Big Books of 2026

Listopia > Character Driven Book Lists

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin HobbThe Name of the Wind by Patrick RothfussA Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinAssassin's Quest by Robin HobbFool's Errand by Robin Hobb
Character Driven Fantasy Books
294 books — 264 voters
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana ZapataKulti by Mariana ZapataWait for It by Mariana ZapataThe Hating Game by Sally ThorneBeard Science by Penny Reid
Slow Seduction in Contemporary Romance
127 books — 188 voters

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann ShafferAnne of Green Gables by L.M. MontgomeryThe Help by Kathryn StockettAll Creatures Great and Small by James HerriotThe Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Most Charming Novels
387 books — 179 voters
A Week to be Wicked by Tessa DareThe Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia QuinnWhat I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne LongAny Duchess Will Do by Tessa DareYours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros
Best Character Driven Historical Romance
174 books — 104 voters

Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierThe Secret History by Donna TarttThe Hat Trick Murders by John A. MacEachernThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonThe Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carré
Literary thrillers
154 books — 87 voters
Hurricane Season by Lauren K. DentonThe Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories by Celeste Fletcher McHaleThe Hideaway by Lauren K. DentonThe Help by Kathryn StockettTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Contemporary Southern Women Writers
216 books — 79 voters

Stardust by Neil GaimanThe Princess Bride by William GoldmanThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann ShafferThe Help by Kathryn StockettThe Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Best Whimsical Novels
76 books — 54 voters
Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Best SA-Free Fiction for Young Adults
141 books — 30 voters

Stargirl by Jerry SpinelliCinder by Marissa MeyerFangirl by Rainbow RowellCress by Marissa MeyerLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott
Best SA-Free Romance for Young Adults
44 books — 29 voters
Dead Low Tide by Eddie JonesRumor of a Werewolf by Eddie JonesDead Man's Hand by Eddie JonesHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. RowlingSkull Creek Stakeout by Eddie Jones
Best G-Rated Fiction for Tweens and Teens
78 books — 23 voters

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. RowlingTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Best SA-Free Fiction
52 books — 20 voters
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. RowlingThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeA Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Best Transformed-Character Fiction for Young Adults
63 books — 20 voters

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienLegend of the Storm Sneezer by Kristiana SfirleaThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Best G-Rated Fantasy and Science Fiction for Tweens and Teens
76 books — 19 voters
Memory by Lois McMaster BujoldHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingMajor Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen SimonsonJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëThe Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Best Transformed-Character Fiction
64 books — 17 voters

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha ChristieAnd Then There Were None by Agatha ChristieThe Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha ChristieGaudy Night by Dorothy L. SayersTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Best SA-Free Historical Mysteries (set and/or written prior to 1970).
46 books — 15 voters
The Rosie Project by Graeme SimsionThe Princess Bride by William GoldmanEleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanOne for the Money by Janet EvanovichThe Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Smart funny fiction
68 books — 13 voters

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara RobinsonThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienWinnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
Favorite Uplifting, Trauma-free Books
101 books — 11 voters
Doomsday Book by Connie WillisTo Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie WillisSunshine by Robin McKinleyCrosstalk by Connie WillisShadows by Robin McKinley
Best SA-Free Fantasy and Sci Fi
53 books — 9 voters

The Whistling Season by Ivan DoigGreat Expectations by Charles DickensMy Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim PotokThe Three Musketeers by Alexandre DumasLife Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson
Best SA-Free Historical Fiction
40 books — 8 voters
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen SimonsonCrosstalk by Connie WillisOne Plus One by Jojo MoyesPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenThe Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Best SA-Free Romance
30 books — 8 voters

One Corpse Too Many by Ellis PetersThe Chosen by Chaim PotokLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottThe Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. KingThe Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
Best SA-Free Historical Fiction for Young Adults
32 books — 7 voters
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisWatership Down by Richard AdamsThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. LewisHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Best Transformed-Character Juvenile Fiction (Age 7 to 12).
28 books — 7 voters

New Creations by Sarah HanksWeaving Roots by Heather WoodUntil We All Share Joy by Heather WoodThrough Thorny Ways by Jennifer Q. HuntUntil We All Run Free by Heather Wood
Character-driven Christian Fiction
13 books — 6 voters
My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim PotokThe Annotated Alice by Lewis CarrollRosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea BeatyTo Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie WillisLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott
Best G-Rated Historical Fiction for Tweens and Teens
24 books — 5 voters

Shadowland by Jenny CarrollNinth Key by Meg CabotTwilight by Meg CabotHaunted by Meg CabotReunion by Jenny Carroll
If You Like The Name Of The Star, Try
14 books — 3 voters
The Raven Boys by Maggie StiefvaterStrange the Dreamer by Laini TaylorHare House by Sally HinchcliffeThe Dream Thieves by Maggie StiefvaterWhen the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
No Plot, Just Vibes
17 books — 3 voters

The Hate You Give by Angie ThomasVicious by V.E. SchwabThe Sun and the Star by Rick RiordanThe Screaming Staircase by Jonathan StroudI Fell in Love With Hope by Lancali
ENFJ protagonists
12 books — 2 voters
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean VuongCleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco MellorsWe All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
For Literary Fiction Lovers
3 books — 1 voter

The Woman in the Window by A.J. FinnLittle Eve by Catriona WardFourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosHorns by Joe HillA Question of Sanity by Katherine Black
10 Psychological Thrillers That Blur Reality
5 books — 1 voter
The Atlas of Elsewhere by L.J. Ribar
Cozy Fantasy for Self-Discovery
1 book — 1 voter

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