Best Secret Identity Books

The highest-rated books featuring the Secret Identity trope, ranked by readers and listeners. Browse 50 titles across Fantasy, Romance, Thriller.

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Secret identity creates a delicious internal conflict: the character knows who they really are, but everyone around them doesn't. That gap between perception and truth generates constant tension—will they be discovered? What happens when they are? There's also an intimate payoff when someone finally sees all of them and accepts it. Whether the secret is a superpower, a criminal past, or a hidden nobility, it forces characters to grapple with shame, isolation, and the fear of rejection.

You'll find this trope everywhere: fantasy assassins masquerading as ordinary people, superheroes juggling double lives, horror characters hiding monstrous natures. Some books use it for high-stakes thriller tension; others explore the loneliness of being unknown. Expect reveals that change everything, found family who accepts the real person, and characters learning that hiding a part of yourself costs more than you think it will.

  1. 1
    Empire of Storms cover

    Empire of Storms

    Throne of Glass • Book 5

    by Sarah J. Maas

    ★ 4.84 BLT Score (1.3M ratings)
    ★ 4.63 Goodreads (1.3M)
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  2. 2
    Queen of Shadows cover

    Queen of Shadows

    Throne of Glass • Book 4

    by Sarah J. Maas

    ★ 4.79 BLT Score (1.4M ratings)
    ★ 4.62 Goodreads (1.4M)
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  3. 3
    The Will of the Many cover

    The Will of the Many

    Hierarchy • Book 1

    by James Islington

    ★ 4.70 BLT Score (223.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.59 Goodreads (223.8K)
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  4. 4
    Crown of Midnight cover

    Crown of Midnight

    Throne of Glass • Book 2

    by Sarah J. Maas

    ★ 4.67 BLT Score (1.8M ratings)
    ★ 4.36 Goodreads (1.8M)
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  5. 5
    He Who Fights with Monsters 4 cover

    He Who Fights with Monsters 4

    He Who Fights with Monsters • Book 4

    by Shirtaloon

    ★ 4.66 BLT Score (23.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.49 Goodreads (23.2K)
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  6. 6
    The Primal Hunter 7: A LitRPG Adventure cover

    The Primal Hunter 7: A LitRPG Adventure

    The Primal Hunter • Book 7

    by Zogarth

    ★ 4.65 BLT Score (10.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.57 Goodreads (10.2K)
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  7. 7
    Reign of Madness cover

    Reign of Madness

    King's Dark Tidings • Book 2

    by Kel Kade

    ★ 4.65 BLT Score (19.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.45 Goodreads (19.3K)
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  8. 8
    Quicksilver cover

    Quicksilver

    The Fae & Alchemy Series • Book 1

    by Callie Hart

    ★ 4.64 BLT Score (889.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (889.6K)
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  9. 9
    The Finish Line cover

    The Finish Line

    The Ravenhood • Book 3

    by Kate Stewart

    ★ 4.64 BLT Score (175.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.23 Goodreads (175.7K)
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  10. 10
    A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire cover

    A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

    Blood and Ash • Book 2

    by Jennifer L. Armentrout

    ★ 4.62 BLT Score (603.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.31 Goodreads (603.8K)
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  11. 11
    Starsight cover

    Starsight

    Skyward • Book 2

    by Brandon Sanderson

    ★ 4.61 BLT Score (109.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.34 Goodreads (109.9K)
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  12. 12
    Us cover

    Us

    Him • Book 2

    by Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy

    ★ 4.61 BLT Score (57.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.23 Goodreads (57.6K)
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  13. 13
    Prodigal Son cover

    Prodigal Son

    Orphan X • Book 6

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.59 BLT Score (17.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.35 Goodreads (17.7K)
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  14. 14
    Mark of the Fool 4 cover

    Mark of the Fool 4

    Mark of the Fool • Book 4

    by J.M. Clarke

    ★ 4.56 BLT Score (5.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.51 Goodreads (5.9K)
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  15. 15
    Alanna: The First Adventure cover

    Alanna: The First Adventure

    Tortall • Book 4

    by Tamora Pierce

    ★ 4.53 BLT Score (137.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.27 Goodreads (137.2K)
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  16. 16
    The Becoming cover

    The Becoming

    The Dragon Heart Legacy • Book 2

    by Nora Roberts

    ★ 4.51 BLT Score (51.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.3 Goodreads (51.0K)
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  17. 17
    Orphan X cover

    Orphan X

    Orphan X • Book 1

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.51 BLT Score (56.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.14 Goodreads (56.7K)
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  18. 18
    Mark of the Fool 8 cover

    Mark of the Fool 8

    Mark of the Fool • Book 8

    by J.M. Clarke

    ★ 4.49 BLT Score (3.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.49 Goodreads (3.8K)
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  19. 19
    The New Girl cover

    The New Girl

    Gabriel Allon • Book 19

    by Daniel Silva

    ★ 4.47 BLT Score (34.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.28 Goodreads (34.4K)
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  20. 20
    The Assassin's Blade cover

    The Assassin's Blade

    Throne of Glass

    by Sarah J. Maas

    ★ 4.47 BLT Score (1.2M ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (1.2M)
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  21. 21
    Angels & Demons cover

    Angels & Demons

    Robert Langdon Series • Book 1

    by Dan Brown

    ★ 4.46 BLT Score (3.4M ratings)
    ★ 3.96 Goodreads (3.4M)
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  22. 22
    Throne of Glass cover

    Throne of Glass

    Throne of Glass • Book 1

    by Sarah J. Maas

    ★ 4.46 BLT Score (2.5M ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (2.5M)
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  23. 23
    The King of Attolia cover

    The King of Attolia

    The Queen's Thief • Book 3

    by Megan Whalen Turner

    ★ 4.44 BLT Score (43.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (43.5K)
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  24. 24
    Prince's Gambit cover

