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. 1176. This Beautiful, Ridiculous City by Kay Sohini

    A graphic memoir about an immigrant woman who arrives in New York City after leaving an abusive relationship. As she pieces together fragmented memories and rebuilds her life, she finds unexpected belonging and a complicated love for the city. The book quietly explores trauma, healing, displacement, and the search for identity without revealing plot details.

    The 12691st Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  2. 1177. Florenzer by Phil Melanson

    Set in Renaissance Florence, Florenzer follows three ambitious young men whose lives intersect: a twelve-year-old Leonardo da Vinci who leaves the countryside to pursue painting, Francesco Salviati, a marginalized youth who turns to the Church for status, and the young Lorenzo de’ Medici, poised to become a powerful political and financial figure. Against a backdrop of artistic rivalry and political tension, the novel explores ambition, identity, and the dangers faced by gay men (called “florenzers”) in the city.

    The 12692nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  3. 1178. No Filter by Sarah Frier

    The Inside Story of Instagram

    This compelling narrative delves into the meteoric rise of Instagram, exploring its transformation from a simple photo-sharing app to a cultural phenomenon that reshaped the digital landscape. Through meticulous research and insider interviews, the book unveils the strategic decisions, power struggles, and visionary leadership that propelled the platform to global prominence. It also examines the impact of Instagram on society, including its influence on social interactions, business marketing, and the broader tech industry, while highlighting the challenges and controversies faced along the way.

    The 12699th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  4. 1179. Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson

    Viola and Wilmur, two orphans from the colorless town of Caveat, join Captain Cadence Chase and her eccentric pirate crew after striking a bargain that involves giving up a mysterious book. As they sail the dangerous Dickerson’s Sea, they search for their missing parents and uncover secrets that test their friendship and force them to decide what they’re willing to sacrifice.

    The 12696th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  5. 1180. You Didn't Hear This From Me by Kelsey McKinney

    Kelsey McKinney, drawing on her experience as the host of the Normal Gossip podcast, blends memoir, reporting, and cultural criticism to explore why we gossip, what we hope to get from it, and when it becomes harmful. Written with wit and personal anecdotes, the book questions how we define gossip, why we obsess over others’ private lives (including celebrities), and how gossip can be used to harm or control people.

    The 12697th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  6. 1181. The Devil Reached Toward The Sky by Garrett M. Graff

    An oral history of the atomic bomb’s development and deployment at the end of World War II, built from interviews, diaries, letters, and official records. It weaves together perspectives from political leaders, scientists, bomber crews, survivors, and rescuers to examine the scientific breakthroughs, military choices, and moral questions surrounding the weapon and its aftermath.

    The 12700th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  7. 1182. Actress Of A Certain Age by Jeff Hiller

    A collection of autobiographical essays in which Jeff Hiller traces his path from growing up “profoundly gay” in 1980s Texas through work as a social worker to decades of struggling as a working actor. With sharp humor and candid reflection, he recounts bullying, odd jobs, failed auditions, and the small triumph that brought wider recognition, offering a warm, relatable look at aging, resilience, and chasing a dream.

    The 12706th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  8. 1183. Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau

    After eating dumplings at a night market, workaholic Noelle Tom begins reliving the same Friday over and over: the same alarm, the same Wordle, and a proposal that never sticks. During the loop she keeps encountering Cam, a man who doesn’t seem to remember her, and must choose to step away from her routine and take risks to try to get unstuck. A gentle, romantic time-loop story about connection, change, and learning to live in the moment.

    The 12711th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  9. 1184. Beasts Of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo

    Sofía, a freedwoman born into slavery, arrives at the island of Isla Bestia to find her twin brother and encounters the intoxicating, otherworldly Carnaval de Bestias. As she follows whispers of her Taike’ri heritage through the carnival’s performances and secrets, she must confront those who profit from her people and resist a growing, uncanny pull that threatens to consume her.

