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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101		The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 3.80 avg rating — 3,821,842 ratings score: 13,709, and 157 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
102		Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 729,008 ratings score: 13,613, and 148 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
103		Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1) by Kristin Cashore 4.06 avg rating — 477,619 ratings score: 13,572, and 147 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
104		No Exit by Taylor Adams (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 207,106 ratings score: 13,548, 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
105		Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 164,729 ratings score: 13,476, 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
106		The Club by Ellery Lloyd (Goodreads Author) 3.28 avg rating — 123,382 ratings score: 13,297, and 141 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
107		And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 4.28 avg rating — 1,559,537 ratings score: 13,274, and 150 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
108		Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) by Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 675,269 ratings score: 13,082, 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
109		The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 158,868 ratings score: 12,976, and 138 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
110		The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1) by Jeffery Deaver (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 192,790 ratings score: 12,857, and 139 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
111		Think Twice (Myron Bolitar, #12) by Harlan Coben (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 45,468 ratings score: 12,738, and 135 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
112		The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 690,163 ratings score: 12,668, and 135 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
113		Inara (Godfrey Davis, #3) by A.R. Merrydew (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 6,228 ratings score: 12,609, and 135 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
114		No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall (Goodreads Author) 3.65 avg rating — 75,592 ratings score: 12,583, 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
115		The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 39,947 ratings score: 12,581, and 133 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
116		The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William Paul Young 3.84 avg rating — 684,873 ratings score: 12,572, and 138 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
117		His Dark Materials (His Dark Materials #1-3) by Philip Pullman 4.29 avg rating — 167,080 ratings score: 12,505, 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
118		The Princess Bride by William Goldman 4.27 avg rating — 939,409 ratings score: 12,443, and 141 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
119		Not Forever, But For Now by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author) 3.04 avg rating — 4,817 ratings score: 12,406, and 131 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
120		Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 176,149 ratings score: 12,386, and 131 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
121		The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 235,400 ratings score: 12,283, 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
122		The Last Thing He Told Me (Hannah Hall, #1) by Laura Dave (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 1,112,453 ratings score: 12,267, 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
123		Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 88,251 ratings score: 12,259, and 129 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
124		Look Closer by David Ellis 4.17 avg rating — 131,071 ratings score: 12,220, and 129 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
125		Magical Midlife Awakening (Leveling Up, #9) by K.F. Breene (Goodreads Author) 4.62 avg rating — 10,970 ratings score: 12,171, 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
126		Heretical Fishing (Heretical Fishing, #1) by Haylock Jobson 4.26 avg rating — 7,277 ratings score: 12,107, 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
127		Final Girls by Riley Sager (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 248,372 ratings score: 12,081, 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
128		Head Like a Hole by Andrew Van Wey (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 5,792 ratings score: 12,045, and 127 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
129		A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 567,567 ratings score: 11,988, 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
130		The Roommate by Kiersten Modglin (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 12,650 ratings score: 11,881, and 125 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
131		Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen 4.09 avg rating — 1,273,304 ratings score: 11,859, and 138 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
132		A Dead and Stormy Night (Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries, #1) by Steffanie Holmes 3.91 avg rating — 12,721 ratings score: 11,807, and 125 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
133		Home Before Dark by Riley Sager (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 284,600 ratings score: 11,721, and 125 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
134		The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 814,304 ratings score: 11,710, 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
135		The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 4.26 avg rating — 360,341 ratings score: 11,695, 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
136		The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 3.83 avg rating — 1,323,188 ratings score: 11,688, 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
137		Bel Canto by Ann Patchett 3.94 avg rating — 314,812 ratings score: 11,687, 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
138		Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet, #1) by C.J. Roberts (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 74,760 ratings score: 11,683, and 123 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
139		The Polymorph by Max Nowaz (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 15,016 ratings score: 11,607, and 127 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
140		All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque 4.10 avg rating — 508,580 ratings score: 11,583, 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
141		Truth (Consequences, #2) by Aleatha Romig (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 32,553 ratings score: 11,331, 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
142		The Girl in the Eagle's Talons (Millennium, #7) by Karin Smirnoff 3.42 avg rating — 18,548 ratings score: 11,293, 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
143		Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 931,012 ratings score: 11,231, 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
144		The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 149,513 ratings score: 11,209, and 118 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
145		The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 318,833 ratings score: 11,167, 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
146		Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark, #1) by Pepper Winters (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 42,156 ratings score: 11,066, 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
147		Corrupt (Devil's Night, #1) by Penelope Douglas (Goodreads Author) 3.79 avg rating — 402,699 ratings score: 10,977, and 116 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
148		It Ain't Me, Babe (Hades Hangmen, #1) by Tillie Cole (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 55,713 ratings score: 10,797, and 114 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
149		The Stranger by Albert Camus 4.03 avg rating — 1,334,360 ratings score: 10,781, 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
150		Consequences (Consequences, #1) by Aleatha Romig (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 43,176 ratings score: 10,702, and 113 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
151		Keep It in the Family by John Marrs (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 212,841 ratings score: 10,617, and 112 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
152		Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle 4.50 avg rating — 20,452 ratings score: 10,561, 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
