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 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Flora/plants

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, American Civil War, African American Literature, Grief / Death, History: U.S., Love / Sexuality, Post-War Era, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Disability, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage

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


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Military / War


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Politics & Government

Tags History: World, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Mythology


Publication year 2021

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: U.S., Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Social Justice, African American Literature, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Humor, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1971

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure

The Tombs of Atuan is the second novel in American author Ursula K. Le Guin’s fantasy series The Earthsea Cycle, originally published in 1970. Each novel in the series has a primarily stand-alone plot, with connections and recurring characters between novels. The Tombs of Atuan’s protagonist, Tenar, is a young girl living in the Kargish Empire. Tenar is taken from her family as a child to become the high priestess of the Nameless Ones, the... Read The Tombs of Atuan Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Magical Realism, Children's Literature


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mythology, LGBTQ


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Society: Community

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Southern Literature, Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature


Publication year 1985

Genre Poem, Fiction

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

Tags Lyric Poem, Mythology, Confessional, Love / Sexuality, History: U.S., American Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Humor, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Immigration, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Immigration / Refugee, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Race / Racism, History: World, Biography


Publication year 368

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Immigration

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

The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You is a 2019 memoir by novelist Dina Nayeri. It is her first nonfiction book and a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the Clara Johnson Award for Women’s Literature. While Nayeri chronicles her childhood escape from post-revolution Iran and her struggle to build an identity, she interweaves modern tales of refugees mired in uncaring asylum systems.SummaryThe author and first-person narrator of... Read The Ungrateful Refugee Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Romance, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction