BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 2013

94 highest-rated books first published in 2013.

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Why A Memory of Light is #1

A Memory of Light (Robert Jordan) scores 9.0/10 from 891 ratings — 0.2 points ahead of The Martian 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. A Memory of Light
    A Memory of LightRobert Jordan · 2013NYT bestseller Fantasy891 ratings
    9.09.0 / 10
  2. The Martian
    The MartianAndy Weir · 2013NYT bestseller Science fiction6.1K ratings1
    8.88.8 / 10
  3. Braiding Sweetgrass
    Braiding SweetgrassRobin Wall Kimmerer · 2013NYT bestseller Nature & environment369 ratings
    8.78.7 / 10
  4. The House of Hades
    The House of HadesRick Riordan · 2013 Fantasy1K ratings
    8.78.7 / 10
  5. Clockwork Princess
    Clockwork PrincessCassandra Clare · 2013 Fantasy580 ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  6. The Rithmatist
    The RithmatistBrandon Sanderson · 2013 Fantasy528 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  7. Abaddon's Gate
    Abaddon's GateJames S. A. Corey · 2013 Science fiction1.7K ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  8. The Boys in the Boat
    The Boys in the BoatDaniel James Brown · 2013NYT bestseller260 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  9. The Republic of Thieves
    The Republic of ThievesScott Lynch · 2013 Fantasy796 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  10. Crown of Midnight
    Crown of MidnightSarah J. Maas · 2013 Fantasy1.7K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  11. I Am Malala
    I Am MalalaMalala Yousafzai · 2013NYT bestseller Biography & memoir369 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  12. Americanah
    AmericanahChimamanda Ngozi Adichie · 2013 Romance580 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  13. The Pagan Lord
    The Pagan LordBernard Cornwell · 2013NYT bestseller Historical fiction86 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  14. Broken Homes
    Broken HomesBen Aaronovitch · 2013 Fantasy355 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  15. The Screaming Staircase
    The Screaming StaircaseJonathan Stroud · 2013 Fantasy223 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  16. Command and Control
    Command and ControlEric Schlosser · 2013NYT bestseller History89 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  17. The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns
    The Land of Stories: The Enchantress ReturnsChris Colfer · 2013 Fantasy95 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  18. Emperor of Thorns
    Emperor of ThornsMark Lawrence · 2013 Fantasy336 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  19. Frost Burned
    Frost BurnedPatricia Briggs · 2013NYT bestseller Fantasy182 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  20. And the Mountains Echoed
    And the Mountains EchoedKhaled Hosseini · 2013NYT bestseller Historical fiction295 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  21. Promise of Blood
    Promise of BloodBrian McClellan · 2013 Fantasy486 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  22. The Daylight War
    The Daylight WarPeter V. Brett · 2013 Fantasy344 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  23. One Summer
    One SummerBill Bryson · 2013NYT bestseller History116 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  24. Steelheart
    SteelheartBrandon Sanderson · 2013 Young adult1.2K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  25. The Fiery Heart
    The Fiery HeartRichelle Mead · 2013 Fantasy94 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  26. Ancillary Justice
    Ancillary JusticeAnn Leckie · 2013 Science fiction1.2K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  27. The Ocean at the End of the Lane
    The Ocean at the End of the LaneNeil Gaiman · 2013NYT bestseller Fantasy2.1K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  28. The Indigo Spell
    The Indigo SpellRichelle Mead · 2013 Fantasy109 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  29. The Goldfinch
    The GoldfinchDonna Tartt · 2013NYT bestseller Literary fiction1.2K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  30. Scarlet
    ScarletMarissa Meyer · 2013 Science fiction718 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  31. Zealot
    ZealotReza Aslan · 2013NYT bestseller Biography & memoir146 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  32. Vicious
    ViciousV. E. Schwab · 2013 Fantasy677 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  33. Going Clear
    Going ClearLawrence Wright · 2013NYT bestseller History128 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  34. Champion
    ChampionMarie Lu · 2013 Young adult340 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  35. Fortunately, the Milk
    Fortunately, the MilkNeil Gaiman · 2013 Science fiction228 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  36. Doctor Sleep
    Doctor SleepStephen King · 2013NYT bestseller Horror738 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  37. Off to Be the Wizard
    Off to Be the WizardScott Meyer · 2013 Science fiction509 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  38. The Human Division
    The Human DivisionJohn Scalzi · 2013 Science fiction462 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  39. Two Boys Kissing
    Two Boys KissingDavid Levithan · 2013 Young adult99 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  40. Wayward
    WaywardBlake Crouch · 2013 Thriller436 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  41. The Naturals
    The NaturalsJennifer Lynn Barnes · 2013 Young adult318 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  42. The Luminaries
    The LuminariesEleanor Catton · 2013 Historical fiction168 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  43. Dangerous Women
    Dangerous WomenMegan Abbott · 2013 Fantasy60 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  44. On the Steel Breeze
    On the Steel BreezeAlastair Reynolds · 2013 Science fiction81 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  45. Prodigy
    ProdigyMarie Lu · 2013 Dystopian395 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  46. Out of the Easy
    Out of the EasyRuta Sepetys · 2013 Young adult72 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  47. Fangirl
    FangirlRainbow Rowell · 2013 Young adult791 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  48. Police
    PoliceJo Nesbø · 2013 Crime & mystery80 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  49. Earth Afire
    Earth AfireOrson Scott Card · 2013 Science fiction128 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  50. Blood of Tyrants
    Blood of TyrantsNaomi Novik · 2013 Fantasy112 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  51. Season of Storms
    Season of StormsAndrzej Sapkowski · 2013 Fantasy483 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  52. Raising Steam
    Raising SteamTerry Pratchett · 2013NYT bestseller Fantasy305 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  53. Two Serpents Rise
    Two Serpents RiseMax Gladstone · 2013 Fantasy116 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  54. More Than This
    More Than ThisPatrick Ness · 2013 Young adult155 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  55. The Signature of All Things
    The Signature of All ThingsElizabeth Gilbert · 2013NYT bestseller Historical fiction87 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  56. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard LuckJeff Kinney · 2013 Middle grade177 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  57. Homeland
    HomelandCory Doctorow · 2013 Science fiction167 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  58. The Gate Thief
    The Gate ThiefOrson Scott Card · 2013 Fantasy80 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  59. Joyland
    JoylandStephen King · 2013NYT bestseller Crime & mystery447 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  60. Lean In
    Lean InSheryl Sandberg · 2013NYT bestseller Biography & memoir197 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  61. A Winter's Promise
    A Winter's PromiseChristelle Dabos · 2013 Fantasy201 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  62. The Rosie Project
    The Rosie ProjectGraeme Simsion · 2013NYT bestseller Romance683 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  63. The Edge of Never
    The Edge of NeverJ.A. Redmerski · 2013NYT bestseller Romance57 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  64. The Hit
    The HitDavid Baldacci · 2013NYT bestseller Thriller119 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  65. Never Go Back
    Never Go BackLee Child · 2013NYT bestseller Thriller241 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  66. The Cuckoo's Calling
    The Cuckoo's CallingRobert Galbraith · 2013NYT bestseller Crime & mystery828 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  67. Sycamore Row
    Sycamore RowJohn Grisham · 2013NYT bestseller Thriller137 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  68. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
    David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling GiantsMalcolm Gladwell · 2013NYT bestseller Psychology304 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  69. Unravel Me
    Unravel MeTahereh Mafi · 2013 Dystopian520 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  70. Bleeding Edge
    Bleeding EdgeThomas Pynchon · 2013NYT bestseller Crime & mystery69 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  71. MaddAddam
    MaddAddamMargaret Atwood · 2013 Dystopian301 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  72. King and Maxwell
    King and MaxwellDavid Baldacci · 2013NYT bestseller Thriller59 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  73. American Elsewhere
    American ElsewhereRobert Jackson Bennett · 2013 Horror73 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  74. Deeply Odd
    Deeply OddDean Koontz · 2013NYT bestseller Thriller59 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  75. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls
    Let's Explore Diabetes with OwlsDavid Sedaris · 2013NYT bestseller Humour326 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  76. Mitosis
    MitosisBrandon Sanderson · 2013 Fantasy428 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  77. The Longest Ride
    The Longest RideNicholas Sparks · 2013NYT bestseller Romance68 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  78. Crazy Rich Asians
    Crazy Rich AsiansKevin Kwan · 2013NYT bestseller Romance714 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  79. The 5th Wave
    The 5th WaveRick Yancey · 2013 Young adult560 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  80. Bad Monkey
    Bad MonkeyCarl Hiaasen · 2013NYT bestseller Crime & mystery81 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  81. Dad is Fat
    Dad is FatJim Gaffigan · 2013NYT bestseller Humour132 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  82. The Eye of Minds
    The Eye of MindsJames Dashner · 2013 Science fiction109 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  83. Rush
    RushMaya Banks · 2013NYT bestseller Romance58 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  84. Night Film
    Night FilmMarisha Pessl · 2013NYT bestseller Crime & mystery274 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  85. Wait for You
    Wait for YouJ. Lynn · 2013NYT bestseller Romance66 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  86. Takedown Twenty
    Takedown TwentyJanet Evanovich · 2013NYT bestseller Crime & mystery58 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  87. Inferno
    InfernoDan Brown · 2013NYT bestseller Crime & mystery1.2K ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  88. Six Years
    Six YearsHarlan Coben · 2013NYT bestseller Crime & mystery125 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  89. Siege and Storm
    Siege and StormLeigh Bardugo · 2013 Fantasy1.3K ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  90. The Husband's Secret
    The Husband's SecretLiane Moriarty · 2013NYT bestseller Thriller342 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  91. The Elite
    The EliteKiera Cass · 2013 Romance615 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  92. The Long War
    The Long WarTerry Pratchett · 2013 Science fiction243 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  93. Dead Ever After
    Dead Ever AfterCharlaine Harris · 2013NYT bestseller Fantasy135 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  94. Allegiant
    AllegiantVeronica Roth · 2013Filmed 2016 Young adult1.5K ratings
    6.66.6 / 10

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