Best Fiction Books Ever Written (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Every reader keeps a mental shelf of the novels that shaped them. The best fiction books ever written earn their place with stories that outlast trends.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Sherlock Holmes by Doyle	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Handmaid's Tale by Atwood	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	A Gentleman in Moscow by Towles	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Tristram Shandy by Sterne	9.4/10	Buy on Amazon
5	The Time Machine by Wells	9.4/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Sherlock Holmes by Doyle

Sir Arthur Doyle·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 764-page collector's edition of Sherlock Holmes adventures for adults and book clubs.

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Pros

• 764 pages in a Collector's edition
• Reading age of 15 years and up stated
• Genuine leather binding

Cons

• 1981 edition is an older printing
• No grade level is stated
• No plot summary in the description

2

Handmaid's Tale by Atwood

Margaret Atwood·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

In a dystopian future under the totalitarian state of Gilead, a Handmaid clings to her memories and her will to survive.

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Pros

• Print length of 336 pages is stated
• Reading age of 14 to 18 years is stated, matching teen and adult readers
• Listed as Book 1 of 2, so a sequel is stated

Cons

• The description states mature themes; check it suits the reader
• The March 16, 1998 edition is an older printing
• No grade level is stated alongside the reading age

3

A Gentleman in Moscow by Towles

Amor Towles·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

In 1922 a count is sentenced to house arrest in a grand Moscow hotel and must adjust to life in an attic room.

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Pros

• Novel in a single 496-page volume from Penguin Books
• Publication date of March 26, 2019 is listed, so the edition is easy to date
• Built around one man's purpose and humor, which suits a dad who likes character-led fiction

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated on the listing
• At 496 pages, it is a long read for a dad with short reading sessions
• Publisher marketing copy fills much of the description, so the premise is the main plot detail to judge from

4

Tristram Shandy by Sterne

Laurence Sterne·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 444-page full-leather collector's edition for a permanent library.

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Pros

• 444 pages in a full-leather Collector's edition
• Named in the 100 greatest books series
• The 1980 edition suits collectors

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• The description gives almost no detail
• The 1980 edition is an older printing

5

The Time Machine by Wells

H.G. Wells·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Wells' classic of time travel in an Easton Press edition.

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Pros

• Described as Wells' classic of time travel
• Easton Press edition, published 1998
• Suits readers who want classic science fiction

Cons

• No print length is stated
• No reading age or grade level is stated
• Little detail beyond the premise

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More picks to compare

• All the Light We Cannot See by DoerrA World War II novel about a blind French girl and a German boy.Check on Amazon
• 100 Most Influential Books by SeymourFor readers curious which books changed civilization, from the Bible to Darwin.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and listed reading age or level. Only the Sherlock Holmes listing states a reading age, at 15 years and up. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best fiction books ever written

Read the reading age before buying for a teen

The Sherlock Holmes listing states a reading age of 15 years and up, which suits adult readers and older teens. The other listings state no reading age or grade level.

Collector’s editions and reading copies

The Time Machine, Sherlock Holmes and Tristram Shandy listings are Easton Press editions, and the Sherlock Holmes and Tristram Shandy listings describe leather bindings. Readers who love science fiction can also browse our science fiction books about time travel.

Match the book to the reader

A book club choosing a discussion novel can start with the Atwood or Towles pick, while a reader building a classics shelf can start with the Easton Press editions. For more group reads, see our book club literary fiction list.

Before you buy

• The Sherlock Holmes and Tristram Shandy listings are Easton Press collector’s editions, dated 1981 and 1980.
• The listings state 764 pages for Sherlock Holmes and 444 pages for Tristram Shandy.
• Only the Sherlock Holmes listing states a reading age, at 15 years and up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book should I start with?

The Sherlock Holmes listing states 764 pages and a reading age of 15 years and up.

Are these complete editions?

The Sherlock Holmes listing states a 764-page Collector’s edition; the Tristram Shandy listing states a 444-page full-leather Collector’s edition.

What reading age suits this list?

Only the Sherlock Holmes listing states a reading age, at 15 years and up. The other listings state no reading age or grade level.

Still deciding? Our top pickSherlock Holmes by Doyle

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Related lists

See every book club list and all fiction lists.

More lists: fiction book awards, historical fiction drama, book club literary fiction.