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 1926

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, first published in 1926, is a mystery novel by Agatha Christie, often called the “Queen of Mystery.” Christie has 66 detective novels to her name, as well as 14 short story collections. She is considered the best-selling fiction author of all time, with her books selling more than 2 billion copies worldwide. Christie also wrote a play, The Mousetrap, which has run continuously in London’s West End since its premiere... Read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Immigration

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Arts / Culture, Indian Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Animals, Science / Nature, Disability, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Agriculture, Education, Health / Medicine, Grief / Death, Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

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


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Historical Fiction, Satire, Politics / Government, Jewish Literature, American Literature


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

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


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Indigenous

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: U.S., Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Politics / Government, American Literature, History: World


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags History: World, Music, History: U.S., Arts / Culture, Politics / Government, Sociology, Humor, Internet Culture / Social Media


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

In The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013), a dark fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman, a young boy accidentally brings an evil entity from another reality into his world, and he needs the help of three mysterious women to try to get rid of the threat. A number-one New York Times bestseller, the novel won several honors, including the British Book Awards Book of the Year and the Locus Award for best fantasy... Read The Ocean at the End of the Lane Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Historical Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Gender / Feminism, LGBTQ, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

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


Publication year 1945

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Community

Tags Politics / Government, Philosophy, History: World, Science / Nature, Sociology, Business / Economics, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Satire, Race / Racism, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction