The 25 Best Books on Goodreads: The Highest Rated Novels Readers Love

When I am looking for my next great read, one of the first places I check is Goodreads. Whether you agree with every rating or not, Goodreads remains one of the most influential book communities in the world. Millions of readers use the platform to track their reading, write reviews, create lists, and recommend books to fellow book lovers.

With such a massive user base, Goodreads ratings can provide an interesting glimpse into which books have resonated most strongly with readers. That got me wondering: what are the highest-rated books on Goodreads?

Fortunately, Goodreads has already done the work. The platform maintains a list of its highest-rated books, with some important qualifications. To be considered, a book must have at least 10,000 ratings and cannot be a box set, collection, short story, or most nonfiction titles. The result is a fascinating collection of books that readers consistently rank among their all-time favorites.

One thing immediately stands out when looking at the list: fantasy dominates. Readers clearly love epic worlds, unforgettable characters, and sprawling adventures. However, there are also memoirs, graphic novels, historical fiction, and contemporary classics that have earned their place among Goodreads’ elite.

Here are the 25 highest-rated books on Goodreads and why so many readers continue to love them.

The 25 Best Books on Goodreads

• Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2) by Brandon Sanderson 
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7) by J.K. Rowling 
• Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2) by Leigh Bardugo
• The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien 
• A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2) by Sarah J. Maas
• Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros 
• The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus, #4) by Rick Riordan
• The Wise Man’s Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2) by Patrick Rothfuss
• Know My Name by Chanel Miller 
• The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman 
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 
• Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7) by Sarah J. Maas     
• Heartstopper: Volume Four (Heartstopper, #4) by Alice Oseman
• Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare
• Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson 
• It’s a Magical World (Calvin and Hobbes, #11) by Bill Watterson 
• The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy 
• A Memory of Light (The Wheel of Time, #14) by Robert Jordan 
• The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton 
• March: Book Three (March, #3) by John Lewis 
• Assassin’s Fate (The Fitz and the Fool, #3) by Robin Hobb
• Trouble with Peace (The Age of Madness, #2) by Joe Abercrombie
• Reaper (Cradle, #10) by Will Wight
• A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss
• Jade Legacy (The Green Bone Saga, #3) by Fonda Lee

Why Fantasy Dominates Goodreads

If there is one clear takeaway from this list, it is that Goodreads readers absolutely love fantasy.

Brandon Sanderson, Sarah J. Maas, Patrick Rothfuss, Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, Robert Jordan, Fonda Lee, and J.R.R. Tolkien all make appearances. Fantasy readers are some of the most passionate readers in the world, and they tend to reward authors who create immersive worlds and long-running series.

Another interesting trend is that many of these books are not the first entry in a series. Instead, they are later installments that build upon stories readers already love.

This makes a lot of sense. By the time readers reach the second, third, or even fourteenth book in a series, they are already invested in the characters and world. If an author successfully delivers an emotional payoff, those books often receive incredibly high ratings.

Words of Radiance Is Goodreads’ Highest Rated Book

At the very top of the list sits Words of Radiance, the second book in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series.

If you spend any time in fantasy circles, this probably will not surprise you. Sanderson has built a reputation as one of the most beloved fantasy authors of the modern era.

What makes this achievement particularly interesting is that Words of Radiance is not a standalone novel. Readers must first complete The Way of Kings before diving into it.

Sanderson himself has pointed out that this may contribute to the book’s incredibly high rating. Readers who did not enjoy the first book are unlikely to continue the series, meaning that the audience for Words of Radiance largely consists of fans already invested in the story.

Still, maintaining such a high rating with hundreds of thousands of readers is no small accomplishment.

If you have been looking for an epic fantasy series to start, The Stormlight Archive remains one of the best places to begin.

Harry Potter’s Last Adventure Still Resonates

Coming in second place is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Few books have carried as much pressure as the final installment in the Harry Potter series. Readers spent years speculating about how J.K. Rowling would conclude the story.

