Goodreads Choice Awards Opening Round

Listopia > Strong Book Lists

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsVampire Academy by Richelle MeadGraceling by Kristin CashoreCatching Fire by Suzanne CollinsCity of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Kick-Butt Heroines
2,347 books — 2,424 voters
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingThe Golden Compass by Philip PullmanSabriel by Garth NixElla Enchanted by Gail Carson LevineGraceling by Kristin Cashore
Best Heroine in a Fantasy Book
1,506 books — 1,814 voters

Viciously Yours by Jamie Applegate HunterThe Three Witches and The Master by Max NowazThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsThe Lies of Vampires and Slayers by K.M. SheaA Dead and Stormy Night by Steffanie Holmes
Fantasy/Science Fiction Books with Strong Female Characters
1,264 books — 1,312 voters
Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëGone with the Wind by Margaret MitchellThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Books with Strong Women Characters (All Genres)
1,784 books — 877 voters

The Doomsday Butcher by S.E. StitcherThe Only Possible Solution by Fons BurgerBlotch in the Mirror by Stuart E. SchadtDante's Revenge by Lotchie BurtonSeeking Fairness at Work by Hanna Hasl-Kelchner
The 52 Book Club 2026: #18 - Provokes Strong Emotion
313 books — 859 voters
The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenMatilda by Roald DahlLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Strong Female Leads in Literature & Fiction (all genres)
1,501 books — 714 voters

White Hot by Ilona AndrewsMagic Bites by Ilona AndrewsFighting Destiny by Amelia HutchinsA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasTaunting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins
Best Adult Fantasy Romance with Hot Independent Heroine
430 books — 373 voters
Smile by Raina TelgemeierNimona by N.D. StevensonDrama by Raina TelgemeierSisters by Raina TelgemeierLumberjanes, Vol. 1 by N.D. Stevenson
Comics for Teen Girls (that are NOT Japanese manga)
464 books — 310 voters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsThrone of Glass by Sarah J. MaasDivergent by Veronica RothCinder by Marissa MeyerVampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Kickass Female Protagonists
287 books — 215 voters
Archer's Voice by Mia SheridanEasy by Tammara WebberThe Sea of Tranquility by Katja MillayMaking Faces by Amy HarmonRunning Barefoot by Amy Harmon
Intense Romance With a Shy But Strong Male
89 books — 205 voters

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert MunschRed Is the Color Of... by Tiffany HaistenRosie Revere, Engineer (The Questioneers by Andrea BeatyMadeline by Ludwig BemelmansOlivia by Ian Falconer
Children's picture books with strong females
269 books — 190 voters
The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëThe Help by Kathryn StockettThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Best Heroines: Strong Female Leads
414 books — 138 voters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëGone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Unforgettable Female Protagonists
374 books — 136 voters
Poison Study by Maria V. SnyderKilling Sarai by J.A. RedmerskiA Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaughtSting by Sandra BrownThrone of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
HEROINES AT THE MERCY OF MALE LEADS -- novels with adult characters & little to no erotica
107 books — 131 voters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsCatching Fire by Suzanne CollinsGraceling by Kristin CashoreMockingjay by Suzanne CollinsVampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Women Who Kick Butt
277 books — 125 voters
Not in a Billion Years by Camilla IsleyThe Worst Best Man by Lucy ScoreFeral Sins by Suzanne WrightDragon Actually by G.A. AikenBaby, One More Time by Camilla Isley
Fierce: Best Romantic Heroines with Attitude
156 books — 121 voters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonDivergent by Veronica RothJane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Most Powerful Female Book Characters
164 books — 75 voters
The Becalmer by Nick WilfordFrostbite by Adrienne WoodsFirebolt by Adrienne WoodsThrone of Glass by Sarah J. MaasThunderlight by Adrienne Woods
YA Books With Brave Female Characters
111 books — 59 voters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsDivergent by Veronica RothThe Cost of Blood and Bonds by Gracie S. ColeCatching Fire by Suzanne CollinsMistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Not your Typical Damsel in Distress
91 books — 45 voters
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene FrostMoon Called by Patricia BriggsLover Mine by J.R. WardOnce Burned by Jeaniene FrostArchangel's Consort by Nalini Singh
Best Adult Fantasy Heroines
45 books — 38 voters

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson LevineFire of Stars and Dragons by Melissa PetreshockThe Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson LevinePride and Prejudice by Jane AustenPrincess Academy by Shannon Hale
strong heroines in YA who DON'T literally kick butt
95 books — 37 voters
The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith by Loris OwenThe Destroyer of Worlds by Steven SerilMystic Evermore by Cecelia Hopkins-DrewerStone Will by Kirill KlevanskiHeaven's Demons by Felix Cipher
From Young to Old Fantasy Books
70 books — 37 voters

Cinder by Marissa MeyerThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsStorm and Silence by Robert ThierCress by Marissa MeyerIn the Eye of the Storm by Robert Thier
YA with Non-Assassin but Awesome Female Protagonists
73 books — 29 voters
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingTales of the Astonishing Black Spark by Charlie J. EskewLife of Pi by Yann MartelLooking for Alaska by John GreenThe Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Strong Male Characters
76 books — 20 voters

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. RowlingHope of the Pharaoh by Katie HamsteadGoodnight, and Thanks for the Vodka [2002] by HarpieThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsBobby's Girl by Bernie Morris
strongest most realatable female characters
50 books — 17 voters
The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsCatching Fire by Suzanne CollinsThe Help by Kathryn StockettMockingjay by Suzanne CollinsMara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Strong Females Unite
70 books — 16 voters

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan AikenMalala's Magic Pencil by Malala YousafzaiThe Horse and His Boy by C.S. LewisThe Silver Chair by C.S. LewisVoyage on the Great Titanic by Ellen Emerson White
Independent Girls in Children's/YA Lit
52 books — 12 voters
Gone Girl by Gillian FlynnThe Haunting of Hill House by Shirley JacksonRebecca by Daphne du MaurierThe Lovely Bones by Alice SeboldIn the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
The 52 Book Club Mystery Genre Challenge - #2 An Opening Line That Hooks You
22 books — 10 voters

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingA Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinA Free Man of Color by Barbara HamblyLords and Ladies by Terry PratchettRivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Formidable Mothers in Fiction
37 books — 9 voters
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra ClareThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsClockwork Prince by Cassandra ClareSanta Muerte by Cynthia PelayoVenomoid by J.A. Kossler
Strongest Protagonist in Dystopian and Paranormal YA
7 books — 5 voters

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