    The 12712th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  10. 1185. The Compound by Aisling Rawle

    Ten young women wake in a remote desert compound and discover they are being filmed for a televised competition; ten men will arrive soon and the contestants must compete for survival and prizes under constant surveillance. As alliances form and tensions rise, they face moral choices and the harsh realities of a controlled, voyeuristic contest.

    The 12713th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  11. 1186. The Princess And The P.I. by Nikki Payne

    Fiona Addai — a popular online sleuth known as @Princess_PI — tries to reclaim her late brother’s invention from a tech company and instead finds herself accused of murder. She hires Maurice Bennett, a jaded private investigator, to help clear her name and teach her real-world detective work. As they dig into a shady start-up, their partnership intensifies and they must learn to trust each other to uncover the truth.

    The 12717th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  12. 1187. Oasis by Guojing

    A young girl living in a drab, lifeless city discovers a small seed and quietly nurtures it; over time the seed grows into a lush, life-filled oasis that brings color, animals, and a sense of wonder back to the people around her, illustrating how a single, gentle act can restore hope and reconnect a community with the natural world.

    The 12718th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  13. 1188. The Door On The Sea by Caskey Russell

    Elān, a storyteller, frees a raven that knows where the Koosh invaders’ lost weapon is. Tasked with captaining a canoe crewed by an unlikely team — including a bear-cousin, a massive wolf, and the vulgar raven — he must cross stormy seas and face giants and other dangers to retrieve it. As their world changes and alliances shift, Elān must decide what role he will play in the struggle to save his people.

    The 12720th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  14. 1189. A Feast For The Eyes by Alex Crespo

    On the foggy Oregon coast, a creature called the Watcher appears to feed on secrets. After Shay and her girlfriend Lauren are caught up in a strange attack, they recruit aspiring photographer Zoe and friends to document the legend before it exposes their hidden truths. Tense and atmospheric, the book blends queer romance and small-town mystery as the teens race to protect one another and their secrets.

    The 12721st Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  15. 1190. Notes To John by Joan Didion

    Notes to John is Joan Didion’s journal of psychotherapy sessions begun in 1999 and kept for her husband, John Gregory Dunne. It records candid conversations about alcoholism, adoption, depression and anxiety, family relationships (including with her daughter Quintana), work, childhood, and questions of legacy, offering an intimate account of a decade‑long analysis.

    The 12723rd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  16. 1191. Tomorrow Is Yesterday by Hussein Agha, Robert Malley

    Two veteran negotiators, Hussein Agha and Robert Malley, examine the collapse of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process and the roots of the 2023 violence. Drawing on decades of secret talks and experience advising Palestinian and U.S. leaders, they offer candid portraits of key figures and argue that policy choices — including an overreliance on technical fixes and the late embrace of a two‑state framework — helped make a lasting solution unlikely. They contend recent cycles of violence reflect deeper historical grievances and emotional divides that go beyond questions of territory, and consider what those realities mean for the future.

    The 12724th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  17. 1192. A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie

    In a gritty fantasy realm embroiled with industrial revolution and social unrest, the lives of several complex characters intertwine as they navigate a world of escalating violence and power struggles. The novel explores themes of vengeance, ambition, and the corrosive effects of hatred through the eyes of a diverse cast, including a vengeful warrior, an enterprising young noblewoman, and a cunning war hero. As ancient magics fade against the backdrop of emerging technologies, these individuals must adapt to the changing tides of power or be swept away by the relentless currents of progress and conflict.

    The 12728th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  18. 1193. Jade War by Fonda Lee

    In the gripping sequel to a fantasy saga set in an Asia-inspired metropolis, two clans wage a violent turf war for control of magical jade, which grants its users enhanced abilities. As the struggle for supremacy escalates, the Kaul family of the No Peak clan must navigate dangerous political waters, both within their city and on the international stage, to protect their hold on power. Amidst betrayal, bloody skirmishes, and complex alliances, the Kauls are also confronted with the personal costs of their ambitions, as they strive to uphold their family's honor and legacy in a world where loyalty is scarce and enemies are everywhere.

