25 of the best books from the last 25 years

An instant Sunday Times bestseller, The Women is a sweeping, emotional epic from one of modern fiction’s most beloved voices, Kristin Hannah. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, Frances ‘Frankie’ McGrath impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path. As inexperienced as the young men sent to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. But she finds strength in female friendship and learns the value of sacrifice and commitment. Fierce, moving and unforgettable, it's a tribute to women's resilience, and a novel that has captured the hearts of readers worldwide.

Few series have captured readers’ imaginations quite like The Seven Sisters. The story begins with Maia D’Aplièse, whose search for her origins leads from a lakeside castle in Switzerland to the sun-drenched streets of Rio. As past and present entwine, Lucinda Riley weaves a captivating tale of family, identity, and love that launched a phenomenon. With its rich historical detail, unforgettable characters, and mythic inspiration, this first instalment has enchanted millions across the globe – and marks the beginning of one of the most beloved sagas of the last 25 years.

Now a major Disney+ original TV series, Dissolution is the first novel in the unforgettable Shardlake series from C. J. Sansom. Set against the violent upheaval of Henry VIII’s England, this intelligent historical mystery follows lawyer-detective Matthew Shardlake as he investigates a brutal murder within a monastery – only to find corruption, heresy, and danger lurking in every shadow. With its razor-sharp plotting and immersive Tudor setting, the Shardlake series has built a devoted following and won multiple awards in the two decades since this first novel. The late C. J. Sansom leaves behind a remarkable legacy – a vivid, gripping portrait of the intrigue, power, and peril at the heart of sixteenth-century England.

A laugh-out-loud, relatable read that people can’t stop talking about from bestselling author, Alexandra Potter. Meet Nell, a forty-something f**k up, who in a world of perfect Instagram lives, is still desperately trying to figure hers out. But then Nell meets Cricket, an eighty-something widow with whom she forges a rare friendship. With Cricket’s help, Nell is finally starting to turn things around. . . Whether you’re twenty, forty or eighty years old, this Bridget Jones-esque story will have you laughing, maybe even crying, in solidarity with how life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to.

Peter James's bestselling Roy Grace series has been translated into thirty-seven languages, with sales worldwide of over eighteen million copies. A crime fiction phenomenon, the series has also been adapted for the small screen in ITV's Grace, starring John Simm as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and Richie Campbell as Detective Sergeant Glen Branson. Dead Simple is the first thrilling title that launched this iconic detective on his unforgettable first major case. With just days to go before the wedding, a groom vanishes – and DSI Roy Grace must untangle a web of lies, secrets, and betrayal . . . 

With its chilling atmosphere, finely drawn characters, and slow-burning suspense, this first instalment of Ann Cleeves’s bestselling Shetland series has cemented its place in contemporary crime fiction and inspired a much-loved TV adaptation. Raven Black introduces readers to the brooding landscape of Shetland – and to Inspector Jimmy Perez. When a teenager’s body is discovered in the snow on New Year’s Day, suspicion quickly clouds a close-knit island community. But Perez, quiet and determined, senses deeper secrets at play. Don’t miss the return of Jimmy Perez this October in The Killing Stones.

The Atlas Six is a bestselling fantasy sensation and BookTok phenomenon that continues to seduce readers into its world of dark academia. Six powerful magicians fight for a place in the Alexandrian Society, where members enjoy a lifetime of power and prestige. But each decade, only six practitioners are invited to fill five places – who will survive: the empath, the cosmologists, the telepath? Olive Blake’s viral bestseller has cast a lasting spell over a new generation of fantasy readers, blending ambition, danger and magic in an unforgettable way.

Set in the richly imagined world of Orïsha and inspired by West African mythology, this blockbuster dark fantasy debut follows Zélie as she fights to restore magic and justice to a land torn apart by tyranny. With cinematic stakes, heart-racing romance, and a heroine destined to rise, it’s no wonder this bestselling book is headed for the big screen, with a star-studded cast including Amandla Stenberg, Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Lashana Lynch, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Bold, magical, and unforgettably powerful, the Legacy of Orïsha series was made to be seen.

