Goodread’s 30 Best Books of the 2020’s

30 Best Books of the 2020s (So Far) — Goodreads Picks You Need to Read Right Now

We’re not even halfway through the 2020s, and somehow this decade has already delivered some incredible books. That got me thinking—what are the best books released so far?

So I went down the rabbit hole and found Goodreads’ list of the top 30 books of the 2020s. And honestly, it’s a mix of exactly what you’d expect… and a few surprises.

Now yes, this list is definitely a little premature. We still have years left in the decade, and by 2029, this list will probably look completely different. But who wants to wait that long?

Not me.

Looking at a list like this right now is actually more fun. You get a snapshot of what readers are loving in real time. You also see which authors are dominating the decade so far—and which new voices are breaking through in a big way.

And let’s be real—sometimes readers get it more right than critics. With BookTok, Bookstagram, and online communities, books can explode in popularity overnight. This list reflects that shift.

Goodreads 30 Best 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

Standout Books From the List

The Midnight Library — Matt Haig

This is one of those books that sticks with you. It explores regret, alternate lives, and the idea that small decisions can completely change your future. It’s emotional, thought-provoking, and easy to get lost in.

I’m Glad My Mom Died — Jennette McCurdy

Easily one of the most talked-about memoirs of the decade. It’s raw, uncomfortable at times, and incredibly honest. McCurdy doesn’t hold back when talking about her childhood and complicated relationship with her mother.

Fourth Wing — Rebecca Yarros

This book came out of nowhere and completely took over. It follows Violet, who’s forced into a brutal dragon-riding war college. High stakes, nonstop tension, and a massive fanbase almost overnight.

Mexican Gothic — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A gothic horror story that feels fresh and unique. The atmosphere is everything here—dark, eerie, and immersive. If you like slow-burn horror with a twist, this one delivers.

Babel — R.F. Kuang

R.F. Kuang has quickly become one of the most important voices in modern fantasy. Babel blends language, history, and colonization into a story that’s as smart as it is compelling.

Final Thoughts

That’s Goodreads’ list of the best books of the 2020s—so far.

I’ve only read a handful of these myself, which just means my TBR got a whole lot longer. And honestly, that’s the best part about lists like this—they remind you of what you’ve missed and what’s worth picking up next.

How many of these have you read? And which ones are you adding to your list?

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