The 2020s have already produced an unusually strong mix of fantasy, science fiction, literary fiction, romance, mystery and nonfiction. To see which titles readers have embraced most, this guide brings together 50 of the best books of the 2020s from Goodreads’ reader-driven decade list.

This is an evolving list rather than a final verdict on the decade. Rankings and reader enthusiasm can change as more books are published, but the titles below provide a useful snapshot of the books that have generated the strongest response so far.

I’ve also read several of the books on this list, including The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Midnight Library, I’m Glad My Mom Died and Fourth Wing. Below the full 50-book list, I’ve highlighted several standouts and added my own perspective on why they connected with me.

The House in the Cerulean Sea fantasy novel magic best books 2020s
The House in the Cerulean Sea book review

The range is one of the most useful things about the list: there are blockbuster fantasy and romance titles beside literary novels, memoirs and science fiction. If you are looking for a modern reading list with broad reader support, these 50 books are a strong place to start.

Goodreads’ 50 Best Books of the 2020s So Far

The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea fantasy novel magic
The House in the Cerulean Sea book review

I decided to read The House in the Cerulean Sea because it has a beautiful book cover. But when I started reading it, I fell in love with the fantasy world that Klune creates. The characters are interesting and they come to life with Klune’s descriptions. The family bonds and the pursuit of happiness are on full display in this novel.

The Midnight Library

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library book review

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a beautiful and well-written story about coming to terms with your choices. It came out in 2022 and made several end-of-year lists for good reason. It 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.

I’m Glad My Mom Died

As someone who doesn’t read nonfiction books much, I do find myself reading a few because of great reviews. That is why I ended up reading I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy and after reading it, I can understand the title of the memoir. McCurdy opens up about being forced to become a child actor and pleasing her mom even by always doing what she wanted. This is a story that will reshape how you think of child actors and that you never really know someone’s story.

Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros book
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

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 already has a large following in less than a year.

Babel

Babel is a historical fiction and fantasy novel by R.F. Kuang that takes readers back to the 1800s. Robin Swift is an orphan from Canton and is raised by Professor Lovell who trains Robin in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese in preparation of enrolling to Oxford University’s Royal Institute of Translation, which is also known as Babel.

Conclusion

These are 50 of the best books of the 2020s from Goodreads’ reader-driven decade list list. How many of these books have you read or plan to read? I have read some of these book and will be checking out a few more of these books in the near future. Happy reading!

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