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s award winning space-opera spans three books and refuses to be lost in time. Children of Time is the first novel in an epic trilogy of humanity's battle for survival. The human race has left a dying Earth, following beacons indicating successfully terraformed worlds, desperate to find a new home among the stars. But this new Eden puts two civilizations on a collision course, both testing the boundaries of what they will do to survive. A gripping must-read for any science fiction enthusiast, pick up this book to find out who will inherit this new Earth . . .

Brilliant, mind-bending, and quietly profound, Stories of Your Life and Others showcases Ted Chiang’s extraordinary gift for weaving science and philosophy into emotionally resonant fiction. From ancient myth reimagined to futuristic stories that explore the nature of time, each of these eight stories leaves a lasting impression. The collection’s standout, Story of Your Life, inspired the Academy Award-winning film Arrival. Every tale here is a masterclass in speculative storytelling, where Chiang’s unique imagination invites us to question our understanding of the universe and our place in it.

James is a revelatory reimagining of a classic American tale, giving voice to the enslaved Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Jim – now James – joins forces with the runaway Huck on a perilous journey down the Mississippi. With wit, rage, and emotional clarity, Percival Everett reclaims this narrative and reshapes a classic into something urgent and unforgettable. Shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, James has rightfully earned its place among the most acclaimed literary works of the past 25 years.

Set against the harsh realities of 1980s Glasgow, Shuggie Bain is a devastatingly tender portrait of a boy’s fierce love for his mother in the face of poverty, addiction, and social isolation. As Agnes slips further into alcoholism, young Shuggie clings to hope – and to the belief that love might be enough to save them both. The novel lays bare the ruthlessness of poverty, the limits of love, and the hollowness of pride like no other. Winner of the 2020 Booker Prize, Douglas Stuart’s debut is unflinching yet full of heart, a modern classic that tells a powerful and important story.

In a quiet Tokyo café where time travel is possible – as long as you get back before the coffee gets cold – four strangers seek second chances, final goodbyes, and the courage to face the present. Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a gentle, moving tale of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of time, with each story offering a tender reflection on the moments we wish we could relive. Arriving amid a remarkable rise in the popularity of Japanese translated fiction in the UK, Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s quietly magical novel has become a million-copy bestselling global sensation, proving that sometimes the simplest stories leave the deepest mark. 

A Little Life has become one of the defining literary phenomena of the past decade, celebrated for its emotional depth which has gone on to break too many hearts to count. Hanya Yanagihara’s novel is a searing exploration of love, trauma, and the bonds that hold us together when everything else falls apart. Following four friends as they navigate art, ambition, and identity in New York City, the story slowly centres on Jude – brilliant, broken, and hiding a past that casts a shadow over them all. A modern epic with lasting resonance, it’s sold over a million copies, inspired a sold-out stage show, and continues to fill the hearts of readers around the world.

Set against the glittering façade of 1980s Britain, The Line of Beauty follows young Nick Guest as he becomes entwined with the privileged world of the Feddens – wealthy, influential, and oblivious to the cracks forming beneath them. As Thatcher’s Britain surges with ambition and denial, Nick’s pursuit of beauty and belonging exposes the fault lines of class, politics, and sexuality. Alan Hollinghurst’s Booker Prize-winning novel is elegant, incisive, and deeply moving – a defining portrait of a decade and masterpiece like no other.

Celebrated for its lyrical storytelling and adapted into a critically acclaimed TV series, Station Eleven imagines a post-pandemic world where art, memory, and human connection still endure. In the wake of civilization’s collapse, a nomadic troupe called the Travelling Symphony brings Shakespeare to scattered settlements – holding on to what once was, even as new dangers emerge. Emily St. John Mandel’s genre-defying novel weaves past and present into a tapestry of quiet resilience, exploring what we choose to remember and what makes life worth living. This isn’t just one of the best books from the last twenty five years, it's one of The New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century.

