BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1999

57 highest-rated books first published in 1999.

← 19982000 →

Why Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is #1

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J. K. Rowling) scores 8.8/10 from 8.3K ratings — 0.4 points ahead of The Pragmatic Programmer in second place.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanJ. K. Rowling · 1999Filmed 2004 Fantasy8.3K ratings4
    8.88.8 / 10
  2. The Pragmatic Programmer
    The Pragmatic ProgrammerAndy Hunt · 1999 Technology & IT356 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  3. Ender's Shadow
    Ender's ShadowOrson Scott Card · 1999 Science fiction726 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  4. Cryptonomicon
    CryptonomiconNeal Stephenson · 1999 Science fiction952 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  5. The Fifth Elephant
    The Fifth ElephantTerry Pratchett · 1999 Fantasy508 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  6. Daughter of the Forest
    Daughter of the ForestJuliet Marillier · 1999 Fantasy148 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
    The Perks of Being a WallflowerStephen Chbosky · 1999 Young adult2.5K ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  8. The Elegant Universe
    The Elegant UniverseBrian Greene · 1999 Popular science244 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  9. A Civil Campaign
    A Civil CampaignLois McMaster Bujold · 1999 Science fiction153 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  10. First Test
    First TestTamora Pierce · 1999 Fantasy152 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  11. Marina
    MarinaCarlos Ruiz Zafón · 1999 Young adult149 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  12. The Science of Discworld
    The Science of DiscworldTerry Pratchett · 1999 Fantasy79 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  13. Interpreter of Maladies
    Interpreter of MaladiesJhumpa Lahiri · 1999 Short stories329 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  14. Hellboy
    HellboyMike Mignola · 1999 Horror180 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  15. Briar's Book
    Briar's BookTamora Pierce · 1999 Fantasy98 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  16. Stardust
    StardustNeil Gaiman · 1999 Fantasy1.5K ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  17. Battle Royale
    Battle RoyaleKoushun Takami · 1999 Dystopian381 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  18. Water Sleeps
    Water SleepsGlen Cook · 1999 Fantasy76 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  19. Ghostwritten
    GhostwrittenDavid Mitchell · 1999 Science fiction132 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  20. The Naked God
    The Naked GodPeter F. Hamilton · 1999 Science fiction178 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  21. Gardens of the Moon
    Gardens of the MoonSteven Erikson · 1999 Fantasy1.1K ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  22. The Legend of Luke
    The Legend of LukeBrian Jacques · 1999 Fantasy58 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  23. Angels Flight
    Angels FlightMichael Connelly · 1999 Crime & mystery152 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  24. Speak
    SpeakLaurie Halse Anderson · 1999 Young adult614 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  25. Starfish
    StarfishPeter Watts · 1999 Science fiction131 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  26. Angel Fire East
    Angel Fire EastTerry Brooks · 1999 Fantasy54 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  27. Mountain of Black Glass
    Mountain of Black GlassTad Williams · 1999 Fantasy107 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  28. The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove
    The Lust Lizard of Melancholy CoveChristopher Moore · 1999 Fantasy107 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  29. Rhapsody: Child of Blood
    Rhapsody: Child of BloodElizabeth Haydon · 1999 Fantasy80 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  30. Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
    Brief Interviews with Hideous MenDavid Foster Wallace · 1999 Short stories88 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  31. A Walk to Remember
    A Walk to RememberNicholas Sparks · 1999 Young adult415 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  32. The Bad Beginning
    The Bad BeginningLemony Snicket · 1999 Young adult1.2K ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  33. Just Ella
    Just EllaMargaret Peterson Haddix · 1999 Fantasy71 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  34. Krondor: The Assassins
    Krondor: The AssassinsRaymond E. Feist · 1999 Fantasy88 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  35. Blood Work
    Blood WorkMichael Connelly · 1999 Crime & mystery116 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  36. High Five
    High FiveJanet Evanovich · 1999 Crime & mystery126 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  37. All Tomorrow's Parties
    All Tomorrow's PartiesWilliam Gibson · 1999 Science fiction150 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  38. Time
    TimeStephen Baxter · 1999 Science fiction71 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  39. Atlantis Found
    Atlantis FoundClive Cussler · 1999 Adventure85 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  40. The Final Detail
    The Final DetailHarlan Coben · 1999 Crime & mystery57 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  41. Darwin's Radio
    Darwin's RadioGreg Bear · 1999 Science fiction103 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  42. Pop Goes the Weasel
    Pop Goes the WeaselJames Patterson · 1999 Crime & mystery83 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  43. Girl with a Pearl Earring
    Girl with a Pearl EarringTracy Chevalier · 1999 Historical fiction289 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  44. The Spine of the World
    The Spine of the WorldR. A. Salvatore · 1999 Fantasy99 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  45. Tripwire
    TripwireLee Child · 1999 Thriller431 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  46. Hearts in Atlantis
    Hearts in AtlantisStephen King · 1999 Horror282 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  47. False Memory
    False MemoryDean Koontz · 1999 Horror62 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  48. Dune: House Atreides
    Dune: House AtreidesKevin J. Anderson · 1999 Science fiction113 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  49. Storm of the Century
    Storm of the CenturyStephen King · 1999 Horror61 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  50. Soul of the Fire
    Soul of the FireTerry Goodkind · 1999 Fantasy243 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  51. Dark Prince
    Dark PrinceChristine Feehan · 1999 Romance70 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  52. Hannibal
    HannibalThomas Harris · 1999Filmed 2001 Thriller272 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  53. Timeline
    TimelineMichael Crichton · 1999Filmed 2003 Science fiction642 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  54. Witch & Wizard
    Witch & WizardJames Patterson · 1999 Adventure116 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  55. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
    The Monk Who Sold His FerrariRobin Sharma · 1999 Self-help241 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  56. Vittorio the Vampire
    Vittorio the VampireAnne Rice · 1999 Horror57 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  57. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
    The Girl Who Loved Tom GordonStephen King · 1999 Horror404 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10

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