Best books of 2021

2021 was a weird year, to say the least. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic was upon us, and various industries were trying to figure out their rightful place under the sun. The same could be said for literature. With shipment delays and other issues, readers were eagerly anticipating what new books their favorite authors had in store for them.

Although 2021 is now long gone, it left a major mark on the world of literature. As such, we’ll be taking a closer look at 15 of the best titles from that time.

List of top 15 books of 2021

From sci-fi and young adult books to short stories and graphic novels, here’s our list of the very best 2021 had to offer. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Just like he did in Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro brings us another gripping tale with a fantastic twist in his latest book, Klara and the Sun. The story follows an artificial friend (AF), Klara, who was designed to keep a young girl company. Not long after she is brought home, Klara starts to realize the negative effects of the child’s intelligence enhancement, insisted upon by her mother.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

2021 also brought us the debut novel from Michelle Zauner from the band Japanese Breakfast. Crying in H Mart is a memoir in which the author recalls her mother’s battle with cancer and discusses the issue of fighting this disease with hope. It’s a well-written yet harrowing piece that will stay with you long after you put the book away.

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

Being the first novel nominated for the Women’s Prize for Fiction by a trans author wouldn’t be enough to put it on this list if the book wasn’t actually good. And by all accounts, Torrey Peters’ Detransition, Baby is a must-read. It’s a wild love story viewed through a triangle of a trans woman, her de-transitioned partner, and his newly pregnant boss.

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

The first part of an upcoming trilogy, Crossroads, is the sixth novel by Jonathan Franzen. It takes us back to the 1970s, to a fictional town outside of Chicago. In it live the Hildebrandts—a family on the verge of collapse. Each chapter is told through the eyes of one of the family members, including the parents and their four children.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Earning Colson Whitehead his second Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Harlem Shuffle is a story about Rey, a furniture salesman, who struggles to continue his honest living despite being dragged into the seedy underbelly of Harlem’s crime world. It’s both a crime novel and a family saga, taking place in the late 50s and early 60s, culminating in the infamous Harlem riot of 1964.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

With the story spanning over eight centuries, Cloud Cuckoo Land is one of the most ambitious works of fiction of 2021. Written by Anthony Doerr, the book follows three storylines that intertwine thanks to an Ancient Greek codex. From Constantinople to the Korean War to the 22nd-century starships, it is sure to keep your attention.

No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

2021 was another year for great American debut novels. No One is Talking About This follows a young woman who’s always on social media. However, her life changes after a family tragedy, which sets the plot rolling. Patricia Lockwood’s book appeared on the New York Times 10 best books of 2021 list, making it an easy choice to include on this list.

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Examining the Sackler family, Keefe’s Empire of Pain is a tale about their involvement in the world of Big Pharma, OxyContin, and the eventual opioid epidemic. The book is based on his article published in The New Yorker in 2017.

Intimacies by Katie Kitamura

After her father’s death, a woman leaves America for the Netherlands to work as an interpreter at the trial of a West African ex-president charged with war crimes. Intimacies is Katie Kitamura’s fourth novel, and it’s a must-read for any literature enthusiast.

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

After major success with her first two novels, Sally Rooney brought us Beautiful World, Where Are You. It was one of Amazon’s bestsellers that year, and it tells a story about Alice and her best friend Eileen, who correspond to each other through letters about their lives and relationships with Felix and Simon, respectively.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

Ever wonder what it’s like being a black woman working in the publishing industry? Well, you don’t have to anymore. Harris tells you all you need to know about it in her praised debut novel from 2021, titled The Other Black Girl.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Krystal Sutherland brought us a new, dark, and gritty world in 2021 in her book House of Hollow, which is among the best young adult novels in recent times. It’s a story about three sisters who get abducted in Scotland.

A House Without Windows by Didier Kassai and Marc Ellison

A harrowing read, A House Without Windows is among many critics’ best graphic novels of 2021. Didier Kassai and Marc Ellison bring us the story of young children in the streets of the world’s poorest country—the Central African Republic.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino

Even if most are aware of Tarantino’s homage to the silver age of Hollywood in his last film, they might not know it has a novelization that is equally impressive. It’s the famous director’s debut novel, and it debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron

For lovers of historical fiction and audiobooks, The Paris Dressmaker is a perfect treat. Kristy Cambron tells a story set during WWII, where a young woman is looking to join the resistance and provide her dressmaking skills to rebels looking to infiltrate the Nazi headquarters in Paris.

Listen to the best books of 2021 with Speechify Audiobooks

Speechify Audiobooks is home to more than 70,000 audiobooks. From fiction to history to cookbooks, children’s stories, horror stories, and more, its collection is vast and ever-growing. You can find most of your favorite books, all available at reasonable prices. In fact, your first audiobook is free when you sign up for Speechify Audiobooks today, and you can find many of the bestselling books we mentioned above on the platform in audiobook format, such as:

• Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
• Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen
• Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
• The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris