Greg Barlin
The Best Books of 2023
A running tally of my "Best Books of 2023", updated each time I finish a book throughout the year.
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Greg Barlin
Dec 22, 20234 min read
All the Sinners Bleed (#1 of 2023)
★★★★★ Another tightly crafted Southern Noir novel from Cosby packed with social commentary and memorable characters. Possibly his best yet.
1130
Greg Barlin
Dec 21, 20234 min read
The Covenant of Water (#2 of 2023)
★★★★★ It's long, but it's also a brilliant tour de force, presenting a multi-generational character study spanning nearly 80 years in India.
850
Greg Barlin
Dec 20, 20233 min read
Chain-Gang All-Stars (#3 of 2023)
★★★★★ Set in a near-future society that feels all too possible, prisoners fight in gladiatorial death matches for a chance at freedom.
290
Greg Barlin
Dec 19, 20233 min read
Small Mercies (#4 of 2023)
★★★★★ A masterful book, Lehane's best since Mystic River, set against the racial tensions of Boston school busing during the summer of '74.
530
Greg Barlin
Dec 18, 20234 min read
Still Life (#5 of 2023)
★★★★★ A beautifully written character study of a cast of memorable souls that spans 30 years from the end of World War II until the mid-70s.
480
Greg Barlin
Dec 17, 20234 min read
Fourth Wing (#6 of 2023)
★★★★★ Perhaps the most-hyped book of 2023 lives up to it, as we follow the journey of a young girl as she attempts to become a dragon rider.
620
Greg Barlin
Dec 16, 20233 min read
Rubicon (#7 of 2023)
★★★★★ A stand-alone novel unrelated to her "Divide" series, author Dewes elegantly explores immortality, AI, and what it means to be human.
410
Greg Barlin
Dec 15, 20235 min read
Starling House (#8 of 2023)
★★★★★ Harrow returns to top form with a genre-blending story of a young woman trying to scrape by in a town haunted by its past and secrets.
260
Greg Barlin
Dec 14, 20233 min read
Exiles (#9 of 2023)
★★★★★ A stellar offering from author Harper about a missing woman and a history of complicated relationships among friends in a small town.
580
Greg Barlin
Dec 13, 20233 min read
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (#10 of 2023)
★★★★★ Both entertaining and helpful, Duckworth systematically lays out a plethora of evidence for why passion + perseverance = success.
430
Greg Barlin
Dec 11, 20233 min read
The Future
★★★★☆ Filled as much with philosophy and social commentary as with plot, Alderman envisions a near-future society rocketing toward disaster.
110
Greg Barlin
Dec 9, 20233 min read
Fear Is Just A Word
★★★★★ When a young woman goes missing, kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, her mother makes it her life's mission to bring them to justice.
160
Greg Barlin
Dec 7, 20233 min read
The Art Thief
★★★★★ A thoroughly researched examination of the exploits of Stéphane Breitwieser, the most prolific art thief the world has ever known.
220
Greg Barlin
Dec 3, 20232 min read
The Woman In Me
★★★☆☆ A memoir of a life lived in the public eye, but it fails to add enough depth to those public moments that we already know so well.
90
Greg Barlin
Dec 2, 20232 min read
The Berry Pickers
★★★★☆ A decent but unremarkable debut about a young girl's disappearance, its impact on her family, and ultimately their path to reuniting.
100
Greg Barlin
Dec 1, 20233 min read
The Spy Coast
★★★★☆ Another story about retirement-age spies? You better believe it! It doesn't quite match up to Killers of a Certain Age, but it's close
150
Greg Barlin
Nov 27, 20233 min read
Again and Again
★★★★☆ A 105-year-old man shares seemingly true stories of his multiple reincarnations and past lives. But is he making everything up?
120
Greg Barlin
Nov 23, 20234 min read
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
★★★★☆ Set in the 1930s, an expansive cast from the Black and Jewish section of Pottstown, PA come together to rally around a common cause.
130
Greg Barlin
Nov 20, 20233 min read
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
★★★☆☆ The semi-autobiographical account of the author's childhood, focused on him leaving the reservation to attend a white high school.
40
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