This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at NO extra cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Last updated on September 3rd, 2024
In this round-up post, we will take a look at the best books of 2023.
As we reach the midway mark of the year, it’s time to kick back and think about all the amazing stories and characters that have made their way into our bookshelves.
From gripping thrillers to heartwarming romances, and mind-bending science fiction to thought-provoking non-fiction, I want to share with you some of my favorite books I have read this year. These books are all 4 or 5 stars.
I’ll be updating this list throughout the year as I read more books, so be sure to check back in. Happy reading!
Hello Beautiful
TWs: depression, suicide
This modern take on the classic novel, Little Women, is a multigenerational tale of love, loss, and bravery. It celebrates the unbreakable bond of sisterhood while also highlighting its fragilities.
In Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano has created a sincere, profoundly moving book that will stay with readers long after reading it.
It’s not a lighthearted read, as it explores issues like depression and suicide, but the author’s talent for weaving together complex characters and beautiful prose has made this one of my top reads of 2023.
About the book
William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him—so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him.
With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.
But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most.
5 reasons to read Hello Beautiful
Yours Truly
Tropes: Fake dating, friends to lovers, workplace romance
TWs: social anxiety, chronic illness, organ donation, depression, mention of miscarriage & suicide
With humor, heart, and unflinching honesty, Jimenez weaves an inspiring and moving tale about loving someone just as they are, flaws and all.
Yours Truly, the second book in the ‘Part of Your World’ series, details the romance between Brianna Ortiz, Alexis’ best friend from book 1, and Jacob Maddox, a fellow ER doctor who might just be the sweetest human being you’ll ever meet.
I absolutely adored Daniel and Alexis’ story from the previous book, and I didn’t think Jimenez could top it, but she knocks it out of the park again.
About the book
Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.
But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.
5 reasons to read Yours Truly
Next to You
Tropes: friends to lovers
TWs: death of parent, grief
Great for readers who love swoon-worthy and authentic characters mixed with sarcastic comedy and a little HGTV action.
Next to You is more than just a story about two friends who renovate a school bus into a home. It’s a story about grief and forgiveness. It emphasizes that there’s no right or wrong way to grieve the loss of someone we love, and we have to learn to forgive ourselves for our past mistakes if we hope to move forward into the future.
This was my first book by Hannah Bonam-Young, but it’s actually the second book in the Next Series. After reading this one, I immediately bought the first book. And that did not disappoint either.
About the book
Lane is in the middle of an identity crisis. Her friends are all partnered up, her career is leading nowhere, and simply put, she’s not happy. So after a night out celebrating (drinking) on her birthday, she makes one hell of an impulsive purchase. A giant yellow forty-eight passenger school bus that she intends to make a home.
With little-to-no renovation experience but a large sum of inheritance money, Lane enlists the help of her friend Matt—a mechanic by trade, handyman by practice, and hottie by nature.
While their mutual attraction is undeniable, Matt and Lane have silently agreed that a friendship is the only thing that can ever exist between them. Matt’s a total family guy with “settle down with me” tattooed across his forehead, whereas Lane is entirely commitment-averse.
So when Matt offers to help her with the bus and in the bedroom with no strings attached, Lane’s feelings evolve faster than you can say “just good friends.” But she soon discovers that in order to build something new, she has to first heal her past.
5 reasons to read Next To You
Someone Else's Shoes
TWs: Depression, infidelity, age discrimination
Who knew a pair of red Christian Louboutin shoes could cause so much chaos? This is a surprising and unputdownable story about the solidarity of female friendships alongside authentic and relatable characters.
Who knew a pair of red Christian Louboutin shoes could cause so much chaos? Someone Else’s Shoes is about the strength of female friendships, self-discovery, and finding your power.
It tells the story of a group of middle-aged women from diverse backgrounds who come together to form an unlikely sisterhood. Jojo Moyes created a fun mix of romance, mystery, humor, and wit to give readers an engaging story that will have you laughing and crying simultaneously.
There are elements in this story that reminded me of movies like Sandra Bullock’s Ocean 8 and Jennifer Lopez’s Maid in Manhattan. So if you liked those films, then you will definitely adore this one.
About the book
Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes?
Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope–she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.
That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag–she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself.
5 reasons to read Someone Else’s Shoes
The Museum of Ordinary People
TWs: grief and loss of loved one
Wouldn't it be great if there were a place to safely keep all the items and knick-knacks of loved ones who have passed away, the ones we don't want to get rid of?
Through a cast of authentic and intricate characters, Gayle explores themes of grief, forgiveness, and the power of moving forward. It's a journey that will resonate with everyone and leave you feeling deeply connected to the story.
In this touching and inspiring story, Mike Gayle explores themes of grief, forgiveness, and the power of moving forward, leaving a lasting impact on every reader.
