{"id":68082,"date":"2026-10-25T05:19:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T23:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/literary-fiction\/"},"modified":"2026-10-25T15:49:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T10:19:02","slug":"literary-fiction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/literary-fiction\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Best Literary Fiction Books of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"qbk qbk-fi\" style=\"--g:#4338CA\"><nav class=\"qbk-sec\" aria-label=\"Fiction or nonfiction\"><a class=\"qbk-nf\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/#nonfiction\">&#128216; Nonfiction Books<\/a><a class=\"qbk-fi on\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/#fiction\">&#128213; Fiction Books<\/a><\/nav><div class=\"qbk-hero\"><p class=\"qbk-crumbs\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/\">Home<\/a> &rsaquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/\">Best Books<\/a> &rsaquo; Literary Fiction &middot; Updated October 2026<\/span><span class=\"qbk-share\"><b>Share<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/?text=The%2010%20Best%20Literary%20Fiction%20Books%20of%20All%20Time%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fliterary-fiction%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on WhatsApp\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M17.472 14.382c-.297-.149-1.758-.867-2.03-.967-.273-.099-.471-.148-.67.15-.197.297-.767.966-.94 1.164-.173.199-.347.223-.644.075-.297-.15-1.255-.463-2.39-1.475-.883-.788-1.48-1.761-1.653-2.059-.173-.297-.018-.458.13-.606.134-.133.298-.347.446-.52.149-.174.198-.298.298-.497.099-.198.05-.371-.025-.52-.075-.149-.669-1.612-.916-2.207-.242-.579-.487-.5-.669-.51-.173-.008-.371-.01-.57-.01-.198 0-.52.074-.792.372-.272.297-1.04 1.016-1.04 2.479 0 1.462 1.065 2.875 1.213 3.074.149.198 2.096 3.2 5.077 4.487.709.306 1.262.489 1.694.625.712.227 1.36.195 1.871.118.571-.085 1.758-.719 2.006-1.413.248-.694.248-1.289.173-1.413-.074-.124-.272-.198-.57-.347m-5.421 7.403h-.004a9.87 9.87 0 01-5.031-1.378l-.361-.214-3.741.982.998-3.648-.235-.374a9.86 9.86 0 01-1.51-5.26c.001-5.45 4.436-9.884 9.888-9.884 2.64 0 5.122 1.03 6.988 2.898a9.825 9.825 0 012.893 6.994c-.003 5.45-4.437 9.884-9.885 9.884m8.413-18.297A11.815 11.815 0 0012.05 0C5.495 0 .16 5.335.157 11.892c0 2.096.547 4.142 1.588 5.945L.057 24l6.305-1.654a11.882 11.882 0 005.683 1.448h.005c6.554 0 11.89-5.335 11.893-11.893a11.821 11.821 0 00-3.48-8.413z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fliterary-fiction%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 12a10 10 0 10-11.5 9.87v-6.99H8.1V12h2.4V9.8c0-2.37 1.42-3.68 3.6-3.68 1.04 0 2.13.19 2.13.19v2.34h-1.2c-1.18 0-1.55.73-1.55 1.48V12h2.64l-.42 2.88h-2.22v6.99A10 10 0 0022 12z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fliterary-fiction%2F&amp;text=The%2010%20Best%20Literary%20Fiction%20Books%20of%20All%20Time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on X\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M18.244 2H21l-6.56 7.49L22 22h-6.828l-5.345-6.993L3.5 22H.744l7.02-8.012L2 2h6.828l4.84 6.35L18.244 2zm-1.2 18h1.89L7.04 4H5.06l11.984 16z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fliterary-fiction%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20.45 20.45h-3.56v-5.57c0-1.33-.02-3.04-1.85-3.04-1.85 0-2.14 1.45-2.14 2.94v5.67H9.35V9h3.41v1.56h.05c.48-.9 1.64-1.85 3.37-1.85 3.6 0 4.27 2.37 4.27 5.46v6.28zM5.34 7.43a2.06 2.06 0 110-4.13 2.06 2.06 0 010 4.13zM7.12 20.45H3.56V9h3.56v11.45zM22.22 0H1.77C.79 0 0 .77 0 1.73v20.54C0 23.23.79 24 1.77 24h20.45c.98 0 1.78-.77 1.78-1.73V1.73C24 .77 23.2 0 22.22 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/share\/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fliterary-fiction%2F&amp;text=The%2010%20Best%20Literary%20Fiction%20Books%20of%20All%20Time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on Telegram\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M11.944 0A12 12 0 000 12a12 12 0 0012 12 12 12 0 0012-12A12 12 0 0012 0h-.056zm4.962 7.224c.1-.002.321.023.465.14a.506.506 0 01.171.325c.016.093.036.306.02.472-.18 1.898-.962 6.502-1.36 8.627-.168.9-.499 1.201-.82 1.23-.696.065-1.225-.46-1.9-.902-1.056-.693-1.653-1.124-2.678-1.8-1.185-.78-.417-1.21.258-1.91.177-.184 3.247-2.977 3.307-3.23.007-.032.014-.15-.056-.212s-.174-.041-.249-.024c-.106.024-1.793 1.14-5.061 3.345-.48.33-.913.49-1.302.48-.428-.008-1.252-.241-1.865-.44-.752-.245-1.349-.374-1.297-.789.027-.216.325-.437.893-.663 3.498-1.524 5.83-2.529 6.998-3.014 3.332-1.386 4.025-1.627 4.476-1.635z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/span><\/p><h1>The 10 Best Literary Fiction Books of All Time<\/h1><p>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.<\/p><nav class=\"qbk-chips\" aria-label=\"Fiction genres\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/classics\/\">Classics<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/literary-fiction\/\" class=\"on\">Literary Fiction<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/historical-fiction\/\">Historical<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/romance\/\">Romance<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/childrens\/\">Children&#x27;s<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/mystery-thriller\/\">Mystery &amp; Thriller<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/science-fiction\/\">Sci-Fi<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/fantasy\/\">Fantasy<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/horror\/\">Horror<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/young-adult\/\">Young Adult<\/a><\/nav><\/div><div class=\"qbk-list\"><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-1\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-to-kill-a-mockingbird\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780060935467-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"To Kill a Mockingbird book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">To Kill a Mockingbird<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#1<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-to-kill-a-mockingbird\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">To Kill a Mockingbird<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Harper Lee &middot; first published 1960<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: A top-five US backlist bestseller of 2025 on BookScan; Pulitzer winner and PBS&#x27;s No. 1 favourite.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 5 on the top 10 best-selling backlist books of 2025 per BookScan data (Book Riot, Dec 2025) (<a href=\"https:\/\/bookriot.com\/the-best-selling-backlist-books-of-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Listed in ThriftBooks&#x27; Classics &#x27;Bestsellers&#x27; (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/b\/classics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Ranked No. 1 in The Great American Read (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/the-great-american-read\/results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Fiction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Included in TIME&#x27;s All-TIME 100 Novels (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rosecityreader.com\/2009_01_09_archive.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>HarperPerennial Modern Classics edition ISBN 9780060935467 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780060935467\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-to-kill-a-mockingbird\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-2\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-alchemist\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780062315007-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"The Alchemist book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">The Alchemist<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#2<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-alchemist\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Alchemist<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Paulo Coelho &middot; first published 1988<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: A top-six US backlist bestseller in 2025 per BookScan, with more than 150 million copies sold.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 6 on the top 10 best-selling backlist books of 2025 per BookScan data (Book Riot, Dec 2025) (<a href=\"https:\/\/bookriot.com\/the-best-selling-backlist-books-of-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Listed in ThriftBooks&#x27; Literary &#x27;Bestsellers&#x27; (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/b\/literary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>More than 150 million copies sold worldwide (Britannica, cited) (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Alchemist_(novel)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Ranked No. 70 in The Great American Read and No. 94 in BBC&#x27;s The Big Read (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/the-great-american-read\/results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>HarperCollins edition ISBN 9780062315007 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780062315007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-alchemist\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-3\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-where-the-crawdads-sing\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780735219106-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Where the Crawdads Sing book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Where the Crawdads Sing<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#3<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-where-the-crawdads-sing\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Where the Crawdads Sing<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Delia Owens &middot; first published 2018<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: 18 million copies sold by 2023 and still ThriftBooks&#x27; top fiction bestseller.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">Abandoned as a child, Kya grows up alone in the North Carolina marshes and becomes a self-taught naturalist, until a local man&#x27;s death puts her under suspicion. A coming-of-age story, love story and courtroom drama in one.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>18 million copies sold as of April 2023 (author&#x27;s official website, cited) (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Where_the_Crawdads_Sing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Listed first in ThriftBooks&#x27; Fiction &#x27;Bestsellers&#x27; (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/b\/fiction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>G. P. Putnam&#x27;s Sons edition ISBN 9780735219106 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780735219106\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-where-the-crawdads-sing\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-4\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-song-of-achilles\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780062060624-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"The Song of Achilles book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">The Song of Achilles<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#4<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-song-of-achilles\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Song of Achilles<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Madeline Miller &middot; first published 2011<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: A BookTok favourite on BookScan&#x27;s 2025 backlist top 10; won the Orange (Women&#x27;s) Prize.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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&#x27;s Iliad that brings the ancient heroes vividly to life.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 8 on the top 10 best-selling backlist books of 2025 per BookScan data (Book Riot, Dec 2025) (<a href=\"https:\/\/bookriot.com\/the-best-selling-backlist-books-of-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Won the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction; 2 million copies sold by July 2022 (NYT, cited) (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Song_of_Achilles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Ecco edition ISBN 9780062060624 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780062060624\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-song-of-achilles\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-5\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-catcher-in-the-rye\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780316769488-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"The Catcher in the Rye book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">The Catcher in the Rye<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#5<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-catcher-in-the-rye\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Catcher in the Rye<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by J. D. Salinger &middot; first published 1951<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Still tagged a bestseller at Walmart and ThriftBooks; on Modern Library, TIME and BBC lists.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>Tagged &#x27;Best seller&#x27; in Walmart&#x27;s Adult Fiction Top 100 (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/browse\/walmart-books-best-sellers\/adult-fiction-top-100\/3920_1057224_9885630\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Listed in ThriftBooks&#x27; Literary &#x27;Bestsellers&#x27; (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/b\/literary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Ranked No. 64 on Modern Library&#x27;s 100 Best Novels (<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.prh.com\/modern-library-top-100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Included in TIME&#x27;s All-TIME 100 Novels (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rosecityreader.com\/2009_01_09_archive.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Included in Library of Congress Books That Shaped America (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/item\/prn-12-123\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Ranked No. 30 in The Great American Read; No. 15 in BBC&#x27;s Big Read (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/the-great-american-read\/results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Little, Brown edition ISBN 9780316769488 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780316769488\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-catcher-in-the-rye\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-6\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-midnight-library\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780525559498-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"The Midnight Library book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">The Midnight Library<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#6<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-midnight-library\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Midnight Library<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Matt Haig &middot; first published 2020<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: A Goodreads Choice winner still on ThriftBooks&#x27; bestseller shelf, with a film announced in 2026.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>Listed in ThriftBooks&#x27; Contemporary Fiction &#x27;Bestsellers&#x27; (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/b\/contemporary-fiction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>733,221 UK copies sold by Sept 2023 (The Bookseller, cited); film announced by Paramount in May 2026 (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Midnight_Library\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Won the 2020 Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Midnight_Library\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Penguin Books edition ISBN 9780525559498 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780525559498\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-midnight-library\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-7\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-life-of-pi\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780156027328-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Life of Pi book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Life of Pi<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#7<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-life-of-pi\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Life of Pi<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Yann Martel &middot; first published 2001<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Booker winner with over 10 million sold; its Tony-winning stage version toured the US in 2024-25.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>Stage adaptation won three Tony Awards (2023) and toured North America Dec 2024 to Oct 2025 (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Life_of_Pi_(play)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Won the 2002 Booker Prize (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Booker_Prize\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Sold more than ten million copies worldwide (Los Angeles Times, cited) (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Life_of_Pi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Harcourt edition ISBN 9780156027328 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780156027328\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-life-of-pi\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-8\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-eleanor-oliphant-is-completely-fine\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780735220690-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#8<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-eleanor-oliphant-is-completely-fine\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Gail Honeyman &middot; first published 2017<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Costa Award winner and British Book of the Year, still a ThriftBooks contemporary fiction bestseller.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>Listed first in ThriftBooks&#x27; Contemporary Fiction &#x27;Bestsellers&#x27; (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/b\/contemporary-fiction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Won the 2017 Costa Debut Novel Award and the 2018 British Book Awards Book of the Year (Overall Winner) (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eleanor_Oliphant_Is_Completely_Fine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Penguin Books edition ISBN 9780735220690 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780735220690\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-eleanor-oliphant-is-completely-fine\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-9\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-things-fall-apart\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780385474542-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Things Fall Apart book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Things Fall Apart<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#9<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-things-fall-apart\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Things Fall Apart<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Chinua Achebe &middot; first published 1958<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: ThriftBooks&#x27; most popular world-literature title, on TIME&#x27;s list, with an A24 TV series in development.