For my last post of 2023 I wanted to take some time to reflect on the best books I read this year. According to Goodreads, I read a total of 19 books in 2023 and while some people might find that number small, I find it rather impressive. It seems that the older I get a book has to be very very good in order to capture and hold my attention. So while I actually managed to finish 19 books in 2023, only 9 of them really stood out to me as the best of the best. The books on this list all received 5 stars from me, which is why I wanted to shine a spotlight on them.
Pin this Post for Later
In today’s post I’m sharing the best books I read in 2023. Each of these books had wonderful and engaging plotlines and characters that were realistic, entertaining, and relatable. I highly recommend each of these books if you’ve been looking for something to spark your imagination. I’ve taken the liberty of breaking up the books into the seasons I read them in and the seasons they reminded me of.
**This post includes affiliate links that if used I do receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. If you use any of my links thank you for the love and support. Now let’s get to the books . . .
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I read this book in the spring and enjoyed it immensely. It’s a classic for a reason. In case you’ve never read it or seen any of the film or TV show adaptations, this book is about an orphan named Anne Shirley who gets adopted by an elderly brother and sister named Matthew and Marilla. When Anne arrives at the farm of Green Gables she’s not sure what to expect but the longer she stays there the closer she grows to Matthew and Marilla and the more it begins to feel like home. The word that comes to mind when reading this book is “delightful,” because the character of Anne is so wholesome and hopeful.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
I guess 2023 was the year I dove into romantic fantasy (or “romantasy” as some booktubers have labeled it) and I decided to finally read the ACOTAR series. While I did complete the entire series so far, the first and second books were my absolute favorites. Yes, there is spice in these books and no, I would not recommend them to children, but aside from the spice, both of these stories completely captured my imagination and I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished the series. To make a long story short, the book is about a girl named Feyre Archeron who hunts in the woods to help her poor family survive. On one of her hunts she kills a wolf and is forced to spend the rest of her life in the faerie Spring Court with the elusive High Lord, Tamlin. As the two of them grow closer, Feyre learns of a curse that impacts the entire Fae world. Can Feyre be the answer the faeries have been waiting for?
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Ok, this book is on the list for a lot of reasons but the most prominent one is this: Rhysand. While this book is technically the second book in the ACOTAR series, I think it’s where Feyre’s story really begins. Picking up a few months after the events in the first book, this book takes you deeper into Feyre’s internal struggle with what she endured Under the Mountain. Not only is she coping with becoming High Fae, she’s also slowly realizing that maybe she’s outgrowing some of the relationships she formed in the first book. But as Rhysand and his inner circle help Feyre heal, she begins to see that maybe she’s stronger than anyone thought she was – including herself. This book is my absolute favorite in the series because it introduces us to the Night Court and the friendship of the Bat Boys, Mor, and Amren. Trust me, when you read this series you find yourself being transported to the world of Velaris and never wanting to leave it.
The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland
This next book follows a girl named Emily whose parents have her whole life mapped out for her. She’s to take an internship at her father’s firm, get a law degree from Harvard, and become a prestigious partner in her father’s firm. But Em isn’t too keen on the idea of following her father’s footsteps, which is why when she receives an invitation to spend the summer on a tropical island with a mysterious aunt, she jumps at the chance. As Em gets to know her aunt and her aunt’s friends on the island, she begins to realize that there’s more to life than the plans her parents have for her. But when she uncovers a family secret, she’s forced to make some big decisions about her future and her family. This book is perfect to read in the summer because of its tropical setting and the family dynamics will keep you hooked until the last page.
The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther
Another book that’s perfect to read in the summer is the next one on this list. It follows a girl named Meredith who travels with her mom and dad to her grandparents’ home on Martha’s Vineyard for a family wedding. Every summer Meredith and her family play a game called Assassin and this summer is no different, except for the fact that Meredith’s sister and best friend, Claire, won’t be there. Claire passed away 18 months ago in a terrible accident. Determined to honor her sister’s legacy by winning the game, Meredith forms an alliance with a handsome groomsman, but can she and the groomsman keep things casual or will this be the summer she loses her heart? I adored this book because of the setting and because of Meredith’s family. They were all so warm and inviting.
Ok, so I was a little late to the Fourth Wing train but when I finally read this book, I fully jumped on it. This story follows Violet whose mother forces her to join the Rider Squadron and become a dragon rider. Violet is weak and not anyone’s first pick, but defies all odds and manages to survive her first year at Basgiath War College. But Violet soon realizes that maybe the kingdom she and her dragons are training so hard to protect might not have their best interest at heart. This book blew up in the BookTok world and for good reason. The story was solid and the characters captured my heart (especially Xaden and Rhiannon) and I’m really looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
This next book was one of the most charming ones I read all year. This romantic comedy follows a romance ghostwriter named Florence Day who can coincidentally see ghosts. When she gets dumped by her boyfriend she decides that she no longer believes in love. This is a problem for her and her new editor, Ben, because she can’t seem to churn out a new romance novel. When Ben gives her a deadline, Florence is racking her mind for a way to write a story with a happy ending, but everything comes to a screeching halt when her father suddenly dies. In grief and shock, Florence heads home to her small town and family for the funeral and gets another surprise – she can see the ghost of her new editor, Ben. If you want a cozy, warm book to snuggle up with in the fall, this is the book for you. Oh, and don’t worry, it has a happy ending.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
This was my first Riley Sager book but you can best believe it won’t be my last. This is probably one of the best books I’ve ever read. This gothic thriller is about a home-health aide named Kit who gets assigned to the home of Lenora Hope, a sickly, old woman who was accused of murdering her whole family in the 1920s. Everyone in town knows the story of Lenora Hope, or so Kit thinks, but when Lenora offers to tell Kit exactly what happened that fateful night, Kit realizes that there’s so much more to the story than anyone could imagine. This whodunit will keep you on the edge of your seat and trust me, it’s got a twist in it that you’ll never see coming.
One Day in December by Josie Silver
I finished the year by snuggling up with a romantic comedy that reminded me of The Holiday or Love Actually. This book takes place over 10 years and follows a girl named Laurie and a guy named Jack who saw each other on a double-decker bus in 2009 and fell in love at first sight. The only problem is – they didn’t speak to each other. Laurie and her best friend, Sarah, spend the next year looking for Jack in the bars and pubs of London but never find him. Laurie decides to move on with her life and is doing just that when Sarah introduces her to her new boyfriend – who turns out to be Jack. Now Laurie is in between a rock and hard place, but how long can she stay there? This book was the perfect way to wrap up the year because it was sweet, romantic, and surprisingly believable.
Shop the Post
What books did you fall in love with in 2023? Let me know in the comments.
Verse of the Day: Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18-19