    The 12728th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  19. 1194. Tiamat's Wrath by James S. A. Corey

    The Expanse, Book 8

    In this science fiction epic, humanity is embroiled in an interstellar conflict with an authoritarian regime seeking to control ancient alien technology. The story follows a band of renegade heroes who struggle against the oppressive Laconian Empire, which has harnessed the power of the mysterious protomolecule to assert its dominance over the human colonies. As the empire faces an unforeseen threat from the alien entities that created the protomolecule, the protagonists must navigate political intrigue, personal loss, and the complexities of human and alien morality to protect humanity's future and unravel the secrets of the universe itself.

    The 12728th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  20. 1195. The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

    An Arabian Fantasy

    The novel is a historical fantasy set during the reign of the last sultanate in the Iberian Peninsula. It follows the story of Fatima, a concubine in the royal court, and her friend Hassan, a mapmaker with the mystical ability to draw maps of places he's never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the Spanish Inquisition arrive to negotiate the sultan's surrender, they target Hassan for his abilities, seeing them as sorcery. Fearing for Hassan's life, Fatima helps him escape the palace. Together, they embark on a perilous journey in search of the mythical island of The Bird King, a place believed to be an earthly paradise. Along the way, they navigate the complexities of power, faith, and freedom while being pursued by forces determined to crush the last remnants of the Moorish empire.

    The 12728th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  21. 1196. Frankly In Love by David Yoon

    The book centers around a high school senior of Korean-American descent who struggles with the expectations of his traditional parents and his own Southern California upbringing. Caught between his parents' desire for him to date a Korean girl and his own romantic interest in a non-Korean classmate, he embarks on a fake relationship with a family friend facing similar pressures. This arrangement, meant to appease their parents, leads to a complex journey of self-discovery, as he navigates the challenges of identity, love, and friendship in a multicultural landscape.

    The 12742nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
  22. 1197. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

    The graphic novel centers around a high school student named Freddy who is grappling with her tumultuous relationship with the charismatic Laura Dean. Despite Laura's repeated infidelities and breakups, Freddy finds herself drawn back to Laura time and again. As Freddy navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery, she begins to understand the importance of healthy relationships and self-respect. With the help of her friends, particularly her best friend Doodle, Freddy learns to set boundaries and recognize her own worth, ultimately confronting the cycle of toxic behavior and seeking a path toward personal growth and fulfillment.

    The 12742nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  23. 1198. Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

    Set against the backdrop of the 1980s AIDS crisis in New York City, the novel is a poignant tale of friendship, love, and activism. It follows the lives of three teenagers: an Iranian boy grappling with his sexual identity, a girl with aspirations of becoming a fashion designer, and a gay teen living with HIV. Together, they navigate the complexities of growing up and the harsh realities of the epidemic, finding solace and strength in their bond. As they become involved in the fight for justice and acceptance, the story beautifully captures the era's fear and prejudice, as well as the courage and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.

    The 12742nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
  24. 1199. With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo

    The novel follows the journey of a high school senior with a talent for cooking and a dream of working in the culinary arts. As a teen mother, she faces numerous challenges, balancing the demands of school, her daughter's needs, and her job, all while striving to achieve her aspirations. Her passion for food is both an escape and a means of expression, and she must navigate the complexities of love, family expectations, and her own identity. The protagonist's determination and creativity in the kitchen become a metaphor for her resilience and drive to forge a path for herself and her child.

    The 12742nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
  25. 1200. Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry

    Eighteen-year-old Eternity Price, serving a death sentence, is offered a shot at clemency if she can win public votes on a high‑stakes reality show. As contestants fight for their survival and she longs to reunite with her younger brother, Eternity must navigate new friendships and impossible choices that test her ideas of forgiveness, family, and freedom—without knowing who she can trust.

    The 12747th 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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