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 2018

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags History: European, Holocaust, WWII / World War II


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Survival Fiction, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Humor, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Romance, Humor, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: New Age, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Self Help, Mental Illness, Psychology, Science / Nature, Sociology, Health / Medicine, Health, Science


Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Mental Illness


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Community

Tags Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Inspirational, Psychology

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015) is a self-help guide by author and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert. This New York Times bestseller outlines six elements of creativity: courage, permission, enchantment, persistence, trust, and divinity. Gilbert uses anecdotes from her life and writing career, as well as the work of others, to explain these concepts, and presents her views and philosophical musings about creativity and inspiration. The work explores themes such as The Importance of Play... Read Big Magic Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Self Discovery

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


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Place, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Birth, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction

Bird Box is a 2014 post-apocalyptic, dystopian horror novel by Josh Malerman. The story follows a woman’s struggle to protect two children in a world where people are driven to violence by unseen monsters, touching on such themes as paranoia, raising children to deal with an uncertain future, and the dangers of exceptionalism. Bird Box won a Michigan Notable Book Award and was also nominated for the James Herbert Award as well as the Bram... Read Bird Box Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Self Help


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics

Tags Satire, Humor, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community

Tags LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Historical Fiction, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Parenting, African Literature, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction