This list contains all of my favorite books that I’ve given a 5-star rating on Goodreads and StoryGraph. I used to be such a bookworm, and I’m trying to get back there! I wish all books could be 5-star favorites.
For a book to get 5-stars from me, it has to meet one or more of the following criteria:
- I couldn’t put it down
- I read it more than once
- I still think about it years later
I will indicate which criteria apply to each book on the list.
Without further ado, in alphabetical order, so as not to play favorites amongst my favorites, these are my favorite books of all time.
Couldn’t Put It Down, I Still Think About It Today
A man finds a wormhole into the past and tries to stop the assassination of JFK. Yes, there’s gore, but it’s not the focus.
Couldn’t Put It Down, Read It More Than Once
This is the first in the series that includes the DaVinci Code. It is un-put-downable. Travel the world, solve clues, beat the clock. I was on the edge of my seat and enjoyed every second of it.
Couldn’t Put It Down
Elizabeth Gilbert (of Eat, Pray, Love fame) is one of th best authors out there. Every single story sucks you in, and they are all so different. This one takes place in NYC in the 40s with showgirls, and it’s great.
Read It More Than Once, Still Think About It Today
This is a classic for a reason. While it takes place during the Civil War, it is about a woman who will do anything to survive (and get what she wants) while her world is crumbling down around her. In that way, it’s timeless.
Warning: Slavery is viewed through the rose-colored glasses of a well-off 15-year-old. It deserves acknowledgement as an incomplete telling of the time.
Disclaimer: The book is looooooooong. They had to cut out A LOT (husbands, kids, etc.) just to get it down to a movie that’s so long that it includes an intermission. The movie does not replace the book.
Couldn’t Put It Down, Read It More Than Once, Still Think About It Today - The Trifecta!
I started reading the books when I was in 4th grade, when there were still only 2 or 3 of them. I am still so thankful to the local library for recommending them.
I think everyone knows by now that this series is about a boy who learns that he is a wizard and gets to go to wizard school. It’s also about friendship, coming of age, and taking down an oppressive government.
The books are everything. The movies don’t count.
My favorites are in this order: 3, 1, 7, 4, 2, 5, 6
Couldn’t Put It Down, Still Think About It Today
This one takes place in the South in the 60s, and it is about making some small voices heard. It is wonderful.
The movie is great, too, with an all star cast: Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, and more.
Couldn’t Put It Down
This story was amazing. It’s feminist, it’s ahead of it’s time (the 60s, not today). Think Julia Child, but make it science. The tv series was great, too.
Disclaimer: It’s advertised as a rom-com. It is NOT. It’s a drama. There’s heartbreak. There’s not enough funny to add the “-com.”
Still Think About It Today
This was a Goodreads book of the year for a reason. This is for anyone who has ever wondered what might have been.
Couldn't Put It Down
This was a delight! While the theme is dark, it reads as funny and clever. It's about adult students learning how to 'delete' an enemy while on a secret hidden campus. I loved every bit of it, and I hope there's a second on the way.
Couldn’t Put It Down
This one is about a school shooting and was written before school shootings are as common as they are today. It’s worth reading. Jodi Picoult is known for looking at diffcult issues through different lenses.
Read It More Than Once, Couldn’t Put It Down
The Princess Diaries was my favorite when I was younger. Books 1, 2, and 3 are the core. I could take or leave the rest. Give 1, 2, and 3 to a middle school girl in your life.
Disclaimer: The move is wonderful, BUT it is an alternate reality from the books. One does not replace the other. Think of them as two totally different stories.
Couldn’t Put It Down, Still Think About It Today
This one is heartbreaking. It’s about the Nazi occupation in Paris during WWII.
Couldn’t Put It Down
This is my favorite of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novels. The story is told from two perspectives.- a star in Old Hollywood and a present-day reporter. Their paths converge in an unexpected way.
Couldn’t Put It Down
Elizabeth Gilbert (of Eat, Pray, Love fame) again! This one is exquisite - like poetry. It’s not fast-paced, and I still couldn’t put it down.
So there you have it! My favorite books in the fiction category. If you’re interested in non-fiction, knitting or board books, I have lists for those, too!
Grab a latte, a pastry, some knitting if you’re a multitasker, and enjoy!
