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.

The Inheritance Games

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Poverty, Grief / Death, Finance / Money / Wealth, Information Age, Class, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy

... Read The Inheritance Games Summary

The Innovator's Dilemma

by Clayton M. Christensen

Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

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

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The Institute

by Stephen King

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality

Critically acclaimed, The Institute (2019) is the 60th entry in Stephen King’s body of more than 100 works. While best known as a horror writer (and one of the most popular writers since the 1970s in general), King dabbles in many genres, including fantasy, mystery, and science fiction—often blurring the boundaries between them. The Institute is more sci-fi thriller than horror, sharing story beats and themes with King’s earlier novels Firestarter and It: It follows... Read The Institute Summary

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, the African

by Olaudah Equiano

Publication year 1789

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Colonialism

Tags Race / Racism, History: African

Originally published in 1789, Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by Himself is a slave narrative in which the author recounts his childhood, capture, life as an enslaved person, and emancipation. With its descriptions of life among the Igbo and the author’s experience of the Middle Passage, the book is a key text for studying the transatlantic slave trade and lives of people of... Read The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, the African Summary

The Invisible Kingdom

by Meghan O'Rourke

Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Health / Medicine, Disability, Science / Nature, Biography

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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

by V. E. Schwab

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Fantasy, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Religion / Spirituality, LGBTQ, Age of Enlightenment, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a historical fantasy novel by the American author V.E. Schwab published in 2020. It chronicles the story of Addie LaRue, an 18th-century Frenchwoman who gains eternal life through a bargain with a demonic entity. However, the deal comes at a great cost: Everybody who meets Addie immediately forgets her. A New York Times bestseller, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue received a 2020 Goodreads Choice Award nomination for... Read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Summary

The It Girl

by Ruth Ware

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Class, Grief / Death, Education, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Jasmine Throne

by Tasha Suri

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance

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The Judge's List

by John Grisham

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Politics & Government

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

... Read The Judge's List Summary

The Kaiju Preservation Society

by John Scalzi

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Teams

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor

... Read The Kaiju Preservation Society Summary

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

by Tim Alberta

Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

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

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., History: World, Religion / Spirituality

... Read The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Summary

The Kiss Quotient

by Helen Hoang

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Disability, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Social Justice, Diversity, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure

... Read The Knife of Never Letting Go Summary

The Labors of Hercules Beal

by Gary D. Schmidt

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Relationships: Family

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

... Read The Labors of Hercules Beal Summary

The Last Bookshop in London

by Madeline Martin

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, British Literature, History: World, Romance

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The Last Cuentista

by Donna Barba Higuera

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Community

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Diversity, Action / Adventure

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The Last Flight

by Julie Clark

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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

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The Last Graduate

by Naomi Novik

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

... Read The Last Graduate Summary