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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701	The Girl from Venice by Martin Cruz Smith 3.42 avg rating — 8,711 ratings score: 3,113, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
702	The Sleeper (Lance Spector, #4) by Saul Herzog (Goodreads Author) 4.50 avg rating — 6,095 ratings score: 3,108, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
703	The World According to Garp by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 236,692 ratings score: 3,094, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
704	Voyager (Outlander, #3) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 326,761 ratings score: 3,093, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
705	One Moment in Time by Shari Low (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 33,376 ratings score: 3,092, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
706	Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 172,521 ratings score: 3,085, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
707	Room by Emma Donoghue (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 827,954 ratings score: 3,081, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	Last Vote (Emma Last FBI Mystery #10) by Mary Stone (Goodreads Author) 4.61 avg rating — 2,465 ratings score: 3,080, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
709	Vision to Reality: Stop Working, Start Living by Curtis L. Jenkins 4.31 avg rating — 5,335 ratings score: 3,079, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
709	The Last Sentinel (Clayton White, #2) by Simon Gervais (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 5,527 ratings score: 3,079, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
711	Slow Time Between the Stars (The Far Reaches, #6) by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 12,931 ratings score: 3,078, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
712	Children of Time (Children of Time, #1) by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 163,339 ratings score: 3,076, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
713	Kane & Abel (Kane & Abel, #1) by Jeffrey Archer (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 129,386 ratings score: 3,074, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
714	The Last Dying Light by William Havelock (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 2,110 ratings score: 3,072, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
715	The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer 4.22 avg rating — 145,476 ratings score: 3,066, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	The Stolen Heir (The Stolen Heir Duology, #1) by Holly Black (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 160,971 ratings score: 3,055, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	Hello Little Girl (Hart's Ridge #10) by Kay Bratt (Goodreads Author) 4.59 avg rating — 4,283 ratings score: 3,055, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
718	War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2) by Herman Wouk 4.43 avg rating — 39,032 ratings score: 3,054, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
718	Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions by Jack Posobiec 4.07 avg rating — 902 ratings score: 3,054, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
720	The Raven and the Nine (The Viking Blood and Blade Saga, #6) by Peter Gibbons (Goodreads Author) 4.50 avg rating — 1,674 ratings score: 3,053, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
721	The Romantic by William Boyd 4.15 avg rating — 8,874 ratings score: 3,041, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
721	Revenge Era (The Revenge Games, #1) by Brittanee Nicole (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 14,429 ratings score: 3,041, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
723	The Octunnumi Fosbit Files Prologue by Trevor Alan Foris (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 10,156 ratings score: 3,037, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	Free Me (WITSEC, #4) by Ashley N. Rostek (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 21,785 ratings score: 3,036, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
725	Eyes of the Void (The Final Architecture, #2) by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 18,872 ratings score: 3,035, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
726	Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That's Beautiful Again by Lysa TerKeurst (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 24,183 ratings score: 3,027, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
727	Broken Promises (Past Imperfect Mystery, #1) by Anne Willow (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 2,727 ratings score: 3,019, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
728	The White Pill: A Tale of Good and Evil by Michael Malice (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 2,025 ratings score: 3,010, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
729	Crossing the Seas: A Diary of My Thoughts by Yuehai Xiao 3.57 avg rating — 1,984 ratings score: 3,000, 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
729	The Most Interesting Person in the Room: A brief guide to understanding the world by Thomas Vernon (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 171 ratings score: 3,000, 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
731	A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick 4.03 avg rating — 108,706 ratings score: 2,996, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
732	The Lost Letters of Aisling by Cynthia Ellingsen (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 23,067 ratings score: 2,990, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
733	The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 43,476 ratings score: 2,986, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
734	Lore by Alexandra Bracken (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 104,885 ratings score: 2,985, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
