Here are my favorite books of 2023! These are the ones that stayed with me over the months, that said something important or moving or memorable. 7 fiction, 1 non-fiction, and mostly sad/depressing (what else is new?).
In no particular order:
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld: A completely realistic, relatable story of an unlikely pair who reconnects during the pandemic. I adored this book.
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton: Dystopian cli-fi about the demise of Florida after a devastating hurricane. Terrifying and beautifully written.
Talking At Night by Claire Daverly: Angsty novel tracking decades of a relationship between a man and woman who are never in sync but always connected. Couldn’t put this down.
The Road To Dalton by Shannon Bowring: Interconnected stories/chapters about the struggles and joys of the residents of a very small town in Maine. A quiet, beautiful book.
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman: Novel about the friendship between a dying woman and her best friend as the end draws near. Devastating, of course, but surprisingly funny at times, and a depiction of a healthy female friendship.
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith: The poignant, poetic account of the breakdown of the author’s marriage and her subsequent divorce.
Spare by Prince Harry: A controversial choice, but this is Harry’s chance to tell his side of the story, to set the record straight on so many things that he has endured, silently, for decades. Well-written, beautifully paced, moving and compelling.
All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay: Character-driven mystery about the disappearance of a mother of three the discovery of her body decades later. I got totally engrossed in this story and enjoyed its plot twists.
What were your standout reads this year?