The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Senator's Wife

Alaina Erdell Why did I love this book?

It’s been too long since I’ve read such a glorious, sweeping love story. The romance between Catharine and Alex wrapped around me like the advection fog around the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s soft and slow, and at times, the characters hardly seem to know what draws them together. The pacing is wonderful and different from most romances since this book is the first in a trilogy. 

Be aware. It's not all romance. Lyon does a marvelous job of making the reader either adore or hate certain characters. If you haven’t fallen in love with Catharine a quarter of the way through the book, you’re stronger than me. She’s beautiful, but that’s not all that makes her captivating. Lyon has written her in such a magnetic and alluring fashion she’ll be a character sapphic romance readers remember for some time.

By Jen Lyon,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Senator's Wife as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Cherish

Alaina Erdell Why did I love this book?

I almost cried upon realizing Cherish wasn’t 200 pages longer. It’s heartfelt and touching, and the story hangs on a fragile thread I worried would be broken with every page turn. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. 

Not long after Josie starts her artist-in-residency in a small seaside town, Olivia Monteclair materializes like an apparition from a sand dune. Josie’s hosts turn out to be characters from another of Bryant’s books, for readers who enjoy Easter eggs. 

Josie is awestruck, but Olivia is older, withdrawn, and grieving over a significant loss. It’s a thing of beauty to witness Olivia break out of her shell, be drawn to Josie by degrees, and come to terms with her grief in order to open her heart to love again.

It’s a stunning portrait of loss, learning, and love.

By Kris Bryant,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cherish as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Josie Lockner scores big when she’s awarded a summer artist-in-residence in the small beach town of Goda, Massachusetts. The Wellingtons are the perfect host family and Revere Estates the best backdrop. She’s more than ready to capture the beauty of nature with her pencils and brushes. Falling for the Wellingtons’ quiet neighbor, Olivia Monteclair, isn’t in the picture, but just because it won’t last forever doesn’t mean she can’t have some fun.

Olivia’s peaceful days are interrupted when Josie, with her infectious grin and sunny disposition, crowds her space. Was Olivia ever that young or that hungry about life? She…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Music and the Mirror

Alaina Erdell Why did I love this book?

Who can resist a beautiful, direct, competent, gifted, and feared woman? Victoria is all those things, earning her the title of Queen in the ballet world. Anna is a young, adorable, rambling, dubious ballerina and appears to have the raw talent to be the most talented prima since Victoria.

Interest transforms into attraction, and theirs is hot enough to melt the ice on Rockefeller’s rink. They restrain themselves as long as possible, but the necessity of touching one another for professional purposes quickly turns into more.

Their sexual tension might be as high as the mast on the Empire State Building, but it’s Victoria’s unpredictability and their emerging romance as they learn to trust one another that will make me remember this book long after I’ve closed the cover.

By Lola Keeley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Music and the Mirror as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When new dancer Anna isn’t nervous as hell around her ice queen ballet mentor Victoria, she’s falling in love with the beautiful and powerful woman. This age-gap, workplace lesbian romance is a sizzling, award-winning page-turner, whether you’re into ballet or not. Anna is the newest member of an elite ballet company. Her first class with her mysterious idol, Victoria, almost ruins her career before it starts. When she shows she might be a potential star, Victoria chooses Anna to launch a new season around.Now Anna must face down jealousy, sabotage, and injury, not to mention navigate the circus of friends…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

All Things Beautiful

By Alaina Erdell,

Book cover of All Things Beautiful

What is my book about?

In this contemporary sapphic romance, Leighton Vaughn’s prestigious fine art atelier, and her life, appear to be settling down after a messy divorce. She prioritizes her daughter, art, and teaching, that is, until gifted Casey Norford joins the close-knit New York academy.

Casey didn’t receive the artistic education she expected from her undergraduate degree, but a spot at Atelier Vaughn will remedy that. Even more than the opportunity to study with the famed Leighton Vaughn, Casey wants to give her son a stable childhood that won’t resemble her own. She’s not sure of the true extent of her artistic talent, but she’s keenly aware of her attraction to her instructor, and that attraction appears mutual.

Book cover of The Senator's Wife
Book cover of Cherish
Book cover of The Music and the Mirror

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