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The top 50

Novels of the 21st century

Fifty researched picks for the novels of the 21st century, selected for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

How we choseLiterary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm. Rankings balance consensus with lasting ownership value and current buyability.
#1

My Brilliant Friend

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#2

Wolf Hall

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#3

Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#4

The Road

The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#5

The Known World

The Known World by Edward P. Jones is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#6

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7) by J.K. Rowling is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#7

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#8

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#9

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#10

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6) by J.K. Rowling is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#11

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) by J.K. Rowling is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#12

The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

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#13

A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#14

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#15

Life of Pi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#16

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#17

The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#18

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#19

The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)

The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2) by Dan Brown is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

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#20

A Story of Yesterday

A Story of Yesterday by Sergio Cobo is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#21

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#22

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#23

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) by Suzanne Collins is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#24

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#25

Middlesex

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#26

The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#27

Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#28

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) by Stephenie Meyer is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#29

Atonement

Atonement by Ian McEwan is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#30

The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1)

The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1) by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#31

American Gods (American Gods, #1)

American Gods (American Gods, #1) by Neil Gaiman is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#32

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#33

The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#34

The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#35

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#36

My Sister's Keeper

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#37

Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1)

Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1) by Dan Brown is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#38

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium #2)

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium #2) by Stieg Larsson is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#39

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#40

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#41

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, #4)

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, #4) by Stephenie Meyer is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#42

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Millennium, #3)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Millennium, #3) by Stieg Larsson is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#43

The Host

The Host by Stephenie Meyer is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#44

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, #3)

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, #3) by Stephenie Meyer is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#45

Kafka on the Shore

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#46

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#47

Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

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#48

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, #2)

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, #2) by Stephenie Meyer is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#49

Room

Room by Emma Donoghue is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →
#50

Gone Girl

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a durable novel choice, recognized for literary influence, critical consensus and lasting reader enthusiasm.

Why it belongs →

Research starting points

Goodreads: Best Books of the 21st Century ↗The New York Times: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century ↗