It’s my favorite time of the year: the annual round-up of the best books I read over the year! In 2023, I read over 60 books. I haven’t seen those numbers since the pandemic year. I am not sure what was different about 2023 that allowed me to read so much. Was it plane travel, where I pretty much only read? Was it the lack of overtime hours at my new job? Was it not having any television shows I am interested in? Of course, all of those.
In 2023, I had an unspoken goal to read as many new releases as possible. I wanted to see how many books on the Goodreads “best of” voting ballot I would know when it was released in November 2023. That was a hard challenge. There are some titles you know are big, but otherwise, it is really hard to know what is released and what is worth reading in the calendar year. Add the challenge of trying to pin down copies at the library and read them all within the same calendar year and, well, it was just extra stress I created for myself.
I did, however, make it through quite a few, and I’ll reference them below. I hope that something on this list appeals and I encourage you to try something new. Happy reading!
(For book recommendations from years past, visit 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.)
(If you want to stay connected with me year-round, I am on Goodreads and welcome friends there.)
Best Books of 2023
Table of Contents
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Best Pop Fiction Books
Fourth Wing
By Rebecca Yarros
This was the year I learned that “romantasy” was a legitimate genre. I have always been a fan of this style of writing, but Fourth Wing was one of the best I have read in this vein. The main character is captivating and it is just the right amount of violence, sex, fantasy, and (believable) relationship drama.
Under the Whispering Door
By TJ Klune
This author can do no wrong by me. I love everything he’s written. His books are always creative, uplifting, and endearing. This one, which explores an afterlife far different than anything conceived, is no different.
Yellowface
By R.F. Kuang
This is a hard book to add to the “best of” list because there is some pretty despicable stuff in here and the character is awful. That being said, it is engrossing. It is hard to determine what is real. In the end, there was so much I wanted to discuss with someone.
There were quite a few pop fiction books I read that didn’t resonate with me (Romantic Comedy, Quietly Hostile, and Really Good, Actually) or were good but weren’t as remarkable as some of the others on my list (Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tom Lake). I did read Demon Copperhead and, while amazing, it is so difficult and emotionally draining. You have to be in the right space to read that one.
Best Classics
The Once and Future King
By T.H. White
Every year, I try to revisit a classic or two. They honestly never disappoint. I picked up Once and Future King, remembering it from my 8th-grade year of school, and then handed it to my 9th-grader. While the middle gets a little slow, there is humor, romance, intrigue, and battle in this amazing book.
In Cold Blood
By Truman Capote
Despite being an English major in college, I had never read this book, avoiding it as I don’t generally like thrillers or anything with gore. But having read all the Harper Lee books and a few biographies of her, I knew I had to read this one. I am so glad I did. It is an epic study of character and how the wrong cocktail of personalities can create the worst.
Best Travel Books
America the Beautiful?: One Woman in a Prius on the Road Most Traveled
By Blythe Roberson
This was hysterical! While I am a Gen X mom, I still identified with a lot of this book. And I appreciated Roberson’s critical eye on the national parks and her own role in how tourism is affecting those very lands.
American Ramble: A Walk of Memory and Renewal
By Neil King
This was a surprise to me. I hadn’t heard of it before but found it on the shelves and picked it up on a whim. It was beautiful. King walks through the northeast corridor, sharing his stories along the way. In the end, he shows us that America is even bigger in character than we can understand – and that, ultimately, we’re all in community with each other, whether we agree on politics or not.
Best Nonfiction
How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question
By Michael Schur
A friend recommended this book and I loved it! My 9th-grader also loved it. It is so well-written and made me laugh out loud many times. Yet simultaneously, it provided a wonderful primer on moral philosophy that created many good dinner conversations.
This is pretty “data”y (can I make that a word?) but also very interesting. Some things you thought you knew about generational trends are just wrong. Also, the direction we are headed as a society is pretty scary. Yet knowing is half the battle.
How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told
By Harrison Scott Key
This book wasn’t at all what I thought it was going to be. It was frustrating and redemptive. Key tells the story of his wife’s (years long) affair, how he lived through it, how he forgave her, and, ultimately, what it means to love. I was in tears at the end, even though I wanted to hear more from the wife’s perspective to try to understand her more.
Best Inspirational Books
An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith
By Barbara Brown Taylor
This book is how we have church without going into a church building. This is about how we see the beauty of creation and the Creator all around us. It is a celebration.Â
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
By Arthur C. Brooks
This might not be for everyone but given that I changed jobs this year, am hitting my middle-aged stride very clearly, and am now in the phase of raising teenagers, this book hit home for me. Generally speaking, this is about how we age gracefully not in looks but in spirit and relationship.
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
By Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski
Again, this book isn’t for everyone. But if you are a mom in today’s fast-paced society, you need this. Trust me. I gifted this book to a few people after reading it.
Whatever books you pick up in 2024, may you enjoy the journey! And if you find any that I would enjoy, please send me a note or find me on Instagram. I am always looking for the next book to escape into.
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Thank you for the list, I am currently reading Yellowface and have no idea what to expect so you’ve given that a bit of colour for me. I’m also maybe in my second half of life, raising teenagers so have added From Strength to Strength to my TBR list. I’ve also found myself reading more this year than last, not entirely sure why but obviously needed a bit more escape!