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 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Climate, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism

The Bone Clocks (2014) is a work of literary fantasy and the sixth novel by English author David Mitchell. It was longlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize, and also received the 2015 World Fantasy Award.Spanning nearly 60 years and featuring five different narrators, The Bone Clocks follows Holly Sykes, a young woman from Kent, England, who becomes embroiled in a secret war between two groups of immortal beings called the Horologists and the Anchorites... Read The Bone Clocks Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Mothers

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


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Mothers

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


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Grandparents, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Magical Realism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Fantasy, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, American Civil War, History: World


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Love / Sexuality, History: European, Holocaust, Military / War, History: World, Romance


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Jewish Literature, History: World


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Community, Society: Colonialism, Self Discovery

Tags Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, Canadian Literature


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, History: World


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags American Literature

Elizabeth Strout’s novel The Burgess Boys, published in 2013, explores the relationships between adult siblings during a time of family crisis. It examines the ways that past events and traumas continue to shape one’s sense of self. Set amid a Somali refugee crisis in the state of Maine, it also explores the ways that identity forms community and the way that community can be affected by newcomers.The author of 10 novels, Strout is acclaimed for... Read The Burgess Boys Summary


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Class

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


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Technology, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Southern Literature, Southern Gothic, Korean War


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: Asian, Modern Classic Fiction