Best Female Lead Characters (4845 books)

This list features books from all genres with the strongest female lead characters.

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1	The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins 4.35 avg rating — 9,815,727 ratings score: 108,664, and 1,101 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 4.29 avg rating — 4,757,492 ratings score: 85,871, and 875 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	A Story of Yesterday by Sergio Cobo 4.53 avg rating — 19,149 ratings score: 59,300, and 593 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.26 avg rating — 6,827,286 ratings score: 57,699, and 592 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 4.16 avg rating — 2,307,176 ratings score: 56,702, and 584 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 4.31 avg rating — 1,253,917 ratings score: 46,544, and 479 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson 4.18 avg rating — 3,428,296 ratings score: 40,637, and 422 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Little Women (Little Women, #1) by Louisa May Alcott 4.17 avg rating — 2,440,920 ratings score: 39,555, and 412 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery 4.33 avg rating — 1,105,336 ratings score: 39,379, and 409 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Matilda by Roald Dahl 4.33 avg rating — 1,100,713 ratings score: 31,968, and 336 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Philip Pullman 4.03 avg rating — 1,611,623 ratings score: 29,209, and 301 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) by Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 678,887 ratings score: 25,595, and 263 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 2,857,410 ratings score: 24,151, and 256 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1) by Kristin Cashore 4.06 avg rating — 479,639 ratings score: 24,023, and 247 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 4,353,544 ratings score: 22,988, and 240 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 2,157,207 ratings score: 22,454, and 232 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.17 avg rating — 1,287,693 ratings score: 21,104, and 227 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll 4.06 avg rating — 606,614 ratings score: 20,830, and 221 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 3,001,968 ratings score: 20,164, and 215 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Emma by Jane Austen 4.05 avg rating — 975,528 ratings score: 19,791, and 212 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,397,005 ratings score: 18,788, and 202 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Långstrump, #1) by Astrid Lindgren 4.15 avg rating — 208,788 ratings score: 17,827, and 191 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Outlander (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 1,147,681 ratings score: 17,436, and 184 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1) by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 136,535 ratings score: 17,065, and 178 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë 3.90 avg rating — 2,023,472 ratings score: 16,668, and 182 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, #1) by Patricia Briggs 4.14 avg rating — 218,013 ratings score: 16,500, and 171 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.28 avg rating — 748,985 ratings score: 15,583, and 168 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen 4.09 avg rating — 1,288,802 ratings score: 14,671, and 165 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3.44 avg rating — 914,858 ratings score: 14,050, and 152 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Poison Study (Study, #1) by Maria V. Snyder (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 175,596 ratings score: 13,966, and 146 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, #1) by James Patterson (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 233,022 ratings score: 13,695, and 142 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1) by Marion Zimmer Bradley 4.13 avg rating — 212,549 ratings score: 13,617, and 143 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Host (The Host, #1) by Stephenie Meyer 3.86 avg rating — 1,046,736 ratings score: 13,469, and 144 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Bridget Jones’s Diary (Bridget Jones, #1) by Helen Fielding (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 1,020,309 ratings score: 13,434, and 145 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1) by Diana Wynne Jones 4.28 avg rating — 443,469 ratings score: 13,272, and 140 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Coraline by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 778,005 ratings score: 12,512, and 134 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Persuasion by Jane Austen 4.15 avg rating — 771,240 ratings score: 12,136, and 136 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 4.25 avg rating — 714,347 ratings score: 12,114, and 132 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Chronicles of Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia, #1-7) by C.S. Lewis 4.28 avg rating — 704,734 ratings score: 12,083, and 130 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2) by Thomas Harris 4.26 avg rating — 586,338 ratings score: 11,985, and 128 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1) by Ilona Andrews (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 134,555 ratings score: 11,148, and 117 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins 4.35 avg rating — 4,117,654 ratings score: 10,974, and 121 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 4.10 avg rating — 925,211 ratings score: 10,956, and 119 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wicked Years, #1) by Gregory Maguire 3.51 avg rating — 680,939 ratings score: 10,938, and 120 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) by Stephenie Meyer 3.67 avg rating — 7,257,906 ratings score: 10,789, and 117 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1) by Garth Nix (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 217,931 ratings score: 10,218, and 109 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White 4.21 avg rating — 2,032,337 ratings score: 10,000, and 117 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 1,722,670 ratings score: 9,948, and 107 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 4.30 avg rating — 509,659 ratings score: 9,923, and 108 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.97 avg rating — 1,278,265 ratings score: 9,762, and 109 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Ella