This list is based on the GoodReads Choice Awards, which are voted on by users every year! I am, however, going to make separate lists for them based on genre. I just feel like that provides another, maybe simpler, way to navigate them.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
A witty and poignant novel about Phoebe Stone, who arrives alone at a luxurious inn during a wedding weekend she’s not part of, seeking a fresh start after heartbreak. Mistaken for a guest, she unexpectedly bonds with the bride, leading to surprising revelations and a journey of renewal. This is a deeply resonant story about unexpected connections and the winding paths to healing.
Yellowface by RF Kuang
June Hayward seizes the chance to claim literary fame by stealing a manuscript from her dead friend, acclaimed author Athena Liu. As June rebrands herself and revels in success, she struggles with guilt, growing suspicion, and the inescapable shadow of Athena’s legacy. A sharp, suspenseful exploration of ambition, identity, and cultural appropriation.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
A sweeping tale of friendship and creative partnership between Sam and Sadie, whose bond begins in childhood and transforms through decades of success and heartbreak in the world of video game design. As they rise to fame with their groundbreaking game, their story explores love, ambition, identity, and the deep human need for connection. It’s a moving, unconventional love story that spans time, technology, and emotion.
Beautiful World, Where are You by Sally Rooney
Follows four friends—Alice, Felix, Eileen, and Simon—as they navigate love, friendship, and the complexities of adulthood. As they grapple with desire, heartbreak, and the weight of modern life, they search for meaning and connection in an uncertain world.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Nora Seed discovers a magical library between life and death, where each book lets her experience a different version of her life. As she explores the paths not taken in hopes of finding the perfect one, she learns that happiness may not lie in perfection, but in acceptance. Ultimately, it’s a heartfelt journey about regret, choice, and what makes life worth living.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Returns to Gilead more than fifteen years after The Handmaid’s Tale, revealing its secrets through the voices of three women. This powerful sequel answers long-standing questions about Offred’s fate and the inner workings of the regime. A gripping exploration of resistance, truth, and the enduring fight for freedom.
Still Me by Jojo Moyes
Louisa Clark starts a new chapter in New York, juggling a glamorous job, a long-distance relationship, and the pull of her true passions. As she navigates high society and reconnects with echoes of her past, Lou must decide who she really is and what she truly wants. It’s a heartfelt, funny, and inspiring story about love, identity, and living boldly.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The orderly world of Shaker Heights is shaken when artist Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl move into town, disrupting the lives of the rule-following Richardson family. As tensions rise over a custody battle and buried secrets, the clash between conformity and individuality ignites consequences none of them could foresee. A gripping story about identity, motherhood, and the dangers of obsession.
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
A seemingly ordinary barbecue among friends unravels long-held secrets and strains lifelong relationships. As tensions mount between best friends Clementine and Erika, a single afternoon leads to unexpected consequences that ripple through their lives. A gripping tale of guilt, friendship, and the hidden cracks in everyday life.
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Follows Jean Louise “Scout” Finch as she returns to her hometown of Maycomb, Alabama, two decades after To Kill a Mockingbird. Faced with unsettling revelations about her father, Atticus, and the town she once idealized, Scout must reconcile her past with a changing world. Set during the civil rights era, the novel explores identity, conscience, and the painful process of growing up.
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
TV writer Georgie McCool stays behind in L.A. for work while her husband Neal takes their kids to Omaha for Christmas—leaving their strained marriage hanging by a thread. When Georgie discovers a mysterious way to communicate with a younger version of Neal, she’s faced with a surreal chance to rethink their relationship and possibly change its course. A heartfelt, magical exploration of love, regret, and second chances.
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Young siblings Abdullah and Pari are torn apart by a heartbreaking decision in 1950s Afghanistan, setting off a ripple of events that span continents and generations. As their lives unfold across Kabul, Paris, San Francisco, and beyond, the novel explores the enduring bonds of family, the impact of sacrifice, and the unseen ways our choices shape the lives of others. A poignant, sweeping tale of love, loss, and the ties that bind.
The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
The sudden death of a local councilman in the seemingly peaceful town of Pagford ignites a fierce and often darkly comic battle over his empty seat. Beneath the town’s idyllic exterior, tensions erupt between rich and poor, young and old, revealing hidden secrets and personal struggles. A sharp, thought-provoking portrait of a community in turmoil.
IQ84 by Haruki Murakami
Aomame and Tengo find themselves drawn into a surreal, parallel world after a series of strange events. As their separate lives begin to intertwine, they uncover a web of mysteries involving a secretive cult, a dyslexic girl, and a series of strange figures that bring them closer to an unknown truth. A genre-bending blend of love, dystopia, and self-discovery, this ambitious novel explores the boundaries of reality and illusion.
List Kitty 
Leave a comment