The Best Of

Quick Take: Lists of my favourite books across 16 genres, including fantasy, book club picks, slow-burn romance, young adult fiction and more!

•••

Each of the following tropes/genres include a list of books that, in my opinion, are some of the best books I have read that belong in that genre. When you click on the image, it will take you to the lists/shelves I have made on my Goodreads account.

Please note for simplicity’s sake that these lists are comprised of only the first book in the series if the series cannot be read as a standalone. Also, these books are ordered by most recently read!

Best Books for Book Clubs

Best Books for Book Clubs

Anxious People

by Fredrik Backman

tagged:
hardcopy, awesome-secondary-characters, book-clubs, best-of-book-cl…

The Secret Women

by Sheila Williams

tagged:
hardcopy, best-of-book-clubs, bipoc-author, bipoc-representation, b…

Thin Girls

by Diana Clarke

tagged:
hardcopy, abuse, best-of-book-clubs, book-clubs, character-developm…

The Vanishing Half

by Brit Bennett

tagged:
hardcopy, belletrist-books, abuse, angsty-af, awesome-secondary-cha…

What We Talk About When We Talk about Rape

by Sohaila Abdulali

tagged:
hardcopy, best-of-book-clubs, favourite, book-clubs, feminism, trig…

Sex and World Peace

by Valerie M. Hudson

tagged:
hardcopy, feminism, nonfiction, self-work-education, reflective, be…

Miracle Creek

by Angie Kim

tagged:
hardcopy, abuse, betrayal, bipoc-author, bipoc-representation, bull…

Searching for Sylvie Lee

by Jean Kwok

tagged:
hardcopy, best-of-book-clubs, betrayal, bipoc-author, bipoc-represe…

The Dreamers

by Karen Thompson Walker

tagged:
hardcopy, contemporary-fiction, illness, multi-pov, reflective, mag…

Untamed

by Glennon Doyle

tagged:
hardcopy, best-of-book-clubs, addiction, emotional, family-issues, …

Best of Contemporary Romances

Best Contemporary Romances

The Love Hypothesis

by Ali Hazelwood

tagged:
age-gap-romance, awesome-secondary-characters, best-of-contemporary…

The Sweetest Fix

by Tessa Bailey

tagged:
angsty-af, best-of-contemporary-romance, celibate-hero, contemporar…

Take a Hint, Dani Brown

by Talia Hibbert

tagged:
best-of-contemporary-romance, favourite, kindle, bipoc-representati…

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

by Talia Hibbert

tagged:
best-of-contemporary-romance, kindle, angsty-af, annoying-hero, bip…

The Favor

by Suzanne Wright

tagged:
abuse, alpha-hero, angsty-af, arrogant-stuck-up-hero, awesome-secon…

To Professor, with Love

by Linda Kage

tagged:
kindle, teacher-student, forbidden-romance, older-woman-younger-man…

Black Rainbow

by J.J. McAvoy

tagged:
mistaken-identity, misunderstanding, best-of-contemporary-romance, …

Beauty and the Blitz

by Sosie Frost

tagged:
asshole-hero, alpha-hero, cruel-or-cold-hero, strong-female-lead, b…

Wrecking Ball

by P. Dangelico

tagged:
kindle, best-of-contemporary-romance, contemporary-romance, favouri…

Reckless

by Lex Martin

tagged:
single-parent, single-parent-nanny, double-standards, employee-boss…

Best Romances with Dark Themes

Best Books with Dark Themes

Stealing Cinderella

by A. Zavarelli

tagged:
cinderella-trope, fairytale-retelling, dark-romance, abuse, traumat…

Angel of Darkness

by Tabitha Barret

tagged:
dark-themes, paranormal-romance, chosen-one, reverse-harem, cruel-o…

Rip

by Rachel Van Dyken

tagged:
dark-themes, mafia, abuse, cruel-or-cold-hero, sweet-h-or-h, contem…

Ruthless King

by Meghan March

tagged:
dark-themes, bdsm, blackmail, cruel-or-cold-hero, crime-syndicate, …

The Unfortunates

by Skyla Madi

tagged:
dystopian, dark-themes, servitude, bdsm, abuse, dark-romance, kindl…

Transcending Darkness

by Airicka Phoenix

tagged:
mafia, erotica, sweet-romance, servitude, dark-themes, kindle, best…

Dead of Eve

by Pam Godwin

tagged:
dystopian, reverse-harem, mm, abuse, dark-themes, romantic-suspense…

This is War, Baby

by K. Webster

tagged:
dark-themes, servitude, abuse, dark-romance, kindle, romantic-suspe…

Elusion

by Zoe Parker

tagged:
dark-themes, urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance, chosen-one, abuse, …

King

by T.M. Frazier

tagged:
kindle, best-of-dark, dark-themes, dark-romance, and favourite

Best of Dystopian

Best Dystopian Books

Parable of the Sower

by Octavia E. Butler

tagged:
sci-fi, best-of-dystopian, character-development, dystopian, emotio…

The 5th Wave

by Rick Yancey

tagged:
hardcopy, dystopian, aliens, strong-female-lead, multi-pov, nice-gu…

The Queen of the Tearling

by Erika Johansen

tagged:
badass-women, bodyguard, chosen-one, dark-themes, espionage, headst…

Reboot

by Amy Tintera

tagged:
hardcopy, best-of-dystopian, favourite, dystopian, kindle, action-a…

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

tagged:
dystopian, badass-women, dark-themes, post-apocalyptic, forbidden-r…

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

tagged:
badass-women, slow-burn-romance, love-triangle, dark-themes, dystop…

Best of Emotional Romances

Best Emotional Romances

The Song of Achilles

by Madeline Miller

tagged:
high-fantasy, historical-romance, gods-angels-demons, mythology, lg…

All In

by Emma Scott

tagged:
favourite, favourite-couple, emotional-romance, triggers, grief, he…

Full Tilt

by Emma Scott

tagged:
emotional-romance, angsty-af, addiction, rock-n-roll, safe, separat…

Age of Ava

by Melanie Moreland

tagged:
abuse, age-gap-romance, alpha-hero, angsty-af, arc, best-of-emotion…

In Harmony

by Emma Scott

tagged:
best-of-emotional-romance, favourite, kindle-unlimited, abuse, angs…

Keepsake

by Sarina Bowen

tagged:
reviewed, emotional-romance, best-of-emotional-romance, favourite, …

Wild Reckless

by Ginger Scott

tagged:
high-school-romance, player-hero, bully-romance, emotional-romance,…

Sweet Home

by Tillie Cole

tagged:
romeo-and-juliet-trope, favourite, sports-romance, college-romance,…

Count on Me

by Melyssa Winchester

tagged:
high-school-romance, abuse, ptsd, disability, asshole-hero, cruel-o…

How to Save a Life

by Emma Scott

tagged:
emotional-romance, best-of-emotional-romance, high-school-romance, …

Best of Erotica Smut

Best Erotica Smut

Nanny with Benefits

by London Hale

tagged:
safe, kindle-unlimited, hea-erotica, hero-gotta-grovel, older-man-y…

The Billionaires and the Librarian

by Harper West

tagged:
kindle-unlimited, best-of-erotica-smut, favourite, mfm, and erotica…

Give In

by Layla Frost

tagged:
kindle-unlimited, best-of-erotica-smut, erotica-smut, bdsm, blackma…

Cherry Pie

by Madison Faye

tagged:
erotica-smut, older-man-younger-woman, best-friends-father, insta-l…

Infamous

by Lizzie Fox

tagged:
erotica-smut, contemporary-romance, mfm, rock-n-roll, kindle, best-…

The Player

by Kresley Cole

tagged:
erotica-smut, contemporary-romance, con-h-or-h, abuse, kindle, best…

The Master

by Kresley Cole

tagged:
contemporary-romance, abuse, mafia, romantic-suspense, kindle, erot…

Fixed on You

by Laurelin Paige

tagged:
contemporary-romance, erotica-smut, traumatic-past, dark-themes, an…

Collide

by Gail McHugh

tagged:
contemporary-romance, erotica-smut, love-triangle, angsty-af, kindl…

Best of Fantasy

Best Fantasy Books

Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love

by isthisselfcare

tagged:
urban-fantasy, magically-powerful-af-heroine, magic, enemies-to-lov…

Half Sick of Shadows

by Laura Sebastian

tagged:
best-of-fantasy, favourite, hardcopy, action-adventure-suspense, an…

The Gilded Ones

by Namina Forna

tagged:
abuse, action-adventure-suspense, angsty-af, awesome-secondary-char…

A Court of Silver Flames

by Sarah J. Maas

tagged:
best-of-fantasy, kindle, reviewed, abuse, action-adventure-suspense…

Burn for Me

by Ilona Andrews

tagged:
favourite-heroines, urban-fantasy, post-apocalyptic, cruel-or-cold-…

Entreat Me

by Grace Draven

tagged:
beauty-and-the-beast-trope, high-fantasy, best-of-fantasy, magic, f…

Master of Crows

by Grace Draven

tagged:
cruel-or-cold-hero, mystery, magic, dark-themes, beauty-and-the-bea…

Avery

by Charlotte McConaghy

tagged:
widowed-h-or-h, traumatic-past, war, abuse, cruel-or-cold-hero, ene…

Fantasy of Frost

by Kelly St. Clare

tagged:
kindle, tragedy, strong-female-lead, badass-women, alpha-hero, abus…

Vampire’s Kiss

by Ella Summers

tagged:
alpha-hero, arrogant-stuck-up-hero, asshole-hero, best-of-fantasy, …

Best of HEA Erotica

Best of HEA Erotica

His Forever Love

by Lucy Darling

tagged:
best-of-hea-erotica, kindle-unlimited, alpha-hero, contemporary-rom…

Pitched

by Ella Goode

tagged:
abuse, alpha-hero, best-of-hea-erotica, family-issues, hea-erotica,…

Barbarian’s Seduction

by Ruby Dixon

tagged:
best-of-hea-erotica, hea-erotica, shy-h-or-beta-h, opposites-attrac…

Hefty

by Jessa Kane

tagged:
reviewed, hea-erotica, high-school-romance, opposites-attract, frie…

The King’s Horrible Bride

by Kati Wilde

tagged:
angsty-af, childhood-loves, hero-gotta-grovel, kindle-unlimited, mu…

Lovely Neighbor

by Alexa Riley

tagged:
ibooks, contemporary-romance, hea-erotica, insta-love, insta-lust, …

Marriage Material

by Alexa Riley

tagged:
hea-erotica, single-parent-nanny, sweet-h-or-h, sweet-romance, alph…

Stranded with a Billionaire

by Jessica Clare

tagged:
best-of-hea-erotica, hea-erotica, favourite, billionaire-hero, cont…

Meant to Be

by Lucy Darling

tagged:
brothers-best-friend, contemporary-romance, employee-boss, friends-…

Tangled Web

by Crista McHugh

tagged:
kindle, assassin-h-or-h, alpha-hero, royalty, safe, magic, servitud…

Best of Historial Romance

Best of Historical Romance

Duchess by Day, Mistress by Night

by Stacy Reid

tagged:
historical-romance, multi-pov, opposites-attract, forbidden-romance…

The Making of a Highlander

by Elisa Braden

tagged:
best-of-historical-romance, favourite, kindle, abuse, arrogant-stuc…

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting

by Sophie Irwin

tagged:
kindle, multi-pov, historical-romance, family-issues, angsty-af, st…

The Siren of Sussex

by Mimi Matthews

tagged:
friends-to-lovers, historical-romance, best-of-historical-romance, …

Love in the Afternoon

by Lisa Kleypas

tagged:
angsty-af, annoying-hero, arrogant-stuck-up-hero, asshole-hero, awe…

Secrets of a Summer Night

by Lisa Kleypas

tagged:
alpha-hero, arrogant-stuck-up-hero, awesome-secondary-characters, b…

The Beast of Beswick

by Amalie Howard

tagged:
historical-romance, best-of-historical-romance, favourite, favourit…

Tempt Me at Twilight

by Lisa Kleypas

tagged:
kindle, abuse, alpha-hero, arranged-marriage, arrogant-stuck-up-her…

Chasing Cassandra

by Lisa Kleypas

tagged:
hero-pushes-away, heroine-pushes-away, historical-romance, innocent…

The King & His Queen

by Donna Fletcher

tagged:
historical-romance, engaged-to-other, traumatic-past, quirky-h-or-h…

Best of Paranormal Romance

Best of Paranormal Romance

Blood Trial

by Kelly St. Clare

tagged:
ow-om, kindle-unlimited, favourite, favourite-heroines, best-of-par…

Warden

by Montana Ash

tagged:
kindle, must-read-in-series-order, multi-pov, enemies-to-lovers, tr…

Burn

by Suzanne Wright

tagged:
alpha-hero, paternalistic-sanctimonious-heroes, strong-female-lead,…

Fierce Obsessions

by Suzanne Wright

tagged:
kindle, strong-female-lead, standalone-in-series, romantic-suspense…

Reluctant King

by Montana Ash

tagged:
kindle, badass-women, double-standards, assassin-h-or-h, asshole-he…

Shards of Frost

by Suzanne Wright

tagged:
kindle, paranormal-romance, best-of-paranormal-romance, favourite, …

Shadows

by Suzanne Wright

tagged:
