From No. 1 to No. 60, Readers' Top Books Published in the Past Five Years

Posted by Cybil on September 25, 2024



Spend enough time on this planet and random questions will gradually surface in the brain. Who invented the window? Why are oranges orange? And what are the 60 most popular books on Goodreads over the past five years?
 
We’re here to tackle that last question with today’s collection of the 60 top books published in the last half-decade, according to Goodreads members. This particular list is strictly by the numbers. We counted up the number of times Goodreads members marked these books as Want to Read, Currently Reading, or already Read. Then we looked at the average ratings on each title, with all of these books earning at least a 3.5-average star rating from fellow readers. 
 
The books are sequenced according to overall popularity, without regard to genre or categorization. As such, for now, Alex Michaelides’ 2019 psychological thriller The Silent Patient is the most popular book overall. It seems that Goodreads regulars are also enjoying mysteries, romance, and the relatively new hybrid designation known as romantasy.
 
Authorwise, you’ll notice the usual suspects list of Goodreads fan favorites here—perennially popular writers including Sarah J. Maas, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kristin Hannah, and Emily Henry. But the discerning reader will find all manner of things to catch the eye. Hockey lust, say, or Dickensian updates, or octopi.
 
Click on the book cover images for more information about each title. If you spot anything promising, use the Want to Read button to add the book to your digital shelf.
 


 

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12


#13

#14

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#18

#19

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#22

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#25

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#37

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#48

 

#49

#50

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#60

How many of these books have you read? Let us know in the comments below!

Comments Showing 101-150 of 633 (633 new)


message 101: by Amanda (new)

Amanda T Teddi wrote: "I've read 3 of them. I don't tend to read trendy books 😊"

6 for me and I only liked 2. I'm trying to resist trendy books, but I have FOMO!


message 102: by Richard (new)

Richard I haven't read a single one from this list, and I have found plenty of good books which I liked. Anne McCaffrey's Pern series is really good. So is The Lord of the Rings, which I'm currently reading.


message 103: by Bastgr (new)

Bastgr Hey, would like to see a list of top 60 least popular great books


message 104: by Carissa (new)

Carissa Voth I've read 36 from the list, there are a few I would like to read and a few I have no interest in.


message 105: by Shelby (new)

Shelby Ann 22/60 read and a bunch more on the TBR.

While I'm never up to date on pop culture, I at least know my books!


message 106: by Judy (new)

Judy 0


message 107: by megthegnome (new)

megthegnome i don't like this list. too much romances. GiVE Me tHE mURDeR BoOKS.


message 108: by Idamus (last edited Sep 25, 2024 11:20AM) (new)

Idamus Katharina wrote: "Idamus wrote: "Well, I dnf'ed 1 and the rest are not on my to be read list...

And in average I only read about 200 books per year."

Only??? That means you read a bit over half a book a day.
So u..."


Audiobooks, and hours of working on my own most (not all) mornings, and train rides, many, many long hours on trains.
I will count a dnf as read if I am at least halfway through before I give up.


message 109: by Sue (new)

Sue Salmon 31 read. 16 more on my TBR


message 110: by Wendy (new)

Wendy I have read 31/60. Many of my 5 star books made this list:

The Housemaid
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The House on the Cerulean Sea
The Maid
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Anxious People
The Women
American Dirt.

One of my least favorite books on this list was the #1 ranked The Silent Patient.


message 111: by Nicole (new)

Nicole I have read 28 of these and have most of the others on my want to read list.


message 112: by Nicole (new)

Nicole Way too much Colleen Hoover on this list. There are so many better books.


message 113: by Cyndriana (new)

Cyndriana I found atrocious the few books I read from this list... It's just best to stay away from very hyped (booktok) books


message 114: by CC LovesBooks (new)

CC LovesBooks I have read 13 DNF 5 and would probably read another 5 or 6


message 115: by Molly (new)

Molly Sanders i’ve read 33, dnfed 3, and have 4 on my tbr 😁


message 116: by Nick Gaspard’s (new)

Nick Gaspard’s Reviews Aww come on yall have to put at least one book from Ryan Cahill's The Bound and Broken series.


message 117: by Anna (new)

Anna I've read 24 of them; adding some of them on my TBR list!


message 118: by Kim (new)

Kim Hamilton I've read 17, but I don't prefer romance or fantasy so quite a few on this list don't interest me.


message 119: by Chanda (new)

Chanda I’ve read 5 books on this list and have 5 books I haven’t got to yet.


message 120: by Jasmijn (new)

Jasmijn I read 6 but have a few on my tbr:)


message 121: by Laura (new)

Laura 8 books done.


message 122: by Johanna (new)

Johanna Ellwood I guess I helped contribute to this list since I've read 34 of them. There are a few more I hope to read, but some I won't even consider. Just shows how everyone's tastes are different.


message 123: by ✧ jay ✧ (new)

✧ jay ✧ Wow, I wasn't expecting to have read 12 of these. I guess I read more popular books than I realized.


message 124: by Evelyn (new)

Evelyn I've read 11, am currently reading 1, and a few are on my TBR.


message 125: by Tanya (new)

Tanya Dreke Fantastic list!


message 126: by Anukritee (new)

Anukritee Chakraborti I have read 10 of these and many are in my tbh. Silent patient was jaw-dropping, wanted to live in the world of fairies with Sarah J Mass and Holly Black, Love hypothesis continues to be my favorite romcom of all time and always at awe with Collen Hover's storytelling, plot and just the right amount of sadness.


message 127: by Sarah (new)

Sarah 26!


message 128: by Daniy ♠ (new)

Daniy ♠ I have the top 7 in my "nope" list lmao


message 129: by Cathy (new)

Cathy Teddi wrote: "I've read 3 of them. I don't tend to read trendy books 😊"

Me, too! 😜


message 130: by Cathy (new)

Cathy Richard wrote: "Anne McCaffrey's Pern series is really good. So is The Lord of the Rings, which I'm currently reading."

Very true, but both are definitely out of scope of the list’s parameters, aka older than 5 years.


message 131: by David (new)

David Ross I haven't read any of these lol. 14 are on my TBR so there's that.


message 132: by Yazir (new)

Yazir Paredes 23 read....


message 133: by Jezzy (new)

Jezzy Teddi wrote: "I've read 3 of them. I don't tend to read trendy books 😊"

Same here, coz i don't have FOMO. From this list, i only read The Silent Patient.


message 134: by Clare (new)

Clare O'Beara I've read a few, interesting to see that they are generally the most recent book from that author.


message 135: by Mica (new)

Mica I've read The Housemaid, The Housemaid's Secret and None of this is True, but I want to read a lot of them ( The Midnight Library, Fourth Wing, Lessons in Chemistry, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Happy Place, Ice Breaker, Yellowface, Project Hail Mary, Divine Rivals and The Women).


message 136: by Jadyn (new)

Jadyn Saunders From this list I've read The Inheritance Games, Project Hail Mary, and Divine Rivals. Quite liked all three! Most of the rest I plan on never ever reading.


message 137: by Winter (new)

Winter A lot are on my to read list, but I am reading one right now!


message 138: by Barbara (new)

Barbara Pereira 9 out of 22 - I still have some of them to go through!


message 139: by claud. (new)

claud. 10 read


message 140: by Sarah (new)

Sarah  Crossman I’ve read 20 of these books and have loved most of them, lots more on my tbr list. Yes, there is some light fluff, but there is a place for fluff. Most of the ones I’ve read (The Women, Remarkably Bright Creatures, those by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, and The Invisible Life of Addie Larue high on that list) are among my favorites of my life, not just the last five years. No list is perfect. I think this one tried to capture something for everyone.


message 141: by Shalmon (new)

Shalmon I've only read one, but six of the books on here are on my to read list.


message 142: by Vicky (new)

Vicky Vaughn I have read 42 out of 6o; only 5 more books would I think worthwhile reading.


message 143: by Linda (new)

Linda Hodgson A wrote: "I haven't read a single one of these books. Some of these books are good or decent enough. But some of these choices make me despair for some of your souls. Especially the book, American Dirt."
I absolutely loved American Dirt! And I read Women a few weeks ago and it was amazing.


message 144: by Gaby (new)

Gaby Beckman 11


message 145: by Becky (new)

Becky Fann 31 read and counting. Some absolutely wonderful and some not. Some waiting on my Kindle to be read. I love book lists.


message 146: by Nadieh (new)

Nadieh Positively suprised I've read 22 of these!


message 147: by Pi (last edited Sep 25, 2024 03:45PM) (new)

Pi I have read Silent Patient, and it is truly one of the best psychological thriller books out there. Love Hypothesis is also a good romance-genre book. I have only read 2 out of the list since I don't read that many trendy books. Albeit I have saved some of them in TBR.


message 148: by Chelle_Rydz (new)

Chelle_Rydz I have only read 10 of these, and only 5 others are on my TBR.


message 149: by Evelyn (last edited Sep 25, 2024 03:59PM) (new)

Evelyn I liked the books that I've read on this list, and even though some people may avoid books like Fourth Wing and Twisted Games because they're "trendy" is ridiculous. If they aren't you're type of book it's fine, but there's no reason to complain and make others feel bad for liking books recommended by social media. This is just me being petty that there are several comments saying that this is an awful list :)


The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo Shenanigans! How come the megahit Where the Crawdads Sing isn't on this list?


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