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Memorable Women's Fiction
For novels that explore the gender issues of a time/period with a strong narrative, believeable characters (not just ones you engage with) and insight. Ideally the reader should feel a range of emotions and LOVE the novel despite the dark bits.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
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In and Out of Step
by
Christine M. Knight (Goodreads Author)
4.12 avg rating — 114 ratings
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| 2 |
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Cheating to Survive (Fix It or Get Out, #1)
by
Christine Ardigo (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 207 ratings
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| 3 |
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Life Song
by
Christine M. Knight (Goodreads Author)
4.22 avg rating — 93 ratings
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| 4 |
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Song Bird: Matters of the Heart
by
Christine M. Knight (Goodreads Author)
4.39 avg rating — 46 ratings
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| 5 |
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The Solace of Water
by
Elizabeth Byler Younts (Goodreads Author)
4.18 avg rating — 1,470 ratings
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| 6 |
|
Every Five Years (Fix It or Get Out #2)
by
Christine Ardigo (Goodreads Author)
4.40 avg rating — 121 ratings
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| 7 |
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Jus Breathe
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4.70 avg rating — 30 ratings
score: 900,
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9 people voted
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| 8 |
|
Wrapped in the Stars
by
Elena Mikalsen (Goodreads Author)
4.07 avg rating — 160 ratings
score: 899,
and
9 people voted
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| 9 |
|
The Help
by
Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author)
4.47 avg rating — 2,976,780 ratings
score: 591,
and
6 people voted
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| 10 |
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Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
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4.28 avg rating — 322,947 ratings
score: 562,
and
6 people voted
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| 11 |
|
The Color Purple
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4.28 avg rating — 741,364 ratings
score: 467,
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5 people voted
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| 12 |
|
The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)
by
Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)
4.15 avg rating — 2,349,402 ratings
score: 455,
and
5 people voted
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| 13 |
|
The Hourglass
by
Sharon Struth (Goodreads Author)
4.37 avg rating — 59 ratings
score: 400,
and
4 people voted
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| 14 |
|
The Personal History of Rachel DuPree
by
Ann Weisgarber (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 4,392 ratings
score: 397,
and
4 people voted
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| 15 |
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Prodigal Summer
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4.05 avg rating — 125,051 ratings
score: 381,
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4 people voted
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| 16 |
|
What Alice Forgot
by
Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author)
4.07 avg rating — 506,509 ratings
score: 356,
and
4 people voted
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| 17 |
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Dear Thief
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3.45 avg rating — 1,101 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
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| 17 |
|
The Spa at Lavender Lane
by
Phyllis Melhado (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 138 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
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| 19 |
|
Finding Hemingway
by
Ken Dortzbach (Goodreads Author)
3.46 avg rating — 65 ratings
score: 297,
and
3 people voted
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| 20 |
|
Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane, #1)
by
Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Author)
4.20 avg rating — 462,794 ratings
score: 292,
and
3 people voted
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| 21 |
|
The Poisonwood Bible
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4.11 avg rating — 783,788 ratings
score: 274,
and
3 people voted
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| 22 |
|
The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1)
by
Ken Follett (Goodreads Author)
4.35 avg rating — 814,959 ratings
score: 263,
and
3 people voted
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| 23 |
|
The Truth About Forever
by
Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author)
4.12 avg rating — 225,870 ratings
score: 259,
and
3 people voted
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| 23 |
|
Where'd You Go, Bernadette
by
3.87 avg rating — 594,624 ratings
score: 259,
and
3 people voted
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| 25 |
|
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
by
Cheryl Strayed (Goodreads Author)
4.07 avg rating — 855,056 ratings
score: 252,
and
3 people voted
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| 26 |
|
The Husband's Secret
by
Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 716,739 ratings
score: 247,
and
3 people voted
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| 27 |
|
All Different Kinds of Free
by
Jessica McCann (Goodreads Author)
4.19 avg rating — 1,432 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 27 |
|
Holy Fools
by
Joanne Harris (Goodreads Author)
3.61 avg rating — 9,023 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 27 |
|
Trouble Won't Wait (Love-n-Trouble #2)
by
Autumn Piper (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 378 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 27 |
|
A Whisper of Smoke
by
Angela Hoke (Goodreads Author)
4.09 avg rating — 405 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 27 |
|
Liliana (Liliana, #1)
by
Neva Squires-Rodriguez (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 111 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 27 |
|
Writers Revenge: Four Authors and the Publisher from Hell
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2.87 avg rating — 31 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 33 |
|
Pictures of You
by
Caroline Leavitt (Goodreads Author)
3.46 avg rating — 8,497 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
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| 33 |
|
Light a Penny Candle
by
3.97 avg rating — 22,419 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
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| 33 |
|
Where Hope Begins
by
Catherine West (Goodreads Author)
4.25 avg rating — 997 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
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| 36 |
|
The Girl with No Shadow (Chocolat, #2)
by
Joanne Harris (Goodreads Author)
3.87 avg rating — 20,158 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
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| 37 |
|
The Edible Woman
by
Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)
3.70 avg rating — 39,847 ratings
score: 189,
and
2 people voted
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| 38 |
|
The Truth According to Us
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3.75 avg rating — 19,570 ratings
score: 184,
and
2 people voted
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| 39 |
|
The Last Anniversary
by
Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 164,822 ratings
score: 180,
and
2 people voted
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| 39 |
|
Who Do You Love
by
Jennifer Weiner (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 44,759 ratings
score: 180,
and
2 people voted
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| 41 |
|
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
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3.70 avg rating — 59,775 ratings
score: 179,
and
2 people voted
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| 42 |
|
Requiem for a Wren
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4.07 avg rating — 2,571 ratings
score: 174,
and
2 people voted
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| 43 |
|
Shakespeare's Trollop (Lily Bard, #4)
by
Charlaine Harris (Goodreads Author)
3.89 avg rating — 15,584 ratings
score: 149,
and
2 people voted
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| 44 |
|
Shakespeare's Landlord (Lily Bard, #1)
by
Charlaine Harris (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 28,513 ratings
score: 147,
and
2 people voted
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| 45 |
|
The Red Garden
by
Alice Hoffman (Goodreads Author)
3.74 avg rating — 24,983 ratings
score: 116,
and
2 people voted
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| 46 |
|
Forever Amber
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 19,485 ratings
score: 113,
and
3 people voted
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| 47 |
|
A Monstrous Regiment of Women (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #2)
by
Laurie R. King (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 27,443 ratings
score: 111,
and
2 people voted
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| 48 |
|
Small Island
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4.01 avg rating — 37,385 ratings
score: 109,
and
2 people voted
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| 49 |
|
A Town Like Alice
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4.16 avg rating — 61,115 ratings
score: 106,
and
2 people voted
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| 50 |
|
A Good Kind of Knowing
by
Kathy Lynn Harris (Goodreads Author)
3.88 avg rating — 66 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Sex, Doug, and a Rocky Road
by
Michele Bardsley (Goodreads Author)
3.76 avg rating — 55 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
One Day
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3.87 avg rating — 402,745 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
You Knew Me When
by
Emily Liebert (Goodreads Author)
3.72 avg rating — 2,844 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
A Medical Affair
by
Anne McCarthy Strauss (Goodreads Author)
3.68 avg rating — 420 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Astor Place Vintage
by
Stephanie Lehmann (Goodreads Author)
3.69 avg rating — 3,668 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
The Wilde Women
by
Paula Wall (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 780 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Caucasia
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4.08 avg rating — 10,190 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Fairytales for Wilde Girls
by
Allyse Near (Goodreads Author)
4.19 avg rating — 1,178 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Homecoming
by
Kate Hasbrouck (Goodreads Author)
4.34 avg rating — 29 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Bride without a groom
by
Amy Lynch (Goodreads Author)
3.04 avg rating — 345 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Tranquility
by
Laurie Gardiner (Goodreads Author)
4.28 avg rating — 71 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Code Name Nanette: Behind Enemy Lines (Joe Parker: The Saga of Blood and History Book 2)
by
M.E. Dawson (Goodreads Author)
3.83 avg rating — 41 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Waiting for Paint to Dry
by
Lia Mack (Goodreads Author)
3.89 avg rating — 879 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Interlands
by
Vincent H. O'Neil (Goodreads Author)
3.65 avg rating — 91 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Shattered Lies
by
S.J. Francis (Goodreads Author)
4.12 avg rating — 51 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
The Women's Room
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3.99 avg rating — 9,315 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Light of the Desert
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4.39 avg rating — 260 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
The Old Man of Lochnagar
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3.64 avg rating — 111 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
The Dream Daughter
by
Diane Chamberlain (Goodreads Author)
4.26 avg rating — 42,922 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
POQUITO: UNPACKING THE MEMORY JAR
by
Tanya Montás Paris (Goodreads Author)
4.95 avg rating — 40 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Can You Hear the Nightbird Call?
