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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

22,279 members

1,546 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

18,650 members

1,269 reviews

4.1

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

3

The Nightingale

by Kristin Hannah

9,938 members

470 reviews

½ 4.3

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

4

18,314 members

1,252 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

19,536 members

1,249 reviews

4.2

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

6

The Little Stranger

by Sarah Waters

5,096 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

6,249 members

304 reviews

½ 3.7

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

8

Rules of Civility

5,257 members

318 reviews

4

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

9

Ready Player One

by Ernest Cline

18,583 members

1,284 reviews

4.1

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

10

The Rosie Project

by Graeme Simsion

7,668 members

553 reviews

4

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

11

by Stephen King

13,730 members

769 reviews

4.2

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

12

5,658 members

280 reviews

½ 4.3

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

13

News of the World

by Paulette Jiles

2,948 members

225 reviews

4.2

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

14

by Madeline Miller

12,583 members

481 reviews

½ 4.3

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

15

by Guy Gavriel Kay

1,900 members

118 reviews

4.1

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

16

by Sarah Addison Allen

5,039 members

369 reviews

4

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

17

6,568 members

284 reviews

4.1

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

18

The Fifth Season

by N. K. Jemisin

8,137 members

365 reviews

4.2

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

19

The Cruellest Month

by Louise Penny

3,355 members

193 reviews

4

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

20

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

by Alan Bradley

7,785 members

657 reviews

3.8

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

21

2,738 members

195 reviews

½ 3.7

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

22

5,411 members

228 reviews

3.8

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

23

The Golem and the Jinni

by Helene Wecker

5,469 members

366 reviews

4.1

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

24

A Beautiful Place to Die

556 members

39 reviews

4

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

25

4,405 members

282 reviews

3.9

4 Members: DowntownLibrarian, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, darylanderson

26

The Invisible Bridge

by Julie Orringer

2,116 members

138 reviews

4.2

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

27

Bring Up the Bodies

by Hilary Mantel

6,975 members

347 reviews

½ 4.3

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

28

The Song of Achilles

by Madeline Miller

13,297 members

515 reviews

4.2

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

29

Mistress of the Art of Death

by Ariana Franklin

4,019 members

251 reviews

3.9

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, Anansilaw, gypsysmom

30

by Louise Penny

2,974 members

226 reviews

4.2

4 Members: Anansilaw, gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

31

6,688 members

382 reviews

4.1

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

32

by Candice Carty-Williams

1,565 members

61 reviews

½ 3.7

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

33

The Long and Faraway Gone

464 members

47 reviews

4

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

34

by Stephen King

6,550 members

342 reviews

3.8

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington, ahef1963, darylanderson

35

Broken Monsters

by Lauren Beukes

1,388 members

105 reviews

½ 3.6

4 Members: sduff222, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington

36

The Secret Keeper

3,440 members

229 reviews

4.1

4 Members: dara85, RidgewayGirl, gypsysmom, ahef1963

37

by Jeff VanderMeer

6,399 members

371 reviews

½ 3.7

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

38

950 members

72 reviews

½ 3.4

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

39

Heart-Shaped Box

6,820 members

371 reviews

½ 3.7

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

40

by Brit Bennett

2,004 members

95 reviews

3.8

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

41

Girl Waits With Gun

1,755 members

148 reviews

3.8

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

42

What Alice Forgot

by Liane Moriarty

4,540 members

265 reviews

3.9

3 Members: kristenl, ahef1963, TeriAndersonNeedham

43

by Naomi Alderman

4,807 members

255 reviews

½ 3.7

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

44

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman

8,945 members

536 reviews

4.1

4 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington, ahef1963, steller0707

45

The Water Knife

by Paolo Bacigalupi

1,824 members

95 reviews

3.8

3 Members: hipdeep, sturlington, gypsysmom

46

Children of Earth and Sky

by Guy Gavriel Kay

768 members

42 reviews

4

3 Members: DeltaQueen50, merrystar, gypsysmom

47

by Mary Doria Russell

1,420 members

176 reviews

4.1

3 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50, sturlington

48

The Girl Who Chased the Moon: A Novel

by Sarah Addison Allen

2,510 members

210 reviews

3.9

3 Members: dara85, RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50

49

Little Black Lies

by Sharon Bolton

477 members

52 reviews

3.9

3 Members: sturlington, kappasigma, kara.shamy

50

3,033 members

209 reviews

3.9

3 Members: sturlington, rretzler, Dreesie

51

The Brutal Telling

by Louise Penny

3,169 members

279 reviews

4

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

52

The Husband's Secret

by Liane Moriarty

6,077 members

396 reviews

3.8

3 Members: DeltaQueen50, ahef1963, TeriAndersonNeedham

53

The Beautiful Mystery

by Louise Penny

2,825 members

198 reviews

4

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

54

A Trick of the Light

by Louise Penny

2,641 members

159 reviews

4.1

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

55

A Head Full of Ghosts

by Paul Tremblay

2,184 members

146 reviews

3.8

3 Members: sturlington, ahef1963, darylanderson

56

How the Light Gets In

by Louise Penny

2,631 members

175 reviews

½ 4.3

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, darylanderson

57

by Connie Willis

1,020 members

74 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: merrystar, rretzler

58

The Name of the Wind

by Patrick Rothfuss

20,605 members

795 reviews

½ 4.4

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

59

10,341 members

608 reviews

4.1

3 Members: DeltaQueen50, ahef1963, Dreesie

60

The Last Werewolf

1,534 members

120 reviews

½ 3.5

3 Members: KimarieBee, DeltaQueen50, ManWithAnAgenda,sturlington

61

3,811 members

269 reviews

4

3 Members: gypsysmom, ahef1963, kara.shamy

62

The Sugar Queen

by Sarah Addison Allen

2,949 members

224 reviews

4

2 Members: RidgewayGirl, DeltaQueen50

63

The Haunting of Maddy Clare

by Simone St. James

775 members

57 reviews

3.8

2 Members: sturlington, TeriAndersonNeedham

64

by China Miéville

3,425 members

215 reviews

3.9

2 Members: sturlington, Dreesie

65

by Kate Forsyth

623 members

44 reviews

4

2 Members: KimarieBee, kara.shamy

66

486 members

27 reviews

½ 3.6

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

67

4,551 members

295 reviews

3.8

3 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington, darylanderson,ahef1963

68

by Stephen King

7,836 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

3,209 members

147 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

71

Before I Go to Sleep

by S. J. Watson

6,198 members

476 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

380 members

19 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: kara.shamy, Dreesie

74

Down Among the Sticks and Bones

by Seanan McGuire

1,693 members

146 reviews

4.1

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

75

The Ruin of Kings

1,052 members

29 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

76

The Magician King

by Lev Grossman

4,233 members

198 reviews

3.9

2 Members: kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda

77

6,525 members

394 reviews

4.1

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, gypsysmom

78

Little Heaven: A Novel

by Craig Davidson

394 members

23 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: sturlington, kara.shamy

79

The Silent Companions

by Laura Purcell

1,051 members

58 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: sturlington, ManWithAnAgenda

80

2,497 members

160 reviews

3.8

2 Members: RidgewayGirl, sturlington

81

A Darker Shade of Magic

by V. E. Schwab

7,544 members

326 reviews

3.9

2 Members: ahef1963, kara.shamy

82

by Francis Spufford

1,086 members

62 reviews

3.9

2 Members: kara.shamy, steller0707

83

The Marsh King's Daughter

by Karen Dionne

787 members

70 reviews

3.9

2 Members: sturlington, kara.shamy

84

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead

917 members

87 reviews

½ 3.6

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington

85

by Alexandra Sokoloff

277 members

15 reviews

½ 3.6

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington

86

To the Bright Edge of the World

1,137 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

1,142 members

61 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: kara.shamy, steller0707

89

by Pierre Lemaitre

852 members

58 reviews

3.9

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, kara.shamy

90

by Tim Johnston

897 members

110 reviews

½ 3.7

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington

91

The Last Days of Night

by Graham Moore

1,266 members

80 reviews

4.1

2 Members: sturlington, kara.shamy

92

An Ocean of Minutes

342 members

23 reviews

½ 3.5

2 Members: sturlington, gypsysmom

93

by Dervla McTiernan

935 members

58 reviews

3.9

2 Members: sturlington, gypsysmom

94

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

by N. K. Jemisin

4,185 members

291 reviews

3.9

2 Members: DeltaQueen50, sturlington

95

The Devotion of Suspect X

by Keigo Higashino

1,853 members

241 reviews

3.8

Member: ahef1963

96

by Seanan McGuire

1,491 members

70 reviews

4

Member: ManWithAnAgenda

97

by Harlan Coben

3,204 members

124 reviews

3.8

Member: dara85

98

The Broken Girls

by Simone St. James

1,766 members

113 reviews

4

Member: ManWithAnAgenda

99

1,221 members

57 reviews

3.8

2 Members: dara85, DeltaQueen50,sturlington

100

A Matter of Class

596 members

47 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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