“For all her love of words, at times they’re entirely insufficient.”
Over the past decade, readers’ tastes have sparked some of the fiercest debates in the book world. From sweeping literary epics to gripping thrillers, certain novels have divided opinions like no others. These are the most polarising books of the last decade – titles that people either love or hate, often passionately. Whether praised for their bold storytelling or criticised for their controversial themes, these books have generated endless discussion, online debates, and heated book club conversations. If you’re curious about divisive books that split readers, or looking to know which novels sparked the biggest arguments, this list is for you. Join us at What We Reading as we explore stories that challenged expectations and left lasting impressions – whether for better or worse. Prepare to discover the books that kept the literary world buzzing, and find out which polarising reads might provoke your next passionate discussion.
The Underground Railroad – Colson Whitehead
Kicking off our list of the most polarising books from the past decade is Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad. Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, whose life is harder than most. When a new arrival, Caesar, arrives from Virginia and tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Matters do not go as planned – Cora kills a young white boy who tries to capture her. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted.
In Whitehead’s ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor – engineers and conductors operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. The Underground Railroad is an adventure tale of one woman’s fierce will to escape the horror of bondage and a powerful meditation on the history we all share, though plenty of debates about its realism vs. allegory have swirled around since its release.
Lapvona – Ottessa Moshfegh
Renowned for her deliberately unlikeable characters, grotesque aspects of the human body and mind, and her rejection of literary conventions and moral expectations, Ottessa Moshfegh has become one of the most controversial authors in modern times. Her 2022 historical horror novel, Lapvona, is a story that has divided readers with its graphic scenes and uncomfortable truths about power, belief, and human nature.
Lapvona is set in a remote medieval-style fiefdom where life is harsh, beliefs are twisted, and power is executed ruthlessly. The story orbits around a young boy, Marek, the physically deformed son of a brutal shepherd, Jude. The land is ruled by the unjust lord Villiam. When Marek accidentally causes the death of Villiam’s son, he is hauled into the aristocracy in a disturbing barain, while the villagers are struck by famine, drought, and hopelessness.
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The Grace Of Kings (The Dandelion Dynasty #1) – Ken Liu
Wily, charming Kuni Garu, a bandit, and stern, fearless Mata Zyndu, the son of a deposed duke, seem like total opposites. Yet, in the uprising against the emperor, the two quickly become the best of friends after a series of adventures fighting against vast conscripted armies, silk-draped airships, and shapeshifting gods. Once the emperor has been overthrown, however, each finds themselves at the head of different factions – two sides with very different ideas about how the world should be run, and the meaning of justice.
What has made Ken Liu’s The Grace of Kings and Dandelion Dynasty series so polarising is its unique narrative style. Attempting to mimic many historical epics, this sweeping high fantasy has been criticised for being too fast-paced and light on character development.
Becoming – Michelle Obama
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic, compelling, and sometimes divisive women of our era. As the First Lady of the United States, she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, whilst establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the US and across the world, standing with her husband as he led his country through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, smashed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, Becoming, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadfastly defied expectations. But, whilst this book isn’t purposefully controversial, such a high-profile political individual is always sure to divide opinions, which is what we saw when Obama’s global bestseller hit shelves in 2018.
American Dirt – Jeanine Cummins
Lydia lives in Acapulco. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while cracks are beginning to show in Acapulco because of the cartels, Lydia’s life is, by and large, fairly comfortable. But after her husband’s tell-all profile of the newest drug lord is published, none of their lives is ever the same again. Forced to flee, Lydia and Luca find themselves joining the countless people trying to reach the US. Lydia sees that everyone is running from something. But what are they running to?
Whilst Jeanine Cummins’ American Dirt has won huge acclaim for its poignant storytelling, becoming an Oprah Book Club Pick in 2020, the novel has garnered criticism from the Latinx community around cultural appropriation, harmful stereotyping and systemic inequity in the publishing community. Critics have also argued that Cummins, a white-identifying author, only has a limited personal connection to the experiences of migrants.
Children Of Blood And Bone (Legacy Of Orïsha #1) – Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to restore magic and strike against the monarchy. Danger lurks in Orïsha. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and growing feelings for the enemy.
Rooted in West African mythology and delving into themes of oppression and colonialisation, Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone is a lush, gripping and empowering YA fantasy read. However, the series has picked up its fair share of criticism for its explicit real-world allegories, as well as its characters and plot development, which some readers felt were lacking.
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I’m Glad My Mom Died – Jeanette McCurdy
With such a provocative and shocking title, it’s no wonder that Jeanette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died has become one of the most polarising books released in the past decade. The story chronicles McCurdy’s turbulent time from childhood to adulthood, focusing on her relationship with her mother, Debra. Her mother is shown to be controlling and demanding, pushing McCurdy into acting and enforcing rigid beauty and body rules.
As McCurdy grows older, the memoir charts how the drive to please her mother led to eating disorders, anxiety, substance issues, and a spiral of unhealthy relationships. After her mother’s death in 2013, McCurdy reveals the hard work of disentangling her identity from her mother’s expectations and the hostile entertainment space she was a part of.
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The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives, and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. This uneasy balance is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. Soon afterwards, his death becomes a national headline. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person who can answer that is Starr.
Eye-opening, empowering, and impassioned, The Hate U Give is a stirring novel that captures the feeling of a moment in history. However, despite being one of the books about race and justice, the novel is not without its naysayers. Educational institutions have even taken to banning the book, citing concerns about its profanity, sexual references, drug use, and apparent anti-police message.
A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara
Hanya Yanagihara smashed the bestseller list with the release of A Little Life back in 2015, producing one of the most polarising books where readers either adored its powerful, emotionally resonant depiction of suffering and friendship, or lambasted the near-relentless and graphic depictions of trauma and its aftermath.
The story follows four friends – Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcolm. The spotlight mainly shines on Jude, a brilliant litigator with a mysterious past. Jude’s life is marked by extreme trauma. The narrative gradually reveals his history of abuse and the lasting psychological and physical effects it has had on him. His friends, particularly Willem, serve as sources of love and support; however, Jude’s past constantly influences his ability to accept care and intimacy. The novel is a potent exploration of how trauma shapes identity, as well as the limits of friendship, love, and healing.
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Verity – Colleen Hoover
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she lands the job of a lifetime: working for Jeremy Crawford to finish the books in a successful series by his injured wife, Verity. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home and happens upon an unfinished biography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page reveals bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollections of what happened the day her daughter died.
As Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy intensify, she realises all the way she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. An instant bestseller, Verity is a gripping thriller romance that has continued to divide readers. Some of the biggest criticisms about Verity include its mess of cliches, its heavy dependence on trauma and disturbing content, its unreliable narration and ambiguous ending, as well as the disparity between the social media hype around the book and its literary quality.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
