Best Standalone and First Installment Books (67 books)

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Let's move on from the classics as well as the latest iteration in a favorite series. These are the best standalone stories or first installments to come out of the modern era.

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1	Don't Close Your Eyes by Lynessa James (Goodreads Author) 3.75 avg rating — 619 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 19,702 ratings score: 189, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 236,110 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Good Omens by Terry Pratchett 4.25 avg rating — 850,498 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Wingmen by Ensan Case 4.39 avg rating — 414 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Greegs & Ladders by Zack Mitchell 3.11 avg rating — 286 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Caraval (Caraval, #1) by Stephanie Garber (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 995,180 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Already Gone by Bridget E. Baker (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 182 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Invisible Dimension: Book 2 In The Greegs Universe by Zack Mitchell 4.43 avg rating — 7 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe 4.47 avg rating — 201,633 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Song of the Beast by Carol Berg (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 2,655 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Wizards of Once (The Wizards of Once, #1) by Cressida Cowell 3.92 avg rating — 13,046 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 518,730 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey 4.13 avg rating — 48,462 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 17,229 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 3,819,615 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 21,354 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls by Lauren Graham 3.94 avg rating — 172,008 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 529,454 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 132,363 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (Goodreads Author) 3.64 avg rating — 94,126 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 175,162 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Blink Once by Cylin Busby (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 2,644 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 1,382,236 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 18,264 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1) by Seanan McGuire (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 126,719 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Educated by Tara Westover (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 1,994,816 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Book of M by Peng Shepherd 3.69 avg rating — 22,640 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1) by Jessica Townsend (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 79,884 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 4,489,437 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Circe by Madeline Miller (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 1,502,658 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong 4.16 avg rating — 33,964 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Vox by Christina Dalcher (Goodreads Author) 3.55 avg rating — 95,801 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	How to Walk Away by Katherine Center (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 132,109 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 90,356 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author) 4.66 avg rating — 735,446 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Hurst (The Hurst Chronicles #1) by Robin Crumby (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 556 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk by Jordan Raynor (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 1,937 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Lying Planet by Carol Riggs (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 126 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 141,571 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Preferred Observer by Matthew Bruce Alexander (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Lost Knight (Lost Knight, #1) by Candy Atkins (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 148 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan (Goodreads Author) (Writer) 4.15 avg rating — 373,076 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Mind the Gap, Volume 1: Intimate Strangers by Jim McCann 3.68 avg rating — 1,755 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Bush Always Burns by Heath Adamson (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 102 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 5,908,662 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Pen Name by David Jacob Knight (Pseudonym) 3.84 avg rating — 147 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Real: Becoming A 24/7 Follower Of Jesus by Jamie Snyder 4.27 avg rating — 55 ratings score: 67, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Daughter of Jerusalem by Joan Wolf 3.96 avg rating — 643 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy J. Keller 4.44 avg rating — 48,081 ratings score: 65, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Ship Breaker (Ship Breaker, #1) by Paolo Bacigalupi (Goodreads Author) 3.75 avg rating — 45,249 ratings score: 64, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Microchip: The Agenda Is Now by Chey Barnes (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 54 ratings score: 63, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Truth (The Geneva Project, #1) by Christina Benjamin (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 253 ratings score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Quaternary Vote: The Election of God's Successor by Philip A. Johnston (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Room by Emma Donoghue (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 850,826 ratings score: 60, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Auraria by Tim Westover (Goodreads Author) 3.49 avg rating — 733 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing (James Potter, #1) by G. Norman Lippert (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 24,452 ratings score: 58, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Rent Collector by Camron Wright (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 63,210 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Lord Foulgrin's Letters by Randy Alcorn (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 2,617 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (Goodreads Author) 4.51 avg rating — 391,135 ratings score: 55, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for? by Rick Warren 3.99 avg rating — 299,738 ratings score: 54, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind by Joyce Meyer 4.32 avg rating — 81,888 ratings score: 53, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins 4.36 avg rating — 10,342,345 ratings score: 52, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1-5) by Douglas Adams 4.38 avg rating — 344,934 ratings score: 51, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Left Behind (Left Behind, #1) by Tim LaHaye 3.87 avg rating — 251,506 ratings score: 50, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury by Bill Watterson 4.65 avg rating — 124,285 ratings score: 49, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Scary Stories, #1) by Alvin Schwartz 4.06 avg rating — 74,724 ratings score: 48, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars