20 of the best bestselling novels

Best Book Ratings

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Not all works of world literature become cultural heritage, but those whose plot has hooked millions of readers at different times become bestsellers, films are made on them, performances are staged. In this ranking, we present the 20 best bestselling novels from around the world.

Rating of the best best-selling novels

Nomination a place novel rating
Rating of the best best-selling novels 1 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen (1813) 5.0
2 'Museum of Innocence', Orhan Pamuk 4.9
3 'See you' by Jojo Moyes 4.9
4 'Call me by your name', Andre Asiman 4.8
5 'Gone With the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell 4.8
6 The Thorn Birds by Colin McCullough 4.7
7 'A Walk to Love' by Nicholas Sparks 4.7
8 North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell 4.7
9 'With love', Rosie, Cecilia Ahern 4.6
10 The Fault in the Stars by John Green 4.6
11 'The One', Kira Kass 4.5
12 Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 4.5
13 'Bridget Jones's Diary' by Helen Fielding 4.5
14 'P.S. I love you ', Cecilia Ahern 4.4
15 'The Bridges of Madison County' by Robert James Waller 4.4
16 Salty Wind by Sarah Gio 4.3
17 'Lavender Room' by Nina Gheorghe 4.2
18 Dream Street House by Lisa Jewell 4.2
19 '#HateLove', Anna Jane 4.1
20 'Just Together', Anna Gavalda 4.0

'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen (1813)

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 5.0

'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen (1813)

Jane Austen's novel takes the reader to England at the end of the 18th century. In the center of the plot is the Bennett family – five daughters have grown up and are preparing to be married. The obvious candidate for the heart of one of the sisters is the new neighbor Mr. Bingley, a young true gentleman who enjoys the success of beautiful ladies. Soon he develops a mutual sympathy for his eldest daughter Bennett. Bingley's friend, Mr. Darcy, an arrogant and arrogant young man, also falls in love with Jane, but over time he will develop affection for another sister of a large family. The plot has a lot of intricacies, intrigues, acting characters, described by the author in detail in the best manner of the 18th century.

'Pride and Prejudice' is a life-changing work in world literature that marked the beginning of feminism and the psychological novel. At the same time, Jane Austen was able to make him light, relaxed, at the same time serious and mature. Films and serials were shot based on the book.

'Museum of Innocence', Orhan Pamuk

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.9

'Museum of Innocence', Orhan Pamuk

The second place of the rating is the novel by Turkish author Orhan Pamuk 'Museum of Innocence'. This is a romantic story about tender love that people of different years and all times dream of. Turkish 'Romeo and Juliet' the heir of the rich family Kemal and the poor girl Fusun, as in the classics of the genre, cannot be together. The author explores the deepest strings of the heroes' souls, plunging the reader into subtle and pleasant lyrics.

Orkhan Pamuk, Nobel laureate in literature, invites the reader to an amazing museum, which contains more than 1000 ordinary things, one way or another related to love memories: lost earrings, movie tickets, cigarette butts, drawings, women's handkerchiefs and much more, among the exhibits there are even the remains of an old car … By the way, the exposition really exists in Istanbul at Beyoglu, Cukurcuma Caddesi, Dalgıc Cıkmazı, 2.

'See you' by Jojo Moyes

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.9

'See you' by Jojo Moyes

'Until I Meet You' is one of the most beautiful stories about the uneasy love of two completely different people. Judging by the reviews of critics and readers, getting acquainted with the work, you can experience the whole gamut of feelings from anger to despair, love and sympathy.

Lou Clark, the main character of the book, knows everything about her life: she has a stable job and a young man whom she most likely does not love anymore. But overnight everything collapses like a house of cards, she loses her job, now Lou is surrounded by problems that need to be solved …

Years earlier, Will Trainor, an extreme sports enthusiast and active young man, was hit by a motorcycle on a pedestrian crossing, after which he became tied to a wheelchair. He is immobilized, has lost interest in life and is looking for a way to leave this world.

Fate brings Lou and Will together: the girl gets a job as a nurse for him. The first emotions – mutual hostility are gradually transformed into interest and tender feelings … Now the life of the heroes will never be the same.

After its release in 2013, the novel Me Before You was an overwhelming success – in the first months, more than half a million copies of the book were sold, the novel entered the New York bestseller list, was translated into three dozen languages, later Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer directed the film of the same name based on the work.

'Call me by your name', Andre Asiman

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.8

'Call me by your name', Andre Asiman

The novel Call Me by Your Name (or Call Me by Your Name) is a sensual story about falling in love, sexual desire, attraction, but not a traditional gender couple, but two men – an Italian young man Elio Perdman and a young American scientist Oliver.

The story is told from Oliver's perspective in retrospect as a reminder of events that began 20 years ago. There are many explicit scenes in the book, skillfully described by the author using piercing and sensuality, but the work cannot be called erotic.

There is a debate among critics and readers about whether there is love between Oliver and Elio, therefore, in order to answer this question for ourselves, we recommend reading this amazing novel, which appeared in Russia only in February 2019.

By the way, the book was filmed by the Italian director Luca Guadagnino.

'Gone With the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.8

'Gone With the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell

World bestseller 'Gone With the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell won the love of readers around the world. The American Civil War, young Scarlett survived hunger, the loss of loved ones, the heroine's life changed beyond recognition. However, love still glimmers in the soul, but having buried her unloved husband, Scarlett understands that her naive dreams of Ashley are not justified, her heart now belongs to another person.

The lyrical knightly novel of the early XX is read in one breath at all times, without losing its relevance, to this day. The 1939 adaptation of Gone With the Wind is included in the golden fund of world cinema, the tape of the same name received 8 Academy Awards in various nominations.

The Thorn Birds by Colin McCullough

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.7

The Thorn Birds by Colin McCullough

The next in the ranking novel 'The Thorn Birds' is a saga, the story of several generations of one Australian Cleary family, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. The author first acquaints the reader with young Meggie and her entourage, imperceptibly raising her on the pages of the book to an adult woman, when her growing children come to the fore, so the plot gradually develops, filling with new faces. There are really many characters in the novel, but it is not so difficult to follow them: Colin McCullough managed to organically introduce and reveal each character with his opinion and outlook on life.

What else is noted by readers who got acquainted with the saga is the grandiose descriptions of Australian nature and landscapes, which organically house the ancestral estate of the family of the main characters. Now the mention of the southern continent is associated not only with the kangaroo.

'A Walk to Love' by Nicholas Sparks

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.7

'A Walk to Love' by Nicholas Sparks

A novel about the first youthful love, A Walk to Love, is the story of Landon Carter, who returns to Beaufort's youth city every year for memories. The classic of the genre is the love between a guy from a wealthy family and a pastor's daughter, accompanied by great happiness and at the same time pain. This feeling never repeats itself!

Fate brings young people together at school, on the stage of a theatrical performance. Dislike, self-praise of the 'golden' child gradually develop into quivering feelings … Heroes grow up on the pages of a book, and then the girl's incurable illness happens.

The story is told on behalf of the same Carter, who every time on the dock recalls the happy years he spent with his beloved Jamie.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.7

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

The novel takes place in the 19th century in England. The family of Priest Hale leaves the southern city of Helston, having refused to dignity due to doubts about the faith. North Milton greets the heroes with air polluted by factories and a harsh mood, in this atmosphere the daughter of the Margaret family feels very uncomfortable, especially after living in noble London with a rich aunt. The girl is popular among men, she has repeatedly received marriage proposals, but she rejected all suitors, even her loving devoted friend. John Thornton, a young industrialist, young Margaret seems to be a despot and rude, and the dislike of people is mutual. Needless to say, feelings are transformed with the course of the villages, but where will it all lead?

There are many heroes in the book, but their characters clearly trace the state of the south and north: the former are soft, gentle, wayward and proud, the latter are cold and harsh. Such as Margaret and John were.

'With love', Rosie, Cecilia Ahern

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.6

'With love', Rosie, Cecilia Ahern

The talented Cecilia Ahern revealed the theme of warm human feelings in a novel with the telling title 'With Love'. Girl Rosie and young man Alex wrote letters to each other for many years, confided secrets to each other, preserving the very intimacy lost in the modern digital world. The author shows how deep feelings can be and how insignificant the passage of time is.

Rosie and Alex are confident that they will be there for each other in any difficult moments of life. However, fate has other plans: it separates the lovers, the young man goes to work overseas. Communication continues with letters, e-mails, friends still hope to see you soon, because Alex is going to study at Harvard, and Rosie is in Boston. But the case again changes plans: the girl becomes pregnant from a boy from school.

How will the fate of Rosie and Alex be, will they be able to be together and overcome the obstacles on the way to reunification? Cecilia Ahern's novel will touch the deepest strings of the soul.

The Fault in the Stars by John Green

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.6

The Fault in the Stars by John Green

The Fault in the Stars novel is a deep and sensual story of two teenagers in love with each other. Heila is only 16, and she can no longer breathe deeply on her own and moves with difficulty, against the background of what is happening she plunges into herself and is limited in communication with other people. The situation changes when, at a support group lesson, the girl meets Augustus, and then goes with him on a trip to Amsterdam to the writer Van Houten, the author of Hazel's favorite novel 'The Tsar's Affliction', cut off literally in mid-sentence in order to find out the true ending of the work. Meeting this person will not be the most pleasant moment in the life of the heroes.

The main characters are impulsive, restless, full of all the typical signs of puberty. The desire to live and love is stronger than the fear of death, which they challenge, hoping for the favor of fate. At the same time, the most tormenting of Hale and Augustus is not the approach of the end of days, but jealousy and misunderstanding, so characteristic of people who are completely different in temperament and outlook, albeit so young. But they are together, no matter what.

'The Stars Are Fault' is a novel that should be read by everyone, even adults, the book will not leave anyone indifferent, and the story will help to realize many familiar at first glance moments in the life of each of us.

'The One', Kira Kass

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.5

'The One', Kira Kass

An event in the kingdom: a competition is held, the victory in which is awarded the crown and heart of Prince Maxson. And what girl doesn't want to marry a prince? Out of 35 applicants, only a few reached the final, among them the main character named America. She could not even dream of a prize, but until she was on the list of participants, completely unexpected for herself.

The event is overshadowed by the turbulent situation in the kingdom: rebels are in full operation on the street, violating the security in the palace. America understands that if it wants to win and become a contender for the heart of a prince, it will take a lot of effort.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.5

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

The famous saga, familiar to everyone from the films, is based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer. Twilight is the first part of a five-volume story. In it, the reader is introduced to the main characters, vampires and werewolves. The main character Isabella Swan falls in love with Edward Cullen and learns the secret of his origin and life. She is one of the first to learn that not only ordinary people live in a quiet town, where there is practically no good weather.

Readers, into whose hands the book “Twilight” fell after watching the film of the same name, note: the pages of the story are presented deeper, the author gives interesting descriptions of the area, the feelings of the heroes; you can catch many subtle moments that are not captured by the directors, which in a new way make you fall in love with the well-known masterpiece.

'Bridget Jones's Diary' by Helen Fielding

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.5

'Bridget Jones's Diary' by Helen Fielding

The next book in our rating, 'Bridget Jones's Diary', was also filmed by Hollywood filmmakers.

This novel was published as the personal diary of a woman from London. It had everything: counting calories, smoked cigarettes, opening the soul, and also a detailed description of the activities throughout the day. Bridget is 'a little over 30', she is not married, which is constantly reminded of her surroundings, trying to get in touch with lawyer Mark Darcy. Of course, at first the heroes do not like each other at all.

Further, the plot is twisted in the best tradition of the Mexican series: the girl meets Daniel Cleaver, has an affair with him, enjoys life. At this time, there is a discord between the parents, the mother leaves for another man. Bridget, trying to understand this situation, loses sight of her boyfriend, who at this time decides to marry another person.

Who will Bridget Jones stay with? Her diary will tell.

Interesting: The plot of the book is based on the story of 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. Bridget Jones's Diary is essentially the same story, but projected into the modern world. However, the novel is not a remake of a 19th century book, it is supplemented with bright inserts from modern reality, organically inscribed in the presented story.

'P.S. I love you ', Cecilia Ahern

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.4

'P.S. I love you ', Cecilia Ahern

The controversial novel 'P.S. I love you 'Cecilia Ahern wrote when she was only 21 years old, which is probably why many readers did not appreciate the author's submission. Holly Kennedy's heroine, after 15 years of marriage, loses her most dear person – her husband. After death, she falls into the hands of a bundle of letters from her beloved, written by him during his lifetime. There are small letters in the letters, at the end of each sheet a confession of 'P.S. I love you'. Holly remembers happy moments with Jerry.

Many readers wonder why Holly is so cynical: they wonder how long it takes to mourn for their husbands, how easily they cope with depression, where are so many young people of the opposite sex around her, how can you lead an easy lifestyle when your heart must be deep yearning? However, this is partly the meaning of the novel: learning to live happily, no matter what, maintain balance, move away from stereotypes and listen to your heart.

'The Bridges of Madison County' by Robert James Waller

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.4

'The Bridges of Madison County' by Robert James Waller

They – people in adulthood, but each childishly hides from their own fears. She lives on a small farm, where there are few people, but they are all alien to her in spirit. He dwells in an invented world of his own, hidden from others. They are both afraid to open up to themselves when they happen to meet. Two loneliness, two naive souls. The Madison County Bridges literally connected two people's roads.

The meeting literally erases the protective 'fences' of the heroes, because everything happens spontaneously, unpredictably, the lights are unable to resist the attraction and new love. He is afraid to stop moving towards her, and she does not dare to move in front, still held by her own fears.

The novel by Robert James Waller became a bestseller in the United States, was awarded the EBBI Prize, and a beautiful film of the same name was shot based on the work, starring Meryl Streep and Wedge Eastwood.

Salty Wind by Sarah Gio

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.3

Salty Wind by Sarah Gio

The rating would be incomplete without the novel Salt Wind by young writer Sarah Gio. This is a story that began in the middle of the last century, in 1943. Anna Calloway with her friend Kitty goes to the islands of French Polynesia to become a military nurse. Accustomed to a measured and calm life, friends move away in an unfamiliar environment.

Soon, Anna meets the soldier Westry Green, with whom she is distracted from the rushing longing for home and forgets about regret due to the distance of her friend. They try to keep their relationship private, but they spend a lot of time together. One day, walking along a wild beach, Anna and Westrey find an abandoned hut that once belonged to the artist. They had to witness a terrible incident.

After the backstory, Sarah Gio brings the action to the present day, to Seattle. Anna Calloway receives a letter from Genevieve Thorpe with a message about a murder that took place many years ago on the island of Borough Borough, the same one that the heroine witnessed with her lover. Genevieve has something to say to Anna to shed light on what happened.

'Lavender Room' by Nina Gheorghe

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.2

'Lavender Room' by Nina Gheorghe

The novel 'Lavender Room' by Nina Gheorghe was released in 2013, immediately gained brilliant success and was translated into dozens of languages ​​of the world.

Jean Egaret owns a floating bookshop moored to the shore. He is sure: only by reading good literature a person is able to heal from small and sometimes from deep spiritual wounds, to enrich himself emotionally and sensually. For this reason, he named his store 'Literary Pharmacy'. However, these 'drugs' did not help Jean himself recover from the loss experienced many years ago, which he unsuccessfully tried to dissolve in time. So two decades passed.

Everything will change one summer, when Egare finally decides to raise the anchor and embark on a sea voyage to meet difficult memories and a new beginning, the hope of renewal. What has the heart of Provence prepared for Jean?

Dream Street House by Lisa Jewell

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.2

Dream Street House by Lisa Jewell

The huge mansion of Toby Dobbs, a failed poet, has become like a hostel, in which many people gathered, united by one feature – difficult fates. The novel 'House on the street of dreams' reveals the story of experiencing especially aggravated situations of each of the heroes.

A series of unforeseen events forces Toby to sell the house, but for this he needs to evict the tenants. To speed up the process, he volunteers to help solve the problem of each settler, which turns out to be such a simple task. His neighbor Leah comes to his aid. Will they be able to solve a difficult problem together and put it up for sale?

'#HateLove', Anna Jane

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.1

'#HateLove', Anna Jane

The book #hatredLove is the second part of the Pretend My Couple series. In the first part, the acting characters were the same Dasha and Danya, who did not like each other since kindergarten. Later they even had to study at the same school.

In the second part #HateLove heroes the owl will have to study next to each other at the same university. From a mischievous boy, Danya turned into a handsome man with a large number of fans. Dasha still hates him for childish 'bullying'. Now she has a boyfriend who for some reason terribly annoys Danya.

The plot unfolds in such a way that the heroes have to portray lovers, and then spouses. Will the feeling of hatred that exists between Dania and Dasha transform into love, or will everything remain the same?

Anna Jane's youth novel is best read from the first part in order to better represent the picture of the developing plot, but the second book is written as a separate story.

'Just Together', Anna Gavalda

Category: best-selling novels

Rating: 4.0

'Just Together', Anna Gavalda

On the twentieth, closing line of the rating of the best best-selling novels, Anna Gavald's work “Just Together” about love, about happiness, about life in all its manifestations from accidental failures to big victories. The main characters of the novel are young and lonely people, talented, but unsuccessful. The hereditary intellectual and aristocrat Philibert Marquet de la Durbelier, a shy stuttering postcard seller for 36 years, has a large apartment he inherited. In one of the rooms lives Frank Lestafier, a talented restaurant chef who is forced to look after a sick 83-year-old grandmother. Camilla Fock, who lives in the attic, has anorexia and constant stress.

The heroes brought together under one roof are trying to help each other overcome life's difficulties and enter a new, bright streak with hope for a promising and happy future.

The novel “Just Together” was published in 2004 and during the first months it was sold in huge circulation in France, after which it was translated into dozens of languages ​​of the world, and in 2007 it was successfully filmed.


Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

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