book review 5 stars

Booklist Queen

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50 Incredible Five Star Books You Need to Read

If you want the best of the best, these five star books won’t disappoint. Here are 50 of my all-time favorite books to read.

If you are looking for the best books to read, where do you begin?

You could search for “five star books on Goodreads”, but then you’ll get Twilight in the top five. While many of you might love Twilight , you have to admit it’s not exactly the epitome of top-notch writing.

Searching “5 star books on Amazon,” you’ll get a handy list of twenty-five titles, only 7 of which I recognize. And I am in the book business!

I figured it was time to make my own list of favorite books. Those books that I gave five stars to because I couldn’t get enough of them. 

Of course, you are likely to disagree with some of my choices. Reading taste is highly variable and subjective.

Which is good! We don’t need a million copies of me in the world, I can assure you.

Regardless of taste, I’m fairly certain you’ll find some books to your liking in my list. I mean, I gave you fifty to choose from.

Don’t Miss a Thing

5 Star Books For Book Clubs

All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony doerr.

If I had to pick a winner for the top rated books, Anthony Doer’s masterpiece would be my first choice. I’m not at all surprised it won a Pulitzer Prize; the writing is fabulous. Anthony Doerr masterfully interweaves the stories of Marie-Laurie, a blind French girl who flees from Paris to the coastal city of Saint-Malo with her uncle, and Werner, a German radio operator charged with rooting out the French resistance. While the plot is interesting in and of itself, the character development and storytelling will keep you glued to the page.

Publication Date: 6 May 2014 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Night Circus

Erin morgenstern.

Without warning, Le Cirque de Rêves arrives in town, a circus that only operates at night. Within its walls are two competing magicians, Celia and Marco, bound together in a high stakes challenge. When they fall in love, a love so magical it affects the world around them, their dangerous game becomes even more precarious. From the first page to the last, Morgenstern had me captivated with her seductive and mysterious prose. Her five-star book left me craving more novels about magicians.

Publication Date: 13 September 2011 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Everything I Never Told You

Set in 1970s Ohio, Celeste Ng’s debut novel starts with the drowning of Lydia, the beloved daughter of James and Marilyn Lee. As the family struggles with her death, the author takes you deeper into the cracks and flaws of this mixed-race family. It is a poignant character study into the dynamics of a family where the parents’ unfulfilled hopes are pinned on one child, to the detriment of all. The story unfolds masterfully, and Celeste Ng’s writing is exquisite. By the end, I was in tears for these poor children and the damage that had been done by their parents’ selfishness.

Publication Date: 26 June 2014 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

A Man Called Ove

Fredrik backman.

Ove, a cantankerous old Swede, just wants to be left in peace so he can commit suicide, but his pesky neighbors keep getting in the way. A heartwarming tale that I found downright hilarious will be a popular book among book clubs for years to come. Highlighting our need for connection in the modern world, A Man Called Ove typified how important it is to leave our digital worlds and make sure we check in on our neighbors.

Publication Date: 27 August 2012 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Where the Crawdads Sing

Delia owens.

For years, Kya Clark has survived alone in the marshes of the North Carolina coast. Dubbed “The Marsh Girl” by the locals, she raises herself in nature after her family abandons her. Now, as she comes of age, Kya begins to yearn for something more than her loneliness. Maybe even a connection with the locals. An exquisitely written tale, Where the Crawdads Sing is one of the best books of 2018.

Publication Date: 14 August 2018 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Highest Rated Books: Fiction Bestsellers

Still Alice

Lisa genova.

Sometimes authors knock it out of the park with their debut novel, and neuroscientist Lisa Genova certainly fits that description. Harvard professor Alice Howland is at the top of her career when she begins to have trouble with her memory. The story of her decline due to early-onset Alzheimer’s will leave you wracked with emotions. Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy because you will need them.

Publication Date: 6 July 2017 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info B uy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Ask Again, Yes

Mary beth keane.

NYPD cops Francis and Brian happen to move next door to each other in the suburbs. Though their children Kate and Peter become the best of friends, Francis and his wife have learned to keep their distance from Brian’s wife due to her precarious mental health. When tragedy strikes between the two families, Brian’s family moves away in shame. But when Kate and Peter fall in love, the two families must learn to confront the tragedy that ties them together. A story of love and forgiveness, Ask Again, Yes serves up the perfect blend of family drama and character study to win a place among the five star books to read in 2020.

Publication Date: 28 May 2019 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Behold the Dreamers

Imbolo mbue.

The American Dream. Many hope for it, but how many truly find it? Imbolo Mbue’s debut novel details the lives of Cameroon immigrants living in New York City: Jende Jonga, who is trying to apply for legal status under a false asylum claim; his wife Neni, struggling to finish schooling in hopes of becoming a pharmacist; and their son Liomi, trying to balance his American-ness with his Cameroon side. In the days preceding the Great Recession, Jende gets lucky enough to get a job as chauffeur to Clark Edwards, a Lehman Brothers executive. Mbue brilliantly paints a fascinating look at immigrant life – the struggles with the immigration system, the desire for a better life, the balancing of cultural differences and the financial burden that comes with being poor in America. Through her writing, Mbue asks you to ponder: What really brings happiness? and Is the American dream all it’s cracked up to be?

Publication Date: 23 August 2016 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Gail honeyman.

If you are wanting light-hearted book club books for 2020, you’ve found the perfect choice in socially awkward Eleanor Oliphant. She has the habit of saying exactly what she thinks and much prefers to spend her weekends at home talking on the phone to her mother. When Eleanor and her slovenly coworker Raymond help an elderly gentleman after a fall, the three become friends, and Eleanor learns that opening up isn’t always a bad thing.

Publication Date: 24 April 2017 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Me Before You

If you had to think of books that made you cry , Me Before You should be near the top of your list. You’ll be in tears at the heartbroken man who felt he had nothing left to live for as a quadriplegic, not fully understanding that there is always something more. Will brings meaning into his nurse Louisa’s life and gets her to reach beyond what she thought she was capable of. In return, Louisa tries to bring meaning back into Will’s life before it’s too late. I promise this is one of those books that will leave you sobbing.

Publication Date: 31 December 2012 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Save for Later

Historical Fiction Books Rated 5 Stars

The Great Alone

Kristin hannah.

Coming off The Nightingale , her wildly successful World War II novel , Kristin Hannah’s next book explores the untamed wilds of Alaska. A recently returned Vietnam War POW, Ernt Allbright decides to move his family to the Alaskan frontier. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers and just what Ernt needs. But when the harsh Alaskan winter approaches and Ernt’s mental state begins to deteriorate, his wife and daughter must fight to survive. A captivating, stay-up-all-night novel that is a favorite among book clubs.

Publication Date: 6 February 2018 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo ishiguro.

For all you Downtown Abbey lovers out there, this book is meant for you. Stevens, an old English butler (à la Mr. Carson) decides to take a vacation and contemplate his many years of service and his unrealized love for the former housekeeper. A thoughtful portrayal of the importance of balancing personal and work lives, The Remains of the Day is one of the best books to read if you love thoughtful literary fiction.

Publication Date: May 1989 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Kite Runner

Khaled hosseini.

The unforgettable story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy Afghan boy and the son of his father’s servant, it beautifully describes love, friendship, betrayal, and redemption. Be warned that the novel is violent and graphic at times, so understand that while moving, the story is dark and disturbing. It’s that contrast between the worst of human nature and the best that truly brings out a remarkable tale that will stay with you for a long time.

Publication Date: 29 May 2003 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Daisy Jones & The Six

Taylor jenkins reid.

Among the highest rated books on Goodreads in 2019, Daisy Jones & The Six won the Goodreads Choice Award for best historical fiction for good reason. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s addictingly fun read about the rise and fall of a fictional 70s band couldn’t be left off this list. With sex, drugs, and plenty of drama, you’ll feel like you are watching a biopic on VH1 – but an extremely well-written one.

Publication Date: 5 March 2019 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Code Name Hélène

Ariel lawhon.

Ariel Lawhon’s new novel based on a true story has already won a place in the best books of 2020. Nancy Wake, a New Zealander living in Paris, becomes a spy for the British and rises to one of the top leaders of the French Resistance and one of the most decorated women of the war. The story is split into two narratives – the first starting with Nancy parachuting into France in 1944 and the second telling of her courtship in 1938 with her husband, Henri Fiocca. You’ll fall in love with Henri and cheer on Nancy as she transforms into a fierce fighter and respected commander. As the earlier timeline catches up with the later one, you’ll feel all the emotions of a woman caught up in a terrible war.

Publication Date: 31 March 2020 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Thrilling Five Star Mysteries

A Time To Kill

John grisham.

John Grisham’s debut novel didn’t receive much attention until after he published the bestsellers The Firm and The Pelican Brief , but it’s my favorite of his books. After the brutal rape of a 10-year-old girl, her father seeks his own justice and murders the rapists. With the Mississippi town aflame, young attorney Jake Brigance must decide how much he is willing to risk to defend the father. Just be warned, the beginning of the book is horribly graphic and extremely hard to read.

Publication Date: 1989 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

And Then There Were None

Agatha christie.

If you want a quick classic mystery, Agatha Christie is the way to go. You’ll have fun trying to figure out whodunit on an isolated island mansion where the suspects start dying off one by one. I’ll be impressed if you figure it out. I never do. A classic for a reason, this novel is surprisingly short, leaving you plenty to read even more five-star books.

Publication Date: 6 November 1939 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Stuart turton.

On the 19th anniversary of their son’s murder, Lord and Lady Hardcastle throw a party with the same guests as that fateful day long ago. At 11 pm, Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered. In a Groundhog Day -esque fashion, Aidan Bishop must relive this day 8 times, but from the perspective of eight different witnesses. His task: identify Evelyn’s murderer, or do it all over again. Evelyn Hardcastle will throw you into a brilliant game of Clue as you see the same events from multiple perspectives. Just ignore the why this happening and jump right into the mystery come to life, with plenty of fun twists and turns along the way.

Publication Date: 8 February 2018 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Girl on the Train

Paula hawkins.

Taking the same train to work every day, Rachel is fascinated by a woman who lives along her route. Every day, Rachel gets a glimpse into this woman’s “perfect” life. Until one day, when Rachel witnesses something shocking. I think unreliable narrators like Rachel make for the best page-turners because you can never figure out what is true and what is not. You might love it or hate it, but The Girl on the Train wins all the stars in my book.

Publication Date: 6 January 2015 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Lost Man

Jane harper.

Way out in the Australia outback, brothers Nathan and Bub Bright find the body of their brother Cameron on the edge of their ranch. Did Cam end his own life walking out into the desert or did someone end it for him? More an enveloping character study than a murder mystery, The Lost Man looks at the secrets a family keeps combined with a fascinating portrayal of life in the outback.

Publication Date: 23 October 2018 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Top Rated Books of All Time –  Science Fiction & Fantasy

The Martian

Astronaut Mark Watney wakes up to find himself marooned on the planet Mars, left for dead by the crew of the Ares 3 mission. Now, he must use all his ingenuity to overcome insurmountable odds for the chance to return home to Earth. I love how Weir uses real science and technology in this captivating book. I have to say it’s one of the best science fiction books out there, and one of the most thrilling books I’ve read in recent years – which is saying a lot considering how much I read.

Publication Date: 27 September 2012 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

World War Z

Don’t let Brad Pitt’s “meh” film adaptation put you off from reading Max Brooks’ novel. The book is far and away superior in every possible way. Written as an oral history of the Zombie War, Brooks splits the book into a series of short stories, interviews of survivors of the war. Each tale focuses on a snippet of the conflict – from the discovery of Patient Zero to the complete invasion of Japan to the point where the balance shifts in favor of humans. Brooks expertly narrates each character to convey a diverse overview of a fictional world event. Don’t let the concept of zombies turn you off, the story is a five-star read for anyone. If you have the chance, be sure to pick up the full-cast audiobook.

Publication Date: 12 September 2006 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Ender’s Game

Orson scott card.

In a future where humanity is at war with an alien enemy determined to destroy life on Earth, Ender Wiggin is a third child in a family of extraordinarily gifted children. Sent off to battle school at only six years of age, Ender – with his perfect mix of compassion and ruthlessness – is forced to become the military genius humanity so desperately needs. Ender’s Game is an amazing novel – not only thrilling enough to intrigue teenage boys who never read but also so packed with complex themes and deeper meanings you’ll want to read it again and again.

Publication Date: 15 January 1985 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Isaac Asimov

In a far distant future, psychohistorian Hari Seldon has analyzed the cycle of history and realizes that after twelve thousand years in power, the Galactic Empire is headed toward collapse. A collapse that will spawn 30,000 years of Dark Ages. To prevent complete disaster and shorten this dark period, Seldon sets up Foundation – a planet on the edge of the galaxy to contain the best minds with the knowledge of humanity. At crucial junctures in history, Seldon has set up steps to sway the course of events to protect the fledgling Foundation. Considered one of the best science fiction books of all time, Isaac Asimov shines in this classic tale.

Publication Date: 1942 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Name of the Wind

Patrick rothfuss.

Everyone should read at least one fantasy series in their life, and this is the best one out there. Kvothe, a living legend in the world he lives in, tells how he cultivated his life into a myth of epic proportions to a local biographer. The intricate details of the world Rothfuss creates will captivate your attention for days on end. Be warned, Rothfuss never released the third book in the series, so start this book at your own risk.

Publication Date: 27 March 2007 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

5 Star Rated Books: Memoirs

The Glass Castle

Jeannette walls.

One of the most powerful memoirs of recent years, Jeannette Walls recounts the story of her tumultuous childhood. She opens the book with the account of how at 3 years old, she ends up hospitalized with severe burns after pouring scalding water on herself when cooking hot dogs for lunch. You meet her charming father Rex, equal measures brilliant and paranoid; her mother Rose, selfish and depressed; and her three siblings, trying their best just to survive. To quote my husband, “Sometimes someone’s train wreck of a life is fascinating.”

Publication Date: March 2005 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Tara Westover

There is no excuse to not read Tara Westover’s spectacular memoir. In my opinion, Educated was one of the best books of the last decade . Westover grew up in the rural mountains of Idaho with no formal education. Despite her extremist survivalist parents and violent older brother, Westover managed to make her way into college, eventually earning a Ph.D. Her amazing determination is inspiring while the circumstances of her childhood are incredibly sad. Definitely one of those books that will stay with you for a long time.

Publication Date: 20 February 2018 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Michelle Obama

One of the highest-selling books of recent years, Michelle Obama’s memoir is easily one of the top five-star books to read. Detailing her childhood on the South Side of Chicago, her success as a working mother, and her years in the White House, Michelle Obama shows how her past has shaped her into who she has become today. A poignant memoir of a woman trying to do her best for her family while balancing the greater good of having a husband in politics, Obama’s story is a remarkable tale no matter what your political affiliation.

Publication Date: 13 November 2018 Learn More : Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Marley & Me

John grogan.

I don’t even like dogs, and I loved this book. The antics of Marley, the world’s worst dog, are simply hilarious. Even more, the love that springs up between Marley and his owner despite Marley’s many flaws is so touching. A great reminder for you to be grateful for the love of four-legged friends in your life. When Marley eventually dies of old age, you’ll be in tears at the wonderful life of “the world’s worst dog.”

Publication Date: 18 October 2005 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

I Am, I Am, I Am

Maggie o’farrell.

I can’t begin to describe how incredible this book is. Instead of telling you her life story, Maggie O’Farrell gives you glimpses into her life through separate incidents where she brushed against death, which has occurred surprisingly often. From a childhood illness to near-fatal accidents to miscarriage, O’Farrell gives you such an intriguing look not just at how she has almost died, but more importantly how she has lived. If you are willing to listen to an audiobook, the narrator on this one is exceptional.

Publication Date: 22 August 2017 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Nonfiction 5 Star Books to Read

Band of Brothers

Stephen e. ambrose.

The thrilling account of Easy Company, a unit of the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army is one of my favorite World War 2 books . The book gets its title from the Shakespeare quote, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.” Instead of following one man’s journey, the cast of characters winds in and out as men come and go from the company due to reassignment, injury, and death. Stephen Ambrose’s powerful book is a remarkable look at the everyday men who became legends.

Publication Date: 6 June 1992 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

David McCullough

David McCullough is the king of history, and you can’t go wrong with any of his books. In this astounding work, McCullough tells of one year of the American Revolution – of the leadership of George Washington, the brilliance of Nathanael Greene, and the ingenuity of Henry Knox. Giving a fascinating look at the war that lead to American independence, McCullough brings history to life for even non-history buffs.

Publication Date: 24 May 2005 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

In Cold Blood

Truman capote.

Truman Capote was the founder of narrative nonfiction with his thrilling look at an unspeakable crime. On November 15, 1959, in the small farming town of Holcomb, Kansas, two men brutally murder the Clutter family in their home for no apparent reason. Through extensive interviews from the first days on the scene and following the events all the way to the execution of the murderers, Capote suspensefully unfolds the whole story of exactly what happened and more intriguing of all, why it happened. Make sure you set aside a chunk of time to read this modern classic because, I promise, once you start you’ll realize this is a book you can’t put down .

Publication Date: 1965 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Blind Side

Michael lewis.

Did you know the Oscar-winning movie was based on a five star book? Michael Lewis is an expert at writing narrative nonfiction, and he takes his talents to cover football in The Blind Side . You probably know it’s the inspiring story of Michael Oher, who, after being taken in by the Tuohy family, rose to become one of the most sought after football players of his generation. However, what you probably don’t realize is that the book itself is also about the evolution of football. Lewis gives a fascinating look at how the game has changed over the decades and why that leads to the importance of Michael Oher’s position.

Publication Date: 17 September 2006 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Only Plane in the Sky

Garrett m. graff.

Graff spent years collecting stories about 9/11 and compiled them into one of the best books of 2019. In this outstanding book, he compiles quotes from various people together to fill out a brilliant oral history into a timeline of that fateful day. Let me tell you, this is a powerful read. I had to digest it in small pieces because I started to cry from the very first page. As an older millennial, 9/11 was a defining day in my life, I was old enough to understand that everything had changed. However, reading this account helped me truly understand the absolute confusion of the day. I paid more for this book than I have for any other book. And I have to say, it was worth every penny. If I could rate it six stars, I would.

Publication Date: 10 September 2019 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

John Carreyrou

Imagine a Silicon Valley startup that raised insane amounts of money all based on a gigantic fraud. It sounds like a fictional thriller, but it is the actual true story of the company Theranos. Investigative journalist John Carreyrou’s expose of Elizabeth Holmes’s company is an eye-opening read. Looking back, the massive power of Silicon Valley will surely be a recurrent theme in literature in the years to come.

Publication Date: 21 May 2018 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Malcolm Gladwell

What makes extremely successful people different from others? Is it talent, intelligence or hard work? Gladwell uses statistics and interesting real-life examples to show how closely success is tied to not only natural ability and hard work but also opportunity and timing. It’s one of those books that get you thinking about how much culture, upbringing, and just plain luck play into your life.

Publication Date: 18 November 2008 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Power of Habit

Charles duhigg.

One of the hottest topics of the last decade has been habits – how they form and how we can use them to better ourselves. The New York Times reporter Charles Duhigg takes an in-depth look at the power habits have in our lives. Explaining the science of habits with fascinating real-life stories, Duhigg’s style is much like Malcolm Gladwell’s. One of my favorite books I read last year, I proudly proclaim  The Power of Habit as one of my favorite five star reads.

Publication Date: 28 February 2012 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Essentialism

Greg mckeown.

Greg McKeown encourages you to the pursuit of less into all aspects of your life. Described as Essentialism, McKeown urges you to learn how to decide what is most essential and then cut out anything else. All about reclaiming your life through powerful choices, McKeown will make you realize it’s not about having more time, it’s about doing the right things with the time you have.

Publication Date: 31 December 2011 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Invisible Women

Caroline criado perez.

In an eye-opening book, Caroline Criado Perez shows that we live in a world designed for men that systemically discriminates against women. With overwhelming statistics, Perez exposes the prevalent gender-data gap in countless fields, including medicine, technology, and urban planning. The staggering evidence will blow your mind and make you rethink everything you thought you knew. If you have a chance, Perez’s audiobook narration is spectacular, catching every hint of sarcasm, disbelief, and anger in the author’s voice.

Publication Date: 7 March 2019 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Five Star Classic Books

To Kill a Mockingbird

There’s a good reason that practically every school makes you read this book. Voted the Great American Read and one of Goodreads’ best books, To Kill A Mockingbird is a timeless classic that everyone should read. The story of young Scout and Jem watching their father Atticus Finch defend an innocent black man will make you want to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.

Publication Date: 11 July 1960 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Les Misérables

Victor hugo.

Among long classic books , Les Misérables is one of the most famous stories ever told. Victor Hugo’s tale of Jean Valjean – the peasant convicted for stealing a loaf of bread – will leave you breathless. From the example of forgiveness of the priest to the unrelenting determination of Inspector Javert, the story has so many outstanding themes to learn from. Yes, the musical is fantastic, but if you have a chance, be sure to pick up the original book. While it might drag in some spots, overall, the story is simply unforgettable.

Publication Date: 1862 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Count of Monte Cristo

Alexandre dumas.

If you haven’t read this amazing classic novel yet, you are truly missing out. Dumas’ epic tale of revenge will keep you entertained through all of its 1,000+ pages, making it a long classic worth your time . Wrongfully imprisoned for years, Edmond Dantes successfully escapes a brutal French prison and sets out to get the ultimate revenge on all those who have wronged him. The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the top classics to read in your lifetime.

Publication Date: 1844 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Pride and Prejudice

Jane austen.

It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen the BBC miniseries or the Keira Knightley movie, you still need to read the book. Jane Austen’s witty novel is a fun reminder of the importance of marrying for love and not lust or security. Follow along as Elizabeth Bennett goes from loathing to loving Mr. Darcy in this classic British tale.

Publication Date: 1813 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

George Orwell

Published in 1949, George Orwell’s terrifying vision of the future is just as important today as when it was written. Telling the story of Winston, a depressed Party worker who longs to join the Resistance, 1984 shows the horror of a totalitarian society continually at war. Commonly referenced in modern culture (i.e., Big Brother, doublethink, thoughtcrime,), 1984 is one of the top classics to read in your lifetime.

Publication Date: 1949 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Five Star Books For Kids and Young Adults

R. J. Palacio

If you think about the best books of the decade for children, you have to recognize Wonder as the clear winner. This story of a boy with a severely deformed face entering public middle school for the first time will make you ponder how you react to people who look differently. This middle-grade phenomenon will be read in classrooms around America for years to come.

Publication Date: 14 February 2012 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Book Thief

Markus zusak.

A book narrated by Death might be off-putting at first, but quickly you’ll fall in love with this Young Adult WWII historical fiction. In 1939, Liesel Meminger is sent to live with foster parents in Munich. There she befriends the charming neighborhood boy Rudy and settles into a life of book thievery. Coming of age during the rise of the Nazis, Liesel and Rudy must face the complications of growing up in a dictatorship they hate.

Publication Date: 1 September 2005 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Hate U Give

Angie thomas.

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter works hard to find balance in her life between her poor neighborhood and the elite suburban prep school she attends. Yet, when Starr is the only witness to the fatal police shooting of her best friend, she finds herself in the middle of a national headline. With all the recent coverage of police shootings, Thomas’ novel adds a new layer to the conversation on this important topic. If you want to discuss this same topic with younger children, I suggest reading the middle-grade book Blended by Sharon M. Draper.

Publication Date: 28 February 2017 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Fault in Our Stars

Two kids with cancer who fall in love. That’s a recipe for tears if I’ve ever heard one. Knowing that she will die someday sooner rather than later, Hazel is afraid to let anyone get close to her. In her selfless way, she wants her death to cause as little pain as possible. Yet when she meets Augustus Waters in her Cancer Kid Support Group, her conviction begins to waver. The true beauty of this story lies in the ending lines: “You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, but you do have some say in who hurts you.” If you want an inspiring and emotional read, this book is for you.

Publication Date: 10 January 2012 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

Code Name Verity

Elizabeth wein.

I can’t recommend this book enough. Seriously, if you are just dipping your toe into World War II novels, you should choose this one. You’ll find yourself immersed in a world of intrigue with the story of a British spy, Agent “Verity.” Captured when her plane crashes in occupied France, Verity is interrogated by the Gestapo in an attempt to learn of her mission. As she confesses under torture, you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat wondering what secrets she is willing to exchange for her life. How far is she willing to go for her mission? A brilliant and emotional read that you won’t want to miss.

Publication Date: 6 February 2012 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

The Harry Potter Series

J. k. rowling.

Although I had already compiled my list of 50 five-star books, I just couldn’t resist adding 7 more. That’s right, I firmly declare that all seven books in the Harry Potter series deserve full stars. Immersed in a magical world within our own, the Harry Potter series send children on the ultimate hero’s quest as Harry Potter must fight off the pending evil from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Just as entertaining for adults as for kids, the series is one of the best ever written, and the books I reread more than any others.

Publication Date: 26 June 1997 Learn More: Goodreads | More Info Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books

What 5 star books do you recommend?

• Overrated Bestsellers: Read This Not That 2020 Edition
• The Top 50 Books of the Last Decade
• 20 Book Club Books to Read in 2020

Recommended

Reader Interactions

Rachel @ Never Enough Novels says

April 3, 2020 at 8:41 pm

This is an insane book list!!! We have so many similar opinions (and I spy a bunch that were included on my best of the decade list). I also adore the fact that you added all the HP books at the end 🙂 Well deserved! I have Code Name Verity on my mantle right now and it’s the only YA one I haven’t read. Moving that to the top of my list!

Rachael says

April 6, 2020 at 6:01 pm

Oh, yes do! I’ve been really wanting to re-read it lately. Maybe when the library is open again this summer.

Michelle says

April 8, 2020 at 12:39 am

Thanks for the 5 star booklist. I have read a lot of Jane Austen books and John Grisham books. My favorite book of late was Girl on the Train. I will check out some of those other ones you suggested. Did you read A Sparkling Fire? Can’t remember the author ‘s name but it’s about Ww ll. Is that post office box your address? I would like to write to you. Is the pandemic taking you away from a book a day due to homeschooling?

April 13, 2020 at 6:25 pm

No, that isn’t my PO Box. Mine is in the post office. I was taking pictures of books when I spotted the open slots on some neighborhood mail system. I figured it would be a good backdrop for my photo. My PO Box isn’t listed on the blog, but you can’t email me anytime.

My reading has definitely fluctuated throughout this pandemic. Actually homeschooling has increased my reading. My kids don’t need me to actively teach them, just direct them to a new task every 15-20 minutes. The short gap is very conducive to reading while supervising them.

Ashton Skelton says

August 27, 2020 at 4:43 am

Thank you for this list! I’m not sure what the five star pics are based on and if you’ve already read all of these, but everyone that I had already read that was on this list I completely agree with being five star. And I own probably half of the others and I’m slowly working my way through them. But I am currently stuck in the middle of game of thrones which I’m surprisingly not enjoying. I will pick one of these bad boys up when I’m done with it!

May 28, 2021 at 12:49 am

This list is AMAZING. Thank you

Terrie says

April 8, 2020 at 10:43 pm

This is a great list and I find that are tastes are surprisingly similar. While I haven’t read all of these and maybe some were a 4 star for me, I can totally see why they made your Best Of list. It’s a lot of work to put together this comprehensive of a list …. good job! It’s nice to find a reader with similar taste so that I know to trust your opinions on future books. 🙂 Thanks for all your hard work – I love your many lists.

April 13, 2020 at 6:28 pm

Thanks so much! I set out to do a list of five books each from specific genres, so I may have moved a few of my 4.5 stars up to fill the categories.

The real question is do I just keep adding books as I read more amazing stories, or do I keep it at 50 books. Luckily I have awhile before I feel like updating it.

Sheree @ Keeping Up With The Penguins says

April 9, 2020 at 2:55 am

Totally with you on so many of these: A Man Called Ove, The Martian, 1984, In Cold Blood… plus, there’s a few lingering on my shelves that I’ve not got to yet, thank you for the added motivation/reminder! 😉

April 13, 2020 at 6:29 pm

Yay! I hope the move up on your TBR. I often kick myself when I realized I let an amazing book languish on my TBR for years.

Donnajean arnold says

April 21, 2020 at 3:18 pm

I was most delighted that you recommended ,the last plane in the sky,. I thought it was fantastic information and so well written. Ive been recommending it to everyone I know.

Dr.Naveed Ifra says

May 8, 2020 at 9:48 pm

Glad to see ur list ;awesome

I have nearly 6-7 of these n today on my day (bday ) I m planning to gift rest of 43 books to myself ;Thanku so much for this Levi’s dedicated list

May 13, 2020 at 1:57 pm

You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy them.

May 26, 2020 at 8:36 pm

So many of my favorites!!!I would add Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts and Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

E McElroy says

October 27, 2022 at 4:16 pm

I was thinking that The Nightingale and Before We Were Yours should be added to this list. I haven’t read Shelter in Place, and Truly Madly Guilty wasn’t a favorite of mine, but we don’t all have to agree with everything.

Yollande says

July 22, 2020 at 4:39 pm

Thank you for this list! I can’t wait to read the ones that I haven’t tackled yet. I absolutely loved, loved, loved Daisy Jones and the Six – this is definitely one of my favourite audiobook! I would highly recommend “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah, “A Gentleman In Moscow” and “Rules of Civility” both by Amor Towles and “Red Notice” by Bill Browder. Some brilliantly narrated audiobooks that I’ve had the pleasure of listening to include: “Inside the O’Brien” and “Left Neglected” both by Lisa Genova, “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese, “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman, “The City of Girls” by Elizabeth Gilbert, “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen and “The Book of Dust” by Philip Pullman. I have a longer list but I’ll stop here.

Marija Manic says

August 17, 2020 at 12:01 pm

The list is great! However, I would include The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and also Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides as well as The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker. Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes is also one of my favourites. If you haven’t read these novels, I strongly recommend them. Thanks again for your list, there are some books I still haven’t read but certainly will

Meredith says

October 14, 2021 at 1:18 am

I completely agree with you about The Goldfinch. Some of these book lists just astound me by trying to compare apples to oranges. Listing Girl in the Train and NOT listing Pulitzer winning The Goldfinch is one such example. I thought Girl in a Train was a run of the mill formulaic mystery that I found to be below average when compared to European mysteries! I am going to try the other books you mentioned. I do have Middlesex. Thanks!

September 17, 2020 at 4:48 am

The part on Harry Potter gave me a chuckle! I absolutely support your decision to add all 7 books to the list. I re-read these the most too – nearly once a year I go through all 7. There’s something very comforting about Rowling’s prose.