734	The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood 4.32 avg rating — 21,617 ratings score: 2,985, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
736	False Flag (Jason Trapp, #2) by Jack Slater (Goodreads Author) 4.53 avg rating — 13,194 ratings score: 2,983, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
736	Picking Daisies on Sundays (Picking Daisies on Sundays, #1) by Liana Cincotti (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 46,665 ratings score: 2,983, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
738	The Green Mile by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.49 avg rating — 354,177 ratings score: 2,977, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
738	A Gracious Enemy & After the War Volume Two by Michael G. Kramer (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 6,071 ratings score: 2,977, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	A Time for Swords (A Time for Swords, #1) by Matthew Harffy (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 2,678 ratings score: 2,975, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	Hex of the Witch (The Other Witch, #1) by Heather G. Harris (Goodreads Author) 4.43 avg rating — 4,163 ratings score: 2,975, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
742	Legacy of Shadows: An International Crime Thriller (The Family Legacy Series) by Carolyn M. Bowen (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 1,489 ratings score: 2,972, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
743	The Lady of the Tower (The Lydiard Chronicles, #1) by Elizabeth St. John (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 1,905 ratings score: 2,968, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
744	The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 25,822 ratings score: 2,967, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
745	Blackbird (Hart's Ridge #9) by Kay Bratt (Goodreads Author) 4.59 avg rating — 4,313 ratings score: 2,962, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
746	Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers by Lois P. Frankel (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 19,526 ratings score: 2,961, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
747	The Perfect Fit by Sadie Kincaid (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 75,409 ratings score: 2,960, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
748	Code Red (Mitch Rapp #22) by Kyle Mills (Goodreads Author) 4.41 avg rating — 19,923 ratings score: 2,959, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	Fluency (Confluence, #1) by Jennifer Foehner Wells (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 11,452 ratings score: 2,952, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	Quantum Energetics and Spirituality Volume 1: Aligning with Universal Consciousness by Kenneth Schmitt 4.37 avg rating — 1,506 ratings score: 2,952, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
751	The Painter's Apprentice (Venetian Artisans, #1) by Laura Morelli (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 1,086 ratings score: 2,951, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
752	Brotherhood of the Goat (Alex Mason #10) by David Archer 4.43 avg rating — 2,899 ratings score: 2,948, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
753	Weapons Grade (Jack Ryan Jr, #17; Jack Ryan Universe, #36) by Don Bentley (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 6,829 ratings score: 2,944, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
754	The Locked Door by Freida McFadden (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 558,965 ratings score: 2,942, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
755	A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.97 avg rating — 1,267,447 ratings score: 2,938, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
755	Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 18,420 ratings score: 2,938, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
757	The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt 3.96 avg rating — 1,017,982 ratings score: 2,934, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
758	Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins 4.12 avg rating — 281,346 ratings score: 2,926, 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
759	Poison Study (Study, #1) by Maria V. Snyder (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 174,568 ratings score: 2,923, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
760	Flash Point (Jason Trapp, #3) by Jack Slater (Goodreads Author) 4.51 avg rating — 9,730 ratings score: 2,912, 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
760	Altar of Resistance (World War Two #2) by Samuel Marquis (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 1,082 ratings score: 2,912, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
762	Win (Windsor Horne Lockwood III, #1) by Harlan Coben (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 76,999 ratings score: 2,907, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
763	A Compromising Position by Diane Merrill Wigginton (Goodreads Author) 4.43 avg rating — 1,041 ratings score: 2,904, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
764	The Good Earth (House of Earth, #1) by Pearl S. Buck 4.01 avg rating — 258,539 ratings score: 2,899, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
765	Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck 4.10 avg rating — 171,173 ratings score: 2,897, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
766	Winter's Mourn (Winter Black #1) by Mary Stone (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 31,491 ratings score: 2,892, 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
767	The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 438,453 ratings score: 2,890, 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
768	The Passage (The Passage, #1) by Justin Cronin (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 221,003 ratings score: 2,889, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
