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The Best Books of the 21st Century

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The New York Times recently dropped its list of the best books of the 21st century, and while it’s got some great picks, we decided to whip up our own version. Here are some of the absolute must-reads you should dive into, according to our Fable editors:
"2666" by Roberto Bolaño
This behemoth of a novel is a literary labyrinth. Bolaño takes you on a wild ride through interconnected stories that span continents and genres, from a mysterious author to gruesome murders in a Mexican border town. It’s intense, complex, and totally worth the challenge.
"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Ishiguro’s dystopian tale is a heart-wrenching exploration of love, memory, and humanity. Set in a world where clones exist for organ donation, it follows the lives of three friends from childhood to adulthood. It’s beautifully written and haunting.
"Lovely War" by Julie Berry
This is a stunning blend of historical fiction and mythology. Berry weaves a love story set during World War I, narrated by Greek gods. It’s romantic, tragic, and utterly unique.
"Normal People" by Sally Rooney
Rooney captures the raw, complicated emotions of young love and friendship in this novel about two Irish teenagers. It’s an intimate, beautifully written exploration of connection and vulnerability.
"Flights" by Olga Tokarczuk
This Nobel Prize-winning novel is a mesmerizing exploration of travel, human anatomy, and the nature of life itself. Tokarczuk’s fragmentary narrative takes you across centuries and continents in a way that’s both intellectually stimulating and deeply moving.
"Wash Day Diaries" by Jamila Rowse
A celebration of Black womanhood and friendship, this graphic novel beautifully portrays the bond between four friends through their hair care routines. It’s heartfelt, visually stunning, and incredibly relatable.
"BL Metamorphosis, Vol. 1" by Kaori Tsurutani
This manga is a sweet, intergenerational story about an elderly woman who discovers the world of BL (Boys’ Love) manga and forms an unexpected friendship with a teenage girl. It’s charming and heartwarming.
"All My Rage" by Sabaa Tahir
Tahir’s novel tackles themes of love, loss, and forgiveness. Set in a Pakistani-American community, it’s a powerful story about two teenagers grappling with their pasts and searching for a way forward. It’s raw, real, and beautifully written.
"Honey Girl" by Morgan Roger
This contemporary romance follows Grace Porter, a freshly minted Ph.D. who impulsively marries a woman she just met in Vegas. It’s a touching exploration of self-discovery, mental health, and finding love when you least expect it.
"Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon
Gabaldon’s epic time-travel romance kicks off with a bang. Claire Randall, a WWII nurse, is transported to 18th-century Scotland, where she falls in love with the dashing Jamie Fraser. It’s an addictive blend of history, romance, and adventure.
"The Idiot" by Elif Batuman
Batuman’s semi-autobiographical novel is a witty, insightful look at the life of a college freshman. Selin navigates the challenges of academia, unrequited love, and the search for her own identity. It’s sharp, funny, and deeply relatable.
“Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders 
This historical fiction follows President Abraham Lincoln's grief over the death of his young son, Willie. The story unfolds in a cemetery's surreal, transitional realm, where Willie's spirit lingers among other restless souls. It offers a profound exploration of love, loss, and the connection between the living and the dead.So there you have it! Our take on the best books of the 21st century. Whether you’re into epic romances, philosophical explorations, or heartwarming tales of friendship, there’s something here for everyone. What book would be on your list? 
Never Let Me Go  by Kazuo Ishiguro  digital book - Fable

Never Let Me Go

By Kazuo Ishiguro

A devastating novel of innocence, knowledge, and loss. As children, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at an exclusive boarding school. Kathy begins to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special.

Lovely War by Julie Berry digital book - Fable

Lovely War

By Julie Berry

Perfect for fans of Divine Rivals, a critically-acclaimed, multi-layered romance set in the perilous days of World Wars I and II, where gods hold the fates–and the hearts–of four mortals in their hands.

Normal People  by Sally Rooney digital book - Fable

Normal People

By Sally Rooney

Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t.

Flights by Olga Tokarczuk digital book - Fable

Flights

By Olga Tokarczuk

From the incomparably original Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk, Flights interweaves reflections on travel with an in-depth exploration of the human body, broaching life, death, motion, and migration.

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith digital book - Fable

Wash Day Diaries

By Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith

From writer Jamila Rowser and artist Robyn Smith comes a captivating graphic novel love letter to the beauty and endurance of Black women, their friendships, and their hair.

BL Metamorphosis, Vol. 1 by Kaori Tsurutani digital book - Fable

BL Metamorphosis, Vol. 1

By Kaori Tsurutani

Ichinoi, a 75-year-old woman living a peaceful life, unwittingly buys a Boy's Love manga one day...and is fascinated by what she finds inside.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir digital book - Fable

All My Rage

By Sabaa Tahir

A heart-wrenching contemporary novel about family and forgiveness, love and loss, in a sweeping story that crosses generations and continents.

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers digital book - Fable

Honey Girl

By Morgan Rogers

With her new PhD in astronomy in hand, Grace Porter goes on a girls’ trip to Vegas. She’s a certified high achiever. She is not the kind of person who goes to Vegas and gets drunkenly married to a woman she doesn’t know…until she does exactly that.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon digital book - Fable

Outlander

By Diana Gabaldon

In 1945, Claire Randall walks through one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is an “outlander,” catapulted into a Scotland torn by war and raiding clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.

The Idiot by Elif Batuman digital book - Fable

The Idiot

By Elif BatumanFable Club Pick

A portrait of the artist as a young woman. A novel about not just discovering but inventing oneself.

Lincoln in the Bardo  by George Saunders digital book - Fable

Lincoln in the Bardo

By George Saunders

A moving and original father-son story featuring none other than Abraham Lincoln, as well as an unforgettable cast of supporting character

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