The 25 most-read and best-loved books first published in 2021, with the numbers behind each one.
The best books first published in 2021, ranked by what readers actually do: how many shelved them, how they rate them, and how many are reading them now. 2021 is complete, so this list updates only when reader numbers move meaningfully.
For the books readers love across all years see the Top 100. For the hottest brand-new releases see Rising.
← Best Books of 2020Best Books of 2022 →
Ali Hazelwood · 2021
A PhD student fake-dates a grumpy professor to convince her friend she is over someone, and the pretend relationship gets complicated. Funny, warm, and set in academia.
Why it’s here: 9,061 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.1 out of 5 (253 ratings); 435 are reading it right now.
Best for: Fans of fake dating and enemies-to-lovers
Ana Huang · 2021
A princess with a bodyguard she should not fall for, in a steamy, high-stakes romance. Part of a popular series.
Why it’s here: 5,732 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4 out of 5 (124 ratings); 371 are reading it right now.
Best for: Adult romance readers who like forbidden love
Andy Weir · 2021
A lone astronaut wakes up on a spaceship with no memory and must solve a puzzle that could save Earth, with help from an unlikely friend. Funny, clever, and full of heart.
Why it’s here: 1,377 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.5 out of 5 (184 ratings); 43 are reading it right now.
Best for: Readers who like smart, heartfelt adventures
Holly Jackson · 2021
Pip Fitz-Amobi is about to start college, yet her earlier investigations still weigh on her. Death threats follow her true-crime podcast, and an anonymous person keeps sending her a puzzling question. This closes the series with humor, crime, and strong emotion.
Why it’s here: 1,269 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.5 out of 5 (37 ratings); 69 are reading it right now.
Best for: Fans of the series who want its final chapter, mixing crime and humor
Dustin Thao · 2021
After her boyfriend Sam dies, seventeen-year-old Julie is lost in grief. When she calls his number just to hear his voicemail, he answers. These calls offer a second goodbye, but keeping them secret grows harder as she sees his family hurting.
Why it’s here: 1,934 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4 out of 5 (82 ratings); 87 are reading it right now.
Best for: Teen readers who enjoy emotional stories about grief, love, and saying goodbye
Ana Huang · 2021
A grumpy, guarded billionaire and his best friend's sister get closer than either planned. Steamy, emotional, and a big hit with online reading communities.
Why it’s here: 14,739 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.8 out of 5 (298 ratings); 1,016 are reading it right now.
Best for: Adult romance readers who like brooding heroes
H. D. Carlton · 2021
The sequel to Haunting Adeline in a dark romance series with heavy themes and explicit content, for adult readers only.
Why it’s here: 4,182 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.9 out of 5 (126 ratings); 357 are reading it right now.
Best for: Adult dark romance readers, check content notes
Sarah J. Maas · 2021
Nesta, the prickly sister of Feyre, struggles to find her place in the Night Court after being turned High Fae against her will. Training alongside the winged warrior Cassian sparks fierce attraction as war threatens again, and both seek healing together.
Why it’s here: 669 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.4 out of 5 (40 ratings); 29 are reading it right now.
Best for: Fans of the Court of Thorns and Roses series who like steamy fantasy romance
Lauren Asher · 2021
Zahra writes a drunken proposal mocking a theme park ride and ends up with a dream job working for billionaire Rowan Kane. He is a difficult boss, and attraction complicates everything. Secrets and money collide in this alternating-perspective workplace romance.
Why it’s here: 1,220 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.1 out of 5 (45 ratings); 52 are reading it right now.
Best for: Readers who enjoy workplace romances with billionaire bosses and forbidden attraction
Emily McIntire · 2021
James plans to wreck his enemy by seducing the man's sheltered daughter, Wendy. But his organization starts crumbling, and he begins seeing her as more than a pawn. Wendy, drawn to his danger, wonders whether she loves James or the monster called Hook.
Why it’s here: 632 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.6 out of 5 (13 ratings); 35 are reading it right now.
Best for: Fans of steamy, dark romance with mafia-style themes and revenge plots
Ankur Warikoo · 2021
Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo gathers the key ideas behind his own journey in his first book. He shares frank, witty thoughts on success and failure, money and investing, self-awareness, and personal relationships.
Why it’s here: 1,475 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.9 out of 5 (25 ratings); 97 are reading it right now.
Best for: Readers wanting candid advice on money, success, and relationships from an Indian entrepreneur
H. D. Carlton · 2021
A dark romance with a stalker plot, heavy themes, and explicit content aimed squarely at adult readers. Divisive, intense, and very popular online.
Why it’s here: 12,152 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.6 out of 5 (324 ratings); 983 are reading it right now.
Best for: Adult dark romance readers only, check content notes
Lynn Painter · 2021
Dreamy Liz Buxbaum wants her longtime crush Michael to notice her, so she teams up with her annoying neighbor Wes, who has become friends with him. As they scheme, Liz finds she enjoys Wes's company and rethinks her idea of happily ever after.
Why it’s here: 3,337 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.7 out of 5 (74 ratings); 181 are reading it right now.
Best for: Teen readers who love funny, sweet rom-coms with scheming and enemies-to-friends moments
Alice Oseman · 2021
Charlie and Nick's relationship is going well, and Charlie feels ready to say I love you. Nick shares those feelings but is preoccupied with coming out to his dad and worries Charlie may have an eating disorder, as they learn what love means.