768	Ana Rocha: Shadows of Justice by Ammar Habib (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 5,511 ratings score: 2,889, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
768	Take Command: Find Your Inner Strength, Build Enduring Relationships, and Live the Life You Want by Joe Hart (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 7,128 ratings score: 2,889, 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
771	The Diamond of London by Andrea Penrose (Goodreads Author) 3.73 avg rating — 1,826 ratings score: 2,888, 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
772	Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America by Clay Risen 4.25 avg rating — 703 ratings score: 2,886, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
773	Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10) by Agatha Christie 4.20 avg rating — 709,406 ratings score: 2,885, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
774	One Last Kill (Tracy Crosswhite, #10) by Robert Dugoni (Goodreads Author) 4.48 avg rating — 23,789 ratings score: 2,882, 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
775	Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes 4.27 avg rating — 46,740 ratings score: 2,877, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
776	Gilded Tower (Double-Blind #2) by J. McCoy 4.31 avg rating — 899 ratings score: 2,876, 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
777	Mistress Suffragette by Diana Forbes (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 4,571 ratings score: 2,867, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
777	Grace (The Shackleford Sisters #1) by Beverley Watts (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 17,315 ratings score: 2,867, 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
777	You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 10,220 ratings score: 2,867, 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
780	Vampire Princess Rising (The Winters Family Saga, #2) by Jami Brumfield (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 262 ratings score: 2,858, 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
781	The Captive Mind by Czesław Miłosz 4.27 avg rating — 4,778 ratings score: 2,857, 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
782	Power And Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence by Ajay Agrawal 4.22 avg rating — 7,202 ratings score: 2,856, 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
783	My Money My Way: Taking Back Control of Your Financial Life by Kumiko Love 4.17 avg rating — 2,484 ratings score: 2,848, 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
784	Persepolis Rising (The Expanse, #7) by James S.A. Corey (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 83,612 ratings score: 2,847, 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
785	This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 315,060 ratings score: 2,842, 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
786	Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) by Kami Garcia (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 617,939 ratings score: 2,836, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
787	American Marxism by Mark R. Levin 4.16 avg rating — 4,404 ratings score: 2,834, 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
788	Tell No One by Harlan Coben (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 184,964 ratings score: 2,833, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
788	Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, #2) by Mary E. Pearson (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 107,808 ratings score: 2,833, 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
790	The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games, #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 589,347 ratings score: 2,830, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
791	Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 74,084 ratings score: 2,820, 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
792	Chasing the Dragon: BY NEW BLOOD DAGGER AND SCOTTISH CRIME DEBUT SHORTLISTED AUTHOR (Betancourt Mystery Series Book 2) by Mark Wightman 4.27 avg rating — 655 ratings score: 2,813, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
793	The Dragon Queen (The Dragon #2) by William Andrews 4.25 avg rating — 5,596 ratings score: 2,811, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
794	Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 379,949 ratings score: 2,809, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
795	The Godfather (The Godfather, #1) by Mario Puzo 4.40 avg rating — 455,643 ratings score: 2,805, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
795	Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism by Michael Parenti 4.39 avg rating — 8,685 ratings score: 2,805, 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
797	Lips of a Mastodon by Ted Bernal Guevara (Goodreads Author) 3.57 avg rating — 2,875 ratings score: 2,796, 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
797	Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn 3.89 avg rating — 2,712 ratings score: 2,796, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
799	11/22/63 by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 622,159 ratings score: 2,794, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
800	Silk Road (Epic Adventure, #1) by Colin Falconer (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 10,260 ratings score: 2,793, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate 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 · 16,031 voters · list created July 29th, 2008 by Rob (votes) .

Tags: exceeded-expectations, fiction, non-fiction

669 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (16031)

Rob 232 books
23 friends

Robert 432 books
14 friends

Lauren 1833 books
317 friends

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)

date

newest »

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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