The Greatest Books Since 2018

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 759 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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  1. 1151. The Very Heart Of It by Thomas Mallon

    A collection of Thomas Mallon’s journal entries from the 1980s and 1990s that follows his early years as a gay writer in New York City. The entries capture daily life in the literary scene—relationships, friendships, the social world, and the effects of the emerging AIDS crisis—while tracing his personal and professional growth. Intimate and observant, the book offers a vivid, reflective portrait of that era.

    The 12617th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  2. 1152. The Expert Of Subtle Revisions by Kirsten Menger-Anderson

    Two linked stories — in 2016 Half Moon Bay, a woman waits for her missing father and follows cryptic instructions that lead her to a Berkeley library book; in 1933 Vienna, a young mathematician joins an intellectual circle as fascism rises and rumors spread of a mysterious “music box” said to affect time. As inquiries across decades intersect, the novel examines secrecy, memory, and obsession without revealing key plot twists. It’s an atmospheric historical mystery about people trying to understand loss and the uncertain nature of the past.

    The 12618th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  3. 1153. Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

    Songwriter Joni Lark returns to her North Carolina hometown hoping the beach and her family’s music venue will break her creative block, but finds relationships strained and the venue in jeopardy. She begins hearing a mysterious melody and voice that turn out to belong to a gruff local musician who soon appears in person. They agree to finish the song that links them, hoping it will end their strange connection — and force them to face what it might mean for their hearts.

    The 12619th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  4. 1154. We Computers by Hamid Ismailov, Shelley Fairweather-Vega

    In late-1980s France, poet–psychologist Jon-Perse acquires an early computer and, with his Uzbek translation partner Abdulhamid Ismail, feeds it fragments of Persian poetry. The resulting program that both analyzes and generates text becomes the catalyst for a multilingual, postmodern meditation on authorship, translation, and how history, philosophy and longing are refracted through human and digital minds.

    The 12621st Greatest Book of All Time
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  5. 1155. Unshrunk by Laura Delano

    Unshrunk is Laura Delano’s memoir about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 14, spending years in psychiatric care and trying numerous medications, and ultimately deciding to stop treatment. Using her medical records, doctors’ notes, and research on psychiatric drugs, she reflects on how diagnoses and medication shaped her life and identity and questions the medicalized approach to emotional distress.

    The 12624th Greatest Book of All Time
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  6. 1156. People Of Means by Nancy Johnson

    In 1959, Freda Gilroy arrives at Fisk University from Chicago and confronts Southern racism as she becomes involved in the early Civil Rights Movement, forced to choose how much to sacrifice for justice, love, and family expectations. In 1992 Chicago, her daughter Tulip is a driven public-relations professional shaken by the Rodney King verdict and workplace racism; she takes a risky stand that could upend her career. The novel traces both women’s parallel struggles to balance personal ambition, community responsibility, and the pursuit of racial equality.

    The 12625th Greatest Book of All Time
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  7. 1157. The Island Of Last Things by Emma Sloley

    In a near-future where most wildlife has disappeared, Camille cares for animals at the last zoo on Alcatraz Island. When a new keeper, Sailor, arrives they form a close bond and imagine a hidden sanctuary where animals can be free. Sailor proposes a risky plan to smuggle a prized animal off the island, forcing Camille to decide whether to risk everything for that hope. The story explores loss, connection, and the lengths people will go to protect the natural world.

    The 12626th Greatest Book of All Time
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  8. 1158. Don't Trust Fish by Dan Santat, Neil Sharpson

    A short, laugh-out-loud picture book that humorously warns readers never to trust fish. Using absurd examples— they live where we can’t see them, some are enormous, their “schools” are mysterious, and their behavior seems suspicious — it turns a nature guide into a playful, off-the-rails comedy.

    The 12629th Greatest Book of All Time
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  9. 1159. The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

    As the Thursday Murder Club helps with a wedding, their quiet year is interrupted when a guest turns up in danger. The friends face kidnapping, a murder, and a plot to steal an uncrackable code, and must race to piece together clues and stop the villain before it’s too late.

