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ALA The Reading List

Description: Established in 2007 by the CODES section of RUSA, The Reading List Council seeks to highlight outstanding genre fiction that merits special attention by general adult readers and the librarians who work with them. These are all the winners and shortlisted books since 2008. NOTE: I stopped updating this list in 2020.
Based on bookaward: Reading List Award shortlist

1 2 3 4 5

Rank Title Author Added CK Order

1

by Gillian Flynn

22,181 members

1,543 reviews

3.9

16 Members: sduff222, DowntownLibrarian, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, rretzler, Anansilaw, gypsysmom, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Dreesie, anneso69, Lynsey2, darylanderson, TeriAndersonNeedham, steller0707

2

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern

18,516 members

1,265 reviews

4.1

12 Members: KimarieBee, sduff222, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, kappasigma, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Dreesie, anneso69, Lynsey2, steller0707

3

The Nightingale

by Kristin Hannah

9,857 members

467 reviews

½ 4.3

12 Members: dara85, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Laura1124, Lynsey2, mstrandell, steller0707, bonnkoel

4

18,188 members

1,246 reviews

½ 4.3

9 Members: kristenl, KimarieBee, sduff222, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, kappasigma, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Lynsey2

5

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer

19,437 members

1,248 reviews

4.2

10 Members: DowntownLibrarian, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Dreesie, Lynsey2, steller0707, bonnkoel

6

The Little Stranger

by Sarah Waters

5,091 members

345 reviews

½ 3.6

10 Members: DowntownLibrarian, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, kappasigma, ahef1963, kara.shamy, darylanderson, ManWithAnAgenda, steller0707

7

The Windup Girl

by Paolo Bacigalupi

6,237 members

304 reviews

½ 3.7

8 Members: aulsmith, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, rretzler, kappasigma, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

8

Rules of Civility

5,210 members

312 reviews

4

7 Members: kristenl, DowntownLibrarian, sturlington, gypsysmom, Laura1124, Lynsey2, steller0707

9

Ready Player One

by Ernest Cline

18,543 members

1,280 reviews

4.1

8 Members: hipdeep, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, rretzler, ahef1963, Dreesie, ManWithAnAgenda, steller0707

10

The Rosie Project

by Graeme Simsion

7,630 members

551 reviews

4

7 Members: kristenl, KimarieBee, DowntownLibrarian, DeltaQueen50, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Lynsey2

11

by Stephen King

13,632 members

765 reviews

4.2

7 Members: dara85, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, kappasigma, ahef1963, darylanderson, TeriAndersonNeedham,ManWithAnAgenda

12

5,603 members

280 reviews

½ 4.3

7 Members: RidgewayGirl, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Dreesie, Laura1124, Lynsey2, steller0707

13

News of the World

by Paulette Jiles

2,892 members

224 reviews

4.2

6 Members: kristenl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, kara.shamy, Dreesie, Lynsey2

14

by Madeline Miller

12,407 members

480 reviews

½ 4.3

6 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington, kara.shamy, Laura1124, TeriAndersonNeedham, steller0707

15

by Guy Gavriel Kay

1,900 members

116 reviews

4.1

5 Members: aulsmith, DeltaQueen50, merrystar, kappasigma, ahef1963,

16

by Sarah Addison Allen

5,029 members

369 reviews

4

5 Members: dara85, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, kappasigma

17

6,487 members

282 reviews

4.1

6 Members: RidgewayGirl, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Laura1124, Lynsey2, steller0707

18

The Fifth Season

by N. K. Jemisin

8,036 members

364 reviews

4.2

6 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, Laura1124, Lynsey2, ManWithAnAgenda, steller0707,sturlington
Explanations: sturlington : DNF

19

The Cruellest Month

by Louise Penny

3,314 members

191 reviews

4

5 Members: DowntownLibrarian, gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson, steller0707

20

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

by Alan Bradley

7,781 members

656 reviews

3.8

6 Members: DowntownLibrarian, DeltaQueen50, rretzler, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, Dreesie,ahef1963

