Must Read Books of the Decade: Goodreads 2020s List

We’re only a few years into the 2020s, yet the decade has already delivered an incredible number of unforgettable books. From viral BookTok sensations to literary standouts, this era of reading has been anything but quiet. That’s why Goodreads has already taken on the ambitious task of highlighting the 40 must read books of the 2020s so far—and the list is packed with must-read titles.

Yes, we know—it’s still early. The decade isn’t even halfway over. But the sheer volume of standout novels across every genre makes now the perfect moment to celebrate the books that have already left a mark. Some of these titles may eventually be overshadowed by future releases, which makes appreciating them now even more important.

And when it comes to trusted book recommendations, there’s no better place to turn than Goodreads. With the largest reading community in the world, Goodreads has become a go-to source for discovering what readers truly love. While this list may look very different by the time the decade wraps up, these are the books defining the 2020s right now.

Below, you’ll find Goodreads’ picks—followed by highlights from some of the most talked-about books on the list.

Goodreads 40 Must Read Books of the 2020’s

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
• The House in the Cerulean Sea (The House in the Cerulean Sea, #1) by T.J. Klune
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
• My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
• House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1) by Sarah J. Maas
• I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
• The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0) by Suzanne Collins
• Beach Read by Emily Henry
• A ​Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4) by Sarah J. Maas
• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
• Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
• The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
• The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
• The Guest List by Lucy Foley
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
• Babel by R.F. Kuang
• A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1) by Naomi Novik
• House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, #2) by Sarah J. Maas
• Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune
• Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
• Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
• The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1) by Richard Osman
• Heartstopper: Volume Three (Heartstopper, #3) by Alice Oseman
• Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
• Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
• Book Lovers by Emily Henry
• Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries, #5) by Martha Wells
• One of Us Is Next (One of Us Is Lying, #2) by Karen M. McManus
• Loveless by Alice Oseman
• From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Bell Hammers by Lancelot Schaubert

The Midnight Library

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a beautiful story about coming to terms with your choices. It came out in 2022 and made several end-of-year lists for good reason. I love a novel that gives you insight and advice that can make you see the world in a different way.

The book is about regrets and how small choices can have a big impact on your life. The protagonist gets to live various lives, trying to find the one that will truly make her happy. But as she finds out, there are drawbacks even in her perfect life.

I’m Glad My Mom Died

Jennette McCurdy’s autobiography I’m Glad My Mom Died has to be one of if not the best biographies of the 2020s. The title alone grabs your attention but hold judgment until you read the biography. McCurdy shares personal details and what her childhood and acting career was like.

The book is an honest account of being raised by a mother who lives vicariously through her daughter. It wasn’t Jennette’s dream to be an actress but she can’t let her mother down ever. She is her mom’s best friend and will do anything to please her and make her happy. Even at the detriment of her own well being.

Fourth Wing

If you haven’t heard of Fourth Wing by Rececca Yarros in the past couple of years, then you might be living under a rock. This novel and the Empyrean series has become a household name overnight. And it is shattering record along the way.

Violet is a 20-year-girl who is forced to enter the Rider Quadrant even though she was supposed to become a scribe. Now, she has to survive against all odds in the war college and become a dragon rider as other contestants try to kill her.

This novel has taken the literary world by surprise and has helped make romantasy novels the most popular genre. And it is hard to deny a romance novel combined with fantasy elements and tons of dragons. Yarros is most likely going to be the best selling author of the 2020s because of this series alone.

Mexican Gothic

This is a novel that I have seen on many BookTok lists and finally got around to reading and I loved every second of it. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an amazing author and her writing style is unique and her attention to detail make her novels feel like a trip to another time period.

Catalina thinks her husband is trying to poison her and it is up to Noemí to make sure everything is okay.That is how Noemí finds herself at the Doyle’s home called High Place.

It is located in the mountains of a small town called El Triunfo. Noemí soon finds herself restricted and trapped in the house. But when she learns the dark secret of the Doyle family, she is caught up in the middle of it all.

Now, Noemí must turn to an unlikely companion in High Place if she plans on escaping. Or she might find herself stuck at High Place forever.

Babel

In the past couple of years, R. F. Kuang has emerged as one of the best new authors. And Babel is an amazing fantasy novel that tells the story of colonization and languages.

It is beautifully written and while you may have started reading it because of the fantasy element but will stay for the course on languages. Kuang has become a must read author with every novel she writes no matter what genre she writes for.

Babel is set in the year 1812 and tells the story of Robin Swift, an orphan who is brought to London by Professor Lovell. Robin is taught various languages in preparation for his enrollment at Oxford’s Royal Institute of Translation program which is also known as Babel.

Magic is practiced at Babel and Robin learns how to use it to serve Britain. But serving Babel means that Robin is going against his own county as a result. When Britain decides to go to war against China, Robin must decide who he will side with.

Conclusion

That is at Goodread’s 14 best books of the 2020’s list. I think is is a phenomenal list and one I will keep revisiting for book recommendations. This list has a variety of books from all genres that most book lovers will be a fan of.

How many of these books have you read or plan to read? I have read a bunch of these books and will keep reading more in the coming months. With so much positive reviews, I know these books will live up to my expectations. Until next time, happy reading!

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