Sign in with Facebook
12 Backlist Books That Continue to Trend with Readers
These twelve books are so consistently adored, they have become regulars month after month in our data of most popular and most read books on Goodreads.
Clearly beloved by readers sometimes years after they were first published, these books have prompted tearful devotion from reviewers on TikTok (BookTok, if you will), Instagram (Bookstagram, natch), and, obviously, Goodreads. For example, Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles was published in 2011, and is the fifth-highest trending book among Goodreads' 125 million members this week with a 4.40-star average rating out of more than 349,000 reader reviews. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is trending on Goodreads in the seventh position this week. That book first came out in 2017, has a 4.40 average star rating and more than 348,000 reader reviews.
Long story, short: If you're struggling to find your next page-turner, you cannot go wrong with these fan favorites! Scroll over the covers to learn more about each novel, and be sure to add the books that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Which of these books would you recommend to your fellow readers? Let us know in the comments below!
Check out more recent articles:
Readers' Most Anticipated Books of June
The 2021 Pride Reading List: 75 New Books to Read Now
42 Superb New Short Story Collections to Read in 2021
Check out more recent articles:
Readers' Most Anticipated Books of June
The 2021 Pride Reading List: 75 New Books to Read Now
42 Superb New Short Story Collections to Read in 2021
Comments Showing 51-68 of 68 (68 new)
date
newest »
newest »
"Backlist" is considered anything not published in the current year according to multiple book challenges I'm in.
The Song of Achilles, RWRB, and Cerulean are among my favourite books of all time. We Were Liars is absolute crap, though; regret having read it. I have no sympathy for super privileged teenagers who cause trouble because they have no real problems and then suffer the consequences.
omg I checked this out because I misread it as 'Blacklist' and was hoping to see some books which have been challenged...Darn it...
Chantaal wrote: ..."Have some imagination—and maybe read some Baudrillard, who is hilarious. Bad books can easily make the world a worse place. This particular capitalist pulp buries the good stuff such that people aren't likely to know what they're missing.
I recommend 'A Little Life' to everyone I know. I don't know why 'The Silent Patient' became so popular!
A Little Life is one of my favourite books and I also gave Circe and Song of Achilles 5 stars. The Silent Patient was just okay. Having read these comments I'm going to read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue so thanks for the list.
I get the impression that some of you folks say "literary" when you mean "thought provoking" just because it sounds more booksy. LOLQuantum Weirdness forbid you enjoy something that is popularly appreciated.
Suz wrote: "I get the impression that some of you folks say "literary" when you mean "thought provoking" just because it sounds more booksy. LOLQuantum Weirdness forbid you enjoy something that is popularly ..."
No one seems to have used that word anywhere in the comments or the article, but presumably this is aimed at me.
As a physicist, I recommend Literary Theory: An Introduction by Terry Eagleton. The first chapter is called "What Is Literature?" if I recall correctly. And while I hate the pop-science kitsch that has become so popular of late, I know enough quantum mechanics to say that alas, unusual quantum effects do not forbid people from enjoying capitalist pulp.
Jake wrote: "No one seems to have used that word anywhere in the comments or the article, but presumably this is aimed at me...."
I assure you it was more of a giggle at a trend than any intentional direction. I'd have to go back into the comments to even know what specific comment you made. I promise it wasn't directed beyond a generalized giggle, other than perhaps a bit at myself for having acknowledged that I have managed to create an eyes-glazing-over kind of reaction to the word "literary" that feels a lot like my reaction to some comments on this thead. But there's no reason anyone who doesn't know me would be in on that joke.
It was more self effacing if anything, but admittedly esoteric enough to be missed.
As for Quantum Weirdness, calling on it makes as much sense as Heaven or God, to my mind. *shrug*
Suz wrote: "*shrug*"Fair, I suppose. As for me, I'm someone who dislikes the rather more obvious trend of capitalism eroding all standards such that liking eating **** is now something people will defend to the death, as "taste is subjective."
I'd also say that, knowing quantum mechanics, it is a sparse thing to be appealing to. You'd be much better off going with God.
Jake wrote: "Fair, I suppose. As for me, I'm someone who dislikes the rather more obvious trend of capitalism eroding all standards such that liking eating **** is now something people wil..."I suspect I am not as invested in condescending toward others for their reading choices, or their motivations for them, as you. I'm still one of those ridiculous idealists that thinks that as long as people are reading, anything at all, then there is good to be had of it.
Aditi wrote: "I read that as Blacklist and took some time wondering what's wrong with these books before realising my mistake🤦♀️"Doh! I did the same thing!😂
Suz wrote: "I'm still one of those ridiculous idealists that thinks that as long as people are reading, anything at all, then there is good to be had of it.."Oh, I forgot about this conversation.
It is whatever companies are pushing pulp that are condescending, addicting people to bad works and advertising them like they're great. And it's less idealist than poorly-considered to think that any reading is good. Books can scare, confuse, disturb, and mislead; books can create radicals, or suppress them. It is good to be able to read, but practicing that skill can have side effects worse than the benefits.
Betsy wrote: "I don't want to read any of these."Don't then
I LOVE 'We were Liars' it's so hauntingly precious..... I can't even.....
Jake wrote: "And it's less idealist than poorly-considered to think that any reading is good. Books can scare, confuse, disturb, and mislead; books can create radicals, or suppress them. It is good to be able to read, but practicing that skill can have side effects worse than the benefits...."Books don't cause radicals and the like, people who read books do. The notion of restricting access to reading material, or even to socially deride someone for reading something YOU don't seem to think is of worth, is anathema to me and thinking people all over the world.
But you do you and continue to not read things of which you are afraid. It's even ok to continue to be a condescending git about your choices, no matter how pathetic they are or for what insipid reason they are justified. Just don't start deciding what others can and can't read and there will be few problems.
Suz wrote: "Just don't start deciding what others can and can't read and there will be few problems."I assume this is why you agree with me about Goodreads insisting people read capitalist pulp. The giant apparatus presses bad books on us; do you not see this?
As to whether people or books create radicals, the causality is not obvious. What is obvious is the influence books have, such that denying them causality outright is suspect.
I don't have anything further to say here. What I said stands without further additions.
then don't read them, grandma.