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 Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Science / Nature, Animals


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Class, Disability, Depression / Suicide, Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a horror fiction novel by Max Brooks published in 2006. The book was a critical and commercial success, generally receiving positive reviews and spending several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold millions of copies around the world and was subsequently turned into a successful movie starring Brad Pitt, released in 2013, and a highly rated video game, released in... Read World War Z Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Class

Tags Humor, LGBTQ, Diversity, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Biography


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Language

Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Parenting, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World

Written in 2014 and published by Delacorte Press, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood is the eighth book in the Outlander saga by author Diana Gabaldon. The series follows Claire Fraser, a time-traveling World War II nurse who married Jamie Fraser, an 18th-century Highlander and insurrectionist against the British crown. The Fraser family occupies multiple timelines in the series, which celebrates family and romantic love. The novel spans colonial America to the Highlands of Scotland... Read Written in My Own Heart's Blood Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Race / Racism, Asian Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, American Civil War, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Romance, LGBTQ, New Adult


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Indian Literature


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Romance, LGBTQ, African Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Masculinity, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Bullying, Class, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality, History: European, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Humor


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

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

David Baldacci’s Zero Day (2011, Grand Central Publishing) is the 23rd of Balducci’s 44 adult novels and the first of three in his John Puller series. Most of Baldacci’s adult novels are in the suspense and legal thriller genres. Baldacci studied law and worked as an attorney for seven years before publication of his first novel, Absolute Power (1996), which was made into a 1997 film directed by Clint Eastwood. His research for Zero Day... Read Zero Day Summary