How are the best books chosen?

Every book on this page is added and rated by The Bookends readers. Rankings use the average reader rating, with the number of ratings breaking ties.

Can I add my own recommendation?

Yes. Create a free account, add a book with its cover and description, and it becomes part of the community shelves right away.

Reader-ranked

The best books to read right now

A cozy, always-updating shortlist drawn from the The Bookends community. Every title below was added and rated by real readers — no publisher lists, no algorithms guessing at taste. Start at the top, or wander through the genre shelves further down.

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Top-rated books by our readers

Ranked by average reader rating, with the number of ratings breaking any ties. Showing 21–24 of 24 books (page 3 of 3).

Educated
by Tara Westover
Awaiting first rating
A memoir about a young woman who leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD.
Non-fiction
Biography
Memoir
The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
Awaiting first rating
A magical competition between two young illusionists unfolds inside a circus that only opens at night.
Fiction
Fantasy
Romance
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
Awaiting first rating
A man lives alone in an endless house of statues and tides, keeping careful notes of its wonders.
Fiction
Fantasy
Mystery
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Awaiting first rating
Four residents of a retirement village meet weekly to investigate cold cases — until a real murder lands on their doorstep.
Fiction
Mystery

Best mystery books to read

The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins
The Summer House
by James Patterson, Brendan DuBois
Sharp Objects
by Gillian Flynn
The Wandering Inn
by Pirateaba

Best fiction books to read

The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini
My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult
The Wandering Inn
by Pirateaba
Hollow Bones
by Jodi Picoult

Best thriller books to read

The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins
Sharp Objects
by Gillian Flynn
Kiss the Girls
by James Patterson
Lock Every Door
by Riley Sager

Best crime books to read

Sharp Objects
by Gillian Flynn
Kiss the Girls
by James Patterson
Pretty Girls
by Karin Slaughter
Pieces of Her
by Karin Slaughter

Freshly added to the shelves

The Summer House
by James Patterson, Brendan DuBois
Leaving Time
by Jodi Picoult
The Devil in the White City
by Erik Larson
The Wandering Inn
by Pirateaba
Hollow Bones
by Jodi Picoult
The Lovely Bones
by Alice Sebold

Questions about this list

How are the best books chosen?: Every title is added and rated by The Bookends readers. Rankings use the average reader rating, and the number of ratings breaks ties, so a well-loved book with many voices rises above a single glowing review.
Can I add my own recommendation?: Yes — create a free account, then add a book with its cover, description and genres. It joins the community catalog immediately.