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

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#49

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#60

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

Comments Showing 151-200 of 633 (633 new)


message 151: by Jd (new)

Jd #26 The Unhoneymooners was funny. One of their better books.


message 152: by Elise (new)

Elise More like a list of most popular books. Quite a few of these I wouldn't be interested in, and some I would side-eye. Nonetheless I've read 7 and have 7 on my "to read" shelf.


message 153: by Stefanie (new)

Stefanie Robinson 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..."

I have currently read 187 books this year. My goal is 250. I work 40 hours a week (and listen to a book a day or every 2 days there). I also go to school online full time, so I count the books I have to read for that on my reading challenge, because...I read them. I do not watch a lot of tv and prefer to read instead. A lot of the books I listen to or read are 5-8 hours or 300-400 pages. I also have two kids and five weenie dogs, so I am a busy person. And I have a hard time sleeping. Perhaps the person you originally replied to is similar to me. Happy reading!


message 154: by Jessica (new)

Jessica Brazeal Slaven A little different than the NYT list recently released...


message 155: by Tali (new)

Tali Read 18 want to read 11


message 156: by Kimberley (new)

Kimberley 7 read
Many more on my bookshelf and will add others to my tbr. Cuz...books!


۶ৎ sarah سارة people really took this list so seriously and so offensively im dead 😭😭


message 158: by Karly (new)

Karly Loar 48! ❤️


message 159: by Connor (new)

Connor Wynne This is genuinely so sad. Romantasy will be the death of literature


message 160: by Lucinda (new)

Lucinda Only 9 but I want to read like 7 book more from the list!!


message 161: by Teesha (new)

Teesha Yadav even though ive only read 5 of these the rest of the books are on my want to read list


message 162: by Roxanne (new)

Roxanne Sanchez 32 books out of 60 not bad


message 163: by Kristin (new)

Kristin I’ve read 21 from this list… what does that say about me as a reader? Hopefully, that love reading books recommended by friends, so that probably has something to do with it. That, and my strong FOMO when it comes to books others are reading/have read.


message 164: by Renee (new)

Renee I've read 7 but 6 are on my want to read list. Not a bad count in my opinion.

Y'all gotta remember that Goodreads is owned by Amazon, of course they're going to push hyped/buzzed books at us any chance they can.


message 165: by Swagata (new)

Swagata Tarafdar I've read 2


dia 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 who is choosing a colleen hoover book as their top choice


message 167: by Anna (new)

Anna Sh 12 read
12 in TBR
1 Currently realing.
Not bad


message 168: by Bella (new)

Bella woof


message 169: by Sofia (last edited Sep 25, 2024 11:43PM) (new)

Sofia Serge omg i loved all the sapphic books it included!!! ....oh wait there was literally none


message 170: by Eva (new)

Eva Rokana Unfortunately only 4 ...


message 171: by Naomi (new)

Naomi The only one I read was Hunger Games, and I hated it lol.


abi ౨ৎ જ⁀➴ catching up!! Leggeremale wrote: "I feel like in the last 5 years much more interesting books have been published rather than most of this list tbh"

Yeah umm why is Icebreaker there


message 173: by Léa (new)

Léa How is The Housemaid above Demon Copperhead? I guess all opinions are not equal.


message 174: by Léa (new)

Léa Law wrote: "I've read 13 books on this list and I plan to read many more. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list OTHER than American Dirt? I don't want to read that. Demon Copperhead, Lessons in Ch..."

I loved Demon Copperhead, it's real literature. Lessons in Chemistry was fun and well written. Remarkably Bright Creatures was basically the same story as A Man Called Ove, but not as well written and very flat stereotyped characters.


message 175: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth I have read 29 from the list and almost all the rest are on my tbr or at least I have heard about them. I have missed some books, but they are the most highly rated books, nor the better ones...


message 176: by Lena (last edited Sep 26, 2024 03:16AM) (new)

