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The best novels set in the 1980s (1980-1989).
Fiction set by in by decade:
1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s
1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s
Fiction set by in by decade:
1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s
1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
|
1984
by
4.20 avg rating — 5,308,072 ratings
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| 2 |
|
The Joy Luck Club
by
Amy Tan (Goodreads Author)
3.97 avg rating — 705,765 ratings
|
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| 3 |
|
Every Five Years (Fix It or Get Out #2)
by
Christine Ardigo (Goodreads Author)
4.40 avg rating — 121 ratings
|
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| 4 |
|
Magic America
by
C.E. Medford (Goodreads Author)
3.81 avg rating — 369 ratings
score: 900,
and
9 people voted
|
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| 5 |
|
The Secret History
by
4.16 avg rating — 976,192 ratings
score: 794,
and
8 people voted
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| 6 |
|
Eleanor & Park
by
Rainbow Rowell (Goodreads Author)
3.93 avg rating — 1,247,062 ratings
score: 691,
and
7 people voted
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| 7 |
|
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
by
4.28 avg rating — 323,553 ratings
score: 590,
and
6 people voted
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| 8 |
|
Let the Right One In
by
4.04 avg rating — 119,125 ratings
score: 588,
and
6 people voted
|
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| 9 |
|
Tell the Wolves I'm Home
by
Carol Rifka Brunt (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 148,560 ratings
score: 496,
and
5 people voted
|
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| 9 |
|
The Bonfire of the Vanities
by
3.92 avg rating — 86,008 ratings
score: 496,
and
5 people voted
|
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| 11 |
|
The Bean Trees (Greer Family, #1)
by
4.01 avg rating — 171,479 ratings
score: 478,
and
5 people voted
|
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| 12 |
|
Girl Unmoored
by
Jennifer Gooch Hummer (Goodreads Author)
4.16 avg rating — 629 ratings
score: 400,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 12 |
|
Once Upon a Lie
by
Michael R. French (Goodreads Author)
4.17 avg rating — 127 ratings
score: 400,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 14 |
|
Malibu Rising
by
Taylor Jenkins Reid (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 1,256,054 ratings
score: 392,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 15 |
|
Brightness Falls
by
Jay McInerney (Goodreads Author)
3.79 avg rating — 3,686 ratings
score: 298,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 16 |
|
The Great Believers
by
Rebecca Makkai (Goodreads Author)
4.29 avg rating — 165,580 ratings
score: 296,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 17 |
|
My Best Friend's Exorcism
by
Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author)
3.93 avg rating — 144,006 ratings
score: 295,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 18 |
|
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante, #1)
by
Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Goodreads Author)
4.29 avg rating — 668,135 ratings
score: 293,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 19 |
|
The Sun Down Motel
by
Simone St. James (Goodreads Author)
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 184,046 ratings
score: 290,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 20 |
|
No Country for Old Men
by
4.17 avg rating — 238,280 ratings
score: 288,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 21 |
|
Trouble Under Venus (Love-n-Trouble #4)
by
Autumn Piper (Goodreads Author)
4.42 avg rating — 19 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 21 |
|
Portrait of a Protégé (Portraits, #2)
by
J.B. Chicoine (Goodreads Author)
4.22 avg rating — 36 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 23 |
|
The Marriage Plot
by
3.48 avg rating — 123,870 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 24 |
|
Tuesday Nights in 1980
by
3.73 avg rating — 4,653 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 24 |
|
The Dirk Gently Omnibus (Dirk Gently, #1-2)
by
4.18 avg rating — 8,390 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 26 |
|
Three Seasons: Three Stories of England in the Eighties
by
Mike Robbins (Goodreads Author)
3.93 avg rating — 44 ratings
score: 197,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 27 |
|
My Government Means to Kill Me
by
Rasheed Newson (Goodreads Author)
4.23 avg rating — 6,420 ratings
score: 196,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 28 |
|
We Dream of Space
by
Erin Entrada Kelly (Goodreads Author)
4.11 avg rating — 8,596 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 28 |
|
Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1)
by
4.03 avg rating — 253,348 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 30 |
