I kind of had it in my head that 2023 was a poor reading year for me. I wasn’t in a good place mentally last January and just felt like giving up on everything- including books. By the end of the summer I was doing a bit better having got help from my doctor. But then I started a new job in August (yay!) and my brain, again, couldn’t focus on books. So thinking back on the year I didn’t feel like I’d read much of anything to note.
Then I pulled up my Storygraph & Goodreads stats and was thrilled to see that I actually read several really stand out and great books in 2023! All this to say, I’m excited for what 2024 has in store for me, books and otherwise. So here are the 12 books from my 2023 reading that really stood out for me. I’m very happy to see the wide variety of genres here too!
Top 12 Books I Read in 2023
Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree :: This book was a true gem of a read! Such a feel good book with loveable characters. I think I hugged this book when I finished it. I’m looking forward to reading the follow up to this debut in 2024.
Capture the Sun, Jessie Mihalik :: Jessie Mihalik is one of my favorite space opera authors and I adored this series so much! It has everything I love in a good sci-fi romance novel. Bad-ass female characters, swoony love interests, and lots of high-stakes space battles.
Bad Blood, John Carreyrou :: This whole story blows my mind. The book follows Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes who was widely seen as the female Steve Jobs but turned out to be a total fraud. Absolutely bonkers story.
From Blood & Ash, Jennifer L. Armentrout :: I didn’t seem to really be interested in fantasy novels this year which is unusual for me. But I did read this chonker of a book and couldn’t put it down.
The Spectacular, Fiona Davis :: LOVED this!! It’s about a young women who goes against her family’s wishes and auditions for the NYC Rockettes. It’s a fantastic coming of age story set in the 50s that also finds our MC investigating the “Big Apple Bomber”.
The Drift, C.J. Tudor :: Tudor never fails to make me gasp. The Drift was one of the only dystopian novels I read this year and it was crazy! It made me remember how much I love dystopian books.
The Only One Left, Riley Sager :: Sager fan here! I’ve read all his novels but this is by far my favorite. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I didn’t. The explosive ending in this one really took the cake.
The Girl Beneath the Sea, Andrew Mayne :: I’ve been reading Mayne’s books for awhile now and he’s always the author I turn to when I’m in the mood for a clever mystery with a scientific approach.
Love on the Brain, Ali Hazelwood :: I really don’t read many rom coms but Ali Hazelwood has completely won me over with her women in STEM approach. Most rom coms I’ve read before involve women being really stupid and that drives me nuts. So I love that these feature really brilliant leads.
A Fever in the Heartland, Timothy Egan :: This book is about the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and was really hard to read at times because it’s sickening and repulsive. A highly recommended read nonetheless!
Silence for the Dead, Simone St. James :: Another auto-buy author for me. I re-read this one this year and it’s still at the top of my list of favorites! I love how Simone St. James is able to mix paranormal vibes with mysteries.
The Final Gambit, Jennifer Lynn Barnes :: This YA trilogy is so much fun!! It’s clever and will pull at your heartstrings. You won’t know who to root for and the twists in this game will leave you wanting more.
Which of your 2023 reads were your favorite? Have you read any of these?
2 comments
I’m glad you’re feeling better! The end of 2023 almost did me in, so I’m ready for 2024! I read Legends & Lattes and loved it. I’m reading Silence for the Dead now and have a feeling that may make my favorites list too.
Silence for the Dead was totally my jam!! Loved it!