The Best Long Books over 500 Pages
I’m not sure about you, but when I see a long book (over 500 pages), it can seem a little overwhelming. But, as I have looked back over the books I have read and loved, I was surprised by the length of some of these books. It is amazing how a well-written book can be closer to 1000 pages and you never notice.
I made a list of my favorite long books. I have classics, fantasy, historical fiction, and more. I don’t think any of these books feel long when you are reading them- unless you choose to read a hard-back. If that is the case, you can definitely skip your arms if you go to the gym.
The Best Long Books
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Classic long book
Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle- Jump to Section
The Best Long Fiction Book
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Clare Lombardo- Jump to Section
The Best Long Historical Fiction Book
Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne – Jump to Section
Best Long Celebrity Book Club Pick
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles – Jump to Section
The Best Long Fantasy Book
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi – Jump to Section
Best Epic Love Story
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon- Jump to Section
Best Long Mystery Book
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker- Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Long Classic Books
The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Year: 1887-1927
Genre: Mystery
More info: International Bestseller
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Sherlock Holmes’ ability to solve each crime is fascinating. His observations are astute and I can never, ever guess who committed the crime.
If you are looking for the best mystery books of all time, Sherlock Holmes cannot be missed. This complete collection has all the short stories and the 4 Holmes novels.
Why Kirsten loves it
I am a HUGE detective story lover and no one does detective stories better than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These books have inspired countless adaptations and retellings since their initial publication.
Find this book in: Sherlock Holmes Books / Literary Classics / Best Mystery Books / British Mysteries / Short Stories / Detective Books / The Best Long Books
Plot
This is the classic tale of Odysseus’s struggle to leave the Trojan War and return to his beloved wife, Penelope, and his homeland of Ithaca. Homer’s original tale has spawned countless retellings, movie adaptations, and literary scholars. From epic monsters to vengeful gods this book is filled with iconic legends and stories within stories.
Why Kirsten loves it
There is a reason this boat book is one of my favorite books of all time. I find this classic tale to be so entertaining. It’s a classic for a reason. Odysseus’s struggle to get home to his family is truly epic. Those Greeks sure knew what they were doing.
Find this book in: Literary Classics / Long Books / Boat Books / Greek Mythology / Kirsten’s Favorite Books / Best Books in Translation
Plot
The story features orphan Pip who comes into an unexpected fortune. His life is changed forever when he becomes a man of leisure and meets beautiful but aloof Estella. It’s a great tale that could just as easily have been set in modern-day London.
Trigger Warnings
Abuse, Classism, Racism
Why Jackie loves it
The only Charles Dickens book I’ve ever read and was recently nominated for PBS’s Great American Read. It was fantastic and complex and makes me want to read more Dickens.
Find this book in: Must-Read Classic Books / Best Long Books
Long Fiction Books Over 500 Pages
The Most Fun We Ever Had
Author: Claire Lombardo
Year: 2019
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: April 2024 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Lombardo’s debut is a tremendous contemporary fiction book about the complicated dynamics and hidden secrets of the Sorenson parents and their 4 daughters.
The story alternates between the present day and the past. In the current storyline, Jonah reunites with the daughter who gave him up 15 years prior. The flashbacks touch on moments in the Sorenson family history that are returning to haunt them.
Why Kirsten loves it
I’m a sucker for character-driven novels. Each of Lombardo’s characters is deliciously flawed and complex. She writes in a way that brings characters to life. I could have sworn I’d met them before.
Why Jackie loves it
I love that at the heart of the story, the book is about the many forms of love and how to live well. I cannot believe that Claire Lombardo is not a 50 or 60-year-old woman with children of her own.
Adaptation
The book is currently in development for a tv series. Amy Adams and Laura Dern are executive producing and Clare Lombardo is writing the script and producing as well.
Find this book in: Books Becoming Movies / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Books About Sisters / Best Contemporary Fiction Novels / Best Books About Siblings / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2024
I Know This Much is True
Author: Wally Lamb
Year: 1998
Genre: Fiction
More info: June 1998 Oprah Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a story of identical twin brothers, one of whom is a paranoid schizophrenic. When he shockingly mutilates himself, his brother must become his caretaker. It is powerful and heartbreaking.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide, Rape, Domestic abuse
Why Jackie loves it
I read this book more than 20 years ago, and I still feel emotional about this book. I have not re-read it to see if it has withstood the test of time, but I do not doubt that it has.
Find this book in: Long Books / Books About Mental Illness / Best Oprah’s Book Club Books
Crazy Rich Asians
Author: Kevin Kwan
Year: 2013
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: Crazy Rich Asians #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Ready for some over-the-top wedding shenanigans? Kevin Kwan delivers in this wedding book! When a young man decides to bring his girlfriend home to Singapore for a wedding, she has no idea what to expect.
She didn’t know he was crazy rich, that his family was crazy, and that everything in Singapore is more, more, more.
Why Kirsten loves it
The details within these pages were so vivid, I could picture everything in this one-of-a-kind contemporary fiction! The adaptation is one of my favorite comfort movies too.
Find this book in: Contemporary Fiction Books / Long Books / Books About Weddings / Billionaire Romance Books
Long Historical Fiction Books
Hearts Invisible Furies
Author: John Boyne
Year: 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Winner of the 2018 Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Cyril Avery is not a real Avery- this is what his adoptive parents tell him. Cyril is born to a young woman out of wedlock and is adopted by a rich family in Dublin.
He spends his life coming to know himself and who he wants to be.
Trigger Warnings
Homophobia
Why Jackie loves it
This is a touching and heartfelt story from the first page to the last. Even though this book is well over 500 pages, it didn’t feel long while I was reading it. The writing and the story will pull you in if you give this book the chance.
Find this book in: Books Set in the 1960s / Books to Emotionally Wreck You / LGBTQ Books / Best Long Books / Best Books of 2017
Crossroads
Author: Jonathan Franzen
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: A Key to All Mythologies #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Jonathan Franzen is back with this incredible 70s book about a pastor and his family as they navigate who they are in the midst of the tumultuous era.
As each character questions their relationship with their family, with god, and with their community at large, they also turn inward and try to remain true to themselves.
Trigger Warnings
Drug Use, Mental Illness
Why Kirsten loves it
The depth of the characters is meticulous, the plot had me flipping the pages (which at 500 or so is saying something.) I can’t recommend this story enough. It’s truly wonderful. If you love 70s historical fiction, this is a perfect pick.
Find this book in: Books Set in the 70s / Books Like Daisy Jones & The Six / Family Saga Books / Best Long Books
A Fine Balance
Author: Rohinton Mistry
Year: 1995
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: November 2001 Oprah Book Club Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
A Fine Balance is an epic and heartbreaking family saga of life in India. It’s a story of love and friendship in an unnamed city in 1975. Lovers come together and are ripped apart in this memorable book.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide, Violence
Why Jackie loves it
I read this book years before it was an Oprah Book Club pick, but it is not a book that is easy to forget. It is heart-wrenching in every way and a literary feat.
Find this book in: Books that will Emotionally Wreck You / Long Books / Family Sagas / Books About Poverty / Books Set in the 70s / Best Oprah’s Book Club Books/ The Best Long Books
The Other Boleyn Girl
Author: Philippa Gregory
Year: 2001
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #9, New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The modern-day monarchy has NOTHING on Henry VIII’s England. That man was a serial philander who literally changed the course of history over his love of Anne Boleyn. While everyone knows about Anne, this particular story is about Mary, her sister whom he fell in love with first. We see the entire sequence of events through the eyes of Mary, the only member of Anne’s family to survive.
Trigger Warnings
Miscarriage, Incest
Why Kirsten loves it
This story solidified my love for Philippa Gregory and my love for the Tudors. I seriously credit this book with my interest in the royal family. This fictionalized account of Anne Boleyn was captivating and so informative. When I had the chance to visit Hampton Court palace I recalled all I learned from this story!