Why it’s here: 721 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.5 out of 5 (35 ratings).
Best for: Fans of the Heartstopper series who want a sweet, illustrated LGBTQ+ love story
Alice Oseman · 2021
In this fifth volume of the beloved graphic novel series, Nick and Charlie are deeply in love, but Nick's departure for university looms. Oseman captures the small moments of their lives that add up to something bigger.
Why it’s here: 522 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.2 out of 5 (15 ratings).
Best for: Heartstopper fans and readers who love gentle LGBTQ+ graphic novel romance
Stephanie Garber · 2021
Evangeline Fox believes in true love until she learns her beloved will marry someone else. She bargains with the wicked Prince of Hearts for three kisses, only to discover he wants far more than she promised.
Why it’s here: 1,233 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.8 out of 5 (48 ratings); 64 are reading it right now.
Best for: Readers who enjoy romantic fantasy with dangerous bargains and immortal tricksters
Kathleen Glasgow · 2021
After a car accident exposes her brother Joey's drug habit, Emory must figure out who she is beyond what her town expects. Glasgow explores the opioid crisis and how it reaches families and communities.
Why it’s here: 596 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.2 out of 5 (12 ratings).
Best for: Teen readers wanting an emotional story about family, addiction, and identity
Adam Grant · 2021
Adam Grant makes the case for doubt and the joy of being wrong, arguing that rethinking is a teachable skill. The book looks at how individuals, teachers, and organizations can build cultures that welcome changing your mind.
Why it’s here: 907 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.7 out of 5 (33 ratings); 53 are reading it right now.
Best for: Leaders, teachers, and curious thinkers wanting to get better at changing their minds
Sally Thorne · 2021
Lucy and Joshua, rival executive assistants at a newly merged publisher, trade daily passive-aggressive games while competing for the same promotion. When a stuck elevator ends in a kiss, Lucy questions whether she truly hates him.
Why it’s here: 1,154 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.6 out of 5 (28 ratings); 54 are reading it right now.
Best for: Fans of workplace enemies-to-lovers romance with a playful, competitive edge
Jennifer Lynn Barnes · 2021
Avery Grambs is hunting for answers about why a billionaire left her his fortune, while clues hint at a deeper tie to the Hawthorne family. Two brothers pull her in different directions as enemies close in.
Why it’s here: 493 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4 out of 5 (28 ratings).
Best for: Fans of The Inheritance Games who love puzzles, wealthy families, and romance
Casey McQuiston · 2021
Cynical August moves to New York expecting nothing magical, then meets Jane on her subway commute. Jane turns out to be displaced in time from the 1970s, and August must work to save her.
Why it’s here: 394 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.2 out of 5 (22 ratings).
Best for: Readers who love a magical, big-hearted queer romance with a time-travel twist
Kelly Quindlen · 2021
Basketball player Scottie crashes into her nemesis, cheerleader Irene, and the two end up carpooling. A bribe turns into a fake-dating scheme that starts stirring up unexpectedly real feelings.
Why it’s here: 308 readers have shelved it on Open Library.
Best for: Fans of Becky Albertalli wanting a funny teen fake-dating romance
Rebecca Yarros · 2021
Georgia teams up with charismatic romance novelist Noah to complete her late grandmother Scarlett's unfinished final book. Along the way they uncover Scarlett's own love story, set during World War Two.
Why it’s here: 497 readers have shelved it on Open Library.
Best for: Romance readers who like dual timelines and stories about love across generations
Oliver Burkeman · 2021
Burkeman starts from the fact that a life of eighty years lasts only about four thousand weeks. He rejects the urge to get everything done and offers a more realistic way to approach time and build a meaningful life.
Why it’s here: 343 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.3 out of 5 (20 ratings).
Best for: Overwhelmed people tired of to-do lists who want a more realistic view of time
Emily Henry · 2021
Poppy and Alex are opposites who became best friends and took a summer trip together every year for a decade, until something went wrong two years ago. Poppy now persuades him to try one more vacation.
Why it’s here: 602 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.5 out of 5 (28 ratings).
Best for: Readers who enjoy friends-to-lovers romance and stories about travel and reconnection
← Best Books of 2020Best Books of 2022 →
Other years: 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007 · 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000 · 1999 · 1998 · 1997 · 1996 · 1995 · 1994 · 1993 · 1992 · 1991 · 1990 · All years
We start with every book first published in 2021 on Open Library, then keep the ones with real evidence behind them: at least 300 readers and at least 3 editions, with a cover, in English. 59 books cleared that bar for 2021, and the 25 below scored highest. No author appears more than twice. We publish a year only when at least 15 books clear the bar, so no list is thin.
| Signal | Weight | What it captures |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 55% | How many readers have shelved the book on Open Library (want to read, reading, or read). |
| Reader love | 25% | Average reader rating, adjusted so a handful of ratings cannot inflate it. |
| Being read right now | 20% | How many Open Library readers are in the middle of it. |
Each signal is scored from 0 to 100 against the other 2021 books and blended with the weights above. The “why it’s here” line on each book is built from its real numbers. Descriptions are paraphrased from real source text.
This list reflects reading interest on public data, not quality, sales or awards, and it can be affected by data gaps. Open Library counts grow over time, so older books have had longer to gather readers; every book on this page is compared only against books from the same year.
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