Through a cast of authentic and intricate characters, The Museum of Ordinary People showcases the raw and messy yet beautiful tapestry of the human experience. It’s a journey that will resonate with everyone and leave you feeling deeply connected to the story.
About the book
Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she’s ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold. As she sorts through a lifetime of memories, everything comes to a halt when she comes across something she just can’t part with: an old set of encyclopedias. To the world, the books are outdated and ready to be recycled. To Jess, they represent love and the future that her mother always wanted her to have.
In the process of finding the books a new home, Jess discovers an unusual archive of letters, photographs, and curious housed in a warehouse and known as the Museum of Ordinary People. Irresistibly drawn, she becomes the museum’s unofficial custodian, along with the warehouse’s mysterious owner. As they delve into the history of objects in their care, they not only unravel heart-stirring stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long-buried secrets that lie closer to home.
Inspired by an abandoned box of mementos, The Museum of Ordinary People is a poignant novel about memory and loss, the things we leave behind, and the future we create for ourselves.
5 reasons to read The Museum of Ordinary People
No Two Persons
TWs: grief, suicide
Told through a series of short stories that weave together, No Two Persons explores the power of a remarkable book and its profound impact when it meets a reader precisely when they need it the most. One of my favorite books of 2023 and a great option for book lovers.
This is a love letter to anyone who loves to read.
No Two Persons is told through a series of short stories featuring 10 characters and has a full circle ending that will leave your heart feeling bittersweet once it’s over.
About the book
One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives.
That was the beauty of books, wasn’t it? They took you places you didn’t know you needed to go…
Alice has always wanted to be a writer. Her talent is innate, but her stories remain safe and detached, until a devastating event breaks her heart open, and she creates a stunning debut novel. Her words, in turn, find their way to readers, from a teenager hiding her homelessness, to a free diver pushing himself beyond endurance, an artist furious at the world around her, a bookseller in search of love, a widower rent by grief. Each one is drawn into Alice’s novel; each one discovers something different that alters their perspective, and presents new pathways forward for their lives.
Together, their stories reveal how books can affect us in the most beautiful and unexpected of ways—and how we are all more closely connected to one another than we might think.
5 reasons to read No Two Persons
The Seven Year Slip
Trope: time travel romance
TWs: death of loved one, grief, suicide
What if you met the right person at the wrong time? An emotional and heartwarming romance from the author of ‘The Dead Romantics.’
The Seven Year Slip is about learning to say goodbye to the familiarity of the past and welcoming the uncertainty of the future with open arms.
The male MC reminded me of Atlas from “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover, as they are both chefs, and the connection between Iwan and Clementine is similar to that of Lily and Atlas.
About the book
Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.
So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.
And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.
Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.
Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.
After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.
5 reasons to read The Seven Year Slip
Out on a Limb
Trope: forced proximity, accidental pregnancy
TWs: see below
A sweet and tenderhearted story about unexpected love and the strength of living with a disability. With her famous trifecta of quick wit, authentic characters, and charming dialogues, Hannah delivers a story that is both eye-opening and inspiring.
- witty, hilarious dialogues
- eye-opening themes
- authentic, engaging characters
- emotional, poignant writing
- positive messages from the book
- repetitive inner monologues
- slow pacing in some parts
- found some of Win's actions quite immature
I can tell how much of Hannah’s heart is in Out On A Limb. With her personal experience of a limb disability, getting to know Win felt like getting to know Hannah herself. I enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes and learning about how she has grown while navigating the struggles that come with being different.
Trigger warnings
brief discussion of abortion (pro-choice stance, not performed), ableism in reference to a limb difference, verbally abusive ex-partner (no reappearance), death of a parent (past, off-page), depression and suicide (past, off-page), cancer (past, not reoccurring), amputation (referenced, past)
About the book
Winnifred “Win” McNulty has always been wildly independent. Not one to be coddled for her limb difference, Win has spent most of her life trying to prove that she can do it all on her own. And, with some minor adjustments, she’s done just fine.
That is until she has a one-night stand with the incredibly charming Bo, a perfect stranger. And that one night changes everything.
While Bo is surprisingly elated to step upto the plate, Win finds herself unsure of whether she can handle this new challenge on her own or if she’ll need a helping hand.
Together, Win and Bo decide to get to know one another as friends and nothing more. But, as they both should know by now, life rarely goes according to plan.
5 reasons to read Out On A Limb
Business or Pleasure
Tropes: friends with benefits, celebrity romance, forced proximity
TWs: anxiety, OCD, abortion (off-page)
A refreshing story about a ghostwriter who falls in love with the celebrity whose book she is writing, after having a bad one-night stand with him.
- realistic take on intimacy
- mental health in males rep
- sex positivity, open communication
- engaging writing style
- relatable MCs
- slow burn was so slow in some parts that the chemistry fizzled out
- Chandler was hard to like in the beginning
Business or Pleasure is excellent for those who love stories with good mental health representation, pro-therapy, and sex-positive vibes.
What drew me to this book was the premise of the failed one-night stand where the guy wasn’t mind-blowing in bed, as most romance heroes are. It was nice to read a more realistic take on intimacy.
About the book
Chandler Cohen has never felt more like the ghost in “ghostwriter” until she attends a signing for a book she wrote—and the author doesn’t even recognize her. The evening turns more promising when she meets a charming man at the bar and immediately connects with him. But when all their sexual tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten.
Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fan conventions across the country. Chandler knows him better from their one-night stand of hilarious mishaps.
Chandler’s determined to keep their partnership as professional as possible, but when she admits to Finn their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought it was, he’s distraught. He intrigues her enough that they strike a deal: when they’re not working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in the art of satisfaction. As they grow closer both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure—or if there’s a way for them to have both.
5 reasons to read Business or Pleasure
Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421
TWs: death of child, death by various causes
12 lives are at risk when a plane plummets into the ocean shortly after taking off from Hawaii. Drowning by T.J Newman is an emotionally gripping and high-paced thriller that takes us on a journey as these survivors fight for their lives.
- fast paced, engaging plot
- narrative structure with multiple POVs and timelines
- excellent immersive narration
- emotionally intense
- unexpected ending (personal preference)
- excessive technical jargon that was hard to follow
Drowning is an absolute must-read for readers who enjoy suspenseful stories that will keep them on the edge of their seats. I could not put this audiobook down.
About the book
Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.
More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives.
Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent—Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife—who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff.
There’s not much time.
There’s even less air.
With devastating emotional power and heart-stopping suspense, Drowning is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them—against impossible odds.
4 reasons to read Drowning
Morbidly Yours
Tropes: friends to lovers, opposites attract
TWs: grief & death, graphic description of body prep in funeral home
An animator and mortician fall in love in this steamy, tender-hearted rromance that you won’t want to put down.
If you take The Dead Romantics and turn up the dial on the funeral home body preparation details while retaining the warm and fuzzy feelings associated with a feel-good romance, you get Morbidly Yours.
About the book
Callum Flannelly would rather dive into an open grave than take a stranger to dinner and a movie. But he can only inherit the family undertaking business and carry on their legacy under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. So it’s out of the mortuary and into the dating scene.
Lark Thompson would rather get crushed by a falling anvil than live next to a funeral home during her stay in Galway, Ireland. The vivacious American cartoon creator and animator came here to embrace life, not be reminded of losing her husband.
When Lark learns of Callum’s dilemma and aversion to marrying out of necessity rather than love, she agrees to help the introverted mortician. Although sworn off love herself, she is optimistic that Callum can find The One and secure his inheritance.
But as the dating project progresses and their friendship grows, so does a mutual attraction. The more time she spends with serious, sarcastic Callum, the more she dreads finding him a match. And the more disastrous dates he endures, the more trepidation he feels for Lark’s imminent return to the States.
If they think it’s possible to ignore their connection, they’re dead wrong.
5 reasons to read Morbidly Yours
The Wedding Menu
Tropes: friends to lovers, rivals/enemies to lovers
TWs: open relationship
A delightful, captivating, and heartwarming story about discovering the importance of self-love. With fantastic dialogue and genuine characters, Letizia Lorini is an author that romance fans will enjoy reading.
- adorable golden retriever hero
- hilarious, witty dialogue
- engaging slow burn romance
- swoon-worthy epilogue
- steamy scenes
- FMC was frustrating sometimes
- lack of communication trope
- unnecessary plot lines
The Wedding Menu is a delightful, captivating, and heartwarming story about discovering the importance of self-love.
With fantastic dialogue and genuine characters, Letizia Lorini is an author that romance enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy reading.
About the book
One year ago, Amelie had it all.
Almost engaged to her high school sweetheart, close to her childhood best friend, and cooking at her dad’s restaurant: her life was exactly what she’d ordered.
Until Ian, an opinionated wedding-hater, popped up out of nowhere and proved she might like something off menu.
***
One year later, Amelie has lost it all.
She’s unemployed, single, and taking a break from her friendship. As for Ian? He’s gone too.
When she visits Ian’s hometown to teach at a week-long cooking conference, she hopes for a fateful meet-cute. But their reunion is far from joyful when Amelie discovers Ian is the son of her father’s business rival.
Even bigger fiasco? He only wants friendship.
Amelie has one week to change his mind, and if the truth of why her whole life fell apart remains hidden, their love story might even end with a wedding.
5 reasons to read The Wedding Menu
Conclusion
There you have it! Some of the best books I have come across in 2023.
Let me know in the comments below if you had any favourites!
