New York Times Best Books of the 21st Century

The Road

In a desolate, post-apocalyptic world, a father and son embark on a harrowing journey southward, facing unimaginable horrors and searching f…

The Fifth Season

Cloud Atlas

A mind-bending epic that weaves six interconnected stories across time and space, exploring humanity's relentless pursuit of power and its c…

The Underground Railroad

A gripping tale of a young slave's desperate bid for freedom, reimagining the Underground Railroad as a literal network of tracks and tunnel…

Tenth of December

A wryly hilarious and disturbing collection of short stories that illuminate human experience with astonishing charm and intensity.

Atonement

A young girl's false accusation sets off a chain of events that forever alters the lives of those around her, exploring themes of love, guil…

Station Eleven

In a world ravaged by a deadly pandemic, a traveling troupe of artists and musicians brings hope and culture to the remnants of civilization…

Exit West

A love story set against the backdrop of a crumbling city, Exit West follows the journey of Nadia and Saeed as they navigate a world in cris…

Persepolis

A poignant and humorous graphic memoir of a young girl's life in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, offering a unique perspective on histor…

Never Let Me Go

In a hauntingly beautiful tale, Kazuo Ishiguro explores love, friendship, and the fragility of life through the eyes of Kathy, a woman refle…

The Plot Against America

In an alternate history, Charles Lindbergh's isolationist policies lead to a chilling transformation of America, seen through the eyes of a …

Pachinko

A sweeping, multi-generational saga of a Korean family navigating love, sacrifice, and identity across a tumultuous century, from the bustli…

The Year of Magical Thinking

A raw and poignant exploration of love, loss, and resilience, this memoir captures the essence of a marriage and the profound impact of grie…

Between the World and Me

A powerful and deeply personal letter from a father to his son, exploring the harsh realities of being Black in America and the enduring str…

The Days of Abandonment

A woman's harrowing journey into the depths of despair and self-discovery after being abandoned by her husband, set against the backdrop of …

Fun Home

A darkly humorous and heartbreaking graphic memoir exploring family, identity, and the complex relationship between a daughter and her close…

My Brilliant Friend

A rich, intense story about two friends, Elena and Lila, growing up in 1950s Naples, reflecting a nation's transformation and the enduring b…

Life After Life

What if you could live your life over and over again, perfecting it each time? Ursula Todd does just that in this captivating novel that ble…

Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage

Alice Munro's masterful short stories explore the complexities of human relationships with her signature depth and insight.

The Sympathizer

A gripping spy novel set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, exploring the life of a conflicted captain torn between two worlds and ide…

Middlesex

A captivating tale of identity and transformation, Middlesex explores the life of Calliope Stephanides, a unique individual caught between g…

Sing, Unburied, Sing

A haunting tale of a young boy navigating family, loss, and the supernatural on a road trip to free his father from prison.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

A misfit Dominican-American boy navigates love, family curses, and the quest for greatness in this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

The Warmth of Other Suns

A Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that chronicles the Great Migration of six million Black Americans from the South to the North and West…