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