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Ten of Our Top Reviews of All Time!
In the last year, Goodreads surpassed two major milestones—65 million members joined the site, and, coincidentally, these readers have written 65 million book reviews.
With so many people and so much chatter, it's no surprise that some books got you talking—and more riled up—than others. In honor of our anniversary, we thought we'd round up some of the most commented and liked reviews. Some are glowing, a few are scathing, but almost all are outright hilarious. So, for fun, let's take a look at a few highlights from the book reviews you loved most…
1) The site's most popular review (with 19,010 likes) is Katrina Passic Lumsden's take on Fifty Shades of Gray. Katrina has some strong feelings about the first book in this bestselling series and she uses a bevy of GIFS to her comedic advantage. Our favorite part? The word count included at the end of her review. As Katrina notes, the phrase "inner goddess" was referenced 58 times in the book.
- Word Count:
- "Oh My" - 79
- "Crap" - 101
- "Jeez" - 82
- "Holy (shit/fuck/crap/hell/cow/moses)" - 172
- "Whoa" - 13
- "Gasp" - 34
- "Gasps" - 11
- "Sharp Intake of Breath" - 4
- "Murmur" - 68
- "Murmurs" - 139
- "Whisper" - 96
- "Whispers" - 103
- "Mutter" - 28
- "Mutters" - 23
- "Fifty" - 16
- "Lip" - 71
- "Inner goddess" - 58
- "Subconscious" - 82
2) The second-most popular review (with 15,979 likes) comes from the author of the book itself. Confused by the amount of people who rated his as-yet-released book Doors of Stone, Patrick Rothfuss offers up an explanation…
"Time travelers love my books.
This is strangely reassuring, as it lets me know that, eventually, I do finish my revisions, and the book turns out good enough so that I still have a following out there in the big ball of wibbly-wobbly…timey-wimey…stuff that I like to think of as the future.
I would also like to say, future readers, that I appreciate your taking time to read and review my books. It's really flattering knowing that even with time-travel technology at your disposal, you'd rather read my stuff and mention it here on Goodreads, rather than, say, hunt dinosaurs, get drunk with da Vinci, or pants Hitler."
This is strangely reassuring, as it lets me know that, eventually, I do finish my revisions, and the book turns out good enough so that I still have a following out there in the big ball of wibbly-wobbly…timey-wimey…stuff that I like to think of as the future.
I would also like to say, future readers, that I appreciate your taking time to read and review my books. It's really flattering knowing that even with time-travel technology at your disposal, you'd rather read my stuff and mention it here on Goodreads, rather than, say, hunt dinosaurs, get drunk with da Vinci, or pants Hitler."
3) In the third most beloved review, liked by 6,613 readers, Joe writes a very-abbreviated synopsis of Twilight…
First 200 pages:
"I like you, Edward!"
"You shouldn't! I'm dangerous!"
"I like you, Edward!"
"But I'm dangerous!"
Next 50 pages:
"I'm a vampire!"
"I like you, Edward!"
"But I'm a vampire! I'm dangerous!"
"I like you, Edward!"
Next 100 pages:
"I like you, Edward!"
"You smell good, Bella. I'm dangerous!"
"I like you, Edward!"
"Damn, you smell good."
"I like you, Edward!"
"Also, I glow in sunlight."
Next 50 pages:
A. VAMPIRE. BASEBALL. GAME.
(I wish I was kidding)
Last 100 pages:
"Help me, Edward! I'm being chased!"
"I'll save you!"
"Help me, Edward! I'm scared!"
"I'll save you!"
"Oh, Edward!"
"You smell good."
"I like you, Edward!"
"You shouldn't! I'm dangerous!"
"I like you, Edward!"
"But I'm dangerous!"
Next 50 pages:
"I'm a vampire!"
"I like you, Edward!"
"But I'm a vampire! I'm dangerous!"
"I like you, Edward!"
Next 100 pages:
"I like you, Edward!"
"You smell good, Bella. I'm dangerous!"
"I like you, Edward!"
"Damn, you smell good."
"I like you, Edward!"
"Also, I glow in sunlight."
Next 50 pages:
A. VAMPIRE. BASEBALL. GAME.
(I wish I was kidding)
Last 100 pages:
"Help me, Edward! I'm being chased!"
"I'll save you!"
"Help me, Edward! I'm scared!"
"I'll save you!"
"Oh, Edward!"
"You smell good."
4) Tamara's review of The Book Thief also proved to be quite popular over the years...
"I give this 5 stars, BUT there is a disclaimer: If you want a fast read, this book is not for you. If you only like happy endings this book is not for you. If you don't like experimental fiction, this book is not for you.
If you love to read and if you love to care about the characters you read about and if you love to eat words like they're ice cream and if you love to have your heart broken and mended on the same page, this book is for you."
If you love to read and if you love to care about the characters you read about and if you love to eat words like they're ice cream and if you love to have your heart broken and mended on the same page, this book is for you."
5) Another popular review from an author came from Marie Lu who offered this explanation for giving her book, Legend, a five-star review.
"Well, it's mine…so, er…yeah, a little biased. :) Shameless. I know, I know!"
6) Holly offered these words of wisdom for anyone who may have avoided reading Outlander based on her initial review…
"A special note to those who say my review stopped them from reading this book: No no no! Read it! I actually reread the whole series last summer and enjoyed it immensely. Just read it for what it is: ludicrous, well-written, humorous, delicious TRASH. Just don't expect it to be the most brilliant novel ever written and you'll be fine."
7) Oriana had nothing but amazing things to say about Donna Tartt's Goldfinch…
"So listen. Look. I am a READER, right? I mean, I read all the time, everywhere, every day, a book a week. But most of the time the book I'm reading is a dull throb beneath my fingers, a soft hum behind my eyes, a lovely way to spend a bit of time in between things as I meander through my life. You know? It's something I adore, but softly, passively, and often forgetfully—very nice while it's happening, but flitting away quickly after I'm on to the next.
And then sometimes there is a book that is more like a red hot fucking coal, a thrum nearly audible whenever I'm close to it, a magnetic pull that stops me doing anything else and zings me back so strongly that I just want to bury myself in its tinnitus at all times—five minutes in line a the bank, two minutes in the elevator, thirty seconds while my coffee date checks her email—gorging myself with sentences and paragraphs until the whole world recedes and shrivels into flat black-and-white nothing.
This, this, this is one of those books. It's a book that bracingly reaffirms my faith in literature, making me endlessly astonished by its power and poise and brilliance. I know I am constantly chided for hyperbole, but this is truly one of the greatest books I've ever read."
And then sometimes there is a book that is more like a red hot fucking coal, a thrum nearly audible whenever I'm close to it, a magnetic pull that stops me doing anything else and zings me back so strongly that I just want to bury myself in its tinnitus at all times—five minutes in line a the bank, two minutes in the elevator, thirty seconds while my coffee date checks her email—gorging myself with sentences and paragraphs until the whole world recedes and shrivels into flat black-and-white nothing.
This, this, this is one of those books. It's a book that bracingly reaffirms my faith in literature, making me endlessly astonished by its power and poise and brilliance. I know I am constantly chided for hyperbole, but this is truly one of the greatest books I've ever read."
8) Jennie Menke had a decidedly different take on The Goldfinch…
"To anyone wondering if they should still read this book, since reviewers are so divided (eg you either LOVE it or HATE it): by all means, YES. Read it! But: if you find you are hating it within 100 pages, just put it down and walk away. Because it won't ever get better for you (Really. do as I say and not as I do: Put. It. Down.). For those who LOVE this book: Good for you! I am truly happy for you. There is nothing better than a book you love!"
9) YA author Veronica Roth had a one-word review for John Green's The Fault in Our Stars…
"Fantastic."
10) Finally, Jon offers up a single photo for his review of To Kill a Mockingbird…
See complete coverage of the Goodreads Ten-Year Anniversary Celebration, including:
The Best Books of the Decade, Chosen by You
Your Favorite Authors' Top Ten Favorite Books
Ten Ways You Know You're a Goodreads Member
Participate in our Hide-a-Book Day on September 18
Comments Showing 51-63 of 63 (63 new)
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Sep 12, 2017 06:58PM
Goodreads, you went and saved the best for last. #10 is life. So. Hilarious!
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I loved reading about the top ten reviews. It was great to see them. Some are hilarious!
Robert wrote: "Last one was best. Rest are so-so."I give this review of the reviews 2 stars.
Very "meh" and unimaginative.
Also - 65 million years ago dinosaurs became extinct.Coincidence? I think not! ;)
(I bet it has something to do with time travellers mentioned in one of the reviews above).
Not sure which is funnier, half the original reviews or the comments on this article :)
wow no Manny. You'd think Goodreads would know its community
Spinning Jenny wrote: "Robert wrote: "Last one was best. Rest are so-so."I give this review of the reviews 2 stars.
Very "meh" and unimaginative."
Classic omg
And none of them started off with the synopsis. Thank you! 😄
Tawni wrote: "And none of them started off with the synopsis. Thank you! 😄"Is that a good or bad thing?
Cal wrote: "Tawni wrote: "And none of them started off with the synopsis. Thank you! 😄"Is that a good or bad thing?"
For me, a good thing! Dislike a synopsis at the start of a review. It certainly has a place in a review if you like to follow a formula. I believe each book is different and so should a review.
Cal wrote: "Tawni wrote: "And none of them started off with the synopsis. Thank you! 😄"Is that a good or bad thing?"
Definitely good. If a review starts with a synopsis, I won't even read it. I mean, come on, it's right above next to the picture of the book. 😛
How did Emily May not make this list? *confused* 🤔