DBurke says

October 22, 2020 at 9:24 am

Of the first 25, I have read 19… one of the few times I have found myself in a “must read” list. I would encourage readers to “find your reading tribe.” Just because it’s a published list of books, doesn’t mean I/you will agree. I have find my reading list helpers at Goodreads, Bookbub and the NPR lists… happy reading all!

Suzanne says

November 3, 2020 at 5:00 pm

Excellent list! A Time to Kill has always been a little underrated, but I thought it was a very powerful book; I’m glad to see it on your list. The second book in the series, Sycamore Row, was a strong follow-up and I’m really looking forward to the third book, A Time for Mercy.

November 22, 2020 at 6:09 pm

This is a great list! We seem to have similar taste in books. Have you ever read The Inextinguishable Symphony? I highly recommend.

Renee Freeman says

December 7, 2020 at 6:53 am

Great list, would add, especially the audio, Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.

December 16, 2020 at 1:07 pm

My new favorite is Beartown by Fredrik Backman.

January 17, 2021 at 2:27 am

I have read many of the books on this list and agree that most of them are excellent. However, I must take you to task on Glass Castle. I thought it was well-written and I enjoyed reading it. But as someone who worked in Social Services for many years, I found the book to be completely implausible! The book was written when memoirs were selling much better than novels. I am convinced that an editor somewhere told Wallis to present her novel as a “memoir” in order to increase sales! I don’t think that woman could ever corroborate a single thing in that incredulous book! I can’t believe she hasn’t been confronted in this by now!

Yamila says

February 12, 2021 at 9:07 pm

Is there a checklist?

February 15, 2021 at 1:21 pm

If you are a newsletter subscriber, I do have a printable version (with a checklist) in my Queen’s Secret Library. Just look at any of your emails for the link and password!

February 27, 2021 at 10:37 pm

My new favorite author is Fredrik Backman. I liked A Man Called Ova, but I absolutely loved Beartown and it’s sequel Us Against You. I’m reading Anxious People now. I enjoy his writing style. I also just finished The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. Highly recommend it!!

March 2, 2021 at 3:00 pm

Backman is such an interesting writer. He definitely has a unique writing style. I need to read more of his books!

Connie says

March 8, 2022 at 10:12 pm

Yes! I read Anxious People and I would definitely include it on my all-time 5 star list!

March 10, 2022 at 8:23 am

He is a favorite of mine. I’ve read everything he’s written an anxiously await each new book. The third beartown book is coming out in September

KAREN ADAMS says

May 27, 2021 at 1:50 pm

I think The Clay Girl is one of the best I have read in recent years!

February 2, 2022 at 8:22 pm

“Rules of Civility” would be right up your alley as it was my favorite of 2021. I also LOVED “Blind Your Ponies” by Stanley Gordon West. The audiobook is a must.

February 7, 2022 at 1:36 pm

Oh, Rules of Civility is a great book. Though I will admit, I didn’t love it as much as A Gentleman in Moscow or The Lincoln Highway. He really is a brilliant writer.

Kondwani Thawi Nyirongo says

February 10, 2022 at 4:02 pm

Its been a while since I read a book. U have inspired me with your list to get back to reading. Bless you

March 8, 2022 at 4:09 pm

I’d like to add four. 1) I MUST BETRAY YOU by Ruta Septetys. One of my former bosses was Romanian and his Swiss wife said that his family’s behavior was very strange when they visited. Now I understand completely. I also recommend her OUT OF THE EASY and FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE. 2) A MORE PERFECT UNION by Tammye Huf. An incredible debut novel. What a story! 3) LITTLE WING by Freya North. Breath-taking. 4) If you like poetry, WINTER RECIPES FROM THE COLLECTIVE by Louise Glück. Only 15 poems and a little expensive but exquisite. Her first book after having won The Nobel Prize.

April 17, 2022 at 2:40 pm

One of my alltime favorites is MODOC THE WORLDS MOST AMAZING ELEPHANT. Non fiction incredibleness!

Goutham says

April 19, 2022 at 11:52 am

Perfect. Just perfect. I was going to definitely curse you if you had not added that Harry Potter section at the end. It’s just so marvelous that I can’t express it with words:)

Kerry Chrisman says

April 20, 2022 at 4:43 pm

I love your list, but I would include A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (which I am currently rereading), Diary of a Young Girl and The Great Gatsby.

Anonymous says

April 24, 2022 at 12:23 pm

I’ve read all but 18 and all the others I have read were either 4 or 5 star for me. Love this list! Have you updated it? Just add more! I can never get too many book recs and you definitely seem to like the same ones I do. Thank you so much.

Arati Phillips says

May 31, 2022 at 9:45 pm

Love your list! Thank you. Have to catch up on my reading. Your suggestions are ‘right up my sleeve’ Keep it up!

Connie Mercer says

August 4, 2022 at 3:23 am

Love your list. I have read many of these and now have a list of what to read next! In high school, my favorite was Exodus by Leon Uris. Others are Bel Canto, Poisonwood Bible, Ahab’s Wife, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, The Thirteenth Tale. So many good reads!!

Dan West says

October 18, 2022 at 12:45 pm

THIS is a stunning list, thank you! The degree of correlation to my own tastes and experiences is almost unsettling. And (sarcastically:) thanks a LOT for adding to my endless and ever-growing “burden” of books I MUST READ! I noticed a prior comment mentioning Bel Canto (Ann Patchett, who is nearly-always brilliant!), which brought up for me another resonant master of the medium: EVERYTHING by Lauren Groff (and here, “everything” is not a title, but an amount). Jus’ sayin’. And thank you, NON-sarcastically!

Rachel says

October 30, 2022 at 1:44 am

Fantastic list! I have seen many book lists and read thousands of books, and your list is one of the very best I’ve seen! I have already read and love so many books on your list, and I’m adding all of the others to my list. I can’t wait to dive in! I feel almost like we’re kindred spirits, especially since we share a name. Thanks for such a fantastic list!

These Are 19 Of The Highest Rated Books on Goodreads

Tasha Brandstatter

Tasha is the least practical person you will ever meet. She grew up reading historical romance novels, painting watercolors like a 19th century debutant, and wanting to be Indiana Jones--or at the very least Indiana Jones's girlfriend. All this led her to pursue a career in the field of art history. After spending ten years in academia without a single adventure in Mesoamerica, however, Tasha decided to change her career and be a freelance writer (although she's still waiting on that adventure). In addition to writing for Book Riot, she's a regular contributor to History Colorado, the Pueblo PULP, and Opposing Views. She also runs two book blogs: Truth Beauty Freedom and Books (title inspired by Moulin Rouge, best movie ever) and The Project Gutenberg Project, dedicated to finding forgotten classics. Tasha also likes to have a drink or two and blogs about cocktails at Liquid Persuasion, as well as small town restaurants on Nowhere Bites. Blog: Truth Beauty Freedom and Books  and  The Project Gutenberg Project Twitter:  @heidenkind

View All posts by Tasha Brandstatter

What are the highest rated books on Goodreads? The answer is harder to come by than you might expect.

Why Is It So Hard To Find The Highest Rated Books On Goodreads?

First, there is no easy way to sort books by rating in Goodread’s “advanced” search options. And while lists like Popular Top Rated Books  exist, they’re populated and voted on by users, not generated through an algorithm.

That’s how an obscure book like  NICU II and Victoria’s Incestuous Romance  gets to the top of Most Popular Young Adult Books or Best Popular Romance Books , even though it’s neither YA or romance, and each list is supposed to have a minimum of 100K ratings: someone decided to be clever and vote for it multiple times.

Goodreads also has a “shelves” feature to define book genres, but again, the shelves are generated by readers and subject to user error.

Some lists have questionable parameters, for example  Books With a Goodreads Average Rating of Over 4.5 and With At Least 100 Ratings isn’t terribly useful when the number of ratings is set so low . Can a book with 1 million ratings and a book with 100 really be considered as “competing” on the same playing field when it comes to ratings? After all, the more people who read a book, the more people there are who are bound to dislike it .

Also, bestsellers often attract readers who would never normally pick up that type of book. Whereas books with a lower number of ratings are probably being read by those who are already fans of the genre or topic, and therefore more likely to give it a good rating.

How we arrived at our list

That’s why when creating this list, we didn’t solely rely on Goodreads’s “most popular” lists, nor is this list mathematically scientific. We took into account the number of ratings, the ratings spread (i.e., what percentage are 5 stars?), and the genre, since Goodreads heavily favors fantasy and young adult (as you’ll see in a bit).

Not seeing some highly rated books on Goodreads you think should be on here? Chances are it likely didn’t have enough ratings, was by an author already on the list (we limited it to one book per author), or we simply missed it! Hey, it happens. There are a lot of books on Goodreads. Feel free to mention it in the comments.

The highest rated books on Goodreads

And now on to the list of highest rated books on Goodreads (according to our calculations)!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

4.46 avg rating—1,744,568 ratings

A book club favorite , Stockett’s novel tackles heavy-hitting topics like race, gender, and class with a story that’s funny, heart-warming, and approachable. Despite the fact that it’s received a fair bit of criticism for its portrayal of African American women, it’s easy to understand why this book became such a huge bestseller.

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin

4.45 avg rating—1,603,578 ratings

It’s not a surprise to see Martin’s epic fantasy series on Goodread’s Most Popular lists, thanks to the HBO TV series. But the fact that more than a million and a half people have read the books and the average rating is perilously close to 4.5 is a testament to Martin’s ability to tell a gripping tale and keep a plot moving over hundreds and hundreds of pages. No easy feat! Now if he’d only finish the next book in the series…

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2) by Sarah J. Maas

4.70 avg rating—257,774 ratings

If you haven’t read a book by Maas yet, maybe you should get on that. Her young adult fantasy series, A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass, are both highly rated across the board, rarely dropping below 4.5. That’s probably why she’s been a Goodreads Choice Awards winner three times over.

The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1) by Brandon Sanderson

4.64 avg rating—197,108 ratings

Sanderson’s epic fantasy series are all hugely popular and highly rated, but the Stormlight Archive fantasy saga appears to be readers’ favorite. The average Goodreads rating for the books published in the series so far is 4.6.

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare

4.59 avg rating—270,032 ratings

Clare is another YA fantasy author whose books are frequently found in the top rated shelves on Goodreads. You might be more familiar with her Mortal Instruments series, but the Infernal Devices books are her highest rated—so far!

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss

4.55 avg rating—521,085 ratings

Another epic fantasy told from the viewpoint of a wizard turned…bartender? Fans describe it as addictive, beautifully written, and inventive. Most of Rothfuss’s other novels are just as highly rated, including the sequel to this book, The Wise Man’s Fear .

The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5) by Rick Riordan

4.5 avg rating—539,901 ratings

Whether you think of this book as a YA or MG fantasy, Riordan deserves to be on a list of top rated Goodreads books. He’s won the GR Choice Awards more times than any other writer—seven since 2011—and every book he’s written rates above an average of four stars. The Last Olympian is the highest rated book in his Percy Jackson series at 4.5.

As mentioned before, the vast majority of the books above are fantasy, either of the YA or adult variety. So we decided to expand our list to include a few other popular genres.

Highest Rated Literary/Historical Fiction

The nightingale by kristin hannah.

4.53 avg rating—655,848 ratings

Set in WWII France during the Occupation, this book will gut you. Guaranteed.

Top Rated Horror Novel

The green mile by stephen king.

4.43 avg rating—205,883 ratings

As you might imagine, a list of the most popular horror novels on Goodreads is basically a Stephen King wash out, with a couple of Neil Gaiman’s novels thrown in for some variety. The Green Mile is the highest rated of King’s many novels.

Highest Rated Comic/Graphic Novel

I included two here because I wanted to.

The Essential Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

4.63 avg rating—102,811 ratings

Who doesn’t love Calvin and Hobbes ? Judging by Goodreads, only 1% of the human population.

Death Note, Vol. 1: Boredom (Death Note, #1) by Tsugumi Ohba,  Takeshi Obata (Illustrator), Pookie Rolf (Translator)

4.42 avg rating—152,754 ratings

If you know anything about manga, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Death Note, which is by far the most popular manga on Goodreads and ranks among the highest rated graphic novel series on the site.

Top Rated Romance

Hopeless (hopeless, #1) by colleen hoover.

4.33 avg rating—367,809 ratings

TBH, I would have been shocked if Hoover wasn’t the author of Goodread’s highest rated romance. She’s a perennial Goodreads Choice Awards nominee and winner, and her emotional new adult romances have a super-loyal fanbase.

Top Rated Mystery

And then there were none by agatha christie.

4.24 avg rating—549,284 ratings

For some reason it’s difficult to find a highly rated mystery with more than 100,000 ratings on Goodreads. The Complete Sherlock Holmes could arguably be the winner at 4.5. But with nearly 5x the number of ratings, And Then There Were None from the Queen of Crime deserves to be crowned the highest rated with a 4.24 average.

(Looking for a mystery novel published in the 21st century? The Girl Who Played with Fire and Big Little Lies are both rated 4.23.)

Highest Rated Classic Novel

To kill a mockingbird by harper lee.

4.26 avg rating—4,636,296 ratings

Classics are another genre with typically low Goodreads ratings. Probably (I’m speculating) because so many people are forced to read them in school. With 4.6 million ratings and counting, To Kill a Mockingbird is the clear leader, even though it’s only rated at 4.26. Pride & Prejudice is a close second at 4.23. And if you’re an Austenite with nothing to do and want to start a social media campaign to jack that number up, who am I to stop you??

Top Rated Non-Fiction Book

Sapiens: a brief history of humankind by yuval noah harari.

4.45 avg rating—136,877 ratings

4.45 is a very high rating for non-fiction on Goodreads, which is somewhat comforting in that it suggests people are engaging critically with their non-fiction content. In Sapiens , Harari tells the story of how humans became what we are, starting with our prehistoric roots and ending with a view to the future. Most people call this book enlightening and informative, although some accuse Harari of being, “biased against humans and society” and not offering proper evidence to support his claims. You decide!

Highest Rated Memoir

Born a crime: stories from a south african childhood by trevor noah.

4.42 avg rating—128,738 ratings

Noah’s memoir of growing up mixed-race in Apartheid and post-Apartheid South Africa is the perfect blend of fascinating, funny, moving, illuminating, and entertaining as heck. Noah can tell a story like nobody’s business (hint: the more off-topic he gets, the better the twist will be at the end), and I learned so much from this book.

Born a Crime is also one of the top rated audiobooks on Goodreads.

Highest Rated Fantasy Novel (not mentioned above)

The return of the king (the lord of the rings, #3) by j.r.r. tolkien.

4.51 avg rating—545,469 ratings

Let’s face it, if you’ve gotten to the third LotR book, there’s no way you’re not giving it a high rating. You’ve come this far, Frodo!

Highest Rated YA Contemporary Novel

The hate u give by angie thomas.

4.56 avg rating—147,301 ratings

John Green and The Fault in Our Stars may own this category in terms of sheer volume of reads, but at 4.56 stars, The Hate U Give blows TFiOS out of the water. Last year’s Goodreads Choice Awards winner, The Hate U Give is a timely, unflinching, engaging, and über-relevant read by an author you need to have on your shelves . I imagine the rating will only go up after the movie comes out.

Highest Rated Book from 2017 (whose author has yet to appear on this list)

Dear ijeawele, or a feminist manifesto in fifteen suggestions by chimamanda ngozi adichie.

4.56 avg rating—22,586 ratings

Maas, Sanderson, and Clare all released highly rated books last year . Coming in right behind them is this non-fiction book by the author of We Should All Be Feminists . Inspired by a question from a friend asking for advice on how to raise her newborn daughter to be a feminist, Adichie offers fifteen essays on empowering little girls. Her suggestions are both general and specific and cover a wide range of feminist issues. Readers call this book relatable, readable, and powerful.

Want more Goodreads goodness? Follow the Book Riot Community page and get reviews, recs, and all the bibliophile discussion you could desire in one place.

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Book Lists, Book Reviews, and Editing Tips

January 25, 2024

66 Best Book Club Books of All Time | 2024 5-Star Reads

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links—at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

What makes a good book club book ? Whether you’re just starting a book club or you’ve been a part of one forever, I’ve got you covered! These are the best book club books of all time.

They’re well written, propulsive, atmospheric, full of lovable characters you want to root for, and ripe for a good discussion.

Best 5-Star Book Club Books to Spark Amazing Discussions

From the most uplifting book club books and the best fiction and nonfiction book club books to the shortest book club books and the best picks for women, these are the books every book club should read !

1. Top 20 Best Book Club Books of All Time 2. The Best Classic Book Club Books to Choose 3. The Most Popular Book Club Books for Women to Enjoy 4. The Best Nonfiction Book Club Books of All Time 5. The Best Book Club Books for Discussion 6. Addictive Book Club Reads to Keep the Pages Turning 7. Uplifting Book Club Books to Give You All the Feels 8. Short Book Club Books to Squeeze in to Your Reading Year 9. What Makes a Good Book Club Book? 10. My Favorite Book Club Planning Tool (Bookclubs) 11. What Are Book Clubs Reading Now in 2024?

Top 20 Book Club Books Your Group Needs to Read

Each book club has a different focus and purpose, and there are so many books to choose from. Even so, I have a top recommended reading list for book clubs .

These 20 books are hands down my favorite book club books of all time.

Peace like a river by leif enger.

Oh, Peace Like a River is powerful. It just stays with you. This historical fiction book will make you cry, smile, and leave you with the most heartwarming feeling ready to gush with your fellow bookworms.

Also, pssst: Leif Enger is coming out with another book this year and it’s on my most anticipated books of 2024 reading list . We’ll see if I Cheerfully Refuse is up to snuff for my 2024 book club books list.

Read the synopsis here .

Peace Like a River was published on August 2, 2001, from Grove Pr.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Americanah is one of the most amazing books for book club! It’s about a Nigerian woman who moves to the United States. I learned so much because of this book—and there’s so much room for discussion for book club, specifically about race, cultural identification, immigration, and so much more!

Plus, it’s beautifully written, and the characters are so complex and interesting. Definitely check this book out if you want a hard-hitting book to really “marinate” on for your book club.

Americanah was published on May 14, 2013, from Alfred A. Knopf.

📚 Book Club Tip: Figuring out what book to choose for book club is tricky enough, but managing all the logistics of book club can quickly fill up your time when you could be reading. My favorite book club app is a free web and mobile app called Bookclubs . Since launching my virtual book club , I’ve been able to facilitate and encourage communication easily, from automated meeting reminders to interactive member polls to quickly vote on our next book club book. Check out Bookclubs to better reach your book club reading goals, track reading history, and host group discussions!

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

This historical literary fiction book is the perfect book club pick! Honestly, any Ann Patchett is a great book club book, imo.

And here’s a hint: If you like to get into audiobooks , this is one of my absolute favorite audiobooks ! Tom Hanks narrates. Need I say more?

Anyway, from the sibling dynamics and family saga to the compelling prose and the setting of the house being almost a character in and of itself, The Dutch House is without a doubt among the top 5-star book club books.

The Dutch House was published on September 24, 2019, from Harper.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is for the literary fiction–leaning book club. It’s about much more than video games—it’s a complicated story about friendship and love, too.

This book is also the winner of the Goodreads best books of 2022 , fiction category. So you shouldn’t have to convince your book club too much. 😉

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published on July 5, 2022, from Knopf.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

This Tender Land is one of the most heartfelt epic adventure and coming-of-age stories I’ve ever read! This is definitely one of the good, clean books for book clubs you could pick in 2024.

There’s many themes you could dive into for book club, including a sense of belonging, found family, loyalty, love, betrayal, and hope.

Not to mention the setting (1930s Minnesota to St. Louis ) and the historical impact of the Great Depression . . . what a book!

This Tender Land was published on September 3, 2019, from Atria Books.

One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel

Laurie Frankel’s books are perfect for book club, in my opinion! They’re compelling and easy to read, but they tackle some heavier themes with plenty of room for discussion.

If you’re looking for unique book club books, One, Two, Three should be at the top of your list.

The character development, premise, and disability representation is all incredible. I’m also reading her newest book, Family, Family , which comes out in a few weeks, is also on my most anticipated 2024 new releases list. I think it will make a great book club pick, too.

One, Two, Three was published on June 8, 2021, from Henry Holt and Co.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

The Berry Pickers is an immersive family drama that pulled me in immediately.

There’s so much to discuss for book club, from family ties and carrying the emotional burdens of your family to forgiveness, loyalty, and what it looks like to belong.

There are heavy themes here, of course, but The Berry Pickers is a wonderful, short book for book club.

The Berry Pickers was published on April 4, 2023, from Catapult.

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

Obviously I loved This Time Tomorrow , which is the perfect literary time-slip novel! I loved gushing about this book with my friends, and I know it would make a great book club book.

This Time Tomorrow is a lighthearted page-turner, but there’s some heavier topics to discuss as well, like aging and loving yourself through that process, seeing your parents through the lens of time, reevaluating what you want in life and who you love . . . the list goes on and on!

This Time Tomorrow was published on May 17, 2022, from Riverhead Books.

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett

Unlikely Animals is one of the best books I’ve ever read (check out my book review here!), but I also think it’s a great book club pick. If you’re looking for quirky or unique book club books, this is the one.

A literary tragicomedy (one of my favorite genres) is ideal for book club because it’s lighthearted and funny at times but also has heavy themes and a bit more depth. The POV of the ghosts at the local cemetery gives this book an different spin, which is fun to discuss in book club!

Unlikely Animals was published on April 12, 2022, from Ballantine Books.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

Thank you to @prhaudio and Pamela Dorman Books for the complimentary book! This is a cozy book to curl up with, and it is very character driven. Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club is a heartwarming, heartbreaking book that will leave you and your book club thinking about it for months to come.

If you’re a part of a midwestern book club, you should definitely add this one to your book club reading list.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club was published on April 18, 2023, from Pamela Dorman Books.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

If you’ve been following my reading journey online at all, you know this is one of my most favorite books of all time. The Shadow of the Wind has a chilling mystery, intrigue, a romantic and gothic setting, and characters you root for.

This gothic thriller is the perfect book for book club. After you read it, you will want to hug this book, trust me! You’ll also want to dive into the premise and the plot while gushing about the book lover setting.

The Shadow of the Wind was published on May 1, 2001, from Penguin Books.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful, quirky, unique book perfect for book club.

It might take a second to get the gals in your book club on board with an Octopus POV, but trust me, this is an endearing, heartwarming, feel-good book that also tackles some tough issues.

This is a relatively short book club read, but it’s one that will stick with you for a long time. It was also a nominee for best fiction and best debut for 2022 on Goodreads .

Remarkably Bright Creatures was published on May 3, 2022, from Ecco.

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

Another Emma Straub! All Adults Here is a great book club pick for women’s fiction. If you like the dysfunctional family gossip feel mixed with lovable characters, you will love All Adults Here .

When I read this book, I didn’t want it to end. Your book club will feel the same way—and if some of the members don’t agree, it will make for an interesting discussion!

All Adults Here was published on May 4, 2020, from Riverhead Books.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Station Eleven is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read, and if you like to annotate your books for book club, this is the one for you. This post-apocalyptic literary fiction book will give you all the feels and provide a lot of discussion about humanity, art, self-preservation, and so many interesting hypotheticals!

Bonus: You can do a book adaptation night after reading the book and watch the TV show together (which is incredible, by the way!).

Station Eleven was published on September 9, 2014, from Knopf.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Ask Again, Yes is a wonderful character-driven book about marriage, family, and the power of forgiveness.

As you may already know, I loved it . With the family drama and emotional honesty masterfully crafted, this is the perfect book club book.

I thought about this book for a long time after reading, which is always a sign of a great book club pick.

Ask Again, Yes was published on May 28, 2019, from Scribner.

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

Thank you to Doubleday for the complimentary book! The Most Fun We Ever Had is a wonderful book club book because there are so many different characters within a family, and it feels like you’re a fly on the wall for all the drama!

Even though this is somewhat chunky for a typical book club pick, Claire Lombardo’s writing style makes it easy to fly through this book.

Back when I went to an IRL book club, we read this book together, and it was such a fun one to do!

The Most Fun We Ever Had was published on June 25, 2019, from Doubleday.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Thank you to Ballantine Books for the complimentary book! Black Cake is a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for historical fiction and debut novel from 2022, so you know it’d be a great book club pick. I loved this one, and with the TV show coming out soon, I think it would make a great book club selection.

Historical and literary fiction with a mystery and driving secret? These are the best ingredients for the perfect book club book.

Black Cake was published on February 1, 2022, from Ballantine Books.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This is the book my virtual book club is reading right now! It’s definitely perfect for a cozy winter book club read —the descriptions of winter in the wilderness of Alaska are otherworldly. The Snow Child is a retelling of a Russian fairy tale.

This historical fiction book is irresistibly absorbing, tender, and oh my goodness, Eowyn Ivey can write a beautiful scene. The premise is so magical!

The Snow Child was published on February 1, 2012, from Reagan Arthur Books.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I read Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine several years ago, but it still sticks with me. Eleanor is a complex, intriguing, flawed character who experiences such transformation throughout the book.

There’s a lot to unpack in this story—mental health being the biggest topic. Broken characters and tragicomedy literary fiction stories with endings that don’t tie up in a perfect little bow are my kryptonite.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine was published on May 9, 2017, from HarperCollins.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Thank you to @prhaudio and Berkley for this complimentary book! Vera Wong is the most perfect character, and a cozy mystery is a really fun genre to explore for book club! I absolutely adored it. Check out my review !

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is funny, heartwarming, and just plain endearing.

If you have an in-person book club and like to include more elaborately themed dinners, snacks, or drinks, this would be a really fun book to select. The food and the tea and all the cozy meals made me soo hungry and ready to curl up with a warm beverage. 😂

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers was published on March 14, 2023, from Berkley.

The Best Classic Book Club Books to Choose

If your book club is more of a classic, high brow type, you need to check out these top classic book club books.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a beloved American classic and coming-of-age story at the turn of the century. Anyone who’s read it was moved to tears. Just a poignant, special book that will stick with you.

If you want to know what life was like for folks, especially young girls, in Brooklyn in the early 20th century, this is the book for you.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was published on August 18, 1943, from HarperCollins.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

If your book club hasn’t read Jane Austen yet, it’s time! Start with Persuasion .

It’s highly regarded as the most approachable Austen book, and there’s plenty to dive into about a variety of themes, including second chance love, letting go of expectations, and the issues of social mobility, and so much more.

Persuasion was first published on December 20, 1817, from Oxford University Press.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre is another amazing classic to revisit with your book club! The audiobook is incredible, too.

The heartbreak, mystery, and romance is up to par with every modern literary mystery, and it’s fascinating to discuss Victorian society with other readers!

Jane Eyre was first published on October 16, 1847, from Penguin.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Their Eyes Were Watching God is a beautiful coming-of-age story that touches on so much, including masculinity vs. femininity, power, race, and identity.

If you read the American folklorist Zora Neal Hurston back in high school, it’s time to revisit it as an adult!

Their Eyes Were Watching God was first published on January 1, 1937, from Amistad.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

If your book club likes a good gothic mystery or thriller and you all want to read more classics, Rebecca should definitely be on your list.

This book will probably be slower than your average domestic thriller, but the payoff is worth it. This is an engrossing, atmospheric read for everyone in your book club to enjoy.

Rebecca was first published on 1938, from Little, Brown and Company.

The Most Popular Book Club Books for Women to Enjoy

I think any of my top 20 best book club books are generally great picks for women, but here are some of the most popular women’s domestic fiction books for book club.

These are a lot of the titles you’ll see on Oprah’s book club list, Reese’s book club list, and Read With Jenna’s book club picks. Hey, if it’s good enough for Oprah Winfrey, it’s good enough for me!

Most of them are fun romantic comedies to fly through, family dramas, mysteries, or have some sentimental element—typically struggles with class, religion, marriage, or friendship.

There are usually other themes at play, but these are the most popular.

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

The Nest is a family drama and literary fiction book perfect for book club!

There’s so much to unpack, and the omniscient POV makes the reader feel like a fly on the wall, getting aaalll the juicy gossip.

This book is tender, funny, and definitely has some morally grey characters.

The Nest was published March 22, 2016, from HarperCollins.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

Thank you to @libro.fm and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for this complimentary book! Nora Goes Off Script is also on my best books for summer reading list , so perhaps this is a book you nominate for your book club in July or August!

This book is sweet, easy to read, and will definitely get your book club talking. It’s one of the most heartwarming romance books , funny, charming, and Nora and her kids are so precious.

Nora Goes Off Script was published on June 7, 2022, from G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Quick note: Annabel Monaghan has another book coming out in 2024 called Summer Romance (releases June 4, 2024). It looks sooo good, and it’s definitely on my most anticipated 2024 book releases list .

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

The romance community loves Beth O’Leary! I thought The Switch was so adorable and charming, and it’s such a quick contemporary romance read.

The Switch was a nominee for Best Romance in 2020 on Goodreads , so you should be able to easily convince your book club members!

The Switch was published on April 16, 2020, from Quercus.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

In Five Years is a wonderful contemporary romance time travel book!

There are some heavier themes, so sensitive readers should be sure to check content warnings. But in general, I think this book would make a great book club pick.

I love books that make you think about interesting hypotheticals. What would you do if you could see glimpses into your future? How would you change? The premise for this one is really interesting.

In Five Years was published on March, 10, 2020, from Atria Books.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

If your book club wants to read nonfiction that feels like fiction, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone should be your next pick! The mental health examination and behind-the-scenes world of a therapist is fascinating.

There’s so much to unpack in this memoir, and Lori Gottlieb’s background as a journalist really makes the book so engaging.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone was published on April 2, 2019, from Harper.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere is perfect for book club because it’s an intriguing and compelling domestic drama. There’s so much to dig into, from motherhood and adolescence to race, following the rules of society, and the tragic power of misunderstandings.

If you want to shake up your book club with a fun domestic drama you can pick apart and analyze, this is a great pick for you.

Little Fires Everywhere was published on September 12, 2017, from Penguin Press.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

If your book club likes to read backlist books and you missed the hype train on Where’d You Go, Bernadette , you simply must revisit it for book club! This is such a fun contemporary women’s fiction book to read with your friends.

The mystery will keep you turning pages, and the humor and characters will stay with you for a long time!

Where’d You Go, Bernadette was published on August 14, 2012, from Little, Brown and Company.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

It wouldn’t be a “best of all time” list without throwing Emily Henry into the mix! Beach Read is the ultimate feel-good romance with drama, heavier themes to discuss, and characters you fully swoon over—all to gush about at book club!

I think any book by Emily Henry would be perfect for book club (you know I loved Happy Place so, so much), but Beach Read seems to have the most universal appeal.

Beach Read was published on May 19, 2020, from Berkley.

Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

I’ve loved Rosie Walsh ever since I interviewed her on the podcast , way back when. This is a really fun contemporary fiction with a little romance and a little mystery thrown in.

