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 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Mothers, Society: War

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


Publication year 2015

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Humor, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore

Nimona is a young adult graphic novel created by N. D. Stevenson and published in 2015 by HarperCollins. It is based on Stevenson’s webcomic, also titled Nimona, which was published in 2012 and earned Slate magazine’s 2012 Cartoonist Studio Prize for Best Web Comic of the Year. The graphic novel adaptation also received critical acclaim, earning the 2016 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: Reprint and becoming a 2015 National Book Award Finalist.Nimona is a... Read Nimona Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

Ninth House is a 2019 contemporary occult fantasy novel by American writer Leigh Bardugo. Inspired by the author’s undergraduate experiences at Yale University, Ninth House is part of the Alex Stern series with the next book planned for release in 2021. The novel is also popular on BookTok, a community of readers and book content creators on TikTok. The story is set in a macabre version of the real world and focuses on the occult... Read Ninth House Summary


Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Technology, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Gender

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 1985

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War

Tags Lyric Poem, Irish Literature, History: European, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Irish Literature


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place

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


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Children's Literature


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

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


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

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


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Humor, Magical Realism, Parenting, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy

Nothing to See Here is a 2019 novel by New York Times best-selling author and short story writer Kevin Wilson. The novel, which is set in Tennessee, includes a dedication to fellow Tennessean writer Ann Patchett. This is not Wilson’s first work about unusual characters and their families. He achieved success with his first novel, The Family Fang, and another called Perfect Little World. In these works, Wilson developed the prototype for the unique brand... Read Nothing to See Here Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Society: Community

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Social Justice, Politics / Government

No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us (2019) was written by Rachel Louise Snyder, an associate professor of creative writing and journalism at American University. A world traveler, longtime contributor to magazines and podcasts, and a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow, Snyder has won awards for both her fiction and nonfiction works, which include Fugitive Denim and What We’ve Lost is Nothing. No Visible Bruises, published by Bloomsbury Publishing, won the... Read No Visible Bruises Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science / Nature, History: World, Politics / Government, Military / War


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Teams, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Narrative / Epic Poem


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Climate Change, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family

Tags Class, Modern Classic Fiction, Relationships