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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301	The Stand by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 818,961 ratings score: 5,952, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
302	Counter Identity (Remmich/Miller, #2) by Karl Braungart (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 6,111 ratings score: 5,951, 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
303	Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1) by Kaylie Smith (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 251,012 ratings score: 5,941, 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
304	The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham (Goodreads Author) 3.54 avg rating — 7,794 ratings score: 5,934, 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
305	For the Love of Armin by Michael G. Kramer (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 1,141 ratings score: 5,910, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
306	Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown 3.75 avg rating — 18,638 ratings score: 5,891, 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
307	Lady of Darkness (Lady of Darkness, #1) by Melissa K. Roehrich (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 41,512 ratings score: 5,889, 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
308	All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter 3.91 avg rating — 12,097 ratings score: 5,883, 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
309	The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 61,338 ratings score: 5,831, 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
310	Socialism Is Dead! Long Live Socialism!: The Marx Code—Socialism with a Human Face: by Todor Bombov (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 6,951 ratings score: 5,809, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
311	An American Beauty by Shana Abe (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 24,768 ratings score: 5,806, 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
312	Angel of Vengeance (Pendergast, #22) by Douglas Preston (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 11,266 ratings score: 5,746, 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
313	The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.40 avg rating — 3,072,841 ratings score: 5,740, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
314	The Ball at Versailles by Danielle Steel 4.03 avg rating — 12,637 ratings score: 5,728, 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
315	The MacKinnon's Bride (The Highland Brides, #1) by Tanya Anne Crosby (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 13,789 ratings score: 5,720, 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
316	New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp 4.56 avg rating — 9,188 ratings score: 5,716, 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
317	The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson by Jeff Pearlman 4.18 avg rating — 3,591 ratings score: 5,708, 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
318	The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown 4.09 avg rating — 86,396 ratings score: 5,706, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
319	Scavenger Hunt by Chad Boudreaux (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 7,108 ratings score: 5,705, 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
320	CSB She Reads Truth Bible by Raechel Myers 4.73 avg rating — 1,727 ratings score: 5,702, 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
321	The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 56,858 ratings score: 5,687, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
322	The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (Goodreads Author) 4.43 avg rating — 7,429 ratings score: 5,682, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
323	The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 8,050 ratings score: 5,666, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
324	Relaxed: Walking with the One Who Is Not Worried about a Thing by Megan Fate Marshman (Goodreads Author) 4.52 avg rating — 2,378 ratings score: 5,648, 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
325	Seeing the Supernatural: Investigating Angels, Demons, Mystical Dreams, Near-Death Encounters, and Other Mysteries of the Unseen World by Lee Strobel 4.29 avg rating — 1,289 ratings score: 5,643, 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
326	The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life by John Bevere 4.50 avg rating — 4,226 ratings score: 5,638, 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
327	Paper Towns by John Green (Goodreads Author) 3.70 avg rating — 1,470,864 ratings score: 5,618, 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
328	Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 33,713 ratings score: 5,611, 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
329	Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich 3.65 avg rating — 194,732 ratings score: 5,606, 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
330	Someone Else's Bucket List by Amy T. Matthews 3.99 avg rating — 11,875 ratings score: 5,601, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
331	Body of Proof: The 7 Best Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus--and Why It Matters Today by Jeremiah J. Johnston (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 908 ratings score: 5,594, 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
332	Never Fall for a Dragon (Mate Mountain, #1) by Lola Glass (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 7,613 ratings score: 5,566, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
333	The Empress: (The Emperor, The Son and The Thief, #4) by Robert Reid (Goodreads Author) 4.41 avg rating — 1,143 ratings score: 5,554, 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
334	The Most Magnificent Thing (Most Magnificent, 1) by Ashley Spires (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 8,680 ratings score: 5,552, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
335	I'm Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World by Milan Kordestani (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 7,569 ratings score: 5,528, 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
336	The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel 4.23 avg rating — 150,324 ratings score: 5,527, 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
337	Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis 3.65 avg rating — 30,450 ratings score: 5,522, 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
338	Perron Manor (Haunted, #1) by Lee Mountford (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 9,662 ratings score: 5,504, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
339	The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga 3.77 avg rating — 200,699 ratings score: 5,501, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
340	Falling Down (The Boy in the Iron Box, #1) by Guillermo del Toro 3.58 avg rating — 8,432 ratings score: 5,498, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
341	The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien 4.14 avg rating — 339,126 ratings score: 5,492, 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
342	Mother of Death & Dawn (The War of Lost Hearts, #3) by Carissa Broadbent (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 75,774 ratings score: 5,487, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
343	Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund 4.50 avg rating — 58,217 ratings score: 5,471, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
344	Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, #4) by Stephenie Meyer 3.75 avg rating — 1,841,872 ratings score: 5,444, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
345	Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become Like Him, Do As He Did by John Mark Comer (Goodreads Author) 4.52 avg rating — 25,714 ratings score: 5,436, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
346	A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 21,235 ratings score: 5,431, 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
347	A MAN WHO SEEMED REAL: a story of love, lies, fear and kindness by Elizabeth Tebby Germaine (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 1,422 ratings score: 5,422, 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
348	The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) by Terry Pratchett 3.99 avg rating — 415,576 ratings score: 5,389, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
349	The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds 4.26 avg rating — 34,591 ratings score: 5,388, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
350	Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.10 avg rating — 1,458,646 ratings score: 5,377, 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