Ghosted is a page-turner, and Rosie Walsh’s writing style is very similar to Liane Moriarty (another wonderful book club author!).

Ghosted was published on May 1, 2018, from Pamela Dorman Books.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising would be one of the most amazing books for book club in the summer! If you like a beachy, atmospheric family drama with rich-kid-summer vibes, Malibu Rising is for you.

All Taylor Jenkins Reid books would be great for book club, but this historical fiction/contemporary romance has a lot of interesting elements to discuss in a group.

Malibu Rising was published on May 27, 2021, from Ballantine Books.

The Best Nonfiction Book Club Books of All Time

I am, i am, i am: seventeen brushes with death by maggie o’farrell.

To me, the best nonfiction books for book club are the ones that feel like fiction. And that’s definitely the case with I Am, I Am, I Am . This memoir is made up of memories curated in the most interesting way.

This is an astonishing memoir with so many stories to get your book club talking. Sensitive readers should definitely look into content warnings, but overall, this is a win.

I Am, I Am, I Am was published on August 2, 2017, from Knopf.

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated is the winner of the Good Reads Choice Award for Best Memoir & Autobiography in 2018, so really, I don’t need to convince you.

Tara Westover’s words are addictive. This book is so hard to read and so hard to put down.

This memoir is vulnerable, raw, and mesmerizing. From religion and mental health to her troubled background and the theme of hope threaded throughout the book, there’s so much to dive into with this book.

Educated was published on February 20, 2018, from Random House.

Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg

Editor of Genius is an excellent nonfiction book club pick for book club members who love F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe.

For literary lovers who find the behind-the-scenes creation process of publishing to be really interesting, Editor of Genius is one of the best book club suggestions.

Editor of Genius was published on January 1, 1978, from Riverhead Trade.

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

Brain on Fire is a wild, true story! You may think it’s a little clinical to read about Susannah’s most intimate moments during her “month of madness,” but it was actually quite enthralling the whole way through.

I would love to read this book with my book club. The psychology and emphasis on mental health is so interesting, and Susannah’s inspiring family brought me to tears multiple times.

Brain on Fire was published on November 13, 2012, from Free Press.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Whether your book club members are introverts or live with or work with introverts, Quiet is a really interesting book to explore. This book truly has the power to change how we see ourselves and others.

Susan Cain talks about “restorative niches,” the places introverts retreat to when they need to recharge their energy. Discussing terms like this and exploring them together in a group really will change the way you think about introverts.

Quiet was published on January 24, 2012, from Crown Publishing Group.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Forms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown

Daring Greatly is an incredible book to read for book club if you’re looking for a nonfiction or self-help book. Brené Brown is a great author to pick in general!

If your book club is new and you’re hoping to get to know one another a bit better, why not dive into a book on vulnerability? This book explores shame, fear, vulnerability, and how we’re hard-wired to connect with others.

Daring Greatly was published on September 11, 2012, from Avery.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits is the ideal book club pick for a club full of motivated members who love to be productive. If you’re trying to form positive habits together—like reading more books in 2024 !—this would be a great book to read and discuss together.

Learn about habit stacking and how to set up and form micro goals and habits to change your life for the better. Doing this in a group and having accountability is a game-changer.

Atomic Habits was published on October 16, 2018, from Avery.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Thank you to @libro.fm and Simon Schuster for this complimentary book! This book won’t be for every book club because of the sensitive and heavier topics discussed. Plus, it’s a bit of a controversial read. You’ll need to make sure your group is okay with the content warnings first!

But for any group of people who love reading celebrity memoirs and discussing child stardom, I’m Glad My Mom Died is a fascinating read.

There’s a lot to get your group talking in this one, from TV and acting culture to mental health, creating boundaries in toxic relationships, and so much more. It’s also deeply moving, intriguing, and funny.

I’m Glad My Mom Died was published on August 9, 2022, from Simon Schuster.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Another Jeannette! The Glass Castle is one of my favorite memoirs of all time. This book is gorgeously written and reads like fiction.

It’s such a beautiful book about resilience and redemption and how Jeannette Walls defeats the odds to chase her dreams while growing up in a dysfunctional (and vibrant!) family.

The Glass Castle was published on January 1, 2005, from Scribner.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan

Another family dysfunction memoir! 😂 But really, Kelly Corrigan so intimately captures a mother-daughter relationship in Glitter and Glue . Her awareness and humor is what makes this book!

If your book club is made up of moms, you’ll have some great talking points about what motherhood really means, whether or not we become our mothers, and so on.

Glitter and Glue was published on February 4, 2014, from Ballantine Books.

The Best Book Club Books for Discussion

All great book club books are perfect for book club because they get members talking. They shake things up! They make you think.

These books, however, take the discussion to another level. These are the books you won’t soon forget—the ones that tackle big themes and topics.

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Long Bright River was a nominee for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery and Thriller in 2020 . I loved this heart-wrenching story with remarkable characters.

There’s a lot of room for important discussion, especially about the opioid crisis in small towns, but also about sisterhood bonding, the concept of addiction, the importance of community and neighbors, and the layered and well-developed characters.

Long Bright River was published on January 7, 2020, by Riverhead Books.

True Biz by Sara Nović

Thank you to Random House for this complimentary book! True Biz is a great book club pick because it’s (1) compulsively readable and (2) fascinating if you’re a reader who’s generally unfamiliar with Deaf culture and American Sign Language.

I learned so much from this book, and I was thoroughly entertained!

This book will get your book club talking about Deaf and Hearing culture, disability and civil rights, isolation, love, loss, familial trust, race and how racism shows up in Deaf culture . . . the power of human connection, and so much more! It’s also a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, which a lot of book clubs are interested in.

True Biz was published on April 5, 2022, from Random House.

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

Once Upon a River is an enthralling, whimsical historical fiction story with a little magical realism thrown in. Who doesn’t love that kind of book? There’s a lot to unpack in book club for this book.

This book weaves folklore and science, and it’s suspenseful, romantic, and atmospheric. You’ll have the best time discussing whether the story is magic or myth—miracle or science.

Once Upon a River was published on December 3, 2018, from Atria.

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

Thank you to Alfred A. Knopf for this complimentary book! Another Emily St. John Mandel book—are we surprised? The Glass Hotel is a dreamlike literary fiction book, and it’s (no surprise, again) beautifully written.

If you read this book by yourself and don’t discuss it at all, you really miss out on an enriched reading experience.

Your book club can really pick apart the ideas of love and delusion, the concept of consequences and how they change the course of our lives, the way we search for meaning, and so much more. Plus, there’s a mystery thrown in that will keep you reading!

The Glass Hotel was published in March 24, 2020, from Alfred A. Knopf.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende has been regarded as the queen of magical realism for so long! This is a historical fiction, Spanish literature book that you could read slowly and discuss often with a reading schedule. The House of the Spirits could be on your historical fiction book club reading list, too.

It’s an incredible saga to dive into, and there’s a lot of political and personal turmoil to discuss. The themes of magic, true love, and fate are thrown in—perfect fodder for book club!

The House of the Spirits was published on 1982 from Dial Press.

These Ghosts Are Family by Maisy Card

Thank you to @libro.fm and Simon & Schuster for this complimentary book. These Ghosts Are Family is an incredible generational saga about a Jamaican family. There’s so much to discuss here, from how trauma informs our decisions, migration, forming your identity outside of family, the history of slavery, and so much more.

If you like juicy stories about family secrets, you will love this book.

These Ghosts Are Family was published on March 3, 2020, from Simon & Schuster.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this complimentary book! Anxious People is a literary fiction and mystery book with a lot of heart and humor. We love a poignant comedy! Fredrik Backman has a way with words and is so good at communicating universal truths—which is why his books are perfect for book club.

Any book that is essentially an in-depth look at the human condition is going to be a great book club pick.

Anxious People was published on April 25, 2019, from Simon & Schuster Canada.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Thank you to Celadon Books for this complimentary book! The Fury is an incredible book club pick! This murder mystery thriller is captivating from start to finish, and the narrator/POV is one of the freshest voices I’ve read in a long time. We get to know him from the time he was a young man, and he tells the story so intimately.

A tale of murder and a spin on the classic whodunit, The Fury will be a fun story for your book club members who love juicy secrets among the rich and terrible!

The Fury was published on January 16, 2024, from Celadon Books.

Addictive Book Club Reads to Keep the Pages Turning

All good book club books should be page-turners, but these are my favorite book club books that come to mind when I think of propulsive, addictive, unputdownable books.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

It had to be said!! Gillian Flynn’s books are made for book club, IMO. If you haven’t read Sharp Objects yet, just know it will have you on the edge of your seat.

The suspense, the secrets, the character development . . . it’s all complex and compelling from the start to the last page!

If your book club tends to love a dark, psychological thriller, you have to try this book.

Sharp Objects was published on September 26, 2006, from Broadway Paperbacks.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale is one of my favorite historical fiction books of all time. This is one of those must-read books for book club about strong women.

The Nightingale isn’t particularly short, but you will tear through this book. It’s incredibly easy to read—I know many people who read this book for the first time in one sitting.

The Nightingale was published in February 3, 2015, from St. Martin’s Press.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

The Guest List is a fun, atomospheric whodunit that will have you turning pages as fast as possible! I couldn’t put this book down. A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly!? Are you kidding?

This would be a great book club pick for an in-person book club that likes to do a theme with food and drinks. The decadence on an island off the coast of Ireland adds to the festive vibe (that is, until everything goes wrong).

The Guest List was published on February 20, 2020, from William Morrow.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons for this complimentary book! Such a Fun Age is compulsively readable and perfect for book club discussion. I devoured this book so quickly—all the way to the last page. The micro-aggressions in this book were so perfectly captured—it’s such a smart social commentary.

If you want to read a fun page-turner that also touches on deeper topics like race and privilege, you should definitely nominate Such a Fun Age for your book club pick.

Such a Fun Age was published on December 31, 2019, from G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Thank you to @libro.fm and HarperTeen for this complimentary book! This book is so compelling—you will fly through it because it’s a novel-in-verse young adult book.

Clap When You Land is a story of sisterhood, familial ties, identity, and the power of forgiveness. Even though it’s a page-turner, your book club can dive into a deeper exploration of grief.

Clap When You Land was published on May 5, 2020, from HarperTeen.

Uplifting Book Club Books to Give You All the Feels

Sweep: the story of a girl and her monster by jonathan auxier.

Sweep is a beautiful historical fiction middle grade book that will, simply put, make you cry in the best way.

Your book club may be hesitant at first since this is a middle grade book, but it’s one of the most heartwarming middle grade books you’ll ever read.

Sweep was published on September 25, 2018, from Puffin Canada.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

From the sleepy seaside small town in Maine to the lovable characters and the transformational storyline, Evvie Drake Starts Over is one of the best feel-good contemporary romance books.

It’s sweet, funny, and heartwarming as the main protagonist, a young woman named Evvie, deals with life after the death of her husband. It sounds heavy, but it’s quite lighthearted and charming.

Evvie Drake Starts Over was published on June 25, 2019, from Ballantine Books.

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Thank you to @prhaudio and Berkley for this complimentary book! I loved this neurodivergent romance book , and so will your book club! If you’re familiar with the sunshine x grump trope in romance, Last Call at the Local has two sunshine characters fall in love, and it’s literally the most charming feel-good novel!

Set in a cozy Irish pub, Raine meets Jack, and it’s the cutest. Raine has ADHD and Jack has OCD, so there’s a lot to learn and discuss about neurodiverse characters with your book club

Last Call at the Local was published on January 2, 2024, from Berkley.

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

Thank you to @prhaudio and The Dial Press for this complimentary book! The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella was a cute, charming, feel-good contemporary romance book! I really enjoyed this one—I was interested the whole time, and even though there’s some heavier topics discussed, it felt lighthearted and sweet.

I really think most people who have experienced burnout or bone-deep exhaustion will find this book to be refreshing, thoughtful, and inspiring.

The Burnout was published on October 10, 2023, from The Dial Press.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

Thank you to @prhaudio and Berkley for this complimentary book! This roadtrip book with a dear, sweet, unlikely friendship just made me smile the whole time. The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise has such a fun premise and a heartwarming transformation among the two main characters.

There’s a mystery thrown in, but really, this book is about friendship. Perfect for book club.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise was published on March 28, 2023, from Berkley.

Short Book Club Books to Squeeze in to Your Reading Year

My sister, the serial killer by oyinkan braithwaite.

My Sister, the Serial Killer is an absolute trip! This mystery thriller is darkly funny and so smart. If your book club is looking for a short book to read and discuss during a busy month, like November or December, this is a great pick.

The premise is fascinating, the characters are remarkable, and the pacing is impeccable.

My Sister, the Serial Killer was published on November 20, 2018, from Doubleday.

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Red at the Bone surprised me in the best way. This short book is powerful! It packs a punch. Jacqueline Woodson’s prose actually took my breath away. It’s also a New York Times Notable Book of the Year from 2019.

It’s a hard-hitting book about parenting, identity, ambition, gentrification, education, class and status, and how young adults sometimes have to make decisions that affect the course of their lives forever.

Red at the Bone was published on September 17, 2019, from Riverhead Books.

Sula by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison is a fantastic author to explore with your book club! There’s so much to unpack in all of her books, but Sula is especially great if you’re looking for a short read to dive in to together. In this book, we follow a Black woman, Sula, and her friend, Nel.

Sula is a best friend story and, honestly, a literary masterpiece. This novella explores many themes, from Black masculinity to what life looks like for a Black single mother of three in this period of time.

Sula was published on January 1, 1973, from Plume.

What Makes a Good Book Club Book?

In my opinion, what makes a good book club book is the main ingredients of good characterization, an engrossing story/premise, captivating prose, and themes throughout the book that lead to bigger, more important discussions.

So, what books are good for book club, exactly? Books with . . .

• Funny, quirky, and flawed characters you want to root for
• Complex relationships you could analyze with your book club besties
• Interesting historical time periods, settings, or worldbuilding
• Some sort of critique on culture and society at large
• Interesting themes that lead to more in-depth discussion
• Shorter pages, if possible (or books that are so propulsive they feel short)
• A wider availability, unless you have some savvy book club members
• Universal appeal, or at least they don’t alienate your members
• A lot of emotion, mystery, or a driving question

Different Books for Different Book Clubs

Every book club is different. Your book club may want more hard-hitting literary fiction while another book club is really only interested in lighthearted, funny, or uplifting books.

The best book club book recommendations come from really knowing the people in your book club and gauging everyone’s preferences and interests.

Read Widely and Diversely

You won’t find a book club book everyone will enjoy equally, and it’s okay to disagree about a book ! In fact, those book club meetings might be the most fun and interesting!

One of the best things about book club is having the opportunity to read widely and diversely—to discover a book you might not have otherwise picked up.

Read What Sticks

So if you’re wondering how to choose a book for book club, ask yourself, which book would provide the most universal appeal, evoke emotion or interesting questions for discussion, and likely stick with readers for a long time?

My Favorite Book Club Planning Tool (Bookclubs)

If you’re a booknerd like me, you probably also hem and haw over how to choose a book for book club . It can feel like a lot of pressure to pick a book for everyone!

That’s why I personally love Bookclubs , the free web and mobile app that helps book clubs manage and organize their groups! The app serves more than 65,000 book clubs worldwide and offers everything you need to start and manage a successful book club.

+ Invite anyone you want with a single click. + Easily automate your meeting reminders and calendar invites + Create fun and interactive member polls + Track your group’s reading history and collective to-be-read list so you can narrow down books your club wants to eventually read + Host discussions, virtually or in a chat thread When it’s time to pick a new book for my virtual book club , we nominate books in a chat thread, and then I throw up a poll with the selected book titles and descriptions.

Here’s what that looks like in the mobile app:

I can’t tell you how easy it is to pick books for book club now! Giving folks the option to vote on a book and see the results instantly . . . it’s so great. You can also make voting anonymous, if you want.

Even if you’d rather select the book yourself and not have members vote on the book, the polls are perfect for picking meeting times.

They don’t have to be just functional polls, either. Create icebreaker polls, polls about the book content, or fun and silly would-you-rather questions. 😊

What Are Book Clubs Reading Now in 2024?

Here’s a list of the most popular books for book club right now, in 2024:

• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
• The Heires s by Rachel Hawkins (psssst, this is my book club’s pick for February! Join us !)
• None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
• Tom Lake by Anne Patchett

We love a popular, buzzy book! In my book club, we select one new release a month and a backlist book the next month.

What are your book club book lists for 2024 or the best book club reads you’ve ever brought to your group? I’d love to know. I’ll have more specific book club lists coming soon, but for now, these are my top 20 best book club books of all time !

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Expert Commentary on...

Our most recommended books.

Looking for a good book? We have the world’s largest collection of expert book recommendations. Over the past decade, we’ve asked hundreds of experts to pick the five best books in their field—and to explain in detail why those particular books are so important. The results of this 10+ year project are listed below. These are books that have been recommended over and over again, suggesting they are some of the most important books ever written. The experts who picked them for us range from philosophers to politicians , economists to novelists, eminent historians to comedians . With one or two noteworthy exceptions, our most recommended books are not the latest books being promoted by publishers, but books that have stood the test of time. Many are already out of copyright and available for free , though if your budget can stand it, there’s a lot to be said for the informative introduction and footnotes that a good editor, selected by an established publisher, can provide.

Our book recommendations are listed in order, so our most recommended books appear at the top. Each entry includes the number of experts who have recommended that particular book. Click on each book to find out what experts we interviewed said about it in greater detail.

by John Stuart Mill

Is diversity of opinion valuable? Why should we care about free speech ? When can someone legitimately interfere in our lives to stop us from doing something? What should restrict the scope of our personal liberty?

On Liberty by John Stuart Mill was originally published in 1859, but his exploration of these questions still feels incredibly contemporary. On Liberty remains a central text of the modern liberal tradition, as our interviews below with philosophers, politicians, historians and political commentators make clear.

Recommended 12 times

“What this book does is hammer home one truth. Mill described it as a ‘philosophic textbook of a single truth’. According to him it was hugely influenced by his discussions with his wife, Harriet Taylor, though she didn’t physically write it, and it’s his name on the cover. As the title suggests, it’s focused on liberty, on freedom. It puts forward what’s come to be known as ‘the harm principle’ which is that the only justification for the state or other people interfering with the lives of adults is if they risk harming others with their actions” Read more...

Key Philosophical Texts in the Western Canon

Nigel Warburton , Philosopher

“ On Liberty is the classic statement of traditional liberal values about the limits of state coercion. It’s an eloquent argument for personal liberty on the grounds that it’s the condition in which human beings are most likely to flourish and be happy.” Read more...

The best books on The Rule of Law

Jonathan Sumption , Historian

War and Peace

By leo tolstoy.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is regarded by many as one of the greatest novels ever written. In our interviews, philosophers, historians and novelists have recommended it as critical reading for understanding a variety of subjects. Like many great books, it was greeted with some scepticism on publication.

“Tolstoy famously said of War and Peace that it wasn’t even a novel. In a sense, it’s a total history of that epoch in Russia in a fictional form…It’s very interesting what happens with the novel linguistically. There’s been a study of the French words in the novel, because there are a large number, and they feature particularly in the early phases of the novel. Towards the end, the novel becomes more Russian in its literary and vernacular style, in its lexicon and syntax. In a sense, the Russian language is the true character of the novel. The growing Russianness of the language is the epiphany, that moment of self-discovery, that the Russian aristocracy goes through at that time.” Read more...

The Best Russian Novels

Orlando Figes , Historian

“ War and Peace was ground-breaking in its age, because up until then, war had always been something that was glorified; he looked at war through the psychology of the people experiencing it, and the way they expressed that experience in their lives. That was a profound breakthrough. For instance, he shows people suffering from post-traumatic stress.” Read more...

The best books on Peace

Steve Killelea , Nonprofit Leaders & Activist

Middlemarch

By george eliot.

Middlemarch by  George Eliot (real name: Mary Ann Evans), was first published in 1871. The novel is set in the fictitious English town of Middlemarch during 1829–1832, and follows several distinct, intersecting stories with a large cast of characters. It is one of Five Books’ most recommended books.

Recommended 11 times

“I think one does often turn to novelists to get a sense of other people’s lives. It was written in 1871, but it’s written about a period 40 or so years before, the period when Ada Lovelace flourished. It’s about an intelligent woman trapped by the expectations and the circumstances of the society she finds herself in.” Read more...

The best books on Ada Lovelace

Ursula Martin , Mathematician

“ Middlemarch is staggeringly brilliant, but it’s a labour of love—it’ll take even the most diligent weeks to read…. It’s one thing to enjoy a book, and quite another to to cherish the time spent with a set of characters. I’m envious of anyone getting to know Dorothea Brooke, Tertius Lydgate, Mary Garth and Casaubon for the first time. If I could wipe my memory clean and go back and reread it fresh, I would.” Read more...

The Best Long Books To Read in Lockdown

Five Books ,

Nineteen Eighty-Four

By george orwell.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel written in 1948. Often a standard text in school for teenagers, 1984 is many people’s first introduction to totalitarianism. Ominously prescient in some ways, (such as the scope for surveillance to reach into our lives through the ubiquity of screens) and wide off the mark in others (Big Brother’s omnipresent, unitary police state is not a reality we live with in the West), it makes fascinating reading.

Some of Orwell’s inventions from 1984 entered the English language, like ‘Thought Police,’ ‘Big Brother’ ‘Newspeak’ and of course,  the general concept of an ‘Orwellian’ society or future.

Recommended 9 times

“In terms of how technology is working in our modern surveillance powers, it’s a terrifyingly prophetic book in some of its implications for 21st-century human life. Orwell would deny that it was prophecy; he said it was a warning. But in fact, distinguished Orwell scholar Professor Peter Davis once made a list of all the things that Orwell got right, and it was a couple of fairly long paragraphs, and it was really rather terrifying.” Read more...

The Best George Orwell Books

D J Taylor , Biographer

“ Nineteen Eighty-Four is seriously read in China by intellectuals, who see similarities between the world of George Orwell and present-day China.” Read more...

The best books on Dystopia and Utopia

Chan Koonchung , Novelist

In Ancient Greek , Plato’s famous dialogue was known as Politeia. The Romans called it Res Publica,  the title we now use. Below, philosophers and political scientists recommend which edition of Plato’s Republic to read and explain, in detail, why it remains a work of such significance:

Recommended 8 times

“The Republic is a mixture of metaphysics, political philosophy, and a kind of psychology about the balance of the different parts of the soul. Many of its ideas have subsequently resonated throughout the history of philosophy.” Read more...

“It’s very readable even if you aren’t a professional philosopher. Take the story of ‘The Ring of Gyges,’ which raises the question of whether you would continue to act like a good person if you had a ring of invisibility that let you get away with doing whatever you wanted to do. That’s a fascinating thought experiment that anybody can appreciate.” Read more...

The best books on World Philosophy

Bryan Van Norden , Philosopher

The Confessions

By augustine (translated by maria boulding).

“It is an endlessly capacious, inventive, stimulating book. I won’t say it has something for everyone but it has, for its sheer blend of different approaches, a great deal for a great number of people. The fact that the whole thing is presented as a conversation with God, for a start. And Augustine is remarkably self-exposing and self-disclosing. It’s an extraordinary book for someone who’s just been ordained as a bishop to write. The Confessions had to be on this list and it is most people’s way into Augustine. It is this unbelievably pliant and fruitful work. Every time you read it, you notice new things.” Read more...

The Best Augustine Books

Catherine Conybeare , Classicist

“St Augustine is, in some ways, misunderstood and misappropriated in modern scholarship and popular perception. I can understand why, because reading him can be a bit of a hard slog to begin with. His Confessions can seem unfashionably self-hating, and the drama that’s being played out, the way he makes a first-person address towards this God figure, feels a bit artificial and it can put people off. But if you work out what’s going on, what his motivation is, and what the context is, what he’s making is an incredibly modern, intimate, psychological diagnosis of the human condition.” Read more...

The best books on The Saints

Simon Yarrow , Historian

The Odyssey

By homer and translated by emily wilson.

“Tell me about a complicated man.

Muse, tell me how he wandered and was lost

when he had wrecked the holy town of Troy,

and where he went, and who he met, the pain

he suffered in the storms at sea, and how

he worked to save his life and bring his men

back home.”

Odyssey , opening lines (Emily Wilson translation)

If you’re interested in Homer and the poem of the Odyssey, the 2017 translation by Emily Wilson, Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, is a great place to start. Not only is it a highly readable translation, but the introduction provides a lot of context and historical background for anyone wondering who Homer was, when the poem was first written down etc.

Many of us would love to listen to the Odyssey, as that’s how it was first delivered back in 700 BCE. Fortunately, the American actress Claire Danes has narrated the audiobook—so stick in your headphones, put your feet on the sofa, and press play.

“I find the Odyssey so fun to read because it is partly about impression management. In addition to being a strong, savvy, competent hero figure, Odysseus is a storyteller with great powers of persuasion and negotiation. He influences people and convinces them that he’s trustworthy. At times, he needs to trick people.” Read more...

The best books on Making A Good Impression

Övül Sezer ,

“Homer was prototypical literature, and in a sense the holy book of ancient Greece. It laid out much of the fundamental mythology; and for a certain period it was even performed on state occasions. It was the ultimate classic for the ancient world.” Read more...

The best books on Virgil

Sarah Ruden , Literary Scholar

Frankenstein (Book)

By mary shelley.

Mary Shelley started writing the Frankenstein story when she was 18, and it was published in London two years later. Her chilling tale of how Victor Frankenstein put together a creature by sewing together human parts is said to be the first true science fiction story. If you’ve never read it, or read it a long time ago, it’s definitely worth picking up again, as the subtleties of the original book, entitled Frankenstein: the Modern Prometheus, may have been displaced in your mind by the various cartoons and monster-movies connected to the original only by the name ‘Frankenstein’ (and some people, who haven’t read the book, think Frankenstein is the name of the monster, rather than the name of the scientist who put the creature together).

Read below why it’s one of the books most frequently recommended by the experts we’ve interviewed—on subjects as diverse as fear of death, women and society, and transhumanism.

Recommended 7 times

“Brian Aldiss has famously argued that science fiction starts with Mary Shelley’s novel, and many people have agreed with him.” Read more...

Science Fiction Classics

Adam Roberts , Novelist

“ Frankenstein can be seen as an experiment—or almost a laboratory—that brings together science and literature… Frankenstein is very much a novel for the twenty-first century. Mary Shelley was trying to push the boundaries of science and technology. The details of the science have changed, but the big questions remain as important for us today as they were for her. “ Read more...

The best books on The Gothic

Nick Groom , Literary Scholar

by Herman Melville

“I thought about responding to your call for a list of the top 5 American novels with ‘1) Moby-Dick 2) Moby-Dick 3) Moby-Dick’ —an obsessive answer that would be true to the spirit of this monomaniacal book! I won’t go full Ahab and claim that it is THE great American novel, but I will confess it is my favorite. There’s something about its dizzying mix of high and low, Herman Melville’s exuberant love of language, and the novel’s remarkable capaciousness (everything reminds me of Moby-Dick !) that makes me love to read it, reread it, teach it, joke about it, tweet about it, reference it at the slightest provocation.” Read more...

The Best 19th-Century American Novels

Nathan Wolff , Literary Scholar

“It showcases the susceptibility of this republic and others, to being overcome by populist demagogues, the danger of democracy being usurped by tyranny. In Moby Dick, the crew are proxies for a cross-section of society. They enter an almost parody version of ‘the social contract’ to ship out with the Pequod. They find themselves at the mercy of Captain Ahab’s regime. During Melville’s day, the plot provided a way of reflecting on slavery; it continues to call attention to the danger of authoritarianism. My book ended before 2016; since then, there were umpteen new readings of Moby Dick in light of Donald Trump’s election. That’s part of the afterlife of Moby Dick . It has been seized upon in popular culture and by the media as a reference point for misadventures that overtake the United States.” Read more...

The Great American Novel

Lawrence Buell ,

by Cormac McCarthy

“I first read it as a student, and I remember finishing this book while I was sitting on a train and weeping, and people looking at me, wondering if I was going through some kind of crisis. It was the first time I’d ever just wept at a book. It’s a strange feeling. And it made me think: this is what literature can do. This is the power it has.” Read more...

The best books on The End of the World

Paul Cooper , Historian

“ The Road is a very spare novel by Cormac McCarthy. Humanity has been wiped out, for the most part. There’s a man and his son traveling on a road to try to get to where it’s rumored that sprouts of civilization are starting to grow again. It’s a very minimalistic book. It’s very sparse and elegiac, just with those two characters.” Read more...

The Best Apocalyptic Fiction

Elliot Ackerman , Military Historians & Veteran

by Evelyn Waugh

“I think it is the best description of a foreign correspondent’s career, and I doubt it will ever be bettered.” Read more...

The best books on Spies

Richard Beeston , Foreign Correspondent

“Everything about this book is perfect, from the prose to the characters to the Swiss-clock workings of the plot.” Read more...

Andy Borowitz recommends the best Comic Writing

Andy Borowitz , Comedians & Humorist

The Looming Tower

By lawrence wright.

The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright is a detailed narrative history of the events leading to 9/11 , based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews. Find out below why it is one of Five Books’ most recommended books.

“Reading this one book gives you an excellent grasp of the human story and the context from which al-Qaeda emerged.” Read more...

The best books on Terrorism

Audrey Kurth Cronin , Political Scientist

“Former counterterrorism agent John O’Neill, who died in 9/11, is the hero of this book. He played a central part in trying to take Al-Qaeda apart.” Read more...

The best books on Osama bin Laden

Peter Bergen , Journalist

If This Is a Man

By primo levi.

Recommended 6 times

“It’s about his 11 months in Auschwitz. I was reading this over the weekend—just to bone up for this interview—and just like every other time I’ve read it, it stretches my ability to comprehend. The physical and emotional pain is extremely intense. Even the most inured cynic is taken aback by the infrastructure of human cruelty in the camp.” Read more...

The best books on Philosophy and Prison

Andy West , Philosopher

“When it came out in the States it was known as Survival in Auschwitz . I think it’s a work of genius…some of it is testimony. But what I admire so much about it is that it is a book without pathos, or sentiment. Levi was a scientist, a radical empiricist. His ability and his care in describing the camp structure is unrelenting. It’s almost as if he answers his own question: have we got rid of rational man? Answer: No, because here I am, observing, writing, and thinking.” Read more...

The best books on Human Rights and Literature

Lyndsey Stonebridge , Literary Scholar

Half of a Yellow Sun

By chimamanda ngozi adichie.

The most celebrated of a new generation of Nigerian novelists bravely and brilliantly tackles an event that still seems to whisper in the heart of the country’s affairs perhaps more than any other: the devastating civil war of 1967-70.

