My Top 50 Books from the Last 10 Years
And the limits of star ratings
In last Wednesday’s link roundup, I shared a Goodreads post that highlighted eight beloved books from each of the last ten years. They chose the titles based on what’s popular now and mentioned how things like TikTok have helped give older books new life. I enjoyed looking through their list, and I thought using it as inspiration for this post would be fun. Instead of eight, I’ll be sharing five books from each of the last ten years. I’m going by the year I read the book, not the year it was published.
I thought this would be an easy list to put together. I’ve been using Goodreads since 2009 and assumed I’d look back and see what books received a five-star rating to put together this post. However, as I went through what I’ve read over the past decade, I realized I sometimes don’t remember much (or, in one case, anything) about a book I gave five stars. In many cases, books I rated lower were my favorites of the year, the ones I want to share with you today.
Looking back, it’s been interesting to see which books have staying power. What are the books I’m still thinking about and vividly remember five or ten years later? Why did I give a book five stars in 2014, but now I can’t remember anything about it, whereas I think about that three or four-star book a lot? Going through my last decade of reading has reminded me how little star ratings matter and how often they change later on.
I like giving books stars because I like categorizing things. There’s a reason I’m drawn to library work and organization. My anxious mind likes the tidiness of order, but I admit books aren’t so easily summed up, and my thoughts about them aren’t always neatly contained. Books are dynamic, their stories capable of haunting me years or decades (or even centuries) after the words were written. My feelings about books change constantly based on my lived experiences and exposure to other pieces of literature. The mystery book I loved so much in 2016 might not be as appealing to me now that I’ve read better mysteries and know more about myself as a mystery reader. That memoir that spoke to me at 27 might not speak to me in the same way now at 37, and that’s okay.
I like to think of the books I’ve read not just as static words on a page but as living, breathing creations with which I have an ongoing relationship as a reader. The books don’t change, but I do, and because of that, my feelings about them will morph as long as I’m alive. What a beautiful thing! Words have power, and stories can wedge themselves inside our heads for many years, speaking to us over and over again and revealing truths about life, love, and the secrets we keep. I think that’s amazing. Books are such a gift, and here are 50 of the ones I love the most. At least right now.
2014
Why I love these books:
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: This story of love, immigration, identity, and homecoming is beautifully written with fully realized characters.
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay: This collection of essays is thoughtful and funny, full of Gay’s spot-on cultural criticism and incisive takes. I love her writing because she can make anything interesting.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng: Ng’s debut novel is a haunting story of loss, grief, and life as a family longs for the American dream.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: This epic novel is nearly 800 pages, but the story of Theo Decker is never dull. As Theo navigates life after losing his mother, the reader feels his pain, confusion, and desperation.
The Habit of Being by Flannery O’Connor: The queen of Southern Gothic fiction has her wit on full display in this collection of letters.
2015
Why I love these books:
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson: Infused with nearly as much theology as a book that’s required reading in seminary, Gilead is the classic, moving story of Reverend John Ames and the lessons he wants to impart to his son. My copy is full of my underlining.
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin: Baldwin’s brilliant and loosely autobiographical first novel is full of sentences that are so well crafted that they stop me and force me to read them again and again.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides: Though long, this epic family drama kept me turning the pages, desperate to know more about the Stephanides clan.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: A story about a butler reflecting on his life and service might not sound compelling, but it certainly is in Ishiguro’s capable hands. This quiet novel is wonderful.
This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett: Patchett is known for her fiction, but I also love her nonfiction, which is full of wit and warmth.
2016
Why I love these books:
Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari: This mesmerizing account of addiction and the war on drugs constantly surprised me and changed my understanding of how drug offenses are prosecuted in the United States.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: I don’t think another book has broken my heart as much as this tragedy about four male friends. The darkness in their stories makes the joyful, lovely moments shine even brighter, a good reminder to always look for beauty amid heartache.
My, My Hair, and I: Twenty-Seven Women Untangle an Obsession edited by Elizabeth Benedict: This wide-ranging essay collection reminds me how important and culturally significant our hair can be.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: Wilde’s classic tale of self-obsession is a classic for a reason. What a fun, twisty read!
Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: This story of loss and friendship is enhanced by the perfect amount of magical realism that celebrates the power of music.
2017
Why I love these books:
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett: Patchett writes families so well, and her skill is evident in this captivating story about two families and how they become entwined throughout several decades.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: Much is happening in this novel that addresses secrets, adoption, family conflict, and racial tensions, but Ng never lets the narrative get away from her. It all comes together in a satisfying conclusion.
The Nix by Nathan Hill: I couldn’t get enough of this funny and gripping saga about a mother and son’s complicated relationship.
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward: Like Ann Patchett, Ward has a gift for writing families you feel like you know. This tale of a two kids going with their mom to pick up their father from prison is as heartbreaking as you’d imagine but also full of magic and tenderness.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead: I picked up this middle grade novel on a whim because I tend to like stories set in NYC. I’m so glad I did because I absolutely fell in love with the young protagonist, Miranda, who’s receiving some mysterious letters from someone who might be able to predict the future.
2018
Why I love these books:
Calypso by David Sedaris: I’ve been a Sedaris fan for a long time, and Calypso has everything I love about his work: laugh-out-loud humor, surprisingly poignant observations, and hilarious family antics.