    The 12632nd Greatest Book of All Time
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  10. 1160. A New New Me by Helen Oyeyemi

    Over seven days a woman named Kinga manifests as seven distinct personas—Kinga A–G—each with different habits, jobs and temperaments. When one persona finds a man tied up in their apartment, the Kingas must confront suspicion and the possibility that one of them may be trying to harm the others. The book is an inventive, suspenseful exploration of identity, inner conflict and how many versions of oneself can coexist.

    The 12636th Greatest Book of All Time
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  11. 1161. The Garden by Nick Newman

    Two elderly sisters, Evelyn and Lily, live alone in a walled garden, keeping to daily tasks—tending bees, planting crops, and following the almanac left by their mother. When a nameless boy is discovered hiding in their home, their quiet, isolated lives are disrupted. His arrival breeds suspicion and forces the sisters to confront unsettling truths about themselves and the world beyond the garden.

    The 12638th Greatest Book of All Time
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  12. 1162. Once Upon A Time In Dollywood by Ashley Jordan

    Playwright Eve Ambroise retreats to the Tennessee mountains to regroup after a breakup and family estrangement, only to find her plans complicated by a charming—and guarded—neighbor. Jamie Gallagher, a single dad rebuilding his life after a custody battle, and Eve gradually draw closer as they confront their pasts and learn to trust again. The novel follows their slow-burning romance and personal reckonings without revealing how their choices play out.

    The 12640th Greatest Book of All Time
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  13. 1163. Animal Instinct by Amy Shearn

    In spring 2020, Rachel Bloomstein—a recently divorced mother of three in Brooklyn—finds herself confined at home while her renewed sexual desire and hunger for change lead her into online dating and new relationships. Hoping to synthesize the best parts of her romantic life, she programs an AI chatbot named Frankie, and the story uses that experiment to examine technology, identity, and the messy realities of midlife, family, and freedom.

    The 12641st Greatest Book of All Time
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  14. 1164. Save Me, Stranger by Erika Krouse

    A keenly observed collection of linked short stories that follows characters at emotional crossroads—neighbors, lovers and strangers—whose small betrayals, miscommunications and chance encounters expose longing, regret and the unexpected consequences of ordinary choices. With spare, wry prose, the pieces probe identity, desire and the fragile ties that bind people to one another and to place.

    The 12649th Greatest Book of All Time
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  15. 1165. Poems Of Nathan Zach by Nathan Zach

    The book is a collection of poetry by an influential modern Hebrew poet, known for his innovative and modernist approach to language and form. The poems explore themes of identity, existentialism, and the human condition, often challenging traditional poetic structures and expectations. The poet's work is characterized by its lyrical intensity, intellectual depth, and a profound engagement with the cultural and historical landscape of his time. Through his verse, readers are invited to contemplate the complexities of individual experience within the broader context of collective memory and societal change.

    The 12658th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  16. 1166. Eager by Ben Goldfarb

    The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter

    The book explores the crucial role beavers play in shaping ecosystems and their impact on the environment. It delves into the history of beaver populations, their near-extinction due to the fur trade, and their remarkable comeback. Through engaging storytelling and scientific insights, the book highlights how beavers contribute to biodiversity, water management, and climate resilience. It also examines the challenges and opportunities in coexisting with these industrious rodents, advocating for their role as natural engineers in restoring and maintaining healthy landscapes.

    The 12658th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  17. 1167. Mama's Last Hug by Frans de Waal

    "Mama's Last Hug" explores the emotional lives of animals, focusing on the profound connections between humans and other species. Through a series of compelling stories and scientific insights, the book delves into the ways animals express emotions such as joy, grief, and empathy, challenging the traditional view that emotions are uniquely human. The narrative is anchored by the poignant story of Mama, a chimpanzee, whose final embrace with a human researcher highlights the deep emotional bonds that can exist across species. The book ultimately argues for a greater understanding and appreciation of the emotional capacities of animals, urging readers to reconsider their relationships with the natural world.

