Books That Exceeded Your Expectations

These are books that pleasantly surprised you. They could be classics that you really loved or more recent fiction that just caught you off guard by its greatness.

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1001	A Summer of Good-Byes (Blue Triangle Press Book 2) by Fred Misurella (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 549 ratings score: 2,195, and 24 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
1002	Night by Elie Wiesel 4.38 avg rating — 1,340,853 ratings score: 2,191, and 28 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
1002	The Snow (Whiteout, #1) by Flint Maxwell (Goodreads Author) 3.71 avg rating — 4,684 ratings score: 2,191, and 23 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
1004	Work Smart Now: How to Jump Start Productivity, Empower Employees, and Achieve More by Richard Polak (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 418 ratings score: 2,189, and 24 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
1004	Framed & Hunted: A True Story of Occult Persecution by Edward Williams (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 6,721 ratings score: 2,189, and 23 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
1006	Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 122,947 ratings score: 2,184, and 24 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
1006	Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 24,379 ratings score: 2,184, and 23 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
1008	Lethal Impulse by Steve Rush (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 300 ratings score: 2,182, and 25 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
1009	Wild Hope: Healing Words to Find Light on Dark Days by Donna Ashworth 4.30 avg rating — 1,316 ratings score: 2,178, and 23 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
1010	Lessons In Faking (Hall Beck University, #1) by Selina Mae (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 5,725 ratings score: 2,171, and 23 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
1011	Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 1,338,069 ratings score: 2,167, and 26 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
1011	Things We Hide from the Light (Knockemout, #2) by Lucy Score (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 502,740 ratings score: 2,167, and 23 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
1013	Forbidden Ice (Ice Breaker Cold Case Romance, #13) by Cynthia Eden (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 622 ratings score: 2,166, and 23 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
1014	These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner 4.36 avg rating — 80,793 ratings score: 2,165, and 25 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
1015	10 Days to Surrender (Ozerov Bratva #2) by Nicole Fox (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 6,375 ratings score: 2,163, and 23 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
1016	Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1) by Patricia Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 252,989 ratings score: 2,159, and 25 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
1017	Brace For Impact by Janice Kay Johnson (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 453 ratings score: 2,158, and 23 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
1018	Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg 4.33 avg rating — 47,443 ratings score: 2,148, and 23 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
1019	The Odd and The Strange: A Collection of Very Short Fiction by Harvey Havel (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 1,199 ratings score: 2,147, and 24 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
1020	Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris 4.11 avg rating — 287,162 ratings score: 2,144, and 27 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
1020	Love Auction: Too Risky to Love Again by Sharon Carter (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 2,570 ratings score: 2,144, and 24 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
1022	Drums of Autumn (Outlander, #4) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 265,795 ratings score: 2,139, and 27 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
1023	Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 3.99 avg rating — 379,856 ratings score: 2,133, and 27 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
1024	Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser 3.75 avg rating — 206,329 ratings score: 2,131, and 26 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
1024	The Power of Dao: A Timeless Guide to Happiness and Harmony by Lou Marinoff (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 976 ratings score: 2,131, and 24 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
1026	A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 71,119 ratings score: 2,128, and 24 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
1027	A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard 3.97 avg rating — 142,683 ratings score: 2,127, and 23 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
1027	Melania and Me by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff 3.23 avg rating — 8,046 ratings score: 2,127, and 22 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
1029	The Reader by Bernhard Schlink 3.79 avg rating — 227,635 ratings score: 2,126, and 26 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
1029	Tom Lake by Ann Patchett 3.94 avg rating — 464,552 ratings score: 2,126, and 22 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
1031	Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup 4.23 avg rating — 123,623 ratings score: 2,124, and 24 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
1032	Floating in Darkness - A Journey of Evolution by Ron Garan (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 727 ratings score: 2,122, and 23 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
1033	The Runaway Jury by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 312,904 ratings score: 2,117, and 26 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
1034	Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 1,603,012 ratings score: 2,115, and 28 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
1035	Macbeth by William Shakespeare 3.89 avg rating — 998,438 ratings score: 2,113, and 30 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
1035	The Space Between Worlds (The Space Between Worlds, #1) by Micaiah Johnson 3.93 avg rating — 43,793 ratings score: 2,113, and 22 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
1037	Train Dreams by Denis Johnson 3.90 avg rating — 29,969 ratings score: 2,108, and 25 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
1037	The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 124,531 ratings score: 2,108, and 22 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
1039	An Old Soul by M. Kevin Hayden (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 308 ratings score: 2,107, and 22 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
1040	Pleasant Day by Vera Jane Cook (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 1,174 ratings score: 2,100, and 24 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
1041	The Book of Occult by Simon W. Clark (Goodreads Author) 3.65 avg rating — 3,463 ratings score: 2,098, and 21 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
1041	Death at a Highland Wedding (A Rip Through Time, #4) by Kelley Armstrong (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 3,589 ratings score: 2,098, and 22 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
1043	The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5) by Rick Riordan (Goodreads Author) 4.55 avg rating — 1,122,965 ratings score: 2,092, and 26 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
1044	James Ed Hoskins and the One-Room Schoolhouse: The Unprosecuted Crime Against Children by Shafter Bailey 4.38 avg rating — 885 ratings score: 2,087, and 24 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
1045	Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past by Paul Cude (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 411 ratings score: 2,085, and 22 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
1046	Blood & Spirits (The Coming Storm, #1) by Dennis Sharpe (Goodreads Author) 3.57 avg rating — 2,105 ratings score: 2,081, and 21 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
1046	How to Stop Time by Matt Haig (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 212,792 ratings score: 2,081, and 22 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
1048	A Million Little Pieces by James Frey 3.69 avg rating — 261,603 ratings score: 2,078, and 25 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
1049	Eye for Eye (Talion #1) by J.K. Franko (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 4,067 ratings score: 2,073, and 23 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
1050	Trouble on Main Street (Sugar Mountain, #1) by Kirsten Fullmer (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 4,070 ratings score: 2,067, and 23 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
1050	Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 213,332 ratings score: 2,067, and 22 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