Enchanted (Ella Enchanted, #1) by Gail Carson Levine (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 423,509 ratings score: 9,708, and 110 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1) by Libba Bray (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 225,513 ratings score: 9,562, and 102 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 4.16 avg rating — 2,102,953 ratings score: 9,483, and 105 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1) by Jeaniene Frost (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 164,496 ratings score: 9,188, and 97 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) by Charlaine Harris (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 559,743 ratings score: 9,151, and 100 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 3.74 avg rating — 2,807,885 ratings score: 8,862, and 100 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1) by Janet Evanovich (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 577,621 ratings score: 8,396, and 92 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold 3.86 avg rating — 2,456,265 ratings score: 8,318, and 93 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Mansfield Park by Jane Austen 3.86 avg rating — 378,153 ratings score: 8,223, and 93 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 3.84 avg rating — 301,669 ratings score: 7,707, and 86 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Stories by Truman Capote 3.85 avg rating — 250,818 ratings score: 7,373, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 5,679,174 ratings score: 7,367, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare 4.03 avg rating — 159,959 ratings score: 7,198, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 4.06 avg rating — 257,767 ratings score: 7,196, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Marked (House of Night, #1) by P.C. Cast (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 521,852 ratings score: 7,095, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #1) by Laurell K. Hamilton (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 153,124 ratings score: 7,089, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Kushiel's Dart (Phèdre's Trilogy, #1) by Jacqueline Carey (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 84,009 ratings score: 7,078, and 76 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg 4.28 avg rating — 325,663 ratings score: 7,077, and 79 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 708,287 ratings score: 6,903, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, #1) by Kim Harrison (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 129,228 ratings score: 6,687, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Blue Sword (Damar, #1) by Robin McKinley 4.20 avg rating — 62,820 ratings score: 6,682, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell 3.88 avg rating — 348,991 ratings score: 6,516, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Princess Bride by William Goldman 4.27 avg rating — 945,338 ratings score: 6,475, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 629,952 ratings score: 6,373, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1) by Patricia C. Wrede (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 94,192 ratings score: 6,216, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.23 avg rating — 323,508 ratings score: 6,186, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 1,272,202 ratings score: 6,147, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 4,737 ratings score: 6,146, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver 4.11 avg rating — 790,701 ratings score: 5,773, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Antigone (The Theban Plays, #3) by Sophocles 3.68 avg rating — 175,552 ratings score: 5,739, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Awakening by Kate Chopin 3.69 avg rating — 226,401 ratings score: 5,619, and 63 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Bitten (Otherworld, #1) by Kelley Armstrong (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 105,661 ratings score: 5,593, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova 3.80 avg rating — 276,023 ratings score: 5,525, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next, #1) by Jasper Fforde (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 137,009 ratings score: 5,417, and 61 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand 3.69 avg rating — 406,100 ratings score: 5,382, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #1) by Carolyn Keene 3.98 avg rating — 83,636 ratings score: 5,352, and 61 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) by Suzanne Collins 4.12 avg rating — 3,687,168 ratings score: 5,276, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Medea by Euripides 3.95 avg rating — 86,731 ratings score: 5,219, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author) 4.49 avg rating — 955,169 ratings score: 5,165, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Darkfever (Fever, #1) by Karen Marie Moning (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 189,698 ratings score: 5,020, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith 3.99 avg rating — 114,915 ratings score: 4,710, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1) by Jean M. Auel 4.10 avg rating — 281,800 ratings score: 4,689, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 3.78 avg rating — 353,974 ratings score: 4,670, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray 3.81 avg rating — 132,924 ratings score: 4,663, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	The Little House Collection (Little House, #1-9) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.36 avg rating — 157,022 ratings score: 4,518, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Millennium, #3) by Stieg Larsson 4.24 avg rating — 773,730 ratings score: 4,451, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters, #1) by Juliet Marillier (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 70,835 ratings score: 4,429, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	The Other Boleyn Girl (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #9) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 512,156 ratings score: 4,383, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Sunshine by Robin McKinley 3.84 avg rating — 44,087 ratings score: 4,369, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 778,327 ratings score: 4,114, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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4,845 books · 5,872 voters · list created July 23rd, 2009 by Kevis Hendrickson (votes) .

Tags: characters, female, female-character, female-lead, fiction, girl, woman, women

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Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (5872)

Kevis 1711 books
799 friends

Heather 1628 books
24 friends

Greyweather 2660 books
65 friends

Katherine 121 books
2 friends

K. 80 books
14 friends

John 857 books
53 friends

Holly 4116 books
11 friends

Shayla 1130 books
9 friends

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Comments Showing 1-43 of 43 (43 new)

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message 1: by John (new)

Jul 24, 2009 10:20AM

Heh, now the wasp factory is in this list, does this make the whole list a spoiler?

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message 2: by Rae (new)

Nov 19, 2009 02:09AM

love Jane Eyre- my fav book of all time.

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message 3: by Michele (new)

Nov 19, 2009 05:09PM

Scout is one of the best female characters of all time!

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message 4: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jun 05, 2010 09:36AM

The form to add books to the list is at the right-hand side of the page.

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message 5: by Mare (new)

Jun 07, 2010 10:43AM

Jane Eyre is the best, hands down.

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message 6: by Tiffany (new)

Jun 08, 2010 11:10PM

I agree, Jane Eyre!!!

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message 7: by Teresa (new)

Jun 14, 2010 06:15PM

I like most of the female leads on here, but I've got to disagree with Katsa from Graceling. She was just a little too rough and i guess... savage (not sure that's the right word) for me?

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message 8: by Nancy (new)

Jul 14, 2010 02:23PM

I am sure that I haven't gotten to it yet, but what about Dagny Taggart from "Atlas Shrugged"? Or Dominique Francon from "The Fountainhead"?

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message 9: by Alex (new)

Jul 14, 2010 02:52PM

Medea? Really? Well I suppose that's definitely an... interesting female character. Maybe a little psychotic but certainly strong!

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message 10: by Lila (new)

Jul 30, 2010 01:06PM

I LOVE Pride and Prejudice. I've never read Jane Eyre but I should. The gemma doyle series was the best series ever I'm really mad about the way It ended. The stephanie plum books are awesome. I also love anne of green gables.

my top picks were:

1: Pride and prejudice
2: A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle Trilogy)
3: Anne of Green Gables
4: One For The Money (Stephanie Plum Series)

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message 11: by Koosh (new)

Jan 26, 2012 05:26AM

Mine were:

Unraveled
Duke of Shadows

Loved the female leads!

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message 12: by Kimikimi (new)

Feb 01, 2012 05:19PM

Lila wrote: "I LOVE Pride and Prejudice. I've never read Jane Eyre but I should. The gemma doyle series was the best series ever I'm really mad about the way It ended. The stephanie plum books are awesome. I a..."

Yeah, it makes them hard to re-read :(

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message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Apr 11, 2012 01:48PM

Who's been smoking what to conclude that Harry Potter has a female lead? Main supporting character yes, but lead...not unless Harry has a secret!

Much Ado and Inkheart are debatable as well, I would say that they both have male leads with female main supporting characters.

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message 14: by Kevis (last edited Sep 02, 2012 04:56PM) (new)

Sep 02, 2012 04:55PM

Amelia wrote: "Who's been smoking what to conclude that Harry Potter has a female lead? Main supporting character yes, but lead...not unless Harry has a secret!"

I agree, Harry Potter does not belong on this list. Now Harriette Potter would be a different story altogether. ;)

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message 15: by Marie (new)

Sep 13, 2012 02:19PM

Why is Twilight here? Do people actually think Bella is a good female lead?

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message 16: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 14, 2012 12:01PM

Ha! Well, in the last book, maybe, Marie.

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message 17: by Marie (new)

Sep 14, 2012 12:06PM

Amelia wrote: "Ha! Well, in the last book, maybe, Marie."

Having your vampire husband chew your baby out of your womb makes for good leading woman material? Bella should be left out of this list for coming up with the name Renesmee.

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message 18: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 14, 2012 12:53PM

That is the WORST baby name EVERRRRRRRRRRR!

Also, I think my idea of her as a good female lead in the last book only popped into my head in comparison to New Moon, during which I was hoping she would just die already and stop with the whining...

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message 19: by Jack (new)

Feb 17, 2013 06:41AM

Hi everyone,

I have created a new group called Goodreads All Sorts and I'd love for people to join it or just even just give it a look. It's a group that discusses anything and everything. There will be monthly group reads, movies, and music. There is a folder for everything you could think of. I'd really like if people could spread the word because I'd love for the group to be a success. Here is the link to the group:

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/9...