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>Listed first in ThriftBooks&#x27; World Literature &#x27;Most Popular&#x27; (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/b\/world-literature\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>A24 television adaptation announced in development, Sept 2024 (Variety, cited) (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Things_Fall_Apart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Included in TIME&#x27;s All-TIME 100 Novels (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rosecityreader.com\/2009_01_09_archive.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Ranked No. 82 in The Great American Read (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/the-great-american-read\/results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Published 1958; translated into over 50 languages (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Things_Fall_Apart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Current edition ISBN 9780385474542 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780385474542\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-things-fall-apart\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-10\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-old-man-and-the-sea\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780684801223-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"The Old Man and the Sea book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">The Old Man and the Sea<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#10<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-old-man-and-the-sea\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Old Man and the Sea<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Ernest Hemingway &middot; first published 1952<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Pulitzer-winning novella still on ThriftBooks&#x27; literary bestseller shelf more than 70 years on.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">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.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>Listed in ThriftBooks&#x27; Literary &#x27;Bestsellers&#x27; (viewed Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/b\/literary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Won the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Fiction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Scribner Paperback Fiction edition ISBN 9780684801223 (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780684801223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-old-man-and-the-sea\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><\/div><section class=\"qbk-box\" id=\"faq\"><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><h3>What is the best literary fiction book of all time?<\/h3><p>On our list it is <strong>To Kill a Mockingbird<\/strong> by Harper Lee. A top-five US backlist bestseller of 2025 on BookScan; Pulitzer winner and PBS&#x27;s No. 1 favourite.<\/p><h3>Which literary fiction book should I read first?<\/h3><p>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.<\/p><h3>Are these books still popular today?<\/h3><p>Yes. Every book here has evidence of strong sales or readership from the last few years, which you can see under &#8220;Evidence and sources&#8221; on each book. That is the main difference between this list and lists that only look back at history.<\/p><h3>How often is this list updated?<\/h3><p>We review it about once a month against current bestseller charts and change a book only when the evidence clearly changes.<\/p><\/section><div class=\"qbk-fav\"><span style=\"font-size:30px\">&#10084;&#65039;<\/span><span><b>Our personal favourites<\/b><p>Apart from this list, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/favorite-books\/\" style=\"color:#B45309;text-decoration:underline;font-weight:700\">books we love most<\/a>, hand-picked by QuickOnlineTips.<\/p><\/span><\/div><section class=\"qbk-box\" id=\"how-we-chose\"><h2>How we chose these books<\/h2><h3>1. Still selling and read today<\/h3><p>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.<\/p><h3>2. A proven track record<\/h3><p>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.<\/p><h3>3. Written for adult readers<\/h3><p>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&#x27;s and Young Adult pages.<\/p><p>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.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-small\">Book covers: <a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open Library<\/a>. Links to each book go to Amazon. Last reviewed: October 2026.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"qbk-box\"><h2>More of the best books of all time<\/h2><p>See the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/\">200 best books of all time<\/a> list, or explore more fiction genres: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/classics\/\">Classic Novels<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/historical-fiction\/\">Historical Fiction Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/romance\/\">Romance Novels<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/childrens\/\">Children&#x27;s Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/mystery-thriller\/\">Mystery and Thriller Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/science-fiction\/\">Science Fiction Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/fantasy\/\">Fantasy Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/horror\/\">Horror Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/young-adult\/\">Young Adult Books<\/a>.<\/p><\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#128216; Nonfiction Books&#128213; Fiction Books Home &rsaquo; Best Books &rsaquo; Literary Fiction &middot; Updated October 2026Share 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&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":68070,"parent":8246,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"normal","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"none","_kad_post_content_style":"unboxed","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-68082","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68082"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68225,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68082\/revisions\/68225"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8246"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}