You guys, IT’S THE BIGGEST POST OF THE YEAR!
IT’S MY ANNUAL BOOKS IN REVIEW POST!
Friends, I am SO EXCITED about this post.
Absolutely GIDDY!!!
I know I say this often, but this is my own personal favorite blog post each year. I love, love, love writing my blog each day, but this post here gives me this spark of JOY each and every year.
After 12 months of reading books with you, this is the one HUGE post where I share my highs, my lows and my thoughts on everything I’ve read PLUS name MY TOP THREE BOOKS OF THE YEAR!
In 2023, including the two books that I read in December (their reviews to follow), I read 51 books.
FIFTY ONE!
Some years are “better” years in books for me than others, and I would say all in all, this one was pretty darn good.
Here’s a quick little glimpse of my readings this year…both the highs and the lows.
‘Tis the year to read autobiographies I did not love.
Yes, yes, yes, I made you all mad with my reviews of both Spare by Prince Harry and Bad Mormon by Heather Gay.
I really annoyed some of you when I reviewed All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore too.
I did love I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt though.
2023 was also the year I didn’t find “THE BOOK OF THE YEAR” that fantastic (I’m talking to you, The Fourth Wing! ), but I did love the year’s most popular thrillers (now, I’m talking to you The Husbands by Chandler Baker and The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine).
This year, I read a GREAT book on parenting teens (Feeding the Mouth That Bites You by Kenneth Willis) but could have skipped Tom Lake by Ann Pachett.
In 2023, my favorite author redeemed herself (finally!) with a new book that did not include a ghost. Thank you, Elin Hilderbrand, for the spirit-free The Five-Star Weekend.
Of course, per usual, I could not get enough of Sally Hepworth’s latest, The Soulmate . #sheissobrilliant
And now that rowing crew is a big part of our family, I am so thankful you all insisted I read The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (just in time for the movie to come out this Christmas!).
So many great reads this year!
But what did I read in December?
I read two books, so let’s get to their reviews before we continue…
Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan
In 2018, I named Whelan’s book My Oxford Year my very favorite book of the year! You guys, if you haven’t read that book, it should be the first book you read after today’s blog post. I would still call it one of my VERY VERY favorite “favorite” books. Needless to say, I was very excited about Whelan’s newest book about a woman who records audio books for a living. Even though this book is a work of fiction, I have to think that the process of recording audio books is very similar to how Whelan (an author) describes it…and it really opened my eyes about an entire industry I knew nothing about.
Is this book just about a lady who reads books for a living?
Of course not. It’s the story of a woman with a physical disability owning and accepting her own insecurities as she makes her way through life finding joy in her work, her friends…and a guy. As a mama to a kiddo with a physical difference, this book touched my heart several times. Though this is about a fictional character, it spoke many truths about living with a difference the whole world can see…and how to embrace that instead of hide from it.
I really liked this book. It’s that great little genre of “meaty” chick lit. Is it about love and happiness? Yes. Does it have more depth and cause more introspection than your average “beach book”? Absolutely. Did I love it as much as My Oxford Year? No, but I’m certainly glad I read it and highly recommend it to you too.
And finally, the last book I read this year, Book #51, was…
A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh
I told you last month that I was done reading Christmas books for the year (I like to read and review them in November and then move on in December), but so many of you encouraged me to “read one more”, so I did.
And you know what?
I should have stopped while I was ahead. I LOVED the Christmas books I read in November, but this last book was just “okay”. Believe it or not, this one was “too Hallmark” for even me. Shocking, I know!
Here’s a recap: man and woman knew each other as teens and now have to drive cross-country together from California back to their hometown where he (of course) is her brother’s best friend. I bet you all know the rest of the story 😉 . My biggest complaint is that it wasn’t that Christmas-y. It was kind of Christmas-y but not not really enough to warrant me reading it. It’s very light, very PG, very okay…not bad, just not great.
And that was the last book I read this year 🙂 .
Just to recap, here is what I read in 2023…
2023 Reads…
(Just click on the month to read my review.)