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4.01 avg rating — 1,169 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Rush
by
Jayme H. Mansfield (Goodreads Author)
4.15 avg rating — 139 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
ARIADNE & DIONYSUS
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4.40 avg rating — 35 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
The Foreigner's Confession
by
Lya Badgley (Goodreads Author)
4.37 avg rating — 54 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Water Music: A Cape Cod Story
by
Marcia Peck (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 119 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Dream Me Home: A Story of Betrayal, Infidelity and Love
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4.05 avg rating — 20 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
In Plain Sight
by
Anna Marie Riley (Goodreads Author)
4.25 avg rating — 12 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
The Sunken Town: A Novel
by
Karen Nelson (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 79 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
The Shape of What Remains
by
Lisa C. Taylor (Goodreads Author)
4.32 avg rating — 38 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Hester Dymock (Those Regency Belles Book 1)
by
Victoria Chatham (Goodreads Author)
4.85 avg rating — 13 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Lunch Tales: Suellen
by
Lucille Guarino (Goodreads Author)
4.83 avg rating — 129 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
When Secrets Bloom: A gripping, enchanting Transylvanian historical fiction novel: Some secrets heal. Others kill. (Blood of Kings, Heart of Shadows Book 1)
by
Patricia Furstenberg (Goodreads Author)
4.93 avg rating — 14 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 50 |
|
Let Me Live
by
Baldip Kaur (Goodreads Author)
4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Then Came You
by
Jennifer Weiner (Goodreads Author)
3.72 avg rating — 48,294 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
The Rock Orchard: A Novel
by
Paula Wall (Goodreads Author)
3.86 avg rating — 1,226 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Anita and Me
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3.70 avg rating — 3,187 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Captivate (Submerged Sun, #1)
by
Vanessa Garden (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 1,861 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
The Trouble with Playing Cupid (Cupid, #1)
by
Tamara Philip (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 87 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Welcome to Mineola (Long Island, New York, #1)
by
A. Louise Robertson (Goodreads Author)
3.68 avg rating — 22 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Denizens (Interlands, #2)
by
Vincent H. O'Neil (Goodreads Author)
4.64 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Silver Dollar
by
Alan Trustman (Goodreads Author)
4.50 avg rating — 12 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
In the Blink of an Eye
by
Jesse Blackadder (Goodreads Author)
3.85 avg rating — 1,263 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Blue Asylum
by
Kathy Hepinstall (Goodreads Author)
3.63 avg rating — 5,934 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Jane Eyre
by
4.16 avg rating — 2,275,917 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Nina is Not OK
by
4.25 avg rating — 3,522 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Chasing the Butterfly
by
Jayme H. Mansfield (Goodreads Author)
4.17 avg rating — 341 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
The Devil comes to Bonn
by
Jennifer Harris (Goodreads Author)
4.22 avg rating — 18 ratings
score: 99,
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1 person voted
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| 98 |
|
The Invisible Mountain
by
Carolina De Robertis (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 1,988 ratings
score: 98,
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1 person voted
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| 98 |
|
The Crown (Joanna Stafford, #1)
by
Nancy Bilyeau (Goodreads Author)
3.84 avg rating — 4,378 ratings
score: 98,
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1 person voted
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| 98 |
|
Natural Elements
by
Tracey M. Hook (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 69 ratings
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287 books ·
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list created October 10th, 2011
by May Campbell (votes) .
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