153		One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey 4.20 avg rating — 770,588 ratings score: 10,494, and 125 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
154	$Souls Unfractured (Hades Ha...$	Souls Unfractured (Hades Hangmen, #3) by Tillie Cole (Goodreads Author) 4.41 avg rating — 28,079 ratings score: 10,440, 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
155		The Pact by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 324,640 ratings score: 10,409, and 116 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
156		The Lies of Vampires and Slayers (Magic on Main Street, #1) by K.M. Shea (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 8,486 ratings score: 10,343, 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
157		The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 744,200 ratings score: 10,341, 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
158		Deeper Than the Dead (Vera Boyett, #1) by Debra Webb (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 21,224 ratings score: 10,339, 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
159		Killing Sarai (In the Company of Killers, #1) by J.A. Redmerski 4.08 avg rating — 32,695 ratings score: 10,297, 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
160		Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse 4.08 avg rating — 853,814 ratings score: 10,248, and 115 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
161		A Winter Grave by Peter May (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 9,218 ratings score: 10,141, 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
162		Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 823,397 ratings score: 10,139, 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
163		A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 757,162 ratings score: 10,136, and 118 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
164		Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand 3.69 avg rating — 403,788 ratings score: 10,101, and 111 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
165		The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for? by Rick Warren 3.98 avg rating — 289,076 ratings score: 9,983, 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
166		I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 321,996 ratings score: 9,861, 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
167		Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez 3.94 avg rating — 538,537 ratings score: 9,636, 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
168		The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand 3.89 avg rating — 334,710 ratings score: 9,623, 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
169		Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wicked Years, #1) by Gregory Maguire 3.51 avg rating — 672,442 ratings score: 9,509, 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
170		On Her Watch (Bree Taggert, #8) by Melinda Leigh (Goodreads Author) 4.50 avg rating — 18,268 ratings score: 9,478, 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
171		Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 508,220 ratings score: 9,361, and 98 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
172		The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer (Goodreads Author) 4.51 avg rating — 87,009 ratings score: 9,351, and 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
173		Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson (Goodreads Author) 3.66 avg rating — 358,282 ratings score: 9,320, 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
174		Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God by Jamie Winship 4.43 avg rating — 3,462 ratings score: 9,315, 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
175		I'm Glad You're Dead: Preternatural Chronicles Book 1 by Hunter Blain (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 2,540 ratings score: 9,209, and 99 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
176		Playing Ball: Life Lessons from My Journey to the Super Bowl and Beyond by Vernon Davis 4.29 avg rating — 10,475 ratings score: 9,156, 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
177		A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1) by Libba Bray (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 225,258 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
178		The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 190,124 ratings score: 9,119, and 96 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
179		The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy 4.26 avg rating — 214,530 ratings score: 9,110, 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
180		Saint Richard Parker by Merlin Franco (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 5,823 ratings score: 8,885, 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
181		The Mercy of Gods (The Captive's War, #1) by James S.A. Corey (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 31,322 ratings score: 8,840, 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
182		Get Rich or Get Lucky by Max Nowaz (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 20,790 ratings score: 8,795, and 94 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
183		Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt, #1) by Frank McCourt 4.15 avg rating — 652,731 ratings score: 8,784, and 104 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
184		Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) by J.K. Rowling 4.50 avg rating — 3,714,627 ratings score: 8,757, and 106 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
185		Dogs vs Bears by Austin Davis (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 7,271 ratings score: 8,716, and 90 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
186		The Pink Cadillac by Rebecca Harlem (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 5,413 ratings score: 8,615, and 95 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
187		American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis 3.80 avg rating — 351,928 ratings score: 8,471, and 96 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
188		Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) by Terry Pratchett 4.34 avg rating — 230,581 ratings score: 8,378, and 90 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
189		Salvager by Scott Moon (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 1,687 ratings score: 8,348, and 88 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
190		Passions in Death (In Death, #59) by J.D. Robb (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 20,657 ratings score: 8,323, and 88 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
191		Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1) by Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 372,615 ratings score: 8,258, 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
192		The Reaping (Steinbeck and Reed, #2) by Jess Lourey (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 11,549 ratings score: 8,247, and 88 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
193		Unlock Your Deliverance: Keys to Freedom From Demonic Oppression by Kathryn Krick 4.31 avg rating — 7,586 ratings score: 8,108, and 88 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
194		Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1) by Dan Brown (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 3,355,006 ratings score: 8,082, and 96 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
194		Accidental Mystic (Midlife Melody, #1) by Phoebe Ravencraft 4.20 avg rating — 1,892 ratings score: 8,082, and 85 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
196		The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 28,159 ratings score: 8,016, and 85 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
197		A Cursed Son (Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom, #1) by Day Leitao (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 3,234 ratings score: 7,949, and 84 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
198		American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 981,872 ratings score: 7,916, 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
199		Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) by Charlaine Harris (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 557,377 ratings score: 7,914, and 90 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
200		Code Yellow in Gretna Green (Midlife Recorder, #5) by Linzi Day (Goodreads Author) 4.63 avg rating — 3,515 ratings score: 7,847, 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

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14,472 books · 16,056 voters · list created July 29th, 2008 by Rob (votes) .

Tags: exceeded-expectations, fiction, non-fiction

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Corina 4105 books
246 friends

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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