JANUARY
It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt
My Hygge Home by Meik Wiking
Spare by Prince Harry
FEBRUARY
The Husbands by Chandler Baker
(not quite) Mastering the Art of French Living by Mark Greenside
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Bad Mormon by Heather Gay
MARCH
Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins
Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore
The Layover by Lacie Waldo
Chez Moi: Decorating Your Home and Living Like a Parisienne by Sarah Lavoine
APRIL
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
MAY
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
All the Days of Summer by Nancy Thayer
JUNE
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
The Magic of Sea Glass by Jenny Hale
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
JULY
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick
A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristan Higgins
The French Art of Living Well by Cathy Yandell
The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Willilams
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
AUGUST
The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine
The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum
The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey
SEPTEMBER
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Thirty Chic Days Vol 3 by Fiona Ferris
Maame by Jessica George
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
OCTOBER
Tom Lake by Ann Pachett
Magnolia Parks by Jesse Hastings
Feeding the Mouth That Bites You by Kenneth Willis
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
NOVEMBER
The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey
DECEMBER
Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan
A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh
Every year, I name MY TOP THREE BOOKS, and as silly as it sounds, I think about that every single time I pick up a book. I’m always wondering if it’s “the one”, and I get so excited when the bar raises and a new book comes up into my TOP THREE.
Below is a list of all of my TOP THREE books from years past.
I still stand by each and every one of these, and whichever ones you haven’t already read, please do so in 2024. These are all AMAZING books…
Here is a list of all of my other FAVORITE BOOKS of the year:
2014
#1: What Remains by Carol Radziwill
2015
#1: Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist
#2: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
2016
#1: Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn Dingman
#2: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
#3: A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
2017
#1: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
#2: Unstuffed by Ruth Soukup
#3: The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams
2018
#1: My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
#2: Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge
#3: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
2019
#1: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
#2: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
#3: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
2020
#1: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
#2: Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
#3: In Five Years by Rebecca Searle
2021
#1: Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
#2: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
#3: Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
2022 (I had a TOP FIVE this year!)
#1:Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
#2: Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
#3: Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
#4: Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan
#5: The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
You guys, above is an incredible batch of books! (And very diverse too!) You could simply spend all year reading through this list right here.
That being said…
So…big moment now, what are my TOP THREE BOOKS FOR 2023?!
Believe it or not, I think this might be the easiest year for me to select my TOP THREE. I knew instantly when I finished all three that they deserved top billing.
READY, SET, HERE WE GO…
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
An easy YES for me. You can (and should!) read my REVIEW ON THIS BOOK from September, but I could not put this novel down.
This fictional story of two writers (one deceased!) is twisty, surprising, unexpected and oh so memorable. I was sucked in immediately. I had no idea where it was going, no idea who I was pulling for, no idea if I was rooting for or against the main character…I was delightfully confused the entire time. This novel is like a rollercoaster and as soon as it finished I wanted to ride it again. Unfortunately, I will not remember all of the books I read this year, but I will FOR SURE always remember this one. It’s good, y’all. It’s so good.
Read my full review of it HERE!
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
Yes, yes, YES!!!!!
Friends, Erika recommended this book to me over the summer because she could not put it down, and the minute I started it, I understood why.
This book is hard.
It’s hard, and it’s ugly, and I sobbed my eyes out several times while reading it, but it is SO GOOD!
If you like historical fiction, you will love this book. If you’re like me and *think* you don’t love historical fiction, I promise you, you will love this one. It’s so beautifully written and is guaranteed to rip your heart out and then sew it back together. I get chills just thinking about this story. It truly is beautiful.
Make sure you read my full review of it HERE for more specifics on this book and why I loved it, but you guys, I’m pretty shocked it’s my #2 because it was that good.
What could top Only the Beautiful?
Coincidentally, it was the very book I read right before it.
She did it again…
The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer
Hands down.
In 2019, Rimmer’s novel The Things We Cannot Say was my #1 book of the year, and now, she’s done it for a second time with her latest novel The Paris Agent .
I could not put this book down, and the minute it was over, I typed BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR in my notes in my phone and besides the #2 book above, no other book ever even came close to this one.