1052	Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 112,645 ratings score: 2,066, and 22 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
1053	Escape by Carolyn Jessop 3.98 avg rating — 46,085 ratings score: 2,061, and 24 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
1054	Notice Me by Emem Uko (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 533 ratings score: 2,054, and 23 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
1055	Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3) by E.L. James (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 904,695 ratings score: 2,050, and 24 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
1056	Living the Best Day Ever by Hendri Coetzee (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 1,237 ratings score: 2,043, and 22 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
1057	The Half King (The Half King, #1) by Melissa Landers (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 8,817 ratings score: 2,040, and 22 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
1058	Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse, #5) by Charlaine Harris (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 223,811 ratings score: 2,037, and 27 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
1059	Coming Storm by David J Morden (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 578 ratings score: 2,035, and 22 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
1060	Quantum Radio by A.G. Riddle (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 16,357 ratings score: 2,034, and 21 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
1061	Love Connection: Romance in the Land of the Rising Sun by John Rachel (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 1,299 ratings score: 2,032, and 23 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
1062	Dragon Seed by Pearl S. Buck 4.11 avg rating — 3,544 ratings score: 2,031, and 21 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
1063	The Cow in the Parking Lot: A Zen Approach to Overcoming Anger by Leonard Scheff (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 2,206 ratings score: 2,030, and 21 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
1064	Naked in Death (In Death, #1) by J.D. Robb (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 202,112 ratings score: 2,029, and 27 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
1064	The Magic Misfits (The Magic Misfits, #1) by Neil Patrick Harris 3.99 avg rating — 16,054 ratings score: 2,029, and 21 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
1066	Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less by Jim Vandehei 3.95 avg rating — 8,768 ratings score: 2,028, and 21 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
1067	Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick 3.20 avg rating — 3,517 ratings score: 2,027, and 21 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
1068	Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 854,716 ratings score: 2,020, and 26 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
1069	Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 138,696 ratings score: 2,019, and 25 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
1069	The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 347,950 ratings score: 2,019, and 28 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
1071	Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies by Nick Bostrom (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 20,545 ratings score: 2,018, and 21 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
1072	Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel), Vol. 1 by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù 4.59 avg rating — 42,235 ratings score: 2,017, and 21 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
1073	Marked (The Boys of Bishop Mountain #1) by Lexxi James (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 6,670 ratings score: 2,015, and 21 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
1074	The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 224,030 ratings score: 2,012, and 26 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
1075	The Shadow Girl by Misty Mount (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 2,403 ratings score: 2,009, and 23 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
1075	The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 347,669 ratings score: 2,009, and 22 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
1077	Intercepts by T.J. Payne (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 33,490 ratings score: 2,006, and 21 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
1078	The Boy From Block 66: A WW2 Jewish Holocaust Survival True Story (Heroic Children of World War II Book 1) by Limor Regev (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 7,331 ratings score: 2,003, and 21 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
1079	The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley 3.58 avg rating — 184,649 ratings score: 2,002, and 21 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
1080	Hometown Girl After All (Hometown, #2) by Kirsten Fullmer (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 1,041 ratings score: 2,001, and 22 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
1080	Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1) by B.B. Alston (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 35,189 ratings score: 2,001, and 21 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
1082	Love on the Line (Women at Work, #1) by Kirsten Fullmer (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 4,178 ratings score: 1,994, and 22 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
1082	Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1) by Elsie Silver (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 368,673 ratings score: 1,994, and 21 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
1084	One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1) by Janet Evanovich (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 574,735 ratings score: 1,989, and 26 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
1084	A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot, #1) by Becky Chambers (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 171,479 ratings score: 1,989, and 21 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
1086	They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy 3.86 avg rating — 11,316 ratings score: 1,986, and 22 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
1087	A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson 4.22 avg rating — 415,006 ratings score: 1,984, and 23 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
1087	Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) by Terry Pratchett 4.24 avg rating — 267,068 ratings score: 1,984, and 22 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
1089	Immoral Origins (The Desire Card, #1) by Lee Matthew Goldberg (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 4,493 ratings score: 1,981, and 23 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
1090	The Pelican Brief by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 444,128 ratings score: 1,975, and 25 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
1090	Missing Wings (Aranysargas, #1) by Andrea Luhman (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 2,177 ratings score: 1,975, and 22 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
1092	The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 213,800 ratings score: 1,971, and 23 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
1093	The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 112,136 ratings score: 1,968, and 21 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
1094	Making Hearts by Jack Getze (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 2,200 ratings score: 1,964, and 22 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
1095	A Discovery of Witches (All Souls, #1) by Deborah Harkness (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 545,517 ratings score: 1,961, and 26 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
1096	Just One Damned Thing After Another (The Chronicles of St Mary's, #1) by Jodi Taylor (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 51,191 ratings score: 1,956, and 21 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
1097	A Decade of Desire: Erotic Memoirs from The Office Diaries by Charles Dyson (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 725 ratings score: 1,955, and 22 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
1097	One Good Dragon Deserves Another (Heartstrikers, #2) by Rachel Aaron (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 9,587 ratings score: 1,955, and 20 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
1099	All Creatures Great and Small (All Creatures Great and Small, #1-2) by James Herriot 4.35 avg rating — 156,069 ratings score: 1,954, and 26 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
1100	INNOCENT AGAIN: A LEGAL THRILLER (THE SECOND CHANCE NOVEL SERIES) by Steven Decker (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 971 ratings score: 1,953, and 21 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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14,453 books · 16,032 voters · list created July 29th, 2008 by Rob (votes) .

