I think it’s fun to look back at the books I’ve read each year and pick a few favorites. If you missed last year, catch up. I always love reading people’s book recaps, and rarely do I scroll through without adding at least one new book to my “want to read” list. Considering that the number on that list is currently 1152, I feel confident that I’ll never run out of books to read.
I’ve broken down my favorite books of the year and included separate categories for mystery/thriller and celebrity memoirs. Normally, I would have a few more non-fiction, but I just didn’t spend time in that category this year. Let me know if you’ve read any of these because I’d love to discuss them.
**Note: The title of the book links to bookshop.org, a great online bookseller supporting your local independent bookstores. If you purchase through the link, I will get a few pennies, but there is no additional cost to you. I’ll also include an Amazon link at the bottom of each description for those of you who are Kindle-exclusive readers. If you have a choice, support the independent booksellers.
Top Five Favorite Books of 2023
America the Beautiful? One Woman in a Borrowed Prius on the Road Most Traveled by Blythe Roberson
There just aren’t enough good books about travel, but this one was wonderful. The author is a comedian who decides to hit the open road and take a road trip to some of America’s best National Parks. I found it relatable and loved escaping from my apartment each time I opened the book. Plus, it was refreshing to read a travel book that a white man didn’t write. I would highly suggest listening to this on a long road trip. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Birdie & Harlow: Life, Loss, and Loving my Dog So Much I Didn’t Want to Have Kids by Taylor Wolfe
Taylor is someone I have followed for years. Her sense of humor is always appreciated in my Instagram scrolls. When she announced that she was writing a book, I instantly pre-ordered without knowing what it was even about. Getting to read her experiences in becoming a dog owner, there was so much she shared that I have been guilty of doing it myself. While I am not a parent of a human child, I appreciated her candidness about becoming a mother and sharing the real side of the story that many people shield from those of us who do not have children. This book is perfect for moms of dogs or humans, so grab a copy and read it. But I’m warning you, I sobbed my way through the last few chapters. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
The Guncle has remained one of the books I recommend the most to others, but now I would add this book to that list. The story follows a group of college friends who lose one of their own and make a pact after his funeral to throw each other “living funerals.” It’s a reminder that life is worth living, even when things seem hard. It’s a beautiful story of friendship, and I have thought about this book since I put it down months ago. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
This seemed to be the hype book of 2023. I know dozens of people who were reading this around the same time as me, and it seemed like everyone was talking about it. Honestly, I almost skipped it when my friend tried to explain it to me. But I’m glad I read it. I flew through it when I was in Whistler this fall for a hiking weekend. It took me a bit to get into it, but I will definitely keep reading the series. While I don’t know that it was the best book or the most groundbreaking, it was fun to get outside of what I normally read and dive into the world of dragons. Plus, I hate missing out on what everyone else seems to be reading. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
This would be a fantastic book club book. There are so many things to talk about with this story. I couldn’t put it down and struggled to decide which characters I liked or even felt like I understood. It was so well written and covers the many different perspectives of women who have encountered Ansel Packer, a man on death row about to be executed. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Honorable Mentions for Fiction
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
This was all old-money family drama. It takes place in Brooklyn, which always catches my attention. It was entertaining and a good way to escape. Each character is obnoxious in the way that the Roys are in Succession, but it’s much less intense than that show. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
This book felt like a sneak peek behind the scenes of SNL. Sally is a sketch comedy writer and falls for one of the celebrity guest hosts of her show. I flew through this book. It was entertaining and would make for a great vacation read next to a pool. The title is true to the story, and you kind of feel like you’re reading a decent rom-com movie pitch. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
It’s hard for me to dislike an Elin Hilderbrand book, so I should start there. Each of her stories transports me to Nantucket and her writing style is easy for me to fly through. This story was one of my favorites. It follows a food blogger through the grieving of her husband. She invites a close friend from each phase of her life to spend an epic weekend together. It was an interesting blend of stories and backgrounds for each character, and I loved it. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar
This book explores the strained relationship between a son who lives in the United States and his mother in India. He returns home and discovers some shocking family secrets. The story took some turns I definitely wasn’t expecting, but I couldn’t put it down. With so much love, regret, and friendship, it was a wonderful book. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Favorite Mystery/Thriller Books
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
This story follows a journalist who heads back to her small town to help cover a story that is oddly familiar to her. A missing girl is the same age as her friend who disappeared when they were children. She cannot let it go and stays longer than she planned to get to the bottom of this. I like the setting of a small Midwest town and the double timelines. This was another book that was hard to put down. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai
Another great mystery, this one takes place at a New Hampshire boarding school. The main character, Bodie, is asked back to teach a course and is confronted with the memories of her time there, including when her roommate was murdered. Bodie is a successful podcaster, and she can’t avoid the memories and sneaking suspicion that there is more to the story of her roommate (and herself.) Click here for Audible and Kindle.
The Dry by Jane Harper
I’ve seen Jane Harper recommended many times, so I’m glad I finally read one of her books. This mystery takes place in a small town in Australia where they are facing a devastating drought. I could easily picture it from our Outback road trip. There were many secrets uncovered, and the layers just kept getting deeper. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Favorite Celebrity Memoirs
Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson
I watched the Netflix documentary about Pamela Anderson, so this book was a really nice supplement to that. You can probably choose one or the other, but it’s worth getting to know this woman a bit more. Read her poetry in between chapters. It feels like you’re really getting to read her journals and diaries and getting her perspective on life events. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Do I think everyone should read this book? No. But if you are around my age and have followed the Britney story, I think you should read this. It only took me a few hours. I’m a little sad I missed out on the audiobook format because I’ve heard that Michelle Williams was a good choice to read this. The media picked up many big takeaways, but some were taken a bit out of context. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe
I listened to this audiobook on our December road trip and loved it. He shared some great stories about movies, TV, and his personal life. He’s a very likable guy, and I liked learning more about how he grew up and some of the crazy celebrity encounters he had long before he was a famous name. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Spare by Prince Harry
Almost everything I know about the Royal Family has come from the Crown. I watched the Harry & Megan special on Netflix and felt like they had gotten screwed by the family, so I wanted to read the book and hear more of Harry’s story. I think the book could’ve been about 150 pages shorter. But I thought it was interesting and felt like I better understood his views of the monarch and his feelings on being the spare. If you don’t care at all about the royal family, you could probably skip this one. Click here for Audible and Kindle.
Final Thoughts on My Favorite Books of 2023
I had a bit of a rough patch for reading in 2023. There were a few months when it was really hard to pick up a book and focus on it. That’s a tough pill to swallow because reading is usually my escape and one of my favorite ways to spend time. I’ve got a pile of books ready to go in 2024 that I’m super excited about, so I’m hoping to hit my goal of 52 books this year (I fell two short in 2023.)
Do you set a reading goal? Are you on Goodreads? What was your favorite book in 2023?
