BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 2003

91 highest-rated books first published in 2003.

← 20022004 →

Why Fool's Fate is #1

Fool's Fate (Robin Hobb) scores 8.7/10 from 440 ratings — 0.1 points ahead of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 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. Fool's Fate
    Fool's FateRobin Hobb · 2003 Fantasy440 ratings
    8.78.7 / 10
  2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
    Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixJ. K. Rowling · 2003Filmed 2007 Fantasy7K ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  3. A Short History of Nearly Everything
    A Short History of Nearly EverythingBill Bryson · 2003 Popular science1.1K ratings10
    8.58.5 / 10
  4. Abhorsen
    AbhorsenGarth Nix · 2003 Fantasy416 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  5. Paladin of Souls
    Paladin of SoulsLois McMaster Bujold · 2003 Fantasy182 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  6. The Wee Free Men
    The Wee Free MenTerry Pratchett · 2003 Fantasy557 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  7. The Kite Runner
    The Kite RunnerKhaled Hosseini · 2003 Historical fiction2.4K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  8. Monstrous Regiment
    Monstrous RegimentTerry Pratchett · 2003 Fantasy404 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  9. Moneyball
    MoneyballMichael Lewis · 2003NYT bestseller324 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  10. Blankets
    BlanketsCraig Thompson · 2003 Graphic novels473 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  11. Death Masks
    Death MasksJim Butcher · 2003 Fantasy954 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  12. The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
    The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the CallaStephen King · 2003 Fantasy996 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  13. The High Lord
    The High LordTrudi Canavan · 2003 Fantasy297 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  14. Into the Wild
    Into the WildErin Hunter · 2003 Fantasy321 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  15. First Rider's Call
    First Rider's CallKristen Britain · 2003 Fantasy72 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  16. Odd Thomas
    Odd ThomasDean Koontz · 2003 Thriller484 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  17. The Goose Girl
    The Goose GirlShannon Hale · 2003 Fantasy145 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  18. The Well of Lost Plots
    The Well of Lost PlotsJasper Fforde · 2003 Fantasy150 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  19. The Gates of Rome
    The Gates of RomeConn Iggulden · 2003 Historical fiction91 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  20. Shutter Island
    Shutter IslandDennis Lehane · 2003 Crime & mystery393 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  21. The Reality Bug
    The Reality BugD. J. MacHale · 2003 Science fiction104 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  22. Pyongyang
    PyongyangGuy Delisle · 2003 Graphic novels136 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  23. The Devil in the White City
    The Devil in the White CityErik Larson · 2003NYT bestseller History869 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  24. The Amulet of Samarkand
    The Amulet of SamarkandJonathan Stroud · 2003 Young adult583 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  25. Forest of Secrets
    Forest of SecretsErin Hunter · 2003 Fantasy125 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  26. The Sworn Sword
    The Sworn SwordGeorge R. R. Martin · 2003 Fantasy177 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  27. The Tale of Despereaux
    The Tale of DespereauxKate DiCamillo · 2003Filmed 2008 Fantasy304 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  28. Under the Banner of Heaven
    Under the Banner of HeavenJon Krakauer · 2003NYT bestseller424 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  29. Inkheart
    InkheartCornelia Funke · 2003Filmed 2008 Fantasy52 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  30. Stolen
    StolenKelley Armstrong · 2003 Fantasy81 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  31. Shatterglass
    ShatterglassTamora Pierce · 2003 Fantasy60 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  32. The Lost City of Faar
    The Lost City of FaarD. J. MacHale · 2003 Science fiction119 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  33. Jimmy the Hand
    Jimmy the HandRaymond E. Feist · 2003 Fantasy51 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  34. The Never War
    The Never WarD. J. MacHale · 2003 Science fiction112 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  35. Among the Barons
    Among the BaronsMargaret Peterson Haddix · 2003 Dystopian56 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  36. Fire and Ice
    Fire and IceErin Hunter · 2003 Fantasy145 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  37. Absolution Gap
    Absolution GapAlastair Reynolds · 2003 Science fiction224 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  38. Gregor the Overlander
    Gregor the OverlanderSuzanne Collins · 2003 Fantasy204 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  39. Lost Light
    Lost LightMichael Connelly · 2003 Crime & mystery131 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  40. The Lone Drow
    The Lone DrowR. A. Salvatore · 2003 Fantasy101 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  41. The Darkness That Comes Before
    The Darkness That Comes BeforeR. Scott Bakker · 2003 Fantasy134 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  42. Eagle Strike
    Eagle StrikeAnthony Horowitz · 2003 Adventure197 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  43. Jarka Ruus
    Jarka RuusTerry Brooks · 2003 Fantasy57 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  44. The Time Traveler's Wife
    The Time Traveler's WifeAudrey Niffenegger · 2003 Science fiction1.3K ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  45. Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days
