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 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Children's Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Satire, Post Modernism, Gothic Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1969

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Humor, Love / Sexuality, Psychology, Jewish Literature, History: U.S., American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Portnoy’s Complaint is a 1969 novel by American author Philip Roth. The novel is presented as a continuous monologue in which the protagonist Alex Portnoy speaks to his therapist about his difficult relationship with his family, his country, and sex. The novel’s explicit and comedic depiction of sex caused controversy on release though Portnoy’s Complaint was later heralded as one of the greatest English language novels of the 20th century. The novel was adapted into... Read Portnoy's Complaint Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Colonialism, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Gender / Feminism, History: World, LGBTQ


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 1985

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: New Age, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Science / Nature


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Romance, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community, Identity: Race, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, History: World, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Language

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


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Climate Change, Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Technology, American Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Arts / Culture, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Food, Grief / Death, History: U.S., History: World, Immigration / Refugee, Incarceration, Military / War, Philosophy, Politics / Government, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Social Justice


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Irish Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Romance, Sports, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Incarceration, Black Lives Matter, Diversity, Race / Racism, American Literature, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy

Tags Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Classic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags History: World


Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Leadership/Organization/Management, Parenting

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking is a nonfiction book by Susan Cain, published in 2012. It is considered part of the psychology and self-help genres. The book made several bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and National Public Radio. It also was voted the best nonfiction book of 2012 by the Goodreads Choice Awards and has been translated... Read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking Summary


Publication year 1975

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Class, Race / Racism, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Animals, Self Discovery

Tags Memoir / Autobiography, Nature Writing, Animals, Science / Nature