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Cover of Darker by E. L. JamesDarker
Modern · Fiction, Romance

Darker

by E. L. James
2017 · 546 pages · Fiction
61.1Must-Read
Score Modern
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 14 hours to read · about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

The story of Fifty Shades Darker retold through Christian Grey's eyes. After their affair ends in heartbreak, Christian can't get Anastasia Steele out of his mind, and he tries to suppress his need for control to win her back.

Why it's worth reading

It was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It gives fans a fresh perspective on the love story that enthralled millions.

You'll love it if you liked

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Cover of Fifty Shades Trilogy by E. L. JamesFifty Shades Trilogy
Fifty Shades TrilogyE. L. James
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Me Before YouJojo Moyes

Good to know

It's sexually explicit. It's best read after the original trilogy.

By the numbers

61.1Must-Read Score
  • Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller38 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1)

Reads as

Moving

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
RomancesTop 25 · 246 rankedModern booksTop 25 · 1,648 rankedBooks of the 2010sTop 25 · 752 rankedFantasy booksTop 25 · 504 rankedMysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 623 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 325 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedScience fiction booksTop 25 · 333 ranked

Quick answers

Is Darker worth reading?

Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It ranks #2,414 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 61.1 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Darker about?

The story of Fifty Shades Darker retold through Christian Grey's eyes. After their affair ends in heartbreak, Christian can't get Anastasia Steele out of his mind, and he tries to suppress his need for control to win her back.

How long does it take to read Darker?

About 14 hours (546 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Darker?

If you liked it, try Freed by E. L. James, Fifty Shades Trilogy by E. L. James or Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.