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 Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

C.L.R. Peterson Why did I love this book?

If ever a work of nonfiction could entertain as well as upend the view of benevolent manifest destiny, Killers of the Flower Moon is the one! This book was not an easy read because of the violence and evil it reveals, but the story compelled me to keep reading to see if justice would prevail.

I loved the characters--because the author dug deep to uncover the 'why' behind their actions--and the spellbinding story that, like a great novel, kept me hooked until the end.

As a writer and a reader, I like to focus on little-known heroes. If you do, too, and you’re willing to confront the legacy of the treatment of Native Americans by the United States, I highly recommend Killers of the Flower Moon.

By David Grann,

Why should I read it?

21 authors picked Killers of the Flower Moon as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, they rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions and sent their children to study in Europe.

Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. As the death toll climbed, the FBI took up the case. But the bureau badly bungled the investigation. In desperation, its young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to unravel the mystery. Together with the Osage he and his undercover…


When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Giver of Stars

C.L.R. Peterson Why did I love this book?

In these times of discouraging headlines, this book brings refreshment, full of hope in the face of obstacles.

Readers get a deep dive into the culture of rural Kentucky during the Depression, where even the support of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt couldn’t promise success to a program of women delivering library books to an isolated population. Enemies opposed to a more literate community emerged from within, endangering the traveling librarians and creating the central conflict that kept me turning pages.

In addition to a plot with many twists, I loved the well-developed characters portrayed with humanity and complexity. The problematic aspects of the culture made me wince, but the heroism of everyday people made The Giver of Stars a rewarding read.

By Jojo Moyes,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The Giver of Stars as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | A REESE WITHERSPOON X HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK

"A great narrative about personal strength and really captures how books bring communities together." -Reese Witherspoon

From the author of The Last Letter from Your Lover, now a major motion picture on Netflix, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond in Depression-era America


Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve, hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Betrothed

C.L.R. Peterson Why did I love this book?

This book transported me to the shores of Lake Como shortly before I trekked there, but in a far-distant era—1628.

Manzoni's vivid portrait of the culture—from the landscape to each character's innermost thoughts—allowed me to time travel, giving me friends to root for and villains to hate. The Betrothed gave me a new appreciation of ordinary people's struggles, a more nuanced view of the Roman Church's role in their lives, and a better understanding of the political realities they had to face.

The lengthy but colorful story reveals the years-long fallout of a single evil deed and the positive effects of good choices—a worthwhile read for anyone wishing to understand the past, especially those traveling to Lake Como.

By Alessandro Manzoni, Bruce Penman (translator),

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Set in Lombardy during the Spanish occupation of the late 1620s, The Betrothed tells the story of two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, prevented from marrying by the petty tyrant Don Rodrigo, who desires Lucia for himself. Forced to flee, they are then cruelly separated, and must face many dangers including plague, famine and imprisonment, and confront a variety of strange characters - the mysterious Nun of Monza, the fiery Father Cristoforo and the sinister 'Unnamed' - in their struggle to be reunited. A vigorous portrayal of enduring passion, The Betrothed's exploration of love, power and faith presents a whirling…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Lucia's Renaissance: A Novel of 16th-century Italy

By C.L.R. Peterson,

Book cover of Lucia's Renaissance: A Novel of 16th-century Italy

What is my book about?

Verona, 1576. Heresy is fatal in late Renaissance Italy, but Martin Luther’s book ignites a young girl’s faith. She must choose—abandon her beliefs or risk everything.

Twelve-year-old Lucia discovers a dog-eared book by Martin Luther in her father’s desk drawer. Her priest rails against Luther, but curiosity drives her to examine the arch-heretic’s ideas for herself.

Lucia’s father, Giordano, worries about his daughter’s impulsiveness and warns her to keep silent about Luther. Giordano knows all too well the consequences if the Inquisition should learn of Lucia’s find.  Join Lucia in her dangerous journey as she confronts the plague, death, and the Inquisition.


Book cover of Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
Book cover of The Giver of Stars
Book cover of The Betrothed

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,487

readers submitted
so far, will you?