it’s a bunch of terrific books that find their way into readers’ hands. We’re all winners when...