    Prince's Gambit

    Captive Prince • Book 2

    by C.S. Pacat

    ★ 4.41 BLT Score (92.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (92.7K)
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  25. 25
    Royal Assassin cover

    Royal Assassin

    The Farseer Trilogy • Book 2

    by Robin Hobb

    ★ 4.37 BLT Score (247.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (247.8K)
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  26. 26
    The Understatement of the Year cover

    The Understatement of the Year

    The Ivy Years • Book 3

    by Sarina Bowen

    ★ 4.36 BLT Score (22.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (22.3K)
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  27. 27
    The Likeness cover

    The Likeness

    Dublin Murder Squad • Book 2

    by Tana French

    ★ 4.35 BLT Score (181.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (181.9K)
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  28. 28
    The Guy on the Left cover

    The Guy on the Left

    The Underdogs • Book 2

    by Kate Stewart

    ★ 4.35 BLT Score (8.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (8.9K)
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  29. 29
    Fool's Assassin cover

    Fool's Assassin

    Fitz and the Fool • Book 1

    by Robin Hobb

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (66.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (66.7K)
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  30. 30
    The Bourne Supremacy cover

    The Bourne Supremacy

    Jason Bourne • Book 2

    by Robert Ludlum

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (182.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (182.5K)
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  31. 31
    Agent Zero cover

    Agent Zero

    Agent Zero • Book 1

    by Jack Mars

    ★ 4.32 BLT Score (10.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (10.6K)
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  32. 32
    Reaping the Benefits cover

    Reaping the Benefits

    by E.J. Noyes

    ★ 4.31 BLT Score (1.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (1.3K)
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  33. 33
    Assassin's Quest cover

    Assassin's Quest

    The Farseer Trilogy • Book 3

    by Robin Hobb

    ★ 4.30 BLT Score (199.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (199.3K)
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  34. 34
    About That Kiss cover

    About That Kiss

    by Harper Bliss

    ★ 4.30 BLT Score (4.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.08 Goodreads (4.5K)
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  35. 35
    The Wolf's Hour cover

    The Wolf's Hour

    Michael Gallatin • Book 1

    by Robert McCammon

    ★ 4.29 BLT Score (12.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.09 Goodreads (12.3K)
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  36. 36
    Zealot's Eleventh Crusade cover

    Zealot's Eleventh Crusade

    Divine Apostasy • Book 11

    by A.F. Kay

    ★ 4.29 BLT Score (1.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Goodreads (1.0K)
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  37. 37
    True Nature cover

    True Nature

    Shape-Shifter • Book 2

    by Jae

    ★ 4.28 BLT Score (1.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (1.4K)
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  38. 38
    Penric’s Demon cover

    Penric’s Demon

    Penric and Desdemona (Publication order) • Book 1

    by Lois McMaster Bujold

    ★ 4.27 BLT Score (12.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (12.8K)
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  39. 39
    Fearless cover

    Fearless

    The Powerless Trilogy • Book 3

    by Lauren Roberts

    ★ 4.27 BLT Score (401.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.05 Goodreads (401.6K)
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  40. 40
    Stay of Execution cover

    Stay of Execution

    ONSET • Book 4

    by Glynn Stewart

    ★ 4.27 BLT Score (1.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (1.2K)
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  41. 41
    Nightshade cover

    Nightshade

    Alex Rider • Book 12

    by Anthony Horowitz

    ★ 4.26 BLT Score (5.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.42 Goodreads (5.6K)
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  42. 42
    Ritual of Ruin (King's Dark Tidings Book 7) cover

    Ritual of Ruin (King's Dark Tidings Book 7)

    King's Dark Tidings • Book 7

    by Kel Kade

    ★ 4.21 BLT Score (1.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.24 Goodreads (1.4K)
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  43. 43
    The Way of Shadows cover

    The Way of Shadows

    Night Angel • Book 1

    by Brent Weeks

    ★ 4.21 BLT Score (177.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (177.4K)
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  44. 44
    In the Shadow of Love cover

    In the Shadow of Love

    Shadow • Book 2

    by J.E. Leak

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (551 ratings)
    ★ 4.44 Goodreads (551)
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  45. 45
    A Secret Love cover

    A Secret Love

    Cynster • Book 5

    by Stephanie Laurens

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (10.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.17 Goodreads (10.1K)
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  46. 46
    Graceling cover

    Graceling

    Graceling Realm • Book 1

    by Kristin Cashore

    ★ 4.20 BLT Score (481.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (481.3K)
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  47. 47
    Wizard in Exile cover

    Wizard in Exile

    Wrath of the Stormking • Book 1

    by Michael G. Manning

    ★ 4.18 BLT Score (1.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.5 Goodreads (1.8K)
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  48. 48
    Eye Spy cover

    Eye Spy

    Valdemar: Family Spies • Book 2

    by Mercedes Lackey

    ★ 4.17 BLT Score (3.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (3.1K)
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  49. 49
    Changes cover

    Changes

    Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles • Book 3

    by Mercedes Lackey

    ★ 4.16 BLT Score (8.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.03 Goodreads (8.5K)
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  50. 50
    The Contortionist's Handbook cover

    The Contortionist's Handbook

    by Craig Clevenger

    ★ 4.15 BLT Score (11.5K ratings)
    ★ 3.97 Goodreads (11.5K)
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Browse Related Lists

Secret Identity Books Secret Identity Audiobooks Ticking Clock / Race Against Time Political Intrigue Quest Conspiracy / Cover-Up Found Family Romantasy Dark Secret Coming of Age Cat and Mouse Redemption Arc Ensemble Cast Wrongly Accused All Tropes

How We Rank Audiobooks

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