Tags: exceeded-expectations, fiction, non-fiction

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Corina 4105 books
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ExistenGuy 123 books
0 friends

Aaron 2822 books
290 friends

Rae-Nani 3440 books
155 friends

Matt 416 books
222 friends

More voters…

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Comments Showing 1-39 of 39 (39 new)

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message 1: by Ale and Vicki (new)

Dec 07, 2010 06:54PM

Why Twilight? That was a let down..

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message 2: by X (new)

Dec 08, 2010 09:50PM

The Hunger Games. I thought it looked dumb when I read the description, but once I started the book I couldn't put it down...

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message 3: by Alenka (new)

Jul 02, 2011 11:19PM

Aurora wrote: "The Hunger Games. I thought it looked dumb when I read the description, but once I started the book I couldn't put it down..."

Same here.

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message 4: by Breanne (new)

Jul 20, 2011 12:45PM

The Tiger series definitely fit in this list :)

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message 5: by Danna (new)

Aug 05, 2011 02:01AM

I have to admit, not many books exceeded my expectations. In fact, I was very dissapointed of a great amount of the books considered to be "amazing", such as The Time Traveler's Wife, The Shadow of the Wind, Pride and Prejudice, Twilight and Eat, Pray, Love - all of them really really bad, in my opinion ><

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message 6: by Valerie (new)

Mar 01, 2012 04:50AM

Ale and Vicki wrote: "Why Twilight? That was a let down.."

Despair not! That simply means expectations were piss poor to begin with. :)

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message 7: by Jen (new)

May 14, 2012 09:31AM

Ale and Vicki wrote: "Why Twilight? That was a let down.."

This was the first book I read since high school, and it just drew me in and reminded me how much I love and miss reading. For that reason it will always be one of my favorites.

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message 8: by Grace (new)

Jun 07, 2012 09:08PM

I must admit I do love a good romance and Twilight is certainly one, the thing I do like however is not the vampire or werewolf aspect but the differences I discover on each reading. The movies tie in very well with the written word and I personally have never been disappointed by either. The supernatural just makes the story different but the ability to make a FF of the characters shows how the general writing public adores the presentation of those personalities.

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message 9: by [deleted user] (new)

Nov 07, 2012 01:54PM

Great list! Awesome books!

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message 10: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Mar 30, 2013 05:59AM) (new)

Mar 30, 2013 05:42AM

Several titles in this list made me wonder whether some voters also voted on books that lived up to their expectations, instead of just voting for books that exceeded their expectations...

And yes, I only voted for books that exceeded my expectations, not the ones that lived up to it :-) Some authors I expect exceptional books from, like Jane Austen, George Eliot, Margarat Atwood, Thomas Hardy, and so on, and I've have never been disappointed so far. But their books do not exceed my expectations, as I already expected a lot of them before I started.

@Hercina
You are not the only one with doubts about this list :-)

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message 11: by Grace (new)

Jul 15, 2014 02:08PM

Alenka wrote: "Aurora wrote: "The Hunger Games. I thought it looked dumb when I read the description, but once I started the book I couldn't put it down..."

Same here."

I'd have to say I was the opposite. I heard so many great things about the Hunger Games and then I was really disappointed by the development of the plot and the characters. I feel like the story had a great concept but that the characters ruined it for me.

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message 12: by Ashley (new)

Jan 21, 2015 09:45AM

hi everybody

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message 13: by Cherryl (new)

Jun 08, 2015 09:25AM

I don't understand why this page shows that I've read 0 books on this list when I've read quite a few. I've voted on the books I've read.

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message 14: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jun 08, 2015 09:56AM) (new)

Jun 08, 2015 09:54AM

Cherryl wrote: "I don't understand why this page shows that I've read 0 books on this list when I've read quite a few. I've voted on the books I've read."

Did all the books you voted for show up as 'read' in this Listopia?

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message 15: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jun 08, 2015 12:36PM

Were the ones you read in the top 100 of the list? I don't think it reports numbers for lower down.

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message 16: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 15, 2015 06:15AM) (new)

Aug 15, 2015 06:14AM

With some modern authors, like Tim Winton or Richard Flanagan, I've come to expect an excellent read, based upon previous experiences :-) I truly hope I won't be let down (haven't been so far) :-)

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message 17: by Selina (new)

May 07, 2018 05:53AM

Ale and Vicki wrote: "Why Twilight? That was a let down.."

SHUCKING YES

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message 18: by Donna (last edited May 11, 2018 03:59PM) (new)

May 11, 2018 03:30PM

It works! It works! The system found and removed 1 duplicate.

This is an interesting concept for a list. I found myself trying to decide how to order my votes--by how much I liked the book, or by how surprised I was? (I went with the surprise factor.) Then I began looking for common threads. I noticed that a relatively small number of my choices were books I'd purchased for myself. I guess I am a conservative shopper. I was more likely to be surprised and delighted by books I was required to read when I was in school, and by review copies I received for free. Fiction surprised me more often than nonfiction.

Great idea, Rob.

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message 19: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

May 11, 2018 03:56PM

Yay!

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message 20: by ~☆~Autumn (last edited Jun 01, 2018 06:19PM) (new)

Jun 01, 2018 06:17PM

Grace wrote: "I must admit I do love a good romance and Twilight is certainly one, the thing I do like however is not the vampire or werewolf aspect but the differences I discover on each reading. The movies tie..."

Thanks Grace as it made me happy to read what you wrote. I read so many bad reviews of Twilight on goodreads that I almost didn't read it. I was amazed how much I liked so I don't trust goodreads reviews anymore.

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message 21: by Donna (new)

Jun 01, 2018 09:41PM

*sound of plane engine dying; crash, explosion, flames*

The duplicate link is broken.

The list is broken; long live the list.

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message 22: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jun 02, 2018 09:25PM

Well, with creeping on 5000 books, I'm kind of not surprised. Alas.

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message 23: by Donna (new)

Jun 02, 2018 10:51PM

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Well, with creeping on 5000 books, I'm kind of not surprised. Alas."

Yeah, I guess it's a category that is doomed to outgrow itself, since it can never be edited down. Hadn't thought of it.