21

2,727 members

193 reviews

½ 3.7

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, ahef1963, kara.shamy

22

5,391 members

228 reviews

3.8

5 Members: DowntownLibrarian, DeltaQueen50, ahef1963, Dreesie, darylanderson

23

The Golem and the Jinni

by Helene Wecker

5,434 members

362 reviews

4.1

5 Members: sturlington, kappasigma, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Lynsey2

24

A Beautiful Place to Die

554 members

39 reviews

4

5 Members: DowntownLibrarian, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, kappasigma, Anansilaw

25

4,369 members

282 reviews

3.9

4 Members: DowntownLibrarian, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, darylanderson

26

The Invisible Bridge

by Julie Orringer

2,110 members

137 reviews

4.2

5 Members: dara85, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, Anansilaw, steller0707

27

Bring Up the Bodies

by Hilary Mantel

6,947 members

346 reviews

½ 4.3

4 Members: hipdeep, RidgewayGirl, kara.shamy, darylanderson

28

The Song of Achilles

by Madeline Miller

13,142 members

512 reviews

4.2

5 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington, kara.shamy, Dreesie, steller0707

29

Mistress of the Art of Death

by Ariana Franklin

4,008 members

251 reviews

3.9

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, Anansilaw, gypsysmom

30

by Louise Penny

2,947 members

224 reviews

4.2

4 Members: Anansilaw, gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

31

6,623 members

380 reviews

4.1

4 Members: DeltaQueen50, merrystar, sturlington, kara.shamy,

32

by Candice Carty-Williams

1,548 members

60 reviews

½ 3.7

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, ahef1963, kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

33

The Long and Faraway Gone

459 members

47 reviews

4

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, kara.shamy

34

by Stephen King

6,488 members

341 reviews

3.8

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington, ahef1963, darylanderson

35

Broken Monsters

by Lauren Beukes

1,383 members

105 reviews

½ 3.6

4 Members: sduff222, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington

36

The Secret Keeper

3,429 members

228 reviews

4.1

4 Members: dara85, RidgewayGirl, gypsysmom, ahef1963

37

by Jeff VanderMeer

6,368 members

368 reviews

½ 3.7

5 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, rretzler, Dreesie,

38

943 members

72 reviews

½ 3.4

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington, kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

39

Heart-Shaped Box

6,787 members

371 reviews

½ 3.7

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington, darylanderson,ManWithAnAgenda

40

by Brit Bennett

1,985 members

95 reviews

3.8

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, kara.shamy, Dreesie, steller0707

41

Girl Waits With Gun

1,732 members

148 reviews

3.8

4 Members: DeltaQueen50, kara.shamy, darylanderson, steller0707

42

What Alice Forgot

by Liane Moriarty

4,532 members

265 reviews

3.9

3 Members: kristenl, ahef1963, TeriAndersonNeedham

43

by Naomi Alderman

4,777 members

254 reviews

½ 3.7

4 Members: sturlington, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, steller0707

44

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman

8,868 members

534 reviews

4.1

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington, ahef1963, steller0707

45

The Water Knife

by Paolo Bacigalupi

1,810 members

95 reviews

3.8

3 Members: hipdeep, sturlington, gypsysmom

46

Children of Earth and Sky

by Guy Gavriel Kay

768 members

41 reviews

4

3 Members: DeltaQueen50, merrystar, gypsysmom

47

by Mary Doria Russell

1,418 members

176 reviews

4.1

3 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington

48

The Girl Who Chased the Moon: A Novel

by Sarah Addison Allen

2,509 members

210 reviews

3.9

3 Members: dara85, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50

49

Little Black Lies

by Sharon Bolton

476 members

52 reviews

3.9

3 Members: sturlington, kappasigma, kara.shamy

50

3,029 members

209 reviews

3.9

3 Members: sturlington, rretzler, Dreesie

51

The Brutal Telling

by Louise Penny

3,147 members

277 reviews

4

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

52

The Husband's Secret

by Liane Moriarty

6,056 members

395 reviews

3.8

3 Members: DeltaQueen50, ahef1963, TeriAndersonNeedham

53

The Beautiful Mystery

by Louise Penny

2,809 members

196 reviews

4

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

54

A Trick of the Light

by Louise Penny

2,626 members

157 reviews

4.1

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

55

A Head Full of Ghosts

by Paul Tremblay

2,157 members

145 reviews

½ 3.7

3 Members: sturlington, ahef1963, darylanderson

56

How the Light Gets In

by Louise Penny

2,623 members

174 reviews

½ 4.3

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

57

by Connie Willis

1,012 members

74 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: merrystar, rretzler

58

The Name of the Wind

by Patrick Rothfuss

20,474 members

791 reviews

½ 4.4

4 Members: KimarieBee, DeltaQueen50, kappasigma, ahef1963, ,ManWithAnAgenda

59

10,264 members

606 reviews

4.1

3 Members: DeltaQueen50, ahef1963, Dreesie

60

The Last Werewolf

1,527 members

120 reviews

½ 3.5

3 Members: KimarieBee, DeltaQueen50, ManWithAnAgenda,sturlington

61

3,787 members

269 reviews

4

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, kara.shamy

62

The Sugar Queen

by Sarah Addison Allen

2,935 members

222 reviews

4

2 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50

63

The Haunting of Maddy Clare

by Simone St. James

776 members

57 reviews

3.8

2 Members: sturlington, TeriAndersonNeedham

64

by China Miéville

3,416 members

215 reviews

3.9

2 Members: sturlington, Dreesie

65

by Kate Forsyth

623 members

44 reviews

4

2 Members: KimarieBee, kara.shamy

66

482 members

27 reviews

½ 3.6

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

67

4,522 members

295 reviews

3.8

3 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington, darylanderson,ahef1963

68

by Stephen King

7,794 members

326 reviews

4

3 Members: sturlington, ahef1963, darylanderson,ManWithAnAgenda

69

The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns

by Margaret Dilloway

232 members

33 reviews

3.8

2 Members: Anansilaw, gypsysmom

70

by Melissa Albert

3,172 members

147 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

71

Before I Go to Sleep

by S. J. Watson

6,188 members

475 reviews

½ 3.7

Member: ahef1963

72

The Veil of Gold

178 members

8 reviews

3.9

Member: KimarieBee
Explanations: KimarieBee: Each book is Stand Alone - only linked by the author

73

Flight of the Sparrow: A Novel of Early America

by Amy Belding Brown

379 members

19 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: kara.shamy, Dreesie

74

Down Among the Sticks and Bones

by Seanan McGuire

1,681 members

146 reviews

4.1

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

75

The Ruin of Kings

1,038 members

29 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

76

The Magician King

by Lev Grossman

4,199 members

198 reviews

3.9

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

77

6,455 members

392 reviews

4.1

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, gypsysmom

78

Little Heaven: A Novel

by Craig Davidson

385 members

23 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: sturlington, kara.shamy

79

The Silent Companions

by Laura Purcell

1,042 members

56 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: sturlington, ManWithAnAgenda

80

2,470 members

159 reviews

3.8

2 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington

81

A Darker Shade of Magic

by V. E. Schwab

7,449 members

324 reviews

3.9

2 Members: ahef1963, kara.shamy

82

by Francis Spufford

1,084 members

61 reviews

3.9

2 Members: kara.shamy, steller0707

83

The Marsh King's Daughter

by Karen Dionne

779 members

68 reviews

3.9

2 Members: sturlington, kara.shamy

84

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead

915 members

87 reviews

½ 3.6

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington

85

by Alexandra Sokoloff

276 members

15 reviews

½ 3.6

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington

86

To the Bright Edge of the World

1,118 members

80 reviews

4.1

2 Members: kara.shamy, steller0707

87

A Bollywood Affair

357 members

29 reviews

½ 3.7

Member: sduff222

88

The Secrets We Kept

by Lara Prescott

1,133 members

61 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: kara.shamy, steller0707

89

by Pierre Lemaitre

846 members

58 reviews

3.9

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, kara.shamy

90

by Tim Johnston

895 members

110 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington

91

The Last Days of Night

by Graham Moore

1,259 members

80 reviews

4.1

2 Members: sturlington, kara.shamy

92

An Ocean of Minutes

338 members

22 reviews

½ 3.5

2 Members: sturlington, gypsysmom

93

by Dervla McTiernan

923 members

55 reviews

3.9

2 Members: sturlington, gypsysmom

94

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

by N. K. Jemisin

4,169 members

290 reviews

3.9

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington

95

The Devotion of Suspect X

by Keigo Higashino

1,848 members

240 reviews

3.8

Member: ahef1963

96

by Seanan McGuire

1,484 members

70 reviews

4

Member: ManWithAnAgenda

97

by Harlan Coben

3,196 members

124 reviews

3.8

Member: dara85

98

The Broken Girls

by Simone St. James

1,750 members

113 reviews

4

Member: ManWithAnAgenda

99

1,217 members

57 reviews

3.8

2 Members: dara85, DeltaQueen50,sturlington

100

A Matter of Class

593 members

46 reviews

½ 3.7

Member: Anansilaw

1 2 3 4 5

About This List

Started: sturlington
November 2013
Type: Numbered and unnumbered, Adding restricted

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