Literary lovers are sure to have their book lists of the top 5 must-read novels. There have been outstanding publications throughout history, but what are the Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century? Read more to find out what novels we chose as the Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century.
Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century
5. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Published in 2016, number 5 on our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century is Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. This novel tells the story of Ruth Jefferson, an experienced, African American labor and delivery nurse who is shocked to be taken off the care team for the newborn baby of a white supremacist family. Ruth struggles with the difficult decision of whether or not to intervene when the baby later goes into cardiac arrest while she is alone in the nursery.
Her decision ultimately leads to criminal charges. In Small Great Things, Picoult tackles difficult themes of racism, responsibility, and justice. If you haven’t read any of Jodi Picoult’s books, Small Great Things is a perfect one to start with, but after you read one of her books, you will want to pick up another. Small Great Things is an ideal start to our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century.
4. The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Published in 2008, The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb is number 4 on our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century. The novel follows Caelum Quirk, a high school teacher, and his wife, Maureen, a school nurse, who both work at Columbine High School. After the tragic school shooting in April of 1999, the two characters’ lives were forever changed. The historic shooting captured national attention and intense media coverage.
The Hour I First Believed takes you inside the effects of trauma and explores themes of guilt, grief, addiction, and our life’s purpose. Wally Lamb writes with urgency, showing us what it means to be human and how a community changes after tragedy. There is no doubt that The Hour I First Believed is one of the Top 5 Must Read Novels of the 21st century.
3. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st century wouldn’t be complete without a piece of work by bestselling horror writer Stephen King. Dr. Sleep is a sequel to The Shining, and it is every bit as splendid. Dr. Sleep was published in 2013 and follows an adult Danny Torrance through the long-lasting issues from his days at the Overlook Hotel and controlling his “shine”. Dr. Sleep is a complex novel that introduces new characters who are artistically developed and creative. Interestingly, Stephen King always finds a way everywhere and thus makes the 5 must-read novels of the 21st century list as well.
Rose The Hat leads a group of vagabonds called The True Knot that feed on the “shine” of children, in order to live forever. A grown-up Danny wrestles with his addiction and connects with a highly “shining” little girl called Abra, who is so powerful she tracks down Rose the Hat and the True Knot, using her mind and her shining gift. You will have to read the novel to find out what happens to Dan Torrance and little Abra, but you will be glad that you did. You should also check out the hidden gem of a movie adapted from the novel of the same name.
The movie Doctor Sleep was released in 2019 and stars Ewan McGregor as Dan Torrance. There are so many Stephen King books that could make this list, but we feel Doctor Sleep deserves the number 3 spot on our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century.
2. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Published in 2010, The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom is number 2 on our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century, for its strong prose, controversial themes, and historical setting. The Kitchen House is set in the 18th Century on a tobacco plantation in Virginia. It follows Lavinia McCarten, a young Irish girl who tragically becomes an orphan and is taken in to be a servant on a plantation. She is sent to the “kitchen house,” where she is taught and cared for by the most unlikely of characters.
Lavinia sees the other servants as her family, however, her white skin makes for a difficult journey of acceptance, and Grissom paints a vivid picture of the characters and their lives. The setting is also written in rich and intricate detail, transporting you back to the 18th-century South. The Kitchen House skillfully analyzes the meaning of family and relationships and is a powerful, provocative read, making it deserving of the number 2 spot on our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century.
1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Published in 2015, Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale is number 1 on our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century. A beautifully written historical drama that spans the desperate times of World War II and follows two sisters trying to survive in Nazi occupied France. Vianne Mauriac struggles to raise her family alone while her husband is at war, while her sister Isabelle Rossignol, joins the French Resistance to fight against the Nazi’s. This historical novel has vivid visual descriptions, heart-wrenching emotional characters, and conveys a story of resilience, love, and bravery, giving it the top spot on our list of Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century.
These were our choices for the Top 5 Must-Read Novels of the 21st Century. Have you read any of the books on our list? Do you agree with all or some of the choices, or have your own top 5 must-read novels of the 21st century?