“ Half of a Yellow Sun centres around a family as they transition from a position of influence and privilege to being just regular citizens of the newly formed Republic of Biafra. I don’t know how much I need to tell you, but, basically, about six years after Nigerian independence there was a civil war known as the Biafran War. It’s a beautifully written, big swing of a novel with lots of themes: moral responsibility, ethnic allegiances, class, race. And it’s all set against the backdrop of this pivotal time in Nigerian history.” Read more...

Novels Set in Nigeria

Chioma Okereke , Novelist

“This novel came out to a real fanfare of people acclaiming it as a superb piece of fiction. I’d heard a lot of people talk about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and what a brilliant writer she is. I thought, ‘I’ve got to give this a go.’ Oh my goodness! It’s another really big, immersive novel by somebody who really knows their stuff. And because it’s such recent history—late 60s and 1970—she has been able to draw on primary sources. That’s a rare thing when you’re writing historical fiction, that it’s still within living memory. So you know it’s right, that the details are correct. It’s like reading news reports, but in this incredible narrative, in which you’re really bound up with the characters.” Read more...

Historical Fiction Set Around the World

Jane Johnson , Historical Novelist

The Wealth of Nations

By adam smith.

The Wealth of Nations , first published in 1776, is the founding text of modern economics. But as our interviews with experts below make clear, its author, Adam Smith, was a moral philosopher and no unabashed cheerleader for the capitalist system he saw flourishing around him in Glasgow, a city grown rich from trade with the American colonies:

“ The Wealth of Nations is, of course, one of the most famous, though certainly not most read or understood, books of all time. It was first published in 1776. In fact, I was once asked on an exam in high school ‘Who invented capitalism in 1776?’” Read more...

The Best Adam Smith Books

Dennis Rasmussen , Philosopher

“What is amazing about Smith is that he tried to relate economics to morals and ethics, in the sense that economics is only a small part of what society should be thinking about.” Read more...

The best books on Globalisation

Stephen D King , Economist

Dialogues and Natural History of Religion

By david hume.

“I think that the most important contributions, the best books, in the philosophy of religion are these two little books that David Hume writes” Read more...

The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion

Graham Oppy , Philosopher

“Hume is the main man….It’s an interesting question whether he’s a good writer or not. I’ve always thought him a good writer, but I know some people read Hume and find him difficult. It’s partly just a question of period style. He does tend to write in very long sentences. I think that was just the typical writing of the time. In the 18th century people put a lot of commas and semicolons in, and there weren’t so many full stops. Present day readers can find that quite awkward.” Read more...

The best books on Atheism

Julian Baggini , Philosopher

by Henry David Thoreau

“The beginning is hard going. Once you get past that, then suddenly you’re into these beautiful and inspiring descriptions of nature.” Read more...

The Best Books on the Philosophy of Travel

Emily Thomas , Philosopher

“Thoreau can be thorny to read but Walden is a tremendously important work in the history of environmental thinking and in the history of understanding our relationship with nature.” Read more...

The best books on New England

Mark Peterson , Historian

A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960

By anna schwartz & milton friedman.

“It is an important book because it is the first attempt to link together inflation and output. In some sense it is the basis for many of the books that have been written since about inflation, monetary policy and the real side of the economy.” Read more...

The best books on Inflation

Federica Romei , Economist

“ A Monetary History provides the story of the struggle over successive monetary regimes to get the monetary system right. It doesn’t get to the last part of the story, but it gets a lot of the story, at least from a US perspective.” Read more...

The best books on Monetary Policy

Lars Christensen , Economist

Stumbling on Happiness

By daniel gilbert.

“We tend to see ourselves as not unlike rats, creatures driven by the short-term reward centres in our brains. But what Gilbert does fantastically well is to argue that, actually, humans are better at long-term thinking than almost any other animal. A chimpanzee may strip off the leaves from a branch to make a tool to poke into a termite hole, but that chimp will never make a dozen of those tools and put them aside for next week. Yet this is exactly what humans do.” Read more...

The Best Books for Long-Term Thinking

Roman Krznaric , Philosopher

“Dan Gilbert, a dear friend of mine at Harvard, is the best writer in our field and one of our greatest thinkers. He is extremely creative and insightful.” Read more...

The best books on Behavioral Science

Nicholas Epley , Psychologist

by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre was published in 1847—with the novel’s author listed as ‘Currer Bell’—and was an immediate commercial success. The main protagonist, Jane, is an orphan who has an extremely tough life before meeting the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, he has dark secrets and the sense of foreboding that pervades the novel makes it also something of a thriller.

“Jane Eyre in some respects—not in every respect but in some respects—is the original domestic noir…there’s a sense of building threat and building crisis in the book. But I also love the social commentary and the feminism. It’s my favourite book of all time…I read it out loud to my daughter when she was about 15 and it’s just an incredible book” Read more...

The Best Classic Thrillers

Lucy Atkins , Journalist

“It wasn’t until my third reading of the book that I realised Brontë had slipped the supernatural into Jane Eyre.” Read more...

The Best Gothic Novels

Sarah Perry , Novelist

Man's Search for Meaning

By viktor frankl.

In Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist who survived the Nazi concentration camps, argued for the existentialist belief that even in the worst possible conditions, as human beings we still have control over how we think about our situation. The original title of the book, when it was first published in 1946, was Saying Yes to Life Anyway: A Psychologist Survives the Concentration Camp .

“What’s interesting about his account, which I found absolutely fascinating, is the way he explores the importance of meaning in life as the key to survival.” Read more...

The best books on Auschwitz

Mary Fulbrook , Historian

“Frankl says, let me tell you and show you how I and my friends lived in the concentration camps. And if I can do it there, and suffer at that level, so you can you.” Read more...

The best books on High Performance Psychology

Michael Gervais , Psychologist

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

By douglas adams.

“Arthur Dent, his hero, is a very ordinary—dull, some would say—Earth man, who discovers that his house is about to be demolished by bulldozers. As he’s dealing with county council officialdom, a friend called Ford Prefect helps him escape the destruction of the Earth, which is being blown up by alien bureaucrats. It’s one scale up. That’s the joke. For the novel, he took the first four episodes of the radio show and made them work as a novel with his own unique sense of flair and verve. That sense of humour. People who hate science fiction liked it because they thought it was taking the piss out of science fiction. And people who like science fiction liked it anyway. So it appealed broadly, to different audiences.” Read more...

The Best Douglas Adams Books

Kevin Jon Davies , Film Director

“I miss Douglas Adams. He’s been dead since 2001. He occupied that area for me between friend and acquaintance. He was, I suppose, a work friend. The first book I ever wrote that did anything was The Companion to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy . I got to work with Douglas on it. Douglas Adams was a genius. A lot of the pleasure in reading Douglas Adams is in jokes that are elegantly and delightfully tuned while also commenting on the human condition.” Read more...

Comfort Reads

Neil Gaiman , Novelist

Democracy in America

By alexis de tocqueville.

“Among the new objects that attracted my attention during my stay in the United States, none struck my eye more vividly than the equality of conditions. I discovered without difficulty the enormous influence that this primary fact exerts on the course of society; it gives a certain direction to public spirit, a certain turn to the laws, new maxims to those who govern and particular habits to the governed.”

—Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America ( Harvey Mansfield and Delba Winthrop translation), opening paragraph.

“Tocqueville, in a way, was the first sociologist, though that field didn’t exist in the 1830s, when he wrote the book. In it, he looks at the formal institutions of American democracy—Congress, and the presidency, and so forth—but what everybody really takes away from it is that those institutions ride on top of the morals and mores and habits of the underlying society…Tocqueville gives you a different analysis that looks beneath the surface of the visible institutions and tries to understand the moral habits that underlie the workings of those institutions. It’s really looking at the society rather than just the formal laws and whatnot.” Read more...

The best books on Liberal Democracy

Francis Fukuyama , Political Scientist

“It’s a masterpiece of sociological and political analysis. Tocqueville’s work still helps us understand America, 170 years after he wrote it.” Read more...

Stephen Breyer on his Intellectual Influences

Stephen Breyer , US Supreme Court Justice

“The rage of Achilles—sing it now, goddess, sing through me

the deadly rage that caused the Achaeans such grief

and hurled down to Hades the souls of so many fighters,

Leaving their naked flesh to be eaten by dogs

and carrion birds, as the will of Zeus was accomplished”

— Iliad , opening lines (Stephen Mitchell translation)

The Iliad, a Greek poem dating from around 700 BCE, is a  defining text of western literature. If you want to see what academics say about it and its author(s), Homer, start with our interview with Christopher Pelling, Regius Professor of Greek Emeritus at Oxford University, below.

Which translation of the Iliad should you read? British actor and author Stephen Fry recommends either Robert Fagles’s translation (1969), or that of poet and translator Stephen Mitchell, which was published in 2011.

Of course all those millennia ago, the Iliad would have been principally listened to, and modern technology means that’s once again easily possible by listening to the poem as an audiobook. Our own Iliad audiobook is the Robert Fagles translation, magnificently narrated by the British actor—and veteran of the British Classics scene—Derek Jacobi. You can also opt for the audiobook of the Stephen Mitchell translation, which is narrated by the English-American actor Alfred Molina.

So find a fireside to settle down next to, imagine a bard who has memorised hundreds of lines of poetry, plug in your headphones, and press play.

“It is worth remembering of course that Homer’s Iliad doesn’t cover the causes of the War … the Apple of Discord, the Judgement of Paris, birth of Achilles and Abduction of Helen and so on – nor the end of the war. The action of the Iliad begins in the final year of the ten year siege of Troy and dramatises the weeks that begin with the feud between Agamemnon and Achilles and end with the death of Hector.” Read more...

The Best Trojan War Books

Stephen Fry , Comedians & Humorist

“Part of the Iliad ’s brilliance is that it only takes four or five days of the action but you feel like it captures the 10 years’ war as a whole. There is a choice that Achilles has to make. He is told that he has two alternative fates: he could stay away from the war and live out a long life and nobody would ever know or remember him. Or he could go and win eternal fame and glory, but would have a short life. In a way, that is a version of a dilemma that keeps coming back.” Read more...

The best books on Ancient Greece

Christopher Pelling , Classicist

Life and Fate

By vasily grossman and translated by robert chandler.

Life and Fate , a novel set in World War II by Soviet writer Vasily Grossman , is one of our most recommended books on Five Books (including by historians). Modeled on Tolstoy’s War and Peace , Grossman brought into it his experience as a journalist, accompanying the Red Army at major battles, including Stalingrad and Berlin. He was also among the first to enter Treblinka and witness firsthand the horrors of the Holocaust . Sadly for Grossman, the book was considered too harmful to be published in his lifetime.

Life and Fate is a long novel. If you want to listen to it as an audiobook, there’s no unabridged version, BUT there is a dramatised version of Life and Fate , starring Kenneth Branagh and David Tennant, that lasts a manageable 8 hours.

(Stalingrad   is the precursor to  Life and Fate , translated into English for the first time in 2019 and also well worth reading )

Recommended 5 times

“ Life and Fate… is probably the most important work of fiction about World War II. But, in fact, it is more than just a fiction because it is based on very close reporting from his time with the soldiers. It is a deliberate act of literary homage to Tolstoy as one can see in the title. It is definitely the War and Peace of the 20th century.” Read more...

The best books on World War II

Antony Beevor , Military Historians & Veteran

“It’s the first novel to come out of the 1940s and 50s that attempts a comparative indictment of Hitlerism and Stalinism, the two varieties of totalitarianism that Grossman knew too well.” Read more...

The Best Vasily Grossman Books

Maxim D Shrayer , Literary Scholar

Invisible Man

By ralph ellison.

“A Great American Novel presupposes the experiences of a manageably unified nation, which is, of course, not the story of America. It’s maybe the dream of America, though, which is why some of my favorite American novels, like Invisible Man , have a distinctly dreamlike quality. I do think that you could perhaps call Invisible Man the most characteristic American novel, in that it so thoroughly acknowledges this struggle and embraces it in its form. I also don’t think of Invisible Man as existing purely in a textual sphere. I’ve always felt that it lies at the intersection of a number of different arts – painting, music, sculpture – and that it alternately mimics or incorporates their forms as it goes; I would use the word ‘artwork’ rather than novel.” Read more...

The Best 20th-Century American Novels

David Hering ,

“For Ellison, American racism creates a condition in which the black person is unrecognizable in this sense. Using the resources of dark comedy—especially in the incredible Trueblood and Battle Royale sequences—Ellison describes the mingled, ambiguous fusion of subjection and power, imprisonment and freedom, that comprise the black condition in midcentury America. I think of Ice and Invisible Man as the two great works of midcentury modernism that most powerfully—and subtly—explore the difference race and gender make to modernism’s key themes.” Read more...

The Best Modernist Novels

Michael Clune , Literary Scholar

Blood Meridian

“It’s somewhat loosely based on the history of the Glanton Gang, who were a bunch of murderous outlaws in the southern US in the 19 th century. McCarthy is using them as the occasion to think about how one chronicles an unspeakable history, or how one can reckon with a nation that comes from chaos, and what that means for the nation itself…In Blood Meridian , there really is no system at all. If there is one, it’s a kind of debased violent impulse, which is why the novel is both perpetually on the verge of an explosion of violence, and also often, frankly, quite monotonous. Because how else can you depict unsystematized chaos in the long form? Blood Meridian has these 18th-century-style subtitles for its chapters which summarize what is about to happen, and to me these summaries indicate the utter inevitability of the world that McCarthy is describing. By the time you read the chapter itself, it’s effectively already happened, it’s predestined. And the novel ultimately moves towards this kind of dance of the devils. It ends in total bacchanal, with Satan at its centre. It gravitates to what it has always desired, which is true chaos. I can’t mention this novel without mentioning Judge Holden, who is one of the most monumental antagonists in all American literature — a giant, hairless demon in human form, who is present at all sites of human violence.” Read more...

“It is his opus, his great work. There is obviously debate about that, but for people who study McCarthy, it usually comes down to Blood Meridian, Suttree or The Crossing . These are probably the most difficult books, the most challenging books, the longest books. So I risk irritating some of my colleagues by going for Blood Meridian rather than Suttree, and I should acknowledge that they’re both great. But Blood Meridian is really the masterpiece; it’s just such a rich mixture of history and metaphysics.” Read more...

The Best Cormac McCarthy Books

Stacey Peebles , Literary Scholar

On the Origin of Species

By charles darwin & james costa.

On the Origin of Species is Charles Darwin’s book on evolution that changed our understanding of the world, and our place in it, irrevocably. It is one of our most recommended books on Five Books. 

“An educated person is someone who knows at least a little bit about the major disciplines in human endeavour. And in biology, this is what you need to know – not only historically but also contemporaneously, because Darwin was right, and still is right, about so many things.” Read more...

The best books on Evolution

Jerry Coyne , Biologist

“It is one of the most important books written, and I always urge people to read it.” Read more...

Favourite Science Books

Mark Kurlansky , Science Writer

Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland

By christopher browning.

How was it that a group of middle-aged men from Hamburg, most not even members of the Nazi party, led by a 53-year-old career policeman, carried out some of the worst atrocities of the Holocaust ? Ordinary Men by American historian Christopher Browning , first published in 1992, sifts through their testimony to try and find some answers. In doing so, it reveals some unsettling truths for any human being reading its pages.

“This book, which is, Christopher Browning’s study of the interrogation of a battalion of German soldiers sent to take part in the ‘final solution’ in Poland in 1942, is quite astounding in terms of what he found out about ‘ordinary’ human cruelty and viciousness. These were ordinary men, as the title suggests. Yet they participated in absolutely brutal slaughter of completely innocent people. This wasn’t even in the context of organised war.” Read more...

The best books on The Psychology of Killing

Gwen Adshead , Medical Scientist

“The takeaway from reading this horror-filled book is that depredations on the scale of those that Browning describes can be perpetrated anywhere and by anyone.” Read more...

The best books on US Intervention

Lawrence Kaplan , Journalist

Freedom from Fear

By aung san suu kyi.

“Possibly more so than any other leader today, she lives strong values in her every decision. There is no more powerful leadership story.” Read more...

The best books on Leadership

Brett Wigdortz , Nonprofit Leaders & Activist

“For more than two decades, every conversation in Burma or about Burma has ended up being about Aung San Suu Kyi.” Read more...

The best books on Human Rights

Steve Crawshaw , Journalist

The Talented Mr Ripley

By patricia highsmith.

“It fascinates me that René Clément, the French film director, adapted this novel into a film called Plein Soleil (known as Purple Noon in the United States). In the story, Tom Ripley is sent from New York to Italy by the father of Dickie Greenleaf to bring Dickie back to the United States. As he ingratiates himself with his son, Tom Ripley adopts increasingly dangerous, amoral and murderous measures to reap the rewards of his lifestyle and finally, steal his inheritance. The novel starts in a gloomy Manhattan, where Ripley meets Dickie Greenleaf’s father. It’s not bright, it’s claustrophobic. And then we come to this Mediterranean world of plein soleil where in the movie everything is brightness—there’s a yacht, these lovely towns, and everybody is wearing lovely styles and costumes.” Read more...

The Best Book-to-Movie Adaptations

Peter Markham , Film Director

“It’s described as the godfather of the modern psychological thriller. Everyone who writes psychological thrillers must acknowledge Patricia Highsmith at some point…What appealed to me most about this book is that Tom Ripley is the ultimate sociopath, and yet we’re rooting for him.” Read more...

The Best Psychological Thrillers

J.S. Monroe , Thriller and Crime Writer

The New Oxford Annotated Bible

“It leaves you to think and read for yourself.” Religious studies professor Timothy Beal recommends the New Oxford Annotated Bible as a good version to read if you’re studying the Bible.

“The Bible is the biography of Jerusalem. Nothing less, nothing more. My book’s called Jerusalem: a Biography , but The Bible’s the real biography of Jerusalem, up to the death of Christ. If you’re religious, you regard it as the word of God. But if you’re a secular historian like me, you really regard it as a library of different works, written at different times, by different people, with different aims and different target audiences.” Read more...

The best books on Jerusalem

Simon Sebag Montefiore , Historian

“Chapters 7 to 12 of the Book of Daniel constitute, in my opinion, the first genuinely global history ever written.” Read more...

The best books on Global History

Felipe Fernández-Armesto , Historian

The Radetzky March

By joseph roth.

“It’s an extraordinary account of a world collapsing. It conveys the lost world of Mitteleuropa and the collapsing Austro-Hungarian Empire. And he does it brilliantly. The Trotta family are quite mediocre, only relatively interesting minor officials—and in the case of the son, a very minor soldier—that is, intrinsically not particularly exciting characters, who nevertheless convey a very interesting world. It’s an extraordinarily powerful book. Roth is a very interesting writer, a brilliant writer, who lived a very tragic life.” Read more...

Five of the Best European Classics

David Campbell , Publisher

“To a certain extent in this novel, but more in his other writings, Roth wrote about what the decline of the empire meant to the Jews. The double assassination at Sarajevo was a terrible moment, in Roth’s view, because it heralded the end of his homeland. With competing ethnicities and the rise of nationalism and so many wanting their own country, the Jews no longer had a homeland. So he lost his country.” Read more...

The best books on Jewish Vienna

Brigid Grauman , Journalist

by Toni Morrison

“For me, Beloved is like an object that light bends around – I can’t think about American literature without it… Beloved is at least partly about looking that fallacious dream of American unity directly in the face and excavating the utter horror on which it’s built…I have spent a lot of time thinking about the final pages of Beloved , because in that epilogue Morrison acknowledges the paradox of what it means to remember something that unspeakable, something that has ruined your body and your mind and the bodies and minds of millions of others. Because how can you go on carrying that?” Read more...

“It’s a book about the divide between the land of slavery and the land of freedom, which winds up insisting that there’s not much of a divide after all. The long arm of slavery asserts itself from Kentucky into Cincinnati, where the main character has escaped, and where slave catchers find her. Instead of going peaceably back to the plantation where she was enslaved, she kills her child and freaks out, causing the slave catchers to shrink back. The legacy of all that she fled comes back, as the slain child comes back, in a ghostly form, to haunt her life. “This is not a story to pass on,” the book says towards the end, and yet it does.” Read more...

by James Joyce

Ulysses by James Joyce is one of the masterpieces of modernist literature, a movement at the beginning of the 20th century when the traditional storylines of the Victorian novel were left behind to experiment with new ways of expressing human experience. Though hard to read, those who have made the effort are often enthralled by it and regard it as among the very best books they’ve ever read. For that reason alone, Ulysses is worth pursuing, possibly with the help of a guide:

“It’s challenging, learned, filthy, and hilarious. In it, Joyce pushes the boundaries of language and the novel form. It’s easy to see how it was thwarted and censored four times during publication. At first, no one wanted to print it, because they could’ve been found liable for publishing pornography. Ulysses is one of those great novels that demands a level of concentration one can only get in isolation. Yes, it’s difficult and frustrating, but that’s because it wants to frustrate you—and the payoff is immense pleasure: no book gets closer to the ineffable experience of human play and tragedy, of being a fleshy mass of blood and bones in the modern world” Read more...

“This novel is still—after nearly a century—powerful, innovative and exhilarating. There is more going on in one sentence in Ulysses than there is in most contemporary novels.” Read more...

Robin Robertson on Books that Influenced Him

Robin Robertson , Novelist

The Blind Watchmaker

By richard dawkins.

“I would say read all of Dawkins – that would be my recommendation. But if I had to pick just one self-contained book that lays out Dawkins’s philosophy and methodology, and shows his literary skills, I would have to pick this one. His most famous book is The Selfish Gene because it lays out the gene-centred view of evolution, but it’s a bit of a tough slog. All the stuff you find in it you can also find in The Blind Watchmaker. “ Read more...

“In the Dawkins book I chose, The Blind Watchmaker , he brilliantly explains how complex mechanisms and structures are put together by the process of evolution. It is true that he makes certain theological points that I don’t agree with.” Read more...

Kenneth Miller recommends the best Arguments against Creationism

Kenneth Miller , Biologist

by Niccolo Machiavelli

“If you want to get a perspective on how the politics of power and ruthlessness work, or simply see some of the thinking behind Game of Thrones, this short, slightly fragmentary book, written in the 16th century, is still the best around.” Read more...

Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday

“ The Prince is an occasion piece. It was written in 1513 after the Medici had been returned to power. Machiavelli was out of a job—he’d been tortured and fired—and couldn’t afford to live in Florence. And his obsession with politics and international affairs was such that he couldn’t let go. So he started a correspondence with his friend Francesco Vettori and, from that correspondence, arose The Prince . It was a book about how to deal with the crisis of Italy after the French invasions. Machiavelli’s response, in The Prince, was that the only way Italy was going to maintain its independence, and freedom, and drive out the barbarians—which is a term he always used for northern Europeans—was to beat them at their own game, to be more violent, more vicious, more brutal, and more faithless” Read more...

The Best Italian Renaissance Books

Kenneth Bartlett , Historian

by Albert Camus

“It has been said that he did extensive research for The Plague . The ‘plague’ is generally taken to be a metaphor or meta-commentary on Nazism during World War II. I’m not necessarily sold on that as the exclusive interpretation of the novel. Other people have argued that he was reading about plagues during the time that he was writing this. But one thing that’s really interesting in the background is that, for at least a period of time while writing the novel, Camus was trying to recover from a bout of tuberculosis and he was staying in a village in southern France in the Free Zone (Vichy). The remarkable events that took place there were the basis for the book called Lest Innocent Blood be Shed by Philip Paul Hallie. In this small, poor, rural village they banded together and pooled their resources to save somewhere between three and five thousand Jews from the Nazis. Camus was in this village as this was happening, as people were hiding, as they were separated from their loved ones, while he himself was separated from his loved ones. So, I’m not sure to what degree the astute nature of his writing can be attributed to his reading about previous plagues, or to his first-hand experience of being bedridden with an illness, embedded in a town where people were hiding from a much more militaristic and malignant sort of ‘plague’.” Read more...

The Best Books by Albert Camus

Jamie Lombardi , Philosopher

“Albert Camus’s The Plague has justifiably become a bestseller this year. Camus is startlingly perceptive about the psychology of those in lockdown, and the ways in which different people cope with the fear of contagion. Previously most of us were told to read this novel as an oblique commentary on the Nazi Occupation. Now we can appreciate it at a literal level too.” Read more...

Summer Reading: Philosophy Books

This Time Is Different

By carmen reinhart & kenneth rogoff.

“Why is the book called This Time Is Different ? Because there is a common theme. The typical pattern, that the authors highlight, is that during good times, when things go well and the economy is healthy—there is low unemployment, high consumption, and economic growth— debt is accumulated either by banks or governments of individual countries. Or by households, as was the case in the United States in the 2000s. As you accumulate more debt, one could become concerned that this is dangerous. With more debt, you become more vulnerable to debt becoming very expensive and not being able to repay it. But the typical response is, ‘Don’t worry, because this time is different…for one reason or another.’” Read more...

The best books on Fiscal Policy

Sergio de Ferra , Economist

“They…took an enormous amount of time to put together datasets that allow us to look back eight centuries and ask, quantitatively, whether there are any common denominators to financial crises. And the not-surprising answer is, ‘Yes, absolutely.’” Read more...

The Best Finance Books

Andrew W Lo , Economist

Crime and Punishment

By fyodor dostoevsky.

“There was a real murder in Moscow in 1865, two elderly women killed by axe. Dostoyevsky was deeply moved by this crime. When a writer is deeply moved, he writes a novel. When it is a great writer, the story turns out to be a great novel. Crime and Punishment is on my list because I wrote my own version of the events. In a novel called F.M. (Dostoyevsky’s initials, Fyodor Mikhailovich) I introduce a newly discovered manuscript by Dostoevsky, a first version of Crime and Punishmen t, and it is a 100% mystery about a serial killer.” Read more...

Five Mysteries Set in Russia

Boris Akunin , Thriller and Crime Writer

“ Crime and Punishment is probably Dostoevsky’s most conventional novel. It’s effectively a sort of literary crime novel, and is in some ways quite typical of its time. It’s got a fascinating structure, where a full 80% of the novel comes after he’s committed the crime but before he reaches the punishment. So for the majority novel, you are in suspense and, despite the title, a part of you genuinely believes he might get away with it.” Read more...

The Best Fyodor Dostoevsky Books

Alex Christofi , Literary Scholar

Great Expectations

By charles dickens.

“What the rest of Great Expectations shows is that having Christmas lasting all the way through your life might not be a good thing. Having a Santa Claus figure who keeps throwing gifts and money at you when they’re not necessarily wanted or deserved might be a handicap.” Read more...

The best books on Dickens and Christmas

Robert Douglas-Fairhurst , Literary Scholar

“It is one of the most perfect novels ever written.It’s got a wonderful plot. It’s about good and bad money, you don’t know who Pip’s benefactor is, you’re wrong-footed—as he is—all the time. It’s about terrible damage. It’s got this fantastic suspense about what happens to Magwitch. It’s sad, but also it’s got wonderful humour in it and wonderful characters. It’s got Wemmick, one of the first commuters. It’s just brilliant.” Read more...

The Best Charles Dickens Books

Jenny Hartley , Biographer

The Arabian Nights or Tales of 1001 Nights

“What’s wonderful about the Arabian Nights is that the tales are really rather stripped down and there’s not a lot of deep psychology. You’re not reading Middlemarch . There’s not all that much in the way of description. The palaces would be conventionally described, the beautiful woman would have eyebrows like this and lips like that, all conventional similes – they rush through it. What you’re getting is a pure story; the Nights is kind of like an engine of stories. It’s wonderful to see how stories work in a very nuts-and-bolts way as you work through them: how tension is managed and how characters are introduced and so on” Read more...

Classics of Arabic Literature

Robert Irwin ,

“The Arabian Nights was a collection of popular, vernacular tales that was actually rather despised by scholars – the Arabic apparently is quite rough, compared to the elegance of the Farsi used in the much better known, more established and highly valued Persian romances of the time. The Nights tales were considered trifles and not looked after – the same has happened with a lot of early children’s literature. We don’t have a lot of it because no one saw fit to preserve it.” Read more...

Marina Warner on Fairy Tales

Marina Warner , Novelist

The Brothers Karamazov

“ The Brothers Karamazov is a real detective novel, a very rare phenomenon for 19th-century Russian fiction. We have a mysterious murder here, we have several suspects, we have a courtroom investigation, and we do not know eventually, not for sure, who is the culprit.” Read more...

“Dostoevsky was a devout Christian and The Brothers Karamazov, his last and possibly greatest novel, was a heartfelt plea for the necessity of faith. The phrase ‘If God does not exist, everything is permitted’ is often attributed to Dostoevsky. He actually never wrote that, but the sentiment certainly runs through much of his work, and most especially through The Brothers Karamazov .” Read more...

The best books on Morality Without God

Kenan Malik , Science Writer

The Aeneid (Robert Fitzgerald translation)

“Arms and the man I sing, who,

forced by fate,

And haughty Juno’s unrelenting hate,

Expelled and exiled, left the Trojan shore”

— Aeneid , opening lines (Robert Fitzgerald translation)

The Aeneid was written by the Roman poet Virgil, in the age of Augustus, as a founding myth for the emerging Roman empire. See below why experts picked it as an important book on a variety of subjects. Author Selina O’Grady, author of And Man Created God , specified the translation by the American poet and translator Robert Fitzgerald (1983), though in this New York Times review , you can see the arguments for also reading the translation by Robert Fagles (2006), the late American academic and poet.

If you want to read the Latin alongside the English, you can turn to the Loeb Classical Library, though it inconveniently stretches over two books and the English is a little dated.

In classical times poems were meant to be listened to and rather excitingly the British actor, Simon Callow, has narrated an audiobook of the Aeneid , based on Robert Fagles’s translation.

“It’s beautiful and poetic. Fitzgerald was a poet by calling. And I find this the most beautiful and high-flown of the mid-century American translations” Read more...

“Virgil’s Aeneid gives an account of the Trojan Horse and the sacking of Troy.” Read more...

Here Comes Everybody

By clay shirky.

Here Comes Everybody, How Change Happens When People Come Together by Clay Shirky is an enlightening exploration of how technology can empower social and political organizers .  Shirky is simply the best person at articulating what’s very weird and new about what’s going on. Read what Five Books experts have to say about this highly recommended book.

“It’s a really great book for anyone who wants to understand the social media revolution and how it completely changed the economics of organisation.” Read more...

The best books on 21st Century Foreign Policy

Anne-Marie Slaughter , International Relation

“If you had to pick one individual who was the sharpest and most prescient commentator on the web and the internet it would be Clay.” Read more...

The best books on Information

Tyler Cowen , Economist

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine

By michael lewis.

“What Michael Lewis points out very forcefully is that they were deliberately created by Wall Street banks in order to produce non-transparent securities that could not be adequately evaluated by the rating agencies, which then could be sold to less sophisticated investors, who would buy the idea that this junk debt actually had triple A ratings. So what this book does quite brilliantly is show that there was actually a high degree of intentionality in creating the crisis. “ Read more...

Francis Fukuyama recommends the best books on the The Financial Crisis

“It tells us the difficulty markets have in correcting group think. You really have to be quite Aspergerish to take a stand against the crowd. In fact one of Lewis’s heroes, as it were, is hedge fund manager Michael Burry, who clearly had serious socialisation problems.” Read more...

The best books on Economics in the Real World

John Kay , Economist

One Hundred Years of Solitude

By gabriel garcía márquez, translated by gregory rabassa.

“Our greatest classic of all time, One Hundred Years of Solitude , is a fantasy novel. But when you go to libraries, you never see it in the fantasy section. They put it in the section of Latin American literature, or of classic literature or of Nobel Prize literature. But it is a fantasy… One Hundred Years of Solitude is a saga. It’s the story of a family, from the couple that had the first kids to the end of the family, which is also the end of times. When you read reviews of One Hundred Years of Solitude, they’ll say it’s the story of Latin America—and perhaps it is. But, essentially, it’s the story of a town from when it is founded until it finishes its history…It really amazes me that a person from a tiny town in the Caribbean area, which is not the most developed in the country, was able to accomplish this huge achievement. Cien años de soledad is a great novel like Don Quijote de la Mancha . It’s that big.” Read more...

The Best Colombian Novels

Pilar Quintana , Novelist

“Rabassa has accomplished something utterly terrific in his translation of One Hundred Years of Solitude . This novel, which was revolutionary in its structure and its use of imagination, is now absolutely compelling in English as well as in Spanish. On the assumption that most people who have been influenced by García Márquez in the English speaking world have been influenced through Rabassa’s translation, it had a huge effect on novel writing in English. Writers like Toni Morrison, for example, or Salman Rushdie.” Read more...

The best books on Translation

Edith Grossman , Translator

Wuthering Heights

By emily brontë.

The novel Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë,  was first published under the pen name Ellis Bell in 1847, just a year before Emily’s death in 1848. Below, in our interviews with literary critics and journalists, you’ll see why many people still view it as one of the greatest novels ever written in English. Also worth looking at are the contemporary reviews, some of which were found in Emily’s desk after her death. These are available on the web (see links below), but are also included in the Norton Critical Edition of Wuthering Heights .

“Wuthering Heights is a strange novel in a lot of ways. It’s a standalone—there’s not really another book like it.” Read more...

The best books on Sex in Victorian Literature

Claire Jarvis , Literary Scholar

“In Wuthering Heights once again it’s the landscape that underlines the choices the characters must make. Cathy must choose between the grand house in the lush valley: protected, comfortable and tame; or the wild, exhilarating bleakness of Wuthering Heights .” Read more...

Rachel Hickman recommends the best Novels Set in Wild Places

Rachel Hickman , Children's Author

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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My five-star reads: 15 of the best books I’ve ever read

I only share books I know and love. If you buy through my links, I may earn a commission (learn more).

I read a lot of books each year. I have a ludicrous number of books on the go at any given time. And fortunately for the people in my life, I have this website to channel my thoughts about books.

But that said, I have a very high bar for 5* reviews. Most books I read fall into the 3-4* range – good enough to finish and recommend, but not quite life-changing.

For me, a five-star read is a rare beast – but when I encounter one, I can’t stop talking about it… for years (if not decades) after reading.

Including mostly fiction for now, many of the books below are engaging and unputdownable reads , but I’ve also included the most life-changing books I’ve read. These are books that have inspired me to change direction, think differently, overcome challenges, and work out who I really am.

So without further ado, read on for the five-star books I can’t say enough good things about.

My favourite books and five-star reads

Kafka on the shore by haruki murakami.

Why I love Kafka on the Shore … I think this is Murakami at his best. A story about running away from home to take refuge in a library? Yes, please.

During my late teens and early twenties, I went on a Murakami reading binge and ticked off nearly all of his major novels. I have to be in the right mood for his writing, but when I am, nothing else comes close. I’m currently re-reading Kafka on the Shore and remembering just how fantastic it is.

Haruki Murakami is the master of blending  slice-of-life  everyday events like cooking pasta and doing laundry with the supernatural – think talking cats, mysteriously deep wells, and otherworldly meetings with people who aren’t quite who they seem.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Why I love  War and Peace…  It’s a fantastically all-encompassing book about what living really feels like. Surprisingly, it also helped me through the anxiety I was experiencing in my late teens.

As you might be able to guess,  reading  War and Peace  is what inspired me to start this website. I first read it during one of the most anxious periods of my life, but Tolstoy’s timeless words unexpectedly helped me find perspective and calm.

Tolstoy’s masterpiece isn’t exactly known for being easy to read, but  choosing the right translation  can help a lot. (TLDR: I love Anthony Briggs’s translation – on each read, I’ve been reminded of just how immersive the book can be and usually finish it in a couple of weeks.)

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng

Why I love The Garden of Evening Mists … With no wasted words, Tan Twan Eng has written some of the most graceful and moving books I’ve ever read. They’re slow, beautiful, and absolutely not to be rushed.

When I think of my all-time favourite books, I often forget about Tan Twan Eng’s writing. As soon as I remember, I feel terrible for forgetting him.

In The Garden of Evening Mists , Supreme Court Judge Teoh Yun Ling chooses early retirement to return to the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia in the late 1980s, where she once served as an apprentice to a Japanese gardener.

Confronting the Japanese occupation of Malaya, this is a striking book that deservedly won the Man Asian Literary Prize and Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction (and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize).

The Gift of Rain is also superb, as was Tan Twang Eng’s new book for 2023, The House of Doors (one of my favourite books of the year ).

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Why I love The Goldfinch … This book has everything I love most about Donna Tartt’s writing: a keen eye for beauty and turmoil, sprawling storylines, characters rebuilding their life after trauma, and way too many pages.

At least in my eyes, Donna Tartt is a literary icon and The Goldfinch a modern classic . In this Pulitzer Prize winner from 2013, a young New Yorker grieving the loss of his mother is dragged into a gritty underworld of art and wealth.

With Donna Tartt’s usual cadence of a book a decade, will she announce another book soon? Who knows, but I really hope so.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Why I love  One Hundred Years of Solitude…   It’s exactly what the best magical realism should be: otherworldly but so very human.

Although it’s been years since I last enjoyed his writing, Gabriel García Márquez will always be one of my favourite writers. Alongside Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits , I’d also nominate One Hundred Years of Solitude as one of the best magical realism novels ever written.

A masterclass in the art of fiction, pick up García Márquez’s most popular novel for the magnetic story of the rise and fall, birth and death of the mythical town of Macondo, told through the history of the Buendía family.

Circe by Madeline Miller

Why I love Circe … Madeline Miller’s bestseller reads like a dream. It’s one of the few books I wanted to re-read immediately after finishing (alongside Prodigal Summer , The Covenant of Water , and The Overstory ).

Ignoring the terrible whims of Greek Gods, one of my literary happy places is Aiaia, the island to which Circe is banished. Rather than acting as her prison, Aiaia becomes her sanctuary, with days focused on honing the art of  pharmaka –  the magic of herbs – as she forages, picks, blends, brews, and experiments with what she finds.

Although I loved The Song of Achilles , there’s something so dreamy, luscious, and evocative about Circe that makes it Miller’s masterpiece for me. The themes of love, loss, and motherhood are etched in my brain’s literary vault.

The Waves by Virginia Woolf

Why I love The Waves … This is one of the few books I’ve read that feels like the title. If the sea were a book, it’d be this classic.

Okay, a little honesty. Iain, my husband, is reading The Waves right now on my recommendation (I bought him a copy for Christmas) and struggling . I fell in love with this book during a modernist literature module at university, and while I was prepared for the stream of consciousness and lack of plot, he really wasn’t.

My advice? Try and let the book wash over you, rather than looking for a plot to follow. It’s gorgeously written, but reading it is more like admiring a beautiful piece of modern art than a gripping novel. It’s not for everyone, but you might just love it too.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Why I love Cutting for Stone … I’m convinced that Abraham Verghese is one of the best living writers, mostly because of this book.

When I worked at my village bookshop for several years as a teenager, the owner always recommended Cutting for Stone . His personal mission seemed to be making sure that every local resident read it. And it really is fantastic.

If you know Abraham Verghese’s name, it’s most likely to be from his 2023 sensation The Covenant of Water . I also thought this was incredible (although traumatic) and I’m still badgering my husband to read it every week.

That said, I still think Cutting for Stone – a moving story of twin brothers, medicine, and a country on the brink of revolution – comes out slightly ahead. I’d love to read both books again this year to make sure.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Why I love His Dark Materials … The Arctic. Magic. Animal sidekicks. Badass characters.

When I married Iain, we chose a reading from The Amber Spyglass in our ceremony. (If you’ve read the books, you’ll might be able to guess which section we chose.) We both grew up with Philip Pullman’s books and still love them, so it was a fairly easy choice.

Yes, the trilogy is written for children, but – like The Hobbit – it’s a work of genius. I think back to the books fairly often, including when pondering parenthood, growing up, courage, and being a good person.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

Why I love  Prodigal Summer …  According to my personal formula for a perfect book, this is most likely the winner. Read it for wild nature, self-discovery, complex emotion, and intertwined stories.

Set during  a single summer by the Appalachian Mountains , Barbara Kingsolver whisks us away into three different yet interconnected lives as new life and the sensuality of nature blossom.

Deanna is a local girl turned biologist turned forest ranger, living reclusively in a cabin in the woods. Lusa is a city girl turned entomologist turned farmer’s wife. And Garnett is a grumpy old man, fed up with his eccentric neighbour Nannie Rawley.

Each time I re-read this book, especially when I’m feeling burnt out and in need of an escape, I remember how much I love all of these characters.

King Lear by William Shakespeare

Why I love King Lear…   This is the first Shakespeare play that swept me off my feet – and it’s stuck with me ever since.

While studying literature, I slogged through a lot of painfully arduous books. But occasionally, something I presumed would be difficult was actually… good. In the case of King Lear , it was really good.

Although King Lear is unavoidably bleak, it’s also an unparalleled exploration of family, what we pass to our children, and how we age – all told with passion, poetry, and dark humor.

Once you read it, you realise just how much Shakespeare’s timeless tale of family and inheritance has influenced. From TV award-winners ( Succession ) to classic novels ( Moby-Dick ), you can find echoes of King Lear everywhere.

A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler

Why I love A Whole Life … This book opened my heart, brought me to tears, and never let me forget it.

Although many of my five-star books can double as doorstops, A Whole Life is proof that plenty of beauty and emotion can fit in small packages.

Chosen as one of my favourite books that feel like a quiet life by the mountains , this is the story of Andreas Egger, a man who knows every path and peak of his mountain valley in the Austrian Alps.

As Andreas navigates loss, ageing, and a changing way of life, read this for  a stunning and heartbreaking book  about what life is really made of; both the little things and the biggest moments. 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Why I love  Pachinko …  Love, loss, the repercussions of the past across centuries. Multigenerational stories don’t get much better than this.

Pachinko is one of the few books I recommend to everyone. This compulsively readable  multigenerational epic  follows the story of a poor Korean immigrant family to Japan and their reinvention over the following generations.

Told with so much force but also precision, this is one of my top recommendations if you want to fall back in love with reading and rediscover how immersive great fiction can be.

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Why I love  The Overstory …  It’s one of the best books I’ve read to open my eyes to the world’s beauty, fragility, and interconnectedness.

The Overstory  has my vote as one of the  best modern novels of the century  so far. It took me a few attempts to get into the 502-page Pulitzer Prize winner, but when I did, I didn’t want it to end.

This magnificent book is a paean to the vast and marvellously intricate world that we depend on in so many ways:  the world of trees .

With stunning writing and creativity, Richard Powers weaves together interlocking fables that range from antebellum New York to the late twentieth-century Timber Wars of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. 

Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Why I love  Wind, Sand and Stars…   It’s both a masterpiece and a welcome reminder that life really is fleeting.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s crowd favourite,  The Little Prince , is packed with lessons about kindness and living well. However, his memoir of his life as an aviator,  Wind, Sand and Stars , is always my top pick of his books.

Braiding philosophy and lyricism with the miracle and danger of early aviation, this is so much more than a memoir of flying. It’s a book with a bird’s eye view that manages to take in all of life below.

For more of my best book recommendations, you might also like…

• 20 of the best modern novels of the 21st century
• 30 best books of all time for your bucket list (classics + modern)
• 10 best new fiction books of 2023 – my favourite reads this year
• 10 big books that are absolutely worth the time to read

Lucy Fuggle is a professional writer, reader, and creator of Tolstoy Therapy. Drawing on her love for books and a degree in English Literature, she started Tolstoy Therapy in 2012 and has shared the most feel-good, cozy, and beautiful books for over a decade. After working as a content specialist with leading companies for nearly 10 years, she now focuses on her own websites and books ( Mountain Song , Your Life in Bloom , and Simple Business ). She grew up in England and now lives in Denmark with her husband. For more book recommendations, subscribe to Tolstoy Therapy's weekly email to inspire your reading list.

• Incredible Five Star Books You Need to Read

Great Reads From 2022 Selected by Book Bloggers

5 star reads recommended by book bloggers, 8 books to add to your tbr list.

You might also like :  Book Blogging in 2022 Survey

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Oh man, I don't think my overloaded TBR can take much more. LOL. Thanks for sharing these.

Thanks for including my 5 Star read Jo! I truly appreciate all your promotion efforts on behalf of bloggers! I hope you're feeling better.

My pleasure Carol 😊

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Decoding the 5-Star Book Rating System: A Reader’s Guide

Delve into the world of literature as we demystify the 5-star book rating system, unraveling its nuances and significance

Within the vast expanse of literature, opinions on books can diverge widely. What one individual considers a masterpiece, another might deem an ordinary read.

To navigate through this sea of subjective experiences, the 5-star book rating system has emerged as a prevalent tool for readers to articulate their sentiments and share insights about a book.

In this article, we will delve comprehensively into the nuances of the 5-star book rating system, exploring the distinct connotations of each star and outlining practical strategies for its application.

Unveiling the Spectrum

The 5-star rating system provides a simple yet effective means of articulating your overall assessment of a book. Below, we delineate the customary significance of each star:

One Star: ★☆☆☆☆

Typically assigned to books that you found disheartening or struggled to connect with, this rating denotes a strong sense of aversion.

It could suggest subpar writing, one-dimensional character development, perplexing plot trajectories, or an amalgamation of these factors.

A one-star rating unequivocally signals that the book drastically undershot your expectations. This is a book you would NOT recommend to like-minded readers.

Two Stars: ★★☆☆☆

A two-star rating implies that while the book might possess redeeming attributes, it ultimately failed to captivate your interest or left you underwhelmed.

It could have harbored latent potential, but notable flaws were detrimental to your enjoyment. Now, this may be something that would interest others but leaves you cold, i.e., too much gore, too many spicy scenes, etc.

Be sure to state that in your review so that other potential readers know there are qualities you did not enjoy, but they may! Even a “negative” book review can guide readers to something they may enjoy.

Three Stars: ★★★☆☆

Connoting an average read, a three-star rating might have had instances of intrigue, yet it failed to impart a pronounced impression.

It does not scale the summits of excellence nor plummet to the depths of dissatisfaction, nestling instead in the middle stratum of the spectrum. It was pleasant but lacked memorability.

Four Stars: ★★★★☆

Awarding four stars communicates your genuine fondness for the book, affirming it as a noteworthy read.

It might have featured a compelling narrative, well-sculpted character dynamics, or a narrative style that resonated deeply.

While not bereft of minor imperfections, the book resonated with you on a lasting level.

You would certainly recommend this book and would also read more from this author in the future.

Five Stars: ★★★★★

Symbolizes a profound connection with the book. These are the tomes you deem masterstrokes, ones deserving a universal recommendation.

Awarding five stars signifies recognition of impeccable prose, engaging storytelling, and a lasting impact on your psyche.

You may even revisit this book in the future and list the author as one of your favorites.  

In employing the 5-star rating system, strategic considerations come into play:

Embrace emotional reflection.

Probe your emotional resonance with the book. Did it evoke laughter, tears, or contemplation? Gauge how profoundly the book affected your emotional and intellectual faculties.

Contextual Insights

A singular star might only sometimes denote a poorly composed book.

It could result from a mismatch between the subject matter and your personal tastes. Equally, five stars don’t assure universal appeal; a book you adore might not synchronize with another’s preferences.

This is why a written review is always the most effective way to share your thoughts on a book.

Champion Consistency

Endeavor to uphold a consistent rating framework across different books. This aids in illuminating your distinctive inclinations and facilitates a comparative assessment of various literary works. This is ESPECIALLY important if you have followers who rely on your reviews to introduce them to new works.

Augment With Reviews

While the star rating provides a rapid snapshot of your judgment, coupling it with a brief review enhances context. This assists fellow readers in gauging the book’s resonance with their biases.

5-Star Book Ranking System

The 5-star book rating system is valuable for articulating your sentiments regarding a book.

It condenses intricate reactions into an accessible and shareable format. Remember that a book’s merit extends beyond its star rating; personal connections, thematic pertinence, and idiosyncratic preferences all contribute.

Thus, whether you confer five stars upon a life-altering novel or a solitary star upon a book that failed to align with your expectations, your ratings contribute substantially to the diverse tapestry of literary viewpoints.

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The Best Books of 2023! 5-Star Books to Read Now!

Here is our ever-evolving list of the best books of 2023. Here’s the process:

Starting in January, Jackie and I start to compile our 5-star books for our best books of 2023 list. Once we have at least one book per category, we feel ready to publish it.

But the list is very much subject to change. We like to distill each category down to the best 3-4 picks per year, but since we read a combined total of more than 300 books a year, the competition gets tougher as the year goes on.

For example, if you are here in April, the best romance books of 2023 may look very different than they do in August or December! But we think that’s part of the fun.

In addition to listing the best books of 2023, we thought it would be fun to highlight our 3-4 favorite finds of the month too. Yes, we are primarily books, but if you follow us on Instagram , you know we share lots of lifestyle finds in our stories too. I love to chat about a product I love.

We are so curious to know if our picks for best books of 2023 match up with yours! Let us know in the comments.

*Best Books of 2023 post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you.

Article Contents

5 Star Books of 2023

Historical fiction // romance // middle grade // fiction // beach reads // feel good // ya books // celebrity books // fantasy // thriller & mystery // non fiction // holiday // kids //, the best books of 2023, best historical fiction books of 2023: 5-star books.

Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill Santopolo

Where do I even start with this book? I loved it so much. In Genoa Italy, in 1946 Vincenzo and Giovanna fell in love. But, they belong to two different worlds. She is the daughter of a tailor and she is almost royalty.

In 2017, Cassandra and Luca are in love. When Luca asks Cassandra’s grandmother to be a model for his new painting, with his grandfather, the past and its secrets are revealed.

I cannot say enough about this book that is part contemporary fiction and part historical fiction. It had me absolutely bawling by the end, ugly crying, and I LOVED it. The ending was perfect, fitting, and cathartic. This is Jackie’s pick for the best historical fiction books of 2023.

Two Wars and A Wedding by Lauren Willig

Lauren Willig’s book Band of Sisters , is one of our favorite WW1 Books so I was eager to read this novel. It’s a dual-timeline story with a single heroine who finds herself caught in a war between Greece and Turkey in 1896 and in the Spanish-American War of 1898.

Betsy Hayes travels to Greece to study archeology but ends up embroiled in the middle of a war, where she becomes a nurse. After witnessing the horrors of war, two years later she’s off to Cuba to try to stop her friend from experiencing the same things.

As usual, I loved Willig’s writing. I was immersed in both stories as I rooted for Betsy and her spirited ways. It’s definitely one of the best historical fiction books of 2023.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

December 2023 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

I was so excited to read this pick from the 2023 book releases and let me tell you that I was not disappointed!

This historical mystery is inspired by the diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife, who never lost a single mother in over 1000 deliveries.

When a man found entombed in ice, also happens to be the same man accused of a horrible attack, Martha tries to seek justice for the women that nobody else wants to protect. This book is brilliantly written and so well-researched that I could not put it down.

Favorite Finds: January 2023

This month has been all about new habits for both of us. I’m shoring up my skincare routine and trying a new undereye cream while Jackie has gone deep into setting up her new planner with the items below!

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Best Romance Books of 2023

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye

After a terrible divorce, Helene moves to a small town in Alaska to write a novel. When she meets Sebastian, a handsome fisherman, he is the personification of all the dreams she ever had of her perfect man.

Helene is determined to find the truth about her instant connection to Sebastian, but he’s determined to keep it from her.

I don’t want to spoil exactly how this Romeo and Juliet retelling is connected to the original story, but it’s a lovely romance with many mini-romances scattered throughout. This is a cozy book that will keep you turning the pages and smiling at the end. Jackie and I both think this is one of the best romance books of 2023.

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

Will and Fern spent one amazing, adventure-filled day together in their early 20s with a promise to meet up again one year later. When Fern shows up and Will doesn’t, she is heartbroken.

Now, nine years later, Fern has inherited the lakeside resort that she never wanted to run, her ex-boyfriend is the resort manager, and she needs help. When Will shows up at the resort with an offer to help get things back in order, she doesn’t know if she can get over her old feelings and trust him again.

I absolutely loved this lake book . Set between Muskoka and Toronto, it reminded me of my childhood and teenage years! This is an absolute must-read romance novel! You can also find this book in our list of Hotel Novels to Indulge in on Vacation , and of course on our list of best romance books of 2023.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Any romance novel by Ali Hazelwood has become a must-read so, it is no surprise that I jumped at the chance to read her newest STEMinist romcom!

Elsie has learned to live two lives; an adjunct professor in theoretical physicist by day and a fake girlfriend the rest of the time (to make ends meet). She has also learned to read people and become the Elsie that they want her to be.

When she interviews for her dream job as a theoretical physics professor at MIT, her two worlds collide. How? I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Elsie learns what she really wants an how to ask for it in a delightful and charming way.

This steamy romance novel is a must-read from our ultimate list of beach reads. It’s one of my picks for the best romance books of 2023 too! If you are looking for books for summer, this one is for you.

Favorite Finds: February 2023

For Valentine’s Day this year, I got each of my kids some games and a set of Lego flowers – perfect boredom busters for the colder winter months. I also fell in love with reusable paper towels that actually roll up onto a paper towel roll! I’ve saved so much money by not buying paper products, so I was happy to make this switch.

5-Star Books: Best Middle-Grade Books of 2023

The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate

The third book in the One and Only series is focused on Ruby’s stories about her time in Africa. As always, Ivan, Bob, and Ruby’s bond captivated my family’s attention. Our kids had a hard time deciding which was their favorite book in this series. This book definitely has some sad parts so we want to give fair warning for any sensitive readers.

However, if you are a Katherine Applegate lover, this book does not disappoint. Once again, Applegate makes our list of best middle grade books of 2023 ! #gifted

The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

This tween fantasy novel is a retelling of Anne of Green Gables – except Grace (Anne) is in training with the witch (Marilla). Oh! And Matthew is a cloud.

Fantastical? Yes — and utterly delightful. I loved when retellings completely rework the story so readers get glimpses of the classics we love, while experiencing something completely new.

This story swept me away and was so sad when it ended. It’s one of the best middle-grade books of 2023.

Favorite Finds: March 2023

Our finthrds this month were focused on Spring Break! Jackie is addicted to her new hat when she’s in the sun. Friends on Instagram have told us they love it too! Kirsten found some new beauty finds while getting vacation ready and the game below had her children occupied for hours by the pool.

Best Contemporary Fiction Books of 2023

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

This pick from the best books to read in 2023 is from the National Book Award-winning author of The Good Lord Bird. When workers find a skeleton at the bottom of a well while doing work, who the skeleton was and what happened reveals some old secrets of the residents of Chicken Hill.

It is clear from the incredible writing in this book why it has been named a New York Times Notable Book and a Best Book by NPR, Washington Post, The New Yorker, and Time Magazine.

This is more than a mystery. It is a history of Pottstown, Pennsylvania where Moshe and Chona Ludlow, a Jewish couple, worked with the unofficial leader of the Black community to keep a deaf boy safe from authorities. It is a story of family, love community and survival. #gifted

Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane

Barnett has returned home to his mother’s farm in rural Louisana to announce that he’s getting married – to another man. Needless to say, introducing Ezra to his mom does not go down smoothly.

Byron Lane delivers a FANTASTIC novel filled with family drama, growth, acceptance, and a BIG GAY WEDDING. I think this is my favorite wedding novel of all time.

It’s over the top exactly where it needs to be and its heartwarming in the best way possible. Also, I cried over a sheep. I adored Barnett and Ezra’s families and especially their relationship. This one is a total must-read and a pick for the best books of 2023!

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

March 2023 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

I loved this family drama book about the blue-blooded Stockton family, told from the perspective of sisters, Darley and Georgiana, and their sister-in-law, Sasha.

Each woman has her own struggles with navigating life in the Stockton family. Sasha, a middle-class artist feels like an unwelcomed outsider. Darley struggles with living up to the Stockton family name after she gave up her identity to embrace motherhood. Georgiana, the youngest, needs to grow up and become a capable adult! Each family member struggles on their own and within the family dynamic in this wonderful contemporary fiction. Each sibling faces dramatic struggles from sick parents to committing adultery to a lost job. I loved seeing how they each grew throughout this book for book clubs and ultimately how they strengthened their familial bond.

While the book had enough meat for me to get invested, it also had glimpses of the whimsy of the monied elite. The matriarch of this family in particular is a hoot! We had to include this book in our list of beach reads 2023 and the best contemporary fiction books of 2023 .

Maame by Jessica George

February 2023 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

This story about Maddie, known as Maame to her family, was immersive and beautifully complex. Dealing with friendships, racism, familial obligations, and then grief, this story swept me away. Maddie lives in London as the primary caretaker of her father who has Parkinson’s. Her mother spends most of her time in Ghana.

I felt fiercely protective of Maddie while reading this book. There were times I wanted to swoop in to relieve some of the burdens of this wonderful character with a heart of gold. But it was more rewarding to see Maddie finding her inner strength and learning to prioritize herself and her dreams.

I can’t recommend this coming-of-age book about grief enough – especially as a book for book clubs. It’s one of the best books of 2023 and a great pick for a list of book club books. This is one of the heavier books in our beach reads 2023 post, but the list would not be complete without it. This is also one of the best novels about Africa I have ever read.

Favorite Finds: April 2023

This month was all about getting my wardrobe ready for spring and getting ready for the Taylor Swift concert we are going to next month! Below you’ll find some recent t-shirt finds and the shoe/bag combo I haven’t stopped wearing.

Best Beach Reads of 2023

Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

I picked up this book based on the cover and the thoughts of the hula dance competition, but instead of the fun read I was expecting, I got a coming-of-age story about a light-skinned Hawaiian trying to prove she belongs by learning to Hula.

But this Hula isn’t just a dance, it keeps the legends and legacies of the Hawaiian culture alive. Sprinkled throughout this story, while Hi’i is fighting to prove her worth, we see glimpses of her mother and grandmother’s lives and vignettes that explain Hawaii’s history, colonization, and the struggle of native Hawaiians today.

Why I Loved it: There is so much to uncover in this book, so many layers to absorb. I was entertained while reading it, but more importantly, I learned so much. I’ll be raving about this for years to come!

Find this book in Thought-provoking Books / Beach Reads 2023 / Best Books 2023 / Best Female BIPOC Author s / Family Saga / Best Beach Reads of All Time

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Emily Henry is an author who is always consistent with her romances. She may be the queen of romantic comedy books. Nothing says “summer reads” like Emily Henry.

Harriet and Wyn have been together for years until they broke up 5 months ago. The only problem is that they still haven’t told their best friends and now they will be sharing a room during their yearly vacation with their friends.

How hard can it be to keep up the facade of a happy couple? If you love fake dating books, this is one of the best. And if you are hoping these two will have a second chance at love, you will not be disappointed.

There is something special in every one of Emily Henry’s romances and this newest book is no exception. It is one of the best books of 2023 !

Find this Book in Emily Henry Books / Second Chance Romance / Romantic Comedy Books / Fake Dating Books

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner

I absolutely loved this feel-good fiction. Abby Stearn has good friends, her bike, her bike club, and has come to terms with her plus-size body. When she is given the chance to lead a group bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls she is happy to have the time to make some hard life choices.

She loves her fiance but cannot help questioning if he is the man for her. And if he is, why is her one-night stand from years ago still haunting her thoughts? When he shows up on the bike trip and her mother shows up as well, Abby will have to deal with a lot of truths.

This is a book that deals with body image and mother-daughter relationships with Weiner’s signature charm and humor. #gifted

Favorite Finds: May 2023

With warmer weather comes more time outdoors. Our finds this month are about getting outside and soaking up the sun. Be sure to check out the fans that keep insects away from food!

Best Feel-Good Books of 2023: 5-star Books

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Jack Masterson is the author behind the Clock Island series, a series of beloved children’s books. Now, years after he was thought to be retired, he has written a new book. There is only one copy of the book that will go to the winner of a contest held on Clock Island.

For Lucy Hart, winning the contest will mean everything to her. It will mean she can finally have the means to adopt Christopher, the little boy that she has grown to love.

Why We Love It: This book felt like an adult fairy tale. If you are looking for books about puzzles, this uplifting, feel-good book is the perfect book. Find This Book in Books About Puzzles / Feel-Good Books

The Love Scribe by Amy Meyerson

Where do I even start with this amazing magical realism book ? When Alice’s best friend has yet another horrible breakup, Alice wants to make her feel better by writing her a letter, the way she used to when they were young. Instead, she finds herself writing a story and as if by magic, Gabby meets the man of her dreams.

Soon, Alice is writing stories for everyone as her gift pours from her. When she is sent a letter that brings her to a mysterious mansion, she meets Madeline who wants to have a special story written for her. Alice is forced to deal with her own past in order to move forward. This is one of the contemporary fiction books for book clubs we have read and absolutely loved. It is perfect for Fiction Books about Writers and a pick for best books of 2023 .

The Friendship Breakup by Annie Cathryn

When it comes to books about motherhood, this is a must-read. As moms, we’ve all experiences the highs and lows of making new mom friends, but this story looks at what happens when friendships run their course.

Do you fight to keep the friendship alive or send it on its way? Well, Fallon is not letting them go so easily and her attempts to win back her friends are hysterical, but also poignant.

This book about friendship had me examining my own relationships and I knew I needed to include it in the ultimate list of beach reads 2023. It’s also one of my picks for the best books of 2023 and I knew this needed to be on our list of books for book clubs.

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Daphne, Lanier, and Mary Stuart met at Camp Holly Springs as 6-year-olds and have remained inseparable ever since. They have been through unplanned pregnancies and addiction, and have taken on each other’s hard things. 

Now, with the camp that they love so much in danger of closing, the three women come together to help Daphne’s aunt (and owner of the camp) save their beloved home. 

Why I Loved It: Every so often you read a book that brings you back to your childhood. Kirsty Woodson Harvey brought me back to my summers at camp. This book touched my heart. I loved every word! This is a real celebration of friendship and chosen family.

Find this Book in Best Books of 2023 / Lake Novels / Summer Camp Novels

Favorite Finds: June 2023

We went on a road trip for Memorial Day weekend and found the best items! Think small games for travel and a car trashcan that got a lot of use!

Best YA Books of 2023: 5-Star Books for Teens

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Chess destroyed Mallory’s family four years ago which led to her quitting the sport. Now, she supports her family with a dead-end job. When she plays one last chess game in a tournament and beats the current world champion, Nolan Sawyer, nobody is more shocked than he is.

The cash from the win encourages Mallory to keep playing as a paid fellowship but soon things become even more complicated than the game when she starts to love chess and have feelings for Nolan.

Why I Love it: I am so honored that I was able to read a copy of this debut YA novel from the master romance writer behind the New York Times Bestseller The Love Hypothesis. It has everything I expected from a Hazelwood novel made appropriate for teens.

Find this book in YA Romances / Best Summer Reads 2024

We Ship It by Lauren Kay

This charming YA cruise novel screams summer vacation read! Our nerdy heroine is dragged on a cruise by her family despite her desire to study for an upcoming presentation.

Despite being a little awkward, she meets a fun crew of fellow teens and a love interest. Sound fluffy? It is, but there are serious topics explored as well. Trigger warnings for drug use and overdose in pick for best ya books of 2023.

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

I loved the Firekeeper’s Daughter and I was so excited to read this book. I was worried that it would not live up to my expectations but it was a 5-star book and a best of 2023. This is an emotional and powerful, must-read book. It is a slower-paced book for me but I have been thinking about this book long after I finished the last page.

Perry Firekeeper Birtch has always known who she was (the troublemaker) and what she wanted to do (fish). When she gets in an accident and has to pay back her aunt for the cost of fixing the car, she spends the summer working to make it up to her aunt.

In the process, she discovers that the remains of her ancestors, the Anishinaabe, are not being returned to their rightful families, grave robbers are profiting from sacred artifacts, and the missing indigenous women are not being investigated. #gifted

Favorite Finds: July 2023

Jackie’s pool is open and she’s been living the dream! Meanwhile, I’ve been heading to the shore as often as possible. Below are our summer essentials for fun by the water.

Best Celebrity Book Club Picks of 2023: 5-Star Books

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

March 2023 Oprah Book Club Pick

I adored this family saga about the four Padavano sisters and the man that enters their family orbit. William Waters grew up in a house with indifferent parents, so he fell head over heels for Julia and then her family.

But William’s inner demons cause a rift between the sisters that shakes the family to its core and dramatically changes the dynamics between all the Padavanos. Told over decades, this story examines the ties that bind us to our family through the ebbs and flows of life.

As one of four children, this coming-of-age story really spoke to me. Napolitano does an incredible job of accurately depicting the individual sibling relationships with one another and the role each person plays within the larger family dynamic. It’s a tall order and a near-impossible challenge to nail the complexities of a big family, but Napolitano does it with aplomb.

It’s going to be one of the best books of 2023 without a doubt. It strikes a balance between creating moments for book club discussion but also being entertaining enough to be a beach read pick . It’s a book about sisters I’ll be recommending to everyone all year.

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

May 2023 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

This book was a doozy in the most thought-provoking way. The story is about the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the reality tv show that pits prisoners against each other in gladiator-type fights to the death.

Thurwar and Staxxx are stars of the show, brutally killing anyone they come up against, but as Thurwar gets ready to win her freedom after 3 years on TV, the creatures of the show throw many hurdles in her path.

Why We Love This Book : This searing look at racism and classism feels highly relevant to today’s world when a show like this could easily exist in some states. The reality TV book was so unique. Even days later I can’t stop thinking about the all-stars, the protesters fighting for their rights, and the stunning conclusion. I’ve been thinking about it all year, so it was an easy pick for the best books of 2023 pick! Find This Book In Dystopian Novels / Read with Jenna Book Club

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

August 2023 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return home and beg their mother to tell the story of her romance with a movie star from long ago.

Throughout their Mom’s telling of her summer theatre experience at Tom Lake, the daughters get the long-awaited answers to questions they’ve asked for years. The whole family also re-examines their lives and relationships through the new lens of information. While this is a pandemic story, it’s more of a plot device to get the family together than anything else. So don’t expect to be triggered!

Why I Loved it: Ann Patchett is an amazing storyteller and I love all her books, so it’s no surprise that this story is one of my best books of 2023 picks! I was completely enchanted by this story, especially because Meryl Streep reads the audiobook version.

Find this book in Best Books of 2023 / Novels Set on a Lake / Isolation Books / Family Dramas

Favorite Finds: August 2023

I know that it’s still boiling hot, but summer is coming to a close and so I recently picked up some fall gear! These jeans are so comfortable!

Best Fantasy Books of 2023

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges

This is easily one of the most unique magical realism books I’ve ever read. Myra Malone blogs about a dollhouse mansion and has thousands of followers. But the mansion is more than it seems as rooms disappear and reappear overnight.

Across the country, Alex is shocked to see someone recreating the rooms of his home in miniature form. Alex and Myra correspond to determine their connection and in the process feel a pull to each other.

Fourth Wing (Empyrean Series Book #1) by Rebecca Yarros

If you have not heard of this book and love fantasy, this is the book for you. Don’t be intimidated by the length of this dragon book for adults, I started and finished this 528-page bad boy in a day and a half. I cannot remember the last time I did that!

Violet Sorrengail had spent her life studying to be a scribe until her father died and her mother, the commanding general, ordered her to join the dragon riders. Violet will become one of the hundreds of candidates who fight to the death to be a part of this elite group.

Unlike the other candidates who have worked towards this their whole lives, Violet is small and brittle and never meant for this to be her path. And other candidates do not have the children of rebel leaders waiting to take revenge.

This adult fantasy book has everything and I loved every second. It lives up to the hype and then some. There are some very spicy parts of this romance toward the end so I would agree with the adult rating on this book!

Find this book in Adult Fantasy Books / Fourth Wing Series in Order / The Best Books Like Fourth Wing / Grumpy Sunshine Romance

Tress of the Emerald Sea: A Cosmere Novel by Brandon Sanderson

If you love fantasy books of any kind, stop now and make time to read this fantastic book. This is the book that you would get if The Princess Bride had a book baby that empowered women everywhere to be the heroes in their own story, seek out adventure, and be brave enough to become who they were intended to be.

Tress has grown up on her tiny island with her one friend Charlie, who is also the Duke’s son, to keep her company. When the Duke takes Charlie away and he doesn’t return, Tress sets off to rescue him from the Sorceress who lives on the deadly Midnight Sea. She will encounter pirates, talking rats, betrayal, love, and friendship on her voyage.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. All the stars to this cozy book. While technically this is a fantasy book for adults, it is appropriate for a young adult or teen audience as well.

Find this book in Pirate Books / YA Fantasy / Best of 2023

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde #1) by Heather Fawcett

This is one of the best fantasy books of 2023! I knew I needed to read it as soon as I saw the name, but everything about it was wonderful. I loved this book.

Emily Wilde is an expert on the study of faeries who is writing the first encyclopedia on faerie lore. She has traveled to the village of Hrafnsvik to study the Hidden Ones. She is much better with her dog and faeries than she is with people so she is not happy when Wendell Bamblely shows up uninvited.

He is her handsome and lazy rival who is not opposed to making things up as he goes along. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time and was one of my favorite books for 2023. The sequel, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Overlands is already of of my favorites of 2024.

Find this book in Fae Books / Cozy Books / Best Books of 2023

Nocturne by Alyssa Wees

I absolutely adored this pick for best fantasy books of 2023 because it’s pure magic at its best. What starts as a historical fiction set in Chicago in the 1930s transforms into a beautiful fantasy about a ballerina, her violin, and the kingdom of death.

When Grace becomes the prima ballerina at The Near North Ballet Company, she is overjoyed that her dream has come true. In accepting this position, she has become a patron of master LaRosa and must move into his mansion.

This Beauty and the Beast retelling is perfect for a list of books like ACOTAR . It is beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking. The writing is lyrical and I savored every minute. It is perfect for anyone who loves to read books like The Night Circus . You will obsess over this haunting pick from ultimate beach reads 2023.

Favorite Finds: September 2023

As the weather starts to chill, I find myself embracing the comforts of home. From the mug that keeps my coffee warm to this cozy blanket, these items are my favorite finds of the month.

Best Thrillers and Mystery Books of 2023

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni

I was completely intrigued when I saw the description of this book. I had high hopes and this book exceeded my expectations. The description called this “books like The Da Vinci Code” which made this a must-read.

Mike Brink was once a promising football star until an injury ruined his career. It also had the side effect of a condition called Acquired Savant Syndrome which allowed him to have a perfect memory and an ability to solve puzzles other people cannot.

When Jess Price, an inmate convicted of murder sends Brink a puzzle he cannot solve, he gets sucked into her world and the world of the God Puzzle.

Why We Love It: I listened to this book in one day and was immediately taken in by the twists, turns, and puzzles in this book. It is such a unique book. Find This Book In Puzzle Books For Adults

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

September 2023 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

Happiness Falls is a captivating and heartwrenching tale about a Korean-American family in Virginia. When her dad mysteriously vanishes, Mia is convinced there’s a logical explanation. But as the search unfolds, family secrets unravel, and Mia’s younger brother, who is non-speaking Autistic, becomes the only witness.

Packed with shocking twists and thought-provoking questions, this book explores love, language, disabilities, and the lengths a family will go to understand one another. It was more than just a mystery. It was an exploration of the bonds of family.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Inspired by real events, this captivating tale takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the lives of two women determined to seek justice and bring down a serial killer. This mystery-thriller book flips the script on traditional serial killer tales, focusing on the female victims and the women impacted by the perpetrator’s horrendous crimes.

The killer is never named, instead the victims are rounded out and given depth in a way that highlights and celebrates who they were when alive.

Find This Book In: Best Books of 2023 / Fiction Serial Killer Books

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong lives above her tea shop in Chinatown in San Francisco. When she finds a dead body in the shop, she calls the police immediately but also makes sure to clean up a bit, use a sharpie to trace the body, and take the flash drive out of the man’s dead hand. She is sure that she can do a better job of finding the murderer than the police.

She comes up with a plan to find the killer and finds four suspects who she grows to care for. I absolutely loved this best mysteries of 2023 pick. It is a perfect book to go on our list of Books Like a Man Called Ove and fiction books about tea . Sutanto does a brilliant job with her characters who you cannot help loving, flaws and all.

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

January 2023 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

As books with unreliable narrators go, this is the best I have ever read. Maya was days away from moving away to college when he best friend Aubrey mysteriously dropped dead in front of her. She blamed Frank, an older guy who she had been hanging out with that summer although there was nothing to prove that he had done a thing to harm Aubrey.

Now, years later, Maya is trying to overcome an addiction to the drug prescribed to help her overcome the loss of Aubrey. When she sees a video of a woman who drops dead in a cafe and Frank is sitting with her, she sets off in a spiral again and needs to prove that Frank is responsible. I love this book with a totally likable and yet, completely unreliable narrator. This is one of the best thrillers of 2023 pick for sure.

If you have not read this pick from ultimate beach reads 2023, run, don’t walk, to get it! It needs to be top of the list of your books for fall.

Favorite Finds: October 2023

Fourth Wing book 2 is coming and so is Thanksgiving! Jackie stocked up on gear to get ready for release day while I purchased some items to host my first Thanksgiving!

Best Non-Fiction Books of 2023

The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew by Maggie Bullock

An inside look at a brand that defined my 20s? Sign me up to read this bad boy! This feel-good nonfiction book takes a look at J.Crew’s creation, its juggernaut success in the 90s and 2000s, and what lead to the company’s declaration of bankruptcy at the outbreak of the pandemic.

With dozens of interviews and extensive research, Bullock delivers a non-fiction book about fashion that’s compelling and nostalgic while also being brutally honest.

Spare by Prince Harry

I’m still reeling from the revelations and truths woven throughout Prince Harry’s narrative. His candor in taking us from the death of his mother to the death of Queen was refreshingly real and often poetic, no doubt thanks to the incredible skills of his ghostwriter.

I was struck by how much I had believed the press’s story of his life; accurate or not. To think that an entire family’s stories could be so fabricated or twisted into untruth was astonishing.

In revealing his own truths, however, he illuminated the dreadful antics of his family. Wills, Charles, Camilla, and the courtiers do not come out of this book without tarnish – and with good reason. There is so much to talk about, this is our book club book for next month.

At the end of the day, it’s hard not to judge everyone for lack of compassion but it’s a generational cycle that needs to be broken. I felt proud to see Harry putting in the work to make sure his own children don’t go through what he did.

This is a must for fans of books about the royal family and stories about royalty. This book is a best book for book clubs and a perfect pick from beach reads. Even if you don’t usually read memoirs, this is one of the best non-fiction books of 2023 .

The Wager by David Grann

David Grann writes the most captivating nonfiction books that read like novels. The Wager is no exception. It’s a tale of the shipwreck of the English boat, Wager in 1742.

Encompassing the events that led up to the wrecking, the mutiny that happened after, and the dastardly deeds of some of the crew before and after their rescue kept me enthralled.

While not quite a pirate book, this high-seas boat book read like Treasure Island and kept me entertained while I pondered what I might have done in the same situation.

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a nonfiction book that read so much like fiction. Imagine 2 people driving around Europe casually stealing billions of dollars worth of art from the most famous galleries and museums in the world.

That’s what this book about thieves is all about. I was floored by the writing, but the story is one I wouldn’t believe if it wasn’t true. It’s a fast, compelling book that art lovers, mystery lovers, and true crime aficionados must read.

Best Holiday Books of 2023

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

Maryam and Anna find themselves on a plane from Denver to Toronto in the middle of the storm of the century, they have no idea that they will spark an unexpected friendship.

When the plane is diverted to a small town outside of Ottawa with no end to the snow, they all must change their plans. Anna is not able to make it to Toronto to spend Christmas with her boyfriend, and Maryam’s sister’s wedding is in jeopardy.

This is an enchanting Hanukkah, Ramadan, romance Christmas book for 2023 with a charming small town, a snowbound inn, and a touch of fate that brings everyone together. This is a holiday book at its very best. #gifted

The Christmas Orphan’s Club by Becca Freeman

I adore a found family story, which is why this Christmas book for 2023 made my best of list! On her first Christmas after the death of her parents, Hannah meets Finn, another orphan and together they decided to celebrate Christmas together.

It sparks a lifelong friendship, folding in two other friends into their annual holiday gatherings. But a dozen years into their tradition, life is about to change. Hannah is engaged, Finn is about to move across the country, and they have some quarrels they need to fix.

Will this be their best Christmas yet or the end of their friendship? I loved the deep look at friendship in this story. So often Christmas books revolve around romantic love and not platonic love – which is just as important!

If you are looking for a new Christmas book for 2023, grab this one immediately! #gifted

A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss

Jenny Bayliss is back with an exciting holiday book about the Winter Solstice. When Simone, Maggie, and Star, half-sisters with different moms, find out their father has died they also learn that in order to receive their inheritance, they must first solve a scavenger hunt and then relaunch the town’s Winter Solstice celebration.

The sisters don’t have a relationship outside of the one month each summer they all spend together with their father. Now, they are forced to work together and rebuild their sisterly bond.

Each sister is also working through something. One is a single-mom facing eviction. One is struggling with infertility. And one is a bit adrift and trying to start over and settle down.

I adored this holiday book about love and reconnection during the holiday season. It’s probably my favorite Christmas book for 2023. #gifted

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

The Fairway Players theater group is back and preparing for their Christmas play. They find themselves once again in the middle of a murder that threatens to halt their production.

Hallett puts you in the detective seat as you unravel clues, sift through Christmas letters, and dig into police transcripts to unmask the culprit before the final curtain falls.

I was crying laughing reading this story. It’s equal parts hysterical and cunning and one of the best mysteries of 2023. I can never figure out the mystery before the end of Hallett’s books. #gifted

Favorite Finds: November 2023

Jackie needed an outfit for some holiday parties and I wanted some metallic shoes for the same reason. aren’t these picks perfect for the season?

Best Children’s Books of 2023

Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow by Ryan T. Higgins 

Mother Bruce is back in a brand new Halloween picture book! In an effort to get Bruce into the Halloween spirit, the animals try to get him to act out the legend of Soggy Hollow.

As they act it out, they just might find out it’s not really a legend after all!

The Bright Side by Chad Otis

This moving book is about making the most of any situation. It’s also a heartfelt portrait of houselessness that will help explain the topic to young children.

The story is based on Chad’s own experiences as a child and is both uplifting and enlightening. This is one of our picks for best children’s books of 2023.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems

Mo Willems is back with a new Pigeon book and this time it’s set at Christmas! Pigeon is back and trying to drive Santa’s sleigh in this charming toddler Christmas book. It’s one of the best children’s books of 2023 because Mo Willems can do no wrong!

Favorite Finds: December 2023

It’s all about cozy games and fun with the family this time of year. Here are some the gifts we are giving for the holiday.

How many of our picks for the best books to read in 2023 have you read?

Co-Founder and Creative Director

As a mother of two boys, Kirsten rediscovered her life-long love for reading while choosing appropriate books for her children. She started this website with Jackie to share their passion for literacy with other moms and kids. She uses her years of experience in marketing and public relations to create quarterly magazines, implement social media strategy, and ensure the website content is relevant and beautiful.

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Blog – Posted on Friday, Mar 29

17 book review examples to help you write the perfect review.

It’s an exciting time to be a book reviewer. Once confined to print newspapers and journals, reviews now dot many corridors of the Internet — forever helping others discover their next great read. That said, every book reviewer will face a familiar panic: how can you do justice to a great book in just a thousand words?

As you know, the best way to learn how to do something is by immersing yourself in it. Luckily, the Internet (i.e. Goodreads and other review sites , in particular) has made book reviews more accessible than ever — which means that there are a lot of book reviews examples out there for you to view!

In this post, we compiled 17 prototypical book review examples in multiple genres to help you figure out how to write the perfect review . If you want to jump straight to the examples, you can skip the next section. Otherwise, let’s first check out what makes up a good review.

Are you interested in becoming a book reviewer? We recommend you check out Reedsy Discovery , where you can earn money for writing reviews — and are guaranteed people will read your reviews! To register as a book reviewer, sign up here.

Pro-tip : But wait! How are you sure if you should become a book reviewer in the first place? If you're on the fence, or curious about your match with a book reviewing career, take our quick quiz:

Should you become a book reviewer?

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What must a book review contain?

Like all works of art, no two book reviews will be identical. But fear not: there are a few guidelines for any aspiring book reviewer to follow. Most book reviews, for instance, are less than 1,500 words long, with the sweet spot hitting somewhere around the 1,000-word mark. (However, this may vary depending on the platform on which you’re writing, as we’ll see later.)

In addition, all reviews share some universal elements, as shown in our book review templates . These include:

• A review will offer a concise plot summary of the book. 
• A book review will offer an evaluation of the work. 
• A book review will offer a recommendation for the audience. 

If these are the basic ingredients that make up a book review, it’s the tone and style with which the book reviewer writes that brings the extra panache. This will differ from platform to platform, of course. A book review on Goodreads, for instance, will be much more informal and personal than a book review on Kirkus Reviews, as it is catering to a different audience. However, at the end of the day, the goal of all book reviews is to give the audience the tools to determine whether or not they’d like to read the book themselves.

Keeping that in mind, let’s proceed to some book review examples to put all of this in action.

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Book review examples for fiction books

Since story is king in the world of fiction, it probably won’t come as any surprise to learn that a book review for a novel will concentrate on how well the story was told .

That said, book reviews in all genres follow the same basic formula that we discussed earlier. In these examples, you’ll be able to see how book reviewers on different platforms expertly intertwine the plot summary and their personal opinions of the book to produce a clear, informative, and concise review.

Note: Some of the book review examples run very long. If a book review is truncated in this post, we’ve indicated by including a […] at the end, but you can always read the entire review if you click on the link provided.

Examples of literary fiction book reviews

Kirkus Reviews reviews Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man :

An extremely powerful story of a young Southern Negro, from his late high school days through three years of college to his life in Harlem.

His early training prepared him for a life of humility before white men, but through injustices- large and small, he came to realize that he was an "invisible man". People saw in him only a reflection of their preconceived ideas of what he was, denied his individuality, and ultimately did not see him at all. This theme, which has implications far beyond the obvious racial parallel, is skillfully handled. The incidents of the story are wholly absorbing. The boy's dismissal from college because of an innocent mistake, his shocked reaction to the anonymity of the North and to Harlem, his nightmare experiences on a one-day job in a paint factory and in the hospital, his lightning success as the Harlem leader of a communistic organization known as the Brotherhood, his involvement in black versus white and black versus black clashes and his disillusion and understanding of his invisibility- all climax naturally in scenes of violence and riot, followed by a retreat which is both literal and figurative. Parts of this experience may have been told before, but never with such freshness, intensity and power.

This is Ellison's first novel, but he has complete control of his story and his style. Watch it.

Lyndsey reviews George Orwell’s 1984 on Goodreads:

YOU. ARE. THE. DEAD. Oh my God. I got the chills so many times toward the end of this book. It completely blew my mind. It managed to surpass my high expectations AND be nothing at all like I expected. Or in Newspeak "Double Plus Good." Let me preface this with an apology. If I sound stunningly inarticulate at times in this review, I can't help it. My mind is completely fried.

This book is like the dystopian Lord of the Rings, with its richly developed culture and economics, not to mention a fully developed language called Newspeak, or rather more of the anti-language, whose purpose is to limit speech and understanding instead of to enhance and expand it. The world-building is so fully fleshed out and spine-tinglingly terrifying that it's almost as if George travelled to such a place, escaped from it, and then just wrote it all down.

I read Fahrenheit 451 over ten years ago in my early teens. At the time, I remember really wanting to read 1984, although I never managed to get my hands on it. I'm almost glad I didn't. Though I would not have admitted it at the time, it would have gone over my head. Or at the very least, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate it fully. […]

The New York Times reviews Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry :

Three-quarters of the way through Lisa Halliday’s debut novel, “Asymmetry,” a British foreign correspondent named Alistair is spending Christmas on a compound outside of Baghdad. His fellow revelers include cameramen, defense contractors, United Nations employees and aid workers. Someone’s mother has FedExed a HoneyBaked ham from Maine; people are smoking by the swimming pool. It is 2003, just days after Saddam Hussein’s capture, and though the mood is optimistic, Alistair is worrying aloud about the ethics of his chosen profession, wondering if reporting on violence doesn’t indirectly abet violence and questioning why he’d rather be in a combat zone than reading a picture book to his son. But every time he returns to London, he begins to “spin out.” He can’t go home. “You observe what people do with their freedom — what they don’t do — and it’s impossible not to judge them for it,” he says.

The line, embedded unceremoniously in the middle of a page-long paragraph, doubles, like so many others in “Asymmetry,” as literary criticism. Halliday’s novel is so strange and startlingly smart that its mere existence seems like commentary on the state of fiction. One finishes “Asymmetry” for the first or second (or like this reader, third) time and is left wondering what other writers are not doing with their freedom — and, like Alistair, judging them for it.

Despite its title, “Asymmetry” comprises two seemingly unrelated sections of equal length, appended by a slim and quietly shocking coda. Halliday’s prose is clean and lean, almost reportorial in the style of W. G. Sebald, and like the murmurings of a shy person at a cocktail party, often comic only in single clauses. It’s a first novel that reads like the work of an author who has published many books over many years. […]

Emily W. Thompson reviews Michael Doane's The Crossing on Reedsy Discovery :

In Doane’s debut novel, a young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery with surprising results.

An unnamed protagonist (The Narrator) is dealing with heartbreak. His love, determined to see the world, sets out for Portland, Oregon. But he’s a small-town boy who hasn’t traveled much. So, the Narrator mourns her loss and hides from life, throwing himself into rehabbing an old motorcycle. Until one day, he takes a leap; he packs his bike and a few belongings and heads out to find the Girl.

Following in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and William Least Heat-Moon, Doane offers a coming of age story about a man finding himself on the backroads of America. Doane’s a gifted writer with fluid prose and insightful observations, using The Narrator’s personal interactions to illuminate the diversity of the United States.

The Narrator initially sticks to the highways, trying to make it to the West Coast as quickly as possible. But a hitchhiker named Duke convinces him to get off the beaten path and enjoy the ride. “There’s not a place that’s like any other,” [39] Dukes contends, and The Narrator realizes he’s right. Suddenly, the trip is about the journey, not just the destination. The Narrator ditches his truck and traverses the deserts and mountains on his bike. He destroys his phone, cutting off ties with his past and living only in the moment.

As he crosses the country, The Narrator connects with several unique personalities whose experiences and views deeply impact his own. Duke, the complicated cowboy and drifter, who opens The Narrator’s eyes to a larger world. Zooey, the waitress in Colorado who opens his heart and reminds him that love can be found in this big world. And Rosie, The Narrator’s sweet landlady in Portland, who helps piece him back together both physically and emotionally.

This supporting cast of characters is excellent. Duke, in particular, is wonderfully nuanced and complicated. He’s a throwback to another time, a man without a cell phone who reads Sartre and sleeps under the stars. Yet he’s also a grifter with a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” attitude that harms those around him. It’s fascinating to watch The Narrator wrestle with Duke’s behavior, trying to determine which to model and which to discard.

Doane creates a relatable protagonist in The Narrator, whose personal growth doesn’t erase his faults. His willingness to hit the road with few resources is admirable, and he’s prescient enough to recognize the jealousy of those who cannot or will not take the leap. His encounters with new foods, places, and people broaden his horizons. Yet his immaturity and selfishness persist. He tells Rosie she’s been a good mother to him but chooses to ignore the continuing concern from his own parents as he effectively disappears from his old life.

Despite his flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany The Narrator on his physical and emotional journey. The unexpected ending is a fitting denouement to an epic and memorable road trip.

The Book Smugglers review Anissa Gray’s The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls :

I am still dipping my toes into the literally fiction pool, finding what works for me and what doesn’t. Books like The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray are definitely my cup of tea.

Althea and Proctor Cochran had been pillars of their economically disadvantaged community for years – with their local restaurant/small market and their charity drives. Until they are found guilty of fraud for stealing and keeping most of the money they raised and sent to jail. Now disgraced, their entire family is suffering the consequences, specially their twin teenage daughters Baby Vi and Kim.  To complicate matters even more: Kim was actually the one to call the police on her parents after yet another fight with her mother. […]

Examples of children’s and YA fiction book reviews

The Book Hookup reviews Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give :

♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 5 stars! I can’t imagine how challenging it would be to tackle the voice of a movement like Black Lives Matter, but I do know that Thomas did it with a finesse only a talented author like herself possibly could. With an unapologetically realistic delivery packed with emotion, The Hate U Give is a crucially important portrayal of the difficulties minorities face in our country every single day. I have no doubt that this book will be met with resistance by some (possibly many) and slapped with a “controversial” label, but if you’ve ever wondered what it was like to walk in a POC’s shoes, then I feel like this is an unflinchingly honest place to start.

In Angie Thomas’s debut novel, Starr Carter bursts on to the YA scene with both heart-wrecking and heartwarming sincerity. This author is definitely one to watch.

♥ Review: The hype around this book has been unquestionable and, admittedly, that made me both eager to get my hands on it and terrified to read it. I mean, what if I was to be the one person that didn’t love it as much as others? (That seems silly now because of how truly mesmerizing THUG was in the most heartbreakingly realistic way.) However, with the relevancy of its summary in regards to the unjust predicaments POC currently face in the US, I knew this one was a must-read, so I was ready to set my fears aside and dive in. That said, I had an altogether more personal, ulterior motive for wanting to read this book. […]

The New York Times reviews Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood :

Alice Crewe (a last name she’s chosen for herself) is a fairy tale legacy: the granddaughter of Althea Proserpine, author of a collection of dark-as-night fairy tales called “Tales From the Hinterland.” The book has a cult following, and though Alice has never met her grandmother, she’s learned a little about her through internet research. She hasn’t read the stories, because her mother, Ella Proserpine, forbids it.

Alice and Ella have moved from place to place in an attempt to avoid the “bad luck” that seems to follow them. Weird things have happened. As a child, Alice was kidnapped by a man who took her on a road trip to find her grandmother; he was stopped by the police before they did so. When at 17 she sees that man again, unchanged despite the years, Alice panics. Then Ella goes missing, and Alice turns to Ellery Finch, a schoolmate who’s an Althea Proserpine superfan, for help in tracking down her mother. Not only has Finch read every fairy tale in the collection, but handily, he remembers them, sharing them with Alice as they journey to the mysterious Hazel Wood, the estate of her now-dead grandmother, where they hope to find Ella.

“The Hazel Wood” starts out strange and gets stranger, in the best way possible. (The fairy stories Finch relays, which Albert includes as their own chapters, are as creepy and evocative as you’d hope.) Albert seamlessly combines contemporary realism with fantasy, blurring the edges in a way that highlights that place where stories and real life convene, where magic contains truth and the world as it appears is false, where just about anything can happen, particularly in the pages of a very good book. It’s a captivating debut. […]

James reviews Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight, Moon on Goodreads:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is one of the books that followers of my blog voted as a must-read for our Children's Book August 2018 Readathon. Come check it out and join the next few weeks!

This picture book was such a delight. I hadn't remembered reading it when I was a child, but it might have been read to me... either way, it was like a whole new experience! It's always so difficult to convince a child to fall asleep at night. I don't have kids, but I do have a 5-month-old puppy who whines for 5 minutes every night when he goes in his cage/crate (hopefully he'll be fully housebroken soon so he can roam around when he wants). I can only imagine! I babysat a lot as a teenager and I have tons of younger cousins, nieces, and nephews, so I've been through it before, too. This was a believable experience, and it really helps show kids how to relax and just let go when it's time to sleep.

The bunny's are adorable. The rhymes are exquisite. I found it pretty fun, but possibly a little dated given many of those things aren't normal routines anymore. But the lessons to take from it are still powerful. Loved it! I want to sample some more books by this fine author and her illustrators.

Publishers Weekly reviews Elizabeth Lilly’s Geraldine :

This funny, thoroughly accomplished debut opens with two words: “I’m moving.” They’re spoken by the title character while she swoons across her family’s ottoman, and because Geraldine is a giraffe, her full-on melancholy mode is quite a spectacle. But while Geraldine may be a drama queen (even her mother says so), it won’t take readers long to warm up to her. The move takes Geraldine from Giraffe City, where everyone is like her, to a new school, where everyone else is human. Suddenly, the former extrovert becomes “That Giraffe Girl,” and all she wants to do is hide, which is pretty much impossible. “Even my voice tries to hide,” she says, in the book’s most poignant moment. “It’s gotten quiet and whispery.” Then she meets Cassie, who, though human, is also an outlier (“I’m that girl who wears glasses and likes MATH and always organizes her food”), and things begin to look up.

Lilly’s watercolor-and-ink drawings are as vividly comic and emotionally astute as her writing; just when readers think there are no more ways for Geraldine to contort her long neck, this highly promising talent comes up with something new.

Examples of genre fiction book reviews

Karlyn P reviews Nora Roberts’ Dark Witch , a paranormal romance novel , on Goodreads:

4 stars. Great world-building, weak romance, but still worth the read.

I hesitate to describe this book as a 'romance' novel simply because the book spent little time actually exploring the romance between Iona and Boyle. Sure, there IS a romance in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Iona and Boyle meet, chat, wink at each, flirt some more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, make up, and then profess their undying love. Very formulaic stuff, and all woven around the more important parts of this book.

The meat of this book is far more focused on the story of the Dark witch and her magically-gifted descendants living in Ireland. Despite being weak on the romance, I really enjoyed it. I think the book is probably better for it, because the romance itself was pretty lackluster stuff.

I absolutely plan to stick with this series as I enjoyed the world building, loved the Ireland setting, and was intrigued by all of the secondary characters. However, If you read Nora Roberts strictly for the romance scenes, this one might disappoint. But if you enjoy a solid background story with some dark magic and prophesies, you might enjoy it as much as I did.

I listened to this one on audio, and felt the narration was excellent.

Emily May reviews R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy Wars , an epic fantasy novel , on Goodreads:

“But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.”

Holy hell, what did I just read??

➽ A fantasy military school

➽ A rich world based on modern Chinese history

➽ Shamans and gods

➽ Detailed characterization leading to unforgettable characters

➽ Adorable, opium-smoking mentors

That's a basic list, but this book is all of that and SO MUCH MORE. I know 100% that The Poppy War will be one of my best reads of 2018.

Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in, makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every horrific, nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. And I must issue a serious content warning: this book explores some very dark themes. Proceed with caution (or not at all) if you are particularly sensitive to scenes of war, drug use and addiction, genocide, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, torture, and rape (off-page but extremely horrific).

Because, despite the fairly innocuous first 200 pages, the title speaks the truth: this is a book about war. All of its horrors and atrocities. It is not sugar-coated, and it is often graphic. The "poppy" aspect refers to opium, which is a big part of this book. It is a fantasy, but the book draws inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking.

Crime Fiction Lover reviews Jessica Barry’s Freefall , a crime novel:

In some crime novels, the wrongdoing hits you between the eyes from page one. With others it’s a more subtle process, and that’s OK too. So where does Freefall fit into the sliding scale?

In truth, it’s not clear. This is a novel with a thrilling concept at its core. A woman survives plane crash, then runs for her life. However, it is the subtleties at play that will draw you in like a spider beckoning to an unwitting fly.

Like the heroine in Sharon Bolton’s Dead Woman Walking, Allison is lucky to be alive. She was the only passenger in a private plane, belonging to her fiancé, Ben, who was piloting the expensive aircraft, when it came down in woodlands in the Colorado Rockies. Ally is also the only survivor, but rather than sitting back and waiting for rescue, she is soon pulling together items that may help her survive a little longer – first aid kit, energy bars, warm clothes, trainers – before fleeing the scene. If you’re hearing the faint sound of alarm bells ringing, get used to it. There’s much, much more to learn about Ally before this tale is over.

Kirkus Reviews reviews Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One , a science-fiction novel :

Video-game players embrace the quest of a lifetime in a virtual world; screenwriter Cline’s first novel is old wine in new bottles.

The real world, in 2045, is the usual dystopian horror story. So who can blame Wade, our narrator, if he spends most of his time in a virtual world? The 18-year-old, orphaned at 11, has no friends in his vertical trailer park in Oklahoma City, while the OASIS has captivating bells and whistles, and it’s free. Its creator, the legendary billionaire James Halliday, left a curious will. He had devised an elaborate online game, a hunt for a hidden Easter egg. The finder would inherit his estate. Old-fashioned riddles lead to three keys and three gates. Wade, or rather his avatar Parzival, is the first gunter (egg-hunter) to win the Copper Key, first of three.

Halliday was obsessed with the pop culture of the 1980s, primarily the arcade games, so the novel is as much retro as futurist. Parzival’s great strength is that he has absorbed all Halliday’s obsessions; he knows by heart three essential movies, crossing the line from geek to freak. His most formidable competitors are the Sixers, contract gunters working for the evil conglomerate IOI, whose goal is to acquire the OASIS. Cline’s narrative is straightforward but loaded with exposition. It takes a while to reach a scene that crackles with excitement: the meeting between Parzival (now world famous as the lead contender) and Sorrento, the head of IOI. The latter tries to recruit Parzival; when he fails, he issues and executes a death threat. Wade’s trailer is demolished, his relatives killed; luckily Wade was not at home. Too bad this is the dramatic high point. Parzival threads his way between more ’80s games and movies to gain the other keys; it’s clever but not exciting. Even a romance with another avatar and the ultimate “epic throwdown” fail to stir the blood.

Too much puzzle-solving, not enough suspense.

Book review examples for non-fiction books

Nonfiction books are generally written to inform readers about a certain topic. As such, the focus of a nonfiction book review will be on the clarity and effectiveness of this communication . In carrying this out, a book review may analyze the author’s source materials and assess the thesis in order to determine whether or not the book meets expectations.

Again, we’ve included abbreviated versions of long reviews here, so feel free to click on the link to read the entire piece!

The Washington Post reviews David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon :

The arc of David Grann’s career reminds one of a software whiz-kid or a latest-thing talk-show host — certainly not an investigative reporter, even if he is one of the best in the business. The newly released movie of his first book, “The Lost City of Z,” is generating all kinds of Oscar talk, and now comes the release of his second book, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” the film rights to which have already been sold for $5 million in what one industry journal called the “biggest and wildest book rights auction in memory.”

Grann deserves the attention. He’s canny about the stories he chases, he’s willing to go anywhere to chase them, and he’s a maestro in his ability to parcel out information at just the right clip: a hint here, a shading of meaning there, a smartly paced buildup of multiple possibilities followed by an inevitable reversal of readerly expectations or, in some cases, by a thrilling and dislocating pull of the entire narrative rug.

All of these strengths are on display in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Around the turn of the 20th century, oil was discovered underneath Osage lands in the Oklahoma Territory, lands that were soon to become part of the state of Oklahoma. Through foresight and legal maneuvering, the Osage found a way to permanently attach that oil to themselves and shield it from the prying hands of white interlopers; this mechanism was known as “headrights,” which forbade the outright sale of oil rights and granted each full member of the tribe — and, supposedly, no one else — a share in the proceeds from any lease arrangement. For a while, the fail-safes did their job, and the Osage got rich — diamond-ring and chauffeured-car and imported-French-fashion rich — following which quite a large group of white men started to work like devils to separate the Osage from their money. And soon enough, and predictably enough, this work involved murder. Here in Jazz Age America’s most isolated of locales, dozens or even hundreds of Osage in possession of great fortunes — and of the potential for even greater fortunes in the future — were dispatched by poison, by gunshot and by dynamite. […]

Stacked Books reviews Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers :

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Malcolm Gladwell’s writing. Friends and co-workers tell me that his subjects are interesting and his writing style is easy to follow without talking down to the reader. I wasn’t disappointed with Outliers. In it, Gladwell tackles the subject of success – how people obtain it and what contributes to extraordinary success as opposed to everyday success.

The thesis – that our success depends much more on circumstances out of our control than any effort we put forth – isn’t exactly revolutionary. Most of us know it to be true. However, I don’t think I’m lying when I say that most of us also believe that we if we just try that much harder and develop our talent that much further, it will be enough to become wildly successful, despite bad or just mediocre beginnings. Not so, says Gladwell.

Most of the evidence Gladwell gives us is anecdotal, which is my favorite kind to read. I can’t really speak to how scientifically valid it is, but it sure makes for engrossing listening. For example, did you know that successful hockey players are almost all born in January, February, or March? Kids born during these months are older than the others kids when they start playing in the youth leagues, which means they’re already better at the game (because they’re bigger). Thus, they get more play time, which means their skill increases at a faster rate, and it compounds as time goes by. Within a few years, they’re much, much better than the kids born just a few months later in the year. Basically, these kids’ birthdates are a huge factor in their success as adults – and it’s nothing they can do anything about. If anyone could make hockey interesting to a Texan who only grudgingly admits the sport even exists, it’s Gladwell. […]

Quill and Quire reviews Rick Prashaw’s Soar, Adam, Soar :

Ten years ago, I read a book called Almost Perfect. The young-adult novel by Brian Katcher won some awards and was held up as a powerful, nuanced portrayal of a young trans person. But the reality did not live up to the book’s billing. Instead, it turned out to be a one-dimensional and highly fetishized portrait of a trans person’s life, one that was nevertheless repeatedly dubbed “realistic” and “affecting” by non-transgender readers possessing only a vague, mass-market understanding of trans experiences.

In the intervening decade, trans narratives have emerged further into the literary spotlight, but those authored by trans people ourselves – and by trans men in particular – have seemed to fall under the shadow of cisgender sensationalized imaginings. Two current Canadian releases – Soar, Adam, Soar and This One Looks Like a Boy – provide a pointed object lesson into why trans-authored work about transgender experiences remains critical.

To be fair, Soar, Adam, Soar isn’t just a story about a trans man. It’s also a story about epilepsy, the medical establishment, and coming of age as seen through a grieving father’s eyes. Adam, Prashaw’s trans son, died unexpectedly at age 22. Woven through the elder Prashaw’s narrative are excerpts from Adam’s social media posts, giving us glimpses into the young man’s interior life as he traverses his late teens and early 20s. […]

Book Geeks reviews Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love :

WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5

SUBJECT: 4/5

CANDIDNESS: 4.5/5

RELEVANCE: 3.5/5

ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5

“Eat Pray Love” is so popular that it is almost impossible to not read it. Having felt ashamed many times on my not having read this book, I quietly ordered the book (before I saw the movie) from amazon.in and sat down to read it. I don’t remember what I expected it to be – maybe more like a chick lit thing but it turned out quite different. The book is a real story and is a short journal from the time when its writer went travelling to three different countries in pursuit of three different things – Italy (Pleasure), India (Spirituality), Bali (Balance) and this is what corresponds to the book’s name – EAT (in Italy), PRAY (in India) and LOVE (in Bali, Indonesia). These are also the three Is – ITALY, INDIA, INDONESIA.

Though she had everything a middle-aged American woman can aspire for – MONEY, CAREER, FRIENDS, HUSBAND; Elizabeth was not happy in her life, she wasn’t happy in her marriage. Having suffered a terrible divorce and terrible breakup soon after, Elizabeth was shattered. She didn’t know where to go and what to do – all she knew was that she wanted to run away. So she set out on a weird adventure – she will go to three countries in a year and see if she can find out what she was looking for in life. This book is about that life changing journey that she takes for one whole year. […]

Emily May reviews Michelle Obama’s Becoming on Goodreads:

Look, I'm not a happy crier. I might cry at songs about leaving and missing someone; I might cry at books where things don't work out; I might cry at movies where someone dies. I've just never really understood why people get all choked up over happy, inspirational things. But Michelle Obama's kindness and empathy changed that. This book had me in tears for all the right reasons.

This is not really a book about politics, though political experiences obviously do come into it. It's a shame that some will dismiss this book because of a difference in political opinion, when it is really about a woman's life. About growing up poor and black on the South Side of Chicago; about getting married and struggling to maintain that marriage; about motherhood; about being thrown into an amazing and terrifying position.

I hate words like "inspirational" because they've become so overdone and cheesy, but I just have to say it-- Michelle Obama is an inspiration. I had the privilege of seeing her speak at The Forum in Inglewood, and she is one of the warmest, funniest, smartest, down-to-earth people I have ever seen in this world.

And yes, I know we present what we want the world to see, but I truly do think it's genuine. I think she is someone who really cares about people - especially kids - and wants to give them better lives and opportunities.

She's obviously intelligent, but she also doesn't gussy up her words. She talks straight, with an openness and honesty rarely seen. She's been one of the most powerful women in the world, she's been a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, she's had her own successful career, and yet she has remained throughout that same girl - Michelle Robinson - from a working class family in Chicago.

I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading this book.

Hopefully, this post has given you a better idea of how to write a book review. You might be wondering how to put all of this knowledge into action now! Many book reviewers start out by setting up a book blog. If you don’t have time to research the intricacies of HTML, check out Reedsy Discovery — where you can read indie books for free and review them without going through the hassle of creating a blog. To register as a book reviewer , go here .

And if you’d like to see even more book review examples, simply go to this directory of book review blogs and click on any one of them to see a wealth of good book reviews. Beyond that, it's up to you to pick up a book and pen — and start reviewing!

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Book Ratings: My Rating System For What I Read

Need some help figuring out how to rate the book you just read? Here’s my book rating system for deciding how to rate my reads, on a scale from one to five stars (including some half-stars).

I want to preface this by saying: book ratings are incredibly subjective. My system works for me, but it might not work for everyone – and that’s ok! This post is only meant as a starting point to help you figure out your own book rating system. 🙂

How I Rate The Books I Read (5-Star Rating System)

The rating system I use is based on a 5-star scale (like Goodreads ), mainly because that’s the main book tracking app I’ve used over the years. It helps me stay consistent.

I have added some half-stars into the mix for more variability. Goodreads won’t let you add a half-star when rating a book, so I just round up or down, then write my half-star rating into the ‘review’ text box for that book.

This rating system translates best for fiction books (but can still be used for non-fiction).

When it comes to fiction books, most of the rating decision comes down to emotions and feeling. Did the story resonate with me? Did I connect with the characters? Did the plot keep me intrigued?

My ratings for non-fiction books are similar, but more based on whether or not the book taught me something new or gave me an interesting perspective on a topic.

Without further ado, here is my 5-star scale book rating system!

Here are all my favorite book apps for reading tracking, listening to audiobooks, and more .

5 Star Book

This book blew my mind, gave me a strong emotional response, and/or changed my outlook on life. I never wanted it to end.

This is the type of book that will stick with me years from now. It might even become one of my all-time favorite reads.

I will be recommending it to basically everyone I know, and I may even re-read it in the future.

The characters were fully-formed and felt so real they basically leapt off the page ( if fiction ). The plot kept my eyes glued to the page, and the writing style really resonated with me.

I can’t wait to share it on Bookstagram and discuss it (and/or fangirl over it) with others who have read it. AMAZING.

4.5 Star Book

This book was wonderful, and I will definitely recommend it to others. It was just missing that special ‘spark’ or emotional factor that would bump it up to a 5-star read.

The story had strong character development and an engaging plot, and I felt it was a unique read that stood out from the pack. It was a great read, but not quite incredible.

4 Star Book

I really enjoyed the experience of reading this book. I might have loved parts of it, but as a whole it wasn’t quite as memorable as a 4.5- or 5-star book.

I’m glad I read it and will likely recommend it to others if it’s a genre they enjoy. Above-average.

3.5 Star Book

This was a mostly-enjoyable read, if a little predictable. I can see why others loved it, even if it wasn’t my favorite.

Maybe I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d hoped, or the pacing wasn’t as strong as it could have been. I’m still glad I read it, but I might not enthusiastically recommend it to others.

3 Star Book

This book was ok, yet mostly forgettable. There were redeeming qualities, and it was mostly interesting enough to finish. But, it didn’t hold my attention as much as it should have.

Maybe something about the story felt unrealistic, or the characters were somewhat cookie-cutter. It wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t stand out for me. An average read.

2 Star Book

Certain things about this book annoyed me or got under my skin. I sort of wish I hadn’t read it, because I felt like I wasted my time.

The writing was sloppy or the story was poorly-executed (but likely not both at once, or it would be a 1-star read or a DNF – see below ).

I didn’t get much enjoyment from the book or really learn anything new. I would not recommend this book to others.

1 Star Book

I’m not sure I’ve ever rated a book one star, mainly because if I dislike it that much, I would DNF it (i.e. not finish it).

But, a 1-star book for me would have no redeeming qualities. I likely wouldn’t read another book by that author in the future.

DNF (Did Not Finish)

I put this book down and decided not to finish it. I can tell it isn’t the right book for me, and I’d rather spend my time reading something else. (There is no shame in DNFing a book!)

If I DNF a book, I don’t rate it.

(Check out this post for more bookish terms & lingo that you might come across on Bookstagram or while using a book app like Goodreads.)

Why rate books?

You might be wondering why it matters to rate books in the first place.

For some, it might not! But personally, I like being able to look back at my book ratings and see how I felt about certain reads at a glance.

Rating books helps me figure out whether or not I want to recommend them to my friends and family. It also helps me decide which books I want to pick up in the future.

Additionally, rating a book on an app like Goodreads or The Storygraph helps others decide what to prioritize, reading-wise. When I see a friend rate a book 5 stars, I’m more likely to pick up that book.

And while everyone enjoys different books, a book’s overall rating is like a crowdsourced recommendation for (or against) a book.

You can choose to do with it what you will, but I often take those ratings into account when making my own TBR list . There are just too many books out there, and not nearly enough time to read them all!

Like I mentioned above, rating books is extremely subjective, but I hope you find this ratings breakdown helpful in determining your own rating system.

How do you rate your books? I’m always curious to see different methods. Feel free to let me know in the comments!

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The best 5 star-rated books to read in 2024

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Unique Book Recommendations to help you find your next read

Books worth 5 stars - historical fiction, the seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkeins reid.

“Never let anyone make you feel ordinary.”

“People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is 'you're safe with me'- that's intimacy.”

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F.Kuang

“That's just what translation is, I think. That's all speaking is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they're trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands.”

“Nice comes from the Latin word for “stupid”,’ said Griffin. ‘We do not want to be nice.”

5 star Fantasy 

The night circus by erin morg enstein.

“The finest of pleasures are always the unexpected ones.”

“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.”

Jungle nama – a story of Sundarban by Amitav Ghosh

“Dokhin Rai, exultant, feasted his eyes on Dukhey.

‘The Rich one has kept his word, he’s left me my prey.’

His maw beagn to tingle as he watched his prize;

In an instant he assumed his tiger disguise.”

“’How long has it been sunce human flesh came my way?

What bliss to find a victim like this sad Dukhey.’

One the far mudbank Dukey caught sight of the beast.

Its amber eyes glittered, as it watched its feast;

With its nose a-twitch, it sniffed the spoor of its game;

Its ochre stripes shimmered, like tongues of burning flame.”

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-m i Hwang

“Just because you're the same kind doesn't mean you're all one happy family. The important thing is to understand each other. That's love!”

“That's all there is to it. We look different, so we don't understand each other's inner thoughts, but we cherish each other in our own way. I respect you.”

Books worth 5 stars - Mystery/Thriller

The maid by nita prose.

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.”

“That’s the trouble with pain. It’s a contagious as a disease. It spreads from the person who first endured it to those who love them most. Truth isn’t always the highest ideal’ sometimes it must be sacrificed to stop the spread of pain to those you love.”

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

“We're more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity.”

“It's terrifying when you consider that every thought we have, every choice we could possibly make, branches off into a new world.”

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

“I am a bricklayer without drawings, laying words in sentences, sentences into paragraphs, allowing my walls to twist and turn on whim...no framework...just bricks interlocked...no idea what I'm building or if it will stand...no symmetry, no plan, just the chaotic unplotted bustle of human life.”

“Still, there might be something fitting about a friendship based on a common love of words being founded on an exchange of the same.”

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

“Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven. Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six. Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little Indian boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little Indian boys walking in the Zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little Indian boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were none.”

Confessions by Kanae Minato Translated by Stephen Snyder

“The world you live in is much bigger than that. If the place in which you find yourself is too painful, I say you should be free to seek another, less painful place of refuge. There is no shame in seeking a safe place. I want you to believe that somewhere in this wide world there is a place for you, a safe haven.”

“If you’re always worrying about what other people think, you’ll never get any tougher.”

The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong Translated by Chi-Young Kim

“There are some people you just can’t love. Even when they smile, they make you want to pull on either side of that smile and rip their mouth off.”

“Mother knew exactly how to get under my skin, what to take away from me in order to get me to submit. The guilt coming from one part of her heart would have been offset by confessing in her journal just how painful it was to bully me. I turned the page.”

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

“The people you love weren’t algebra: to be calculated, subtracted, or held at arm’s length across a decimal point.”

“He smiled, put his hands on the back of her neck, fingers in her hair, and leaned in to press his forehead against hers. He’d told her before that he did it to take away half her sadness, half her headache, half her nerves before her Columbia interview. Because half less of a bad thing meant there was room for half good.”

Non-fiction - Best of the Best

Why i am an atheist and other stories by bhagat singh.

They can kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.

Criticism and independent thinking are the two indispensable qualities of a revolutionary.

The Checklist Manifesto: How to get things Right by Atul Gawande

“What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and skill and perhaps even than selflessness. We are by nature flawed and inconstant creatures. We can't even keep from snacking between meals. We are not built for discipline. We are built for novelty and excitement, not for careful attention to detail. Discipline is something we have to work at.”

Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story by S arah Meyers

Monstrous  is an  impressive   adolescent   mature   graphic   bio  about a Korean- American  girl  who uses  cult  and  art -  making  to  conquer racist bullying.

5 star Classics

Anne of green gables by lucy montgomery.

“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

5 star Contemporary Fiction 

The paper palace by miranda cowley heller.

“Does letting go mean losing everything you have, or does it mean gaining everything you never had?”

“But it’s what we do, what we’ve done for years now. We drag our past behind us like a weight, still shackled, but far enough back that we never have to see, never have to openly acknowledge who we once were.”

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kufaka

“You don't need to have it all. You only need to figure out how much is enough.”

“Grief was a hole. A portal to nothing. Grief was a walk so long Hazel forgot her own legs. It was a shock of blinding sun. A burst of remembering: sandals on pavement, a sleepy back seat, nails painted on the bathroom floor. Greif was a loneliness that felt like a planet.”

Boat Number Five by Monika Komp amikova

The  heart-breaking  yet   comic   story  of a neglected  girl   who struggles  to  care  for herself and others in post-communist Slovakia.

Romance -  5 star rated 

The unhoneymooners by christina lauren.

“I can appreciate my body in a bikini and still want to set fire to the patriarchy.”

“I am a homebody, through and through, and there’s nothing like being home.”

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

“I’ll love you until my heart gives out. I’ll be your man for a thousand years. Longer if I’m allowed.”

“When I hug you?” Fuck. His heart was turning over and over like a car engine. “My hugs are your recharging station?”

Heartstopper I and II and III by Alice Osman

“You can't tell whether people are gay by what they look like. And gay or straight aren't the only two options.”

“I’m just… so sorry I ran away! I was just freaking out like honestly I am having a proper full-on gay crisis!”

“There's this idea that if you're not straight, you HAVE to tell all your family and friends  immediately , like you owe it to them. But you don't. You don't  have  to do anything until you're ready.”

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What It Takes for a Book to Get a 5-Star Rating From Me (+ 10 Novels That Made the Cut)

A little more than a year and a half ago, I made an important shift in my reading life—I started not only recording the books I was reading on Goodreads (on a regular basis) and giving them ratings, but I also made the decision to always, ALWAYS give a review of some kind once I finished. I’ve been reviewing books on my blog since 2011, but now that my reading habits have picked up quite a bit over the past couple years (and my reading tastes have been refined a bit more), I found that an old teacher tendency started to creep up on me—

I wanted my ratings to be more consistent, to follow a definite sort of criteria, so that when asked why I gave such and such book a certain rating, I could have a ready answer (even if I couldn’t even really remember a lot about the book’s particulars).

So I created a “grading rubric” of sorts (because apparently you can take the teacher out of the assessment practices, but you can’t take the assessment practices out of the teacher, or something like that). While these rules don’t always make it EASY to decide what to rank a book after I’ve read it, they definitely have simplified the process, and I’ve noticed that since adopting them, I’m rarely wanting to change any of my previous rankings (something I was wanting to do quite a lot before).

Just for fun, though, before we get to what constitutes a 5-star read, let’s start at the bottom with my criteria for getting just one, and move up from there.

Note: There are affiliate links below through Amazon, which means I get a small percentage of each sale made (at no extra cost to you). Thanks for supporting To Love and To Learn!

One-Star Rating

• A book must be truly awful to get a one-star rating. In fact, so few books receive this rating from me simply because if a book is this awful, I usually won’t even finish it.
• In the past, I gave two books a one-star rating ( Heart of Darkness , Tender is the Night ) that I’m sure I would give a slightly higher rating to if I re-read the book now, simply because now, if I’m giving a book one-star, it’s because I basically see no merit in the book, or I find it so despicable on some level (often in its message or content) that I just hate the experience of reading it. As both of these books are considered classics, chances are high that if I gave them a shot now that I’m a *bit* more mature, I might at least be able to see WHY they are classics, which would help boost their rating.
• The only book I’ve given a one-star rating to in recent years is Give It Up! , so it’s the only one I feel confident I would STILL give a one-star rating to now. It’s the story of an upper middle-class woman who decides to give up some of the superfluous things in her life in pursuit of greater happiness (such as shopping for clothes, nights out drinking with friends, etc.). Sounds like it would be right up my alley, right? (Especially because I’ve recommended books that have a similar premise very recently, like this one .) Well, this book was awful–the writing was lackluster, there was very little personal growth that I saw, and I kept having the nagging feeling that the author had only undertaken the project because she wanted to publish a book, and this seemed an easy way to go about getting a contract.

Two-Star Rating

• One thing that’s important to me is writing style, so if a book’s writing feels too juvenile or forced or cheesy or whatever, that can quickly take it down to two stars for me.
• I’ve noticed lately that many of the books that I’ve been giving two stars to in the past little while have been because the book didn’t match up to my (higher) expectations for it. I have often found that when I read a particularly great book by a new author (new to me, that is), often the second book I read by that author gets a lower rating. I’m guessing this is because I generally only try new authors that come highly recommended, so if a certain book gets a lot of buzz by that author, I’ll go for that one first and then read less-talked-about books later. Often, those less popular reads won’t get as high of a rating, but I’ll unfortunately be expecting a lot more from them just because of my experience with the other book I read by that author. This happened recently with Circling the Sun by Paula McLain–I’d read The Paris Wife years ago and really liked it, so I was excited to check out this newer release by her, but it ended up being far below my expectations.
• I don’t always need likable characters if the story or the writing style are good enough, but if I really hate a main character (particularly if I find him/her annoying), that’s a quick way to drive down a novel to two stars. Some examples: Twilight (though the writing was cheesy enough that I’m not sure it could have gotten a higher rating even if I had liked Bella, which I didn’t), Lemon Tart (writing style also played a major factor in this one), and Every Exquisite Thing (writing was fine, even likable–but the main character + the terrible ending were enough to take this one right down).
• I don’t need happy endings to like a book or even need an ending to wrap everything up (in fact, I often prefer some ambiguity to my endings rather than to have everything *too* neatly tied together), but if I hate an ending, it’s definitely enough to kill any higher rating the rest of the book might have merited. It seems that the final books of series often fall into this category, which is why you’ll notice that Mockingjay and Allegiant both got two stars from me on my Goodreads account.
• Occasionally, if a book has too many “triggers” in it (profanity, explicit sexual scenes, superfluous descriptions of gory violence, etc.), it’s enough to push a rating down for me. That was the case with The Girl With All the Gifts (for profanity and violence) and it didn’t help the case for The Course of Love (because the section on adultery just made me so mad).
• And sometimes, a book just is a little too slow or goes on too long without saying much of anything or just doesn’t grab my attention, which was the case for New Slow City , The Signature of All Things (though all the sexual content took this one down, too), and Traveling With Pomegranates .

Three-Star Rating

• Often, the books that get three stars are the ones that I didn’t feel strongly enough either way to give it a higher or lower rating. In other words, I didn’t mind the experience of reading it, but it didn’t necessarily have much staying power, either. Often, my “fluff” reads fall into this category, such as the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before that I just finished–it was a fun, light read to pass the time, but it’s not the kind of book that I would be eager to re-read or that I will think back on often.
• A book pretty much has to get at LEAST three stars from me in order for me to ever recommend it, and I’ve found that with a lot of my 3-star reads, it was a book that was just in the middle for me but I could also recognize why it would be a GREAT book for someone else. Take the book The Orphan Keeper as an example—while I got hung up on some of my issues with the writing style and narrative choices, I could totally see why someone else would give that book five stars because the story is AWESOME.
• Basically, if a book gets three stars, I at least see some merit in its plot, writing style, message,etc., and I also–to some extent–had to have been at least somewhat entertained by it (or it at least made me think). Classics are notoriously hard for me to rank because I often don’t ENJOY my reading of them, but because I almost always see their merit, they will usually always get at least 3 stars from me (if not 4), even if I don’t necessarily LIKE the story. Some examples would be A Passage to India , Wuthering Heights (though I feel I need to give this one another shot now that I’m older), and A Room With a View .

Four-Star Rating

• Ah, now this is where it gets really good! To get four stars, a book almost always has to be well-written and well-paced (if it’s a novel) or have some really thought-provoking content in it (if it’s nonfiction).
• A four-star book is one I thoroughly enjoyed and usually would not hesitate to recommend (though some, like Beartown and The Goldfinch , both of which I gave 4.5 stars to, I do have to recommend with caveats, as they have quite a bit of content–profanity, sexual references, etc.–that might be offensive to some readers). Sometimes those triggers are the ONLY thing holding me back from giving the book 5 stars, in fact, which was the case with both of those books.
• A four-star book must be memorable, to some degree. Often with my 3-star reads, I forget plot or character details within months, but with a 4-star read, those things must be sufficiently memorable for me to give it that higher rating.
• Interestingly enough, I actually find that my four-star books are often more easily readable or “un-put-down-able” (to borrow a term from Modern Mrs. Darcy) than my five-star reads, which might seem a little backward. Often that’s because a five-star read tends to have more “meat” in it, which can make it a lot harder to read (or mean that it has a slower plot). Actually, I would even venture to say that the books I’ve given four stars to are more likely to appeal to a general audience than the books I give five stars to (more on that in a minute).
• A few four-star picks that I’ve finished this year: The Snow Child , El Deafo (the first graphic novel to get the designation), and This Must Be the Place .

Five-Star Rating

• Last the best of all the game! To get five stars from me, the book almost always has to be extremely well-written (and I definitely tend to favor books whose writing style would be considered more “literary”) and needs to have strong, memorable characters (and it often helps if those characters are likable too, though that isn’t ALWAYS necessary!).
• The book’s pacing needs to be such that I always or almost always look forward to reading it and seek out opportunities to read it whenever I can (though a few of the titles that have gotten the designation, like classics, don’t always fit that criteria).
• While a 5-star book can occasionally have some aspects I don’t love (like profanity, vulgarity, etc.), it’s much more common for me to favor stories that DON’T have those triggers in them for my highest ratings. (Part of the reason for this is because I figure if I’m giving a book five stars, I’m usually excited enough about it that I want to recommend it to EVERYONE, which I just can’t do if it’s got a lot of content stuff I have to warn people about.)
• Besides wanting to recommend it to just about everyone, a five-star read needs to be a book that I’d be excited to read again, which is actually really saying something coming from me (since I hardly re-read books ever). For instance, I just finished Cutting For Stone –which I LOVED–but one of the main reasons I didn’t give it five stars is because I’m just fine with having read it once and calling it good. For me, a 5-star book should be so good that I almost want to start reading it again as soon as I’ve finished it. (It’s this criteria that makes it so that far more nonfiction reads get five stars from me than fiction ones, just because I’m so much more likely to want to re-read something nonfiction.)
• Lastly, a five-star book has to be life-changing, paradigm-shifting, or completely unforgettable in some way to earn the ranking.
• Since I’ve recently set the bar so much higher for my five-star reads, I’m actually starting to go through the books I gave five stars to years ago and re-reading them to see if they still deserve that designation. (For example, I recently read Peony in Love for the second time and knocked it down to four stars–and almost knocked it down to three, but the ending saved it–after a re-read, just because I REALLY didn’t like the first part of the book, and there was a lot more sexual content than I’d remembered.)

Perhaps another time I’ll share a post about some of the life-changing nonfiction books that definitely earned their five stars fair and square, but for today, I’ll go ahead and share ten of the novels:

10 Five-Star Fiction Reads

Title: peace like a river, author: leif enger.

The perfect example of how my five-star books might not be as universally appealing as some of my four-star picks. Peace Like a River definitely skews more “literary”–the writing is seriously beautiful, almost like poetry–and I don’t remember the plot being one that was particularly fast-paced. But!–the characters were memorable, the ending was just as it should be, and I’m STILL excited to re-read this one (since I haven’t yet, seeing as I just read it last year). This is the story, told from a child’s perspective, of how the narrator’s brother has to go on the run from the law after killing someone who was threatening their family, thus becoming like a real-life “outlaw.” The book explores everything from religious themes like miracles to the question of which is more important–staying true to your family, or staying true to the law, even if you think it doesn’t “apply” in this case. This definitely has a distinct “Western” feel, but don’t let that turn  you off–I didn’t think I was into Westerns, but I was definitely into this book.

Title: The Kite Runner

Author: khaled hosseini.

This is definitely not an easy book (emotionally) to read, but it DEFINITELY fits the criteria of being highly memorable (and the added benefit of being totally engrossing). I’m definitely due for a re-read of this one (as it’s been about seven years), but elements of the story have still stayed with me, even after all this time. The Kite Runner is the story of two boys who both grew up in the same household but under very different circumstances (one was the master of the house’s son, the other was one of the servants). When a horrific event happens to the servant–and the other boy does nothing–the effects are long-lasting and devastating. This remains one of the most powerful novels about the concept of forgiveness that I’ve ever read.

Title: Memoirs of a Geisha

Author: arthur golden.

I believe this is now the third book roundup of mine that this book has made it onto (the others were Riveting WWII Books and Love Stories For People Who “Don’t Do” Romances ). So obviously I love this book. Memoirs of a Geisha is about a girl who is sold by her parents into the geisha life, and while the story deals with growing up and dealing with hard things and rising up against your fiercest rivals, it’s a love story at its heart, and how one act of kindness and compassion can change a life forever.

Title: Crossing to Safety

Author: wallace stegner.

This is the only adult fiction novel to have earned five stars so far this year (other than Sense and Sensibility ), and though I finished it back at the beginning of March, I still think about it all the time. As I wrote in my Goodreads review, very few writers could take such a quiet plot and spin it into such a compelling story, but Stegner manages to do just that in this novel. On the surface, this is not a book about much–it basically just follows the progression of the friendship of two couples over much of a lifetime–but at the same time, it’s a book about everything, or at least a book about everything that matters. I seriously can’t wait to read another of Stegner’s works (and the only reason I’m waiting is because I’m actually going to break one of my usual book-buying rules and buy a few before I’ve read them, just because I’m confident I’ll want to read them with a highlighter in hand).

Title: All the Light We Cannot See

Author: anthony doerr.

Here’s another one I can’t wait to read again (and have wanted to ever since I finished it). In fact, I liked this one so much, I immediately looked up everything else the author had written (which actually isn’t much) and bought his Four Seasons in Rome (which, for the record, was a 3.5-star read) soon thereafter when I came across it in a used bookstore. All the Light We Cannot See is the story of a blind girl, a famous jewel, and an orphaned-boy-turned-soldier during WWII, whose paths eventually intersect in an unexpected and memorable way. The writing is a large part of why I loved this one so much–it’s told in short snapshot-like chapters with continually varying viewpoints, and the prose is so beautiful that it should come as no surprise that the author was actually given a generous amount of money AND a stint in Rome, just so he would finish writing this.

Title: The Handmaid’s Tale

Author: margaret atwood.

Although many people love this for the way it explores current political and social issues, I loved it for its compelling story and its fabulous prose (this was my first exposure to Atwood’s writing, and I knew immediately it wouldn’t be my last). This dystopian novel (written well before the dystopian genre got “trendy”) is about a futuristic society where many rights (such as the right to read) are taken away from women in the name of “protecting” them, and how women in this society hope above all else that they’ll get pregnant during their mandatory “meetings” with their Commanders, as their value and worth is determined by their fertility. While the society is obviously super disturbing, I found the book to be compelling and thought-provoking, and while some people hate the unresolved ending, I personally thought it was quite brilliant.

Title: The Help

Author: kathryn stockett.

I’ve found that when it comes to super popular fiction that nearly everyone has read, I can often become a bit snooty without meaning to be, in that I try really hard to find something to criticize or a reason to not like it as much as everyone else. While a part of me halfheartedly tried to do the same for The Help , I quickly just got wrapped up in this story set in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t often reread books (and for several years, I actually didn’t “let” myself reread anything), but this is one that I’ve actually listened to on audiobook (which is FABULOUS, by the way, and if you haven’t already tried a free trial of Audible , you can listen to it through that) two or three times since, just to enjoy the pleasure of getting lost in this world and time period again. This book might not be as “literary” or “life-changing” as some of the other books on this list, but it’s one where I just absolutely fell in love with the story.

Title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Author: betty smith.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that about a third of the books on this short little list deal with “quiet” plots–in other words, literature that represents life as it really is. While I love to get immersed in a different culture or different time period (which is also evidenced in this list), I also love a well-written book that I can totally relate to on some level because it represents MY life in some way. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is just such a book–in reading about Francie Nolan’s childhood, it’s like you’re reliving your own childhood. The details of both might not be the same at all, but the FEEL of childhood is captured so magically in this book that I’ve rarely read anything else to rival it.

Title: I Capture the Castle

Author: dodie smith.

This is actually a five-star read from many years ago that I’m currently rereading to ensure that it still will earn five stars, but I’m fairly confident (based on what I can remember) that it will. This novel about a young aspiring writer living in a crumbling old castle with her poverty-stricken family reads like escapism of the best kind. I don’t remember a ton of the details (I read it over a decade ago, I believe), but I do remember that this book made me want to pick up my pen and start writing again AND that it made me want to go find a castle for sale somewhere, ASAP.

Title: My Name is Asher Lev

Author: chaim potok.

Sometimes it’s the writing or the characters or the setting that really stick out to me in a book, but in this one, it was actually the THEME that has never left me. This entire book is basically about a Jewish boy who is this phenomenal artist, but as he progresses in his work, he has to face a crucial question–when his artistic vision goes against what his faith teaches (in this case, he wants to produce a work with a definite Christian theme), what should he then do? I’ve always wanted to be a writer and I’ve also always been very devoted to my faith, and at times, I recognize that the two don’t always mesh well, so this book really made me think a lot. As it’s been almost a decade since I read it, I’m thinking it’s another one due for a reread soon!

What are the fiction books that YOU would give five stars to? And what are your own criteria for awarding a book this highest of ratings?

Linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy for her Quick Lit series !

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Honorary Associate in Creative Writing, The Open University

Assistant Professor of Literature and History, University of Warwick

Reader in Postcolonial Literature, Leeds Beckett University

PhD in, University of Galway

Associate Professor in Department of English, UCL

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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University College London , University of Warwick , and The Open University provide funding as founding partners of The Conversation UK.

University of Galway and Leeds Beckett University provide funding as members of The Conversation UK.

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Looking for a great read to take on holiday with you? We had our experts review some of the hottest books of 2024. From love stories to tales of murders and food, there’s something for every fiction lover.

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

How do we make meaning out of death, especially when it is violent and senseless? This question preoccupies Cyrus Shams, the protagonist of Iranian-American poet Kaveh Akbar’s debut novel, Martyr!.

Cyrus is trying to make sense of the death of his mother, Roya, in an aeroplane shot down by US military forces over the Persian Gulf. In the wake of her death, Cyrus and his father Ali move from Iran to the US, where this question eventually leads him to work on a book about historical martyrs – “people whose deaths mattered” – from Joan of Arc to a terminally ill Iranian artist who has decided to make her decline and death a performance exhibit in the Brooklyn Museum.

In chapters alternating between different characters’ perspectives, Akbar’s writing is wry, funny and totally absorbing. It’s a profound novel about intergenerational trauma, the immigrant experience, alcohol addiction, and ultimately how we “make a death useful”.

By Alice Kelly, assistant professor of literature and history

Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Translated by Polly Barton)

Asako Yuzuki’s Butter melts uneasily in your mind. Descriptions of food, sex and violence become transcendent, almost detached from anything physical. The prose is intense and immersive, but also clear, never dense or heady.

Journalist Rika conducts prison interviews with murderer Manako Kaji, a woman who lured lonely men with her delicious and deadly gourmet meals. As Rika talks with this strange woman, she finds herself drawn deeper into her world, fascinated by Kaji’s obsession with physical pleasure. This is something that impacts all aspects of Rika’s life, from relationships with friends and family to her own body and childhood memories.

Butter makes sharp critiques of misogyny and violence in modern Japan. This darkness is balanced out by its focus on female friendship and human intimacy.

By Jane McBride, PhD in liminality in urban and digital contexts

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Readers looking for escapist fun are in safe hands with Emily Henry. She is the acclaimed author of bestsellers like Book Lovers, Beach Read and You and Me on Vacation – titles which virtually demand to be packed in your holiday suitcase. Her latest novel Funny Story is a tale of tangled love and heartbreak.

Daphne and Miles become roommates after their respective partners fall in love. To get their own back they fake their own affair – unsuprisingly, things get complicated…

The prose is crisp and pacey, and the plot is skilfully deployed. And what’s not to love about a break-up rom-com?

Funny Story is the literary equivalent of a perfect poolside negroni, and it seems churlish to wish for a little more asperity in the mix. Yet I’d have liked to feel more emotion, and although the story centres on betrayal, the tone is tirelessly upbeat. I hurtled through this sprightly feel-good novel knowing that things would turn out even better in the end.

By Sally O'Reilly, honorary associate in creative writing

James by Percival Everett

James is an incredible re-writing of Mark Twain’s 1884 American classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin that tells the story from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. Just like the original book, it is set in the pre-Civil War plantation South. It’s 1861, war is brewing, and when the enslaved James hears that he may be sold to a new owner in New Orleans and separated from his family, he goes on the run as “Jim”, with the resourceful young white boy, Huck Finn.

Everett has reclaimed James from the peripheries and urges the reader to listen to his story.

This is a literary, writerly and scholarly novel. Everett expertly weaves black literary criticism and theory into his narrative, as well as making artful allusions to the books that came and shaped American scholarly and literary traditions. This weaving, however, is done with a light touch.

Read this book and listen carefully to James’s story. It will change you. You will start to question all the other classic novels you’ve read and wonder whose story is being suppressed and why. What if, you’ll ask yourself, they could be fleshed out and heard properly? It would, perhaps, be a much richer tale to tell.

Read more: James by Percival Everett: an enthralling reimagining of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of formerly enslaved Jim

By Emily Zobel Marshall, professor in postcolonial literature

Parade by Rachel Cusk

Parade is a searching book written against conformity. It is an exploration of the role of gender in the genesis and reception of art – a novel in which selfhood, creativity and family relations are submitted to unflinching analytical scrutiny.

Cusk’s examination of these subjects is conducted through a kaleidoscope of narratives, told from different points of view, in which the same themes crystallise and dissolve again and again.

The book’s four chapters focus on the lives of artists, each of whom is referred to as “G”. The Stuntman tells the story of an artist who, “perhaps because he could find no other way to make sense of his time and place in history, began to paint upside down”. The Midwife tells the story of an artist who paints “horrible, pornographical and gleeful” works as a visceral response to her parents’ disapproval and neglect.

In its themes and forms, Parade is a daring and difficult book, one in which Cusk embraces abstraction, pursuing formal innovations which she knows risk alienating readers on a quest for less-demanding narratives. Yet the challenges of Parade appear to be a matter of principle.

In the opening chapter, the first-person narrator ponders “the virtues of difficulty”, observing “how far people have been prepared to run the risk of not being understood”. This is a risk which Cusk, in this taut, haunting, exalting book, shows herself willing to take.

Read more: Parade by Rachel Cusk review: a daring work of experimentation that strikes out against conformity

By Scarlett Baron, Associate Professor in Department of English Language and Literature at UCL

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How to Get 5-Star Reviews on Google

Good online reviews are crucial for businesses looking to enhance their reputation and attract more customers. All businesses should aim for 5-star reviews, but it’s important to remember that offering a great product or service may not be enough.

Businesses also need to make an effort to cut through the noise, reach customers, and ask for reviews. Whether you offer a product or a service, there are some universal tips and tactics that will help your business receive more 5-star ratings.

In this article, you will learn how to improve your Google star ratings and gather more positive reviews of your business.

The importance of Google reviews

Positive Google reviews enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of your business and serve as a strong signal for Google. They play a crucial role in shaping your business’s online reputation, affecting your search engine ranking, influencing the purchasing decisions of potential customers, and driving more traffic to your business.

Have a closer look at the various aspects of reviews on Google.

Online Reputation

Google reviews contribute significantly to your business’s online reputation. When potential customers search for your business on Google, they first see your overall rating and the number of reviews. High ratings and positive reviews create a favorable impression, making customers more likely to choose your business over competitors. It’s a form of social proof and validation of the quality of your products or services.

Search engine ranking

Positive reviews improve your search engine ranking. Google’s algorithms consider the quantity and quality of reviews when determining where to place your business in local search results. More positive reviews can lead to higher rankings, increasing your visibility to potential customers. This improved visibility results in more clicks.

Consumer trust

Genuine reviews build trust and credibility. Potential customers are more likely to trust reviews from other customers than promotional content from the business itself. Positive reviews serve as social proof, demonstrating that others have had good experiences with your business. This trust can be critical in the decision-making process.

Impact on sales

In the long run, positive Google reviews can directly impact your sales. Customers are more likely to make a purchase when they see that others have had positive experiences with your business. Conversely, negative reviews can deter potential customers from buying from you.

Tips for getting 5-star Google reviews

It all starts with offering exceptional products and services. Ensure your product or service solves a genuine problem, offers real value, and delivers on its promises.

From the initial point of contact to after-sales support, every interaction matters, so you should aim to exceed customer expectations at every step of the customer journey. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and striving for excellence in every aspect of your business, you create a loyal customer base willing to advocate for you through glowing reviews.

Always be open to feedback and continuously strive to improve your offer. This could mean investing in better materials, offering more training to staff, or streamlining your processes to provide a smoother customer experience.

Below, you will find other, more technical aspects you should keep you eye on.

Update your Google Business Profile

Keeping your Google Business Profile fresh is vital for attracting positive reviews. Here are a couple of things to remember:

Accurate information

Make sure your business name, address, phone number, and working hours are correct. An updated Google Business Profile helps customers easily find you and ensures they have accurate information about your products, services, or venue.

Engaging description

Write a compelling description highlighting the unique selling points of your business. Your description should be concise yet informative, clearly explaining what makes your business special. Include keywords that potential customers might use when searching for businesses like yours.

High-quality visuals

Upload attractive and relevant visuals. In our highly digital world, visuals have become increasingly important. This is why high-quality images can significantly affect how potential customers perceive your business. Include good pictures of your products, storefront, and other relevant aspects of your business. Branded visual content can enhance your profile and attract more reviews.

Integrate review requests into interactions with customers

Encouraging customers to leave reviews should be part of your regular interactions.

After a successful transaction, ask customers to leave a review. This direct approach can yield more positive reviews. Timing is key—ask for a review when the customer is most satisfied with your service, for example, immediately after a purchase, delivery, or completed service.

Automate review requests

Use tools to automate review requests via email or SMS, making it easier for customers to leave feedback. Automation tools can send follow-up messages at the right times, ensuring that you stay top of mind for customers without being intrusive. These tools streamline the review request process and increase the likelihood of receiving reviews.

Simplify the review process

Above all, make it easy for customers to leave reviews by providing clear instructions and direct links.

Share a direct link to your Google Reviews page with customers. A direct, branded link simplifies the review process, encouraging more reviews. You can include this link in emails, on receipts, and your website. The easier it is for customers to leave a review, the more likely they will do so.

Another quick and easy way to acquire reviews is to offer QR codes that lead to the review page. QR codes can be placed on business cards, flyers, or at the checkout counter, making it convenient for customers to leave a review on the spot.

Do follow-up emails

Follow-up emails gently remind customers to leave a review without being intrusive and can significantly increase the number of reviews you receive.

Send thank-you emails after purchases and include a review request. In your thank-you email, thank the customer for their business and mention how valuable their feedback is to you.

A friendly reminder a few days after the transaction can prompt customers who forgot to leave a review. Remind them of the link to your review page and express how much you appreciate their feedback.

Respond to all reviews

Respond to all reviews, positive or negative.

Thank customers for positive feedback and show that you value their presence and opinion. A simple thank you can go a long way in showing your gratitude.

At the same time, address and thank customers for negative reviews. Handling negative reviews can turn a dissatisfied customer into a loyal one. Acknowledge the issue, apologize if necessary, and provide a solution. This shows potential customers you care about their satisfaction.

Encourage 5-star Google reviews

Great reviews can be encouraged in several ways:

Offer incentives such as discounts or loyalty points for leaving a review, ensuring compliance with Google’s guidelines. Avoid making incentives contingent on leaving a 5-star review to prevent any perception of manipulation.

Personalize your review requests to make customers feel valued. Adding a personalized touch can increase the likelihood of receiving a positive review. Train your staff to ask for reviews at appropriate times and provide them with scripts or guidelines.

Include review requests in your marketing material , such as flyers, receipts, or business cards.

Showcase your 5-star Google reviews

Displaying your 5-star reviews can attract potential customers and encourage existing customers to leave positive feedback.

Highlight reviews on the homepage of your website or in the testimonial section using a Google Reviews widget from OpenWidget. This tool can enhance your business's credibility and customer appeal by showcasing positive Google reviews directly on your website.

Utilize social media to showcase positive reviews of your business. Since social media is where your customers are, it serves as a powerful platform to share your business's positive reputation.

When featuring reviews, aim for variety by highlighting different aspects of your business. This approach provides potential customers with a comprehensive view of what your business has to offer.

Stay compliant with the guidelines

Above all, make sure your review practices comply with Google’s guidelines to avoid penalties.

No fake reviews

Never buy or create fake reviews. Fake Google reviews can be detected by Google and can harm the credibility and financial performance of your business. Google has strict policies against fake reviews, which can lead to severe consequences.

Genuine requests

Ask for reviews honestly and without coercion. Authentic reviews are more valuable and trusted by potential customers. Your review practices should be ethical and transparent.

Compliance with Google’s guidelines is crucial for your online presence. Avoid any practices that could be seen as manipulative or deceptive.

FAQs about 5-star Google reviews

Here are answers to some common questions about 5-star Google reviews:

How do you get a 5-star rating on Google?

To achieve a 5-star rating on Google, focus on providing excellent customer service, high-quality products or services, and a positive overall customer experience. Consistently meeting or exceeding customer expectations encourages satisfied customers to leave 5-star reviews.

Can you ask for a 5-star review on Google?

Yes, you can ask customers for a 5-star review on Google, but it should be done politely without pressuring them. Make sure that your request aligns with Google’s guidelines, which emphasize the importance of genuine feedback.

Can you buy 5-star Google reviews?

Yes, you can, but buying 5-star Google reviews is against Google’s policies. Engaging in buying Google reviews can lead to severe penalties, including removing the fake reviews and potentially suspending your Google Business Profile. Google reviews are important, so focus on earning legitimate reviews through excellent customer service and high-quality offerings.

How can I get more 5-star Google reviews?

To increase the number of your 5-star Google reviews, you should offer exceptional products, services, and support. Additionally, you can simplify the review process and actively encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews.

Can Google remove 1-star reviews?

Yes, Google can remove 1-star reviews if they violate Google's review policies, such as containing inappropriate content, spam, or fake reviews. You can flag these reviews, but Google will assess them on their own to determine if they breach their guidelines before taking action. However, legitimate negative reviews that reflect real customer experiences will not be removed.

Is 4.7 a good Google review rating?

Yes, a 4.7 rating is an excellent Google review rating. It indicates that most of your customers are highly satisfied with your business.

How many Google reviews can a business receive per day?

There is no specific limit to the number of reviews a business can receive daily. However, an unusually high number of reviews in a short period might be flagged by Google for review. The natural, steady accumulation of reviews is less likely to raise suspicion.

What happens when a business gets 100 Google reviews?

When a business reaches 100 Google reviews, it can see a boost in its search engine ranking and online visibility. Reaching such a milestone can also positively influence potential customers' perceptions and decisions.

Does Google detect fake reviews?

Yes, Google uses sophisticated algorithms and machine learning to detect and remove fake reviews. Reviews that violate Google’s policies, such as those generated by bots or paid for, are flagged and removed to ensure the authenticity and reliability of Google Reviews.

Can you legally buy reviews on Google?

No, buying reviews on Google is illegal and against Google’s policies. Engaging in this practice can lead to penalties, including removing fake reviews and potentially suspending your Google Business Profile.

Should you buy Google reviews?

No, you should not buy Google reviews. It harms your credibility and risks penalties from Google. Google reviews are important for trust and Google ratings.

How many reviews does it take to go up a star on Google?

The number of reviews required to increase your star rating on Google depends on the current number of reviews and their ratings. Generally, a consistent stream of high customer ratings is needed to improve your overall star rating. As more positive reviews accumulate, your average rating will gradually increase.

Are you allowed to ask for 5-star reviews?

Yes, you can ask for 5-star reviews, but do this ethically and ensure your requests comply with Google’s guidelines.

Where do Google reviews for my business show up?

Google reviews for your business appear on your Google Business Profile, Google Maps, and Google search results. These reviews are visible to anyone searching for your business or related services, influencing potential customers' decisions.

Do people trust 5-star reviews?

Yes, people generally trust 5-star reviews, but too many perfect reviews can sometimes appear suspicious. A mix of high ratings, including a few lower ones, often seems more authentic and trustworthy to potential customers. Genuine reviews, whether positive or negative, help build credibility.

Can you delete Google reviews?

You cannot delete Google reviews directly. However, you can flag inappropriate reviews that violate Google's policies for removal. If the review breaches the guidelines, Google may remove it.

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The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel Kindle Edition

• Print length 316 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books
• Publication date May 4, 2021
• File size 5139 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
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Amazon.com review, about the author, excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved., product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08LDY1MKW
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books (May 4, 2021)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 4, 2021
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 5139 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 316 pages
• #1 in Women's New Adult & College Fiction
• #1 in Women's Detective Fiction
• #6 in Mothers & Children Fiction

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Is The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave worth reading?

Marie Dubuque

Great little novel...a page turner for sure!

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Spoiler Free Review: The Last Thing He Told Me

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About the author

Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Eight Hundred Grapes and other novels. Her work has been published in thirty-eight countries and The Last Thing He Told Me is now a series on Apple TV+. She resides in Santa Monica.

You can follow her on Instagram @lauradaveauthor

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the book very realistic and easy to read. They also say the emotional tone is gripping and the writing style is well-written. However, opinions are mixed on the engagingness and plot. Some find the story engaging and hard to put down, while others say it's less thrilling than expected. Readers also have mixed feelings about the narrator, with some finding them well-developed and stereotypical, while other find them stereotypical.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book a good, solid read that's worth the time invested. They also describe the story as entertaining, tight, and realistic.

" Good , fast read. Good pace, good plot. Relatable protagonist. Interesting story with an unexpected twist...." Read more

"Laura Dave has written a twisty, fun read . I love the character development and the relationships she builds between Bailey, Owen, and Hannah." Read more

"The middle 30% was pretty good for a beach read . The beginning failed to introduce the characters...." Read more

"I couldn’t put this book down. It was so good ...." Read more

Customers find the writing style well written, and say it keeps their interest all the way to the end. They say the story flows smoothly with no hiccups, and the characters' journeys and personal growth are beautifully rendered. Customers also mention the book is a quick, good read with a good pace.

"Good, fast read. Good pace , good plot. Relatable protagonist. Interesting story with an unexpected twist...." Read more

"...It's a gorgeous and slightly bizarre area – permanent houseboats aren't exactly commonplace in the US! –..." Read more

"...It is well written and kept me interested from the beginning.I recommend it for anyone interested in suspense and emotion." Read more

" Love the author’s writing , but this lacked the twists and turns and ending I hoped for. A bit too predicable." Read more

Customers find the emotional tone of the book enough to have them invested, bittersweet, contemplative, and heart racing. They also appreciate the author's intimate characterization of the changing relationship. Overall, customers say the book is gripping and easy to read.

"...of the bond between stepmother and stepdaughter is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching , showcasing the strength and resilience of the human spirit...." Read more

"...a while but had yet to read it .. and man this book is fantastic in the most heart-wrenching & cozy way...." Read more

"...I liked that the emotions are rampant throughout this book . Really good read." Read more

"...were times where she came off as really (and I hate to say it), naive and whiny ...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot. Some find the story engaging, thought-provoking, and twisty. They also appreciate the well-developed personal background. However, some readers feel the book is less thrilling than they expected, with a slow-moving pace. They feel the ending lacks the twists and turns they hoped for.

"...Good pace, good plot. Relatable protagonist. Interesting story with an unexpected twist . I would enjoy reading more from this author." Read more

"First book I’ve read by this author. Really enjoyed the story the twists and turns.The ending wasn’t happy ever after...." Read more

"...Then, once the mystery is solved, it gets pretty bad ...." Read more

"Laura Dave has written a twisty , fun read. I love the character development and the relationships she builds between Bailey, Owen, and Hannah." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the narrator. Some find the characters well developed and fascinating, while others say they lack depth.

"Good, fast read. Good pace, good plot. Relatable protagonist . Interesting story with an unexpected twist...." Read more

"The middle 30% was pretty good for a beach read. The beginning failed to introduce the characters ...." Read more

"Laura Dave has written a twisty, fun read. I love the character development and the relationships she builds between Bailey, Owen, and Hannah." Read more

"...optioned by Hello Sunshine, it has exceptionally strong, well-written female characters , all of whom readily pass the Bechdel test..." Read more

Customers are mixed about the engagingness of the book. Some mention that it's very hard to put down and easy to follow, while others say that it is hard to get used to the style of Laura Dave.

"...Wish I had read it months ago! Amazing book that was hard to put down ." Read more

"The writing style of Laura Dave is a bit hard to get used to with so many sentences that are not complete sentences!..." Read more

"... Hard to put down- hope it is the same for you!" Read more

"...This book is definitely a page turner. It’s really hard to put it down . It’s a really complicated story that gets more interesting page by page." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the content. Some find the details delightful, engrossing, and provocative. They also identify with the thoughts offered and say the book has a lot of potential. However, others say the unrealistic parts make it so-so and the book doesn't go into enough detail.

"...OVERALL</b>This was fun to read and relevant due to so many scandals...." Read more

"...There is a lot of justification for really, really bad criminal behavior that the author tries to pass of as some sort of good and bad in everyone..." Read more

"...I loved that Hannah was smart, resourceful and not scared to bite off more than she could chew.It was also nice to have short chapters...." Read more

"...novel's core point about truly knowing people, but I thought it was extraneous & distracting, especially given its level of absurdity in the context..." Read more

Customers find the beginning of the book very slow. They also say the ending is a bit slow, and the book feels unfinished.

"...I usually can’t put a book down, but this one was really slow to start , and once it finally got going, it ended with a whisper." Read more

"...It was less thrilling than I anticipated with a slow-moving pace , but still an entertaining afternoon of reading from a new-to-me-author...." Read more

" A bit of a slow start , picked up about a third of a way through. I’m so glad I stuck with it and finished." Read more

"I likes the present part of the story, the past was slow and just seemed to take up space. I enjoyed the reading but I just wanted to keep going...." Read more

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A Silence Is Shattered, and So Are Many Fans of Alice Munro

Admirers said they were “blindsided” by revelations that Munro’s youngest daughter had been abused by her stepfather — and that Munro stayed with him even after she learned of it years later.

By Alexandra Alter ,  Elizabeth A. Harris and Vjosa Isai

Revelations by the author Alice Munro’s youngest daughter that she had been sexually abused by her stepfather as a child, and that Munro stayed with the abuser even after he was convicted of the assault, reverberated in Canada and across the literary world on Monday.

The story, told by Munro’s daughter Andrea Skinner in an essay in The Toronto Star and reported by the same newspaper, left many of Munro’s admirers reeling, wondering how a writer of her stature was able to keep such a secret for decades and how the revelations might impact her towering legacy.

“Alice was always kind of Saint Alice,” said Martin Levin, the former editor of the books section at The Globe and Mail. He heard “not even the faintest whisper or hint” of the news in his 20 years at the paper, he said.

For decades, Munro has been revered for her sharply observed short fiction and her insights into human nature and relationships. Even as she won the Nobel Prize in 2013, Munro remained private and unassuming, and described her life in a small town in Ontario as ordinary, quiet and happy.

That image of Munro, who died in May at age 92, shattered on Sunday.

The Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood wrote in an email that she was “blindsided” by the revelations. While she had learned a bit about the cause of the family rift a couple of years ago, from one of Munro’s other daughters, she never knew the full story until she read Skinner’s account.

“Why did she stay? Search me,” wrote Atwood of Munro’s decision. “I think they were from a generation and place that shoveled things under the carpet.”

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