Looking for great books to read this year? This list is full of the best books of 2023 (so far) that you don’t want to miss!
This year has been a good one for books. From mysteries to romance to literary novels, there are lots to choose from. I spent a good portion of my month of July catching up on the new releases I had been waiting for, and enjoying every minute of it.
So what makes a great book? That is a very personal question, but for me, it’s all about characters. I love characters that feel genuine, even if the plot stretches the bounds of realism.
And I also love a good location. I may be in the mood for international settings, or perhaps just a small country town. I find the location of a good book to be based heavily on my moods.
Whether you’re there for the atmosphere, the characters, or the genre, this list of the best books of 2023 (so far) won’t disappoint. I hope that you’ll find more than a few to add to your TBR pile.
The Best Books of 2023 (So Far)
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Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
It’s hard not to love this nosy and unrepentant tea shop owner. Vera Wong wakes up one morning to find a body in her shop. She doesn’t know the man, but it seems to her the police are quite inept. So she does them a favor and begins assembling suspects. The only problem is she starts to become rather fond of them – even if one of them is a murderer. Funny and outlandish like many of this Sutanto’s books, this great read will surely entertain you.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
This book is everything an adventure tale should be. Amina al-Sirafi is trying to live a quiet life far from her pirating days on the high seas. But one day, she is brought an offer she can’t refuse. Gathering her crew and a few unwelcome additions, she sets off to find a rich runaway. She had no idea what she was in for… Wonderful characters and exciting adventures move this story along beautifully.
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Another great book of 2023 is this new release by Kate Clayborn. Georgie has always put others before herself, to the point where she doesn’t know what she wants anymore. Returning to her hometown to help her pregnant best friend puts her into contact with the older brother of her high school crush, a man who has a plan even if it’s not everything he wanted in life. With lots of family drama to contend with, it was lovely to watch these two find their way to each other.
The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray
This is the second in the series, and if you enjoyed The Murder of Mr. Wickham, this book was even better. Re-enter the delightful Ms. Tilney and sweet Mr. Darcy who balance each other out perfectly. They’re invited to a house party thrown by the Willoughbys and soon find themselves with a dead hostess. They have only each other and plenty of suspects to contend with as the Willoughbys are not the most liked people in town. I loved the dynamic between these two amateur sleuths, not to mention being set in an alternative Jane Austen universe.
The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel
Three women’s lives are intertwined when an off-hand comment leads to the dissolution of a marriage, a runaway wife, and a baby left with the cuckolded ex-wife. Poeppel excels at creating characters you can’t help but love and this large ensemble is unique and wonderful in its own ways – even the not-so-wonderful characters. With a wild plot like this, you won’t want to put this book down until you see how she resolves it all. One of my favorite reads of 2023.
Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
This novel is about an up and coming female comedian and her manager, who was a popular stand-up comedian himself before fatherhood changed his plans. Told in present day and flashbacks to their meeting and early days together, this story is as funny as it is heartwarming. Farley is quite a bit younger than Meyer, but she can’t help having feelings for him, even as she knows he’s not interested in her. Or is he? A great romance with a unique story I don’t see too often in this genre. Add this one to your TBR!
Above Ground by Clint Smith
This book is full of lyrical, narrative poems that make it one of the best books of 2023. Filled with thoughts on fatherhood, history, and how to deal with the good and bad of life, sometimes at the same time, there is something for everyone in this collection. This is a short read, but well worth the time to read and contemplate the beauty of Smith’s words. There’s just enough humor interspersed with poignancy in here to make every poem a surprise you can’t wait to unwrap.
If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook
Now this 2023 book is a cast of characters. When a family patriarch dies, his children and grandchildren come home for the funeral. The proceedings of grief are shaken up by a shocking outburst at the funeral. Now the family, full of adults who are in need of some help in life themselves, are handling their own troubles alongside this bombshell. A perfect story about the intricacies of family, the nature of love, and how we move forward when things change.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
This story about bad first impressions and how one letter can change everything is so good. Briana is a doctor whose life is in the gutter, except for a promotion she is expecting. That is until another candidate arrives and makes a horrible first impression. Determined to hate Jacob, she is forced to reevaluate when he sends her a letter. Even more so when he offers something she’s been dreaming of. You’ll love following these two wary characters as they navigate feelings and circumstances to eventually find their happy ending.
Playing it Safe by Ashley Weaver
This is the third installment of the Electra McDonnell series, following A Peculiar Combination and A Key to Deceit, and ex-safecracker Electra is on another mission with Major Ramsey in the midst of the blitz of Britain during WWII. Sent out of town on her mysterious mission, a man drops dead in the street clutching a note. Electra knows this is somehow connected to her assignment and is soon embroiled in a hunt for a Nazi counterfeiting ring while dodging an assassin. Smart and fun, this mystery/suspense series only gets better with each book.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
In the first book of this series, the story follows two rival newspaper reporters as they vie for the same job while trying to understand a war that is developing far from home. Soon they find themselves at the front lines for different reasons and what started out as animosity soon turns to respect and deeper feelings. This is part romance, part fantasy as the war in question is between gods with human armies. I warn you, this leaves off with a bit of a cliffhanger, but I think it’s worth reading and waiting for the next installment.
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
This is another wonderful book out in 2023. Told from the viewpoints of multiple characters, it follows their lives, choices, and relationship to one book and how it changed their lives. It was surprisingly uplifting and I couldn’t put it down. Some characters you’ll root for, others not so much, but seeing the way they were all affected by this book, even the author, was touching in so many ways. Definitely give this story a shot this year.
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
If you liked Fizzy Chen from The Soulmate Equation, then this book is for you. Effervescent romance writer Fizzy is invited to be on a reality show to find her soulmate based on the app that placed her best friend. The man in charge of the show, Connor Prince, is less than thrilled with his assignment as he’s a serious documentary producer. What could possibly go wrong? Christina Lauren never disappoints with their witty banter, great characters, and satisfying ending. You’ll be rooting for this couple from the start!
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
This 2023 release is a follow-up to Boulley’s Firekeeper’s Daughter. It’s set on the tribal land of Sugar Island, where a summer internship leads young and carefree Perry Firekeeper-Birch into the world of antiquity acquisition and the quest to bring home the remains of her people’s ancestors. Against the backdrop of young native women’s murders, Perry and her friends must race to save both the living and the dead from the selfish hands of collectors. Great, great book.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
This time travel book will enthrall you. Book publicist Clementine is a little surprised to find Iwan in her newly inherited apartment, but even more so when she puzzles out that he’s from seven years in the past. As she develops feelings for the Iwan of the past, things get more tricky when she meets Iwan of the present day. And she wonders what happened over seven years to make him change so much. As she jumps back and forth in time, she slowly sees how their time together seven years ago influenced the man he became. Is it possible for anything to happen between them now? Such an amazing romance!
I hope this list has given you some ideas for great books of 2023 that need to be added to your TBR pile. With so many fantastic books out so far this year, I can hardly wait for what the rest of 2023 has in store!
Looking for more book recommendations? Try these lists:
10 Best Fiction Books of 2022 (So Far)
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What a good list! There’s a couple on here that I think I would like to read. 🙂
Thank you! I hope you love them!