Stone Blind reclaims one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures, giving voice to Medusa in a fierce, funny, and unflinching retelling. Natalie Haynes turns the legend on its head, revealing a story not of monsters, but of power, pain, and survival. As gods clash and mortals fear what they cannot control, Medusa’s transformation becomes both tragedy and resistance. This Sunday Times bestseller is a bold addition to the wave of feminist myth retellings – and one that leaves a lasting impression.

This is the explosive memoir Meta doesn't want you to read. . . Former Director of Global Public Policy at Facebook, Sarah Wynn-Williams candidly reveals what really goes on among the global elite. A bestseller in its first week and the subject of global headlines, Careless People exposes both the personal and political fallout when boundless power and a rotten culture take hold. As all our lives are upended by technology and those who control it, this book will change how you see the world . . .

​Sociopath is a raw, riveting memoir that shatters stereotypes and redefines what it means to live with a diagnosis most people fail to understand. Patric Gagne chronicles her life with astonishing candour – from early acts of rebellion to a relentless search for meaning within the label of sociopathy. Grappling with her darkest impulses while striving for connection and control, Gagne offers a complex, human portrait of a condition often reduced to villainy. Astoundingly honest and insightful, this memoir forces us to rethink everything we thought we knew about the mind – and those who live on its edges.

The Secret Barrister pulls back the curtain on the British justice system with searing honesty, dark humour, and a deep sense of urgency. Written by an anonymous criminal barrister, this bestselling exposé reveals the chaotic, underfunded, and often unjust reality behind courtroom doors – where victims, defendants, and even lawyers can be let down at every turn. Incredibly eye-opening, it’s a call to care about a system that affects us all. Writing as S. J. Fleet, The Secret Barrister's first novel, The Cut Throat Trial, is available for pre-order now.

With unprecedented access and unmatched insight, Queen of Our Times offers the definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II – Britain’s longest reigning monarch and one of the most iconic figures of the modern era. Royal expert Robert Hardman draws on exclusive interviews and never-before-seen royal archives to reveal the woman behind the crown, from unexpected heir to unshakable leader. Spanning abdication, war, political upheaval, and family triumphs and trials, this richly detailed biography is a moving tribute to a reign that shaped a nation and defined an era.

Guaranteed to make you laugh, comedian and former junior doctor Adam Kay provides a no-holds-barred account of his time on the NHS front line. This is Going to Hurt continues to draw us in with horrifying, heartbreaking but hilarious behind the scenes of a world that many of us have always wanted to see revealed. From 97-hour weeks to absurd encounters and devastating losses, Kay captures the chaos and compassion of hospital life with sharp wit and deep humanity. A publishing sensation that stayed at the top of the Sunday Times bestseller list for over a year, a multi-million bestseller, and a BBC adapted series featuring Ben Whishaw, these secret diaries are the ultimate conversation starter for anyone who's curious about the inner-workings of the NHS.

Black and British is an award-winning work of history that reshapes how Britain’s past is understood and remembered. In this vital and deeply researched book, David Olusoga traces the entwined histories of Black and white Britons from Roman times to the present day—through empire, war, migration, and resistance. Updated to include the Windrush scandal and the Black Lives Matter protests, this is an unflinching, essential re-examination of British identity, proving that Black history is not a sidebar to the national story—it’s at the very heart of it.

The Psychopath Test sees award-winning writer and documentary maker Jon Ronson dive headfirst into the strange world of madness and those who seek to define it. From encounters with diagnosed psychopaths to the experts who created the very tests to identify them, Ronson’s journey raises unsettling questions about sanity, power, and who gets to draw the line between normal and not. Both wildly entertaining and quietly disarming, this cult bestseller remains one of the most thought-provoking non-fiction books of the past 25 years.

Once hailed as a visionary and the next Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Holmes convinced investors and the world that her startup, Theranos, would revolutionise blood testing – until it all came crashing down. In Bad Blood, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Carreyrou reveals the full extent of the deception, following the whistleblowers, the cover-ups, and the false promises that led to one of the biggest corporate frauds in recent history. A gripping investigation that inspired The Dropout, this is a cautionary tale of ambition, power, and the dark side of Silicon Valley.