Ultimate 15 Best Fiction Books of All Time for Unforgettable Reading Adventures!

Top 15 Best Fiction Books of All Time - The SoftBook

We love to escape to another world with a classic novel that helps you feel a new world and stays with you forever. There are many such famous novels and fiction books that impact our culture, lifestyles and our thinking as a whole. But to determine which fiction books are the best is a difficult task, so here are the top 15 best fiction books that are the ones that you will love to read over and over again. No matter whether you are starting to read fiction books this year or reading fiction is your habit, the following best fiction books of all time – are primarily the ones that have inspired many eras. 

1. PRIDE and PREJUDICE

PRIDE and PREJUDICE

Written by Jane Austen in 1813, Pride and Prejudice is a beloved classic fiction book that has the most iconic opening lines that will for sure hook you away. 

Genre:- Romance, Novel of Manners, and Satire.

The story tells you about quick-witted Elizabeth Bennet’s love-and-hate relationship with Mr. Darcy and how they overcome their pride and prejudice. This beautiful novel offers you the pure joy of reading and works re-reading. 

Here’s a famous quote from Jane Austen:

“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”

— Jane Austen

2. THE ALCHEMIST 

THE ALCHEMIST - Best Fiction Books of All Time

Written by Paulo Coelho in 1988, The Alchemist is a book for readers who love reading fiction, as not everyone will connect with this book in the same manner. 

Genre:- Adventure, Fantasy, and Drama. 

This story tells you of Santiago, a humble shepherd boy troubled by a recurring dream set on a journey to the pyramids. This amazing fiction book will surely inspire you to be passionate and try thought-provoking experiences. You can read The Alchemist summary in The SoftBook itself.

Also, you can check out our article on best books like The Alchemist.


3. HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE 

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

Written by J.K Rowling in 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is an epic fantasy series that is also known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  

Genre:- Fantasy.

It is the first installment of the Harry Potter Book Series by J.K Rowling. Being one of the top fiction books, this book will truly introduce you to the world of magic. You must read this book; even if you are new to fiction, you are never old enough to read Harry Potter. If you have already finished Harry Potter and looking for some other book like Harry Potter then we’ve got you covered.


4. DUST CHILD

DUST CHILD

Written by Nguyen Phan Que Mai in 2023, Dust Child is the story of wartime which shows that what happens in wartime doesn’t always stay in wartime. 

Genre:- Historic.

It is a story of a Black American Soldier and a Vietnamese woman in the late 1960s, and there’s Linda. Apart from this, it also includes the story of Trang and Quynh, who are two young women who became bar girls, showing their pretty and friendly faces to make money. 


5. THE GREAT GATSBY 

THE GREAT GATSBY - Best Fiction Books of All Time

Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, an American novelist in 1925, The Great Gatsby is a beautifully written book that will truly attract you. 

Genre:- Literary Fiction and Modernism.

The Great Gatsby is a tragic tale of self-made Jay Gatsby, who rises from poverty to wealth. This book shows his story and his obsession with his old sweetheart, a demure Daisy Buchanan, who is from a family of the American elite. You can some of The Great Gatsby quotes to have a rough idea about the book.


6. ANIMAL FARM

ANIMAL FARM

Written by George Orwell in 1945, Animal Farm is a classic political satire that may appear to be one of those children’s books at first, but in reality, it illustrates how the aspiration to build a supreme society is corrupted by greed for power.  

Genre:- Dystopian Fiction, Political Satire, and Allegory. 

This short novel will help you realize that it has a powerful message to convey to all its readers, but for this, you will have to go deeper into it. It is a story of a group of farm animals who revolt against their owner and take control of their farm. 


7. THE GOD OF ENDINGS 

THE GOD OF ENDINGS

Written by Jacqueline Holland in 2023, The God of Ending is her atmospheric debut. 

Genre:- Dark Fantasy and Horror.

In this story, you will see how a grandfather figure saved her life hundreds of years ago and granted her everlasting life, but it would be with a catch. It is the story of Collete, who is now a vampire and is keeping the world safe from growing hunger. 


8. THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES - Best Fiction Books of All Time

Written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1892, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a reading mystery. If you want to start reading fiction for the first time, then it’s perfectly your go. 

Genre:- Crime, Detective Novel and Mystery.

It is crime fiction followed by a reading mystery, and it is a compilation of twelve short stories, all written by Arthur Conan Doyle. Each one of these stories features criminal investigations, with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as the only common characters.


9. A MAN CALLED OVE

A MAN CALLED OVE

Written by Fredrik Backman in 2012, A man called Ove is a story of a grumpy old man who has a hidden heart of gold.

Genre:- Comedy and Drama.

This book will surely attract you towards it as it is a story of a 59-year-old widower, Ove, who was struggling to find the purpose of his life. You will find the book hilarious and very moving at the same time, which will make you both laugh & cry. 


10. THE WORLD AND ALL THAT IT HOLDS

THE WORLD AND ALL THAT IT HOLDS

Written by Aleksandar Hemon in 2023, The World and All That It Holds is an unflinching historical fiction novel that will make you cry.

Genre:- Romance.

This fiction book is a love story between two soldiers in the brutal trenches of World War I. Here, you will see the story of Rafael Pinto, who is built for poetry, and Osman, who is fiercely protective, and how their religious and background differences melt away as they fight for their lives. 


11. MAAME

MAAME

Written by Jessica George in 2023, Maame is a refreshing and amazing debut from her side. It is a story about adulthood with many other attractive themes. 

Genre:- Discrimination. 

It is a story of Maddie in her twenties, the start of adulthood, and how she shot through various themes of family, race, discrimination, immigrant reality, and womanhood. While reading, you will find that Maddie is a vibrant protagonist who feels stuck in her life. 


12. GREAT EXPECTATIONS

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Written by Charles Dickens in 1861, Great Expectations is one of his finest accomplishments that attracted a large number of people.  

Genre:- Fictional Autobiography.

This amazing fiction is the finest accomplishment of the writer as it has remarkable characters and their development. It is the story of Pip from his childhood to the end, what he expected from his life and how loyalty and integrity make everyone greater than their wealth and social status. 


13. NOW YOU SEE US 

NOW YOU SEE US

Written by Balli Kaur Jaswal in 2023, Now you See Us is a fiction book about housekeepers’ perspectives and much more.

Genre:- Crime and Cozy Mystery.

It is the story of Corazon, Donita, and Angel, who are Filipina domestic workers in Singapore. The fiction is exciting as it is about the mystery when the three get wind that another domestic worker has been charged with murdering her employee. Here, you read how they solve the crime and unmask the actual perpetrator.  


14. THE KITE RUNNER

THE KITE RUNNER

Written by Khaled Hosseini in 2003, The Kite Runner is his debut novel which gained a lot of popularity.  

Genre:- Drama and Literary Realism.

This beautiful fiction book is not for faint-hearted people. It is a narrative of friendship, love, guilt, sacrifice, tragedy, and forgiveness. This story revolves around Amir, who grew up in a wealthy family, his friendship with Hassan, who was the son of the household servant, and many more things. 

Here’s a famous quote from The Kite Runner:

“it always hurts more to have and lose than to not have in the first place.”

― Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner

15. LITTLE WOMAN 

LITTLE WOMAN

Written by Louisa May Alcott in 1868, Little Woman is one of her most famous novels.

Genre:- Domestic Fiction. 

It is the fiction book that you most likely read as a child. Some parts of the novel are based on Louisa’s own life, and other parts follow the journey of the four March sisters- Meg, Beth, Amy, and Jo from their childhood to womanhood. It is one of those books that has inspired numerous movies. 


Last Lines 

We all have a few tried fiction faves, but there’s something special about reading something different and new every time. That’s why the above is the rounded-up list of best fiction novels of all time. No matter if it’s your favorite author’s book or the debut of a new writer, a great fiction book makes the perfect escape from ordinary life. The above-mentioned books are the best fiction books of all time for adults as well as children, so you must read this handpicked selection of the best fiction books. 

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