BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 2006

96 highest-rated books first published in 2006.

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Why Mistborn: The Final Empire is #1

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Brandon Sanderson) scores 8.9/10 from 5.8K ratings — 0.2 points ahead of The Bonehunters 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. Mistborn: The Final Empire
    Mistborn: The Final EmpireBrandon Sanderson · 2006 Fantasy5.8K ratings
    8.98.9 / 10
  2. The Bonehunters
    The BonehuntersSteven Erikson · 2006 Fantasy378 ratings1
    8.78.7 / 10
  3. The Lies of Locke Lamora
    The Lies of Locke LamoraScott Lynch · 2006 Fantasy1.9K ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  4. The Book Thief
    The Book ThiefMarkus Zusak · 2006Filmed 2013 Historical fiction2.7K ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  5. Cursor's Fury
    Cursor's FuryJim Butcher · 2006 Fantasy382 ratings1
    8.58.5 / 10
  6. Proven Guilty
    Proven GuiltyJim Butcher · 2006 Fantasy756 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  7. Half of a Yellow Sun
    Half of a Yellow SunChimamanda Ngozi Adichie · 2006 Historical fiction288 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  8. Fun Home
    Fun HomeAlison Bechdel · 2006 Comics71 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  9. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
    The Miraculous Journey of Edward TulaneKate DiCamillo · 2006 Fantasy156 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  10. The Blade Itself
    The Blade ItselfJoe Abercrombie · 2006 Fantasy2.1K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  11. Wintersmith
    WintersmithTerry Pratchett · 2006 Fantasy327 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  12. Terrier
    TerrierTamora Pierce · 2006 Fantasy160 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  13. The Road
    The RoadCormac McCarthy · 2006 Dystopian2.8K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  14. The Three-Body Problem
    The Three-Body ProblemLiu Cixin · 2006NYT bestsellerFilmed 2024 Science fiction4K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  15. The Sea of Monsters
    The Sea of MonstersRick Riordan · 2006 Fantasy2.5K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  16. Against the Day
    Against the DayThomas Pynchon · 2006 Historical fiction51 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  17. The Ghost Brigades
    The Ghost BrigadesJohn Scalzi · 2006 Science fiction1.1K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  18. Sunset
    SunsetErin Hunter · 2006 Fantasy61 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  19. The Fourth BearJasper Fforde
    The Fourth BearJasper Fforde · 2006 Fantasy69 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  20. Gregor and the Marks of Secret
    Gregor and the Marks of SecretSuzanne Collins · 2006 Fantasy93 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  21. His Majesty's Dragon
    His Majesty's DragonNaomi Novik · 2006 Fantasy619 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  22. The Quillan Games
    The Quillan GamesD. J. MacHale · 2006 Science fiction87 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  23. Voice of the Gods
    Voice of the GodsTrudi Canavan · 2006 Fantasy63 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  24. Last of the Wilds
    Last of the WildsTrudi Canavan · 2006 Fantasy67 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  25. The Innocent Man
    The Innocent ManJohn Grisham · 2006NYT bestseller114 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  26. Mating in Captivity
    Mating in CaptivityEsther Perel · 2006 Psychology141 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  27. Moonrise
    MoonriseErin Hunter · 2006 Fantasy70 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  28. Sir Thursday
    Sir ThursdayGarth Nix · 2006 Fantasy101 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  29. A Darkling Plain
    A Darkling PlainPhilip Reeve · 2006 Science fiction78 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  30. World War Z
    World War ZMax Brooks · 2006NYT bestsellerFilmed 2013 Horror2.3K ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  31. Echo Park
    Echo ParkMichael Connelly · 2006 Crime & mystery133 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  32. Just Listen
    Just ListenSarah Dessen · 2006 Young adult195 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  33. Armageddon's Children
    Armageddon's ChildrenTerry Brooks · 2006 Fantasy59 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  34. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
    The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt KidBill Bryson · 2006 Biography & memoir139 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  35. Exile's Return
    Exile's ReturnRaymond E. Feist · 2006 Fantasy93 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  36. Into a Dark Realm
    Into a Dark RealmRaymond E. Feist · 2006 Fantasy89 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  37. The Thousandfold Thought
    The Thousandfold ThoughtR. Scott Bakker · 2006 Fantasy72 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  38. The Spook's Secret
    The Spook's SecretJoseph Delaney · 2006 Fantasy111 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  39. Sarah's Key
    Sarah's KeyTatiana de Rosnay · 2006NYT bestseller Historical fiction182 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  40. The Android's Dream
    The Android's DreamJohn Scalzi · 2006 Science fiction255 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  41. Starlight
    StarlightErin Hunter · 2006 Fantasy50 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  42. Broken
    BrokenKelley Armstrong · 2006 Fantasy54 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  43. The Audacity of Hope
    The Audacity of HopeBarack Obama · 2006 Biography & memoir176 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  44. False Gods
    False GodsGraham McNeill · 2006 Science fiction206 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  45. The God Delusion
    The God DelusionRichard Dawkins · 2006 Religion & spirituality941 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  46. Kitty Goes to Washington
    Kitty Goes to WashingtonCarrie Vaughn · 2006 Fantasy50 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  47. The Jennifer Morgue