Lena I've read 32 books from the list, my feelings are mixed

The Silent Patient - one of the best thrillers ever
All Taylor Jenkins Reid on the list are amazing 
The Midnight Library had a cool concept but fell flat 
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue loved it 
The Love Hypothesis I liked it enough but from reviews hoped it would be much better
It Starts with Us is for people who loved It Ends with Us
The Guest List I liked it 
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is great but the final book of this trilogy is very disappointing
People We Meet on Vacation - it was ok, probably my least favorite Emily Henry 
The Housemaid - I've lost count of how many books I read with this exact plot or some resemblance of it, but to be fair this might be the best one 
Lessons in Chemistry is giving Marie Curie, it's great, but sometimes felt too preachy and far fetched 
Reminders of Him had interesting idea, but the direction it went was very strange and frustraining 
Book Lovers I liked it
The Last Thing He Told Me was very good 
Happy Place my favourite Emily Henry book
I'm Glad My Mom Died such an unusual and heart-breaking real life story, with important topics dicust 
The Unhoneymooners kind of boring with some ridiculous character behaviours 
The Inheritance Games also boring, characters didn't feel real, lost interest mid book and just forced myself to finish it 
The Vanishing Half definitely very memorable, I enjoyed it a lot 
The Maid I rated high, but I barely remember it now 
The Spanish Love Deception very cliche and shallow but not terrible for a light reading 
 The Perfect Marriage was ok, but very predictable for me
Remarkably Bright Creatures very boring 
Yellowface one of most overhyped books I would say. I got the point, some choices were interesting but overall I didn't enjoy the story
Anxious People I loved every book I read written by Fredrik Backman, this one was no exception
The Four Winds I was bored at times, but the story is very good, historical contest is quite unique 
Regretting You was entertaining which I like about Colleen Hoover, but lacked substance which her books often do 
The Folk of the Air thrilogy by Holly Black was ok, but each book worse than previous 
Every Summer After is well written with likable characters but some plot choices (iykyk) were very questionable 
In Five Years was interesting but weird ending 
American Dirt I liked it very much, even though I agree with some backlash it gets   
Such a Fun Age I enjoyed it, some interesting takes  


message 177: by Raka (new)

Raka Aziz Read 19 of these, which is a lot! To feel included in a populist/trendy reading list :3


message 178: by Nicole (new)

Nicole 33!


The Community Librarian I’ve read 8 of the books on this list.


message 180: by Anthony (new)

Anthony Feighery 10/60


message 181: by Vavita (new)

Vavita 10 read and many more on TBR


message 182: by Dragoness (new)

Dragoness I've read 5, DNFed 2, and have absolutely no interest in 42 of these. Remaining 11 I might read.


message 183: by Jillian (new)

Jillian 26/60


message 184: by J (new)

J the taste in books the people on this site have.... scary honestly.


message 185: by Brunchatiffanys (new)

Brunchatiffanys I have read 15 so far and so many more are already on my list.


message 186: by Emilie (new)

Emilie LOL I've read ONE and hated it XD


message 187: by Laura (new)

Laura Of the 10 I have read, only two were stellar, in my opinion: Anxious People and Daisy Jones & The Six. Most do not interest me. I find it much more useful to read through the answers to "What was your latest 5-star read?" on Goodreads FB page. So many great recommendations there.


message 188: by Erin (new)

Erin This list is depressing. A few of these absolutely belong here, but the majority I am baffled by. Are we, as readers, so for real right now?


message 189: by Michael (new)

Michael Seems a little heavy on romance.


message 190: by Marina (new)

Marina 15 read (for now)


message 191: by Greg (new)

Greg I've read five. And that's enough from this list


message 192: by Lauren (new)

Lauren Haggerty Wow - 24 read. I'm pretty happy with that since I'm a slow reader.

Although to put the Midnight Library and The Love Hypothesis up there in the top is a wee bit of a stretch to me.


message 193: by Stephanie (new)

Stephanie Saleman I only haven't read 15 of these


message 194: by Elsbeth (new)

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

Me neither. I've read 2.


message 195: by Jamiegfish (new)

Jamiegfish I've read two, one I liked Project Hail Mary and I one I did not like Demon Copperhead

I did put the The Silent Patient in my want to read, I've heard good things and it was rated #1.


message 196: by Elsbeth (new)

Elsbeth Astra wrote: "Leggeremale wrote: "варежка wrote: "Leggeremale wrote: "I feel like in the last 5 years much more interesting books have been published rather than most of this list tbh"

Honestly, i fully agree, ..."


That is a good idea. What are the books which are only shelved by 1 person/a handful of people? But they still rated them 4 or 5 stars...


message 197: by Elsbeth (new)

Elsbeth Dahlia wrote: "So many lists out here, and all of them keep recommending the same books over and over again."

For the Dutch people among you:
Download de VPRO Club Lees app. De 4 leden van die boekenclub kiezen elke maand een boek om gezamelijk (gratis) te lezen. Opvallend is dat ze meestal minder bekende boeken kiezen!
Dus, laat je verrassen!


message 198: by Jiseth (new)

Jiseth (jichethbooks) He leído seis y me gustaron todos. También quiero leer muchos otros de esta misma lista.


message 199: by Elsbeth (new)

Elsbeth ☾ ⋆*・゚Emily (e.clairepages on Booksta!) wrote: "This list seems a touch biased, I feel like it should be based on books read & high ratings rather than just simply numbers.

I've also read/own half this list and very few are actually 5 stars in..."


I agree that ratings say much more about the books.


message 200: by jennalikebook (new)

jennalikebook I've read 20, but I own quite a few as well that I need to read!


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