Books We Couldn't Put Down
- List of the Month
- May 2025 (see all)
- Talk
- May 2025 List of the Month: Books We Couldn't Put Down
- Description
- Sometimes a book is so gripping we simply can't stop reading, putting off other tasks or staying up late at night to finish it. This month's List of the Month is devoted to the Books We Couldn't Put Down. Each member may add ten titles. Given the subjective nature of the topic, downvoting is not allowed.
1
57,123 members
497 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 99.05
Added 2025-05-08, 10:23 AM
- 27 Members
- Dene, kleo, lizzy50usa, Caesia, indregard, WinonaBaines, CarltonC, stephenis, dfmorgan, PawsforThought, Murphy-Jacobs, Laura1124, msjudy, msemmag, Marmie7, TsarinaTyna, oldtimers, RickyOnsman, itstheblob, princesslimabean, tmerp, mrdrarun, Samuelob9, rkhumphrey, svbyrne, samanthacomer262, apbooklover04
- Explanations
- Dene: Lived in these books.Caesia: I first read the Lord of the Rings when I was about 13. I started on a Friday, and read all weekend. I had read The Hobbit years earlier, so it was a natural extension to the story. I could visualise many of the scenes, and those images have stayed with me, 50 years later…CarltonC: My original “book that I couldn’t put down” before I was a teenager. Superb storytelling.Murphy-Jacobs: A classic, of course. When I first read them, I went through them all in a week, and then reread them the following week.RickyOnsman: Massive scope of imagination, totally engrossing.
2
by Martha Wells
225 members
5 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 82.94
Added 2025-05-08, 10:18 AM
- 24 Members
- tardis, keristars, ReshiBec, norabelle414, claire.rivers, Caesia, WinonaBaines, elenchus, Pathug50, bnk, mysterymax, GhostWriter57, Murphy-Jacobs, Darth-Heather, Marmie7, dtowell, ManWithAnAgenda, jonny424, SealedArchive, TeresaBlock, zeruele, TLM1988, rkhumphrey, samanthacomer262
- Explanations
- elenchus: The titular narrator is widely lauded, deservedly, which could distract readers from the fact its seemingly-familiar cyberpunk setting introduces a novel historical parallel.Murphy-Jacobs: I've been listening to the audiobook versions on repeat for several months now (the Kevin R. Free narration) as well as reading them and reading some auxiliary short stories in ebook form. The stories themselves are good, but the ideas built into them are even better.
3
- 18 Members
- ShelfMonkey, EerierIdyllMeme, kleo, WinonaBaines, CarltonC, RBeffa, pevka, vwinsloe, Murphy-Jacobs, Hope_H, msjudy, Marmie7, jonny424, RickyOnsman, zeruele, ngoomie, Ali_Kat21, samanthacomer262
- Explanations
- CarltonC: Another book that creates a whole complex world, a whole universe, that is believable, and you care about the people. First read as a teenager, which I’m sure enhanced its gripping story.Murphy-Jacobs: I used to read this book once a year from age 13 to age 18.RickyOnsman: Just kept drawing me further in.
4
24,111 members
970 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 57.36
Added 2025-05-13, 01:45 AM
- 17 Members
- poolays, nenasfilla, shearon, goldenlobo, Pathug50, RBeffa, kac522, mysterymax, gypsysmom, msjudy, jonny424, nyowh, JenMooreMO, Songbreeze, rkhumphrey, Anita_D, samanthacomer262
- Explanations
- goldenlobo: The suspense along with the setting put me there, a page-turner to say the least.
5
77,030 members
3,646 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 43.95
Added 2025-05-08, 09:56 AM
- 13 Members
- amysan, mzonderm, claire.rivers, ChappysRose, Bookbets50, gypsysmom, AbigailAdams26, flying_monkeys, rweitz, Ali_Kat21, svbyrne, emtwade22, apbooklover04
- Explanations
- AbigailAdams26: I raced through this one.
6
- 13 Members
- saskia17, WinonaBaines, perennialreader, Mweb, Porua, tina1969, Laura1124, awwolfe1, Hope_H, JenMooreMO, zeruele, Ali_Kat21, honeywalker67
7
by Jane Austen
94,403 members
1,513 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 41.71
Added 2025-05-08, 11:23 PM
- 13 Members
- TeresaInTexas, nenasfilla, shearon, Pathug50, kac522, perennialreader, Mweb, Porua, Murphy-Jacobs, treegardner, Marmie7, Songbreeze, Samuelob9
8
by Stephen King
16,684 members
314 reviews
4.2
Score 41.55
Added 2025-05-09, 09:14 AM
- 12 Members
- ShelfMonkey, kibosa, prdasilva, konallis, foof2you, sturlington, Verkruissen, MarigoldJackiFitz, Ali_Kat21, svbyrne, emtwade22, Jonella_Kahala
9
- 12 Members
- BookDoc16, mzonderm, claire.rivers, stephenis, vwinsloe, PrueGallagher, Murphy-Jacobs, LindaRoberts, Kyler_Marie, Richard_Cro, JFBCore, tdefarlo
- Explanations
- BookDoc16: Simply one of the most moving, engrossing books I've ever read. And its sequel, "Children of God," is equally good!
10
- 12 Members
- EerierIdyllMeme, RBeffa, bnk, traceylkb, Murphy-Jacobs, TsarinaTyna, ManWithAnAgenda, GrimFiend1977, oldtimers, JenMooreMO, itstheblob, rweitz
11
- 11 Members
- BookDoc16, ReshiBec, bjappleg8, Caesia, amanda4242, WinonaBaines, gypsysmom, Tosta, MarigoldJackiFitz, TLM1988, tdefarlo
- Explanations
- BookDoc16: Gripping, suspenseful, and ultimately beautiful. I heard Ms. Willis read the opening chapter at a book signing, and HAD to buy a copy.
12
- 13 Members
- BookDoc16, ReshiBec, foof2you, WinonaBaines, igorken, perennialreader, vwinsloe, al.vick, dtowell, SealedArchive, itstheblob, Ali_Kat21, samanthacomer262
13
- 12 Members
- ReshiBec, claire.rivers, goldenlobo, bnk, Cavalier80, katemcangus, LindaRoberts, kairih, msemmag, nyowh, rkhumphrey, samanthacomer262
14
18,986 members
459 reviews
4.1
Score 36.98
Added 2025-05-08, 10:06 AM
- 11 Members
- Aquila, hipdeep, BookDoc16, masterdeski, Pathug50, Murphy-Jacobs, ManWithAnAgenda, JFBCore, zeruele, rkhumphrey, samanthacomer262
- Explanations
- hipdeep: I remember devouring this while snowed in one year.BookDoc16: Reread it earlier this year, for about the 5th time, and found it as exciting & thought-provoking as ever.Murphy-Jacobs: I have read this book so many times, and I still pull it out about every two years to reread.
15
42,141 members
1,313 reviews
4.1
Score 36.24
Added 2025-05-08, 11:37 AM
- 12 Members
- anglemark, TeresaInTexas, amysan, kleo, chellerystick, Caesia, spyrunner2, Verkruissen, TsarinaTyna, rweitz, SingingCanadian, tdefarlo
16
18,459 members
440 reviews
4
Score 35.38
Added 2025-05-08, 07:20 PM
- 12 Members
- anglemark, kleo, chellerystick, Muscogulus, CarltonC, RBeffa, Murphy-Jacobs, Darth-Heather, RickyOnsman, cindra-cat, zeruele, tmerp
- Explanations
- CarltonC: I read the three books of what was then a trilogy on consecutive days. Oh what bliss to discover such humane world building.Murphy-Jacobs: Another of those series I would revisit.RickyOnsman: As a teenager, I felt it was about me!cindra-cat: So quick to read and so worth it. Ged is such a flawed character but one that is worth knowing. A complete favorite that I try to pick up every year.
17
26,097 members
477 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 35.12
Added 2025-05-08, 09:01 PM
- 11 Members
- TeresaInTexas, Micheller7, WinonaBaines, Kintra, CelticLibrarian, Laura1124, Hope_H, elorin, DonnaGriffin, Ali_Kat21, samanthacomer262
- Explanations
- elorin: I was in 5th grade the first time I read this book and I took it with me everywhere I might have a chance to read it.
18
25,635 members
619 reviews
4.2
Score 34.96
Added 2025-05-08, 10:11 AM
- 11 Members
- amysan, chellerystick, kac522, Mweb, kristilabrie, Marmie7, TsarinaTyna, Red-Hawk, rweitz, tmerp, tdefarlo
- Explanations
- tmerp: My all-time favorite Agatha Christie
19
by Anne Rice
25,663 members
362 reviews
3.8
Score 34.47
Added 2025-05-08, 10:30 AM
- 11 Members
- ShelfMonkey, goldenlobo, bnk, tina1969, vwinsloe, Murphy-Jacobs, TsarinaTyna, GrimFiend1977, Nonconformisto, suzemazice, tdefarlo
- Explanations
- Murphy-Jacobs: When I read this first, I read it in one night, slept through the day, and read it again the next night. I've read it several times since then.
