Goodreads Members' 60 Most Popular Books from the Past Five Years

Posted by Cybil on December 6, 2021


From non-fiction to fantasy, here are Goodreads members' top 12 most popular books from each of the past five years. And we're delighted to report that there is something for almost every genre of reader in our latest roundup! 

Got a hankering for horror? Be sure to check out Mexican Gothic, the latest by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Romcom and romance lovers will be swept away by two favorites from Emily HenryBeach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. Fans of former first lady Michelle Obama join her on her journey to the White House in Becoming. And if you're into sci-fi, you won't want to miss the interstellar space trip, Project Hail Mary, published this year by The Martian author, Andy Weir


The books that rise to the top of each year's top 12—which are determined by the number of reviews, Want to Read shelvings, and average ratings—are sure to surprise and delight readers that want to expand beyond their familiar favorites. Be sure to add the titles that make you do a double-take or pique your curiosity to your Want to Read shelf!
 

2017

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

2018

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

2019

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

2020

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

2021

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12



How many of these books have you read and what are some of your favorites? Share them with us in the comments below!

Check out more recent articles:
44 Short New Books to Crush Your Reading Challenge
Lose yourself in These New High Fantasy Worlds
Staff Picks: Goodreads Employees’ Top Reads of 2021

Comments Showing 1-50 of 95 (95 new)


message 1: by Elena (new)

Elena I haven't even read one book from the 2021 list T.T


message 2: by Lady (new)

Lady Dazy There have been some interesting books published in the last five years.


message 3: by Jasmine (new)

Jasmine Bamlet I've read 7 and have 2 sitting on my unshelf right now. Might be a good month to catch up on those before 2022 hits us with even more amazing books!


THEBACONBANDIT1 Elena wrote: "I haven't even read one book from the 2021 list T.T"

Ha, only one I’ve read of any of these lists is The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes


message 5: by Kevin (new)

Kevin 28 for me. And my top picks from each year:
2017 Oliphant
2018 Circe and Crawdads
2019 Daily Jones and Dutch House
2020 Addie Larue
2021 Hail Mary and Beautiful World

Some notable titles missing from these lists too! 🤔🤷‍♂️


message 6: by Donna (new)

Donna Bijas I read 12 of these. A few others are on my list. Why can't there be a list of non-fiction books for the last five years.


message 7: by Walkíria (new)

Walkíria Elena wrote: "I haven't even read one book from the 2021 list T.T"
same lol


message 8: by Karin (new)

Karin Künnapas I think I'm obviously affected by the Goodreads ratings and recommendations in my reading choices. I've read 16 of these and 2 are in my TBR list :D


message 9: by Bennett (new)

Bennett Read 15!


message 10: by Shannon (new)

Shannon I have read 28 of them (only 4 from the 2021 list), and there are many on the list that I would still like to read. :)


message 11: by Shannon (new)

Shannon Kevin wrote: "28 for me. And my top picks from each year:
2017 Oliphant
2018 Circe and Crawdads
2019 Daily Jones and Dutch House
2020 Addie Larue
2021 Hail Mary and Beautiful World

Some notable titles missing ..."


Good top picks! Loved all of these except Daisy Jones. It was a great story I just didn't care for the diary format.


message 12: by Nix (new)

Nix Elena wrote: "I haven't even read one book from the 2021 list T.T"

oh my god same.


message 13: by Sakebushippo (new)

Sakebushippo 2021: only project hail mary


message 14: by Winnett (new)

Winnett I haven't read any of these books.

I have one book on that list that is in my To Read file (Project Hail Mary). Many I haven't even heard of. My tastes and interests obviously divert from the average.


message 15: by Erika (new)

Erika I am at 22 from this list, but many of the ones I haven't read are on my TBR list!


message 16: by Ciara (new)

Ciara Quinn 29 read. Interesting list.


message 17: by Sebastian (new)

Sebastian Sandino Elena wrote: "I haven't even read one book from the 2021 list T.T"

I'm in your club Elena, neither am I!


message 18: by Maria (new)

Maria I've read 26! I loved The Lost Apothecary, Malibu Rising, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Giver of Stars. This is a good list! A lot of them are also on my TBR!


message 19: by Bridget (last edited Dec 06, 2021 10:17AM) (new)

Bridget Proud of myself, I've read 30 so far!! Many others found on my "to be read" list with my best year being 2020 with nine read. IMO (in my opinion) my favorites, from this list, for each year are:

2017 - The Hate U Give
2018 - The Tattooist of Auschwitz
2019 - Daisy Jones & the Six (audible version, damn!)
2020 - The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
2021 - People We Meet on Vacation


message 20: by Bonnie G. (new)

Bonnie G. I have read 18 of these. It surprises me how many I have read since I don't gravitate to bestsellers. There are four 2-star reads among the 18 and one I disliked too much to finish so I didn't give it a star rating. That means, roughly 23% below average, but definitely also some books I loved.


message 21: by Erika (new)

Erika Pittman I have read 10 of these and a bunch are on my TBR list. I find these lists helpful for finding new books to read. Most of which I read this year.


message 22: by Katherine (new)

Katherine Donna wrote: "I read 12 of these. A few others are on my list. Why can't there be a list of non-fiction books for the last five years."
AGREE!


message 23: by Laura (new)

Laura Foster 23 for me! Top 5 of those would be Crawdads, Becoming, Educated, The Great Alone (all 2018, banner year) and Daisy Jones (audible version a must).


message 24: by Rob (new)

Rob Squires I've read 6 of the 60...so I guess that makes me a ten-percenter.


message 25: by Anne (new)

Anne Buck I have read 15. Where the Crawdads Sing and The Giver of Stars were my favorites.


message 26: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer I’ve read 32 and liked them all.


Kat | The Boundless Reader I've read 5! So many of these are on my TBR list - I don't even know how/when I can get to them 🙃 There's too many and not enough time!


message 28: by Linda (new)

Linda Pichard I’ve read 27 of them and 6 are on my “want to read” list


message 29: by Anna (last edited Dec 06, 2021 02:22PM) (new)

Anna Kļaviņa 5/60 😃


message 30: by Carol (new)

Carol I've read 17 and have 15 on my "to read" shelf. I love Goodreads recommendations!


message 31: by Heather (new)

Heather Interestingly, the books from this list that I did read were some of my lowest rated books in those years. Just because something is popular doesn't mean it is good.


message 32: by Vanessa (new)

Vanessa oh well... all my 2 stars reads are in here


message 33: by Laureen (new)

Laureen I’ve read 52 of them and have 1 on my tbr


message 34: by Lourdes (new)

Lourdes 8 Read, 3 Want to Read and now I need to add some others to my TBR list.


Krista (Mrs K Book Reviews) 25 i have read and most of the reat are on my tbr


message 36: by Joyce (new)

Joyce I have read 14 of them, but want to read about 10 more.


message 37: by Charlotte (new)

Charlotte Bell I have read 28 of them and have five on my TBR list. Four of them I started but did not finish.


message 38: by R (new)

R Only 9 read from this list!!


message 39: by Kirsten (new)

Kirsten McKenzie I've only read three from this list!!! Several others were on my TBR list. Hmmm...


message 40: by Jasmine's (new)

Jasmine's 24 books and lots still in my TBR pile that i have currently sitting waiting for me...


message 41: by Kelly (new)

Kelly Wow. I have only read 9! So many books, so little time!! :)


message 42: by Riza (new)

Riza Read 12


message 43: by Julie (new)

Julie 47 and liked most.


message 44: by Misty Marie (new)

Misty Marie Harms I have read exactly zero from this list 😹


message 45: by Jess (new)

Jess Reads Read 16 and 6 are sitting on my shelf unread, so I definitely know what my January reading list looks like


message 46: by Michelle (new)

Michelle McW I’ve read 20 of them and they are some of my favorites!!! The Great Alone, The Push, The Four Winds, American Dirt, The Silent Patient, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo…….LOVED THESE!! Still several I want to read……..📚


message 47: by Cheryl (new)

Cheryl Barnes I have read 23 and 1 on TBR shelf. My favorites-
2017 - The Seven Husbands 2018- Crawdads- 2019-Silent Patient, 2020-American Dirt 2021-Four Winds but The Push definitely close second


message 48: by Chan (new)

Chan I’ve read 6 on this list…good for me.


I have like a bunch on my tbr tho


message 49: by Michael (new)

Michael Dennis LOL. The worst book I've read in the past 5 years (well, 10 years if I'm completely honest) is on the 2020 list. Like others that have commented, I'm definitely not the average demographic on goodreads.


message 50: by Nancy (new)

Nancy 26out of 60 with 9 more on my TBR list


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