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 History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

by Henry Fielding

Publication year 1749

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Class, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Classic Fiction, Satire, Humor, Romance, Historical Fiction, British Literature, History: World

First published in 1749, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is considered one of the best and most influential early novels in English literature. Henry Fielding was a respected dramatist, essayist, and satirist, and as a public official, he helped to establish London’s first professional police force.A comic novel that blends romance, realism, picaresque, and social commentary—while passing itself off as a true history of a life as well as a reflection of human... Read The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Summary

The Honest Truth

by Dan Gemeinhart

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Grief / Death, Children's Literature, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure

The Honest Truth is a middle-grade coming-of-age novel by Dan Gemeinhart, a former elementary school teacher and librarian who won the Parents’ Choice Award Gold Medal for another one of his five novels. The book was published on January 23, 2015. The novel incorporates drama and a bit of poetry to narrate the story of twelve-year-old protagonist Mark who has spent most of his life in hospitals receiving cancer treatments. Now, Mark takes his fate... Read The Honest Truth Summary

The Hotel Nantucket

by Elin Hilderbrand

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Community

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

... Read The Hotel Nantucket Summary

The House Across the Lake

by Riley Sager

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

... Read The House Across the Lake Summary

The House in the Pines

by Ana Reyes

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Literature, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death, Addiction / Substance Abuse

... Read The House in the Pines Summary

The Housemaid is Watching

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Language, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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

... Read The Housemaid is Watching Summary

The House of Doors

by Tan Twan Eng

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, LGBTQ, Asian Literature, History: World

... Read The House of Doors Summary

The House of Hades

by Rick Riordan

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Children's Literature, Romance

The House of Hades is the fourth of five books in the Heroes of Olympus series, which follows seven Greek and Roman demigods on a quest to prevent the rise of the earth goddess Gaea, who is bent on destroying the world.The House of Hades was written by Rick Riordan, a New York Times bestselling author who explores Roman and Greek Mythology in these two series. Riordan is the publisher of an imprint with Disney... Read The House of Hades Summary

The Hunter

by Tana French

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

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

... Read The Hunter Summary

The Husbands

by Holly Gramazio

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Fantasy

... Read The Husbands Summary

The Infinite Game

by Simon Sinek

Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Self Discovery, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

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

... Read The Infinite Game Summary

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

... Read The Innovator's Dilemma Summary

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

... Read The Invisible Kingdom Summary

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

... Read The It Girl Summary