BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 2014

95 highest-rated books first published in 2014.

← 20132015 →

Why Words of Radiance is #1

Words of Radiance (Brandon Sanderson) scores 9.4/10 from 3.5K ratings — 0.5 points ahead of Just Mercy 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. Words of Radiance
    Words of RadianceBrandon Sanderson · 2014NYT bestseller Fantasy3.5K ratings
    9.49.4 / 10
  2. Just Mercy
    Just MercyBryan Stevenson · 2014NYT bestseller Biography & memoir321 ratings2
    8.98.9 / 10
  3. Skin Game
    Skin GameJim Butcher · 2014NYT bestseller Fantasy676 ratings
    8.88.8 / 10
  4. The Broken Eye
    The Broken EyeBrent Weeks · 2014NYT bestseller Fantasy417 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  5. All the Light We Cannot See
    All the Light We Cannot SeeAnthony Doerr · 2014NYT bestsellerFilmed 2023 Historical fiction1.6K ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  6. Fool's Assassin
    Fool's AssassinRobin Hobb · 2014 Fantasy363 ratings1
    8.58.5 / 10
  7. El Deafo
    El DeafoCece Bell · 2014 Comics158 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  8. Roller Girl
    Roller GirlVictoria Jamieson · 2014 Graphic novels123 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  9. Heir of Fire
    Heir of FireSarah J. Maas · 2014 Romance1.7K ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  10. The Crimson Campaign
    The Crimson CampaignBrian McClellan · 2014 Fantasy345 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  11. What If?
    What If?Randall Munroe · 2014NYT bestseller Popular science120 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  12. Cress
    CressMarissa Meyer · 2014 Science fiction627 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  13. Percy Jackson's Greek Gods
    Percy Jackson's Greek GodsRick Riordan · 2014 Young adult271 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  14. The Blood of Olympus
    The Blood of OlympusRick Riordan · 2014 Fantasy897 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  15. Red Rising
    Red RisingPierce Brown · 2014NYT bestseller Science fiction4.2K ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  16. Cibola Burn
    Cibola BurnJames S. A. Corey · 2014 Science fiction1.4K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  17. Foxglove Summer
    Foxglove SummerBen Aaronovitch · 2014 Fantasy327 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  18. The Crossover
    The CrossoverKwame Alexander · 2014 Poetry72 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  19. The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
    The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital RevolutionWalter Isaacson · 2014NYT bestseller Biography & memoir185 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  20. Stuff Matters
    Stuff MattersMark Miodownik · 2014 Popular science88 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  21. The Empty Throne
    The Empty ThroneBernard Cornwell · 2014 Historical fiction84 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  22. Night Broken
    Night BrokenPatricia Briggs · 2014NYT bestseller Fantasy172 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  23. Big Little Lies
    Big Little LiesLiane Moriarty · 2014NYT bestseller Thriller712 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  24. City of Stairs
    City of StairsRobert Jackson Bennett · 2014 Fantasy423 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  25. The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning
    The Land of Stories: A Grimm WarningChris Colfer · 2014 Fantasy68 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  26. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
    The Long Way to a Small, Angry PlanetBecky Chambers · 2014 Science fiction1.8K ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  27. City of Heavenly Fire
    City of Heavenly FireCassandra Clare · 2014 Fantasy534 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  28. The Whispering Skull
    The Whispering SkullJonathan Stroud · 2014 Fantasy142 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  29. Station Eleven
    Station ElevenEmily St. John Mandel · 2014 Science fiction2K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  30. Sisters
    SistersRaina Telgemeier · 2014 Graphic novels66 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  31. Archenemies
    ArchenemiesMarissa Meyer · 2014 Young adult227 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  32. Silver Shadows
    Silver ShadowsRichelle Mead · 2014 Fantasy81 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  33. The Abyss Beyond Dreams
    The Abyss Beyond DreamsPeter F. Hamilton · 2014 Science fiction163 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  34. City of Light
    City of LightWill Wight · 2014 Fantasy102 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  35. The Girl with All the Gifts
    The Girl with All the GiftsMike Carey · 2014 Science fiction867 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  36. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long HaulJeff Kinney · 2014 Children’s books219 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  37. Edge of Eternity
    Edge of EternityKen Follett · 2014NYT bestseller Historical fiction180 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  38. Ancillary Sword
    Ancillary SwordAnn Leckie · 2014 Science fiction635 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  39. The Shadow of What Was Lost
    The Shadow of What Was LostJames Islington · 2014 Fantasy652 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  40. The Assassin's Blade
    The Assassin's BladeSarah J. Maas · 2014 Fantasy1.1K ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  41. The Book of Life
    The Book of LifeDeborah Harkness · 2014NYT bestseller Fantasy348 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  42. Dreams of Gods and Monsters
    Dreams of Gods and MonstersLaini Taylor · 2014 Young adult267 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  43. Full Fathom Five
    Full Fathom FiveMax Gladstone · 2014 Fantasy85 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  44. Half a King
    Half a KingJoe Abercrombie · 2014 Fantasy404 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  45. Killer Instinct
    Killer InstinctJennifer Lynn Barnes · 2014 Crime & mystery202 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  46. H is for Hawk
    H is for HawkHelen Macdonald · 2014NYT bestseller Biography & memoir194 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  47. Earth Awakens
    Earth AwakensOrson Scott Card · 2014 Science fiction107 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  48. Written in My Own Heart's Blood
    Written in My Own Heart's BloodDiana Gabaldon · 2014NYT bestseller Romance99 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  49. Bad Feminist
    Bad FeministRoxane Gay · 2014 Essays244 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  50. Wonder Woman--Warbringer
    Wonder Woman--WarbringerLeigh Bardugo · 2014 Young adult105 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  51. The Silkworm
    The SilkwormRobert Galbraith · 2014NYT bestseller Crime & mystery554 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  52. The Bone Clocks
    The Bone ClocksDavid Mitchell · 2014NYT bestseller Science fiction321 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  53. The Rhesus Chart
    The Rhesus ChartCharles Stross · 2014 Science fiction157 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  54. Thief's Magic
    Thief's MagicTrudi Canavan · 2014 Fantasy69 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  55. The Peripheral
    The PeripheralWilliam Gibson · 2014 Science fiction373 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  56. Hollow City
    Hollow CityRansom Riggs · 2014 Fantasy509 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  57. The Escape
    The EscapeDavid Baldacci · 2014NYT bestseller Thriller88 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  58. The Son
    The SonJo Nesbø · 2014 Crime & mystery88 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  59. Mr. Mercedes
    Mr. MercedesStephen King · 2014NYT bestsellerFilmed 2017 Crime & mystery968 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  60. Half-Off Ragnarok
    Half-Off RagnarokSeanan McGuire · 2014 Fantasy52 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  61. The Last Town
    The Last TownBlake Crouch · 2014 Thriller395 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  62. To All the Boys I've Loved Before
    To All the Boys I've Loved BeforeJenny Han · 2014 Young adult802 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  63. The Burning Room
    The Burning RoomMichael Connelly · 2014NYT bestseller Crime & mystery108 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  64. Bird Box
    Bird BoxJosh Malerman · 2014NYT bestseller Horror507 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  65. Solitaire
    SolitaireAlice Oseman · 2014 Young adult297 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  66. Personal
    PersonalLee Child · 2014NYT bestseller Thriller238 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  67. Leaving Time
    Leaving TimeJodi Picoult · 2014NYT bestseller Crime & mystery80 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  68. Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets
    Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking ToiletsDav Pilkey · 2014 Science fiction59 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  69. The Young Elites
    The Young ElitesMarie Lu · 2014 Fantasy186 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  70. Everything I Never Told You
    Everything I Never Told YouCeleste Ng · 2014NYT bestseller Crime & mystery660 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  71. Natchez Burning
    Natchez BurningGreg Iles · 2014NYT bestseller Crime & mystery52 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  72. Ruin and Rising
    Ruin and RisingLeigh Bardugo · 2014 Fantasy1.1K ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  73. The Target
    The TargetDavid Baldacci · 2014NYT bestseller Thriller102 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  74. Think Like a Freak
    Think Like a FreakSteven D. Levitt · 2014NYT bestseller Self-help184 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  75. Missing You
    Missing YouHarlan Coben · 2014NYT bestseller Crime & mystery83 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  76. The Secret Place
    The Secret PlaceTana French · 2014NYT bestseller Crime & mystery135 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  77. Yes Please
    Yes PleaseAmy Poehler · 2014NYT bestseller Biography & memoir600 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  78. The Lesser Dead
    The Lesser DeadChristopher Buehlman · 2014 Horror66 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  79. Annihilation
    AnnihilationJeff VanderMeer · 2014 Horror2.1K ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  80. The Kiss of Deception
    The Kiss of DeceptionMary E. Pearson · 2014 Fantasy194 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  81. Captivated by You
    Captivated by YouSylvia Day · 2014NYT bestseller Romance53 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  82. Echopraxia
    EchopraxiaPeter Watts · 2014 Science fiction210 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  83. Revival
    RevivalStephen King · 2014NYT bestseller Horror437 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  84. The Long Mars
    The Long MarsTerry Pratchett · 2014 Science fiction150 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  85. The Infinite Sea
    The Infinite SeaRick Yancey · 2014 Young adult236 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  86. Acceptance
    AcceptanceJeff VanderMeer · 2014 Science fiction611 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  87. The Rosie Effect
    The Rosie EffectGraeme Simsion · 2014 Romance175 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  88. Milk and Honey
    Milk and HoneyRupi Kaur · 2014NYT bestseller Poetry798 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  89. Horrorstör
    HorrorstörGrady Hendrix · 2014 Horror570 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  90. Requiem
    RequiemLauren Oliver · 2014 Romance165 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  91. Not That Kind of Girl
    Not That Kind of GirlLena Dunham · 2014NYT bestseller Biography & memoir129 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  92. Gray Mountain
    Gray MountainJohn Grisham · 2014NYT bestseller Thriller79 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  93. We Were Liars
    We Were LiarsE. Lockhart · 2014 Young adult846 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  94. Authority
    AuthorityJeff VanderMeer · 2014 Science fiction806 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  95. After
    AfterAnna Todd · 2014NYT bestseller Romance157 ratings
    6.76.7 / 10

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