BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 2021

83 highest-rated books first published in 2021.

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Why Project Hail Mary is #1

Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir) scores 9.0/10 from 8.3K ratings — 0.1 points ahead of Jade Legacy in second place.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. Project Hail Mary
    Project Hail MaryAndy Weir · 2021NYT bestseller Science fiction8.3K ratings1
    9.09.0 / 10
  2. Jade Legacy
    Jade LegacyFonda Lee · 2021 Fantasy401 ratings
    8.98.9 / 10
  3. The Wisdom of Crowds
    The Wisdom of CrowdsJoe Abercrombie · 2021NYT bestseller Fantasy402 ratings
    8.88.8 / 10
  4. Leviathan Falls
    Leviathan FallsJames S. A. Corey · 2021NYT bestseller Science fiction999 ratings
    8.88.8 / 10
  5. Reaper
    ReaperWill Wight · 2021 Fantasy386 ratings
    8.88.8 / 10
  6. The Gate of the Feral Gods
    The Gate of the Feral GodsMatt Dinniman · 2021 Fantasy1.9K ratings
    8.88.8 / 10
  7. Empire of Pain
    Empire of PainPatrick Radden Keefe · 2021NYT bestseller Business360 ratings
    8.88.8 / 10
  8. Carl's Doomsday Scenario
    Carl's Doomsday ScenarioMatt Dinniman · 2021NYT bestseller Fantasy2.6K ratings1
    8.78.7 / 10
  9. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
    The Galaxy, and the Ground WithinBecky Chambers · 2021 Science fiction489 ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  10. The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook
    The Dungeon Anarchist's CookbookMatt Dinniman · 2021NYT bestseller Fantasy2.2K ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  11. The Anthropocene Reviewed
    The Anthropocene ReviewedJohn Green · 2021NYT bestseller Essays729 ratings7
    8.58.5 / 10
  12. Bloodline
    BloodlineWill Wight · 2021 Fantasy398 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  13. A Psalm for the Wild-Built
    A Psalm for the Wild-BuiltBecky Chambers · 2021 Science fiction1K ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  14. A Desolation Called Peace
    A Desolation Called PeaceArkady Martine · 2021 Science fiction492 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  15. The Man Who Died Twice
    The Man Who Died TwiceRichard Osman · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery649 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  16. The Last Graduate
    The Last GraduateNaomi Novik · 2021NYT bestseller Fantasy686 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  17. A Court of Silver Flames
    A Court of Silver FlamesSarah J. Maas · 2021NYT bestseller Fantasy1.5K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  18. Crying in H Mart
    Crying in H MartMichelle Zauner · 2021NYT bestseller Biography & memoir1K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  19. The Hill We Climb
    The Hill We ClimbAmanda Gorman · 2021NYT bestseller Poetry59 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  20. Fugitive Telemetry
    Fugitive TelemetryMartha Wells · 2021NYT bestseller Science fiction1.4K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  21. Four Thousand Weeks
    Four Thousand WeeksOliver Burkeman · 2021 Self-help656 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  22. Rule of Wolves
    Rule of WolvesLeigh Bardugo · 2021 Fantasy371 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  23. These Precious Days
    These Precious DaysAnn Patchett · 2021NYT bestseller Essays51 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  24. Cloud Cuckoo Land
    Cloud Cuckoo LandAnthony Doerr · 2021NYT bestseller Science fiction485 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  25. Will
    WillWill Smith · 2021NYT bestseller Biography & memoir127 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  26. Firekeeper's Daughter
    Firekeeper's DaughterAngeline Boulley · 2021 Young adult301 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  27. The Dawn of Everything
    The Dawn of EverythingDavid Graeber · 2021NYT bestseller History173 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  28. The Rose Code
    The Rose CodeKate Quinn · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery223 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  29. As Good As Dead
    As Good As DeadHolly Jackson · 2021 Young adult713 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  30. Under the Whispering Door
    Under the Whispering DoorTJ Klune · 2021NYT bestseller Fantasy734 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  31. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone
    Go Tell the Bees That I Am GoneDiana Gabaldon · 2021NYT bestseller Fantasy70 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  32. Under a White Sky
    Under a White SkyElizabeth Kolbert · 2021 Nature & environment56 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  33. Wild Sign
    Wild SignPatricia Briggs · 2021NYT bestseller Fantasy74 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  34. Small Things Like These
    Small Things Like TheseClaire Keegan · 2021NYT bestseller Historical fiction832 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  35. A Master of DjinnP. Djèlí Clark
    A Master of DjinnP. Djèlí Clark · 2021 Fantasy397 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  36. Chain of Iron
    Chain of IronCassandra Clare · 2021 Young adult135 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  37. The Jasmine Throne
    The Jasmine ThroneTasha Suri · 2021 Fantasy216 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  38. Perhaps the Stars
    Perhaps the StarsAda Palmer · 2021 Science fiction64 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  39. Daughter of the Deep
    Daughter of the DeepRick Riordan · 2021 Adventure92 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  40. The Code Breaker
    The Code BreakerWalter Isaacson · 2021NYT bestseller Biography & memoir126 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  41. Shards of Earth
    Shards of EarthAdrian Tchaikovsky · 2021 Science fiction476 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  42. Light From Uncommon Stars
    Light From Uncommon StarsRyka Aoki · 2021 Science fiction397 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  43. Role Model
    Role ModelRachel Reid · 2021 Romance206 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  44. There Is No Antimemetics Division
    There Is No Antimemetics Divisionqntm · 2021 Science fiction808 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  45. Billy Summers
    Billy SummersStephen King · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery537 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  46. Razorblade Tears
    Razorblade TearsS. A. Cosby · 2021 Crime & mystery332 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  47. Iron Widow
    Iron WidowXiran Jay Zhao · 2021 Fantasy542 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  48. Cytonic
    CytonicBrandon Sanderson · 2021 Science fiction652 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  49. Malibu Rising
    Malibu RisingTaylor Jenkins Reid · 2021NYT bestseller Romance741 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  50. Inhibitor Phase
    Inhibitor PhaseAlastair Reynolds · 2021 Science fiction88 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  51. Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory
    Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, TerritoryMartha Wells · 2021 Science fiction457 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  52. This Poison Heart
    This Poison HeartKalynn Bayron · 2021 Fantasy101 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  53. One Last Stop
    One Last StopCasey McQuiston · 2021NYT bestseller Romance532 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  54. Sorrowland
    SorrowlandRivers Solomon · 2021 Fantasy100 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  55. The Bomber Mafia
    The Bomber MafiaMalcolm Gladwell · 2021NYT bestseller History167 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  56. The Dark Hours
    The Dark HoursMichael Connelly · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery99 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  57. A World Without Email
    A World Without EmailCal Newport · 2021 Business78 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  58. Across the Green Grass Fields
    Across the Green Grass FieldsSeanan McGuire · 2021 Fantasy172 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  59. Payback's a Witch
    Payback's a WitchLana Harper · 2021 Urban fantasy143 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  60. Later
    LaterStephen King · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery488 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  61. The Last House on Needless Street
    The Last House on Needless StreetCatriona Ward · 2021 Horror467 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  62. Termination Shock
    Termination ShockNeal Stephenson · 2021NYT bestseller Science fiction257 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  63. The Chosen and the Beautiful
    The Chosen and the BeautifulNghi Vo · 2021 Fantasy110 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  64. State of Terror
    State of TerrorHillary Clinton · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery84 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  65. She Who Became the Sun
    She Who Became the SunShelley Parker-Chan · 2021 Fantasy381 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  66. People We Meet on Vacation
    People We Meet on VacationEmily Henry · 2021NYT bestseller Romance1.2K ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  67. Rock Paper Scissors
    Rock Paper ScissorsAlice Feeney · 2021NYT bestseller Thriller535 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  68. The Last Shadow
    The Last ShadowOrson Scott Card · 2021 Science fiction58 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  69. The Judge's List
    The Judge's ListJohn Grisham · 2021NYT bestseller Thriller65 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  70. The Book of Accidents
    The Book of AccidentsChuck Wendig · 2021 Horror146 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  71. Klara and the Sun
    Klara and the SunKazuo Ishiguro · 2021NYT bestseller Science fiction1.3K ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  72. Win
    WinHarlan Coben · 2021NYT bestseller Thriller74 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  73. Dial A for Aunties
    Dial A for AuntiesJesse Q. Sutanto · 2021 Crime & mystery221 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  74. Harlem Shuffle
    Harlem ShuffleColson Whitehead · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery188 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  75. Victories Greater Than Death
    Victories Greater Than DeathCharlie Jane Anders · 2021 Science fiction51 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  76. Want to Know a Secret?
    Want to Know a Secret?Freida McFadden · 2021NYT bestseller Thriller76 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  77. Do Not Disturb
    Do Not DisturbFreida McFadden · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery151 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  78. My Heart Is a Chainsaw
    My Heart Is a ChainsawStephen Graham Jones · 2021 Horror271 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  79. Better off Dead
    Better off DeadLee Child · 2021NYT bestseller Crime & mystery138 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  80. The Last Thing He Told Me
    The Last Thing He Told MeLaura Dave · 2021NYT bestseller Thriller540 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  81. The Final Girl Support Group
    The Final Girl Support GroupGrady Hendrix · 2021 Horror481 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  82. The Lost Apothecary
    The Lost ApothecarySarah Penner · 2021NYT bestseller Historical fiction537 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  83. The Maidens
    The MaidensAlex Michaelides · 2021NYT bestseller Thriller587 ratings
    6.96.9 / 10

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