351	Experience Jesus. Really: Finding Refuge, Strength, and Wonder through Everyday Encounters with God by John Eldredge 4.28 avg rating — 1,096 ratings score: 5,368, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
352	The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters, #1) by Amber V. Nicole (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 149,197 ratings score: 5,366, 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
353	The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton 4.25 avg rating — 30,382 ratings score: 5,362, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
353	The Prophet and the Idiot by Jonas Jonasson 3.63 avg rating — 7,945 ratings score: 5,362, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
355	Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6) by J.K. Rowling 4.58 avg rating — 3,585,053 ratings score: 5,353, 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
356	Always Remember: Ben's Story (Ravenswood, #3) by Mary Balogh 4.15 avg rating — 4,262 ratings score: 5,350, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
357	Dark Horse (Class 5, #1) by Michelle Diener (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 8,960 ratings score: 5,349, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
358	I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 13,956 ratings score: 5,341, 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
359	The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible by Tara-Leigh Cobble 4.79 avg rating — 4,475 ratings score: 5,340, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
360	The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage by Richard Rohr 4.36 avg rating — 1,629 ratings score: 5,331, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
361	Something Will Change Me: Poems of Soul and Spirit by Don Hynes 4.40 avg rating — 1,161 ratings score: 5,318, 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
362	The Black Bird Oracle (All Souls, #5) by Deborah Harkness (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 35,383 ratings score: 5,312, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
363	Empire Falls by Richard Russo (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 125,132 ratings score: 5,276, 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
364	Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 1,929 ratings score: 5,209, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
365	Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1) by Seanan McGuire (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 121,308 ratings score: 5,202, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
366	Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author) 3.70 avg rating — 26,679 ratings score: 5,198, 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
367	The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 161,841 ratings score: 5,190, 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
368	The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1) by Becky Chambers (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 177,540 ratings score: 5,189, 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
369	Dune (Dune #1) by Frank Herbert 4.29 avg rating — 1,584,082 ratings score: 5,160, 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
370	Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift 3.59 avg rating — 295,073 ratings score: 5,154, 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
371	The Town the World Forgot (The Town That Shouldn't Exist, #1) by Boris Bacic 4.16 avg rating — 2,044 ratings score: 5,136, 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
372	The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill (Goodreads Author) 3.58 avg rating — 5,761 ratings score: 5,133, 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
373	A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson 3.84 avg rating — 13,057 ratings score: 5,115, 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
374	So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison 3.49 avg rating — 21,896 ratings score: 5,110, 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
375	Ice Planet Barbarians (Ice Planet Barbarians, #1) by Ruby Dixon (Goodreads Author) 3.63 avg rating — 191,252 ratings score: 5,101, 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
376	My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O'Hara 3.88 avg rating — 2,715 ratings score: 5,098, 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
377	The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (Hart and Mercy, #1) by Megan Bannen (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 45,101 ratings score: 5,088, 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
378	The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 4.24 avg rating — 1,960,386 ratings score: 5,081, 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
379	The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred-Year-Old Man (The Hundred-Year-Old Man, #2) by Jonas Jonasson 3.73 avg rating — 20,286 ratings score: 5,079, 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
380	The Aspect of Essence (The Aelfyn Archives, #1) by Samantha Amstutz (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6,611 ratings score: 5,075, 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
381	Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1) by H.D. Carlton (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 821,354 ratings score: 5,072, 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
382	People in Glass Houses (Ghost Hunters, #16) by Jayne Castle (Goodreads Author) 4.40 avg rating — 4,475 ratings score: 5,057, 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
383	Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 383,817 ratings score: 5,051, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
384	Savage Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #2) by J. Bree (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 126,673 ratings score: 5,046, 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
385	Fated to the Wolf Prince (The Hunted Omegas, #1) by April L. Moon (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 23,729 ratings score: 5,044, 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
386	Descent (The Palladium Wars, #4) by Marko Kloos (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 3,315 ratings score: 5,042, 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
387	Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind 4.04 avg rating — 535,452 ratings score: 5,022, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
388	Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1) by Keri Lake (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 62,436 ratings score: 5,019, 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
389	Little Owl's Night by Divya Srinivasan (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 4,440 ratings score: 5,018, 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
390	Cackle by Rachel Harrison 3.72 avg rating — 44,003 ratings score: 5,014, 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
391	Of the Flame, Poems - Volume 15 by Wendy E. Slater (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 4,734 ratings score: 5,009, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
392	Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho (Goodreads Author) 3.51 avg rating — 17,544 ratings score: 5,004, 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
393	The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher 3.64 avg rating — 43,151 ratings score: 4,999, 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
394	The V Girl: A Coming of Age Story by Mya Robarts 3.96 avg rating — 16,747 ratings score: 4,998, 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
395	Becoming by Michelle Obama (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 1,168,619 ratings score: 4,994, 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
396	Steel Blood by Gabriel F.W. Koch (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 5,497 ratings score: 4,980, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
397	The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.54 avg rating — 719,821 ratings score: 4,972, 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
398	Looking for Alaska by John Green (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 1,723,589 ratings score: 4,946, 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
399	Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door (Riley Thorn, #1) by Lucy Score (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 59,764 ratings score: 4,940, 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
400	Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 307,366 ratings score: 4,933, 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

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14,453 books · 16,029 voters · list created July 29th, 2008 by Rob (votes) .

Tags: exceeded-expectations, fiction, non-fiction

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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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