It’s still only January, so I can still write a 2023 summary post, right?
Choosing my favorite books for the year is usually pretty easy to do off the top of my head, but 2023 stumped me initially. I felt that I quit more books than I finished overall (which wasn’t true, it just felt that way), and I felt in a rut most of the year due to general life chaos.
When I finally did look back at everything, I realized I did read some great books this year. Here are the top 2023 reads, roughly in the order I read them.
Carrie Soto Is Back
“Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season…Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete attempting a comeback.”
Did I know anything about tennis? No. After this book, do I know anything about tennis? Still no. But the characters flawed and complex, the writing detailed and engrossing, and the plot as fast as the tennis volleys described in the pages. I flew through it and loved every minute. This is my favorite TJR novel so far.
Perfect for...
- Taylor Jenkins Reid fans (obviously)
- Historical fiction buffs (1980s/1990s)
- Lovers of an underdog story
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Cry, The Beloved Country
“The deeply moving story of the Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his son, Absalom, set against the background of a land and a people riven by racial injustice.”
I picked this up for my local book club and it blew me away. I had never read this before, but it was incredible. I initially started listening as an audiobook and I switched over to the ebook so I could mark the text. This is a classic for a reason.
The Many Assassinations of Samir, Seller of Dreams
“The Silk Road comes to life in this picaresque epic adventure with twists and turns and a wonderful surprise ending.”
I loved this historical fiction adventure novel. I love Nayeri’s memoir, and I picked this up as soon as I saw it released. I loved Monkey’s exasperation and grudging respect for the unreliable, yet lovable, Samir as they try to make it down the Silk Road. This is book has really stayed with me all year.
Tress of the Emerald Sea
“A new standalone novel for everyone who loved The Princess Bride.”
This novel is in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere, but it definitely isn’t necessary to have read anything else to enjoy it. I love Sanderson’s unique magic systems, and this one–with oceans of deadly spores–certainly provided a unique setting for Tress’s journey and all the accompanying twists. Funny and fast-paced (once Tress gets going…), this one was so fun to read.
Things to love...
- Sanderson's classic world-building
- Magical adventure
- Healthy romance
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Freewater
“Amina Luqman-Dawson pens a lyrical, accessible historical middle-grade novel about two enslaved children’s escape from a plantation and the many ways they find freedom.”
I started this novel when I saw it getting all the buzz early this year after its award wins, and it was fantastic! The multiple points of view was initially off-putting to me (and maybe difficult for audiobook listeners), but it drew everything together beautifully by the end. I plan to read it again in 2024 as one of our family readalouds.
Things to love...
- Middle grade protagonist
- Historical fiction (antebellum United States)
- Resilient relationships
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The Winners
“The Winners returns to the close-knit, resilient community of Beartown for a story about first loves, second chances, and last goodbyes.“
This is the third in the Beartown series, and it was a wonderful continuation for all the characters and for Backman’s character-driven style. He repeats events frequently, to get multiple viewpoints, which makes the novel on the slower end of things but very emotionally weighty. Read this series (and any of Backman’s books) with a box of tissues nearby.
Perfect for...
- Lovers of the other Beartown novels
- Realistic fiction buffs
- Readers invested in family sagas
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Simon Sort of Says
“But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the story in which he’s the only kid in his class who survived a school shooting.”
This was a surprise standout when I picked it up on a whim. The family moves to a National Quiet Zone, away from the internet and notoriety, and there finds a zany group of people that you can’t help but love. Despite the heavy premise, the novel has plenty of humor and heart. I really enjoyed it.
Things to love...
- Middle grade realistic fiction (9-12yo)
- Supportive family dynamics
- Humor and healing
More info
The Psychology of Money
“Doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people.”
This is a collection of short essays taking different financial topics from the lens of psychology. Why does my generation view money so differently from my parents’? Why do super rich people take risks–even illegal ones–to get even richer? Instead of the typical math-based answers, Housel gives us insights into behavior. And it’s fascinating.
A Deadly Education
“A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets.”
I read this three-book series during a weekend of sick kids. Even if I hadn’t had the weekend cleared, I probably would have cleared it to finish the series. The story was very engrossing, and I appreciated how the pace accelerated throughout the series until the final magical showdown.
Perfect for...
- YA fantasy readers
- Fans of grumpy protagonists with Issues and Dark Destinies