Best-Selling Classic Novel Named Among Most 'Disappointing' Books on Goodreads
It may be widely considered one of the greatest American novels ever written, but The Great Gatsby is now getting a very different kind of recognition from readers online.
The 1925 classic by F. Scott Fitzgerald has landed among the most "disappointing" books on Goodreads, according to a long-running list that highlights titles readers felt didn't live up to the hype.
On the popular Goodreads list titled "Disappointing Books,"The Great Gatsby appears among the top entries alongside modern bestsellers and other literary classics. The list is based on votes from readers who say the book didn't meet their expectations.
This sentiment may come as a surprise given The Great Gatsby's towering reputation, best-selling status, and overwhelming popularity. Many people list the book as their favorite of all time.
The novel, set during the Roaring Twenties, follows a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby and his obsessive love for Daisy Buchanan, as narrated by Midwesterner Nick Carraway.
Through its depiction of wealth, excess and illusion, the book has long been praised for its sharp critique of the American Dream. Over the decades, it has become a staple of high school and college curriculum and is frequently cited as a defining work of 20th-century American literature.
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There have also been multiple film adaptations, starting with the now-lost 1926 silent film. Other films followed in 1949, 1974, and 2000, while a loose adaptation named G came out in 2002.
The most well-known version is arguably the Baz Luhrmann-helmed 2013 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy, and Tobey Maguire as Carraway. The movie was relatively well-received by audiences and critics, and it made over $350 million at the box office.
But as the Goodreads list suggests, not every reader connects with the classic story in the same way. Some readers took issue with the book's pacing or style, while others felt the story didn't live up to the cultural hype surrounding it.
Related: Best-Selling Classic Novel Was Ranked ‘Darkest Book of All Time' on Goodreads
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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 8:40 PM.