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

by Olaudah Equiano

Publication year 1789

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Equality, Good & Evil, Race, Literature, 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 Life of Addie LaRue

by V. E. Schwab

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Gender Identity, Death

Tags Fantasy, Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Religion & Spirituality, LGBTQ+, Age of Enlightenment, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, 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, Guilt, Friendship, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt

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

... Read The It Girl Summary

The Last Contract of Isako

by Fonda Lee

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Apathy, Conflict, Guilt, Aging, Death, Future, Environment, Teamwork, Social Class, Economics, Power & Greed, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy

Fonda Lee’s The Last Contract of Isako (2026) is a science-fiction novel from the World Fantasy Award-winning author of the acclaimed Green Bone Saga series, the first book of which is Jade City (2018). Combining cyberpunk, dystopian fiction, and corporate espionage, the story is set in the future on the planet Aquilo, where a hyper-capitalist corporation governs all life. The novel follows Isthmus Isako, a legendary 50-year-old contractor who operates within a rigid warrior ethos... Read The Last Contract of Isako Summary

The Last Graduate

by Naomi Novik

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Coming of Age, Death, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense

... Read The Last Graduate Summary