The Best of "Best Book" Lists

The Best of "Best Book" Lists Collection gathers together a selection of popular bestsellers and fan favorites that frequently appear on "Best of" lists. This diverse Collection includes picks to suit a range of age groups and genre preferences, from otherworldly fantasy to gripping crime thrillers.

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Gender / Feminism, African Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: World, Biography, Social Justice, History: U.S., Race / Racism, Politics / Government


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

Homegoing is a historical fiction novel by Yaa Gyasi, a Ghanaian-American novelist born in 1989. Homegoing was published in 2016 and was awarded the 2017 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, the 2016 John Leonard Prize for outstanding debut novel, and the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 award in 2016. Written in the tradition of Alex Haley’s Roots: The Saga of an American Family (1976), Gyasi tells the story of one 18th-century Akan family, tracking it across... Read Homegoing Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Immigration, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, Politics / Government, Immigration / Refugee, Social Justice, September 11 Attacks, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Race / Racism, History: U.S., Class, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, New Adult


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Sports, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Race / Racism, Class, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Politics / Government


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics

Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Self Help, Technology, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Psychology, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World, Religion / Spirituality, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction


Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, American Literature, Classic Fiction

Housekeeping (1980) is a novel by Marilynne Robinson that follows the upbringing of two sisters, Ruthie and Lucille Stone, in Fingerbone, Idaho, in the 1950s. This is the first novel by Marilynne Robinson. It was awarded the PEN/Hemingway Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, an award the author later won for her novel Gilead (2004). Beyond Housekeeping, Robinson is most known for Gilead (2004) and Home (2008). Housekeeping, which has been named... Read Housekeeping Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Magical Realism, Grief / Death, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Inspirational


Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Class, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Education, Psychology, Parenting, Children's Literature, Education, Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Self Help