Hit of the Lits – FRA Top 40
It’s time for our monthly charts, where you get to vote on your favourite reads for the month to help us create our monthly literary chart. With almost 500 replies this month, we are as ever grateful for your input and from your replies, we have the FRA top 40 for April!
It seems that adaptations are inspiring your reading this month with many of the top 40 books recently adapted for television or movie. From your votes here are our top 40 reads for April.
1
The Underground Railroad – Colson Whitehead
The Underground Railroad has proven to be one of the most talked about books of the year and this month it’s a new entry into our charts at number 1. A novel about American slavery and the network that existed to save and hide people, it’s won several awards and has been described as one of the best books of the century so far.
2
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood’s dystopian warning has been much talked about in recent months and with a television series now out too, it’s number 2 for you guys this month, down one place after hitting the top book and your most read last month.
3
The Lilac Girls – Martha Hall Kelly
Based on true stories from WWII the Lilac Girls is a favourite with our readers this month and a brand new entry at number 3 in our charts.
4
Harry Potter Series – J. K Rowling
Always a favourite with our readers, the Harry Potter series takes fourth place in our chart this month after not appearing at all last month, possibly the first time in the history of our chart that has happened.
5
Small Great Things – Jodi Picoult
Up 16 places from number 21 last month is Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult’s newest release, already mid-movie adaptation this tale of love, death, blame and responsibility is a pageturner in Picoult’s signature style.
6
IT – Stephen King
Up 14 places from number 20 last month is King’s classic IT, the novel that inspired a generation of coulrophobics, soon to be remade into a feature movie.
7
The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness
The Knife of Never Letting Go is new in our chart this month. Ness’ first YA novel, it deals with the age of information overload we’re living in right now.
The Knife of Never Letting Go US
The Knife of Never Letting Go UK
8
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The adaptations have it this month and American Gods, new to Starz and Amazon is a new entry this month at number 8 with many of you catching up with the dark fantasy before watching the show.
9
Lincoln in the Bardo
This historical fiction imagines the reaction of Abraham Lincoln upon losing his eleven year old son, an unusual book it’s been highly praised since its release and holds its place for another month at number 9.
10
Mischling – Affinity Konar
Up 24 places from last month and completing our top 10 for April is Mischling, a sensational WWII fiction about twins at Mengele’s Zoo.
11. Daughter of Fortune – Isabel Allende (new)
12. Eleanor and Park- Rainbow Rowell (new)
13. Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury (new)
14. Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe (new)
15. Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher (new)
16. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte (new)
17. Hillbilly Elegy – J. D Vance
18. Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles (new)
19. Go Set a Watchman – Harper Lee (new)
20. Big Little Lies – Liane Moriarty (-16)
21. The Queen of the Tearling – Erika Johansen (new)
22. Fall of Giants – Ken Follett (new)
23. Barkskins – Annie Proulx (new)
24. Caraval – Stephanie Garber (-19)
25. Neverwhere – Neil Gaiman (new)
26. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – Robert Pirsig (new)
27. The Nightingale – Kristen Hannah (new)
28. Beautiful Ruins – Jess Walter (new)
29. The Help – Kathryn Stockett (-23)
30. The Light Between the Oceans – M.L Stedman (new)
31. Rain Wild Chronicles – Robin Hobb (new)
32. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams (new)
33. A Wrinkle in Time – Madeliene D’Engle (new)
34. A Thousand Boy Kisses – Tillie Cole (new)
35. The Art of Being Normal – Lisa Williamson (new)
36. A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness (new)
37. Doctor Sleep – Stephen King (new)
38. Night Film – Marisha Pessl (new)
39. Heroes of Arcania – Liz Long (new)
40. Inkspell -Cornelia Funke (new)
Word of the Day – Epochal
For Reading Addicts Book of the Year 2024
Word of the Day – Preponderate
