10 Popular Books Written in the 21st Century That Are Worth Reading

There are countless lists online that try to rank the best books of the 21st century. Some are thoughtful while others feel rushed together for clicks and controversy. And recently, everyone has been talking about The New York Times’ list of the 100 best books of the 21st century. Whenever a major publication releases a list like that, the internet immediately explodes with debates, arguments, praise, and disappointment.

And honestly, I understand why.

Books are personal. Reading is personal. One reader’s masterpiece is another reader’s “it was fine.” No list is ever going to satisfy everyone because literature means something different to every person. Still, when a publication as massive as The New York Times releases a list, people expect something close to perfection.

For me, their list had some excellent choices, but there were also some major omissions that made me scratch my head. There are so many incredible novels published over the past two decades that narrowing them down to only 100 titles already feels impossible. Then once rankings get involved, things become even messier.

That is why I actually enjoy smaller, more focused lists.

A list of ten books is manageable. It gives readers a place to start without overwhelming them. You can actually look through the titles and decide what sounds interesting instead of staring at a giant collection of books wondering where to begin.

So today, we are looking at Book Riot’s list of ten popular books written in the 21st century that are worth reading.

The author behind the original list pulled these books together after researching reviews, rankings, and reader discussions across the internet. And while I may not agree with every single choice, I do think this is a strong collection of modern novels that showcase just how incredible contemporary literature can be.

These books explore identity, grief, love, race, family, history, loneliness, memory, and human connection in ways that stay with readers long after the final page.

Let’s get into the list.

Popular Books Written in the 21st Century

• My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein
• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
• White Teeth by Zadie Smith
• Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward
• Normal People by Sally Rooney
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
• There There by Tommy Orange

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein

Few modern novels have generated as much praise and discussion as My Brilliant Friend.

The first book in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels series feels deeply personal and intimate while also being incredibly ambitious. The story follows the friendship between Elena and Lila as they grow up in Naples, navigating poverty, violence, education, jealousy, ambition, and societal expectations.

What makes this novel so special is how real the friendship feels.

Ferrante captures the complexity of female friendships better than almost anyone else. The bond between Elena and Lila is loving, toxic, competitive, inspiring, and heartbreaking all at once. It constantly shifts and evolves throughout the story in ways that feel painfully authentic.

The writing itself is also incredibly immersive. Once you settle into the novel, it becomes difficult to stop reading because the characters feel alive.

This is one of those books where you finish the first installment and immediately want to continue the entire series.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

If there is one book on this list that I think everyone should read at least once, it is Never Let Me Go.

Kazuo Ishiguro created something haunting, quiet, emotional, and unforgettable with this novel. On the surface, it looks like a simple coming-of-age story about children growing up at a boarding school. But the deeper you get into the novel, the more unsettling things become.

The less you know going into this book, the better.

What makes Never Let Me Go so powerful is not the twists or reveals. It is the emotional atmosphere that Ishiguro creates. There is this constant sense of sadness and inevitability hanging over the story.

The characters feel trapped by forces beyond their control, and the novel explores what it means to be human in deeply moving ways.

Ishiguro’s writing style is restrained and subtle, but that restraint makes the emotional moments hit even harder.

This is one of the defining novels of the 21st century and absolutely deserves its reputation.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead took a horrifying chapter of American history and transformed it into something both brutal and imaginative.

In this novel, the Underground Railroad is portrayed as an actual railroad beneath the ground, carrying enslaved people toward freedom. That single creative decision turns the novel into something unforgettable.

The story follows Cora as she escapes from a plantation in Georgia and journeys through different states, each presenting its own version of racism, cruelty, and oppression.

What makes this novel so effective is how Whitehead blends historical horror with speculative elements. The result is a story that feels surreal at times while still remaining emotionally devastating.

Some chapters are difficult to read because of the violence and brutality, but the novel never feels exploitative. Instead, it forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about history.

This is not always an easy read, but it is an important one.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Historical fiction can sometimes feel dry or overly academic, but Wolf Hall is anything but that.

Hilary Mantel took the story of Thomas Cromwell and transformed it into a gripping political drama filled with tension, ambition, betrayal, and power struggles.

Even readers who are not interested in Tudor history often end up loving this book because Mantel’s writing is so sharp and immersive.

Thomas Cromwell is one of the most fascinating protagonists in modern historical fiction. He is intelligent, calculating, observant, and endlessly compelling.

Mantel also has an incredible ability to make conversations feel dangerous. Every interaction carries weight because everyone in the story is fighting for survival in a ruthless political world.

This is not the fastest read on the list, but it rewards patience.

And once you get fully invested in the story, it becomes hard to put down.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Gilead is one of the quietest books on this list, but it is also one of the most beautiful.

The novel is written as a letter from an aging pastor to his young son, reflecting on faith, family, mortality, forgiveness, and memory.

There is not a lot of action here.

This is a deeply reflective and meditative novel that focuses almost entirely on the inner life of its narrator. But Marilynne Robinson’s prose is so thoughtful and elegant that even the smallest observations feel meaningful.

This is the kind of book that asks readers to slow down.

It is less about plot and more about emotion, spirituality, and human connection.

I know this style will not work for everyone, especially readers who prefer fast-paced stories, but for the right reader, Gilead can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith exploded onto the literary scene with White Teeth, and honestly, it is still impressive how ambitious this novel is.

The book follows multiple families across generations while exploring immigration, race, identity, culture, religion, and belonging in modern London.

What stands out immediately is Smith’s voice.

The novel is funny, energetic, chaotic, intelligent, and full of personality. Smith moves between humor and serious social commentary effortlessly.

One of the reasons White Teeth became such a massive success is because it feels alive. The characters are messy and flawed in believable ways, and the story captures the unpredictability of real life.

This novel also tackles huge themes without ever feeling overly preachy.

Instead, it trusts readers to sit with the complexity of the characters and their choices.

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Jesmyn Ward’s writing is absolutely incredible.

Sing, Unburied, Sing blends family drama, social commentary, and supernatural elements into a story that feels emotional and haunting from beginning to end.

The novel follows a Mississippi family dealing with addiction, incarceration, trauma, and generational pain.

Ward’s prose is lyrical and powerful, and she creates an atmosphere that feels heavy with grief and history.

One of the most impressive things about this novel is how it balances realism with ghostly elements. The supernatural aspects never feel gimmicky. Instead, they enhance the emotional core of the story.

This is a heartbreaking novel in many ways, but it is also deeply human.

Ward has a way of making readers feel every ounce of pain, love, and desperation her characters experience.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

There are few modern novels that have divided readers as much as Normal People.

Some people absolutely love it while others completely bounce off Rooney’s style.

Personally, I understand why the novel became such a phenomenon.

The story follows Connell and Marianne as their relationship changes over several years. The novel focuses heavily on communication, insecurity, emotional vulnerability, class differences, and loneliness.

Rooney’s writing style is minimalist and very dialogue-driven, which makes the story feel intimate and immediate.

What makes the novel resonate with so many readers is how emotionally recognizable it feels. The characters constantly misunderstand each other, struggle to express themselves, and sabotage their own happiness.

That emotional frustration feels painfully realistic.

Even readers who dislike the characters often admit that the novel captures modern relationships in an honest way.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko is one of my favorite books on this list.

Min Jin Lee crafted a sweeping multigenerational story that follows a Korean family living in Japan across several decades.

This novel explores discrimination, survival, sacrifice, identity, family expectations, and resilience.

What impressed me most about Pachinko was how emotionally attached I became to the characters.

The novel covers so many years and so many lives, yet every major character feels distinct and memorable.

Lee also does an incredible job showing how historical events shape ordinary people.

Even when the novel tackles massive political and social issues, it never loses sight of the human side of the story.

This is one of those books that completely pulls you into another world.

By the time you finish it, the characters genuinely feel like people you have known for years.

There There by Tommy Orange

There There is one of the most impactful debut novels of the 21st century.

Tommy Orange tells the stories of multiple Native American characters whose lives eventually intersect at a powwow in Oakland.

The novel explores identity, trauma, addiction, violence, urban Native experiences, and cultural disconnection.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is its structure.

Orange shifts perspectives constantly, allowing readers to see the world through many different voices and experiences.

Some characters are struggling with addiction while others are searching for meaning, belonging, or connection.

The novel builds tension steadily as all of these storylines move toward the same event.

There is an emotional urgency throughout the entire book that makes it difficult to stop reading.

And perhaps most importantly, There There gives visibility to voices and experiences that are too often ignored in mainstream literature.

Why These Books Matter

One thing I appreciate about this list is how varied it feels.

These books are completely different from one another in tone, style, pacing, and subject matter. Some are quiet and introspective while others are sprawling and emotionally intense.

Some focus on deeply personal relationships while others tackle massive historical and social issues.

That variety is important because there is no single “correct” version of great literature.

The best books of the 21st century are not all trying to accomplish the same thing.

Some novels succeed because of their emotional depth. Others succeed because of their experimentation, political commentary, atmosphere, or character work.

And while lists like this will always be subjective, they can still serve as fantastic entry points for readers looking to explore modern fiction.

If you are someone who mainly reads classics, these books show that contemporary literature has produced works that absolutely deserve long-term recognition.

And if you already love modern fiction, then this list is a reminder of just how many incredible stories have been published over the last two decades.

Conclusion

Overall, I think Book Riot did a great job putting together this list of popular books written in the 21st century.

There are a few titles I personally would have added, and there are always going to be books that readers feel deserve more recognition, but that is the nature of lists like this.

Still, this collection highlights some genuinely fantastic novels that have shaped modern literature in major ways.

For me, Never Let Me Go remains one of the standout books here and an absolute must-read for anyone who loves literary fiction. I also love seeing books like The Underground Railroad and Pachinko continue to receive the praise they deserve.

Each of these novels brings something unique to the table, whether it is emotional storytelling, unforgettable characters, historical insight, or beautiful prose.

And honestly, that is what makes reading modern literature so exciting.

There are still incredible books being published every single year.

What do you think of Book Riot’s list of the ten best books of the 21st century? How many of these books have you read? And what modern novels would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!

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