244 books — This list was created and voted on by Goodreads members.
This list is for the best characters, not the best books. The character does not have to be officially diagnosed as mentally ill or go to therapy in the book to qualify. Fiction only please.
If you can, please add the name of the character you’ve voted for in the “why you added this book” section.
1.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
4.20 1,189,931 ratings 55,349 reviews
Want to Read
2.
Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher (Goodreads Author)
3.94 737,372 ratings 51,096 reviews
Want to Read
3.
The Bell Jar
by Sylvia Plath
really liked it
4.00 558,369 ratings 21,501 reviews
Want to Read
4.
The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
3.80 2,610,375 ratings 54,648 reviews
Want to Read
5.
Gone Girl
by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author)
4.07 2,192,181 ratings 130,675 reviews
Want to Read
6.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
by Ken Kesey
4.20 606,853 ratings 10,327 reviews
Want to Read
7.
Fight Club
by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author)
4.19 475,261 ratings 13,839 reviews
Want to Read
8.
The Shining
by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)
4.22 1,062,607 ratings 22,579 reviews
Want to Read
9.
Hamlet
by William Shakespeare, Harold Bloom (Contributor), Rex Gibson (Editor)
4.02 695,738 ratings 12,016 reviews
Want to Read
10.
Vein Fire
by Lucia Adams (Goodreads Author)
3.98 161 ratings 28 reviews