kindle, gods-angels-demons, standalone-in-series, strong-female-lea…

Rose

by Ripley Proserpina

tagged:
kindle, best-of-paranormal-romance, paranormal-romance, favourite, …

Untamed Delights

by Suzanne Wright

tagged:
kindle, paranormal-romance, best-of-paranormal-romance, favourite, …

Spiral of Need

by Suzanne Wright

tagged:
kindle, best-of-paranormal-romance, favourite, paranormal-romance, …

Best of Reverse Harem Romance

Best of Reverse Harem Romance

Mating Monsters

by M. Sinclair

tagged:
reverse-harem, best-of-rh, soulmates, abuse, romantic-suspense, mag…

Within Obsession and Lies

by Stacy Jones

tagged:
triggers, traumatic-past, cliffhanger, reverse-harem, chosen-one, s…

Find Me

by Ashley N. Rostek

tagged:
abuse, badass-women, best-of-rh, cliffhanger, contemporary-romance,…

Aria’s Awakening

by Stacy Jones

tagged:
best-of-rh, kindle-unlimited, abuse, action-adventure-suspense, ali…

Scarlett XOXO

by Autumn Reed

tagged:
reverse-harem, contemporary-romance, sweet-romance, best-of-rh, kin…

Soothing Nightmares

by M. Sinclair

tagged:
kindle-unlimited, urban-fantasy, dark-themes, reverse-harem, innoce…

Shadows of Shattered Souls

by Kerry Taylor

tagged:
best-of-rh, kindle-unlimited, reviewed, abuse, angsty-af, bipoc-rep…

Handfuls of Shattered Pieces

by Kerry Taylor

tagged:
best-of-rh, kindle-unlimited, reviewed, abuse, angsty-af, bipoc-rep…

Lilac

by B.B. Reid

tagged:
best-of-rh, kindle-unlimited, alpha-hero, addiction, angsty-af, ann…

Goddess of Pain

by Katie May

tagged:
best-of-rh, kindle-unlimited, alpha-hero, alpha-heroine, amnesia, a…

Best of Romantic Comedies

Best of Romantic Comedies

A Demon and His Psycho

by Eve Langlais

tagged:
paranormal-romance, romantic-comedy, quirky-h-or-h, erotica-smut, k…

Croc and the Fox

by Eve Langlais

tagged:
paranormal-romance, romantic-comedy, romantic-suspense, hea-erotica…

Bunny and the Bear

by Eve Langlais

tagged:
paranormal-romance, romantic-suspense, romantic-comedy, bodyguard, …

Becoming a Vincent

by C.M. Owens

tagged:
contemporary-romance, friends-to-lovers, ow-om, laugh-out-loud, rom…

Wilder

by C.M. Owens

tagged:
contemporary-romance, laugh-out-loud, alpha-hero, headstrong-heroin…

Going Wild

by C.M. Owens

tagged:
contemporary-romance, romantic-comedy, laugh-out-loud, second-chanc…

Switched

by Cassie Mae

tagged:
college-romance, friends-to-lovers, contemporary-romance, love-squa…

Perfection

by R.L. Mathewson

tagged:
contemporary-romance, romantic-comedy, enemies-to-lovers, quirky-h-…

Wallbanger

by Alice Clayton

tagged:
laugh-out-loud, romantic-comedy, contemporary-romance, enemies-to-l…

Playing for Keeps

by R.L. Mathewson

tagged:
contemporary-romance, romantic-comedy, quirky-h-or-h, asshole-hero,…

Best of Romantic Suspense

Best of Romantic Suspense

The Risk

by S.T. Abby

tagged:
novella, opposites-attract, secret-keeping, ptsd, romantic-suspense…

Into the Storm

by Melanie Moreland

tagged:
abuse, amnesia, angsty-af, best-of-romantic-suspense, billionaire-h…

Some Like It Deadly

by Heather Long

tagged:
contemporary-romance, bodyguard, badass-women, royalty, sweet-roman…

Broken

by J.L. Drake

tagged:
contemporary-romance, military-and-cops, abuse, dark-themes, alpha-…

Deadly Target

by Laurie Roma

tagged:
romantic-suspense, badass-women, famous-h-or-h, espionage, player-h…

With Us

by Layla Frost

tagged:
romantic-suspense, alpha-hero, contemporary-romance, sweet-h-or-h, …

One Shot

by Laurie Roma

tagged:
romantic-suspense, badass-women, billionaire-hero, espionage, ptsd,…

Under Pressure

by Laurie Roma

tagged:
contemporary-romance, traumatic-past, romantic-suspense, sweet-h-or…

Ride Dirty

by Laura Kaye

tagged:
kindle, motorcycle-club, sweet-h-or-h, sweet-romance, safe-with-exc…

