Big Books of 2026

Listopia > Beginning Book Lists

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeA Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Best Beginning
719 books — 651 voters
On Writing by Stephen KingBird by Bird by Anne LamottEats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne TrussCrafting the Character ARC by Jennie JarvisBandersnatch by Diana Pavlac Glyer
Books for Aspiring Writers
142 books — 114 voters

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne CollinsThe Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. MaasBookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
52 Book Club 2025: #11 - A Prequel
142 books — 114 voters
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. SeussThe Cat in the Hat by Dr. SeussHop On Pop by Dr. SeussGoodnight Moon by Margaret Wise BrownThe Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Beginning Readers
191 books — 108 voters

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret AtwoodTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeHomegoing by Yaa GyasiI'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamaraThe Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
52 Book Club 2025: #39 - Has An Epigraph
159 books — 102 voters
Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenA Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling1984 by George Orwell
Great First Lines
91 books — 84 voters

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi WaxmanThe Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienBlack Sun by Rebecca RoanhorseRivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
[ATY 2021] - In The Beginning...
282 books — 80 voters
Song for Papa Crow by Marit MenzinBailey Beats the Blah by Karen TyrrellDeclan Grows Up by C. Austin LeeEli the Minnow and The Coral Cave Adventure by David L. SterlingFruzzle's Mystery Talent by Karen (Kara) Brueggeman
First Picture Book
57 books — 61 voters

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel SilversteinThe Monster at the End of this Book by Jon StoneMiddlemarch by George EliotHowards End by E.M. ForsterThe Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
Beginning, Middle, and End - Titles
281 books — 27 voters
The Good Life by Jodie BeauThe Fault in Our Stars by John GreenHopeless by Colleen HooverThe Wide Game by Michael WestThe Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
Books that grab your attention from the beginning.
61 books — 23 voters

Vampire Academy by Richelle MeadClockwork Angel by Cassandra ClareHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingCinder by Marissa MeyerWonder by R.J. Palacio
Beginning YA Books
129 books — 12 voters
The Outsiders by S.E. HintonThe Haunting of Hill House by Shirley JacksonThe House of the Spirits by Isabel AllendeMy Cousin Rachel by Daphne du MaurierDhalgren by Samuel R. Delany
Begins As It Ends
19 books — 12 voters

The October List by Jeffery DeaverAll the Missing Girls by Megan MirandaOut of Love by Hazel HayesTime's Arrow by Martin AmisChristopher Homm by C.H. Sisson
Reverse Chronology
18 books — 10 voters
Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too by Jomny SunSafe Haven by Nicholas SparksHey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. KrosoczkaThe One You Fight For by Roni LorenThe Summer Breeze by Shail Rajan
New Beginnings/Starting Over
20 books — 6 voters

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinYear of Wonders by Geraldine BrooksMy Torin by K. WebsterCorelli’s Mandolin by Louis de BernièresYou by Caroline Kepnes
First Half Good, Last Half Disappointing/ Bad
19 books — 3 voters
Tiger's Curse by Colleen HouckTwo Cabins, One Lake by Shaye MarlowA Wicked Desire by Kiersten FayNew Moon by Stephenie MeyerThe Claw by Norah Lofts
First Half Bad/Meh, Last Half Good/Great
22 books — 2 voters

A Questionable Client by Ilona AndrewsThe Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley ColeHowl For It by Shelly LaurenstonHonor and Shadows by Jessie MihalikDiamond Fire by Ilona Andrews
Prequel Novellas
38 books — 2 voters
The Switch by Beth O'LearyLadder of Years by Anne TylerFree by Lea YpiBlack Cake by Charmaine WilkersonRemainder by Tom McCarthy
New Beginnings: Fiction and Non-Fiction About This Theme
39 books — 2 voters

Dinosaurs by Grace MaccaroneItchy, Itchy Chicken Pox by Grace MaccaroneMy Tooth Is About to Fall Out by Grace MaccaroneSoccer Game! by Grace MaccaroneThe Lunch Box Surprise by Grace Maccarone
Scholastic Beginning Readers
100 books — 1 voter

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