Fortunately for fans, the ending largely delivered.

Deathly Hallows brings together the mysteries, friendships, and conflicts that had been building across seven books. It offers emotional moments, major revelations, and a satisfying conclusion to one of the most successful book series ever written.

Regardless of ongoing discussions surrounding Rowling herself, readers continue to hold the Harry Potter books in high regard. The final novel remains one of the most beloved fantasy books ever published.

Crooked Kingdom Proves Sequels Can Be Better

Leigh Bardugo’s Crooked Kingdom takes the third spot.

I have read the Six of Crows duology, and I completely understand why readers love this book. Bardugo created a cast of characters that are impossible not to root for.

The sequel takes everything that worked in the first novel and raises the stakes. The heists become more complicated, the action becomes more intense, and the emotional moments hit even harder.

Many fantasy readers consider Crooked Kingdom one of the strongest conclusions to a duology in recent years.

If you enjoy clever plots, morally gray characters, and fast-paced storytelling, this series deserves a place on your reading list.

Tolkien’s Influence Is Everywhere

It is impossible to discuss fantasy literature without mentioning The Return of the King.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s final installment in The Lord of the Rings trilogy continues to inspire readers nearly seventy years after publication.

What makes Tolkien’s work so remarkable is how much of modern fantasy traces its roots back to Middle-earth.

From epic quests and ancient evils to detailed world building and richly developed cultures, countless fantasy authors have borrowed elements pioneered by Tolkien.

If you love fantasy and have somehow never read The Lord of the Rings, it is worth experiencing the series that helped define the genre.

Many readers discover that their favorite fantasy novels owe more to Tolkien than they initially realized.

Fourth Wing and the Rise of Romantasy

One of the newest books on this list is Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

The success of this novel has been impossible to ignore. It exploded across social media, dominated bestseller lists, and introduced countless readers to the rapidly growing romantasy genre.

The story follows Violet Sorrengail, a young woman who is unexpectedly forced into a brutal dragon-rider training program despite being physically unprepared for the challenge.

What follows is a combination of fantasy, action, romance, political intrigue, and dragons.

Lots and lots of dragons.

Whether you personally love romantasy or not, there is no denying the impact Fourth Wing has had on the publishing world. It has become one of the defining books of the current reading landscape.

Some Outstanding Non-Fantasy Selections

While fantasy dominates the list, several non-fantasy books deserve recognition.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah has become one of the most beloved historical fiction novels of the past decade. Its emotional story set during World War II continues to move readers around the world.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller is a powerful memoir that many readers describe as essential reading.

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson remains one of the most impactful books about justice and the legal system.

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman is widely regarded as one of the greatest graphic novels ever created.

These books demonstrate that Goodreads readers appreciate powerful storytelling regardless of genre.

What Makes a Goodreads Favorite?

Looking through this list, a pattern begins to emerge.

The highest-rated books are not necessarily the most literary or critically acclaimed. Instead, they are books that create strong emotional connections with readers.

These are stories that make readers laugh, cry, cheer, and stay up far too late turning pages.

Many of them feature memorable characters that readers feel attached to long after finishing the book.

Others provide satisfying conclusions to beloved series.

The common thread is simple: readers genuinely love them.

Final Thoughts

The Goodreads community has spoken, and these 25 books represent some of the most beloved reading experiences available today.

While not every book on this list will appeal to every reader, there is a good chance that you will discover something worth adding to your TBR.

Personally, I was not surprised to see books like Words of Radiance, The Return of the King, Crooked Kingdom, and Fourth Wing ranked so highly. These novels have developed passionate fan bases for a reason.

Whether you are looking for epic fantasy, unforgettable historical fiction, moving memoirs, or graphic novels that push the boundaries of storytelling, this list offers a great place to start.

And if you have already read several of these books, then you know exactly why Goodreads readers continue to rate them so highly.

The only question left is: how many of the 25 highest-rated books on Goodreads have you read? Until next time, happy reading!

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