|
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 (Adrian Mole, #1)
by
3.88 avg rating — 51,495 ratings
score: 194,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 31 |
|
Superior Women
by
3.66 avg rating — 564 ratings
score: 193,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 31 |
|
Like a Love Story
by
Abdi Nazemian (Goodreads Author)
4.26 avg rating — 15,737 ratings
score: 193,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 33 |
|
Red at the Bone
by
Jacqueline Woodson (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 82,942 ratings
score: 192,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 34 |
|
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Dirk Gently, #1)
by
3.97 avg rating — 147,407 ratings
score: 191,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 35 |
|
The Music Shop
by
3.84 avg rating — 34,229 ratings
score: 188,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 35 |
|
Taking Off
by
Jenny Moss (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 348 ratings
score: 188,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 35 |
|
Wallflower: A Novel About Berlin at the Time of the Fall of the Wall
by
Holly-Jane Rahlens (Goodreads Author)
3.75 avg rating — 152 ratings
score: 188,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 38 |
|
Planet Earth Is Blue
by
Nicole Panteleakos (Goodreads Author)
4.44 avg rating — 3,303 ratings
score: 186,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 39 |
|
Afterlife
by
3.90 avg rating — 420 ratings
score: 182,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 40 |
|
Funny Boy
by
4.06 avg rating — 8,803 ratings
score: 179,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 41 |
|
Pudge and Prejudice
by
3.98 avg rating — 767 ratings
score: 177,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 42 |
|
Klepto
by
3.73 avg rating — 437 ratings
score: 158,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Dedication
by
Emma McLaughlin (Goodreads Author)
3.18 avg rating — 5,195 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Let It Bleed
by
S.L. Schmitz (Goodreads Author)
4.38 avg rating — 21 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
The Past and Other Lies
by
Maggie Joel (Goodreads Author)
3.10 avg rating — 146 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Red Archer (Red August #2)
by
H.L. Brooks (Goodreads Author)
3.94 avg rating — 16 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Hollywood Riptide
by
Joseph Sciuto (Goodreads Author)
4.44 avg rating — 45 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Hide
by
S.J. Morgan (Goodreads Author)
3.74 avg rating — 86 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Call Me By Your Name (Call Me By Your Name, #1)
by
André Aciman (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 582,032 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
White Lines
by
Jennifer Banash (Goodreads Author)
3.54 avg rating — 716 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Maribel Versus the Volcano: A Mount St. Helens Survival Story
by
Sarah Hannah Gómez (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 121 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
My Name Is River
by
Wendy Dunham (Goodreads Author)
4.26 avg rating — 193 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (Aristotle and Dante, #2)
by
Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Goodreads Author)
4.13 avg rating — 108,164 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Winter at Medora Downs
by
Anne Rouen (Goodreads Author)
4.07 avg rating — 27 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Lazy Witchcraft
by
M. Benjamin Woodall (Goodreads Author)
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Blast from the Past
by
Jeb Wright (Goodreads Author)
3.87 avg rating — 85 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
The Cold Cold Ground (Detective Sean Duffy, #1)
by
3.91 avg rating — 15,751 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
The Bridesmaid
by
3.63 avg rating — 2,428 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #3)
by
4.12 avg rating — 386,469 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Bournemouth 90 (Eighties Leeds Book 1)
by
Billy Morris (Goodreads Author)
4.55 avg rating — 22 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
Neon Roses
by
Rachel Dawson (Goodreads Author)
3.88 avg rating — 1,058 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 43 |
|
The Shards
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 40,640 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 63 |
|
The Year of the Frog
by
3.62 avg rating — 82 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 63 |
|
Red August
by
H.L. Brooks (Goodreads Author)
4.18 avg rating — 45 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 63 |
|
Moon at Nine
by
3.88 avg rating — 1,197 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 63 |
|
Courtney Changes the Game
by
Kellen Hertz (Goodreads Author)