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message 24: by Greg (new)

Jun 13, 2018 12:48PM

I read Hunger Games #1 cause it's been, or still is, at the top of a number of lists, including best novel ever. So I read it. It wasn't absolutely awful, like goodreads Best of the Year "Go Set a Watchman" a few years ago, or last year's weird (and for me, completely confusing and pointless) 'Lincoln in the Bardo." But it was better than I expected and I gave it two stars: it was okay. But if I hadn't already seen the exact same story on film (Battle Royale, Japan, same story, same end with two victors) I would have liked it better. I've been studying some Egyptian Heiroglyphics and even some ancient Sumerian texts, and oddly, this very same story shows up in about every civilization and is at least 6,000 years old.

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message 25: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

Jun 13, 2018 12:55PM

Greg wrote: "I read Hunger Games #1 cause it's been, or still is, at the top of a number of lists, including best novel ever. So I read it. It wasn't absolutely awful, like goodreads Best of the Year "Go Set a ..."

I agree with you. I don't understand its popularity. I read it so I could do all the quiz questions.

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message 26: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Oct 09, 2018 02:03AM

vijay govind wrote: "Maze of Deceit"

Don't use this section to promote your own book!

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message 27: by Vijay (new)

Oct 09, 2018 10:30PM

My sincere apologies - I'm a new user on Goodreads and was not aware that I should not talk about my own work. Will try to participate more creatively in general discussions hereafter.

Apologies & regards

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message 28: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 10, 2018 08:08AM

There are places for it; but this isn't one of them. It may be OK in groups; check if they have an author's section.

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message 29: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Oct 10, 2018 09:12AM

vijay govind wrote: "My sincere apologies - I'm a new user on Goodreads and was not aware that I should not talk about my own work. Will try to participate more creatively in general discussions hereafter.

Apologies ..."

Delete your previous comment if you're sincerely sorry...

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message 30: by Vijay (new)

Oct 10, 2018 10:42PM

Not sure how a previous comment is to be deleted - may I request the admin to kindly do it if possible on my behalf. Else - request that it may be kindly ignored as my inadvertence.

Thanks and best regards

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message 31: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Oct 11, 2018 06:00AM

Vijay Narayan Govind wrote: "Not sure how a previous comment is to be deleted - may I request the admin to kindly do it if possible on my behalf. Else - request that it may be kindly ignored as my inadvertence.

Thanks and be..."

The person who placed a comment is also able to delete it by clicking 'delete' at the bottom of the comment...

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message 32: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

Mar 02, 2019 09:44PM

Breanne wrote: "The Tiger series definitely fit in this list :)"

Definitely NOT!

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message 33: by AshleyS (last edited May 01, 2019 09:14AM) (new)

May 01, 2019 09:13AM

Every list on this site gets taken over by the Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Twilight. I wish there were lists created by experts that other people couldn't add to and screw up (he said, adding The Lord of the Rings)

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message 34: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

May 01, 2019 11:09AM

AshleyS wrote: "Every list on this site gets taken over by the Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Twilight. I wish there were lists created by experts that other people couldn't add to and screw up (he said, adding Th..."

Try lists of most horrible books, books one doesn't like, and so on. They won't appear as the first few there 😃

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message 35: by Lobstergirl (new)

Sep 08, 2019 10:54PM

55 duplicates removed.

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message 36: by Pat (new)

Jan 08, 2020 11:44AM

Ðɑηηɑ wrote: "I have to admit, not many books exceeded my expectations. In fact, I was very dissapointed of a great amount of the books considered to be "amazing", such as The Time Traveler's Wife, ..."

Eat Pray Love was a real disappointment. They made a movie of it. Why?

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message 37: by Vincent V (new)

May 30, 2021 01:49AM

Ale and Vicki wrote: "Why Twilight? That was a let down.."

The Twilight exceeds any expectations of Meyer's writing.

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message 38: by Tim (last edited Jul 02, 2021 07:38AM) (new)

Jul 02, 2021 05:08AM

Apologies to the 100 or so members who voted on this list for my Congo book `Blood River' and to the 80 or so who voted for my WWI book `The Trigger' but they have both recently been removed. And a particular apology to whoever it was that put the books on the list. We authors are rightly not allowed to put our own work on lists nor vote for our books. But we are also powerless when setbacks like this happen. Seeking clarity from GoodReads and sympathy from all book-lovers on the site.

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message 39: by Aracelis (new)

Dec 25, 2022 07:10PM

Jen wrote: "Ale and Vicki wrote: "Why Twilight? That was a let down.."

This was the first book I read since high school, and it just drew me in and reminded me how much I love and miss reading. For that reaso..."

I for sure have to agree with you on this one! It was a page turner for me - the whole series honestly

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