    The Jennifer MorgueCharles Stross · 2006 Fantasy229 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  48. Blindsight
    BlindsightPeter Watts · 2006 Science fiction785 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  49. Moon Called
    Moon CalledPatricia Briggs · 2006 Fantasy430 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  50. The Hard Way
    The Hard WayLee Child · 2006NYT bestseller Thriller289 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  51. Man vs Beast
    Man vs BeastRobert Muchamore · 2006 Spy & espionage70 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  52. Divine Madness
    Divine MadnessRobert Muchamore · 2006 Spy & espionage62 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  53. Engaging the Enemy
    Engaging the EnemyElizabeth Moon · 2006 Science fiction72 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  54. The Devil You Know
    The Devil You KnowMike Carey · 2006 Fantasy119 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  55. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
    The Boy in the Striped PyjamasJohn Boyne · 2006Filmed 2008 Historical fiction882 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  56. Water for Elephants
    Water for ElephantsSara Gruen · 2006NYT bestseller Romance968 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  57. Black Powder War
    Black Powder WarNaomi Novik · 2006 Fantasy254 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  58. Promise Me
    Promise MeHarlan Coben · 2006 Crime & mystery61 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  59. Phantom
    PhantomTerry Goodkind · 2006 Fantasy169 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  60. Mistral's Kiss
    Mistral's KissLaurell K. Hamilton · 2006 Fantasy63 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  61. Throne of Jade
    Throne of JadeNaomi Novik · 2006 Fantasy346 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  62. Fragile Things
    Fragile ThingsNeil Gaiman · 2006 Short stories275 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  63. Fairest
    FairestGail Carson Levine · 2006 Fantasy97 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  64. The Thirteenth Tale
    The Thirteenth TaleDiane Setterfield · 2006 Thriller304 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  65. Twelve Sharp
    Twelve SharpJanet Evanovich · 2006 Crime & mystery100 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  66. The 5th Horseman
    The 5th HorsemanJames Patterson · 2006 Crime & mystery77 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  67. Beguilement
    BeguilementLois McMaster Bujold · 2006 Fantasy76 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  68. School's Out Forever
    School's Out ForeverJames Patterson · 2006 Science fiction183 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  69. The Clan Corporate
    The Clan CorporateCharles Stross · 2006 Fantasy62 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  70. Mary, Mary
    Mary, MaryJames Patterson · 2006 Crime & mystery65 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  71. The Collectors
    The CollectorsDavid Baldacci · 2006 Thriller80 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  72. Brother Odd
    Brother OddDean Koontz · 2006 Thriller150 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  73. The Mephisto Club
    The Mephisto ClubTess Gerritsen · 2006 Thriller85 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  74. Forest Mage
    Forest MageRobin Hobb · 2006 Fantasy102 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  75. Sharp Objects
    Sharp ObjectsGillian Flynn · 2006NYT bestsellerFilmed 2018 Crime & mystery1.4K ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  76. The Husband
    The HusbandDean Koontz · 2006 Thriller109 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  77. Cross
    CrossJames Patterson · 2006 Crime & mystery58 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  78. I Feel Bad About My Neck
    I Feel Bad About My NeckNora Ephron · 2006 Humour90 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  79. Definitely Dead
    Definitely DeadCharlaine Harris · 2006 Fantasy317 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  80. Half Moon Investigations
    Half Moon InvestigationsEoin Colfer · 2006 Crime & mystery52 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  81. Special Topics in Calamity Physics
    Special Topics in Calamity PhysicsMarisha Pessl · 2006 Crime & mystery98 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  82. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
    I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill YouAlly Carter · 2006 Spy & espionage203 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  83. Blue Bloods
    Blue BloodsMelissa de la Cruz · 2006 Fantasy142 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  84. On the Way to the Wedding
    On the Way to the WeddingJulia Quinn · 2006 Romance184 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  85. The Ruins
    The RuinsScott Smith · 2006 Horror257 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  86. Pretty Little Liars
    Pretty Little LiarsSara Shepard · 2006 Young adult269 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  87. Lisey's Story
    Lisey's StoryStephen King · 2006Filmed 2021 Horror221 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  88. Danse Macabre
    Danse MacabreLaurell K. Hamilton · 2006 Horror101 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  89. Next
    NextMichael Crichton · 2006 Science fiction244 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  90. The Prophet of Yonwood
    The Prophet of YonwoodJeanne DuPrau · 2006 Science fiction105 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10
  91. Hannibal Rising
    Hannibal RisingThomas Harris · 2006 Thriller120 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10
  92. Eat, Pray, Love
    Eat, Pray, LoveElizabeth Gilbert · 2006 Biography & memoir726 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10
  93. Cell
    CellStephen King · 2006 Horror613 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10
  94. Micah
    MicahLaurell K. Hamilton · 2006 Horror90 ratings
    6.96.9 / 10
  95. The Secret
    The SecretRhonda Byrne · 2006 Self-help399 ratings
    6.56.5 / 10
  96. New Moon
    New MoonStephenie Meyer · 2006Filmed 2009 Romance2K ratings
    6.16.1 / 10

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