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 Bringing Me Dreams

Angela Greenman Why did I love this book?

Having gone through trauma in my life, I’d never normally read a book about the coping and grief that survivors of a loved one’s suicide go through. But I wanted to read something by award-winning KG MacGregor. And I’m glad I did.

Her writing is graceful and the story flows so nicely that I didn’t want the chapters to end. While reading it, I felt I was in a boat floating on a gentle stream in warm sunshine. The beat balance was perfect between the characters’ pain, their complicated work life, and their relationships. I loved how Bennie, a therapy dog, was featured and learned much about this special type of comforting companionship.

Bringing Me Dreams is an example of superb writing and a beautiful story. 

By KG MacGregor,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Reeling from her brother’s senseless death, Gianna Del Vecchio finds comfort in an online forum from a woman who suffered a similar loss. Theirs is a club no one wants to join—survivors of a loved one’s suicide. Photos posted to the forum of the woman’s cute therapy dog bring cheer when nothing else can, and Gianna is compelled to reach out to say thanks.

After two years, Keenan McEvoy is still fighting her way back from despair after losing her partner, Annabel. She’s surprised when she connects with Gianna, whose kindness and compassion ignite a spark she wasn’t sure she’d…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Shadow War

Angela Greenman Why did I love this book?

If you read my book you’ll see it features a badass operative. I love women characters who are willing to do what they need to do no matter how high the risk, and the Shadow War, features one such woman—Elle, a former CIA operative.

Besides being strong and smart, Elle is complicated and this adds a layer of intrigue to an already exciting book. The author is a retired Chief Warrant Officer from the United States Navy and her experiences adds a wealth of realism to the action that kept me turning the pages.

By A.M. Adair,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

The hardest wars are the ones you can’t see…
Where the line between good and evil disappears.
For CIA Operative Elle Anderson, it started with an impossible task—her specialty. It should have been business as usual. A covert mission, another target list, and then she would disappear. Only this time, she wasn’t the only player in the shadows. By the time her enemies were unmasked, it was too late.
This war is personal.
After being set up and dismissed from the CIA, Elle is on the run, chased by Thomas Matthews, her former handler turned criminal mastermind. Driven by a…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Art of Character: Creating Memorable Characters for Fiction, Film, and TV

Angela Greenman Why did I love this book?

I love this book! It is a treasure chest of tools on character development: it poses questions that make you think; it provides many examples from books, film, and television; and has practical exercises.

The author David Corbett shows you how to unravel the complicated layers that comprise us humans. The book is an insightful guide into the human psyche that helped me look at the human condition with an investigative lens. This makes me a better writer because this book reinforces (with many practical examples and exercises) the importance of diving into what motivates people. Knowing what a character wants and why will make them more believable. 

By David Corbett,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Former private investigator and New York Times notable author David Corbett offers a unique and indispensable toolkit for creating characters that come vividly to life on the page and linger in memory. Corbett provides an inventive, inspiring, and vastly entertaining blueprint to all the elements of characterization-from initial inspiration to realization-with special insights into the power of secrets and contradictions, the embodiment of roles, managing the "tyranny of motive," and mastering crucial techniques required for memorable dialogue and unforgettable scenes. This is a how-to guide for both aspiring and accomplished writers that renders all other books of its kind obsolete.


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

The Child Riddler

By Angela Greenman,

Book cover of The Child Riddler

What is my book about?

A riddle holds the code to unleash the most lethal weapon on earth—the first ever “invisibility” nanoweapon, a cloaking spider bot—and only one person knows it: a gifted nine-year-old girl. Icy operative Zoe abducts her to get the code, but soon is in a race to save the child she’s grown to care about—while battling the demons of her own addiction.