20
- 10 Members
- hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, goldenlobo, sturlington, Marmie7, TsarinaTyna, itstheblob, ngoomie, fra-puzolini, svbyrne
- Explanations
- hipdeep: Multiple chapters freaked me out so bad I had to read the next one instead of going to bed.
21
- 11 Members
- ShelfMonkey, BookDoc16, WinonaBaines, RickyOnsman, cindra-cat, annaBethChase32, zeruele, rweitz, Ali_Kat21, svbyrne, tdefarlo
- Explanations
- BookDoc16: A favorite since junior high school. And an all-too-possible vision of our future...RickyOnsman: Gripping. At the time, it felt unlikely. Now, less so.cindra-cat: Censorship? Maybe, or maybe it's about a society that ignored the books in favor of screens. Maybe both. Once I pick it up, I have to read it all the way through....again and again. It is a favorite.
22
48,092 members
1,819 reviews
4
Score 29.61
Added 2025-05-11, 05:26 PM
- 9 Members
- shearon, perennialreader, traceylkb, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Marmie7, nyowh, rweitz, Ofc.Banana
23
14,717 members
876 reviews
4.1
Score 29.22
Added 2025-05-17, 04:02 AM
24
- 10 Members
- BookDoc16, amysan, Micheller7, claire.rivers, MissYvonnee, tina1969, kairih, Hope_H, Ali_Kat21, tdefarlo
- Explanations
- BookDoc16: Simply the most unexpected twist I have ever encountered in a novel.
25
- 9 Members
- baaic, stephenis, mysterymax, treegardner, DonnaGriffin, Red-Hawk, itstheblob, princesslimabean, apbooklover04
26
48,579 members
1,238 reviews
4.1
Score 25.6
Added 2025-05-11, 07:13 PM
- 9 Members
- kibosa, Minthe, nenasfilla, chellerystick, belleek, Verkruissen, dtalpk, Ali_Kat21, svbyrne
27
22,589 members
1,358 reviews
4
Score 25.09
Added 2025-05-08, 09:26 PM
- 9 Members
- leennnadine, mzonderm, bnk, flying_monkeys, LindaRoberts, Ali_Kat21, rkhumphrey, svbyrne, honeywalker67
28
29,899 members
839 reviews
3.9
Score 23.94
Added 2025-05-09, 02:46 AM
- 8 Members
- ShelfMonkey, EerierIdyllMeme, goldenlobo, bnk, PawsforThought, LindaRoberts, zeruele, rkhumphrey
29
- 7 Members
- TeresaInTexas, Pathug50, Murphy-Jacobs, dcomeford, skid0612, TLM1988, fra-puzolini
- Explanations
- skid0612: Both the plot and endless wordplay simply enthralled me.
30
58,193 members
1,375 reviews
4.2
Score 22.85
Added 2025-05-09, 01:15 AM
31
- 8 Members
- poolays, goldenlobo, WinonaBaines, perennialreader, al.vick, Laura1124, Nonconformisto, svbyrne
32
- 7 Members
- Aquila, bookwoman84, claire.rivers, bnk, msemmag, SealedArchive, rkhumphrey
- Explanations
- Aquila: Definitely a can't put downer.
33
- 8 Members
- BookDoc16, Minthe, shearon, foof2you, Cavalier80, Marmie7, itstheblob, rkhumphrey
- Explanations
- BookDoc16: The first "non-fiction novel" I ever read; perhaps the very first, period. Capote was a master, both at writing and at burrowing deep into his real-life subject. I still feel the tragedy of both the victims & the guilty.
34
108,822 members
1,642 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 20.75
Added 2025-05-08, 09:58 AM
- 7 Members
- knerd.knitter, al.vick, AbigailAdams26, markhopp, msjudy, TsarinaTyna, DelphineDK
- Explanations
- AbigailAdams26: I had to know how it all ended, and to find out whether Snape was a villain.
41
30,896 members
1,107 reviews
4.1
Score 16.46
Added 2025-05-09, 09:54 AM
- 6 Members
- nenasfilla, kleo, goldenlobo, mysterymax, Darth-Heather, MLShaw
44
94,588 members
1,451 reviews
4.2
Score 15.87
Added 2025-05-08, 07:52 PM
- 5 Members
- wosewoman, kaixo, goldenlobo, treegardner, RickyOnsman
- Explanations
- RickyOnsman: Totally absorbing, frightening and likely.
