The 25 best books of 2020
The 25 highest-ranked books first published in 2020 in our ranking of 2,819, scored on how much readers love them, their prize, best-list and bestseller record, and current buzz. We rank 74 books of 2020 in all. How we rank
- 1
Dungeon Crawler Carl91.8Must-Read ScoreDungeon Crawler Carl
It's absurd, violent, very funny and surprisingly moving, and Carl's quiet rage against the people running the show gives it real heart.
- 2
Shuggie Bain88.4Must-Read ScoreShuggie Bain
It's devastating and full of love, a portrait of addiction and loyalty written with extraordinary tenderness, and it won the Booker Prize as a debut.
- 3
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents87.7Must-Read ScoreCaste: The Origins of Our Discontents
It's a powerful, beautifully written book that gives readers a new framework for understanding race in America, from the author of The Warmth of Other Suns.
- 4
House of Earth and Blood87.6Must-Read ScoreHouse of Earth and Blood
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and launched the Crescent City series, one of the most popular in modern fantasy.
- 5Greenlights86.8Must-Read Score
Greenlights
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and has spent more than 300 weeks on the lists since it came out in 2020.
- 6The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X86.4Must-Read Score
The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X
It won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography and the National Book Award.
- 7
A Promised Land84.5Must-Read ScoreA Promised Land
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and sold millions of copies in its first months.
- 8The House in the Cerulean Sea83.4Must-Read Score
The House in the Cerulean Sea
It became a word-of-mouth phenomenon and one of the most-read fantasy novels of the decade.
- 9
The Vanishing Half81.2Must-Read ScoreThe Vanishing Half
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was one of the most talked-about novels of 2020.
- 10The Splendid and the Vile81.1Must-Read Score
The Splendid and the Vile
It spent five weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 11
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning80.5Must-Read ScoreMinor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning
It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography and was a Pulitzer finalist.
- 12
Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath80.4Must-Read ScoreRed Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath
It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
- 13Legendborn80.4Must-Read Score
Legendborn
It has spent 26 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 14Taiwan Travelogue80.3Must-Read Score
Taiwan Travelogue
It won the 2026 International Booker Prize.
- 15Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You80.2Must-Read Score
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
It has spent 83 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 16Will78.5Must-Read Score
Will
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and won the NAACP Image Award for literature.
- 17Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family78.5Must-Read Score
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 18Loveless78.2Must-Read Score
Loveless
It has spent 36 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 19The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue78.0Must-Read Score
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
It has spent 50 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 20
The Night Watchman77.2Must-Read ScoreThe Night Watchman
It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
- 21Empire of the Vampire77.2Must-Read Score
Empire of the Vampire
It's one of the most popular dark fantasy novels of recent years, and its sequel was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 22Transcendent Kingdom76.8Must-Read Score
Transcendent Kingdom
It was a finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
- 23Humans76.6Must-Read Score
Humans
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 24American Dirt76.5Must-Read Score
American Dirt
It spent three weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 25The Evening and the Morning76.5Must-Read Score
The Evening and the Morning
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.