Top 10 – Books I’ve Read With The Most POVs

Hello everyone,

Today I have a list post to share with you all, and it is all about the books that I have read which contain the most character perspectives I have ever come across.

Believe it or not, all of these books contain at least FOUR different POVs. It sounds a little bit overwhelming to consider that, but in most cases the author has struck a great balance and still managed to execute a fantastic story. Let’s get straight on with the list, in no particular order!

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One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

A very popular young adult thriller to begin, and as many readers know, Karen M. McManus is the queen of multiple perspectives and huge last-second twists. I loved One Of Us Is Lying and that was mostly because of the hour main characters – known as the Bayview Four. We switch between them very frequently and each of their perspectives is a joy to read.

A History Of Wild Places by Shea Earnshaw

This is an interesting one, as it begins with the third person perspective of the enigmatic and flawed protagonist Travis Wren, before the entire rest of the story is devoted to three members of a secretive commune, all written in the first person. It was a shame not to have more of Travis, but the mystery around each character certainly makes it immersive.

The Passengers by John Marrs

A complete and utter edge-of-the-seat thriller, The Passengers focuses on a futuristic society where a hacker is sending several driverless car passengers to their deaths. We spend time learning about each of the victims and their lives, while the main protagonist is Libby, the civilian appointed to help decide their fate. It is at the same time pulsating and unsettling.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

This one begins with the discovery of a dead body on a remote area of rural Ireland where a wedding is taking place with numerous guests. All of these guests are suspects and we read from the first person perspectives of most of them, trying to find clues pertaining to their guilt. That is what made it gripping, even though pretty much all of them are unlikable.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

This is quite possibly the book I have read with the most perspectives, as it explores the story of all of the women involved in the legendary Trojan War. I learnt so much from this book and all the characters who appeared – some I knew quite a lot about already and others who I was previously unaware of. With the help of Natalie Haynes’ superb writing, I got to know them all, from the well-known Penelope to the more obscure Oenone.

I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll

This is a book about a teenage girl who has gone missing and in the aftermath we get a story told from the perspectives of four characters, all of them with different reasons to feel guilty about her disappearance. It was a compelling read that I really connected with.

The Six Of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

All of the chapters in these two books place an emphasis on one particular character, and what works so well here is how seamlessly the plot just continues. It is all in the third person and each of the characters continue to appear, but when for example one chapter is titled with Kaz’s name, we know that it will primarily follow him. Furthermore, the characters are what make this duology so good, more than anything else.

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

Back to the subject of intense thrillers, you can hardly find one with higher stakes than this. It involves a plot to hi-jack an aeroplane and the main character Mina – part of the cabin crew – also has her family placed in mortal danger. We get POVs of Mina and her husband, along with several of the passengers. The way this is done is so very clever and leads to an unforgettably suspenseful read.

No Further Questions by Gillian McAllister

This legal thriller focuses on a court case about the tragic death of a baby, and Gillian McAllister pulls out all the stops here by including the points of view of about 20 different characters, including all the key witnesses and the judge. Some are in the first person and others in the third person, and once again her talent for character development shines through.

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Let’s Chat

Have you read any of these books? What are the books you have read with the most POVs? Let me know in the comments!