As we wrap up our list of the best books of the decades, it's only appropriate to end with our current one — on the eve of a new year. Four years into the 2020s, and a number of notable books have already been published and been captivating readers.
In honor of our 50th anniversary, PEOPLE staffers have rounded up a selection of just a few of our favorite books of the decade so far. Read on to see our selections.
01 of 15
'Beach Read' by Emily Henry 'Beach Read' by Emily Henry.A romance writer who has fallen out of love in real life and a literary fiction novelist plagued with writer's block switch genres when they find themselves staying in neighboring beach houses. Hijinks and rom-com magic alike ensue in this bestselling read.
02 of 15
'Crying in H Mart' by Michelle Zauner 'Crying in H Mart' by Michelle Zauner.Knopf
Michelle Zauner, lead singer of indie rock band Japanese Breakfast, takes her pen to this powerful memoir which details her complicated relationship with her mother, and the ways she came to terms with her mixed-race identity, upbringing and family in the wake of her mother's terminal cancer diagnosis.
03 of 15
'The Dead Romantics' by Ashley Poston 'The Dead Romantics' by Ashley Poston.Berkley
Florence Day, a romance author's ghostwriter, is beginning to believe that love isn't possible. When her father suddenly dies, Florence is forced back to the Southern hometown she hoped to leave behind forever, where she's also introduced to a ghost who will have her rethinking her romantic prospects.
04 of 15
'The Devil and the Dark Water' by Stuart Turton 'The Devil and the Dark Water' by Stuart Turton.Sourcebooks Landmark
This thriller follows a disgraced detective set to be executed for a murder he may or may not be responsible for, his bodyguard and the woman they met on a ship bound for Amsterdam. While onboard, strange occurrences end in murder, leading to a full investigation. This mystery from the author of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle will be hard to put down.
05 of 15
'A Calling for Charlie Barnes' by Joshua Ferris 'A Calling for Charlie Barnes' by Joshua Ferris.Little, Brown and Company
Charlie Barnes, divorced and living in a home he hates. isn't a fan of his life. But in the wake of the Great Recession and a cancer diagnosis, Charlie finds his perspective shifting, and with the help of his son, moves toward becoming the person he's always wanted to be. An emotional novel about second chances.
06 of 15
'Klara and the Sun' by Kazuo Ishiguro 'Klara and the Sun' by Kazuo Ishiguro.Knopf
This moving, futuristic novel follows Klara, a form of artificial intelligence who's trying to figure out how to exist. This thought-provoking novel about love, friendship and unlikely connections is perfect for fans of the movie Her.
07 of 15
'Entangled Life' by Merlin Sheldrake 'Entangled Life' by Merlin Sheldrake.Random House
This book offers an encapsulating look at the importance of fungi to our ecosystem and world — as key players in biological processes, as crucial healing instruments and more. You'll never look at mushrooms the same way again.
08 of 15
'Empire of Pain' by Patrick Radden Keefe 'Empire of Pain' by Patrick Radden Keefe.Doubleday
The Sackler family was behind pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, when it was revealed that their money came from creating and misleadingly marketing a painkiller that contributed to the opioid crisis. This riveting nonfiction account tells their story across three generations, as well as the investigations into their company, empire and fortune.
09 of 15
'Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times' by Katherine May 'Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times' by Katherine May.Riverhead Books
Part memoir and part guidebook, Wintering uses literature, mythology, nature and personal experience to emphasize the importance of resetting and recharging in the face of difficulty. May provides a touching manual for how to pick ourselves back up in even amidst the darkest periods.
10 of 15
'Detransition, Baby' by Torrey Peters 'Detransition, Baby' by Torrey Peters.One World
This novel follows three individuals: Reese, a transgender woman attempting to move on from a breakup, Ames, her ex who has detransitioned and Katrina, Ames' boss. When Katrina finds out that she is pregnant with Ames' baby, the trio gets thrown into each other's orbits as they reckon with the possibility of raising the child together. A modern story full of heart.
11 of 15
'The Vanishing Half' by Brit Bennett 'The Vanishing Half' by Brit Bennett.Riverhead Books
Bennett's acclaimed second novel follows the Vignes twins, identical twin sisters raised in a Black community who run away from home as teenagers. One twin decides to live as a Black woman after returning to where she was raised, and the other, now married with a child, lives as a White woman. A stunning book about family and identity.
12 of 15
'The Rabbit Hutch' by Tess Gunty 'The Rabbit Hutch' by Tess Gunty.Knopf
Gunty's stunning debut novel follows a group of people in an Indiana apartment complex, including a young couple, a group of teenagers who aged out of the state's foster care system and a mysterious man who arrives with a troubling mission.
13 of 15
'The Undocumented Americans' by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio 'The Undocumented Americans' by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio.One World
This National Book Award finalist blends journalism with creative nonfiction to tell the stories of undocumented residents in the United States. From the workers who helped clean up Ground Zero in the wake of 9/11 to the communities living through the water crisis in Flint, Mich., Cornejo Villavicencio, herself undocumented until 2020, uplifts the voices often left out of the spotlight.
14 of 15
'The Woman in Me' by Britney Spears 'The Woman in Me' by Britney Spears.Gallery Books
Pop sensation Britney Spears broke barriers with this vulnerable memoir, in which she details her rise to teen stardom, her mental health and her conservatorship that was terminated in 2021. An empowering read, even for those who don't think they like celebrity memoirs.
15 of 15
'Disability Visibility' edited by Alice Wong 'Disability Visibility' edited by Alice Wong.Vintage
Edited by activist Alice Wong, this crucial collection of essays by disabled writers is both a celebration and a look into the diversity, and complexity, of the disabled experience. If you like this book, check out Wong's new anthology, Disability Intimacy.
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