The books in this list tend to be thought - provoking. They make readers question things like society, relationships, and history. For instance, 'The Underground Railroad' makes one think about the brutality of slavery and the lengths people would go to for freedom. 'Homegoing' makes you consider how history shapes family legacies over generations.
Many of the books in 'goodreads 2016 best fiction' have well - developed characters. In 'A Little Life', the four main characters are extremely complex, with their own flaws, dreams and traumas. Another aspect is the diversity of settings. You have books set in different historical periods and locations, like Ghana in 'Homegoing' and different parts of the United States in other works.