1. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo: A Pulitzer-winning author writes the true story of struggle and hope in a Mumbai slum. (EW’s review: Jeff Giles wrote, “Beautiful Forevers will be one of the year’s big books — a conversation starter, an award winner.”)
2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: Plot twists and revelations make this a psychological thriller of the highest order. (EW’s review: Giles wrote, “It’s an ingenious and viperish thriller — and no matter how smart you think you are, it’s going to bite you.”
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: Two kids with cancer deal with the big subjects — life, love, and death — in this perfect blend of levity and heart-swelling emotion. (EW’s review: Stephan Lee wrote, “The gut-busting laughs that come early in the novel make the luminous final pages all the more heartbreaking.”)
Curious about the full list? Check it out here.