I think a lot about how Gone Girl, back when it came out (back in 2012) changed books. It sounds dramatic, but this book was revolutionary at the time. I remember gasping at the twist and thinking, "wow. I've never read anything like this." We always had mysteries and thrillers but never massively twisty domestic thrillers like this. They are my favorite books to read and I'm so happy to see it get the credit it deserves. I have been chasing that twist ever since.
Anyway, I've read 16 of these. Up to 67. Feeling very well-read compared to the NYT list.
And wow! 67! I ended up at 53 read and added 14 more to my TBR. This feels like really solid courage, but enough room for dissenting opionions/taste. I can't tell you how much more seen I feel by this list than the NYT one.
I cannot for the life of me understand what people saw in Lessons in Chemistry! The characters were so one-dimensional, the story so cliché, and the writing passable at best…
That said, I very much enjoyed this whole exercise and am so glad to see so many deserving books on this list! Thank you!!!
Right?! As someone who is a chemist, I hate how female scientists are often portrayed as this logical robots who don’t know anything about the world outside the lab. The dog was the only redeeming thing in this book.
Fellow chemist here who always complains about the terrible representation of female chemists/scientists in books. I hope, one day there will be a rom-com or a thriller with a perfectly (socially) capable main character who just happens to work in a lab like other characters work at the office.
Yes yes yes! I really liked the writing in Lessons in Chemistry but I absolutely hated the portrayal of the main character especially when it was received as some sort of phenomenal insight into The Mind Of The Female Scientist as if we are some sort of alien species.
Wow I think I gave Tomorrow, tomorrow & tomorrow 3 stars😅 it was not for me. But it’s wild to see it was loved by so many. Excited to see some of my other favs make the top 20 and adding sooo many of these to me TBR!!
Same. I was very triggered by a certain event that happens in the book, though. (In the last third of the book). No warning whatsoever and it ruined the book for me. I know it would have been a big spoiler, but as someone who has gone through such event, it was terrible to read that with no prep.
Agreed, I did not love this book. I loved how it was almost written as fodder for TV or Movie adaptation. The characters felt really really unbelievable -- almost one dimensional? But it was a fast and easy read and I love that a story about platonic love could get everyone so excited.
This time last week, I felt so bleh. Now I feel hopeful for our country (GO KAMALA) and I've maxed out my library holds. Joy reinstated!
Surprised by how high Hunger Games was ranked - I loved it too but didn't expect it to rank in our top 20. Two of my favorites didn't make the cut: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (this one is for the dog lovers) and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
Justice has been restored! Gone Girl & Homegoing are two all timers for me. I’m so happy to see them here. I feel similarly about Demon Copperhead, this was the push I needed to actually read it! What an epic project, you’re doing gods work, Becca!
This was fun! Thanks for doing it. I’ve read 71 of your list, 68 of the NYT’s Reader’s Choice list, and 47 of the first NYT list. (I would have had to include your kind “not yucking anyone’s yum” editorial note on several of these too — just because we’ve read ‘em doesn’t mean we liked ‘em!)
you are welcome. In a travesty of sorts i tried to upgrade on the app (thought you could now, then heard it just in beta) but literally pressing the button unsubscribed me (what! a me problem?) anywaysss its all squared away now. 🙃
This has been so fascinating! I read 57 of the books on this list and I read 49 of the books on the NYT list. I’ve been reflecting a bit on the difference between the two and how I feel about the books on each list. It’s been helping me understand how I define “good” or “best” in a totally different way. For example, I wouldn’t describe Fourth Wing as good if someone asked me. The plot was incredible and I read it in a day, though! That example among others has helped me see that I define good more based on the prose and less on plot, while the books I’m devouring are often the plot driven ones - not the prose driven ones. Hmm…
I got laid off last week and literally this newsletter was a core part of finding a new routine in the morning. T^3 means so much to me, and I’m glad other people felt the same!! Becca, thank you for bringing this community together. (I’d also be curious about the books that didn’t make the list 👀 but only if you have time and energy!!)
