2023 was another tremendous year of reading for me. With 19 (out of 58) books achieving a full 5-stars, there was a lot of good across a number of different genres. So, without further ado, here are my Top 10 Books of 2023 (plus everything else, in ranked order).
#1 - All the Sinners Bleed
by S.A. Cosby ★★★★★
Every year he’s had a book out, Cosby has finished in my Top 5, and 2023 is no different. He’s the first two-time “Best Book” winner (following 2020’s Blacktop Wasteland), and I think among his books to date, this is likely his best. Like Cosby's previous two novels, All the Sinners Bleed is set in the rural counties of eastern Virginia, this time in the fictional county of Charon. The county is small and most residents spend their entire lives there. As a result, there are few strangers among them. The novel's main protagonist, Sheriff Titus Crown, was one of the few to make it out of Charon. After college at UVA and a masters from Columbia, Titus spent time with the FBI before a difficult case and his father's ailing health brought him back to the county of his birth. He chose to run for sheriff, narrowly won, and now attempts to keep the peace as the first Black man in that seat, overseeing a county in the south that, despite electing him, hasn't fully accepted someone who looks like him holding that position.
The novel opens with what has become all too common these days: a school shooting. A beloved teacher is murdered, and the gunman is killed by Titus's deputies before he can be disarmed. The investigation into the school shooting is what opens up the main plot and mystery of the story. The teacher, the gunman, and a third man who Titus starts to think of as "The Last Wolf" were engaged in abhorrent behavior involving the children of Charon. Two are dead, but one still prowls, and Sheriff Crown makes it his personal mission to find and stop The Last Wolf.
While Cosby doesn’t go into graphic detail, there is enough violence and disturbing imagery that this could be a tough read for some. But I thought Cosby deftly handled some difficult material, making the descriptions of crimes abhorrent without being gratuitous. For someone who has written previously from the point of view of criminals, it was refreshing to see him tackle the story from the point of view of a police officer, and a Black one at that. There’s a ton of layered tension throughout the novel; it’s tightly plotted, the characters have depth, and it was thoroughly satisfying. Across everything I read in 2023, this checked the most boxes, and for that reason it takes this year’s crown.
#2 - The Covenant of Water
by Abraham Verghese ★★★★★
If you only click on one link among those in this post, might I humbly recommend this one? It’s the review I wrote this year that I’m most proud of, and it still holds the top spot on Amazon. The novel, overall, was also one of the hardest to review. It is long (776 pages), it spans nearly 80 years, and takes place in Southern India. It was not the novel I liked the most -- it was slow at times, and seemed to drag on forever -- but it was the novel for which I have the most respect. By the time I finished, I was able to step back, evaluate it as a whole, and appreciate the craftsmanship the Verghese employed to create such a massive layered story.
#3 - Chain-Gang All-Stars
by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah ★★★★★
Set in a near-future society that feels all too real, criminals with at least a 25-year prison sentence are offered a choice: instead of serving their full sentence, they can voluntarily participate in the "Criminal Action Penal Entertainment" program ("CAPE", for short), which requires them to fight to the death in regular televised gladiatorial matches. If they survive three years, they "may be granted clemency, commutation of sentence, or a full pardon." Prisoners who elect to fight as part of CAPE become "Links" in a "Chain", associated with a prison or group of prisons. They travel and fight as a group, and the best of them are celebrated in the #1 entertainment property of the land, the Chain-Gang All-Stars.
It’s a scathing look at the U.S. prison system, and Adjei-Brenyah blends actual cases and real-life events with his imagined world, giving the entire novel a feel of near-reality. It's violent, it's heartbreaking, and it's poignant. It's not the most beautifully written novel I've come across this year, but it is the one that is perhaps most packed with creativity. The plotting is excellent, and the delivery of the author's underlying point is blunt but powerful. There are characters and situations in this novel that I will remember for a very long time, and it has kept me thinking about it for days since I finished reading. As such, it has continued to creep up the rankings before finally settling in this spot.
#4 - Small Mercies
by Dennis Lehane ★★★★★
If I haven’t read everything that Lehane has written, I’ve gotten awfully close, and I believe Small Mercies to be his best since Mystic River more than 20 years ago. It is set in Boston (like so many of his books), this time during the summer of 1974. The city has just announced that the schools will integrate in the fall, with students bused between neighborhoods, and the city is a tinderbox of racial tension. The main protagonist (also a candidate for “character of the year”) is Mary Pat Fennessey, a single mother working multiple jobs to try to support her family. When a young Black man, Auggie Williamson, is found dead on the train tracks in Southie, Mary Pat doesn't think much of it. But when her daughter Jules doesn't come home after being out that same night, Mary Pat starts to worry and ask around. And, it turns out, there are people who don't want her asking questions about Jules, or about the night Auggie Williamson died.
#5 - Still Life
by Sarah Winman ★★★★★
Perhaps the most beautifully written novel I read this year, at least in terms of its richness of character development. Beginning in 1944, it focuses on main character Ulysses Temper, a soldier who returns home to London following World War II, and all of the people in his orbit. This was Stephanie Barlin's favorite book this year, and the beautiful writing and wittiness evoked memories of the Count in A Gentleman in Moscow (another Stephanie favorite). There are two flaws -- a so-so section near the end of the book is one, and Winman’s refusal to use quotation marks (which, frankly, was mildly infuriating) is the other. Had those flaws not been present, I would have rated this even higher. Aside from that, it’s a great read; it featured my favorite character of 2023 (Claude, the large Amazonian parrot who accompanies our cast) and a series of heartwarming moments that will stick with you.
#6 - Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros ★★★★★
Perhaps the buzziest book of 2023 actually lived up to the hype -- it’s really good! A fantasy (or, perhaps, a new genre that is emerging called “romantasy”, Fourth Wing is set at Basgiath War College in the mythical land of Navarre. It opens on Conscription Day, where thousands of twenty-year-olds assemble to take their place among the healers, scribes, or infantry. The most elite of them try to join the most selective branch and become dragon riders.
The novel is packed with a ton of genre-bending elements. There is the basic plot -- Violet's unlikely journey through her first year at Basgiath War College -- which stirred up memories of one of my all-time favorite books, Pat Conroy's The Lords of Discipline, based on Conroy's first year at The Citadel military college. There are dragons and dragon riders, which of course evokes memories of plenty of fantasy novels, with Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series top of mind. And then there's some romance, and a potential love triangle, which starts out feeling like something from a YA novel, but ends up a lot more R-rated and steamy, and more akin to what you might find in a novel with Fabio on the cover. Add to this a nuanced backstory and some misdirection on who the reader should trust and believe, and Fourth Wing truly has something for everyone.
The follow-up, Iron Flame, is also already out, with Yarros immediately capitalizing on the fervor and buzz around Book 1. I’m saving that one for 2024 -- we’ll see if it makes this list next year!
#7 - Rubicon
by J.S. Dewes ★★★★★
I see a trend emerging: this is the year of great books by authors I have enjoyed in the past. Dewes did not take home the top spot, but she did place two books in the Top Books of 2021 (The Last Watch and its sequel The Exiled Fleet). When I saw there was a new Dewes book in 2023, I just assumed it was Book 3 in the series, but this is a stand-alone novel wholly unrelated to her previous books. Rubicon is set at some point in the future, with the human race (or an equivalent approximation) embroiled in a prolonged conflict with a race of sentient machines they refer to as "Mechan". With humanity's home planet on the brink of being uninhabitable, they are actively trying to colonize space.
The story centers on one such scout for those colonization efforts, a soldier named Adriene Valero. Valero has the dubious distinction of being "rezoned" 96 times. What's a "rezone"? Four years prior, humans had finally perfected the technology to allow them to "rezone" into a new "husk" (body) upon their death, essentially creating immortality for these soldiers. While you might think that it would be the greatest invention in the history of humankind, in many ways it's had the opposite effect. Rezoning is a pretty horrible process that takes its toll on a person, and while it's a nice safety net, no one looks forward to it.
It’s interesting, it’s timely (AI and the potential for it to overreach plays a significant role), and one that I’m still thinking about months after having read it.
#8 - Starling House
by Alix E. Harrow ★★★★★
Another previous “Best Book of the Year” author for me (for her 2019 novel The Ten Thousand Doors of January), Harrow returns to form with this one about an orphaned young woman scraping by in a deadbeat Kentucky town, trying everything she can to provide a life that allows her younger brother to have a better future. Like with her other books, Harrow blends some fantasy and mystical elements into the story (without it feeling too divorced from reality), but it’s a genre-blending novel that’s hard to categorize. The writing is precise, and there are dozens of turns of phrase in Starling House that make me envious of Harrow’s ability as a writer. This one did not disappoint.
#9 - Exiles
by Jane Harper ★★★★★
Ever since Harper’s debut novel The Dry (my favorite book of 2017), I have been on the pre-order bandwagon for anything she writes. They haven’t all been 5-star masterpieces, but she gets it right this time, with a double mystery about a present-day disappearance paired with a cold case from six years prior. Aaron Falk, her protagonist from The Dry, returns in this one, and it’s a really solid mystery that kept me guessing until the end.
#10 - Grit
by Angela Duckworth ★★★★★
Grit is not a new book, but it was new to me this year, and it was one of those that just resonated completely. Duckworth systematically lays out a plethora of evidence for why passion + perseverance = success, and does so in a way that is both entertaining and helpful.
#11 - Ordinary Grace
by William Kent Krueger ★★★★★
So close! Ordinary Grace just missed out on a Top 10 slot despite being in the Top 10 for much of the year. This 1961 coming-of-age story, about a boy in rural Minnesota who is forced to deal with tragedy as he navigates his path to manhood, was one I really enjoyed.
#12 - Only If You're Lucky
by Stacy Willingham ★★★★★
One of the few ARCs I received this year, Only If You're Lucky will be released in January 2024. A story of a four tight knit girls at a small college turns dark when it seems they might have been involved with a frat boy's death. This is Willingham's best yet.
#13 - Happy Place
by Emily Henry ★★★★★
An exploration of relationships and friendships in Henry's most mature offering yet, centered on a week-long vacation in Maine.
#14 - The Battle Drum
by Saraa El-Arifi ★★★★★
El-Arifi builds on her stellar debut The Final Strife (my #3 book of 2022), and does so both ambitiously and successfully.
#15 - Mad Honey
by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan ★★★★★
It's a love story and a legal thriller, but its authors' deft handling of many tough subjects is what elevates this novel even more.
#16 - Wrong Place, Wrong Time
by Gillian McAllister ★★★★★
A mother sees her son commit a murder, and must find out why while stuck in a backwards time loop. Sounds weird, but it works well!
#17 - Fear Is Just A Word
by Azam Ahmed ★★★★★
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.
#18 - Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond
by Henry Winkler ★★★★★
An honest autobiographical account of a showbiz life, infused with humor, self-deprecation and a joie de vivre oozing from every page.
#19 - The Art Thief
by Michael Finkel ★★★★★
A thoroughly researched examination of the exploits of Stéphane Breitwieser, the most prolific art thief the world has ever known.
#20 - Age of Vice
by Deepti Kapoor ★★★★☆
Thinking this is going to be the "Indian Godfather" is setting your expectations way too high, but it's an intriguing character study.
#21 - The Lost Metal
by Brandon Sanderson ★★★★☆
A fitting and satisfying conclusion to what author Sanderson refers to as "Era Two" of his outstanding Mistborn series.
#22 - The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
by James McBride ★★★★☆
Set in the 1930s, an expansive cast from the Black and Jewish section of Pottstown, PA come together to rally around a common cause.
#23 - In the Lives of Puppets
by TJ Klune ★★★★☆
A sometimes dark exploration of a world where humans and sentient machines coexist, balanced by Klune's trademark humor and heart.
#24 - Killers of a Certain Age
by Deanna Raybourn ★★★★☆
A well-executed (pun intended) novel about 4 female assassins in their 60s who must unretire when they are targeted by their agency.
#25 - B.F.F.
by Christie Tate ★★★★☆
Following up her excellent debut Group, Tate returns with another memoir, this time focusing on her struggles with female friendship.
#26 - The Future
by Naomi Alderman ★★★★☆
Filled as much with philosophy and social commentary as with plot, Alderman envisions a near-future society rocketing toward disaster.
#27 - Hello Beautiful
by Ann Napolitano ★★★★☆
Napolitano once again tugs at heartstrings by creating memorable characters who share moments of happiness amid plenty of tragedy.
#28 - All the Dangerous Things
by Stacy Willingham ★★★★☆
A distraught mother tries to solve the disappearance of her son a year later, only to realize the most likely suspect might be her.
#29 - Yellowface
by R.F. Kuang ★★★★☆
Societal commentary abounds in this story of a white author stealing the final manuscript of an Asian American author after her death.
#30 - The Spy Coast
by Tess Gerritsen ★★★★☆
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.
#31 - Antimatter Blues
by Edward Ashton ★★★★☆
The sequel to Mickey7 finds our hero once again trying to find a way to save the colony while somehow avoiding yet another death.
#32 - The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
by David Grann ★★★★☆
The author of Killers of the Flower Moon returns with an account of a shipwreck in the 1740s and the tale of survival that follows.
#33 - Happiness Falls
by Angie Kim ★★★★☆
A father goes missing, and his son knows what happened but cannot tell anyone due to a disability. Mostly satisfying, but with flaws.
