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/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Gender
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Before the Fall (2016) by Noah Hawley details the effects of a plane crash on its survivors. Part mystery, part procedural, and part character study, the narrative examines the lives of the victims—their relationships, their flaws, and their histories—giving the tragedy a human face beyond the sensational headlines. Along the way, it explores themes of celebrity, invasion of privacy, and the difficulty of reconstructing traumatic memories. Hawley, a screenwriter as well as a novelist, is... Read Before the Fall Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Romance, Relationships, Mental Illness, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Grief / Death, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Behind Her Eyes, a psychological thriller, was written by Sarah Pinborough and published in 2017. The book has sold over 1 million copies worldwide and was adapted for a TV series by Netflix. While clearly a best seller, there is great divergence of opinion on the book’s very unexpected twist at the end, with the publishers using the hashtag #WTFThatEnding to promote the book.Plot SummaryLouise is a single mother living in London and working as... Read Behind Her Eyes Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Tags Survival Fiction, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Humor, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Romance, Humor, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Mental Illness
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Inspirational, Psychology
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015) is a self-help guide by author and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert. This New York Times bestseller outlines six elements of creativity: courage, permission, enchantment, persistence, trust, and divinity. Gilbert uses anecdotes from her life and writing career, as well as the work of others, to explain these concepts, and presents her views and philosophical musings about creativity and inspiration. The work explores themes such as The Importance of Play... Read Big Magic Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Fame
Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Self Discovery
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Place, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Birth, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Bird Box is a 2014 post-apocalyptic, dystopian horror novel by Josh Malerman. The story follows a woman’s struggle to protect two children in a world where people are driven to violence by unseen monsters, touching on such themes as paranoia, raising children to deal with an uncertain future, and the dangers of exceptionalism. Bird Box won a Michigan Notable Book Award and was also nominated for the James Herbert Award as well as the Bram... Read Bird Box Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health
Tags Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics
Tags Satire, Humor, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community
Tags LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction