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Genres
11genres
312books sorted
Have a favorite genre you like to read? Every book I've reviewed in it is consolidated here, grouped by the rating I gave it — so you can start with the five-star shelf and work down, rather than scrolling a whole year to find the thrillers.
Every book
312 reviewed · 4.0 avg rating★★★★★Five stars
107 books
Book
Rating
Genre
All the Sinners Bleed
S.A. CosbyBEST OF2023#1 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#1 of 2023
Another tightly crafted Southern Noir novel from Cosby packed with social commentary and memorable characters. Possibly his best yet.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Blacktop Wasteland
S.A. CosbyBEST OF2020#1 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#1 of 2020
A “one last job” crime caper that ends up with a lot more depth and character development than expected. It's outstanding.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Lady Tremaine
Rachel Hochhauser#1 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#1 of 2026Audiobook
A brilliant retelling of Cinderella from the "wicked" stepmother's perspective, this witty, inventive historical drama completely reimagines a classic villain.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
Lost Man's Lane
Scott CarsonBEST OF2024#1 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#1 of 2024
Set in 1999, a coming-of-age story about a high schooler who finds himself embroiled in a supernatural missing persons investigation.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Correspondent
Virginia EvansBEST OF2025#1 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#1 of 2025Audiobook
An innovative character study in which an aging woman's life story is revealed through the letters she writes and receives from a myriad of people.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Thistlefoot
Gennarose NethercottBEST OF2022#1 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#1 of 2022
The reunion of 2 siblings around a mysterious house is the backdrop for this lyrical beauty of a novel, my favorite of 2022.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
We Begin at the End
Chris WhitakerBEST OF2021#1 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#1 of 2021
A thought-provoking and heartbreaking coming of age story, mixed with a small town mystery. My clear favorite of 2021 by a wide margin
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Anthony DoerrBEST OF2021#2 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#2 of 2021
An ambitious, sprawling novel that intertwines 3 storylines across different places and times, but magically comes together in the end
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Demon Copperhead
Barbara KingsolverBEST OF2022#2 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#2 of 2022
An ode to Charles Dickens in the form of a modern retelling of David Copperfield, set in Appalachian Virginia over the last 30+ years.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
James
Percival EverettBEST OF2024#2 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#2 of 2024
More than a retelling of "Huck Finn" from the point of view of Jim, this is a brilliant treatise on race and slavery in 1860s America.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Covenant of Water
Abraham VergheseBEST OF2023#2 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#2 of 2023
It's long, but it's also a brilliant tour de force, presenting a multi-generational character study spanning nearly 80 years in India.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Mountains Wild
Sarah Stewart TaylorBEST OF2020#2 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#2 of 2020
Years after her cousin's disappearance, detective Maggie D'Arcy is asked to consult an a case with eerie similarities.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest
Aubrey HartmanBEST OF2025#2 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#2 of 2025Audiobook
A children's book about life's most difficult subject—death—told with compassion, humor and grace at a level on par (or above) any adult literature.
★★★★★
Children's Lit
Yesteryear
Caro Claire Burke#2 of 2026
★★★★★#2 of 2026
A "tradwife" and Instagram influencer has cultivated a seemingly idyllic life for herself and family, but it's all upended when she wakes up one day in 1855.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Science Fiction Mystery and Thriller
All the Colors of the Dark
Chris WhitakerBEST OF2024#3 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#3 of 2024
Whitaker delivers another masterpiece of character development while tackling several tough topics -- a challenging but uplifting read
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Broken Country
Clare Leslie HallBEST OF2025#3 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#3 of 2025Audiobook
A small town, a love triangle, a murder, and a trial form the foundation of this twisty, emotional novel set in mid-1900s England.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller Romance
Chain-Gang All-Stars
Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahBEST OF2023#3 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#3 of 2023
Set in a near-future society that feels all too possible, prisoners fight in gladiatorial death matches for a chance at freedom.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Five
Ilona Bannister#3 of 2026
★★★★★#3 of 2026
Jaw-dropping dialogue and moral judgement set the tone for this dark exploration of five neurodiverse characters, one of which we're told will die by the end of the book.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Project Hail Mary
Andy WeirBEST OF2021#3 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#3 of 2021
A scientist trapped alone in space trying to survive. What worked for The Martian does again and this time might be even better.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Race the Sands
Sarah Beth DurstBEST OF2020#3 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#3 of 2020
Part Seabiscuit, part palace politics, part commentary on societal boundaries and castes -- this novel was great on multiple levels.
★★★★★
Fantasy
The Final Strife
Saara El-ArifiBEST OF2022#3 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#3 of 2022
A land where one’s blood color determines their race is the setting while a secret sect try to infiltrate to infiltrate the government
★★★★★
Fantasy
All My Rage
Sabaa TahirBEST OF2022#4 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#4 of 2022
An exploration of the immigrant experience through the story of 2 high school students of Pakistani descent, growing up in rural CA.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Atmosphere
Taylor Jenkins ReidBEST OF2025#4 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#4 of 2025Audiobook
Filled with tragedy, perseverance, and love, the novel focuses on the fictional first women in the NASA space program in the early 1980s.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
Nothing To See Here
Kevin WilsonBEST OF2020#4 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#4 of 2020
An old friend desperatly needs Lillian's help caring for her kids. There's one catch, though: when the kids get upset, they catch fire
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It
Brooke Averick#4 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#4 of 2026Audiobook
One month shy of her thirtieth birthday, Phoebe Berman is determined to conquer her neuroses and finally lose her virginity in this laugh-out-loud rom-com.
★★★★★
Romance
Razorblade Tears
S.A. CosbyBEST OF2021#4 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#4 of 2021
When two young gay men are murdered, their fathers join forces to take solving the murders into their own hands.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Small Mercies
Dennis LehaneBEST OF2023#4 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#4 of 2023
A masterful book, Lehane's best since Mystic River, set against the racial tensions of Boston school busing during the summer of '74.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
The Mayor of Maxwell Street
Avery CunninghamBEST OF2024#4 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#4 of 2024
Skillful dialogue and prose adorn this debut that combines a love story with the search for a mysterious gangster in 1920s Chicago.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Firekeeper's Daughter
Angeline BoulleyBEST OF2022#5 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#5 of 2022
A high school girl is thrust into an FBI investigation to try to uncover a drug ring that is terrorizing Native American tribes
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Group
Christie TateBEST OF2020#5 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#5 of 2020
When author Christie Tate hits rock bottom, she decides to try a radical form of group therapy, where everything is NOT confidential.
★★★★★
Nonfiction Memoir
Still Life
Sarah WinmanBEST OF2023#5 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#5 of 2023
A beautifully written character study of a cast of memorable souls that spans 30 years from the end of World War II until the mid-70s.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Bright Years
Sarah Damoff#5 of 2026
★★★★★#5 of 2026
A moving generational novel that authentically captures a litany of life moments, from the highs of true love to the challenges of addiction.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Last Watch + The Exiled Fleet
J.S. DewesBEST OF2021#5 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#5 of 2021
A ragtag group of soldiers (and a few criminals) are staffed at the end of the universe. Things are mostly boring...until they're not
★★★★★
Science Fiction
The Will of the Many
James IslingtonBEST OF2024#5 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#5 of 2024
A truly excellent start to a trilogy about an orphan who infiltrates an Academy for societal elites in order to uncover a conspiracy.
★★★★★
Fantasy
Throwback
Maurene GooBEST OF2025#5 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#5 of 2025
Goo's sweet time travel tale sees a 17-year-old from 2025 transported back to 1995 to try to help her own mother win homecoming queen.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Fourth Wing
Rebecca YarrosBEST OF2023#6 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#6 of 2023
Perhaps the most-hyped book of 2023 lives up to it, as we follow the journey of a young girl as she attempts to become a dragon rider.
★★★★★
Romantasy Fantasy Romance
Great Circle
Maggie ShipsteadBEST OF2021#6 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#6 of 2021
Meet protagonist Marian Graves, a woman in determined to fly planes in the early 1900s at a time when women, quite simply, didn't.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
King of Ashes
S.A. CosbyBEST OF2025#6 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#6 of 2025
Edgy, violent, and dark, Cosby's latest sees a successful money manager sucked into working for a sadistic gang in order to save his brother.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Open
Andre AgassiBEST OF2024#6 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2024#6 of 2024Audiobook
Among the best autobiographies I have read, Andre Agassi shares an honest account in vivid detail of his life in tennis (and beyond).
★★★★★
Memoir
Seventeen: Last Man Standing
John BrownlowBEST OF2022#6 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#6 of 2022
The greatest assassin in the world, Seventeen, must take on his predecessor, against a backdrop of a threat against global security.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Things in Jars
Jess KiddBEST OF2020#6 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#6 of 2020
A private investigator in 1860s London looks into the disappearance of a young girl who may have special (and dangerous) powers.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Fantasy
We Are All Guilty Here
Karin Slaughter#6 of 2026
★★★★★#6 of 2026
Two teenage girls are abducted in a small Georgia town in this mystery filled with twists and family dynamics that will keep readers guessing.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Dead Money
Jakob KerrBEST OF2025#7 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#7 of 2025
Kerr's mature and tightly-plotted debut follows the murder investigation of the founder of a fictitious tech company in San Francisco.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Dolly All the Time
Annabel Monaghan#7 of 2026
★★★★★#7 of 2026
When a $50k debt meets a fake-dating scheme with a wealthy heir, love blooms in Annabel Monaghan's modern retelling of Pretty Woman.
★★★★★
Romance
Iron Flame
Rebecca YarrosBEST OF2024#7 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#7 of 2024
Yarros gives us a rarity -- a sequel to a force-of-nature debut that's just as good as the original, and in some ways possibly better.
★★★★★
Romantasy Fantasy Romance
Nightcrawling
Leila MottleyBEST OF2022#7 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#7 of 2022
The story of Kiara, a young woman 3 months shy of her 18th birthday, living in East Oakland and trying to scrape by on her own.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Rubicon
J.S. DewesBEST OF2023#7 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#7 of 2023
A stand-alone novel unrelated to her "Divide" series, author Dewes elegantly explores immortality, AI, and what it means to be human.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ KluneBEST OF2020#7 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#7 of 2020
A lovely and cheeky queer story, this traces the evolution of a man as he comes to grips with his professional and sexual identity.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Push
Ashley AudrainBEST OF2021#7 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#7 of 2021
What happens when a mom can't connect with her child, and she starts to wonder if her child isn’t just different, but maybe truly a bad kid?
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Long Bright River
Liz MooreBEST OF2020#8 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#8 of 2020
When sex workers start to turn up murdered, a Philly cop investigates, hoping to stop the trend before her sister becomes a victim.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Starling House
Alix E. HarrowBEST OF2023#8 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#8 of 2023
Harrow returns to top form with a genre-blending story of a young woman trying to scrape by in a town haunted by its past and secrets.
★★★★★
Fantasy Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
The God of the Woods
Liz MooreBEST OF2024#8 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#8 of 2024
Set in 1975, the search for a missing child acts as the foundation for Moore's tactful exploration of societal themes of the time.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Strength of the Few
James Islington#8 of 2026
★★★★★#8 of 2026
The sequel to The Will of the Many sees the footprint expand from a single world into three, an ambitious choice that is impressively executed.
★★★★★
Fantasy
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle ZevinBEST OF2022#8 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#8 of 2022
Spanning 30 years of the main characters' lives, it's the story of 3 friends inspired to create something great in the world of gaming
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Wild Dark Shore
Charlotte McConaghyBEST OF2025#8 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#8 of 2025
When a woman washes ashore on a remote island, the lone family living there nurses her back to health. But both parties have secrets...
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
60 Songs That Explain the '90s
Rob HarvillaBEST OF2024#9 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2024#9 of 2024Audiobook
A nostalgia-inducing romp through the most impactful songs of the '90s, focusing on their meaning to the decade and to music overall.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
American Dirt
Jeanine CumminsBEST OF2020#9 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#9 of 2020
The journey of a mother and her son as they flee Acapulco for the United States after becoming targets of the local cartel.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Book Lovers
Emily HenryBEST OF2022#9 of 2022Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2022#9 of 2022Audiobook
A better version of the "city dweller finds love in a small town" trope, while also ranking as the funniest book I read in 2022.
★★★★★
Romance
Exiles
Jane HarperBEST OF2023#9 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#9 of 2023
A stellar offering from author Harper about a missing woman and a history of complicated relationships among friends in a small town.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
One and Only
Maurene Goo#9 of 2026
★★★★★#9 of 2026
When a professional matchmaker meets her "fated" match, she must choose between her prophesied destiny and an undeniable connection she has with someone else.
★★★★★
Romance
The Everlasting
Alix E. HarrowBEST OF2025#9 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#9 of 2025
A time-traveling tale that dissects the most famous legend in the land, Harrow once again creates a binge-worthy blend of fantasy and creativity.
★★★★★
Fantasy
Dirtbag Queen
Andy CorrenBEST OF2025#10 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#10 of 2025Audiobook
Sparked by a viral obituary, this unlikeliest of memoirs introduces us to the crazy Corren family and their larger-than-life mother.
★★★★★
Memoir
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela DuckworthBEST OF2023#10 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#10 of 2023
Both entertaining and helpful, Duckworth systematically lays out a plethora of evidence for why passion + perseverance = success.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Listen for the Lie
Amy TinteraBEST OF2024#10 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#10 of 2024
A woman returns to the small town where she grew up, despite being the prime suspect in the 5-year-old murder of her best friend.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Mad Mabel
Sally Hepworth#10 of 2026
★★★★★#10 of 2026
A funny, heartwarming character study of a sardonic 81-year-old former convict whose quiet life unravels when a neighbor turns up dead.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Ordinary Grace
William Kent Krueger#11 of 2023
★★★★★#11 of 2023
A 1961 coming-of-age story about a boy in rural Minnesota, who is forced to deal with tragedy as he navigates his path to manhood.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
The Names
Florence KnappBEST OF2025#11 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#11 of 2025Audiobook
A mother debates what to name her son, and her three choices create three parallel timelines in this mature and solidly composed debut.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Wedding People
Alison EspachBEST OF2024#11 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#11 of 2024
A woman travels to a luxury hotel with plans to kill herself but instead gets wrapped up in the wedding festivities happening on site.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
This Story Might Save Your Life
Tiffany Crum#11 of 2026
★★★★★#11 of 2026
One half of a famous podcasting duo goes missing in this unique debut that artfully blends mystery with a will-they-or-won't-they romance.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Romance
Heart the Lover
Lily KingBEST OF2025#12 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#12 of 2025
A short read that explores the all-encompassing experience of young love and how it is put in perspective upon reflection later in life.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Only If You're Lucky
Stacy Willingham#12 of 2023
★★★★★#12 of 2023
A story of a four tight knit girls at a small college turns dark when it seems they might have been involved with a frat boy's death.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Calamity Club
Kathryn Stockett#12 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#12 of 2026Audiobook
In her first book since The Help, Kathryn Stockett transports us to 1933 Mississippi where a female-driven cast exposes the misogynistic society of the time.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
The Year of the Locust
Terry HayesBEST OF2024#12 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#12 of 2024
Another great spy thriller from Hayes after 10 long years. Despite some questionable supernatural plot choices, it's still a winner.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Happy Place
Emily Henry#13 of 2023Audiobook
★★★★★#13 of 2023Audiobook
An exploration of relationships and friendships in Henry's most mature offering yet, centered on a week-long vacation in Maine.
★★★★★
Romance
King Sorrow
Joe Hill#13 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#13 of 2026Audiobook
An epic story about friendship and betrayal, this behemoth of a novel follows six college friends who make a Faustian deal with a dragon.
★★★★★
Horror Fantasy Literature & Fiction
Pony Confidential
Christina LynchBEST OF2024#13 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2024#13 of 2024Audiobook
Part mystery, part odyssey, the story follows a sardonic pony as he seeks to reunite with his human, on trial for a 25-year-old murder
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Silverblood Promise
James LoganBEST OF2025#13 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#13 of 2025
A strong start to a new fantasy series that can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel, a roguish young man travels to a distant city to solve the mystery of his father's death.
★★★★★
Fantasy
First Lie Wins
Ashley Elston#14 of 2024
★★★★★#14 of 2024
A twisty plot-driven novel about a woman who manufactures a relationship, only to find she might be the one being played.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Night Objects
Eli Raphael#14 of 2026
★★★★★#14 of 2026
A coming-of-age novel set at an elite boarding that focuses as much on class, race, and outsider status as it does on the central murder mystery.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Battle Drum
Saara El-Arifi#14 of 2023
★★★★★#14 of 2023
El-Arifi builds on her stellar debut The Final Strife (my #3 book of 2022), and does so both ambitiously and successfully.
★★★★★
Fantasy
The Blackfire Blade
James LoganBEST OF2025#14 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#14 of 2025
A worthy continuation of what started with The Silverblood Promise, Book 2 is filled with heists, mini quests, and more of everything you loved in Book 1.
★★★★★
Fantasy
Mad Honey
Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan#15 of 2023
★★★★★#15 of 2023
It's a love story and a legal thriller, but its authors' deft handling of many tough subjects is what elevates this novel even more.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Onyx Storm
Rebecca YarrosBEST OF2025#15 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#15 of 2025
The most anticipated book of 2025 mostly delivers, as author Yarros continues the Empyrean series and Violet Sorrengail's evolution.
★★★★★
Romantasy Fantasy Romance
The Storyteller
Dave Grohl#15 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#15 of 2024Audiobook
Dave Grohl -- former drummer for Nirvana, and founding member of the Foo Fighters -- shares stories of his life in rock in this memoir
★★★★★
Memoir
The Relentless Legion
J. S. Dewes#16 of 2024
★★★★★#16 of 2024
A satisfying conclusion to one of the better sci-fi trilogies I have read, the Sentinels once again try to defy odds to save humanity.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
The Three Lives of Cate Kay
Kate Fagan#16 of 2025
★★★★★#16 of 2025
An author who has fiercely protected her anonymity—despite writing the biggest book series on the planet—finally tells all in a memoir.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Wrong Place, Wrong Time
Gillian McAllister#16 of 2023
★★★★★#16 of 2023
A mother sees her son commit a murder, and must find out why while stuck in a backwards time loop. Sounds weird, but it works well!
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Fear Is Just A Word
Azam Ahmed#17 of 2023
★★★★★#17 of 2023
When a young woman goes missing, kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, her mother makes it her life's mission to bring them to justice.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
The Death of Us
Abigail Dean#17 of 2025
★★★★★#17 of 2025
Nearly twenty-five years after a home invader destroyed their lives, a couple reunites to provide victim personal statements at his trial.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond
Henry Winkler#18 of 2023
★★★★★#18 of 2023
An honest autobiographical account of a showbiz life, infused with humor, self-deprecation and a joie de vivre oozing from every page.
★★★★★
Memoir Nonfiction
Sunrise on the Reaping
Suzanne Collins#18 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#18 of 2025Audiobook
Collins returns to give us the origin story of Haymitch Abernathy in a way that might make this the best Hunger Games novel to-date.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
I Have Some Questions For You
Rebecca Makkai#19 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#19 of 2025Audiobook
A woman returns to the elite boarding school she attended after 20+ years to search for answers about the murder of her roommate senior year.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Art Thief
Michael Finkel#19 of 2023
★★★★★#19 of 2023
A thoroughly researched examination of the exploits of Stéphane Breitwieser, the most prolific art thief the world has ever known.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
The Boys in the Light
Nina Willner#20 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#20 of 2025Audiobook
The intersecting journeys of the author's father, who survived years in WWII concentration camps, and the American soldiers who found him.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Scythe
Neal Shusterman#21 of 2025
★★★★★#21 of 2025
Two teenagers are forced to compete to become a Scythe, whose job is to control overpopulation by killing a set number of people each year.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Silver Elite
Dani Francis#22 of 2025
★★★★★#22 of 2025
A young woman with special powers infiltrates a training program for the military while working undercover for a resistance organization.
★★★★★
Science Fiction Fantasy Romance
One Golden Summer
Carley Fortune#23 of 2025
★★★★★#23 of 2025
A photographer spends a summer at a lake house where she meets a cocksure man whose charms threaten their mutual vow of friendship.
★★★★★
Romance
Great Big Beautiful Life
Emily Henry#24 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#24 of 2025Audiobook
Two writers compete for the opportunity to author the memoir of a reclusive heiress while coming to realize they might just be soulmates.
★★★★★
Romance Literature & Fiction
B.F.F.
Christie Tate#25 of 2023
★★★★★#25 of 2023
Following up her excellent debut Group, Tate returns with another memoir, this time focusing on her struggles with female friendship.
★★★★★
Memoir
No More Tears
Gardiner Harris#25 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#25 of 2025Audiobook
Decades of missteps and immorality by J & J are laid bare as they repeat a pattern of placing profits over people's health and lives.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Haven't Killed in Years
Amy K. Green#26 of 2025
★★★★★#26 of 2025
The daughter of a convicted serial killer has kept her identity a secret for 20 years, but someone has found out and is determined to expose her.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Wishing Game
Meg Shaffer#27 of 2025
★★★★★#27 of 2025
A teacher's aide who dreams of adopting a young boy from her school competes in a contest for the sole copy of a reclusive author's new book.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Girls Who Grew Big
Leila Mottley#28 of 2025
★★★★★#28 of 2025
Another gritty offering from Mottley, who this time explores teen pregnancy and a small group of teen moms who help each other through it.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
You Are Here
David Nicholls#29 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#29 of 2025Audiobook
A sweet and heartfelt story about finding love when you least expect it, told with a distinctly British cheekiness and sense of humor.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Anxious Generation
Jonathan Haidt#30 of 2025
★★★★★#30 of 2025
A thoroughly researched exploration of the rise in mental illness among Gen Z, paired with several suggestions for how we can fix it.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Foster
Claire Keegan#31 of 2025
★★★★★#31 of 2025
A quick 50-page read, the story of a young girl who is delivered by her father to stay with a family in a neighboring town in Ireland.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Women
Kristin Hannah
★★★★★
A historical opus that examines the horrors of the Vietnam War and its turbulent aftermath through the eyes of a young female nurse.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★★Four stars
131 books
Book
Rating
Genre
The Thursday Murder Club
Richard OsmanBEST OF2021#8 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#8 of 2021
What happens when 4 septuagenarians entertain a hobby of solving cold cases, only to have a body turn up at their retirement home?
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
A Distant Grave
Sarah Stewart TaylorBEST OF2021#9 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#9 of 2021
Maggie D'Arcy is back in a solid sequel to The Mountains Wild that confirms (for me) that Sarah Stewart Taylor is for real!
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Pay Dirt Road
Samantha Jayne AllenBEST OF2022#10 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#10 of 2022
A waitress in rural Texas gets thrust into a murder investigation, with enough nuance that it rises above garden variety mysteries.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Pretty Things
Janelle BrownBEST OF2020#10 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#10 of 2020
Two women with a tangled past -- one a con artist, the other a wealthy influencer -- are reunited in this well-crafted yarn.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Blacktongue Thief
Christopher BuehlmanBEST OF2021#10 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#10 of 2021
A thief with a wry sense of humor is reluctantly paired up with a badass female knight on a quest to save the knight's queen.
★★★★★
Fantasy
Apples Never Fall
Liane MoriarityBEST OF2021#11 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#11 of 2021
When the matriarch of the famous Delaney tennis family goes missing, family dynamics and long-held grudges are on full display.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Dear Edward
Ann NapolitanoBEST OF2020#11 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#11 of 2020
When a 12-year-old boy is the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed 183, including his parents and brother, what happens next?
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Lore
Alexandra BrackenBEST OF2021#12 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#12 of 2021
When Lore Perseous makes a deal with the goddess Athena, she is thrust into the middle of a once-every-seven-years event.
★★★★★
Fantasy
The Once and Future Witches
Alex E. HarrowBEST OF2020#12 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#12 of 2020
Three sisters join forces to influence the suffragist movement, but they must tap into old magic to level the playing field.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Shadows
Alex NorthBEST OF2020#13 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#13 of 2020
25 years ago, a small town was rocked by the grisly murder of a teenage boy, the main suspect never caught. Now it's happening again.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Searcher
Tana FrenchBEST OF2020#14 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#14 of 2020
An American ex-cop settles in a small Irish town to try to make a fresh start, but a local kid needs his help finding his brother.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Wayfinder
Adam Johnson#15 of 2026
★★★★★#15 of 2026
An immense and dense epic literary journey through the South Pacific of 1000 years ago that explores the struggle for power on Tonga.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
When We Were Vikings
Andrew David MacDonaldBEST OF2020#15 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#15 of 2020
Zelda, a 20-year-old with mild developmental disabilities, channels her love of vikings and embarks on a “quest to become legendary".
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
AVAILABLE AUG 4, 2026
The Infinite StateOut Aug 4
Richard Swan#16 of 2026
★★★★★#16 of 2026
A woman attempts to found a fledgling nation to escape the suffocating control of a totalitarian empire in this interesting sci-fi space opera.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Operation Bounce House
Matt Dinniman#17 of 2026
★★★★★#17 of 2026
A war novel blended with humor and social commentary that pits peace-loving settlers of a planet against an invasion of giant robots intent on killing them.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
The Boys of Riverside
Thomas Fuller#17 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#17 of 2024Audiobook
The account of the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, and their football team's pursuit of a championship across two seasons.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
London Falling
Patrick Radden Keefe#18 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#18 of 2026Audiobook
A gripping and fascinating piece of investigative journalism that seeks to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of a young London man in 2019.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
The Frozen River
Ariel Lawhon#18 of 2024
★★★★★#18 of 2024
Inspired by historical events, a midwife in 1789 finds herself in the middle of both a murder and a rape investigation in her town.
★★★★★
Historical Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Devil's Kitchen
Candice Fox#19 of 2024
★★★★★#19 of 2024
Reminiscent of "The Shield", it's a split between a missing persons mystery and a dirty firefighting crew committing thefts in NYC.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Children
Melissa Albert#19 of 2026
★★★★★#19 of 2026
A haunting, dual-timeline tale of estranged siblings reckoning with a traumatic childhood serves up a unique blend of family drama and dark fairy tale.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Horror Fantasy Mystery and Thriller
A Violent Masterpiece
Jordan Harper#20 of 2026
★★★★★#20 of 2026
A grisly dive into the dark underbelly of Los Angeles that blends the hunt for a serial killer with commentary on the corrupt world of the ultra-wealthy.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Age of Vice
Deepti Kapoor#20 of 2023
★★★★★#20 of 2023
Thinking this is going to be the "Indian Godfather" is setting your expectations way too high, but it's an intriguing character study.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Assassins Anonymous
Rob Hart#20 of 2024
★★★★★#20 of 2024
A fresh take on the assassin genre, balancing globetrotting action with a main character truly trying to change via a 12-step program.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Castaways
Lucy Clarke#21 of 2026
★★★★★#21 of 2026
After a flight to a remote island goes missing, a dual-timeline thriller follows two sisters—one who was on the flight and one who missed it.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Lost Metal
Brandon Sanderson#21 of 2023
★★★★★#21 of 2023
A fitting and satisfying conclusion to what author Sanderson refers to as "Era Two" of his outstanding Mistborn series.
★★★★★
Fantasy
The Return of Ellie Black
Emiko Jean#21 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#21 of 2024Audiobook
A borderlined-5-star thriller that unveils what happened to Ellie Black, who went missing for more than two years but has now returned
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas#22 of 2026
★★★★★#22 of 2026
Following the events of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the story continues in a longer and more polished follow-up that's a step up from Book 1.
★★★★★
Romantasy Fantasy Romance
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
James McBride#22 of 2023
★★★★★#22 of 2023
Set in the 1930s, an expansive cast from the Black and Jewish section of Pottstown, PA come together to rally around a common cause.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Hunter
Tana French#22 of 2024
★★★★★#22 of 2024
French's sequel to The Searcher again slowly builds up the plot -- and the tension -- until a murder mystery dominates the second half
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
A Far-flung Life
M.L. Stedman#23 of 2026
★★★★★#23 of 2026
A tragic accident on a remote sheep station eventually leads to a dark family secret in this character-driven exploration of duty and psyche in the Australian Outback.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
In the Lives of Puppets
TJ Klune#23 of 2023
★★★★★#23 of 2023
A sometimes dark exploration of a world where humans and sentient machines coexist, balanced by Klune's trademark humor and heart.
★★★★★
Fantasy
The True Love Experiment
Christina Lauren#23 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#23 of 2024Audiobook
A funny and heartwarming romance novel in the style of Emily Henry about a woman who is cast as the lead on a reality dating show.
★★★★★
Romance
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas#24 of 2024
★★★★★#24 of 2024
After a bit of a slow and clunky start, the story of a young human woman imprisoned in faerie lands barrels to an excellent climax.
★★★★★
Romantasy Fantasy Romance
Killers of a Certain Age
Deanna Raybourn#24 of 2023
★★★★★#24 of 2023
A well-executed (pun intended) novel about 4 female assassins in their 60s who must unretire when they are targeted by their agency.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
What Happened to the McCrays?
Tracey Lange#24 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#24 of 2026Audiobook
A man returns home to Potsdam, NY to care for his father after a stroke, forcing him to confront past demons that led to his abrupt departure.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Into the Blue
Emma Brodie#25 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#25 of 2026Audiobook
Two actors with an undeniable connection explore a relentless on-again, off-again romance in this spicy, love-it-or-hate-it read built for the theater crowd.
★★★★★
Romance Literature & Fiction
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
Robert Dugoni#25 of 2024
★★★★★#25 of 2024
A book club darling of a novel about a boy born with ocular albinism (red eyes), whose life I found less extraordinary than expected.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder
Kerryn Mayne#26 of 2024
★★★★★#26 of 2024
Lenny Marks lives a carefully crafted and ordered life for herself until her stepfather's parole sparks memories of childhood trauma.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Future
Naomi Alderman#26 of 2023
★★★★★#26 of 2023
Filled as much with philosophy and social commentary as with plot, Alderman envisions a near-future society rocketing toward disaster.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
The One Day You Were My Husband
Rosie Walsh#26 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#26 of 2026Audiobook
Years after her husband was captured by armed men on their wedding day, a woman discovers that he's alive. She's happily remarried, but compelled to seek him out.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Romance
All the Worst Humans
Phil Elwood#27 of 2024
★★★★★#27 of 2024
A memoir that exposes the role of PR firms in our news cycle and the ways they manipulate information to support their wealthy clients
★★★★★
Memoir Nonfiction
Hello Beautiful
Ann Napolitano#27 of 2023
★★★★★#27 of 2023
Napolitano once again tugs at heartstrings by creating memorable characters who share moments of happiness amid plenty of tragedy.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Our Perfect Storm
Carley Fortune#27 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#27 of 2026Audiobook
When a woman's fiancé leaves her on their wedding day, she ends up taking her lifelong (gorgeous, heterosexual) male best friend on her honeymoon. What could happen?
★★★★★
Romance
All the Dangerous Things
Stacy Willingham#28 of 2023
★★★★★#28 of 2023
A distraught mother tries to solve the disappearance of her son a year later, only to realize the most likely suspect might be her.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Anatomy of an Alibi
Ashley Elston#28 of 2026
★★★★★#28 of 2026
A two-tiered whodunit focused on the murder of a prominent Baton Rouge lawyer and its potential connection to a hit-and-run from a decade prior.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Funny Story
Emily Henry#28 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#28 of 2024Audiobook
Desperate for a place to stay after her fiancé cheats on her, Daphne moves in with the ex of the woman who broke up her engagement.
★★★★★
Romance
Revenge of the Tipping Point
Malcolm Gladwell#29 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#29 of 2024Audiobook
Gladwell revisits how social epidemics take off with a new set of stories to illustrate variations of concepts from The Tipping Point.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
The Burning Side
Sarah Damoff#29 of 2026
★★★★★#29 of 2026
A house fire is the jumping off point for this novel less about the partial loss of a home and more about the fractured relationship in it.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Yellowface
R.F. Kuang#29 of 2023
★★★★★#29 of 2023
Societal commentary abounds in this story of a white author stealing the final manuscript of an Asian American author after her death.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The River We Remember
William Kent Krueger#30 of 2024
★★★★★#30 of 2024
While a murder mystery is at the heart of this novel, a cast of flawed characters enable the exploration of several weighty topics.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Spy Coast
Tess Gerritsen#30 of 2023
★★★★★#30 of 2023
Another story about retirement-age spies? You better believe it! It doesn't quite match up to Killers of a Certain Age, but it's close
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
AVAILABLE AUG 4, 2026
When Lemons Give You LifeOut Aug 4
Anna Johnston#30 of 2026
★★★★★#30 of 2026
A former chef fakes dementia in a nursing home before finding redemption and a new reason to live in this latest from the author of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Antimatter Blues
Edward Ashton#31 of 2023
★★★★★#31 of 2023
The sequel to Mickey7 finds our hero once again trying to find a way to save the colony while somehow avoiding yet another death.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
The Small and the Mighty
Sharon McMahon#31 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#31 of 2024Audiobook
An entertaining look at a few lesser-known influential people throughout U.S. history, presented in a conversational and engaging way.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
When the Cranes Fly South
Lisa Ridzén#31 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#31 of 2026Audiobook
An 89-year-old Swedish man narrates as we sail along this sad journey focused on the challenges and indignities encountered at the end of life.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Formula
Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg#32 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#32 of 2024Audiobook
Focused not just on the recent rise of F1 but its entire 75-year history, this is an entertaining look at the evolution of the sport.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
The Ghostwriter
Julie Clark#32 of 2025
★★★★★#32 of 2025
A woman returns home to ghostwrite her estranged father's memoir while trying to unravel if he was responsible for the 50-year-old murder of his siblings.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
David Grann#32 of 2023
★★★★★#32 of 2023
The author of Killers of the Flower Moon returns with an account of a shipwreck in the 1740s and the tale of survival that follows.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
You With the Sad Eyes
Christina Applegate#32 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#32 of 2026Audiobook
In this unflinchingly honest memoir, Christina Applegate lays bare her life in Hollywood and her private battles with breast cancer, MS, and self-loathing.
★★★★★
Memoir
Happiness Falls
Angie Kim#33 of 2023
★★★★★#33 of 2023
A father goes missing, and his son knows what happened but cannot tell anyone due to a disability. Mostly satisfying, but with flaws.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Jane and Dan at the End of the World
Colleen Oakley#33 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#33 of 2026Audiobook
A heist/hostage situation at an elite restaurant is the vehicle for this novel to explore marriage and parenting as much as the heist.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
The Boys in the Boat
Daniel James Brown#33 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#33 of 2024Audiobook
A thoroughly-researched and compelling account of the University of Washington rowing team's quest to win gold at the 1936 Olympics.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
What Kind of Paradise
Janelle Brown#33 of 2025
★★★★★#33 of 2025
A girl grows up in a remote cabin with just her father, whose distrust of technology and government snowballs with each passing year.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Beach Read
Emily Henry#34 of 2023Audiobook
★★★★★#34 of 2023Audiobook
The book that launched Emily Henry's romance writing career! Despite a few clunky moments, Beach Read checks all of the romance boxes.
★★★★★
Romance
Not Quite Dead Yet
Holly Jackson#34 of 2025
★★★★★#34 of 2025
A novel premise gives way to a well-structured mystery in which a young woman must solve her own murder before an aneurysm kills her.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Starside
Alex Aster#34 of 2026
★★★★★#34 of 2026
A young woman enters a deadly competition to retrieve a goblet of magic in this romantasy that feels like the love child of The Hunger Games and Silver Elite.
★★★★★
Romantasy Fantasy Romance
When the World Tips Over
Jandy Nelson#34 of 2024
★★★★★#34 of 2024
A story of love, growth, and second chances, the novel follows a set of siblings as they discover their family's complex history.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Broken Dove
Dani Francis#35 of 2026
★★★★★#35 of 2026
Wren Darlington's journey picks up immediately where Silver Elite ended, continuing to explore the conflict between the Uprising and Command.
★★★★★
Romantasy Fantasy Romance
Buckeye
Patrick Ryan#35 of 2025
★★★★★#35 of 2025
A generational character study centered on the intertwined lives of two families in a small Ohio town, focused mostly on identity and the impact of war.
★★★★★
Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction
The Berry Pickers
Amanda Peters#35 of 2023
★★★★★#35 of 2023
A decent but unremarkable debut about a young girl's disappearance, its impact on her family, and ultimately their path to reuniting.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
When Among Crows
Veronica Roth#35 of 2024
★★★★★#35 of 2024
A memorable novella, inspired by Polish folklore, that follows a guilt-ridden hero's journey through the magical underbelly of Chicago
★★★★★
Fantasy
Be Ready When the Luck Happens
Ina Garten#36 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#36 of 2024Audiobook
A glimpse into one of the more spontaneous people on the planet, who balances that spontaneity with a fierce determination and will.
★★★★★
Memoir
Death at the White Hart
Chris Chibnall#36 of 2025
★★★★★#36 of 2025
A local publican is found dead with a crown of antlers on his head in this multi-layered mystery taking place in a small English town.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry#36 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#36 of 2026Audiobook
An homage to When Harry Met Sally in which two opposites form a deep platonic friendship before eventually wondering if it could be more.
★★★★★
Romance
Solito
Javier Zamora#36 of 2023
★★★★★#36 of 2023
Zamora's memoir of immigrating from El Salvador to the U.S. as a 9-year-old is compelling but lacks some deeper emotional connections.
★★★★★
Memoir
Last One Out
Jane Harper#37 of 2026
★★★★★#37 of 2026
Set in a dying Australian mining town, Harper's latest centers around a couple trying to solve the mystery of their son's disappearance five years prior.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Intruder
Freida McFadden#37 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#37 of 2025Audiobook
As a major storm approaches, a woman living alone in the woods finds a girl hiding in her toolshed, covered in blood and clutching a knife.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
We Solve Murders
Richard Osman#37 of 2024
★★★★★#37 of 2024
A new setting and cast of characters, but the same humor, heart, and layered mystery that readers have come to expect from Osman.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Weyward
Emilia Hart#37 of 2023
★★★★★#37 of 2023
Hart's tale of women finding their power through witchcraft is diluted by her one-dimensional portrayal of universally horrible men.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
All That Is Mine I Carry With Me
William Landay#38 of 2023
★★★★★#38 of 2023
11 long years after Defending Jacob, Landay returns with another family-based mystery focused on the disappearance of a woman in 1975.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Kills Well With Others
Deanna Raybourn#38 of 2025
★★★★★#38 of 2025
Author Raybourn runs it back with everyone's favorite female assassins in their 60s in a sequel that's just as good as the original.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Sublimation
Isabel J. Kim#38 of 2026
★★★★★#38 of 2026
A thought-provoking sci-fi debut exploring identity and immigration through "instances" where a copy of a person is created when they immigrate to a new country.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
The Guncle
Steven Rowley#38 of 2024
★★★★★#38 of 2024
Equal parts funny, heartwarming, and sad, the story of a gay uncle pressed into temporary custody of his niece and nephew for a summer
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Careless People
Sarah Wynn-Williams#39 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#39 of 2025Audiobook
A no-holds-barred account by a former high-ranking employee that lays bare secrets about Facebook and its executives that are shocking to see in print.
★★★★★
Memoir
Carolina Moonset
Matt Goldman#39 of 2023
★★★★★#39 of 2023
When a prominent businessman is murdered, all clues point to the father of the story's protagonist, who has to prove his innocence.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Martyr!
Kaveh Akbar#39 of 2024
★★★★★#39 of 2024
A young Iranian-American man muddles through life trying to find his purpose before eventually fixating on martyrdom as the answer.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Read Your Mind
Oz Pearlman#39 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#39 of 2026Audiobook
A self-help book from the "World's Greatest Mentalist" in which he shares advice for how best to connect with people based on how the human mind works.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride
Will Leitch#40 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#40 of 2025Audiobook
An Atlanta cop with a secret terminal brain tumor attempts to orchestrate his death in the line of duty to help his family financially.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Meredith, Alone
Claire Alexander#40 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#40 of 2026Audiobook
A depressing, poignant look at agoraphobia and abuse in many forms, focused on a woman who hasn't left her home in over three years.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Escape Artist
Jonathan Freedland#40 of 2023
★★★★★#40 of 2023
A difficult (but important) read about one of the first Jews to escape from Auschwitz and alert the world to the atrocities there.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
The Fifth Season
N. K. Jemisin#40 of 2024
★★★★★#40 of 2024
A uniquely creative fantasy novel, it's ultimately a struggle between those in power and those powerful enough to overthrow them.
★★★★★
Fantasy
Again and Again
Jonathan Evison#41 of 2023
★★★★★#41 of 2023
A 105-year-old man shares seemingly true stories of his multiple reincarnations and past lives. But is he making everything up?
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Margo's Got Money Troubles
Rufi Thorpe#41 of 2024
★★★★★#41 of 2024
When a 19-year-old finds herself desperate for cash after having a child with her professor, she turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
My Friends
Fredrik Backman#41 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#41 of 2025Audiobook
Told mostly via flashbacks about four childhood friends, the novel focuses on resiliency and found family in the face of domestic violence and neglect.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Ending Writes Itself
Evelyn Clarke#41 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#41 of 2026Audiobook
Six authors compete on a remote Scottish island to finish a dead writer's final novel in this middling Clue-like send-up of the publishing industry.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Assassin Eighteen
John Brownlow#42 of 2024
★★★★★#42 of 2024
In this action-packed and entertaining sequel, the world's greatest assassin must emerge from self-exile to stop a global terrorist.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree
India Hayford#42 of 2026
★★★★★#42 of 2026
A snake-handling drifter crosses paths with a soldier recently back from Vietnam; together they help his family escape an abusive situation.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Thunderhead
Neal Shusterman#42 of 2025
★★★★★#42 of 2025
A continuation of the Arc of a Scythe series, the novel picks up where book one ended as the scythedom becomes increasingly divided.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Among the Bros
Max Marshall#43 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#43 of 2025Audiobook
An exposé on a fraternity-led Xanax trafficking ring, focused on Greek life and the pervasiveness of benzodiazepine use at colleges.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
The Book Witch
Meg Shaffer#43 of 2026
★★★★★#43 of 2026
A "Book Witch" must use her ability to teleport into books to solve a mystery in her own life when her grandfather and most prized possession go missing.
★★★★★
Fantasy Literature & Fiction
The Book of Doors
Gareth Brown#43 of 2024
★★★★★#43 of 2024
An inventive concept suffers a bit when the inevitable potential plot holes that come with time travel emerge. Entertaining but flawed
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Fantasy
Crux
Gabriel Tallent#44 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#44 of 2026Audiobook
Two high school friends use rock climbing to try to escape a seemingly predetermined future in this emotionally heavy character study from Gabriel Tallent.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
My Next Breath
Jeremy Renner#44 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#44 of 2025Audiobook
Actor Jeremy Renner recounts the harrowing events of an accident that left him with 38 broken bones and clinging to life by a thread.
★★★★★
Memoir
The Six Pack
Brad Balukjian#44 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#44 of 2024Audiobook
An in-depth look at six of the wrestlers (and the rise of wrestling in the 80s) based around the Iron Sheik becoming champion in 1983.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Crooks
Lou Berney#45 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#45 of 2026Audiobook
A short story collection masquerading as a novel, it follows the exploits of a family who consistently find themselves on the fringe of honest society.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Heir
Sabaa Tahir#45 of 2024
★★★★★#45 of 2024
A mostly average offering from an author I normally enjoy, which follows the next generation of her "An Ember in the Ashes" heroes.
★★★★★
Fantasy
Summer Romance
Annabel Monaghan#45 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#45 of 2025Audiobook
A 38-year-old nearly-divorced mother of three starts a summer fling with a dashing, slightly younger man. Can it last?
★★★★★
Romance
The Night We Lost Him
Laura Dave#46 of 2024
★★★★★#46 of 2024
When a man falls from the cliffs adjacent to his seaside home, his son and daughter collaborate to uncover the truth behind his death.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Theo of Golden
Allen Levi#46 of 2025
★★★★★#46 of 2025
A mysterious and private man appears one day in a small Georgia town and begins to have a profoundly positive impact on several residents.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Bright Young Women
Jessica Knoll#47 of 2024
★★★★★#47 of 2024
A reimagining of the events leading up to and surrounding the crimes of Ted Bundy, with a focus on the victims rather than the killer.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Proof
Jon Cowan#47 of 2025
★★★★★#47 of 2025
When a lawyer starts to dig into the murder of his best friend, all signs seem to point to conspiracies involving his own law firm.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Big Dumb Eyes
Nate Bargatze#48 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#48 of 2025Audiobook
One of the biggest comedic acts touring today shares random tales from his life, from early days in Tennessee to his rise in comedy.
★★★★★
Memoir
Just for the Summer
Abby Jimenez#48 of 2024
★★★★★#48 of 2024
When online banter turns to real-life dating, Emma and Justin must overcome significant obstacles to make their relationship last.
★★★★★
Romance
I Cheerfully Refuse
Leif Enger#49 of 2024
★★★★★#49 of 2024
Richly rendered characters living in a deteriorating society, Enger's novel merges bits of beauty into an overwhelmingly sad world.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Replaceable You
Mary Roach#49 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#49 of 2025Audiobook
Author Mary Roach is back with her signature blend of wit as she examines the human body and all of the potential ways we attempt to modify it.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Society of Lies
Lauren Ling Brown#50 of 2025
★★★★★#50 of 2025
A woman who was part of a secret society while at Princeton investigates her sister's death, who was also part of the same society.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Tidal Creatures
Seanan McGuire#50 of 2024
★★★★★#50 of 2024
McGuire's unparalleled creativity is again on display as she explores Lunar deities working to solve a murder of one of their own.
★★★★★
Fantasy
Memorial Days
Geraldine Brooks#51 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#51 of 2025Audiobook
Brooks recounts the ongoing impact of the unexpected death of her husband of 35 years and her process years later to properly grieve.
★★★★★
Memoir
The Boyfriend
Freida McFadden#51 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#51 of 2024Audiobook
A quick bubblegum thriller from the queen of the twist which will keep you guessing even when you know the misdirection is coming.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Three Days in June
Anne Tyler#52 of 2025
★★★★★#52 of 2025
A woman must set aside losing her job the day before her daughter's wedding as she navigates the intricacies of the wedding weekend.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Beast in the Clouds
Nathalia Holt#53 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#53 of 2025Audiobook
Teddy Roosevelt's sons embark on a quest in 1929 to obtain a specimen of a giant panda, an animal rarely seen and wholly unknown at the time.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Murder at Gulls Nest
Jess Kidd#54 of 2025
★★★★★#54 of 2025
A nun leaves her convent to investigate the disappearance of her friend, only to encounter multiple murders at her boarding house.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife
Anna Johnston#55 of 2025
★★★★★#55 of 2025
A chance set of events leads to a down-on-his-luck elderly man assuming the identity of another in this sweetly sappy feel-good story.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Medusa Protocol
Rob Hart#56 of 2025
★★★★★#56 of 2025
Our assassins hell-bent on *not* killing return in a sequel to Assassins Anonymous that is satisfying but falls short of the original.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Daikon
Samuel Hawley#57 of 2025
★★★★★#57 of 2025
A speculative historical novel that imagines what might have happened if Japan gained possession of an atomic bomb near the end of World War II.
★★★★★
Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction
Before We Were Yours
Lisa Wingate#58 of 2025
★★★★★#58 of 2025
Two lives unexpectedly intertwine as a Senator's daughter connects with an elderly woman who might be secretly connected to the young woman's family.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
Perfection
Vincenzo Latronico#59 of 2025
★★★★★#59 of 2025
A portrait of Gen Y from the perspective of a couple who "came of age with the internet" and spend their days seeking happiness, mostly without success.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Famous Last Words
Gillian McAllister#61 of 2025
★★★★★#61 of 2025
When her husband goes off the rails, taking three people hostage, his wife tries to save him while unraveling the why behind his act.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Cherry Baby
Rainbow Rowell
★★★★★
A 36-year-old woman navigates divorce and reclaims her identity from a comic character based on her in this latest adult novel from Rainbow Rowell.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Real Americans
Rachel Khong
★★★★★
A multi-generational novel that focuses on a Chinese-American family while tackling issues of class, race, technology, and belonging.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club
Helen Simonson
★★★★★
Set at the end of WWI, a novel about a group of British women and their shifting roles following the return of men from the war.
★★★★★
Historical Fiction
★★★★★Three stars
54 books
Book
Rating
Genre
City of Dreams
Don Winslow#42 of 2023
★★★★★#42 of 2023
The 2nd book in the Danny Ryan Trilogy fails to live up to the 1st, but it's a quick read if you want more time with the Dogtown crew.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Strange Sally Diamond
Liz Nugent#43 of 2023
★★★★★#43 of 2023
Strange is an understated descriptor for the protagonist of this novel, which follows a woman as she tries to find her way to normalcy
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Woman In Me
Britney Spears#44 of 2023
★★★★★#44 of 2023
A memoir of a life lived in the public eye, but it fails to add enough depth to those public moments that we already know so well.
★★★★★
Memoir
Go As A River
Shelley Read#45 of 2023
★★★★★#45 of 2023
A mostly tragic decades-spanning debut about a young woman dealing with adversity while growing up in rural Colorado circa 1950.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Mother-Daughter Murder Night
Nina Simon#46 of 2023
★★★★★#46 of 2023
A so-so debut that follows the exploits of a grandmother, mother, and daughter as they work to solve a mystery on the California coast
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
This Book Made Me Think of You
Libby Page#46 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#46 of 2026Audiobook
Six months after her husband dies, a woman finds out he left her a year of books, one per month, to help her heal and move forward.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Romance
The Things We Never Say
Elizabeth Strout#47 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#47 of 2026Audiobook
A brief, introspective read in which themes of free will, identity, and interpersonal relationships are explored through a teacher's midlife crisis.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
This Tender Land
William Kent Krueger#47 of 2023
★★★★★#47 of 2023
Inflated expectations probably diminished my enjoyment of this river odyssey tale. It's an okay story, but Ordinary Grace it is not.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Habits of the Sea
Shea Ernshaw#48 of 2026
★★★★★#48 of 2026
A woman returns to a mythical floating island she once visited as a child, only to become stranded with the ageless man who is living there.
★★★★★
Romance Fantasy
The Drowning Sea
Sarah Stewart Taylor#48 of 2023
★★★★★#48 of 2023
Book 3 in the Maggie D'Arcy mystery series fizzles compared to prior books; fully set in Ireland, the story feels muddled and forced.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Lake Effect
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney#49 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#49 of 2026Audiobook
An exploration of the fallout of a 1977 affair and divorce over several decades. Despite nuanced characters, this family drama mostly missed the mark for me.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
Warrior Girl Unearthed
Angeline Boulley#49 of 2023
★★★★★#49 of 2023
A rushed sophomore slump of a novel that fails to live up to Boulley's first book, Firekeeper's Daughter, in almost every way.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Sherman Alexie#50 of 2023
★★★★★#50 of 2023
The semi-autobiographical account of the author's childhood, focused on him leaving the reservation to attend a white high school.
★★★★★
Memoir Literature & Fiction
We Burned So Bright
TJ Klune#50 of 2026
★★★★★#50 of 2026
When an encroaching "rogue black hole" gives Earth less than a month before annihilation, two men travel by RV from Maine to Washington to complete one final task.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Romantic Comedy
Curtis Sittenfeld#51 of 2023
★★★★★#51 of 2023
It's not especially romantic or comedic, and it lacks any type of misdirection. Weirdly, I still sort of enjoyed it, but I wanted more
★★★★★
Romance
The Toll
Neal Shusterman#51 of 2026
★★★★★#51 of 2026
The third and concluding book the "Arc of a Scythe" trilogy answers a myriad of open questions but plods along for much of the story.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Detour
Jeff Rake, Rob Hart#52 of 2026
★★★★★#52 of 2026
An interesting start to a series, but be warned that this is purely setup for a broader story with no resolution in this first installment.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Signal Fires
Dani Shapiro#52 of 2023
★★★★★#52 of 2023
A character study of two neighboring families on the outskirts of New York City. I hoped for spellbinding; what I got was milquetoast.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Sunderworld, Vol. I
Ransom Riggs#52 of 2024
★★★★★#52 of 2024
The first book in a series with plenty of potential, it establishes characters and foundation but fails to deliver a full story arc.
★★★★★
Fantasy
The Eyes and the Impossible
Dave Eggers#53 of 2024
★★★★★#53 of 2024
The 2024 Newberry Medal winner is the story of Johannes, a free dog who monitors the activities of a large woodland park as "The Eyes"
★★★★★
Children's Lit
The Whispers
Ashley Audrain#53 of 2023
★★★★★#53 of 2023
Audrain once again examines the trials of parenting, but this time fails to balance character flaws with anything remotely redeemable.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Whisper Creek
Allison Brennan#53 of 2026
★★★★★#53 of 2026
A Texas farm family faces a massive storm, corporate threats, and a string of burglaries in this multi-layered, yet muddled, thriller.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Legends & Lattes
Travis Baldree#54 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★#54 of 2024Audiobook
A sweet little story about friendship and starting over, focused on an orc who tries to leave violence behind and open a coffee shop.
★★★★★
Fantasy
The Angel Maker
Alex North#54 of 2023
★★★★★#54 of 2023
Another thriller from Alex North, whose previous novels I enjoyed. This one was decent, but ultimately missed the mark a bit for me.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Night Hunter
Natalie Moss#54 of 2026
★★★★★#54 of 2026
A stranded group faces predators—both animal and human—in a South African game reserve in this twisty thriller that falls short on execution.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Abandon
Blake Crouch#55 of 2023
★★★★★#55 of 2023
Perhaps it was inflated expectations, but this novel about a town whose residents mysteriously disappeared missed the mark for me.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Don't Let the Devil Ride
Ace Atkins#55 of 2024
★★★★★#55 of 2024
A slightly-better-than-average southern noir thriller about a wife's search for her missing husband, who might not be who she thought.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Good Eggs
Rebecca Hardiman#56 of 2023
★★★★★#56 of 2023
It's primarily a character study, but for all the time spent developing the characters, I unfortunately didn't especially like them.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Last One at the Wedding
Jason Rekulak#56 of 2024
★★★★★#56 of 2024
An unfortunately average mystery about a father and his growing concerns that his daughter's fiancé could have a dark and sordid past.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
TJ Klune#57 of 2024
★★★★★#57 of 2024
A continuation of the "Cerulean Chronicles", but lacking the sweetness, joy and novelty that made the first book delightful & special.
★★★★★
Fantasy
The Familiar
Leigh Bardugo#58 of 2024
★★★★★#58 of 2024
A rare ho-hum effort from an author I enjoy, Bardugo's novel of 16th century Spain struggles to blend history, fantasy, and romance.
★★★★★
Historical Fiction Fantasy Romance
Faebound
Saara El-Arifi#59 of 2024
★★★★★#59 of 2024
A new set of characters and worlds from El-Arifi, but a book that is far more in the "romantasy" category than her previous novels.
★★★★★
Fantasy Romance
City in Ruins
Don Winslow#60 of 2024
★★★★★#60 of 2024
The Danny Ryan trilogy coasts to a conclusion, wrapping up open plot points but mostly just checking the box in this mailed-in effort.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
When It All Burns
Jordan Thomas#60 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#60 of 2025Audiobook
Part memoir, part history of fire, author Thomas recounts his time with the Los Padres Hotshots while positing ways to deal with megafires.
★★★★★
Nonfiction Memoir
North Woods
Daniel Mason#61 of 2024
★★★★★#61 of 2024
A series of loosely-related vignettes spanning 400 years show off Mason's literary prowess but fail to coalesce into something special
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The River is Waiting
Wally Lamb#62 of 2025
★★★★★#62 of 2025
Exploring addiction, incarceration, and the impact of tragedy on a family, the story follows a father serving a 3-year sentence.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Finding Grace
Loretta Rothschild#63 of 2025
★★★★★#63 of 2025
A difficult novel to review without spoiling the story, it focuses on a family trying to have another child before a shocking event disrupts everything.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Compound
Aisling Rawle#64 of 2025
★★★★★#64 of 2025
A modern take on Lord of the Flies, centered around a reality TV show, where winning depends on who can be the most self-absorbed and materialistic.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Science Fiction
The Warbler
Sarah Beth Durst#65 of 2025
★★★★★#65 of 2025
A woman tries to break a curse which causes the women in her family to transform into a tree forever if they stay in a place too long.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction Fantasy
Deadly Animals
Marie Tierney#66 of 2025
★★★★★#66 of 2025
Set in 1981, a 14-year-old girl—whose hobbies happen to include studying roadkill—helps police investigate several murders in England.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Night Watcher
Daphne Woolsoncroft#67 of 2025
★★★★★#67 of 2025
A serial killer returns to Portland after almost twenty years to terrorize a local radio host, targeting the one person who saw him and lived.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Forget Me Not
Stacy Willingham#68 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#68 of 2025Audiobook
A woman returns to her hometown in South Carolina, only to be confronted with clues that help her unravel her sister's disappearance twenty years prior.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Secret of Secrets
Dan Brown#69 of 2025
★★★★★#69 of 2025
Robert Langdon is back for another romp through an international city—this time, Prague—and a secret about human consciousness that could rock the world.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Awake
Jen Hatmaker#70 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#70 of 2025Audiobook
Focused mostly on the abrupt dissolution of a twenty-six-year marriage, too many random detours leave it feeling scattered and incohesive.
★★★★★
Memoir
A Marriage at Sea
Sophie Elmhirst#71 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#71 of 2025Audiobook
A British couple decide to sail from England to New Zealand in the 1970s, only to be stranded in the middle of the Pacific after a whale destroys their boat.
★★★★★
Nonfiction
Departure 37
Scott Carson#72 of 2025
★★★★★#72 of 2025
A B-52 bomber that has been missing for over 60 years suddenly returns to U.S. airspace in 2025...and it's carrying a nuclear bomb.
★★★★★
Science Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Black Woods, Blue Sky
Eowyn Ivey#73 of 2025
★★★★★#73 of 2025
A young mother falls for a strange, disfigured man and chooses to live with him and her 6-year-old daughter in a remote Alaskan cabin.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
This Book Will Bury Me
Ashley Winstead#74 of 2025
★★★★★#74 of 2025
A novel about true-crime aficionados that uses the recent University of Idaho murders as its source material, an ill-conceived choice.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Heartwood
Amity Gaige#75 of 2025
★★★★★#75 of 2025
The search for a missing hiker in Maine serves as the backdrop for this novel more focused on the complexities of human relationships.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Run for the Hills
Kevin Wilson#76 of 2025
★★★★★#76 of 2025
A woman's life is upended when a half-brother she didn't know she had convinces her to join him on a road trip to find their father.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Fourth Consort
Edward Ashton#77 of 2025
★★★★★#77 of 2025
A colonizer from Earth is stuck on an alien planet and must unravel the internal politics of the local species while trying to survive
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Frankie
Graham Norton#78 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#78 of 2025Audiobook
A recounting of the fictional life of Frankie Howe, from Ireland to London to America and back, spanning the 1950s to today.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
Here One Moment
Liane Moriarty
★★★★★
Another attempt to imagine "what would you do if you knew you when you would die", but like other similar novels this also falls flat.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Emperor of Gladness
Ocean Vuong
★★★★★
A young Vietnamese-American man and an elderly Lithuanian woman form a bond in this bleak book which should have be titled "The Emperor of Sadness".
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★★Two stars
18 books
Book
Rating
Genre
American Fantasy
Emma Straub#55 of 2026
★★★★★#55 of 2026
A boy band cruise tries to offer nostalgia but fails to set sail in this disappointing look at fame and aging that lacks the heart and romance expected.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Romance
The Shampoo Effect
Jenny Jackson#56 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#56 of 2026Audiobook
A writer joins a tight-knit coastal town only to feel isolated by decades of shared history in this slice-of-life character study full of people I couldn't care less about.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Hang the Moon
Jeannette Walls#57 of 2023
★★★★★#57 of 2023
A disjointed mess of a novel about a young woman growing up during Prohibition in rural Virginia. I wanted this to be so much better.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Midnight Train
Matt Haig#57 of 2026
★★★★★#57 of 2026
While not exactly a sequel, Matt Haig revisits the premise of 2020's The Midnight Library with another examination of the different paths our lives can take.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
A Tale for the Time Being
Ruth Ozeki#58 of 2023
★★★★★#58 of 2023
Welcome to A Tale for the Time Being, or as it may alternatively be known, “the most depressing book I've read in years".
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The List of Suspicious Things
Jennie Godfrey#58 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#58 of 2026Audiobook
Two young girls try to catch the Yorkshire Ripper in 1979, but their "list of suspicious things" is just a vehicle to clumsily comment on prejudice.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Homebound
Portia Elan#59 of 2026
★★★★★#59 of 2026
A multi-timeline story that had me hopeful for something akin to Cloud Cuckoo Land unfortunately sputters to a disjointed and wholly unsatisfying conclusion.
★★★★★
Science Fiction Literature & Fiction
Hunted
Abir Mukherjee#62 of 2024
★★★★★#62 of 2024
A frustrating thriller, packed with unlikable characters and plot holes I could drive a truck through. Significantly disappointing.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
The Ministry of Time
Kaliane Bradley#63 of 2024
★★★★★#63 of 2024
An alternative take on Stranger in a Strange Land; social commentary abounds as an 1847 explorer tries to acclimate to modern society.
★★★★★
Science Fiction Literature & Fiction
The Fury
Alex Michaelides#64 of 2024
★★★★★#64 of 2024
A whodunit about a murder on a private Greek island, recounted by a conversational narrator who had me wishing for a second murder.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Womb City
Tlotlo Tsamaase#65 of 2024
★★★★★#65 of 2024
An unfocused debut that combines elements of Minority Report with a grisly ghost story, an all-powerful being, and more. It's a mess.
★★★★★
Science Fiction
Butter
Asako Yuzuki#79 of 2025
★★★★★#79 of 2025
Mostly character study plus social commentary, it follows a fictional female journalist in Japan as she interviews a convicted serial killer.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
Kylie Lee Baker#80 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#80 of 2025Audiobook
A serial killer targeting Asian women during the pandemic combines with a ghost story to form one of the more racist books I've read.
★★★★★
Horror Mystery and Thriller
The Oligarch's Daughter
Joseph Finder#81 of 2025
★★★★★#81 of 2025
Part international espionage, part man on the run, a novel that suffers from plot holes big enough to drive a Russian tank through.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Queen Esther
John Irving#82 of 2025
★★★★★#82 of 2025
A strange and polarizing story, focused mostly on a New Hampshire family and their youngest grandson as he searches for identity and belonging.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Sandwich
Catherine Newman#83 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#83 of 2025Audiobook
A menopausal mother narrates her family's week at the beach on Cape Cod—their 20th in a row—while musing on the changes life brings.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Ruth Run
Elizabeth Kaufman#84 of 2025
★★★★★#84 of 2025
A cyber thief is forced to flee from Homeland Security when her crimes finally come to light in this poorly-plotted mess of a book.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
Becky Chambers#85 of 2025
★★★★★#85 of 2025
A non-binary monk leaves on a journey to find themself and in the process encounters a robot who is seeking to learn what humans need.
★★★★★
Science Fiction Literature & Fiction
★★★★★One star
2 books
Book
Rating
Genre
Wordhunter
Stella Sands#66 of 2024
★★★★★#66 of 2024
A forensic linguistics student begins helping police solve crimes, while engaging in the most unrealistic dialogue I read all year.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller
Fifty Beasts To Break Your Heart: And Other Stories
GennaRose Nethercott#67 of 2024
★★★★★#67 of 2024
By the author of the excellent Thistlefoot, a collection of short stories written six years ago that should have remained unpublished.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Fantasy
Why this page isn't a single ranking
Each book's rank is its position within the year I read it. That makes it directional, not absolute: the best book of a thin year and the fifth-best of a strong one can't be stacked against each other honestly. So these are grouped by the rating I gave them, which is comparable across years, and ordered within each group by how they placed in their own year. Where I have ranked an author's books against each other, that list says so and shows the numbers.
Want more like these?
One email on the first of every month with a summary and rating of each book reviewed over the past 30 days, and a look at where the year's ranking stands.