My Top 10+ Books Over 10+ Years

What began in 2013 as a group of friends sharing book suggestions on Facebook and tallying up their favorite reads at the end of the year evolved into a dedicated Facebook Page with over 130 readers. Over the years, we’ve compiled an impressive list of 1,500 titles, ranked annually by participants’ Top 10 lists.

Here’s my personal list of #1-ranked books since 2013, arranged in alphabetical order. (As any passionate reader knows, "book math" often includes ties or extras because picking just one favorite can feel impossible!

Top Favorites

• 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak

• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

• American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

• As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

• Beartown by Fredrik Backman

• Educated by Tara Westover

• How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

• It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

• Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese

• The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

• The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

• The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

• The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

• The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

• The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

• The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

• The Nix by Nathan Hill

• The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

• The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

• The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

• The Women by Kristin Hannah

• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

• Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd
  

Whether you’re drawn to historical epics, heartfelt journeys, or uplifting tales, I hope this list inspires you to discover new favorites. Here’s to the next decade of remarkable stories!

Here’s a little glimpse into my bookish world.

When I’m not reading... I’m writing, promoting my debut novel, researching my next book, reading to our grandsons, sharing bookish thoughts on social media, and piecing together jigsaw puzzles—usually with a book theme.

📚 Monthly Columnist – Victoria’s Voice for The Armenian Weekly

📖 Author – Who She Left Behind, a 5-star, award-winning historical fiction novel inspired by my family’s story of survival during the Armenian Genocide and their journey of rebuilding in the United States.

✉️ Creator of HerSTORYian Tales – A free monthly newsletter dedicated to the art of storytelling through reading, writing, and speaking. We spotlight female protagonists, celebrate Armenian culture, and dive into the captivating world of Who She Left Behind.  Click here to sign up and you will automatically receive a monthly update of books I'm reading.

Check back each month for updates, and feel free to share your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you. Let’s journey through the pages together!

Read On!

Victoria

Related articles:

• What I'm Reading and Puzzling in 2026

• What I'm Reading in 2025

• Historical Fiction Spotlighting Resilient Women During Genocides

• My Top 10+ Books over 10+ Years

• Top 25 Fiction Books with Female Protagonists

• Vacation Destination Books

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.