LOVED this segment and was the highlight of my mornings! Although I gotta say, I was one of the few who did not significantly enjoy Tomorrow x3 and always amazed by how many loved it. Also so happy to see Homegoing on this list!!
I was *this close* to DNF-ing, but I thought the end might be key to living it. Oh well, there's so many books to agree on, we can disagree with the masses on this one.
I’ve been so excited to see this top 20- love love love it! This has been so fun, interesting, and exciting and now have an even more full TBR list. As predicted on Monday, my holds on Libby were maxed out yesterday. Thanks so much for doing this, Becca! Can’t wait for Monday. Have a great weekend. 😎
i’ve read ~60 on this list (had a few more on the nyt crowdsourced list and 34 on the original times list) - and several more i’ve bought but yet to read.
these lists are always a reminder of how many books there are to read and how personal reading preference really are. thanks for doing the work to put this together !!
I've read 30 out of the 100 books from this list and many more have been sitting on my tbr! I'm so glad to see so many books that came to mind for me when submitting my picks but that I ultimately didn't submit.
I've never actually read Gone Girl but apparently I need to pick it up immediately.
I think a lot about how Gone Girl, back when it came out (back in 2012) changed books. It sounds dramatic, but this book was revolutionary at the time. I remember gasping at the twist and thinking, "wow. I've never read anything like this." We always had mysteries and thrillers but never massively twisty domestic thrillers like this. They are my favorite books to read and I'm so happy to see it get the credit it deserves. I have been chasing that twist ever since.
Anyway, I've read 16 of these. Up to 67. Feeling very well-read compared to the NYT list.
It's not dramatic, it truly did change books!!!
And wow! 67! I ended up at 53 read and added 14 more to my TBR. This feels like really solid courage, but enough room for dissenting opionions/taste. I can't tell you how much more seen I feel by this list than the NYT one.
Yes! I feel like it was the first time I realized a narrator could be unreliable. So fascinating and unique at the time
Totally. Gone Girl redefined the domestic thriller genre, which is wild. I'm due for a re-read!
To quote our friend Rocky: Amaze Amaze Amaze! This has been so fun. Can't wait for the data dump!
OMG TEARS. Invoking Rocky is such a power move.
I cannot for the life of me understand what people saw in Lessons in Chemistry! The characters were so one-dimensional, the story so cliché, and the writing passable at best…
That said, I very much enjoyed this whole exercise and am so glad to see so many deserving books on this list! Thank you!!!
Right?! As someone who is a chemist, I hate how female scientists are often portrayed as this logical robots who don’t know anything about the world outside the lab. The dog was the only redeeming thing in this book.
Fellow chemist here who always complains about the terrible representation of female chemists/scientists in books. I hope, one day there will be a rom-com or a thriller with a perfectly (socially) capable main character who just happens to work in a lab like other characters work at the office.
Yes yes yes! I really liked the writing in Lessons in Chemistry but I absolutely hated the portrayal of the main character especially when it was received as some sort of phenomenal insight into The Mind Of The Female Scientist as if we are some sort of alien species.
Agree! It was okay but I was fascinated how many people raved about that book
Anne, I feel the same! Had no desire to watch the tv show, either.
Love this list!! So happy to see that Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow made is at #1!!
Wow I think I gave Tomorrow, tomorrow & tomorrow 3 stars😅 it was not for me. But it’s wild to see it was loved by so many. Excited to see some of my other favs make the top 20 and adding sooo many of these to me TBR!!
Same. I was very triggered by a certain event that happens in the book, though. (In the last third of the book). No warning whatsoever and it ruined the book for me. I know it would have been a big spoiler, but as someone who has gone through such event, it was terrible to read that with no prep.
Agreed, I did not love this book. I loved how it was almost written as fodder for TV or Movie adaptation. The characters felt really really unbelievable -- almost one dimensional? But it was a fast and easy read and I love that a story about platonic love could get everyone so excited.
This time last week, I felt so bleh. Now I feel hopeful for our country (GO KAMALA) and I've maxed out my library holds. Joy reinstated!
Surprised by how high Hunger Games was ranked - I loved it too but didn't expect it to rank in our top 20. Two of my favorites didn't make the cut: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (this one is for the dog lovers) and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
Joy reinstated!!!!
Ooooooohhhhhh, Heidi, I LOVED both of those books too! 🥰🥰🥰
Justice has been restored! Gone Girl & Homegoing are two all timers for me. I’m so happy to see them here. I feel similarly about Demon Copperhead, this was the push I needed to actually read it! What an epic project, you’re doing gods work, Becca!
“Justice had been restored” 🤣🤣
This was fun! Thanks for doing it. I’ve read 71 of your list, 68 of the NYT’s Reader’s Choice list, and 47 of the first NYT list. (I would have had to include your kind “not yucking anyone’s yum” editorial note on several of these too — just because we’ve read ‘em doesn’t mean we liked ‘em!)
Restraining myself was sometimes the hardest part. I think you particularly will be so interested in Mondays data email (and you’re quoted!)
Yay, thanks! Can’t wait!
Phenomenal job! fun to see a lot of my votes hit the top 20! Excited to note all the three-fers and add them to my list.
Following the beautiful illustrator now and also jumping into your paid cohort because this work is v deserving!
Ahhhh, this note made me so so happy. Thank you for following and subscribing and supporting Cat!
you are welcome. In a travesty of sorts i tried to upgrade on the app (thought you could now, then heard it just in beta) but literally pressing the button unsubscribed me (what! a me problem?) anywaysss its all squared away now. 🙃
This is so good! Really enjoyed your posts this week… it’s been fascinating, validating, fun! Thank you for pulling this together.
I'm SO EXCITED for Monday's last post with some analysis!
Oh FUN!! 🤩
This has been so fascinating! I read 57 of the books on this list and I read 49 of the books on the NYT list. I’ve been reflecting a bit on the difference between the two and how I feel about the books on each list. It’s been helping me understand how I define “good” or “best” in a totally different way. For example, I wouldn’t describe Fourth Wing as good if someone asked me. The plot was incredible and I read it in a day, though! That example among others has helped me see that I define good more based on the prose and less on plot, while the books I’m devouring are often the plot driven ones - not the prose driven ones. Hmm…
I got laid off last week and literally this newsletter was a core part of finding a new routine in the morning. T^3 means so much to me, and I’m glad other people felt the same!! Becca, thank you for bringing this community together. (I’d also be curious about the books that didn’t make the list 👀 but only if you have time and energy!!)
Sharing all the raw data on Monday so you can dig through it til your heart’s content
Oof, good luck out there, Hannah, positive vibes coming your way! 💖💪🏽
LOVED this segment and was the highlight of my mornings! Although I gotta say, I was one of the few who did not significantly enjoy Tomorrow x3 and always amazed by how many loved it. Also so happy to see Homegoing on this list!!
same - I dnf'd it! But I'm delighted to see my #1, Makkai's The Great Believers, in the top 20.
I was *this close* to DNF-ing, but I thought the end might be key to living it. Oh well, there's so many books to agree on, we can disagree with the masses on this one.
I’ve been so excited to see this top 20- love love love it! This has been so fun, interesting, and exciting and now have an even more full TBR list. As predicted on Monday, my holds on Libby were maxed out yesterday. Thanks so much for doing this, Becca! Can’t wait for Monday. Have a great weekend. 😎
i’ve read ~60 on this list (had a few more on the nyt crowdsourced list and 34 on the original times list) - and several more i’ve bought but yet to read.
these lists are always a reminder of how many books there are to read and how personal reading preference really are. thanks for doing the work to put this together !!
I'm at 53! But yes, feeling so much more seen by these picks than any of the others.
I've read 30 out of the 100 books from this list and many more have been sitting on my tbr! I'm so glad to see so many books that came to mind for me when submitting my picks but that I ultimately didn't submit.
I've never actually read Gone Girl but apparently I need to pick it up immediately.
You’re not the only one. Going to start it this week!😉
envious you're about to read Gone Girl for the first time!!