Updated October 2026
Best Books by Year
Pick a year to see the books first published then that readers have picked up and loved most.
Best books of every year
Each year’s list ranks the books first published that year by reader activity on public data. A year appears only when enough books clear our data bar, so no list is thin.
Top 100 covers books readers love across all years, and Rising tracks the hottest new releases right now.
Best Books of 2025
25 books ranked
- The Secret of Secrets Dan Brown
- Katabasis R. F. Kuang
- Atmosphere Taylor Jenkins Reid
Best Books of 2024
24 books ranked
- The Let Them Theory Mel Robbins
- The Tainted Cup Robert Jackson Bennett
- Lights Out Navessa Allen
Best Books of 2023
20 books ranked
- Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros
- King of Pride Ana Huang
- Iron Flame Rebecca Yarros
Best Books of 2022
19 books ranked
- I'm Glad My Mom Died Jennette McCurdy
- King of Wrath Ana Huang
- I Fell in Love with Hope Lancali
Best Books of 2021
25 books ranked
- The Love Hypothesis Ali Hazelwood
- Twisted Games Ana Huang
- Project Hail Mary Andy Weir
Best Books of 2020
20 books ranked
- Good Girl, Bad Blood Holly Jackson
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Suzanne Collins
- The Psychology of Money Morgan Housel
Best Books of 2019
24 books ranked
- Red, White & Royal Blue Casey McQuiston
- A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Holly Jackson
- Heartstopper, Volume 2 Alice Oseman
Best Books of 2018
23 books ranked
- Heartstopper, Volume 1 Alice Oseman
- Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens
- The Laws of Human Nature Robert Greene
Best Books of 2017
25 books ranked
- The Hate U Give Angie Thomas
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Taylor Jenkins Reid
- A Court of Wings and Ruin Sarah J. Maas
Best Books of 2016
25 books ranked
- It Ends with Us Colleen Hoover
- Dog Man Dav Pilkey
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Mark Manson
Best Books of 2015
24 books ranked
- Six of Crows Leigh Bardugo
- The Hired Girl Laura Amy Schlitz
- Queen of Shadows Sarah J. Maas
Best Books of 2014
24 books ranked
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before Jenny Han
- The Long Haul Jeff Kinney
- Surrounded by Idiots Thomas Erikson
Best Books of 2013
25 books ranked
- House of Hades Rick Riordan
- Hard Luck Jeff Kinney
- Crown of Midnight Sarah J. Maas
Best Books of 2012
23 books ranked
- Wonder R. J. Palacio
- The Fault in Our Stars John Green
- The Selection (the Selection #1) Kiera Cass
Best Books of 2011
25 books ranked
- Sapiens Yuval Noah Harari
- The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller
- Thinking, Fast and Slow Daniel Kahneman
Best Books of 2010
24 books ranked
- The Lost Hero Rick Riordan
- The Way of Kings Brandon Sanderson
- Divergent Veronica Roth
Best Books of 2009
24 books ranked
- The Last Olympian Rick Riordan
- Catching Fire Suzanne Collins
- The Maze Runner James Dashner
Best Books of 2008
23 books ranked
- The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
- End of Days Sylvia Browne
- The Last Straw Jeff Kinney
Best Books of 2007
23 books ranked
- Dog Days Jeff Kinney
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J. K. Rowling
- The Titan's Curse Rick Riordan
Best Books of 2006
25 books ranked
- The Sea of Monsters Rick Riordan
- The Book Thief Markus Zusak
- Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Best Books of 2005
24 books ranked
- The Lightning Thief Rick Riordan
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J. K. Rowling
- The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls
Best Books of 2004
23 books ranked
- Darkly Dreaming Dexter Jeffry P. Lindsay
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad for Teens Robert T. Kiyosaki
- The Ruins of Gorlan John Flanagan
Best Books of 2003
23 books ranked
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J. K. Rowling
- Into the Wild Erin Hunter
- The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini
Best Books of 2002
20 books ranked
- Romancing Mister Bridgerton Julia Quinn
- Coraline Neil Gaiman
- Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson
Best Books of 2001
22 books ranked
- American Gods Neil Gaiman
- Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time Brian Tracy
- Crucial Conversations Kerry Patterson
Best Books of 2000
20 books ranked
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling
- The 48 Laws of Power Robert Greene
- Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo
Best Books of 1999
24 books ranked
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J. K. Rowling
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky
- Wings of Fire A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Best Books of 1998
20 books ranked
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling
- Holes Louis Sachar
- A Clash of Kings George R. R. Martin
Best Books of 1997
23 books ranked
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone J. K. Rowling
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad Robert T. Kiyosaki
- Guns, Germs, and Steel Jared Diamond
Best Books of 1996
22 books ranked
- A Game of Thrones George R. R. Martin
- The Green Mile Stephen King
- Forbidden Knowledge Roger Shattuck
Best Books of 1995
22 books ranked
- The Lost World Michael Crichton
- Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman
- Northern Lights Philip Pullman
Best Books of 1994
21 books ranked
- Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney
- Artificial Intelligence Stuart J. Russell
- The Six Pillars of Self-esteem Nathaniel Branden
Best Books of 1993
24 books ranked
- The Giver Lois Lowry
- The Scam Debashis Basu
- Along Came a Spider James Patterson
Best Books of 1992
22 books ranked
- Welcome to Dead House Robert Lawrence Stine
- The Secret History Donna Tartt
- The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes Bill Watterson
Best Books of 1991
21 books ranked
- Outlander Diana Gabaldon
- Needful Things Stephen King
- American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis
Best Books of 1990
22 books ranked
- Good Omens Terry Pratchett
- Jurassic Park Michael Crichton
- The Eye of the World Robert Jordan
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