Announcing the Winners of the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards

The Rowling options always win by tens of thousands. I love the HP world but honestly having this and Cursed Child win last year is really irritating. I may slightly be bitter for VE Schwab.

Congrats to all the winners! :D Slightly disappointed that a couple I voted for didn't win ("Final Girls" and "Eliza And Her Monsters"), but am super-duper happy that Andy Weir won for "Artemis." I've loved his work ever since I stumbled on his webcomic, and am excited to see him succeeding.

Also love Neil's photo-thanks. He's an awesome guy.

...Whoever voted for the great cult of Harry Potter had better hope they never meet me, because I am now contractually obligated to beat them over the head with every book Robin Hobb and Brandon Sanderson have ever written until they're properly mentally recalibrated.

I really shouldn't have expected anything else, but as an avid fantasy reader, I am livid.

Book Bunny wrote: "Most of these winners were a disappointment for me. Worst year so far!"

Agreed. But since it's based solely on votes, it just means people like bad books more than good ones. It's the same with movies.

I sometimes wonder how many people vote not because they've read the book, but because they recognize the author or cover and so they just go with what they are familiar with. It would be cool if Goodreads could add some kind of feature that only lets you vote if the book is on your "read" shelf. But congratulations to all the winners! It looks like I've got some new recommendations to get started on...

Dear Goodreads,

It's not hard. Next year please have a separate YA category for Fantasy and Sci-fi. It's not fair to put YA in with adult SFF when they have their own YA category as well.

The categories need to be updated to reflect the changing reading trends and the nominations should be closed BEFORE the voting commences. It's just common sense.

Thanks,

From a Disappointed Reader.

P.S. - Just like graphic novels, screenplays should have their own category or not be allowed to be nominated in general.

First, while I agree Fantastic Beasts shouldn't have been nominated in the Fantasy category, as it is a screenplay, and I personally think it's a quite flawed screenplay, it is super, super irritating to see people act as though writing a novel is harder than writing a screenplay. As someone who writes both, they are both difficult in very different ways. Writing an excellent novel is hard. Writing an excellent screenplay is hard.

Second, for those who are irritated, this is a Goodreads problem, not an voter issue. It shouldn't have even been an option. Direct your ire to the appropriate channels.


Also, if your favorite didn't win - does it really matter? In the big picture that is your life, does this actually matter. I mean, it's fun, I voted too, but it's not actually a big deal. Most of my favorites were knocked out by books or writers I personally find to be not great and whatever. Folks are responding as though JK Rowling and the fans killed your darn puppy or something. It's not that deep.

So thrilled that Angie Thomas and Hillary Clinton won! Both books were easily in my top 3 this year. Deeply disappointed that Sing, Unburied, Sing did not, as that was my top book this year. Congrats to all the winners, though!

Andy Weir seems like a stand-up guy and I'm sure Artemis is great (just like The Martian was.) But it's inclusion (and eventual win) in this year's contest baffles me, as it was not even published until Nov 14th, well after it was already "nominated" and voted into the semi-final round.

I am not trying to pick on Artemis per se, but it's an example of what seems to me like a big glitch in the eligibility criteria. A book being published in 2017 shouldn't be automatically included in 2017's voting if, logically, the voting body doesn't even have access to it because the pub date is actually after the nominations process.

Lauren Graham earning Best Humor award? Her book wasn't terrible but definitely wasn't the best in her category. If so many people didn't vote for her because they love Gilmore Girls, a more deserving author would have won.

It followed the formula I've come to expect for most of the categories with the bigger names winning by recognition and not necessarily by deserving

Congrats!!! I'm so happy for you guys eventho some of books that I chose didn't win...

Erica wrote: "First, while I agree Fantastic Beasts shouldn't have been nominated in the Fantasy category, as it is a screenplay, and I personally think it's a quite flawed screenplay, it is super, super irritat..."The bloody screenplay came out as a tie in for the movie.
The book came out years ago and the entire thing is based on just two sentences in the Harry Potter series.

Amanda wrote: "Andy Weir seems like a stand-up guy and I'm sure Artemis is great (just like The Martian was.) But it's inclusion (and eventual win) in this year's contest baffles me, as it was not even published ..."

I see where you're coming from, but it IS possible that some people had access to advance copies before the actual publication date, and so people could have been able to judge it well before the voting was set up.

The Neil degrasse Tyson book is one of Bill Gates top five books of this year.

I like how Tyson has the reads in goodreads in bold, like the logo. Hadn't noticed that before. No wonder he's a scientist, especially one that focuses on details.

It's nice to see two different themes in pics of a celeb and a research author. Kate Moore of Radium Girls thanks us for honoring the people in her book, yet Lisa Singh doing the classic narcissist pose of kissing her own book. Wow.

Hey I voted for them both, it's just interesting to see the juxtaposition.

Well of course Hillary won her category. Just 90% sympathy votes LOL. Her pic looks so weird, like it's fake or something. The lighting makes it look like a wax model or photoshopped. Just sayin'!

The best part about the goodreads choice awards is having to chance to see all of the "runners up". Naturally, the "winner" will be a book that has gotten a lot of reach. I actually love this aspect - it's fun to see what people ACTUALLY read and/or care about. For example, It is very interesting that the Historical Fiction book is one I have literally never heard of (but apparently very popular), and right next to it is the Man Booker Prize winner.. Similarly, Priestdaddy was mentioned so frequently by the NYT book review people that you would have thought everyone was reading it.. and it appears that this is just not the case. I think the fun of these awards is getting to see volume and interest and fun insights into the publishing world - not so much about the winners. There are plenty of other awards that go after awarding the books based on "merit".

Congratulations to all of the WINNERS!!

Kenya wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Andy Weir seems like a stand-up guy and I'm sure Artemis is great (just like The Martian was.) But it's inclusion (and eventual win) in this year's contest baffles me, as it was not ..."

It strikes me as highly unlikely that there were sufficient advance copies to justify the number of votes received!

Zohal wrote: "My thoughts:
Personally unhappy that Without Merit won.
I like Sarah J Maas but was hoping one of the other books in the ya fantasy category would win.
Annoyed that Fantastic Beasts got the fant..."

Agreed about Fantastic Beasts. It shouldn't even have been nominated in the fantasy category in my opinion.

Congratulations to all the winners!!

merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim wrote: "Wish I were shocked that Rowling won best Fantasy, with a screenplay. But it happens every time she's nominated --- people vote for her because "JK FOR QUEEN" and "WE LOVE YOU JK" fans.

Goodreads ..."

Totally agree. Same with Stephen King or Colleen Hoover... Doesn´t mean the books of them are bad, but I think it´s more about the Name of the writer, not the book itself.

I feel the same

Disappointed - I hoped to see books by authors who had not yet won before. It's basically a fandom contest, so there's little chance to find new gems, and I think good books is what the award should be about, not how well-known the author is. At this point it's better to jot down the finalists and go through them. And only vote for books you've actually read.

if you are guilty of voting for a book only because of the other and not the actual book say yay, say nay if it's because of the book and not the author

nay

When you see Lilly Singh and Rupi Kaur winning, you wonder if GR awards really is a good enough yardstick anymore.

did you vote because of the author or the book Muhammad?

Tomas wrote: "Fantastic Beasts as the best fantasy? Really? A screenplay???"

;/ yeah... this does not make much sense at all

I am beyond thrilled Clinton's book won ,and most importantly almost all of the winners are women ,lord that`s something I will cherish quite for sometime , and it makes me reconsider my to be read list all over again .

John Green should be here with his Turtles All the Way Down. It is really the best book for me for 2017!

I think Goodreads should put some rules in place in order to vote. For instance, your read bookshelf must contain at least 3 titles for any given category before being allowed to vote for said category. I feel some people may have only read one or two from certain categories and just voted for the one they read. If forced to read at least three, then voters actually have to compare the books instead of just being excited a book they read is on the list and voting for it because it's there.

I feel some of the winners got the win based solely on past reputation and popularity.

Rofl, that hillary photo... I literally burst out laughing. Actually at least three of them look like creepy puppets.

It's an indictment on Goodreads users that the Fantastic Beasts screenplay won for Best Fantasy. Smfh. It was a mediocre movie too, which makes it even worse

Erika wrote: "I sometimes wonder how many people vote not because they've read the book, but because they recognize the author or cover and so they just go with what they are familiar with. It would be cool if G..."


Funny you say that. I never vote, because I have not read the books at the time of voting, so will not vote just because I have heard of the book, or because I want to read it (I won't know if I like it until I have read it!).

Shannon wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "I don't blame the winners for thinking that the GR Awards are directly what readers think of books, that's what it *should* be.

Unfortunately it's really just what readers decide..."

Here, here! Excellent explanation, Alan!

Tomasz Kieniewicz wrote: "hillary clinton? seriously.. :_:
and that romance category is a joke lol
happy for sarah j. maas, deserved definitely.
didn't care for other categories, but... hillary ... seriously lol"

Yes, seriously - she is a serious person. So yes, seriously.

Kamilah wrote: "Yes!!! The Hate U Give so well deserved! Such a driven and engaging YA voice about a very real issue. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Angie Thomas! 😁"

Agreed! I just finished it last night. I do not read YA on the regular but this book was very well done. Cheers!

Alan wrote: "I'm not voting in this far fetched contest ever again. Apparently their are a lot of people who don't know how to read..
You got to be kidding me with a screenplay winning fantasy book of the year...."

Uhm, no. There is a book for every reader. Just because you don't agree with the choices does not mean that it is voted on by "people who don't know how to read'. You lose credibility in your argument when you begin insulting people.

My fave, American War by Omar El Akkad did not win, but I am not pouting about it. This was a FANTASTIC year for books and I feel so, so lucky as a reader. CONNGRATULATIONS to all the nominees and to all of the winners!

Erica wrote: "First, while I agree Fantastic Beasts shouldn't have been nominated in the Fantasy category, as it is a screenplay, and I personally think it's a quite flawed screenplay, it is super, super irritat..."

ROTFL- Brilliant response, Erica! :)

I hate Rowling as much as anybody right now, but the important thing to remember is that shakespeare wrote screenplays too, but we still love HIM. ROOTS, remember yo roots, homies! Love straight from the hood, y'all.

NOOOOO Sara Michelle Gellar WHYYY!!!! I can't believe she didn't win???!!! also CHRIS COLFER DIDN'T WIN THE MIDDLE GRADE FICTION I"M GONNA FIGHT SOMEONE!!!

Erica wrote: "First, while I agree Fantastic Beasts shouldn't have been nominated in the Fantasy category, as it is a screenplay, and I personally think it's a quite flawed screenplay, it is super, super irritat..."

Thank you for being the voice of reason in this mess of a comment thread. This is just another popularity poll, not the end all be all of literature. I understand that we all have a particular book we are rooting for but to have such a visceral reaction and, worst of all, attacking the author as if they are to blame for the voting results, is just ridiculous.

Aivry wrote: "NOOOOO Sara Michelle Gellar WHYYY!!!! I can't believe she didn't win???!!! also CHRIS COLFER DIDN'T WIN THE MIDDLE GRADE FICTION I"M GONNA FIGHT SOMEONE!!!"

YEAAAAAH LET"S FIGHT. IMMA DESTROY MY MIDDLE SCHOOL IN RAGE. THIS.IS.SPARTAAAAAA!

Zohal wrote: "My thoughts:
Personally unhappy that Without Merit won.
I like Sarah J Maas but was hoping one of the other books in the ya fantasy category would win.
Annoyed that Fantastic Beasts got the fant..."

I agree with you abou Fantastic Beast. I think a screenplay isn't a fantasy book. In this category I wanna voted at least 3 books that was amazing. But the potterheads doesn't think about it, and they are the marjoritie. So this poor book won. And who really deserved, doesn't. I voted in Mark Lawrence, because their books made me force stop reading, cause I was like "just one more chapter"

Rafael wrote: "Erica wrote: "First, while I agree Fantastic Beasts shouldn't have been nominated in the Fantasy category, as it is a screenplay, and I personally think it's a quite flawed screenplay, it is super,..."

I haven't seen authors being attacked - some people are rightfully annoyed that Goodreads classified a screenplay for a movie as a fantasy novel, and that it was voted for primarily due to popularity of the series and author. This is a valid gripe. I don't think people are getting upset because who they chose didn't win - they have valid points they're bringing up.

Hillary should have won for the most humorous!