    The 12658th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  18. 1168. Owls Of The Eastern Ice by Jonathan C. Slaght

    A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl

    The book is a captivating account of a wildlife researcher's quest to study the elusive and endangered Blakiston's fish owl in the remote forests of eastern Russia. The narrative blends adventure, science, and conservation as it details the challenges of conducting fieldwork in harsh conditions, navigating bureaucratic hurdles, and collaborating with local communities. Through vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes, the author highlights the importance of preserving these majestic birds and their habitat, offering insights into the broader implications of wildlife conservation efforts in a rapidly changing world.

    The 12658th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  19. 1169. Heartbreak by Florence Williams

    A Personal and Scientific Journey

    The book explores the profound emotional and physiological impacts of heartbreak, drawing from the author's personal experience of a painful divorce. It delves into the science behind how heartbreak affects the brain and body, examining the links between emotional pain and physical health. Through a blend of personal narrative, scientific research, and interviews with experts, the book offers insights into the healing process and the resilience of the human spirit. It ultimately provides a thoughtful reflection on the universal experience of loss and the journey toward recovery and self-discovery.

    The 12658th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  20. 1170. Desi Arnaz by Todd S. Purdum

    A compact, revealing life story of the Cuban-born musician and showman who rose from modest origins to help transform American television: it traces his childhood in Cuba, early musical success, immigration to the U.S., the passionate and tumultuous partnership and marriage with a comic star, their co-creation of a groundbreaking sitcom and Desilu Studios, his business savvy and production innovations (multi-camera shooting before live audiences, syndication), and the personal flaws—temper, infidelities, alcoholism—and professional ups and downs that complicated his legacy, concluding with an assessment of his lasting contributions to entertainment and the ambivalent remembrance of a charismatic but conflicted figure.

    The 12654th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  21. 1171. On Muscle by Bonnie Tsui

    On Muscle is an engaging exploration of muscle—its biology, cultural meanings, and role in health and identity. Bonnie Tsui combines science, reporting, and personal narrative to examine cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle, and to explore themes of endurance, recovery, and the body–mind connection. The book traces historical and contemporary stories—from research labs to community practices—to show how muscle shapes movement and who we are.

    The 12656th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  22. 1172. The Secret History Of The Rape Kit by Pagan Kennedy

    In the 1970s, volunteer counselor Martha “Marty” Goddard pushed hospitals and police to collect evidence and treat sexual-assault survivors with dignity, helping to develop the standardized “rape kit.” Journalist Pagan Kennedy follows Goddard’s story, examines how this forensic innovation changed investigations, and reflects on the wider history of forensic practice and her own responses to sexual assault.

    The 12681st Greatest Book of All Time
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  23. 1173. Audition For The Fox by Martin Cahill

    Nesi, an acolyte desperate to earn a divine patron, prays to T’sidaan, a trickster Fox god who flings her three hundred years into the past. Stranded in a homeland occupied by the brutal Wolfhounds of Zemin, she must learn a trickster’s guile and rally allies from the past to confront the Wolf of the Hunt and secure her future.

    The 12682nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  24. 1174. Friends To Lovers by Sally Blakely

    Childhood best friends Joni and Ren keep their bond alive by being each other’s annual wedding plus‑ones, even after Joni moves away. After a falling‑out, they must pretend to be close again at a family summer wedding, and old feelings and unresolved hurt resurface. The novel follows their reunion as they navigate friendship, second chances, and whether their relationship can become something more.

    The 12688th Greatest Book of All Time
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  25. 1175. Fireblooms by Alexandra Villasante

    Seventeen-year-old Sebastian moves to the controlled community of New Gault to care for his ailing, difficult mother. At TECH, a school whose devices and rules limit speech to prevent bullying, he clashes with student ambassador Lu; as they form a bond, both teens must reckon with trauma, trust, and the costs of enforced safety while exploring a tender queer romance.

    The 12689th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download

To download this list as a CSV file, please log in to your account. Once logged in, you'll be able to download the data for use in spreadsheet applications.

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