47
4,373 members
238 reviews
4.2
Score 15.22
Added 2025-05-12, 02:09 AM
- 5 Members
- shearon, sallylou61, kac522, traceylkb, Kyler_Marie
49
3,489 members
130 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 14.7
Added 2025-05-18, 10:05 PM
50
30,967 members
495 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 14.44
Added 2025-05-09, 09:52 AM
- 5 Members
- kleo, perennialreader, Mweb, Darth-Heather, Anita_D
51
9,708 members
338 reviews
4
Score 14.44
Added 2025-05-08, 10:31 AM
- 5 Members
- poolays, bnk, vwinsloe, elorin, Richard_Cro
52
- 5 Members
- BookDoc16, nenasfilla, Kintra, tommi180744, ZephCraven
- Explanations
- BookDoc16: Another very possible vision of the world's future, with characters you can't help but hope for.
54
26,894 members
1,015 reviews
3.8
Score 12.33
Added 2025-05-16, 10:20 AM
- 4 Members
- wosewoman, shearon, traceylkb, flying_monkeys
57
by R. F. Kuang
10,225 members
235 reviews
4
Score 10.64
Added 2025-05-08, 02:55 PM
- 4 Members
- norabelle414, claire.rivers, dcomeford, tdefarlo
58
39,272 members
520 reviews
4.1
Score 9.92
Added 2025-05-08, 07:56 PM
- 3 Members
- ChrissyQuise, RickyOnsman, Anita_D
- Explanations
- RickyOnsman: I couldn't see how this would end up, kept hoping for a happy ending.
59
23,614 members
511 reviews
3.9
Score 9.76
Added 2025-05-22, 02:08 PM
- 4 Members
- hipdeep, foof2you, Cavalier80, TsarinaTyna
60
62
64
1,525 members
68 reviews
4.1
Score 9.02
Added 2025-05-11, 07:09 PM
- 3 Members
- Minthe, sallylou61, kac522
65
10,794 members
286 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 8.71
Added 2025-05-11, 07:08 PM
- 3 Members
- Minthe, chellerystick, Anita_D
66
67
5,954 members
177 reviews
4.2
Score 8.59
Added 2025-05-08, 10:24 AM
68
69
3,792 members
227 reviews
4.1
Score 8.5
Added 2025-05-08, 09:26 PM
- 3 Members
- leennnadine, claire.rivers, merrystar
70
72
9,100 members
119 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 8.18
Added 2025-05-14, 02:06 PM
- 3 Members
- tommi180744, Nonconformisto, Anita_D
73
12,905 members
520 reviews
3.9
Score 8.17
Added 2025-05-22, 05:17 PM
- 3 Members
- Dene, sturlington, jlg65
76
77
11,436 members
180 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 8
Added 2025-05-08, 07:16 PM
- 2 Members
- MaureenRoy, cindra-cat
- Explanations
- cindra-cat: Could this really happen? Sure - and we aren't ready for it now, just like these folks weren't ready.
80
- 3 Members
- RickyOnsman, cindra-cat, zeruele
- Explanations
- RickyOnsman: At the time, seemed not so far away, a logical extension of where science might take us.cindra-cat: Where science could have taken us - and might still. I first read this in high school and have reread many, many times.
84
85
2,131 members
69 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 7.36
Added 2025-05-08, 11:23 AM
- 2 Members
- bookwoman84, Lauren-at-LT
86
1,944 members
72 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 7.36
Added 2025-05-08, 09:58 AM
- 2 Members
- ZephCraven, fra-puzolini
87
57,525 members
818 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 7.04
Added 2025-05-08, 07:52 PM
- 2 Members
- kibosa, RickyOnsman
- Explanations
- RickyOnsman: Less convincing now, at the time it seemed so insightful and frightening.
88
24,288 members
857 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 6.83
Added 2025-05-28, 01:51 PM
- 2 Members
- Songbreeze, Izzysbookrecord
96
10,243 members
145 reviews
4
Score 6.4
Added 2025-05-09, 11:26 AM
97
98
by Betty Smith
18,495 members
483 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 6.31
Added 2025-05-22, 10:37 PM
- 2 Members
- Dene, sadiehawkin
- Explanations
- Dene: Moving, satisfying, rich storytelling.
100
431 members
28 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 6.31
Added 2025-05-08, 11:29 PM