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The 40 Most Read Books of the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge (So Far)
Time once again, gentle readers, for our midyear check-in on the Goodreads Reading Challenge, in which readers push themselves by pledging to read a set number of books for the year. Lots of activity this time around! Six million participants and more than 250 million books pledged?! Crazy numbers!
We’ve collected below the most popular books completed so far in this year’s Reading Challenge. That is to say, the books that people are marking "read" as part of this year's Challenge.
There are a few clear takeaways here at the halfway point. As is typical, the list tends to favor a few Very Popular Authors, each of whom has multiple individual books clocking in. For instance, Colleen Hoover, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Sarah J. Maas. Romance continues to be a popular genre in the Challenge, but you’ll find other specimens, too: domestic thrillers, inventive fantasy, giant octopi, this sort of thing. Not surprisingly, you’ll also find plenty of nominees and winners of past Goodreads Choice Awards.
Take a leisurely scroll through the images below, click through the cover images for more details, and feel free to add to your own Want to Read shelf.
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#40
What are some of your favorite reads so far this year from your own 2023 Reading Challenge? Let us know in the comments!
Comments Showing 501-550 of 688 (688 new)
I read about 5 pages of "The Silent Patient" and gave up. Sometimes, I try books again, but this one, no.
I haven't heard of any of these books or authors. I need to read more modern books I think, because I took a writing class recently and I felt so out of place with the reading assignments. Some of it was just BAD. I'm at 30/50 now, but some of the books I've read are graphic novels and poetry books which are short, to make up for a couple of the books which were over 1000 pages.
I put myself to the task of reading a list I found in a bookstore - The Top 100 of Classic Literature, compiled using numerous 100 lists. I am on my last book now - The Remembrance of Thing Past by Proust. This was what started this whole journey, which has taken years!
I'd like to know, what books being written nowadays will likely be considered classics in the future? Does anybody have any suggestions?
I have read 9 books on this list. For the most part, I enjoyed most of them.
Jessica wrote: "I DNF'ed Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow at about 75 pages in... Didn't know where it was going and there wasn't ANYTHING happening imo... 😅😬"It takes a whileeeeee before anything happens. We read it for our book club and I did not finish it on time. I contemplated DNF so many times.
I’ve read only one of these and it’s primarily because there are only a few nonfiction books on this list.
The Perfect Marriage is one of the worst books I've attempted to read, had to DNF around 50% lol
I have read only 5 of these titles, and 4 of them were selections for the book club I'm in. In fact, my book club will be discussing "Heart Bones," by Colleen Hoover next week...I absolutely hated it, as did two other book club friends. Considering three of our club members loved it, it should be an interesting discussion. I do have "Remarkably Bright Creatures" on my TBR list, and I'm really looking forward to reading it.
Law wrote: "None of those books are on my TBR yet, but they do sound interesting, especially The Song of Achilles."I haven't read The Song of Achilles yet, but I did read Circe. I think it's worth checking out!
vivienne wrote: "this list is abysmal? do ppl not get tired of reading the same shit over n over again? how are 90% of the most read books this horrible."Blame Booktok, lol
I’m tired of seeing Colleen Hoover. 🤣 there’s only 2 I liked from her and that’s it. Liked, not loved.
There are only a few on this list that I would consider reading. I enjoy books that make me think.
I've read 11 and have more on my TBR so feeling good about my choices so far!
Law wrote: "None of those books are on my TBR yet, but they do sound interesting, especially The Song of Achilles."I have it as "want to read," but I never will. Circe nearly left me in a coma, in a good way -- a book hangover with a side of fried emotions -- and SoA might make me spontaneously combust.
Dana wrote: "I'm getting really tired of seeing these same titles everywhere, on booktok and bookstagram and displayed prominently in bookstores."I get that, but the raw data really is what it is. Do I think there are better authors that deserve attention? 100%. But if the article is specifically data on what people have read the most of, looks about right.
Sara wrote: "correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't we, as an internet society, agree that colleen hoover's books should generally be avoided? I haven't read any myself (besides DNF-ing Heart Bones) so I can't tes..."Kinda depends where you hang out. In my book circles, you're right, but some people confine their book-related online activities to pretty much listing their reads on GR, and have no idea of the CH discourse.
Megan wrote: "Can Colleen Hoover and SJ Maas please have their own lists or not be included with multiple books? It’s getting freaking ridiculous."It's literally data. You seriously want a list called "The Most-Read Books of 2023, Minus the 2 or 3 Most Popular Authors."
I don't want to read Colleen Hoover. I haven't wanted to read SJM in years. There are a couple other names that I have thoughts about. But if that's what people are reading the most, and that's what this article is about, I can't argue with it much other than I'd appreciate more pieces hyping lesser known authors.
I would say that 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry and the 'Regeneration Trilogy' by Pat Barker could be considered for classic status.
none of them, maybe because I am preferring my native language.
J.P. wrote: "Why is everyone reading the same books as everyone else? Not trying to be rude, but I am tired of seeing the same books over and over again. I am definitely a picky reader and more power to read wh..."not everyone is, but more niche books and tastes obviously won't be represented in the "most read" list? i agree with it being an extremely dry and disappointing collection though, would've been better if they could have at least limited to one book per author/series.
Where are the books on military tactics and diplomacy
17/40. So many good books on this list, especially Remarkably Bright Creatures, every single Taylor Jenkins-Reid book, Verity, and Lessons in Chemistry!
The only two books I read on this list were underwhelming. The rest looks like its about the same level.
D.L. wrote: "I've read none of these and have only 3 of them on my TBR list. I've always marched to my own drummer and tended not to follow the "popular" crowd lol"Me too. I go for more complex books than these "winners."
Evan wrote: "I've read 2 of them. One I liked (Daisy Jones & the 6) and one I didn't (Midnight Library). I think my favorite so far this year has been The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida."I loved this book. So interesting.
Jessica wrote: "I DNF'ed Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow at about 75 pages in... Didn't know where it was going and there wasn't ANYTHING happening imo... 😅😬"I'm so glad I saw your comment. All year it's been coming up on my feed. I get curious, reread the blurb and wonder what on earth the hype is all about!
vivienne wrote: "this list is abysmal? do ppl not get tired of reading the same shit over n over again? how are 90% of the most read books this horrible."
Law wrote: "None of those books are on my TBR yet, but they do sound interesting, especially The Song of Achilles."It's one of the only ones worth reading.
I haven't read any of these books and I don't think I will, just a bunch of romance damn
Of the two nonfiction books, I have read both. The Song of Achilles is the only thing on this list that I find remotely interesting. To each their own, but that is entirely too much CoHo. Hard pass for me.
Out of all of these books, I have read 1 and have 10 on my TR list
I've read 4 out of 40 and have almost the rest of the list on my TBR. I've been reading a bunch of ARCs or getting hooked into different series lately. Looking forward to tackling more of this list!!
I have a problem with it starts with us being #1, well it (the cycle of domestic abuse) ends with us is a title that makes sense, then what does the “it” in “it starts with us” mean? It doesn’t make sense, what exactly started with lily and Atlas in that book?
I like to alternate between fiction and non and have read zero of these popular ones. On track with my goal though so all good. Read whatever captures your imagination and enjoy your journey.
Adding some suggestions from my challenge for some diversity in this list besides the same two authors:-A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting (romcom even if you don’t like romance)
-It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History (non-fic, funny)
-The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care (nonfic, rage read but enlightening)
-Shady Hollow mysteries (cozies)
-Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters, Who Paved the Way for Austen and the Brontës (bio)
-Empty Theater (historical satire fic)
-Tales of the City #1-4 (funny, queer)
-The Bandit Queens (fic, dark humor about women in India)
-The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World (nonfic)
-Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (poetry)
-Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals (anti-self help)
-The Sign of the Devil (historical mystery set in UK written by a Mexican chemist violinist so v interesting machinations)
-Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio & Anne of Green Gables (graphic novels)
Dana wrote: "I'm getting really tired of seeing these same titles everywhere, on booktok and bookstagram and displayed prominently in bookstores."Same here! There are so many other good books people could be hyping up, especially in the middle grade and lower YA age range.
Deen wrote: "I've only read two books on here. I guess I've got a lot of catching up to do."sameXD
My score is 5/40, whereas I have read 38 books in the year so far. Lots to catch up
0/40 and i'm pretty happy, there are a lot of other interesting choises
Hated it too"
Same here, I gave it 3 stars tho because I just didn't know how to feel about it, but it's definitely something I won't have a problem not reading again