4.20 avg rating — 402 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 63 |
|
Rabbit at Rest (Rabbit Angstrom, #4)
by
4.01 avg rating — 16,353 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
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| 63 |
|
American Psycho
by
3.80 avg rating — 353,510 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
DreamEden
by
3.63 avg rating — 19 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
Sing Fox to Me
by
Sarah Kanake (Goodreads Author)
3.53 avg rating — 189 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
Black Swan Green
by
3.98 avg rating — 43,589 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
The Saturday Night Ghost Club
by
3.83 avg rating — 28,792 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
Paper Girls, Volume 1
by
3.88 avg rating — 109,601 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
Destination Unknown
by
Bill Konigsberg (Goodreads Author)
4.27 avg rating — 1,174 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
Courtney: Friendship Superhero
by
Kellen Hertz (Goodreads Author)
4.29 avg rating — 227 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (Dirk Gently, #2)
by
4.04 avg rating — 88,848 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
The Man Who Fell To Earth
by
4.04 avg rating — 16,409 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 78 |
|
A Parish of Rich Women
by
2.75 avg rating — 8 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 78 |
|
The Prettiest Star
by
Carter Sickels (Goodreads Author)
4.42 avg rating — 7,105 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 78 |
|
Bog Child
by
3.81 avg rating — 4,866 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 78 |
|
Trowbridge Road
by
Marcella Pixley (Goodreads Author)
4.17 avg rating — 569 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 78 |
|
Death on the Prairie (Chloe Ellefson Mystery, #6)
by
Kathleen Ernst (Goodreads Author)
3.86 avg rating — 578 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 78 |
|
Human Acts
by
4.27 avg rating — 67,057 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Something Blue
by
Ann Hood (Goodreads Author)
3.45 avg rating — 357 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 84 |
|
8-Bit Christmas
by
Kevin Jakubowski (Goodreads Author)
4.11 avg rating — 527 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 84 |
|
Beginners' Love
by
3.65 avg rating — 138 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Independence Day (Frank Bascombe, #2)
by
3.86 avg rating — 16,693 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 88 |
|
Friends for Life
by
3.03 avg rating — 222 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 88 |
|
The Best Worst Summer
by
Elizabeth Eulberg (Goodreads Author)
4.21 avg rating — 202 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 88 |
|
Angel Face
by
3.55 avg rating — 69 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 88 |
|
The Street Belongs to Us
by
Karleen Pendleton Jiménez (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 60 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 92 |
|
Quake!
by
Joe Cottonwood (Goodreads Author)
3.43 avg rating — 137 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 92 |
|
Shuggie Bain
by
Douglas Stuart (Goodreads Author)
4.30 avg rating — 185,218 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 92 |
|
The Summer I Learned to Fly
by
3.75 avg rating — 2,224 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 92 |
|
Bitter Melon
by
3.85 avg rating — 1,483 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 92 |
|
The Cheerleader
by
3.61 avg rating — 23 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 97 |
|
Falling in Place
by
3.57 avg rating — 519 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 97 |
|
Going Over
by
Beth Kephart (Goodreads Author)
3.58 avg rating — 855 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 97 |
|
A Sign of the Eighties
by
3.19 avg rating — 26 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 100 |
|
Slow Dancing
by
Elizabeth Benedict (Goodreads Author)
3.40 avg rating — 83 ratings
score: 92,
and
1 person voted
|
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204 books ·
86 voters ·
list created January 26th, 2012
by Kelli Robinson (votes) .
Comments Showing 1-1 of 1 (1 new)
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message 1:
by
Rainbowheart
(new)
Dec 02, 2021 11:17AM
I removed The Perks of Being a Wallflower because it's set in the early '90s.
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Here at Goodreads World Headquarters, we sort through a lot of books each month. Our monthly Readers' Most Anticipated Books feature is exactly...
Anyone can add books to this list.
How to Vote
To vote on existing books from the list, beside each book there is a link vote for this book clicking it will add that book to your votes.
To vote on books not in the list or books you couldn't find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or simply search.
