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The 10 Best Literary Fiction Books of All Time
Literary fiction focuses on character, ideas and beautiful writing. These ten novels, from modern book-club favourites to prize-winning classics, are the ones readers still buy and recommend today. Each one offers a story that stays with you long after the last page.
To Kill a Mockingbird#1To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee · first published 1960
Why it is on the list: A top-five US backlist bestseller of 2025 on BookScan; Pulitzer winner and PBS's No. 1 favourite.
In a small Alabama town in the 1930s, young Scout watches her lawyer father defend a Black man accused of a crime. A moving coming-of-age story about justice and empathy for teens and adults.
Evidence and sources
- No. 5 on the top 10 best-selling backlist books of 2025 per BookScan data (Book Riot, Dec 2025) (source)
- Listed in ThriftBooks' Classics 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Ranked No. 1 in The Great American Read (source)
- Won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (source)
- Included in TIME's All-TIME 100 Novels (source)
- HarperPerennial Modern Classics edition ISBN 9780060935467 (source)
The Alchemist#2The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho · first published 1988
Why it is on the list: A top-six US backlist bestseller in 2025 per BookScan, with more than 150 million copies sold.
A young Andalusian shepherd dreams of treasure and sets out across the desert to Egypt, meeting mentors who teach him to follow his heart. A short, gentle fable about purpose and courage that readers often pass on to friends.
Evidence and sources
- No. 6 on the top 10 best-selling backlist books of 2025 per BookScan data (Book Riot, Dec 2025) (source)
- Listed in ThriftBooks' Literary 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- More than 150 million copies sold worldwide (Britannica, cited) (source)
- Ranked No. 70 in The Great American Read and No. 94 in BBC's The Big Read (source)
- HarperCollins edition ISBN 9780062315007 (source)
Where the Crawdads Sing#3Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens · first published 2018
Why it is on the list: 18 million copies sold by 2023 and still ThriftBooks' top fiction bestseller.
Abandoned as a child, Kya grows up alone in the North Carolina marshes and becomes a self-taught naturalist, until a local man's death puts her under suspicion. A coming-of-age story, love story and courtroom drama in one.
Evidence and sources
The Song of Achilles#4The Song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller · first published 2011
Why it is on the list: A BookTok favourite on BookScan's 2025 backlist top 10; won the Orange (Women's) Prize.
Shy, exiled Patroclus grows up beside the golden prince Achilles, and their bond carries them both to the Trojan War. A lyrical retelling of Homer's Iliad that brings the ancient heroes vividly to life.
Evidence and sources
The Catcher in the Rye#5The Catcher in the Rye
by J. D. Salinger · first published 1951
Why it is on the list: Still tagged a bestseller at Walmart and ThriftBooks; on Modern Library, TIME and BBC lists.
After being expelled from prep school, Holden Caulfield drifts around New York City for a few restless days. A defining voice of teenage alienation, loved by readers who remember feeling out of step.
Evidence and sources
- Tagged 'Best seller' in Walmart's Adult Fiction Top 100 (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Listed in ThriftBooks' Literary 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Ranked No. 64 on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels (source)
- Included in TIME's All-TIME 100 Novels (source)
- Included in Library of Congress Books That Shaped America (source)
- Ranked No. 30 in The Great American Read; No. 15 in BBC's Big Read (source)
- Little, Brown edition ISBN 9780316769488 (source)
The Midnight Library#6The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig · first published 2020
Why it is on the list: A Goodreads Choice winner still on ThriftBooks' bestseller shelf, with a film announced in 2026.
Between life and death, Nora finds a library whose books let her try out the lives she might have lived. A warm, thought-provoking novel about regret, second chances and what makes a life worth living.
Evidence and sources
Life of Pi#7Life of Pi
by Yann Martel · first published 2001
Why it is on the list: Booker winner with over 10 million sold; its Tony-winning stage version toured the US in 2024-25.
After a shipwreck, an Indian teenager finds himself adrift in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. An adventurous, thought-provoking tale for readers who enjoy survival stories with big questions about belief.
Evidence and sources
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine#8Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman · first published 2017
Why it is on the list: Costa Award winner and British Book of the Year, still a ThriftBooks contemporary fiction bestseller.
Eleanor lives by strict routines and avoids people, until a kind IT colleague and an act of help for a stranger slowly open her world. A funny and tender story about loneliness and friendship.
Evidence and sources
Things Fall Apart#9Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe · first published 1958
Why it is on the list: ThriftBooks' most popular world-literature title, on TIME's list, with an A24 TV series in development.
Okonkwo, a proud and respected man in an Igbo village, faces upheaval as British colonisers and missionaries arrive. A short, essential novel for anyone who wants an African perspective on colonialism.
Evidence and sources
- Listed first in ThriftBooks' World Literature 'Most Popular' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- A24 television adaptation announced in development, Sept 2024 (Variety, cited) (source)
- Included in TIME's All-TIME 100 Novels (source)
- Ranked No. 82 in The Great American Read (source)
- Published 1958; translated into over 50 languages (source)
- Current edition ISBN 9780385474542 (source)
The Old Man and the Sea#10The Old Man and the Sea
by Ernest Hemingway · first published 1952
Why it is on the list: Pulitzer-winning novella still on ThriftBooks' literary bestseller shelf more than 70 years on.
An aging Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, hooks a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream and refuses to let go. A short, powerful story of endurance and dignity that can be read in one sitting.
Evidence and sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best literary fiction book of all time?
On our list it is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. A top-five US backlist bestseller of 2025 on BookScan; Pulitzer winner and PBS's No. 1 favourite.
Which literary fiction book should I read first?
Start with the top three: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Alchemist and Where the Crawdads Sing. They are the most popular books in this genre right now, and each one is a good way into the rest of the list.
Are these books still popular today?
Yes. Every book here has evidence of strong sales or readership from the last few years, which you can see under “Evidence and sources” on each book. That is the main difference between this list and lists that only look back at history.
How often is this list updated?
We review it about once a month against current bestseller charts and change a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Apart from this list, see the books we love most, hand-picked by QuickOnlineTips.
How we chose these books
1. Still selling and read today
Every book shows current demand from roughly the last three years: Audible best-seller charts (Audible is owned by Amazon), US independent bookstore bestseller lists from the American Booksellers Association, Publishers Weekly and Circana BookScan sales figures, and similar charts. Old books that nobody buys any more do not make the cut.
2. A proven track record
Every book has a strong record behind it: very large sales, a major award (such as the Pulitzer, Booker, Newbery or Hugo), a place on a respected list (such as the Modern Library 100, TIME 100 or the BBC Big Read), or a big recent hit with a film or TV version. A book does not have to be old: new bestsellers can join as soon as the evidence is there.
3. Written for adult readers
This is a list for grown-up readers, so some books include mature or steamy scenes, and some deal with hard themes such as war, crime, abuse or loss. For younger readers, see the Children's and Young Adult pages.
Within each genre, books are ranked with current popularity weighted most, then lasting reputation. We review the list about once a month and swap a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Book covers: Open Library. Links to each book go to Amazon. Last reviewed: October 2026.
More of the best books of all time
See the full 200 best books of all time list, or explore more fiction genres: Classic Novels, Historical Fiction Books, Romance Novels, Children's Books, Mystery and Thriller Books, Science Fiction Books, Fantasy Books, Horror Books, Young Adult Books.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.
