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 Where the Crawdads Sing

Elsa Blomster Why did I love this book?

I really couldn’t put this book down because I found both the characters and the story fascinating.

I’ve read a lot of stories about dysfunctional families, but this had something more heart-warming to it, combined with the mystery and the intertwined plotlines. I also liked that everything wasn’t obvious and that I had time to think and try to solve the mystery – as well as the mystery may not being entirely solved by the end of the book.

By Delia Owens,

Why should I read it?

54 authors picked Where the Crawdads Sing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

OVER 12 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
A NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

For years, rumours of the 'Marsh Girl' have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone

Elsa Blomster Why did I love this book?

I started reading the Outlander series many years ago, and eagerly waited for the next book to be published but there was a long gap between the eight and ninth book so I forgot about it.

After watching the TV-series (highly recommend, but read the books first) I realized that the ninth book had been published so I had to read it as well. The story might seem simple, but I find it great to just dive into the 17th century for a while, read about their joys and hardships, and follow the love story between Jamie and Claire as well as the supporting characters.

Even though the first book was published in 1991, I still go back and read it from time to time and the ninth book still has a lot of that captivating storytelling.

By Diana Gabaldon,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

*The author of the Sunday Times bestselling Outlander series returns with the newest novel in the epic tale.*

'Gabaldon's vast and sweeping account of the war is so intricately plotted and peopled that one is amazed she could conceive and write it in only seven years' Independent

'Go Tell the Bees is packed with everything readers love about the Outlander series' Guardian

'Gabaldon is a gifted world-builder, and her attention to the unglamorous details of life in the past, like digging privies, plus authentic portraits of marriage and relationships lift her series' Daily Telegraph
___________

Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Just One Evil Act

Elsa Blomster Why did I love this book?

A good book can never be too thick, and Elisabeth George's books are always nice and thick.

After just a few hundred pages it seemed like the mystery was solved, but then there was a plot turn and it was in fact not solved after all. I really couldn’t put the book down because I was so curious about what would happen on the next page.

The solution wasn’t obvious and I had many different suspicions on the way. I really like books that doesn’t just take the straight, pre-determined way to the finish line but things happen along the way and the characters have many different sides, both good and bad ones, and I think that this book really had that.

By Elizabeth George,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Just One Evil Act as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Hadiyyah Upman disappears from London in the company of her mother, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is as devastated as the girl's father. They are her close friends as well as neighbours, but since the child is with her mother, nothing can be done. Five months later, Hadiyyah is kidnapped from an open air market in Lucca, Italy, and this triggers an investigation in the full glare of the media spotlight. Barbara's clever manipulation of the worst of London's tabloids forces New Scotland Yard to become involved. But rather than Barbara herself, her superior officer DI Thomas Lynley is assigned…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Retrieving for All Occasions

By Elsa Blomster, Lena Gunnarsson,

Book cover of Retrieving for All Occasions

What is my book about?

Do you have a gun dog and want to have a great time working with your dog and perhaps enter a field trial? Do you want to find a training method where your dog has just as much fun as you do? Do you want to learn how to combine clicker training and field trial training?

Retrieving for All Occasions is an accessible and inspiring book about how you can use the clicker training philosophy in your gun dog training – both for hunting, trialing and a great everyday activation for all dogs. The book includes over 100 exercises and describes an approach to gun dog training that will challenge you to try something new – if you have the desire and will to do so.

My 5-year-old's favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Birthday Cake: The Adventures of Pettson and Findus

Elsa Blomster Why did they love this book?

Pettsson and his talking cat Findus go about their every day life and all the books have lovely drawings where you can spend a lot of time finding different details. In this book they are going to make a birthday cake for Findus, but a lot of problems arises on the way.

By Sven Nordqvist,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Birthday Cake as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

A hilarious cumulative story about baking a 'pancake-cake' for the cat with three birthdays a year!

When Pettson sets out to make Findus a cake, he finds that he's missing a key ingredient. This starts a hilarious chain of events resulting in Pettson distracting a bull, climbing through a skylight into his attic to find his fishing pole to fish the key out of the well, so he can open his shed, fix his flat tire, then ride to the store to buy some flour (and a new pair of overalls), then made a tasty cake for Findus!


My 5-year-old's 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Pippi Longstocking

Elsa Blomster Why did they love this book?

I myself grew up with the Pippi Longstocking books and now my children love them as well.

We watch the movie (the old Swedish one, from the 80’s, not the cartoon ;) ) and read the books over and over again. When traveling we listen to Astrid herself reading them as audiobooks. Which kid doesn’t love sleeping with it’s feet on the pillow, having a chest full of gold coins and buying all the candy the candy store has to offer?

By Astrid Lindgren, Lauren Child (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Pippi Longstocking as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

This flagship gift edition illustrated by Lauren Child is a glorious celebratory tribute to the strongest girl in the world.

Pippi Longstocking is nine years old. She has just moved into Villa Villekulla where she lives all by herself with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase full of gold coins. The grown-ups in the village try to make Pippi behave in ways that they think a little girl should, but Pippi has other ideas. She would much rather spend her days arranging wild, exciting adventures to enjoy with her neighbours, Tommy and Annika, or entertaining everyone she meets…


Explore all books for 5-year-olds

Book cover of Where the Crawdads Sing
Book cover of Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone
Book cover of Just One Evil Act

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