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Cover of Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen KingHearts in Atlantis
Modern · Fiction, Suspense, Horror

Hearts in Atlantis

by Stephen King
1998 · 671 pages · Fiction
63.2Must-Read
Score Modern
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 17 hours to read · about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Stephen King's collection of two novellas and three short stories is linked by recurring characters and told roughly in chronological order.

Why it's worth reading

It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1999. It's one of King's most personal and nostalgic books.

You'll love it if you liked

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Different SeasonsStephen King
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The Things They CarriedTim O'Brien

Good to know

It's more literary than horror.

By the numbers

63.2Must-Read Score
  • Readers28 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller55 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
One of the ten best-selling books of 1999 (Publishers Weekly)

Reads as

Gripping, Dark, Epic

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 →
Horror booksTop 25 · 86 rankedMysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedModern booksTop 25 · 1,573 rankedBooks of the 1990sTop 25 · 273 rankedFantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedScience fiction booksTop 25 · 313 ranked

Quick answers

Is Hearts in Atlantis worth reading?

Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1999. It ranks #2,073 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.2 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Hearts in Atlantis about?

Stephen King's collection of two novellas and three short stories is linked by recurring characters and told roughly in chronological order.

How long does it take to read Hearts in Atlantis?

About 17 hours (671 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Hearts in Atlantis?

If you liked it, try Different Seasons by Stephen King, Joyland by Stephen King or The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien.