Here at Books of Brilliance, we love browsing through various lists to see how they fair as well as helping readers find books to read. That is why we will be looking at 100 must read classics chosen by Penguin Random House. Keep reading to see which novels made the list. 

Before we dive into the list, we have to mention that this list actually has only 99 books on the list. The number 27 was skipped (by accident we imagine) and we can’t help but wonder what that book would have been.

The list was compiled by data of readers of Penguin Random House. They have made a name for themselves over the past century. You know that you will see a ton of contemporary classics on this list You can see the full list below!

100 Must Read Classics Chosen by Penguin Random House 

Pride and Prejudice

Seeing Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is refreshing. While it wouldn’t be my pick as the best classic novel ever written, it is still pretty high on my list. It is a novel that I enjoyed a lot and as someone that doesn’t read much romance books, it says a lot.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen classics
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Elizabeth Bennett is one of five daughters and the novel follows her and Mr. Darcy, who moves near the Bennetts. Elizabeth’s older sister Jane falls in love with Bingley who is a close friends with Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth interact at a party and while Mr. Darcy falls for Elizabeth, she insults him after he is rude to her. Jane and Bingley seem like they are made for each other but suddenly, things go awry. Elizabeth guesses that somebody doesn’t want them to get married.

A turn of events scares the Bennett family and Elizabeth turns to Mr. Darcy to help. Will Jane and Bingley get married? And how does Elizabeth feel about Mr. Darcy? Jane Austen spins a tale like no other that has remained relevant centuries later and is considered one of the best historical fiction books ever written.

To Kill a Mockingbird

My pick as the best classic ever written would easily be To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It is a timeless classic novel that made me fall in love with reading. That is why classics should be taught in schools because even one book can have a big impact on someone.

The novel is narrated by six-year-old Jean Louise Finch and takes place in 1933 in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. Jean, along with older brother Jeremy, and friend Dill are caught in a drama involving their father Atticus Finch.

To Kill a Mockingbird novel by Harper Lee novel Pulitzer prize vlassic novel
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Atticus, a lawyer, is assigned to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a white woman. Residents of the town are not happy with Atticus defending a black man. But Atticus is determined to defend him as he would any other man, not matter their race.

The Great Gatsby

In third place is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a classic novel that has stayed relevant for a century. I think it is a novel that is worth reading at least once. And while I don’t think it is in my top three classics, it is a fun story that does capture the beauty of the 1920’s.

The Great Gatsby boo cover
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Jay Gatsby has recently arrived to the West Egg part of Long Island and rumors of his extravagant parties have made him famous. Nobody knows how he accumulated his wealth but want to befriend the millionaire. 

Gatsby himself has his own plans and right the wrongs of the past. He wants to reunite with his lost love no matter the cost. This timeless classic novel captures the magic of the roaring twenties before the Great Depression. 

One Hundred Years of Solitude 

It took me a long time to get around and reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. I was hooked on page one and loved this wonderful magical world that Márquez created. To this day, I am still angry for not reading this novel earlier.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

After killing Prudencio Aguilar because of an argument, José Arcadio Buendía and his wife Úrsula Iguarán leave town to search for another place to live. Eventually, they settle near a riverbank and call their new home Macondo.

What follows is the story of seven generations of the Buendía family and the rise and fall of Macondo. The stories of the family go from happy to sad and happy again as the town they live in goes through changes, sweeping the family along as a result.

Every single page of this novel was perfect and I am glad that I did read this. It is easily one of the best books I read in 2025 and one I will revisit next year. in 1982, Gabriel García Márquez won the Nobel Prize for Literature because of this novel.

Conclusion 

If you love classics, then this is the list for you. There are a lot of solid selections throughout the list that are must reads for every book lover. It has some of my favorite works of literature that I am always recommending to anyone who is willing to listen to my rants.

Overall, this is a great list of classics. The list is consistent and yet includes a few surprises throughout. I love that and it keeps this list fresh and it even includes a novel from 2004! The readers of Penguin Random House have gotten respect after seeing this list! 

That is all for the 100 must read classics chosen by Penguin Random House. What did you make of the list? Are there any classics that should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below! 

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