The 25 best books of 2021
The 25 highest-ranked books first published in 2021 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 106 books of 2021 in all. How we rank
- 1
Project Hail Mary95.2Must-Read ScoreProject Hail Mary
It's the rare science-fiction novel that's pure joy to read: funny, tense, packed with clever problem-solving, and built on one of the most lovable friendships in recent fiction.
- 2
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty89.2Must-Read ScoreEmpire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
It's a gripping, meticulously reported story of greed and consequence that reads like a novel and makes you furious.
- 3
How the Word Is Passed86.6Must-Read ScoreHow the Word Is Passed
It's a moving, generous and quietly powerful book that makes history feel present, with Smith listening to everyone, including people who disagree with him.
- 4
Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice86.0Must-Read ScoreLiliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice
It's both a heartbreaking elegy and a powerful investigation into how society failed to see the violence against Liliana.
- 5Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City84.7Must-Read Score
Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City
It won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction and was named one of the ten best books of the year by The New York Times.
- 6
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois84.4Must-Read ScoreThe Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction and was an Oprah's Book Club pick.
- 7
Cuba: An American History83.5Must-Read ScoreCuba: An American History
It won the Pulitzer Prize for history.
- 8
Lessons in Chemistry83.1Must-Read ScoreLessons in Chemistry
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and spent years on the bestseller lists.
- 9
The Four Winds83.0Must-Read ScoreThe Four Winds
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 10Five Decembers81.0Must-Read Score
Five Decembers
It won the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
- 11
What Happened to You?80.7Must-Read ScoreWhat Happened to You?
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and a bestseller.
- 12
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-centered Planet80.7Must-Read ScoreThe Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-centered Planet
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for nonfiction and hit #1 on the New York Times list.
- 13
A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance80.6Must-Read ScoreA Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance
It was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
- 14The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music80.5Must-Read Score
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
It spent two weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 15
Cloud Cuckoo Land79.9Must-Read ScoreCloud Cuckoo Land
It was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Goodreads Choice Award.
- 16The Hill We Climb79.3Must-Read Score
The Hill We Climb
It spent two weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 17
The Wish78.8Must-Read ScoreThe Wish
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 18
Small Things Like These78.4Must-Read ScoreSmall Things Like These
It was a Booker finalist and is on the New York Times list of the century's best books.
- 19Better Than the Movies78.1Must-Read Score
Better Than the Movies
It has spent more than 200 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 20
Crying in H Mart78.1Must-Read ScoreCrying in H Mart
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for memoir and spent months on bestseller lists.
- 21
The Code Breaker77.5Must-Read ScoreThe Code Breaker
It hit #1 on the New York Times list.
- 22
Broken Horses77.4Must-Read ScoreBroken Horses
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 23The Galaxy, and the Ground Within77.1Must-Read Score
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
It was a Hugo Award finalist.
- 24Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use It77.0Must-Read Score
Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use It
It has spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 25
The Lincoln Highway76.8Must-Read ScoreThe Lincoln Highway
It hit #1 on the New York Times list.