Educated by Tara Westover: This memoir about a young woman’s journey from a survivalist family to Oxford scholar is a mesmerizing celebration of knowledge and self-improvement.
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai: Makkai’s novel follows two friends throughout the years as they face loss, love, and the AIDS epidemic. It’s a heartbreaking book, but a necessary story.
In the Woods by Tana French: This book is the standard by which I judge all other mysteries thanks to French’s storytelling abilities and atmospheric settings.
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs: Brennan-Jobs is the daughter of Steve Jobs, and this page-turner of a memoir skillfully explores what it was like growing up as the child of an icon.
2019
Why I love these books:
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: I can’t get over how this debut novel was able to pack centuries of history and stories into 320 pages. Homegoing is an important novel, but it’s also just a pleasure to read.
Miracles and Other Reasonable Things: A Story of Unlearning and Relearning God by Sarah Bessey: After a devastating car crash leaves Bessey with chronic pain, she must reassess what she believes about God. Her journey is a relatable one and this book, a hybrid of memoir and theology, reminded me how God can surprise me with goodness when I least expect it.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh: A book about a privileged woman wanting to escape from everything and just sleep for a year might not work for everyone, but it sure worked for me, thanks to the sharp writing and humor.
Normal People by Sally Rooney: Connell and Marianne’s love story is as complicated and memorable as they are. They feel like real people, thanks in part to Rooney’s excellent dialogue.
Watching You by Lisa Jewell: I’ve read many of Jewell’s books, and this mystery about a ideal English town full of secrets and lies might be my favorite.
2020
Why I love these books:
Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob: This boldly illustrated graphic memoir is a funny and well-written examination of race and family in modern America.
Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas: Thomas is hilarious, but he’s also able to dive deep into human emotion, crafting essays that can be funny as well as moving.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell: Though dark and disturbing, I devoured this novel about a high school student preyed upon by her teacher. It’s a worthwhile addition to the #MeToo conversation that explores what happens when a victim doesn’t feel like a victim.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid: Reid’s debut tackles racism and social media with humor and surprising reveals.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi: A mother and daughter each handle the trauma of losing their son and brother in different ways in this emotionally charged tale of addiction and family bonds.
2021
Why I love these books:
Assembly by Natasha Brown: Barely over 100 pages, this novella about a seemingly successful woman coming to terms with her life and mortality has stayed with me since I read it.
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen: A frequent criticism I have of books is that they’re too long and could have benefited from tighter storytelling. Crossroads is nearly 600 pages, but I wanted it to be even longer since I was fascinated by the Hildebrandt family and how they lived and interacted in the shadow of the Vietnam War.
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez: This insightful look at modern Evangelicalism and politics clearly explains the rise and celebration of Donald Trump.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller: This memoir is a brave testimony about how sexual assault affects women and explores the unjust coddling their assailants often receive.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan: Keegan proves herself as a master of concise storytelling in this novella about a man who makes a disturbing discovery one Christmas season.
2022
Why I love these books:
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet: Millet’s story of a man uprooting his life after a breakup is a lovely look at new beginnings and the power of friendship.
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin: This classic story of a doomed love affair is just as relevant and exciting now as when it was published in 1956.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro: Who knew the story about a robot trying to heal a young girl, her human friend, could be so deeply moving? Kazuo Ishiguro knew.
Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson: This novel about misfits, art, and Satanic panic is funny, touching, and packed full of ‘90s nostalgia.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin: I’m still thinking about Sam and Sadie, the two friends at the heart of this absorbing story of relationships, technology, and love.
2023
Why I love these books:
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray: Murray’s ingenious family saga is full of unforgettable characters and original storytelling.
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai: I love stories set on campuses, and this mystery gave me everything I want in a dark, twisty campus tale.
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich: This look at a woman being haunted—literally—amid the pandemic and George Floyd murder is inventive, entertaining, and perfectly crafted.
Wellness by Nathan Hill: Hill’s stories have so many different threads, but he somehow manages to bring them all together in a deeply satisfying way, like he did in this novel about a couple at a turning point in their marriage.
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang: I couldn’t get enough of this satire that takes on cultural appropriation and the publishing industry.
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Congrats if you made it to the end! I’d love to hear about your favorite books from the last decade. What titles top your list? Do we have any in common? Share in the comments and pass along this post to someone who might enjoy it.
I love your lists, and wish I had some way of making one of my own. I have a very distinct memory of my dad suggesting, when I was 7 or 8, that I make an index card for each book I read, with a short summary and a rating of some sort. The habit didn't stick back then, and various digital versions I've tried haven't either. Yet, I'm so glad that Libby gives me a record of my audiobook listens. Sometimes I forget about a book, and then remember it when I'm looking at my history for some reason. You have me reconsidering reading record-keeping. Also reconsidering: What make us like a book. So many of the books on your list are huge favorites of mine, and maybe an equal number are books I've tried that didn't work for me but I still feel as if they should. A small few are books I tried and know are not for me. I know it's likely a matter of right book, right reader, right time. Still, doesn't it seem like we should like all the same books, when so many favorites are the same? Now I'm thinking about which of the ones I couldn't get into at the time I tried them are worth another go. So much great food for thought here! And so many great books! Definitely adding titles to my (already long) TBR list on Libby!
This is so impressive. Do you have a favorite year?