Thanks very much,
Jack :-)

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message 20: by Kelley (last edited Apr 01, 2013 03:29PM) (new)

Apr 01, 2013 03:28PM

I have looked at a number of Goodreads lists that are meant to feature strong female characters... and somehow "Twilight" ends up on every darn one of them. I have talked to some fans of the series, and even THEY acknowledge that Bella is a horrible excuse for a heroine. They have other reasons for liking it (not very good ones, but hey...). I find it hard to believe anyone would be deluded enough to call her a "Best Female Lead Character." I look at these lists because I want to read books that feature strong heroines, and when I keep seeing that book/series when I know well that Bella is as far removed as any character could be from the type of heroine I'd like to read about, well, it gets on the nerves a wee bit.

Maybe more specific criteria should be laid down -- or else some mechanism be put in place which would give voters the chance to explain their choices.

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message 21: by Ann (new)

Jun 01, 2013 11:08PM

Jane Eyre below Katniss? -.-"
This needs to be fixed, I think.

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message 22: by Sheryl (new)

Jun 04, 2013 02:49PM

Twists and turns, and finally, hope,

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message 23: by SummerBlue (new)

Jul 09, 2013 02:36PM

How the hell does Clary Fray come before Rose Hathaway (the amazing)????

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message 24: by Sara (new)

Aug 09, 2013 06:43AM

vampire academy!! Roza must be here!

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message 25: by [deleted user] (new)

Aug 19, 2013 07:40AM

Vin from Mistborn?

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message 26: by Ari (new)

Nov 16, 2013 04:46AM

I always thought Jane Eyre was stupid as a Mexican telenovela...

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message 27: by Samuel (new)

Dec 04, 2013 03:57PM

Muiezz wrote: "Vin from Mistborn?"
I totally agree

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message 28: by Jason (new)

Apr 05, 2014 09:55AM

I've experienced the top 50 'best females' now.

Fantastic: Matilda, Jane
Great: Gone with the Wind, Color Purple, Mockingbird, Handmaid, Alanna & Compass (though their sequels were less good)
Good: Rebecca, Coraline, Hunger, Howl, Narnia, Avalon, Book Thief, Alice, Pippi, Diary

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message 29: by River (new)

Aug 27, 2014 04:04PM

I love how 5 of the 6 i voted for, are at the very very end

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message 30: by Elisa (new)

Jul 17, 2015 08:08AM

The lack of Tiffany Aching must be reversed.

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message 31: by Luke (new)

Jul 18, 2015 09:07AM

Anne Frank isn't a character.

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message 32: by Kelley (new)

Aug 04, 2015 05:31AM

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (488) on a Best Female Leads list? Jaw, meet floor.

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message 33: by Devorah (new)

Jan 02, 2016 05:46PM

When G-D Asks Me; When God Asks Me by Devorah Kalani

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message 34: by Hannah (new)

Jan 11, 2016 07:34AM

Elisa wrote: "The lack of Tiffany Aching must be reversed."

This.

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message 35: by J.P. (new)

Oct 04, 2016 01:55PM

Home Economics for Girls or Tabitha Tickham and the Cake Crisis by JP Wright

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message 36: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

Feb 19, 2017 03:21PM

Alex wrote: "Medea? Really? Well I suppose that's definitely an... interesting female character. Maybe a little psychotic but certainly strong!"

At least not BORING!

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message 37: by Andynjihia (new)

Aug 14, 2018 12:22AM

If somebody reads it because they saw it on this list, then yes. Massive spoiler.

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message 38: by Erin (new)

Sep 30, 2018 02:38PM

How is Friday on this list??? She is the opposite of a strong female character, feeling she owes men sexual favors for even the smallest courtesy and that isn’t worst of that book... From all evidence, Heinlein was way too sexist to be capable of writing a strong female character.

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message 39: by Rainbowheart (new)

Aug 23, 2020 02:17AM

Reverted title back to the original. Someone (not the list creator) changed it.

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message 40: by Matthew (new)

Mar 10, 2021 12:24PM

Roca Group! A lessor known book, but what a stunner of a female lead! So appreciate books giving women, and all of us, impressions of the kind of leadership the world needs right now. Strong women with heart.

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message 41: by Del (new)

Feb 13, 2023 01:47PM

Marie wrote: "Why is Twilight here? Do people actually think Bella is a good female lead?"
I was just asking myself the same question. She makes irrational decisions and is only able to survive the series because she keeps on being saved by her supporting characters.

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message 42: by Raghu (new)

Dec 03, 2025 01:21AM