It’s that time again! One of my favourite blog posts of the year to write so I can shout about all my favourite books I read in 2023. I feel like I really delve deeper into my love of reading last year, so I ended up reading a decent amount of amazing books.
I set myself a goal of 40 books on Goodreads and ended up reading 53, which I’m really happy with. It’s been a great year for reading for me. There were a few stressful periods where I feel like reading was a proper escape for me.
I’m not including any books that I’ve read before on this list. I re-read a lot of books, so it’s likely, if I’ve read them more than once then they will have featured on one of my favourites posts in the post.
You can also find my mid-year Best Books From the First Half of 2023 post, which will feature some of the same books as this post does. If a book makes it to BOTH posts, then it was a proper good one.
So here are my 10 best books I read in 2023:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
I’d heard so much about Lessons in Chemistry before I read it. The woman in the bookshop who sold it to me even saying it was her best book she had read in 2022. And I gotta admit… she was right.
I don’t often rate things in order but this has to be one of THE best books I’ve read this year so far. The top of the pile. The gold star. It was sensational. I loved every single second of reading this wonderful story. It was empowering and heart-warming and just utterly brilliant.
The Illusions by Liz Hyde
This is one of those books that I bought solely for the cover. Sue me. The cover is STUNNING. I tend to enjoy books with magic woven into them and this one had an excellent mix of performance magic and Fantasy magic combined.
The Illusions was a hefty book. Something that would usually put me off reading but the historical setting and the plotline of two young women harnessing their power, both in magic and in film was really interesting to me. Loved it.
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Like other reviews I’ve seen of this book, the only thing I was missing from this was a bit more “oomph”. It was a quiet read but on reflection, I think that was the point. Our Wives Under the Sea is haunting and eerie with magical realism elements thrown in.
Ultimately, this book is a love story amidst a devastating circumstance. Poetically written and something I think would make a great TV series.
The Girl Who Climbed Everest by Bonita Norris
Ever since watching the movie Everest a few years ago, I’ve gained a super interest in all things Everest. Not that I’ll ever climb it myself but I’m fascinated by the idea of it and especially the people that climb it. Their whys and the immense physical challenge of it. For me, it’s awe-inspiring.
I stumbled upon The Girl Who Climbed Everest completely by chance in the library and knew I had to read it and it was brilliant. Reading Bonita’s journey to becoming the youngest woman to summit Everest in 2010 was eye-opening and inspiring to say the least.
Love From the Pink Palace by Jill Nalder
This book will always be in my heart and I will always remember reading this. If you’re a fan of the series It’s a Sin, then you need to read Love From the Pink Palace. What better person to hear about the 80’s aids crisis than someone who was there, in the middle of it all?
Jill Nader is an angel on Earth and this book is proof of that. The amount of work she has done for the LGBTQ+ community and helping raises funds and awareness for AIDS research is phenomenal.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This was a bloody good Thriller and I’ve said it before but Thrillers don’t really *thrill* me much anymore but this one certainly kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat.
I actually started the year reading The Maidens by the same author which I enjoyed but it didn’t wow me. I’d heard better things about The Silent Patient, so I’m really glad I gave the author another chance.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
I’d heard endless things about this book since it came out and the only reason I wasn’t in a rush to pick it up was because I wasn’t that familiar with Jennette McCurdy. I never used to watch iCarly or anything she was in, so wasn’t sure if I was the right audience.
Having read I’m Glad My Mom Died now, I don’t think it matters one bit whether you know who she is or not, this is an important and heavy read which shows the destructive career of being a child actor with a truly never heard before insight. Outstanding.
Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild
This is actually one of my most recent reads, having finished this in December but definitely a solid Thriller that I read in 2023. Blood Sugar is a quick and carefully curated read which will definitely leave you with some moral questions.
The main character Ruby can only be described as morally grey. Her insights – being written in first person – are really interesting as you get to really witness her thought process during the 3 murders she committed.
Still Life With Bones by Alexa Hagerty
The final Non-Fiction book on this list and this was actually one of the rare review copies that I now receive but oh boy, this book. Still Life With Bones is an outstanding and rightfully grim and a terribly difficult read. One that I think we all need to endure.
An outrageously insight look into a world of conflicts and genocides in Guatemala and Argentine that only a tiny percent of us even know about. This book really puts the world into perspective. It’ll make your heart bleed.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
This is one of the books that I’d have said was a little out of my comfort zone. Again, one that I’d heard lots about and had to see for myself what the fuss was about.
I was surprised with how much I loved The Vanishing Half. Like, REALLY loved it. And I keep recommending it to people because it was a stunning read with lots of really important themes woven throughout.
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