Ride Hard

by Laura Kaye

tagged:
contemporary-romance, motorcycle-club, traumatic-past, hero-pushes-…

Best of Slow-Burn Romances

Best of Slow-Burn Romance

Reel

by Kennedy Ryan

tagged:
contemporary-romance, actor-mc, famous-h-or-h, family-issues, ex-dr…

Managed

by Kristen Callihan

tagged:
contemporary-romance, opposites-attract, romantic-comedy, cruel-or-…

When She Belongs

by Ruby Dixon

tagged:
sci-fi-romance, aliens, grumpy-v-sunshine, opposites-attract, sweet…

All Rhodes Lead Here

by Mariana Zapata

tagged:
best-of-slowburn, kindle-unlimited, awesome-secondary-characters, b…

Act Your Age, Eve Brown

by Talia Hibbert

tagged:
best-of-slowburn, kindle, favourite, black-mc, bipoc-author, charac…

From Lukov with Love

by Mariana Zapata

tagged:
kindle, enemies-to-lovers, best-of-slowburn, slow-burn-romance, fav…

Luna and the Lie

by Mariana Zapata

tagged:
kindle, best-of-slowburn, slow-burn-romance, misunderstanding, assh…

Kulti

by Mariana Zapata

tagged:
kindle, slow-burn-romance, best-of-slowburn, favourite, sports-roma…

Wait for It

by Mariana Zapata

tagged:
kindle, slow-burn-romance, best-of-slowburn, favourite, misundersta…

The Best Thing

by Mariana Zapata

tagged:
kindle, sports-romance, best-of-slowburn, slow-burn-romance, favour…

Best of Sweet Romance

Best of Sweet Romance

Magic Man

by Jamie Schlosser

tagged:
single-parent, sweet-romance, erotica, emotional, ex-con, best-of-s…

A Girl Like Her

by Talia Hibbert

tagged:
kindle, best-of-sweet-romance, awesome-secondary-characters, bipoc-…

The Kiss Quotient

by Helen Hoang

tagged:
best-of-sweet-romance, kindle, awesome-secondary-characters, bipoc-…

Heart Strings

by Melanie Moreland

tagged:
arc, alpha-hero, awesome-secondary-characters, best-of-sweet-romanc…

Revved to the Maxx

by Melanie Moreland

tagged:
alpha-hero, awesome-secondary-characters, best-of-sweet-romance, be…

Happily Ever After Collection

by Melanie Moreland

tagged:
kindle-unlimited, best-of-sweet-romance, contemporary-romance, forb…

Prophecy Awakened

by Tamar Sloan

tagged:
kindle, high-school-romance, slow-burn-romance, soulmates, young-ad…

Bulldozer

by P. Dangelico

tagged:
best-of-sweet-romance, sweet-romance, sports-romance, traumatic-pas…

Unloved

by Katy Regnery

tagged:
kindle, multi-pov, contemporary-romance, best-of-sweet-romance, swe…

Archer’s Voice

by Mia Sheridan

tagged:
best-of-sweet-romance, sweet-h-or-h, sweet-romance, innocent-h-or-h…

Best of Young Adult Fiction

Best of Young Adult Fiction

The [Un]Popular Vote

by Jasper Sanchez

tagged:
awesome-secondary-characters, best-of-ya, bipoc-representation, cha…

Firekeeper’s Daughter

by Angeline Boulley

tagged:
young-adult, mystery, double-standards, indigenous-author, characte…

When Dimple Met Rishi

by Sandhya Menon

tagged:
best-of-ya, kindle, reviewed, bipoc-author, bipoc-representation, c…

Today Tonight Tomorrow

by Rachel Lynn Solomon

tagged:
best-of-ya, favourite, kindle, arrogant-stuck-up-hero, bipoc-repres…

The Impossible Knife of Memory

by Laurie Halse Anderson

tagged:
hardcopy, coming-of-age, military-and-cops, ptsd, contemporary-fict…

Not So Pure and Simple

by Lamar Giles

tagged:
kindle, best-of-ya, annoying-hero, bipoc-representation, black-mc, …

Midnight Sun

by Stephenie Meyer

tagged:
hardcopy, abuse, alpha-hero, angsty-af, annoying-hero, asshole-hero…

Dread Nation

by Justina Ireland

tagged:
kindle-unlimited, best-of-ya, abuse, action-adventure-suspense, arr…

The Scarecrow King

by Jill Myles

tagged:
fairytale-retelling, best-of-ya, young-adult, favourite, headstrong…

Unlikely Allies

by Tiffany King

tagged:
kindle, contemporary-romance, summer-romance, young-adult, enemies-…