The Best Books We Read in 2023
Here at What a Good Day, we all love to read. Between the three of us, we read over a hundred books last year. These were our favorites! I hope you find a couple that you want to check out!
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Jamie's Favorites
My favorite book this year was A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab. I loved Schwab’s book The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and this one is just as good in a totally different way. It centers around Kell, who is one of the few who can travel between the four different versions of London. It’s dark and mysterious and fun. It’s a slow burn at first, but once it hooked me, I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully, it’s the first in a series!
Another book I loved was actually a book I read for my job, but I loved it so much I find myself recommending it all over the place. How We Learn by Stanislas Dehaene digs deeply into how the human brain learns, and why it’s still more powerful than any machine we can design. I found it absolutely fascinating, and considering it’s about cognitive science, it’s remarkably easy to read.
Honorable Mentions
- Solito by Javier Zamora — This book is a beautiful and poignant memoir chronicling the journey he took from his home country to the United States. Zamora is traditionally a poet, and it shows in his writing style. It’s a tough read in parts, but worth it.
- The Power by Naomi Alderman — This book, now a TV series, is set in a dystopian future in which women develop the ability to electrocute through their hands. With this shift in the power of women come shifts in society that are unstoppable and shocking. It stayed with me long after I read the last page.
Karen's Favorites
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is historical fiction but is based on actual “Lost Friends” ads that were published in newspapers after the Civil war to help freed slaves reconnect with lost family. The book follows two time lines. In 1875, three women set out on a harrowing journey to find family in the post war south. In 1987, a struggling teacher learns of the story of the three women and determines to find out more about their journey and use it to inspire her unmotivated students. I dearly loved the character, Hannie, and her story. She is an unlikely, yet inspirational heroine.
Homecoming by Kate Morton begins in Australia in 1959 with a man finding a family out for a picnic dead with apparently no obvious cause. Years later, a woman, Jess, finds a book in her grandmother’s house about this crime that was never solved. Jess begins to research further finding that the event has close connections to her family. I loved the way this story is so intricately crafted. It is storytelling at its best! I will definitely read more Kate Morton books!
Honorable Mentions:
- The Ruth Galloway Series by Elly Griffiths – The first book is entitled The Crossing Places. There are fifteen books in this series. Ruth is a forensic archaeologist who helps law enforcement solve cases of murder involving bones. She is a realistic, likeable character and the stories are captivating. If you read the first one you are sure to be hooked and hate to see them come to an end after the last book.
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – This classic story is a favorite of mine and was a re-read this year. I love the story of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy as they navigate through every obstacle to find love. If you have never read it, then definitely do, and if you have, try a re-read. You’ll see things you didn’t see before.
Kristin's Favorites
My favorite this year was Murder Most Royal by S. J. Bennett. In this delightful third book of the series, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is imagined as an amateur detective solving crimes behind the scenes. I love this series because it paints the Queen as an actual person. It is fun to read her thoughts about her everyday life even if it’s fictional.
My next favorite was The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth. This one makes you question if you ever really know someone even if that person is your soulmate. This one is a thrilling page turner. And the ending is both satisfying and unexpected. You have to check it out!
Honorable Mentions:
- A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn— This is one of my favorite mystery series featuring an unconventional female protagonist and her ill-tempered, yet still charming, fellow scientist during the Victorian Age. The banter back and forth between the two main characters Veronica and Stoker is witty and well-written. And the mystery in each book is always interesting along with the supporting characters who return throughout the series.
- The Good Part by Sophie Cousens — After reading this one, it makes you wonder is it worth it to skip ahead to the “good part”of your life if you had the ability? Would you want to skip past struggling in your twenties to the point where you are well established in your career and settled down in a happy family life? This book is a light read, but it does pose a very deep question.
What are your favorites from 2023?
We hope you found one or even twelve new books to add to your TBR list! If you had a favorite from last year then please leave a comment. We always love to add more books to our list to read.
Happy Reading!
Jamie, Karen, and Kristin
This is the kindle that I have and I love it! It is the perfect size!
Want More Books to Read?
Take a look at these posts for more reviews and recommendations.
Need More Mystery in Your Life? Discover a New Mystery Series to Read
Five Thrilling Mysteries for More Thrills this Fall
Five Books from Around the World to Help You Celebrate a Love of Reading
Note: This post is by Jamie @whatagoodday.com. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. I’m happy for you to share my post, but please link back to this post. Thank you!
