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The 40 Best Novels of the 2010s

Novels have inherent power. From building new worlds to reanimating history, they have the ability to enthrall and challenge us. But their most powerful trait is that they offer an escape while still encouraging readers to think critically, weaving entertainment and reflection into one experience. ... This list includes 40 novels published in English between 2010 and September 2019, and we've limited it to one book per author. The Paste staff tends to read fantasy and literary fiction, so you'll notice the majority of the titles below fit those labels. And this list is obviously subjective; it's by no means representative of the only "good" novels published during the last 10 years. This is simply a collection of the books we wept over, laughed with and were inspired by during a tumultuous decade. ...We loved these books, and we believe you will, too." By Frannie Jackson and Paste Staff
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1
Flight Behavior (Barbara Kingsolver)
Flight Behavior (Barbara Kingsolver)
2
Sudden Death (Álvaro Enrigue)
Sudden Death (Álvaro Enrigue)
3
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
4
Exit West (Mohsin Hamed)
Exit West (Mohsin Hamed)
5
The Martian
The Martian
6
An Untamed State
An Untamed State
7
Who Fears Death
Who Fears Death
8
What Belongs to You (Garth Greenwell)
What Belongs to You (Garth Greenwell)
9
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley (Hannah Tinti)
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley (Hannah Tinti)
10
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (Hank Green)
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (Hank Green)
11
Bowlaway (Elizabeth McCracken)
Bowlaway (Elizabeth McCracken)
12
The Incendiaries (R.O. Kwon)
The Incendiaries (R.O. Kwon)
13
Americanah (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
Americanah (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
14
The Poppy War (R.F. Kuang)
The Poppy War (R.F. Kuang)
15
Eileen (Ottessa Moshfegh)
Eileen (Ottessa Moshfegh)
16
The Sympathizer (Viet Thanh Nguyen)
The Sympathizer (Viet Thanh Nguyen)
17
Red at the Bone (Jacqueline Woodson)
Red at the Bone (Jacqueline Woodson)
18
The Lesser Bohemians (Eimear McBride)
The Lesser Bohemians (Eimear McBride)
19
Boy Novak (Boy, Snow, Bird) (Helen Oyeyemi)
Boy Novak (Boy, Snow, Bird) (Helen Oyeyemi)
20
The Destroyers (Christopher Bollen)
The Destroyers (Christopher Bollen)
21
Life After Life
Life After Life
22
The Wise Man's Fear
The Wise Man's Fear
23
Swing Time (Zadie Smith)
Swing Time (Zadie Smith)
24
Family Life (Akhil Sharma)
Family Life (Akhil Sharma)
25
The Night Circus
The Night Circus
26
The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt)
The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt)
27
The Water Dancer (Ta-Nehisi Coates)
The Water Dancer (Ta-Nehisi Coates)
28
Little Fires Everywhere (Celeste Ng)
Little Fires Everywhere (Celeste Ng)
29
Wolf in White Van (John Darnielle)
Wolf in White Van (John Darnielle)
30
The Way of Kings (Brandon Sanderson)
The Way of Kings (Brandon Sanderson)
31
Sing, Unburied, Sing (Jesmyn Ward)
Sing, Unburied, Sing (Jesmyn Ward)
32
Station Eleven (Emily St John Mandel)
Station Eleven (Emily St John Mandel)
33
The Leavers (Lisa Ko)
The Leavers (Lisa Ko)
34
The Fifth Season (N. K. Jemisin)
The Fifth Season (N. K. Jemisin)
35
Swamplandia
Swamplandia
36
Lincoln in the Bardo (George Saunders)
Lincoln in the Bardo (George Saunders)
37
Fates and Furies (Lauren Groff)
Fates and Furies (Lauren Groff)
38
Homegoing (Yaa Gyasi)
Homegoing (Yaa Gyasi)
39
Circe (Madeline Miller)
Circe (Madeline Miller)
40
The Underground Railroad (Colson Whitehead)
The Underground Railroad (Colson Whitehead)
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