I love reading. I have read a ton of books, most notably the Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Hunger Games series. It was hard to narrow it down to just ten novels, but I was able to do it. With that said, here are my ten favorite books of all time.
10. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
I've never been the biggest fan of dystopian books, but this is different. The Hunger Games has a very intriguing and simple concept: twelve people are put in an arena and forced to kill each other. It is a very fun and thrilling story, while also having emotional moments and characters that you care about. All in all, The Hunger Games paved the way for what dystopian novels should be like nowadays.
9. The Land of Stories: An Author's Odyssey by Chris Colfer (The Land of Stories, #5)
The Land of Stories is criminally underrated. I'm surprised that it isn't more popular, but I loved it. The series reached its peak at the fifth installment, which relied on already famous storybook characters the least. Instead, it introduced original superheroes, sci-fi characters, pirates, and monsters. It set up a great finale and made a thrilling adventure while doing that.
8. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson, #1)
Easily the best of the Percy Jackson series, The Lightning Thief captures the magic of the mythical world perfectly. We get fantastic world-building as Percy encounters these terrifying monsters as he is trying to fulfill a prophecy that he was given. The later books were no where near as good as The Lightning Thief, but I'm glad that this is the book that Rick Riordan decided to start with.
7. The Shining by Stephen King (The Shining, #1)
The Shining may be more well-known for its movie adaptation, but I think that the book is much better. I actually didn't like the book until about 3/4 through the book, but the climax was the single best climax in a book that I have ever read. The last 150 pages are probably my favorite of any book ever. King created this explosive ending that was changed in the movie. If you like the movie, read the book. It's fabulous.
6. Holes by Louis Sachar
Out of all the books on the list, Holes is the one that I have read the most times. I believe that I have read it eight or nine times, which is surprising to me. It is a hilarious, mysterious, and exciting ride that captures all the quirkiness of Louis Sachar's writing. We get some big twists and turns, while also getting some really fun stuff inside of Camp Green Lake. All in all, Holes is a fantastic and easy read that you should read if you haven't.
5. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Ascendance Trilogy, #1)
The False Prince takes you on a dark and thrilling fantastical journey. Everything is shrouded in mystery, but everything is revealed as we are invested in this competition to become The False Prince. The other two installment were good, but this was the best of the series. If you like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, you have to read this.
4. Eagle Strike by Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider, #4)
Another underrated series, Alex Rider is one of the most exciting series' I have ever read. Eagle Strike had the coolest concept, highest stakes, and most urgency. It was a page-turner that did not fail to impress. The villain was horrifying and you wanted him taken down. This is the best of the Alex Rider series, which fans of spy thrillers need to read.
3. The Institute by Stephen King
King's newest novel is one of his scariest works. The entire book feels like the climax of The Shining with the kid power of It. The Institute is my favorite Stephen King book. The heroes are amazing, the villains are disgusting, and the story is phenomenal. King crafted a story that never loses the audience's interest and has a great pay-off at the end.
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter, #4)
It was a hard choice to have this be the only Harry Potter book on the list. Harry Potter is my favorite book series of all time. I barely didn't include Deathly Hallows and Chamber of Secrets. Goblet of Fire is basically the mid-series finale. This is where everything turns from a kid-friendly adventure to a darker, grittier fantasy war. Harry is entered in this incredibly dangerous contest that could get him killed. A Death Eater is infiltrating Hogwarts. And in the finale, Voldemort returns. This book is just loads of fun and is the best of the Harry Potter series.
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Ready Player One, #1)
I went back and forth whether this or Goblet of Fire came in at number 1. However, Ready Player One is a delightful read that is the most fun I've ever had reading a book. It is so exciting and such a thrill to read. The nostalgia and adventure is so much fun to read. You care about these characters and this quest, which makes the villain super imposing. There are a couple of twists and turns that make this so much more interesting. I absolutely love this book and I'm mad that Cline ruined the uniqueness of Ready Player One with Ready Player Two. However, this is my favorite book ever and you should read it if you haven't.