This is another historical fiction book but this time, it’s about several different British secret agents in France during the height of WWII and how their stories are woven together. Agh, it’s so good! I’m actually sad that I will never get to read it again “as new”. I’m so jealous of all of you who are about to embark on this journey because you will be sucked right on in. These stories are based on real people. Real heroes from WWII. It’s gripping, it’s tragic, it’s so suspenseful. It is just FULL of action and trust me, you will be holding your breath throughout.
Please, please, please read my full review of it HERE, and then go and READ IT!! I always love my #1 books, but I am extra, extra excited about this one.
Whew!
And we are done with another year in reading together!!
Don’t forget…
To see the complete list of books I read in 2015 (all 63 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2016 (all 62 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2017 (all 62 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2018 (all 61 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2019 (all 54 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2020 (all 54 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2021 (all 59 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2022 (all 60 of them), click here.
Thank you, thank you, thank YOU for reading with me this year! I truly would not have read 95% of these books if it hadn’t of been for your recommendations. YOU GUYS make sure I read the best books, and I am extremely grateful. Two things before we wrap up our day…
#1: We are going to have a monthly book club in 2024! You asked, so I’m going to do it. Details to come in January, but we will be doing a book club together, so I hope many of you join!
#2: I need new recommendations! Please comment and tell me WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK IN 2023? I would love to know!
I am so thankful for this community! Happy happy happy BOOK DAY!!! XX
Susan Jeffries says
Thank you for you book reviews! I always love them!! Only the Beautiful will make my top 5 this year too! I am excited for a new year filled with new books!
Kat says
Only The Beautiful was my #2 too!
I haven’t read The Paris Agent yet!
Eileen says
My top 5 books are:
#5 – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
#4 – Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
#3 – Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
#2 – The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
#1 – Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
Erika Slaughter says
YAYYYY!!! That book will stick with me forever as well! Shanna recommended it to me and she did oh, so good!
Brianne says
I couldn’t put The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros down. So so good.
Taylor says
Someone else’s shoes by jojo Moyes really surprised me this year. It was one of my favorite books that I read!
I can’t wait for book club!! Yay!
Kit says
LOVED this one too!!
Elspeth says
This is one of my favorite posts of the year! U always get so many great suggestions from you!! Thank you!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Becky says
I double-checked my Good Reads account, and these were some of my favorites from 2023: Maybe Next Time, Happiness Falls, None of this is True, The Paris Daughter, The Five- Star Weekend, The Family Remains, One True Loves, Local Woman Missing, Eleanor Oliphant is Complete Fine,
Kelly Marie Sites says
I LOVE to read and read about 90 books a year. This year I read the Brittney Spears memoir- because I got sucked into to wanting to know about her life. And it was horribly written, but also sad about how messed up her life was and is. I wouldn’t choose fame for all the money in the world. It rots people from the inside out. I also read Matthew Perry’s book after he passed away, and again, deeply sad about his struggles and life. I seriously pray for people after I read their messed up memoirs. My favorite books of the year were Lessons in Chemistry and Hello Beautiful. LOVE LOVE LOVE And I loved Apple TV – Lessons in Chemistry. Super good.
Kit says
Hello Beautiful was AMAZING!
Kelly Marie Sites says
PS- I’m super excited and pre-ordered Kristen Hannah’s book The Women which comes out in the new year. She never lets me down. I suggest The Nightingale if you haven’t read it.
Katie L says
Anything by Kristin Hannah is guaranteed to knock your socks off! My fave author!
Liz Barberio says
Yay!! I’m sooooo excited about Book Club !! You just made my very busy Thursday better. 🙂 Merry Christmas ! 🙂 🙂
Lyssy in the City says
One of my favorites this year was “For the Love of Friends” by Sara Goodman Confino. It is about a girl that starts a blog about the 5 weddings she is in. It is such a good rom-com that isn’t cheesy and just makes you happy reading it. I’m halfway through the Class Mom series too and I can never put those down.
Kelli says
LOVE, LOVE , LOVE this post each year! My favorite book of the year was Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I read it in January and nothing has come close to taking top place! Thanks for a wonderful year of reading. So much of what I read comes from your recs as well as your comment section!
Ashley T says
This year started off a little blah as my first couple of books that I read kind of fell flat. BUT, things turned around, and I read a couple of books that I absolutely loved! In no particular order here they are: Heart Bones (by Colleen Hoover), The Writing Desk (by Rachel Hauck), The Newcomer (by Mary Kay Andrews), Scent of Magnolia (by Ashley Farley) and my FAVORITE book of 2023 was The Other Woman (by Sandie Jones). All I can say is WOW! The Other Woman has you thinking one thing all along and then bam! The last couple pages leave you speechless and saying- that was amazing! Thank you for your book reviews, Shay! I love reading them every month and look forward to a great reading year in 2024!
Kristin says
I can’t ever pick a favorite but, looking through my list from the year, I loved We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman, A Quiet Life by Joella, Goodnight Vitamin by King, Kitchens of the Great Midwest and The Lager Queen of Minnesota, both by Ryan Stradal, Small Things Like These by Keegan, The Last Devil to Die (part of a series) by Richard Osman, Tom Lake (I know!), & the History of Love by Krauss. I struggled through Yellowface because I despised the main character, but have you heard about the similar drama happening in the publishing world right now? My daughter is a librarian, and she told me that an author made up fake Goodreads accounts to give bad reviews to other books (I think mainly from her publisher). She’s lost her book deal and her agent. Kuang wasn’t kidding when she said that Yellowface had some truth in it.
Ellen says
I haven’t read Yellowface, but I heard about this story. I also read “The Plot” this year, which is also about the twisted world of publishing.
Kerry O says
I love that you’ve decided to do a monthly book club, Have you ever read any books by Frieda McFadden? She’s my new favorite author. You think you know something, and then you don’t! 🙂
Brooke says
She’s AMAZING!! I read The Housemaid, and I’ve completely gone down the Freida McFadden rabbit hole!
Becky Carl says
Me too! And so many of Freida’s books are free on Prime Reading. I think I’m on my 6th one this year.
Savannah says
The Wishing Game is sooooo good! You have to add it to your list to read in 2024! ⭐️📚🫶🏻
Michele Daggar says
This might be controversial, but I could not get through Lessons in Chemistry, I just wasn’t invested in the story, didn’t finish the book. I also didn’t finish Tom Lake, soooo boring!!! My favorite post of the year is your book post!
Dana J says
I totally agree with you on Lessons in Chemistry! I rarely don’t finish a book but this one I knew early on it wasn’t for me so I stopped reading it! I may try to watch the limited series but the book I could not finish!
Jen says
I couldn’t finish Lesson in Chemistry either, that never happens to me.
SS says
I finished it but it was awful. So agenda driven. We get it. You hate God and men. And she was so mean to her boyfriend not quite husband. Not very likable. I don’t get the hype at all. Three bosses try to rape you – really? I mean – come on…
Lindsey says
Love this post!! I too could not get into Fourth Wing. I actually DNF’ed it around page 80. Thrillers are my top genre and I loved Flicker in the Dark and None of This is True! Other favorites this year were Evelyn Hugo and The Invisible Life of Addie Larue! Such a beautiful book!
Leticia says
I could not put down The Invisible Life of Addie Larue!
Robin Waibel says
These books are all favorites that I read this year:
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
The Storyteller by David Grohl (try this memoir– it was amazing)
Nora Goes Off Script – Annabel Monaghan
The Collected Regrets of Clover – Mikki Brammer
Someone Else’s Shoes – JoJo Moyes
****My top book of the year – The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese I never in a million years thought I would love this one as much as I did. It is possibly the most beautifully written book I have ever read.
Shanna Thompson says
Covenant of Water will forever be my most favorite book. My txt to Shay after I finished it “I’ve never had a book make me feel the way it did and left me totally breathless”. Such a beautiful book!
Kelly Marie Sites says
Nora Goes Off Script was an amazing surprise. I loved it.
Dina B. says
One hundred percent agree!!!!! The Covenant of Water was absolutely the best book I read in 2023. Such a beautifully written story. I loved so much about it. It is in my list of top stories I have ever read. So glad to see it here on someone’s list!
Sara Wolf says
Just here to +1 for Covenant of Water!
Megan says
My favorites of the year were.
Without Merit by Colleen Hoover
Thank Your for Listening by Julia Whelan
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Laci L Murray says
Great list of books! I always grab suggestions from your book recs and comments. Thank you!!
Steph says
Favorite books for 2023 – Happy Place by Emily Henry and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
Sarah Shaneyfelt says
Oooh very excited about a monthly book club! The House of Eve was probably my favorite book of the year–it’s a historical fiction and the author has quickly become one of my favorites. She wrote The Yellow Wife that I read last year and I could not stop talking about it–I also highly suggest reading it! It’s historical fiction and the content is tough but also so necessary because I learned so much about American history that I didn’t know!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
Leah says
Top 5 books of 2023:
5- Wellness
4- She Started It
3- The Last Beekeeper
2- The Collected Regrets of Clover
1- Yellowface
Kit says
This is just my FAVORITE post of the year!! And so excited for book club! Yes yes yes!! Merry Christmas, Shay!! And truly THANK YOU for the daily joy you bring! Xo
Kit says
PS some of my favorites this year: Hello Beautiful, Shark Heart, These Silent Woods, Remarkably Bright Creatures, Carrie Soto is Back, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic and (sorry lol) Tom Lake. I have tripled the amount of books I have read each year since you began inspiring me to read more!! My happy place!
Marcie Ward says
Thanks for sharing your book reads!! I think you should read Where the Lost Wander, by Amy Harmon! I LOVE many of her books, but this might be my favorite of hers.
Susan says
I’ve most of the books on your list, but here are some that you may not have read that I have enjoyed a lot:
1. Any of TJ Klune’s adult books (the synopsis may sound strange on some of them, but they are all extraordinary)
2. Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld (really fascinating alternative history)
3. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (reminds me of a post-apocalyptic Where the Crawdads Sing)
4. The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy by Megan Bannen (romance set in a macabre fantasy world- don’t let any of that deter you – it’s excellent and the world building and character development are fabulous)
5. Any book by Abby Jimenez- I’m a voracious romance reader, and she is a stand out. She will tackle topics that you typically won’t see in romance and her books are solid favorites. Fun fact – she owns a cupcake store in real life and has competed in cupcake challenges on Food Network.
Dana J says
Always love this post every year! My fave book of the year is West with Giraffes!! I highly recommend it to all!! I never thought when I started it that it would be my favorite but here we are! Every person I have recommended it to has also loved it!! Please read!! Now I’m off to go add your top 3 and other readers suggestions to my ever growing TBR list!!
Ellen says
That’s a quirky little book. 🙂 My book club read it … I am very glad, because I wouldn’t have picked it up on my own.
Kara says
SO excited for a book club with your community! 🙂
Elaine says
“Beyond That, The Sea” by Laura Spence-Ash was one of my top reads this year!
Maddie says
I’m currently reading Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan, and it’s SO good!! I feel like it’s one you might like! Also, I have The Sun Sets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe on my list to read next.
Kate says
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell and Hello, Molly by Molly Shannon were two of my favs this year!
Erin Hernandez says
So excited to add a few of these to my Christmas list! I am especially excited to read The Paris Agent as my great Aunt was one of the original WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) with the Navy during WWII. Her official title was Communications Specialist and Cryptographer. From her writings, we have learned that the women in these roles were required to carry their typewriters back and forth with them each day in locked cases due to the confidentiality of the messages they were producing. Thanks you for always pointing us in the right direction of great reads!
sandi says
That is so amazing! Whenever I read books from this genre (Code Name Helene, The Paris Agent, The Lost Vintage) it reminds me how resiliant the generations were that came before us. What a legacy to have her in your family tree!
Tera Knepp says
I love so many of the same books so I’m thankful for your book reviews! I’m finishing up book #54 for the year and it’s one of my faves already! It’s Lady Tran’s Circle of Women. (As a fellow China momma, the Chinese history in this is amazing.) The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post and Code Name Helene were also in my favorites this year. I’m excited to read The Paris Agent… gives me The Alice Network feels from the review. I love historical fiction but then need the easy, beach fun books mixed in.
Stephanie says
I absolutely loved Lady Trans! Definitely in my top 3 this year!!
Holly says
My overall favorites of the year –
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Station Eleven by Emily St. John
Favorite quick read suspense –
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Favorite rom com –
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Amy Ms. Azza says
Heck yes to a monthly book club! My only request is that you please have strict rules- you assign the book and we discuss it on a certain day, or however you want, BUT people do not get extra time to read a book.. if you want to be in the book club, you have to commit to read the book in the time allotted. We are all busy busy people.. read the darn book in time. That’s all. hehehehe.
Kary D says
My favorite post of the year! SO excited for your book club. My top 3 books of the year are Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan, The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, and Under the Stars by Laura Pavlov.
Tricia says
Fave two books of 2023: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley (by Courtney Walsh) and The Words We Lost (by Nicole Deese).
Sarah says
This came up last month but I do think you would enjoy “You With a View” by Jessica Joyce as a light, quick read that might not knock your socks off but should leave you with a warm feeling.
I’m finding my relationship with Fourth Wing to be complicated… I do like the concept. I’m blasting through it faster than I’ve done with a book in a long time, so it’s certainly grabbing my attention. But I’m finding that the concept in general is better than the execution. The rated R parts are excessive and honestly unnecessary. Some of the relationship beats feel very repetitive. I don’t know, I simultaneously couldn’t put it down and was also super annoyed by it.
If I had to recommend an out of the box book that might not be on anyone’s radar I would always go back to 11/22/63. It’s been around a really long time but if anyone skipped it because it’s a Steven king book and you don’t read that genre, this is a whole different thing and really worth the read (in my opinion).
Rebecca Wall says
I also loved The Paris Agent and Only The Beautiful! Just finished The Only One Left by Riley Sager and it was UNPUTDOWNABLE!!!! So good!!!!
MelanieL says
Awe, one of my favorite posts of the year. I will always credit YOU for encouraging me to read my first book in 2019! I agree with you, reading is a comfort. Now, if I could only get excited/influenced/encouraged by your fitness routine LOL. 🙂
Kathryn says
Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri- I loved his writing! It’s a memoir about a young boy living with his family in Iran but his world gets turned upside down and becomes a refugee living in Oklahoma. It’s YL but something all ages will love.
LE says
You have to read How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key! All of my friends have read it in two days max! The most honest look into marriage! He uses humor to get through the most difficult circumstances! I always read your top 3 over Christmas! Can’t wait!
Bridget says
Favorites of the year: A Girl Called Samson, Truths I Never Told You, Rough Draft (Katy Tur)
Dawn Crawford says
I’m an audio book “reader” and of the 32 books I’ve listened to this year my favorites are Hello Beautiful and The Dutch House. Both were great!! I also just listened to My Oxford Year and loved that one too!!
HF says
”Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”, ”The mountains sing” and ”The brief wonderous life of Oscar Wao” are my top three this year!
Colleen T says
Please add this to your holiday list for next year, I just finished it and absolutely loved it. I just know you will enjoy it. And for anyone still looking for a holiday book, this is a new take on Scrooge, which is hard to do. The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand. I just came across it trying to find a holiday book that wasn’t too hallmarky but also in the holiday spirit. Fantastic!
Some favorites of the year: Look for Jane by Heather Marshall, Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand, Deliah Green Doesn’t Care, The Last Bookshop of London, The Things We Cannot Say fastastic.
Cindy Shook says
You need to read Karen Kingsbury’s Just Once! It’s so so good!
Allyson says
So excited about your book club. Love when you and Erika did it before! This year I really enjoyed Jinger Duggar Vuolo’s book and Jill Duggar’s book. Both very different, but good reads! My favorite book of the year was probably The Surrogate Mother by Frieda McFadden. Her books are excellent, I remember not being able to go to bed without finishing it!
Margaret says
Yay for book club together! Cant wait to hear about it. I just counted and read 51 books this year too – hoping to get 1 or 2 more in before dec31st. Thanks for sharing your love of reading!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jenny Wirl says
I love your book reviews each month, especially this one for the year (even if I don’t always agree, I loved Fourth Wing)! Regarding Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan, she is not only an author but a prolific audiobook narrator herself. You said you didn’t know much about that industry, so thought that would be a fun fact! I listened to that book, which was fun since she wrote it and narrated it!
Mix and Match Mama says
I had no idea! That’s an extra fun layer to the story! Thank you, thank you!
Heather says
Yes! I love listening to audiobooks read by Julia!
Taylor Henson says
I was also going to say this! She’s my favorite narrator, hands down!
Toni :0) says
You like chick lit so I highly recommend anything by Viola Shipman!! My FAVORITE author!! They are heartwarming and are very sweet books. They even have Michigan references which are fun since you lived here for a short time. Go pick one up soon!! ☺️
Courtney says
Stop what you’re doing and download The Measure by Nikki Erlick right now if you haven’t read it! I promise you will not stop thinking about this one. It will stay with you. You will have conversations around your dinner table about it, you will recommend it to friends just so you can talk about it together, It. Is. Fascinating! Must read!
Kristen says
I LOVED The Measure – so thought provoking and would be a great book club discussion book. Basically asks the question of how you would live your life if you how long you’d live. I also loved The Paris Daughter and The Winemaker’s Wife.
Renee says
My favorite this year was The Personal Librarian.
Jess Wade says
Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties = was so good. I was skeptical but after a couple friends told me it was so interesting they couldn’t put it down…I had to read it.
Nicole says
I rarely give books 5 stars, but did so for Only the Beautiful and Things We Cannot Say. I completely agree with your reviews and so feel confident you would love Charles Martin’s Water From The Heart. I easily gave it 5 stars and think you would love it as well. Thank you for your reviews and will look forward to book club!!!
Sheaffer says
Welp, I guess I’ve never found the right book.
Kristen says
Please read Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez! You’ll LOVE it! And it’s a very fast, easy read!
Rebecca says
Remarkably Bright Creatures was my favorite book this year! Thank you for your reviews. Julia Whelan is a treasure.
Heather says
I get at least 90% of my books from your recommendations so I don’t often have anything to recommend, but I just finished The Lost Apothecary and I think you would love it. It takes place in London and goes back and forth between present day and back in the 1700s! It was so good!
Taylor Henson says
I loved The Lost Apothecary! So underrated!
Laura says
Thank you for another year of books! This is my favorite post of the year and I always look forward to this every December. 2023 really wasn’t the best year for me in terms of books. I read a lot and this year was just ok. This month I did read a few that were better – Happiness Falls which was an interesting read. i also read Only the Beautiful which I liked a lot. I’m reading Coronation Year (by the author who wrote The Gown) and so far I’m really enjoying it. Can’t wait for book club 🙂
Sarah says
I love that you picked two historical fiction books. It’s my favorite genre! I don’t remember you mentioning any Ruta Sepetys books, but she’s an amazing storyteller. Fountains of Silence and I Must Betray You are both so good. Great stories and interesting history too!
Ellen says
I Must Betray You was an excellent read!
Jill says
Hi Shay- I have never commented on here before, but I wanted to share with you one of my most FAVORITE books of all time with you. I purchased it several years ago at Costco because it looked like a good read. Well, it was SOOOO good. OMG, just thinking about it gets me excited! As a travel lover, you will probably love it too. It’s called A TRAIN TO POTEVKA by Mike Ramsdell. In a nutshell, it’s the true story of an American intelligence agent traveling thru Russia. There is suspense, amazing stories, survival, love, etc. PLEASE look it up on Amazon or wherever you can find it. It’s so, so good!!!!
Tiffany says
Love your last book post of the year!
My favorites of 2023 were
-Solito
-West with Giraffes
– We Begin at the End
& -All the Broken Places (which is like a sequel to Boy I. The Striped Pajamas, if you ever read that)
Jennifer Martin says
Never Lie by Freida McFadden was such a good read. I read it in two sittings.
Lizzie says
I really enjoyed this year Hello Beautiful and Black Cake!
Haley says
Love your book posts, and especially love the comment section! I always read with my library and/or amazon account pulled up to add things in as I go through them! Since you love memoirs, I recommend Viola Davis’ one called Finding Me. So powerful and good- I had no idea she had such a story. Like many others, my favorites this year were Hello Beautiful and The Covenant of Water. I also loved Project Hail Mary. It’s sci-fi (not usually a fan of this genre) but just wonderful. I think it’s coming out as a movie and Ryan Gosling will star in it!
Danielle says
I enjoyed The Wishing Game, With Love from London, and The Perfumist of Paris- 3rd in a series by Alka Joshi. All of the books were great, but you should start with The Henna Artist. Another series I think you would love and I know has been recommended by several people (including me) is The Thursday Murder Club. It has everything you would like in a book- set in England, lovable characters, mystery, and humor. Looking forward to your book club next year!
Deb says
I read many of the books you review and somehow I haven’t read your top 3! Enjoy the holidays with the family
Sarah Grant says
Demon Cooperhead by Barbara Kingsolver! Best book of the year.
Julie Johansson says
Shay, have you read House in the Cerulean Sea? It’s one of my favorites I read this year!
Jennifer says
My Top 4 in no particular order but all from different genres. I didn’t have a stand out thriller book this year so looking forward to reading some of the suggestions here.
The Magnificent Life of Marjorie Post (Historical Fiction)
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar (Autobiography)
When in Rome (RomCom)
Miss Newburys Lost (Historial Romance)
Taylor Henson says
I can’t wait for 2024 Book Club! I started reading again in 2019 because of you! And I read 85 books this year!
My favorites were (in no particular order):
Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir. The “science” in this is not overwhelming or hard to understand. I enjoyed every second of this book! Cant remember if you’ve read this one or not.
What Lies In The Woods – Kate Alice Marshall. Thriller but not scary.
These Silent Woods – Kimi Cunningham Grant. Ultimate definition of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. It’s not scary at all or a thriller even. A much, much shorter “The Great Alone”.
The House In the Cerulean Sea – this is more young adult but it was SO sweet.
The Nightingale 😭
Fourth Wing 😍
Ellen says
Have you read A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner? Great book!
Kenzie says
Bring Down the Stars by Emma Scott — fantastic narrators for the audio book
Paula N says
Thanks so much Shay! I just added several of these to my Kindle, and now I know I will be losing sleep, reading into the night. Ha! I’m so stoked about doing a book club with you and your people!! Have a very Merry Christmas…see ya next year!
Emily Nix says
I’m so excited about your book club! I just published my debut novel in July and I think it matches your book tastes, while also thought provoking (perfect for a book club!). I’d love to sponsor one if you’d be into supporting an indie author. It’s called This Life of Mine.
Mix and Match Mama says
Congratulations!!! I honestly haven’t even gotten that far along to consider sponsored books or not, but please, please continue to share your book title with my audience in blog comments. We will read it!! We love supporting each other! xx
Danielle says
I loved all of Sara Goodman Confino’s book this year. Don’t Forget to Write was probably my favorite. Love along with some funny 50’s Jewish women humor had me hooked.
Alysha says
I read 56 books this year and fourth wing was my favorite. 😅 It also launched me back into reading fantasy. I can see how it wouldnt be for everyone though.
Laurie says
Shay, this is my favourite post of the year too! We do a Christmas gift exchange in my family – one new book, one book you loved to re-gift and a treat. This post comes out just in time for me to gift your #1 book and it never disappoints ☺️
Katie Smith says
Weyward was my #1 for 2023. I loved every minute of it!
Kimberly Waller says
I have just finished The Covenant of Water and The Paris Daughter and highly recommend both of them!
Amber Brake says
My favorite book I have ever read is The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain.
Lauren says
Demon Copperhead and The Nature of Fragile Things