Breaking News: Announcing the 2024 Better Reading Top 100

We are thrilled to announce the 2024 Better Reading Top 100

Each year, Australians have their say about which books and authors they love to read in the Better Reading Top 100. It has become a well-loved annual event that readers vote for, celebrate and discuss. It is a true reflection of what Australians read, featuring a mix of crime, women’s general fiction, literary fiction and classics. We’re thrilled with this year’s list and look forward to sharing it with our readers.

The top spot in the 2024 Better Reading Top 100 goes to Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton! In fact, Dalton has made Better Reading Top 100 history as the first author to have two books in the Top 5, with Boy Swallows Universe at #4. It’s clear that while Australians now hold Boy Swallows Universe close to their hearts, they’re equally in love with the magical, heartbreaking and wholly beautiful Lola in the Mirror. This profoundly moving novel has guaranteed its status as a future classic.

Some other noteworthy observations from the 2024 list:

Australian readers love female authors.
In total, a whopping 74 of the Top 100 books were written by women.
There are six great reads by female authors in the Top 10.
Aussie authors once again dominate.
54% of books are written by Australians.

Better Reading Director Cheryl Akle states:

“The Top 100 list continues to provide an unparalleled insight into the Australian book industry. For the past few years, it has been a celebration of female authors, and a reminder of how loved Australian authors are. This shift first took place in 2017 and shows no sign of changing. The 2024 list is stronger than ever, with more local voices, with authors such as Trent Dalton, Jane Harper, Liane Moriarty, Chris Hammer and Pip Williams each featuring multiple titles on the list.

Also noteworthy is how readers embrace female authors now more than ever. This year, with more than 10,000 votes, an outstanding 74 books by female authors made the list. Women buy books and have created a demand for female stories.

Congratulations to all the authors who made the list this year, especially Trent Dalton.”

Once again, debut authors play a prominent role on the list – especially authors whose books have now remained on the list for consecutive years. But it’s also great to see some new debuts make this list, including Dianne Yarwood, Emma Grey and Jacqueline Bublitz. Crime thrillers remain one of the genres most widely enjoyed by readers. Australian crime is well represented with books by Chris Hammer, Michelle Prak, Jane Harper and Christian White, among others. And let’s not forget women’s fiction, a mainstay on the list each year and widely embraced by our readers.

Along with the Top 100 displays in Big W stores nationwide, more libraries are now creating Top 100 shelves. All over the country, readers use the Top 100 as their annual book list, counting down their reads alone, with friends, in libraries, book clubs and on the Better Reading Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages using the hashtag #BRTop100.

Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Honeybee by Craig Silvey
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Dry by Jane Harper
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

Thank you to all who voted, and a huge congratulations to our Top 100 winners who will be receiving a copy of each title on the 2024 Top 100 list. The winners are: