BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 2015

97 highest-rated books first published in 2015.

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Why Golden Son is #1

Golden Son (Pierce Brown) scores 8.8/10 from 2.8K ratings — 0.1 points ahead of Queen of Shadows 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. Golden Son
    Golden SonPierce Brown · 2015NYT bestseller Science fiction2.8K ratings1
    8.88.8 / 10
  2. Queen of Shadows
    Queen of ShadowsSarah J. Maas · 2015 Romance1.5K ratings
    8.78.7 / 10
  3. The Fifth Season
    The Fifth SeasonN. K. Jemisin · 2015 Fantasy2K ratings1
    8.78.7 / 10
  4. Being Mortal
    Being MortalAtul Gawande · 2015NYT bestseller Popular science336 ratings6
    8.78.7 / 10
  5. Nemesis Games
    Nemesis GamesJames S. A. Corey · 2015 Science fiction1.4K ratings
    8.78.7 / 10
  6. The Nightingale
    The NightingaleKristin Hannah · 2015NYT bestseller Historical fiction1.1K ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  7. Six of Crows
    Six of CrowsLeigh Bardugo · 2015Filmed 2021 Fantasy2.3K ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  8. Children of Time
    Children of TimeAdrian Tchaikovsky · 2015 Science fiction2K ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  9. Nimona
    NimonaN.D. Stevenson · 2015 Graphic novels599 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  10. We Should All Be Feminists
    We Should All Be FeministsChimamanda Ngozi Adichie · 2015 Essays805 ratings8
    8.58.5 / 10
  11. The Autumn Republic
    The Autumn RepublicBrian McClellan · 2015 Fantasy312 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  12. Ruin
    RuinJohn Gwynne · 2015 Fantasy242 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  13. Winter
    WinterMarissa Meyer · 2015 Science fiction516 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  14. Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow
    Homo Deus: A Brief History of TomorrowYuval Noah Harari · 2015NYT bestseller Popular science888 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  15. The Shepherd's Crown
    The Shepherd's CrownTerry Pratchett · 2015 Fantasy200 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  16. Illuminae
    IlluminaeAmie Kaufman · 2015 Science fiction516 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  17. Thing Explainer
    Thing ExplainerRandall Munroe · 2015 Popular science148 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  18. The Sympathizer
    The SympathizerViet Thanh Nguyen · 2015 Historical fiction370 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  19. The Aeronaut's Windlass
    The Aeronaut's WindlassJim Butcher · 2015NYT bestseller Fantasy320 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  20. The Missing of Clairdelune
    The Missing of ClairdeluneChristelle Dabos · 2015 Fantasy102 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  21. Firefight
    FirefightBrandon Sanderson · 2015 Young adult747 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  22. The Invention of Nature
    The Invention of NatureAndrea Wulf · 2015 Nature & environment97 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  23. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old SchoolJeff Kinney · 2015 Children’s books173 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  24. Half the World
    Half the WorldJoe Abercrombie · 2015 Fantasy275 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  25. Warriors of the Storm
    Warriors of the StormBernard Cornwell · 2015NYT bestseller Historical fiction72 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  26. An Ember in the Ashes
    An Ember in the AshesSabaa Tahir · 2015 Fantasy567 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  27. Ancillary Mercy
    Ancillary MercyAnn Leckie · 2015 Science fiction577 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  28. All In
    All InJennifer Lynn Barnes · 2015 Crime & mystery167 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  29. A Little Life
    A Little LifeHanya Yanagihara · 2015NYT bestseller Contemporary fiction1.3K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  30. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
    Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens AgendaBecky Albertalli · 2015 Young adult677 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  31. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
    Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic FutureAshlee Vance · 2015NYT bestseller Biography & memoir167 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  32. Uprooted
    UprootedNaomi Novik · 2015 Fantasy1K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  33. Carry On
    Carry OnRainbow Rowell · 2015 Young adult588 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  34. Library of Souls
    Library of SoulsRansom Riggs · 2015 Fantasy262 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  35. The Sword of Summer
    The Sword of SummerRick Riordan · 2015 Fantasy463 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  36. M Train
    M TrainPatti Smith · 2015NYT bestseller Biography & memoir73 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  37. Career of Evil
    Career of EvilRobert Galbraith · 2015NYT bestseller Crime & mystery463 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  38. Penric's Demon
    Penric's DemonLois McMaster Bujold · 2015 Fantasy118 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  39. All the Bright Places
    All the Bright PlacesJennifer Niven · 2015 Young adult543 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  40. The Skull Throne
    The Skull ThronePeter V. Brett · 2015NYT bestseller Fantasy269 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  41. Misbehaving
    MisbehavingRichard Thaler · 2015 Business93 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  42. The Crossing
    The CrossingMichael Connelly · 2015NYT bestseller Crime & mystery118 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  43. Dead Heat
    Dead HeatPatricia Briggs · 2015NYT bestseller Fantasy101 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  44. Seveneves
    SevenevesNeal Stephenson · 2015NYT bestseller Science fiction1.1K ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  45. Reasons to Stay Alive
    Reasons to Stay AliveMatt Haig · 2015 Biography & memoir248 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  46. The Traitor Baru Cormorant
    The Traitor Baru CormorantSeth Dickinson · 2015 Fantasy351 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  47. Challenger Deep
    Challenger DeepNeal Shusterman · 2015 Young adult71 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  48. Half a War
    Half a WarJoe Abercrombie · 2015 Fantasy232 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  49. A Darker Shade of Magic
    A Darker Shade of MagicV. E. Schwab · 2015 Fantasy1.8K ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  50. Perfect State
    Perfect StateBrandon Sanderson · 2015 Science fiction224 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  51. The Deal
    The DealElle Kennedy · 2015NYT bestseller Romance716 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  52. The End of All Things
    The End of All ThingsJohn Scalzi · 2015 Science fiction383 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  53. Last First Snow
    Last First SnowMax Gladstone · 2015 Fantasy72 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  54. Finders Keepers
    Finders KeepersStephen King · 2015NYT bestseller Crime & mystery589 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  55. Furiously Happy
    Furiously HappyJenny Lawson · 2015NYT bestseller Humour290 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  56. Memory ManDavid Baldacci
    Memory ManDavid Baldacci · 2015NYT bestseller Crime & mystery195 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  57. The Survivor
    The SurvivorKyle Mills · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller56 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  58. Slade House
    Slade HouseDavid Mitchell · 2015 Fantasy258 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  59. Why Not Me?
    Why Not Me?Mindy Kaling · 2015NYT bestseller Biography & memoir213 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  60. The Annihilation Score
    The Annihilation ScoreCharles Stross · 2015 Fantasy128 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  61. Confess
    ConfessColleen Hoover · 2015NYT bestseller Romance270 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  62. Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants
    Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor PoopypantsDav Pilkey · 2015 Science fiction51 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  63. Palace of Treason
    Palace of TreasonJason Matthews · 2015 Thriller50 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  64. Poseidon's Wake
    Poseidon's WakeAlastair Reynolds · 2015 Science fiction54 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  65. Fairest
    FairestMarissa Meyer · 2015 Science fiction344 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  66. Make Me
    Make MeLee Child · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller226 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  67. The Water Knife
    The Water KnifePaolo Bacigalupi · 2015 Science fiction180 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  68. The Long Utopia
    The Long UtopiaTerry Pratchett · 2015 Science fiction121 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  69. P.S. I Still Love You
    P.S. I Still Love YouJenny Han · 2015 Young adult496 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  70. The Guilty
    The GuiltyDavid Baldacci · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller72 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  71. Saint Odd
    Saint OddDean Koontz · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller55 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  72. Everything, Everything
    Everything, EverythingNicola Yoon · 2015 Young adult555 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  73. Slow Bullets
    Slow BulletsAlastair Reynolds · 2015 Science fiction85 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  74. The witches: Salem, 1692
    The witches: Salem, 1692Stacy Schiff · 2015NYT bestseller History56 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  75. The Bazaar of Bad Dreams
    The Bazaar of Bad DreamsStephen King · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller222 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  76. Radiance
    RadianceCatherynne M. Valente · 2015 Science fiction58 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  77. Aurora
    AuroraKim Stanley Robinson · 2015 Science fiction326 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  78. Modern Romance
    Modern RomanceAziz Ansari · 2015NYT bestseller Humour459 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  79. China Rich Girlfriend
    China Rich GirlfriendKevin Kwan · 2015NYT bestseller Romance252 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  80. The Buried Giant
    The Buried GiantKazuo Ishiguro · 2015NYT bestseller Fantasy387 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  81. Red Queen
    Red QueenVictoria Aveyard · 2015 Fantasy1.1K ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  82. Rogue Lawyer
    Rogue LawyerJohn Grisham · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller86 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  83. The Stranger
    The StrangerHarlan Coben · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller123 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  84. The Rest of Us Just Live Here
    The Rest of Us Just Live HerePatrick Ness · 2015 Fantasy181 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  85. A Court of Thorns and Roses
    A Court of Thorns and RosesSarah J. Maas · 2015NYT bestseller Fantasy4K ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  86. The Road to Character
    The Road to CharacterDavid Brooks · 2015NYT bestseller Self-help62 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  87. Will Grayson, Will Grayson
    Will Grayson, Will GraysonJohn Green · 2015 Young adult535 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  88. Eileen
    EileenOttessa Moshfegh · 2015 Thriller244 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  89. After You
    After YouJojo Moyes · 2015NYT bestseller Romance257 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  90. The Girl in the Spider's Web
    The Girl in the Spider's WebDavid Lagercrantz · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller336 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  91. Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian
    Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by ChristianE. L. James · 2015NYT bestseller Romance145 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  92. The Heart Goes Last
    The Heart Goes LastMargaret Atwood · 2015 Science fiction170 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  93. The Heir
    The HeirKiera Cass · 2015 Romance357 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  94. The Girl on the Train
    The Girl on the TrainPaula Hawkins · 2015NYT bestseller Thriller2K ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  95. In a Dark, Dark Wood
    In a Dark, Dark WoodRuth Ware · 2015 Thriller320 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10
  96. Aftermath
    AftermathChuck Wendig · 2015 Science fiction248 ratings
    6.96.9 / 10
  97. Armada
    ArmadaErnest Cline · 2015NYT bestseller Science fiction916 ratings
    6.96.9 / 10

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