    Diamond Dogs, Turquoise DaysAlastair Reynolds · 2003 Science fiction112 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  46. Oryx and Crake
    Oryx and CrakeMargaret Atwood · 2003 Science fiction874 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  47. The City of Ember
    The City of EmberJeanne DuPrau · 2003 Science fiction61 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  48. How to Train Your Dragon
    How to Train Your DragonCressida Cowell · 2003 Fantasy227 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  49. Lucinda's Secret
    Lucinda's SecretHolly Black · 2003 Fantasy89 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  50. The Seeing Stone
    The Seeing StoneHolly Black · 2003 Fantasy105 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  51. Dissolution
    DissolutionC. J. Sansom · 2003 Crime & mystery130 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  52. Milkweed
    MilkweedJerry Spinelli · 2003 Young adult84 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  53. Ilium
    IliumDan Simmons · 2003 Science fiction231 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  54. Predator's Gold
    Predator's GoldPhilip Reeve · 2003 Science fiction167 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  55. The Dwarves
    The DwarvesMarkus Heitz · 2003 Fantasy72 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  56. Sunshine
    SunshineRobin McKinley · 2003 Fantasy135 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  57. The Sinner
    The SinnerTess Gerritsen · 2003 Crime & mystery92 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  58. The Devil's Star
    The Devil's StarJo Nesbø · 2003 Crime & mystery134 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  59. Mister Monday
    Mister MondayGarth Nix · 2003 Fantasy178 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  60. The Field Guide
    The Field GuideHolly Black · 2003 Fantasy192 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  61. Pattern Recognition
    Pattern RecognitionWilliam Gibson · 2003 Science fiction446 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  62. To the Nines
    To the NinesJanet Evanovich · 2003 Crime & mystery106 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  63. Persuader
    PersuaderLee Child · 2003 Thriller305 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  64. A Faint Cold Fear
    A Faint Cold FearKarin Slaughter · 2003 Crime & mystery67 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  65. The Crystal City
    The Crystal CityOrson Scott Card · 2003 Fantasy58 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  66. The Vanished Man
    The Vanished ManJeffery Deaver · 2003 Crime & mystery58 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  67. Trading in Danger
    Trading in DangerElizabeth Moon · 2003 Science fiction102 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  68. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeMark Haddon · 2003 Crime & mystery2.3K ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  69. Quicksilver
    QuicksilverNeal Stephenson · 2003 Historical fiction328 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  70. Can You Keep a Secret?
    Can You Keep a Secret?Sophie Kinsella · 2003NYT bestseller Romance265 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  71. Split Second
    Split SecondDavid Baldacci · 2003 Crime & mystery95 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  72. Dune: The Machine Crusade
    Dune: The Machine CrusadeBrian Herbert · 2003 Science fiction73 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  73. Purple Cow
    Purple CowSeth Godin · 2003 Business79 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  74. Time's Eye
    Time's EyeArthur C. Clarke · 2003 Science fiction59 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  75. The Big Bad Wolf
    The Big Bad WolfJames Patterson · 2003 Crime & mystery72 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  76. Club Dead
    Club DeadCharlaine Harris · 2003 Fantasy358 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  77. Eragon
    EragonChristopher Paolini · 2003Filmed 2006 Fantasy3.2K ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  78. Blow Fly
    Blow FlyPatricia Cornwell · 2003 Crime & mystery57 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  79. A Million Little Pieces
    A Million Little PiecesJames Frey · 2003 Biography & memoir181 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  80. Naked Empire
    Naked EmpireTerry Goodkind · 2003 Fantasy209 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  81. The Zombie Survival Guide
    The Zombie Survival GuideMax Brooks · 2003NYT bestseller Humour338 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  82. Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
    Down and Out in the Magic KingdomCory Doctorow · 2003 Science fiction208 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  83. The King of Torts
    The King of TortsJohn Grisham · 2003 Thriller141 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  84. The Ice Princess
    The Ice PrincessCamilla Läckberg · 2003 Crime & mystery112 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  85. The Da Vinci Code
    The Da Vinci CodeDan Brown · 2003 Crime & mystery4K ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  86. The Teeth of the Tiger
    The Teeth of the TigerTom Clancy · 2003 Thriller56 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  87. Blood Canticle
    Blood CanticleAnne Rice · 2003 Horror67 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  88. The Lovely Bones
    The Lovely BonesAlice Sebold · 2003 Contemporary fiction1.3K ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  89. Crossroads of Twilight
    Crossroads of TwilightRobert Jordan · 2003 Fantasy893 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  90. Cerulean Sins
    Cerulean SinsLaurell K. Hamilton · 2003 Horror79 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  91. Diary
    DiaryChuck Palahniuk · 2003 Horror217 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10

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