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 1934

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Food, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Classic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, American Literature, Love / Sexuality, French Literature, History: World

Tropic of Cancer (1934) was Henry Miller’s third novel after the never-published Clipped Wings (1922) and Moloch: or, This Gentile World (1928). Miller referred to it as his “Paris book,” and it was wildly controversial for its candid depictions of sex. It was the subject of legal disputes and censorship attempts for decades, though ironically it has never been out of print. Tropic of Cancer brings together various genres, including autobiography, memoir, manifesto, and philosophical... Read Tropic of Cancer Summary


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Drama / Tragedy


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Relationships, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Parenting, Love / Sexuality

Truly Madly Guilty is Liane Moriarty’s seventh adult novel, published in 2016. The work uses suspense elements and a nonlinear timeline to tell a story of a backyard barbecue and its deep emotional and psychological repercussions for the attendees. The book explores themes of friendship, marriage, and parenthood through the relationships of three couples, Erika and Oliver, Clementine and Sam, and Tiffany and Vid.The edition referenced is the first US e-book edition from Flatiron Books.Plot... Read Truly Madly Guilty Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Latin American Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Sexuality

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Nation, Society: Community

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Health / Medicine


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Romance, New Adult, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Indigenous, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community

Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Natural Disaster, Climate Change, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

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

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., American Literature, Business / Economics, History: World, Social Justice


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science / Nature, Gender / Feminism, Business / Economics, Biography

The book’s first part, “Incentives,” introduces the key conflict: Wiener, a 25-year-old Brooklyn native, desires “momentum” and fulfilment in her professional life but has tired of her job as an underpaid assistant at a Manhattan literary agency. After a brief stint at a New York e-book startup, she secures a customer support position at a mobile analytics company in San Francisco. She optimistically immerses herself in the workplace culture, shrugging off incidents of sexism, the... Read Uncanny Valley Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism

Tags History: U.S., Sports, Diversity, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Climate Change, Science / Nature, Technology, History: World, Politics / Government


Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Action / Adventure, Sports


Publication year 1947

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Marriage, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy

Tags Historical Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, British Literature, Modernism, History: World, Classic Fiction

Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry is a modernist novel published in 1947. Set in Quauhnahuac, Mexico, in 1938, it follows the Consul, a former British diplomat with an alcohol addiction, on the day of his death. In addition to the Consul, the small cast of characters includes the Consul’s half-brother, Hugh, his ex-wife, Yvonne, and his friend-turned-enemy, Jacques Laruelle. Malcolm Lowry, who spent time in Mexico and was known to have experienced addiction himself... Read Under the Volcano Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Magical Realism, Humor, Animals, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography, Crime / Legal, History: U.S.