#34 - Beach Read
by Emily Henry ★★★★☆
The book that launched Emily Henry's romance writing career! Despite a few clunky moments, Beach Read checks all of the romance boxes.
#35 - The Berry Pickers
by Amanda Peters ★★★★☆
A decent but unremarkable debut about a young girl's disappearance, its impact on her family, and ultimately their path to reuniting.
#36 - Solito
by Javier Zamora ★★★★☆
Zamora's memoir of immigrating from El Salvador to the U.S. as a 9-year-old is compelling but lacks some deeper emotional connections.
#37 - Weyward
by Emilia Hart ★★★★☆
Hart's tale of women finding their power through witchcraft is diluted by her one-dimensional portrayal of universally horrible men.
#38 - All That Is Mine I Carry With Me
by William Landay ★★★★☆
11 long years after Defending Jacob, Landay returns with another family-based mystery focused on the disappearance of a woman in 1975.
#39 - Carolina Moonset
by Matt Goldman ★★★★☆
When a prominent businessman is murdered, all clues point to the father of the story's protagonist, who has to prove his innocence.
#40 - The Escape Artist
by Jonathan Freedland ★★★★☆
A difficult (but important) read about one of the first Jews to escape from Auschwitz and alert the world to the atrocities there.
#41 - Again and Again
by Jonathan Evison ★★★★☆
A 105-year-old man shares seemingly true stories of his multiple reincarnations and past lives. But is he making everything up?
#42 - City of Dreams
by Don Winslow ★★★☆☆
The 2nd book in the Danny Ryan Trilogy fails to live up to the 1st, but it's a quick read if you want more time with the Dogtown crew.
#43 - Strange Sally Diamond
by Liz Nugent ★★★☆☆
Strange is an understated descriptor for the protagonist of this novel, which follows a woman as she tries to find her way to normalcy.
#44 - The Woman In Me
by Britney Spears ★★★☆☆
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.
#45 - Go As A River
by Shelley Read ★★★☆☆
A mostly tragic decades-spanning debut about a young woman dealing with adversity while growing up in rural Colorado circa 1950.
#46 - Mother-Daughter Murder Night
by Nina Simon ★★★☆☆
A so-so debut that follows the exploits of a grandmother, mother, and daughter as they work to solve a mystery on the California coast.
#47 - This Tender Land
by William Kent Krueger ★★★☆☆
Inflated expectations probably diminished my enjoyment of this river odyssey tale. It's an okay story, but Ordinary Grace it is not.
#48 - The Drowning Sea
by Sarah Stewart Taylor ★★★☆☆
Book 3 in the Maggie D'Arcy mystery series fizzles compared to prior books; fully set in Ireland, the story feels muddled and forced.
#49 - Warrior Girl Unearthed
by Angeline Boulley ★★★☆☆
A rushed sophomore slump of a novel that fails to live up to Boulley's first book, Firekeeper's Daughter, in almost every way.
#50 - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie ★★★☆☆
The semi-autobiographical account of the author's childhood, focused on him leaving the reservation to attend a white high school.
#51 - Romantic Comedy
by Curtis Sittenfeld ★★★☆☆
It's not especially romantic or comedic, and it lacks any type of misdirection. Weirdly, I still sort of enjoyed it, but I wanted more.
#52 - Signal Fires
by Dani Shapiro ★★★☆☆
A character study of two neighboring families on the outskirts of New York City. I hoped for spellbinding; what I got was milquetoast.
#53 - The Whispers
by Ashley Audrain ★★★☆☆
Audrain once again examines the trials of parenting, but this time fails to balance character flaws with anything remotely redeemable.
#54 - The Angel Maker
by Alex North ★★★☆☆
Another thriller from Alex North, whose previous novels I enjoyed. This one was decent, but ultimately missed the mark a bit for me.
#55 - Abandon
by Blake Crouch ★★★☆☆
Perhaps it was inflated expectations, but this novel about a town whose residents mysteriously disappeared missed the mark for me.
#56 - Good Eggs
by Rebecca Hardiman ★★★☆☆
It's primarily a character study, but for all the time spent developing the characters, I unfortunately didn't especially like them.
#57 - Hang the Moon
by Jeannette Walls ★★☆☆☆
A disjointed mess of a novel about a young woman growing up during Prohibition in rural Virginia. I wanted this to be so much better.
#58 - A Tale for the Time Being
by Ruth Ozeki ★★☆☆☆
Welcome to A Tale for the Time Being, or as it may alternatively be known, “the most depressing book I've read in years".