Find this book in: Best Long Books
The Distant Hours
Author: The Distant Hours
Year: 2010
Genre: Gothic Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a dual timeline gothic novel about Edie Burchhill, a woman who returns to Milderhurst Castle where her mother stayed as a child ward during WWII. She has received a lost letter in the mail and now wants to question the inhabitants of the castle in a quest to discover the mysteries of her mother’s past.
Why Kirsten loves it
I could not put this novel by Kate Morton down – it was filled with Grey Gardens vibes. It was fascinating to see what happened to children in England during the Blitz. This is one of the cozy books you will want to curl up and read without stopping. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.
Find this book in: Kate Morton Books Ranked / Books About WWII / The Best Long Books
Celebrity Book Club Picks Over 500 Pages
The Lincoln Highway
Author: Amor Towles
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: October 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
The coming-of-age story is all about Emmett and his 8-year-old brother, Billy, and their quest to get to California to start a new life following the death of their father. Along for the ride are the scheming Duchess and his sidekick.
Why Kirsten loves it
Once again, Amor Towles writes an incredible, character-driven story that had me marveling at his writing ability. Their journey intertwines in this fast-moving character study of the 4 boys. It was a touch too long, but still a wonderful story from a gifted writer.
Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Best Read With Jenna Books / Books About Road Trips / The Best Long Books
The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois
Author: Honorèe Fanonne Jeffers
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: August 2021 Oprah’s Book Club Pick
National Book Critics Circle AwardWinner, 2021
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Wow. This is one of the best books I’ve listened to this year, and yes, I recommend it on audio for a few reasons.
First, the different narrators help tell this dual-timeline contemporary fiction. Through one narrator, we learn about Ailey’s life as an African American woman in the 20th century. The other narrator tells the story of the female ancestors of Ailey’s going all the way back to her Indigenous, black, and white relatives from two centuries earlier.
Through Ailey and her ancestors, the weight of what it means to be a black woman in America means. The sacrifices, injustices, struggles, and harassment endured by Ailey and her kin in the present day and the past are explored with a depth so real, I forgot it was a fictional story at times.
The second reason this book is great on audio? It’s LONG. It clocks in at over 800 pages or almost 30 hours of audiobook time. The narrators sucked me in and those 30 hrs flew by.
Trigger Warnings
Rape, slavery, incest
Why Kirsten loves it
I will say, this book made me consider my White Privilege in a way no non-fiction book could have. It’s a heavy story, but very worth the read and a great book for book clubs. The audiobook was fantastic and the 30 hours of story sucked me in.
Find this book in: The Best Celebrity Book Clubs / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Best Books of 2021 / Best Oprah’s Book Club Books / Oprah Book Club List 2021
The Last Mrs. Parrish
Author: Liv Constantine
Year: 2017
Genre: Thriller
More info: December 2017 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I found this stalker book to be enjoyable if only because of the plotting of Amber Patterson. I adored being in the head of the villain.
Why Kirsten likes it
I read this popular thriller book because it was a Reese Witherspoon pick AND because I heard wonderful things about it. I had read another thriller in January so I completely predicted what was going to happen in this book. As with all thrillers, especially domestic thrillers, when the element of surprise is missing, it’s not as good a read. Still, if you are looking for a very readable psychological thriller book, this is a great pick.
Adaptation
J-Lo is attached to this project which started filming in the fall of 2025. Jennifer Lopez and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau star in the Netflix movie with Robert Zemeckis directing.
Find this book in: Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Domestic Thriller Books/ Popular Thriller Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2017 / Books Becoming Movies / The Best Long Books
The Secret History
Author: Donna Tartt
Year: 1992
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: December 2022 Read with Jenna Book Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Richard is one of a select group of six students who have been hand-picked to work under the guidance of a classics teacher named Julian Morrow. Richard is narrating the story and he begins by telling about the death of one of the students named Bunny.
As the story progresses, it is clear that this secret society of students rides the line of morality. The strained friendships and sexual tensions continue to push the edge until Bunny is killed.
Trigger Warnings
Murder, Alcoholism, Suicide
Why Jackie likes it
This is one of the books about secret societies that was deeply disturbing and difficult to read. It certainly earns its place on our list of dark academia books and books about cults! And as with most books set in college, this one is a perfect book for fall.
Find this book in: Books set in College / Books about Cults / Books about Secret Societies / Best Fall Books / Dark Academia Books / Books Set in the 80s / Books With Secret in the Title / Read with Jenna Book Club List 2022
Epic Fantasy Books and Magical Realism Books
Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Year: 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Legacy of Orisha, #1
An Instant New York Times Bestseller, A TIME top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time, A New York Times Notable Children’s Books, A Kirkus Prize Finalist
Age Range: 14+
Plot
When magic disappeared from Orisha, Zelie’s world changed forever. When the king ordered all the Maji killed, Zelie was left without a mother or magic. She is on a quest to find revenge and bring magic back to Orisha (Orisha is a mythical Nigeria). This is one of the fantasy books for teens that builds a whole new world and brings young adult fantasy books to a whole new level.
Zelie must use the help of a princess to escape from the crown prince who wants to finish what his father started and erase all magic permanently. This book is filled with magic, spirits, and danger.
Why Jackie loves it
I enjoyed this book which is the first in a fantasy series for Young Adults. I listened to the amazing audiobook and I loved listening to the story the way that the story was intended to sound.
Find this book in: Fantasy Book Series for Young Adults / The Ultimate List of YA Fantasy Books / YA Books About Witches / 15 Novels About Africa / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / The Best Books Like Fourth Wing
House of Earth and Blood
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Year: 2020
Genre: Fantasy Romance
More info: Book #1 of the Crescent City Series
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
House of Earth and Blood is the first in a new series by Sarah J. Maas, of ACOTAR fame. It’s an urban fantasy – and tells the story of Bryce Quinlan and her bodyguard, Hunt Athalar. Strange things are happening in Lunathion and together, Bryce and Hunt are trying to uncover the source of murders happening around Crescent City. If only because then they will be permitted to get away from one another.
But Bryce’s hunt for answers is deeper, she knows that what’s going on now is connected to her best friend, Danika’s murder two years prior. This wild ride was filled with skyscrapers, cellphones, and video surveillance, but also fairies, werewolves, angels, demons, and witches with history and power.
Why Kirsten loves it
My initial turn-off of too many names/places/tribes/species types was quickly overcome by the insane world-building and a story that kept me up until 3 a.m. I fell in love with Bryce and Hunt’s romance, the epic world of the Crescent City series, and the many breadcrumbs and clues SJM scattered throughout this story.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this world-building fantasy. Unlike so many of the other EPIC series, this one is set in an urban setting which makes it unique to any other series I have read. The characters are fantastic in their imperfect, but relatable ways.
Find this book in: Guide to All of Sarah J. Maas’s Books / Urban Fantasy Books / Books Like ACOTAR / Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Best Adult Fantasy Novels
Lord of the Rings
Author: J.R.R Tolkein
Year: 1954
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Classic Fantasy and Academy Award-Winning Movie Adaptation
Age Range: 15+
Plot
It is hard to believe that this trilogy was published in 1954. This epic fantasy is the first in a trilogy that has withstood the test of time. In ancient times, on Middle Earth, the elves created the Rings of Power. Sauron, the dark lord, forged his own ring, The One Ring, that ruled over all the others. The ring went missing and was discovered by Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit. Now, Sauron’s power is rising and the only way to stop him is to destroy the ring.
Gandolf the Wizard; Merry, Pippin, and Sam the Hobbits; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gandor (a human); and Aragorn (called Strider initially but is the King of Men), set out together on a quest to destroy the ring. This is the ultimate story of the fight between good and evil and the fight to overcome the evil within.
Trigger Warnings
Death, violence
Why Jackie loves it
This is an epic trilogy with world-building and characters that are timeless. I love that there are not hundreds of characters to keep track of which makes this series feel more readable than some of the other series with generations of characters to remember
Find this book in: Best Classic Novels to Read / Adult Fantasy Novels /Best Long Books over 500 Pages
The Winter Sea
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Year: 2008
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Slains #1
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is a dual-timeline story about the invading Jacobites in 1708 that takes place at Slains Castle. A writer from the present decides to write a story about her ancestor from this time frame and begins to live the experience herself.
Trigger Warnings
Sexual Assault
Why Kirsten loves it
There is romance, ghostly memories, and a wonderful perspective of the famous Jacobite uprising we all know from Outlander. I was swept into the story, just like I am for every book by this author.
Find this book in: Best Long Books / Books About Scotland / Books Like Outlander
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Author: Anthony Doerr
Year: 2021
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: National Book Award Finalist
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I don’t know how to begin to describe this book. This is NOTHING like All The Light We Cannot See and yet, I absolutely loved it. It is part historical fiction, part sci-fi, and absolutely amazing.
The book is set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, Five hundred years later in a library in Idaho and in a spaceship traveling to a new planet sometime in the near future. Even while trying to describe this book, it does not seem to go together and yet, the story of Cloud Cuckoo Land (a story within the Novel) acts as the glue that brings the characters together. The result is an amazing sci-fi book with a very powerful message.
This is not an easy read but is well worth it.
Trigger Warnings
War, school shooting
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this unique sci-fi historical fiction novel. The story within the story was woven perfectly throughout. I think people will either LOVE this book or hate it. But the mark of a good book is one that will be remembered and talked about.
Find this book in: Nonlinear Narrative Novels / 20 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time / The Best Audiobooks of All Time / Books about Libraries / Best Books of 2021 / The Best Long Books
Plot
This historical fantasy book was brilliantly researched and had an amazing premise in which Jake Epping steps into a time hole to stop the assassination of Kennedy. Every time he leaves history, time resets itself. Each time something does not go right, he can reset the clock by stepping out of the hole no matter how much time has passed while he was in the past.
Sound confusing? King is a brilliant writer who can make transitions between the past and present seamless. His attention to detail in this whopper of a book is unmatched.
Why Jackie likes it
The historic details in this book were immaculate but, as much as everyone loved this book, I thought that it was much too long. You have to be prepared for almost 900 pages. The beginning and the end of the book were outstanding.
Find this book in: Historical Fantasy Books / Time Loop Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books Set in the 1960s / Books Set in Maine / The Best Long Books
Epic Love Stories
Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Year: 1991
Genre: Historical Fantasy
More info: Outlander Series Book 1 of 9
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This epic story begins in 1945 when Claire Randall and her husband take a second honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands to celebrate being reunited after the war. When Claire touches one of the standing stones, she is transported to 1743.
This is when the real story begins. In order to stay safe as an English woman in Scotland, Clare must depend on Jamie Frasier for protection. Soon Clare finds herself living in a world she has only read about in history books and torn between two men that she loves. In addition to being a brilliant fiction that is rich in historical details, it is an epic love story as well. For me, this is magical realism at its finest.
Trigger Warnings
Rape, sexual assault, sexual violence
Why Kirsten loves it
How do I love Outlander? I cannot count the ways. There is a reason this is one of my favorite books of all time. I am a huge reader of historical fiction and this one checks all the boxes for me. The characters are rich, the plot is complex without being overly complicated and the epic love story make it almost perfect in my eyes.
Why Jackie loves it
Even though I am not a huge historical fiction connoisseur, I could not put this book down. Even at 640 pages, I did not want it to end and immediately picked up the next book in the series. I love the touch of magical realism that transported Clare back in time 200 years and Gabaldon’s story telling made the characters jump off the page.
Find this book in: Best Romance Novels of All Time / Ultimate List of Historical Fiction/ Books Like A Discovery of Witches / Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Magical Realism Books / Best Adult Fantasy Novels
The Bronze Horseman
Author: Paullina Simons
Year: 2009
Genre: Historical Romance
More info: Bronze Horseman #1
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This epic love story can almost rival that of Jamie and Claire in Outlander. This saga takes place over decades and all over the world. This is an epic love story that begins in Leningrad during WWII.
Tatiana Metanova meets Alexander, an officer of the Red Army. Amid the terror of the war, the two fall in love, but Alexander is keeping a secret that can devastate them all.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a fantastic story from a historical fiction perspective because of the attention to detail. I learned a lot about everyday life in that era. Like Outlander, it’s a whopping 1000 pages but I couldn’t stop!
Find this book in: Historical Romance / Books About WWII / Books Like Outlander / Cozy Books / Books with Colors in the Title/ The Best Long Books
The Royal Secret
Author:Lucinda Riley
Year:2000
Genre:Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
A young journalist is given a mystery to uncover after an old actor passes away, but her investigation quickly turns deadly.
Trigger Warnings
Addiction
Why Kirsten loves it
I felt all the feelings on this one. There were a couple of times when I was truly angry at the author, but in the end, I really enjoyed this mystery book about royalty! Part romance, part mystery, this book has something for everyone and is an amazing beach read.
Find this book in: Books With Secret in the Title / Mystery Books 2024 / Thriller Books / Long Books / Royal Reads
Best Long Mysteries
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair
Author: Joel Dicker
Year: 2014
Genre: Mystery
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The story of Marcus Goldman and his quest to learn what really happened between his mentor Harry Quebert and 15-year-old Nola Kellergan.
Did Harry commit the murder he is now being accused of? Will Marcus write the great American novel? Well, you’ll just have to read it to find out!
Why Kirsten loves it
This book was heavily hyped when it first came out but having just had a baby I was not interested in reading this whopper of a book. Then in 2018, Patrick Dempsey started in a TV mini-series based on the novel. I finally decided to pick it up.
Find this book in: Best Long Books / Mystery and Thriller Novels About Writers
Plot
Anne Fortier did it again with this feminist retelling of the Amazon legend. This dual timeline story has a modern-day Amazon expert on a hunt to find the treasure left behind by the Amazons she’s sure existed. It flashes back to the time of the Trojan war as readers learn about the origins of the Amazons and what caused the female warriors to become involved with the Trojans.
Why Kirsten loves it
I adore Anne Fortier’s retellings and this one still has me thinking about the ending. I love the dual time line narrative because to allows for suspenseful cliffhangers that add to the story’s thrilling vibes.
Find this book in: Greek Mythology Retellings / Books about Sisters / Long Books / Novels Set in Egypt
Expert Tip
If you are investing, the time to read a long book that is over 500 pages. You want to love it. Here are some tips to help you pick a book that is worth every page.
- Start by choosing a genre that you know you love. This will help you stay engaged in the book.
- Have a look at the book descriptions. Kirsten and I have read every book on this list and have given a brief description of all the books, along with why we like them. This should help you pick a book that interests you.
- Remember that long books may take a little longer to get you invested, so try and read at least 10 to 15% of the book before deciding it is not for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a long book?
Long books are considered books over 500 pages. For this post, I did not include long books that are part of a series unless it was the first book, or it could be read as a standalone. For example: Books 4-7 of the Harry Potter Series, Fourth Wing Books 2 and 3, etc.
What are the best long books?
Kirsten and I find that the long books we enjoy the most are historical fiction and fantasy. In these genres, it is important to establish the setting, which takes up page real estate. You will notice that there are not a lot of romance books on this list. The love stories we chose for this list of best long books are EPIC. They could not have been written shorter and had the same emotional impact.
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Epilogue
What is your favorite long book over 500 pages?
I read The Goldfinch in one sitting.Loved the Wally Lamb,including the much shorter but just as but wrenching She’s Come Undone but going completely against the grain..hated and disgusted by The Time Traveller’s Wife.Was a child protection social worker and the thought of an adult man basically grooming a six year old girl gave me the shivers..
Unfortunately my horrible career coloured quite a few books in this way.
s