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

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Historical Fiction, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Parenting, African Literature, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Class

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Southern Literature, Race / Racism, Poverty, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Western, Historical Fiction, American Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction

Blood Meridian, a 1985 historical fiction novel by Cormac McCarthy, is one of the most celebrated works of modern American literature. The novel was inspired by people and events of the mid-19th century in the borderlands of the United States and Mexico. McCarthy’s works have won many honors including the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. Blood Meridian is often considered his greatest novel. This guide uses an eBook version of the 1992 First Vintage... Read Blood Meridian Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Self Help


Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags History: World, Military / War, Children's Literature, WWII / World War II, Science / Nature


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Self Discovery

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

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


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community

Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, LGBTQ, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 1993

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Relationships: Family

Tags Satire, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Business / Economics, Journalism, Politics / Government


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Class, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender

Tags Parenting, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine


Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Education, Education, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Incarceration, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Japanese Literature, Gender / Feminism, Asian Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1945

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction, British Literature, LGBTQ

Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred & Profane Memoirs of Captain Charles Ryder (1945) is the ninth published novel by British novelist Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh, who published under “Evelyn Waugh.” It chronicles the life and relationships of Charles Ryder, particularly his complex friendship with the aristocratic Flyte family, during the interwar period in England. The novel was an immediate success, and, despite his later dislike, Waugh referred to it as his “magnum opus.” It has been... Read Brideshead Revisited Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction