The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

We've asked 1,707 authors and super readers for their 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Firekeeper's Daughter

Heather DiAngelis I ❤️ loved this book because...

When I picked up Angeline Boulley’s Firekeeper’s Daughter for a book club, I had zero idea what to expect. In fact, I thought it was a fantasy book! Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was about a female hockey player in the early 2000s caught in a criminal investigation about the murder of her best friend.

The main character, Daunis Fontaine, straddles worlds between her mother’s white family and her late father’s Ojibwe family, and the clashes between these two different communities are striking—and haunting. As the story unfolds, Daunis unearths how drugs are devastating the Ojibwe community she holds so dear, destroying my emotions all along the way and highlighting timely and important social issues.

Boulley has a true knack for drawing in readers, putting them on the edge of their seats, and then punching them in the gut.

By Angeline Boulley,

Why should I read it?

11 authors picked Firekeeper's Daughter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

A PRINTZ MEDAL WINNER!
A MORRIS AWARD WINNER!
AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD YA HONOR BOOK!

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

Soon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground.

“One of this year's most buzzed about young adult novels.” ―Good Morning America

A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time Selection
Amazon's Best YA Book of 2021 So Far (June 2021)
A 2021 Kids' Indie Next List Selection
An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The New Girl

Heather DiAngelis I ❤️ loved this book because...

Rich boarding school meets murder mystery in Jesse Q. Sutanto’s The New Girl—except main character Lia Setiawan is anything but wealthy, and we already know she’s the killer.

It was an accident, but that doesn’t stop her from worrying about going to prison for her teacher’s murder as the detectives circle the drain. I laughed out loud so many times while I flew through this book, the question of whether she’d get caught ripping me to shreds in anticipation.

There are no spoilers here, but I’ll tell you it’s worth the wild ride.

By Jesse Q. Sutanto,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The New Girl as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Lia Setiawan has never really fit in. And when she wins a full ride to the prestigious Draycott Academy on a track scholarship, she's determined to make it work even though she's never felt more out of place.
But on her first day there she witnesses a girl being forcefully carried away by campus security. Her new schoolmates and teachers seem unphased, but it leaves her unsure of what she's gotten herself into.
And as she uncovers the secrets of Draycott, complete with a corrupt teacher, a golden boy who isn't what he seems, and a blackmailer determined to get…


Want my future book recommendations?

My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Heather DiAngelis I ❤️ loved this book because...

Fake dating story? Check. Queer characters? Check. A fragile web of lies? Another check! In Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating, Hani and Ishu do not like each other.

They might be the only Bengali girls in their predominantly white Irish school, but that doesn't mean they're anything alike. If pretending to date someone will get you ahead in life, though, sometimes you do what you have to do. And if that turns into real feelings, well...that's a problem for another day.

I was totally smitten by this story. It's cute, well-written, and heartwarming, and it's sure to add a little bounce to your step after you turn the final page.

By Adiba Jaigirdar,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

WINNER OF THE YA BOOK PRIZE 2022! Hani and Ishu couldn't be less alike - and they definitely don't like each other. But when fates collide and they pretend to date each other, things start to get messy... A heart-warming queer YA love story for fans of Becky Albertalli.

Everyone likes Hani Khan - she's easy going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they don't believe her, claiming she can't be bi if she's only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she's in a relationship... with…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Speech and Debacles

By Heather DiAngelis,

Book cover of Speech and Debacles

What is my book about?

When bisexual 17-year-old Taryn joins her school’s powerhouse Speech and Debate team, she discovers she’s good at acting. But when painful, amped-up cramps invade her pelvis, performing on-demand and getting close to the guy catching her eye become increasingly less feasible.

Riker aspires to break into the world of voice acting to perform video game voiceovers. Achieving his dream and getting over the hurdle of talking to the green-eyed new girl from Speech proves impossible when a nagging inner voice constantly reminds him how worthless he is.

As Riker and Taryn float closer together, then farther apart, they must work to find ways of coping—or they’ll miss out on each other and their performance goals.

My 8-year-old's favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79

Heather DiAngelis I ❤️ loved this book because...

This book is realistic fiction, and it’s based on a true story. I learned a lot about volcanoes, Rome, and Pompeii, and it was very energetic.

It ends where the reader has to make up the rest of the story on their own, but the good news is they survive the volcano.

By Lauren Tarshis, Scott Dawson (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 7, 8, 9, and 10.

What is this book about?

The beast beneath the mountain is restless...

No one in the bustling city of Pompeii worries when the ground trembles beneath their feet. The beast under the mountain Vesuvius, high above the city, wakes up angry sometimes -- and always goes back to sleep.But Marcus is afraid. He knows something is terribly wrong -- and his father, who trusts science more than mythical beasts, agrees. When Vesuvius explodes into a cloud of fiery ash and rocks fall from the sky like rain, will they have time to escape -- and survive the epic destruction of Pompeii?

My 8-year-old's 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of On Purpose

Heather DiAngelis I ❤️ loved this book because...

I like this book because it’s so funny and the comics are ridiculous. The character personalities are thought out so well. The characters are really funny, and they make me laugh.

The pictures are interesting. This is the best Cat Kid Comic Club book, and I can’t wait for Book #5 to come out!

By Dav Pilkey, Dav Pilkey (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

The perfect present for Dog Man fans - starring some
of your favourite characters from the series!

The Cat Kid Comic Club is deep in discovery in the newest graphic
novel in the hilarious and heartwarming worldwide bestselling
series by Dav Pilkey, the author and illustrator of Dog Man.

The comic club is going in all different directions! Naomi, Melvin,
and siblings are each trying to find their purpose. Naomi has
an idea to get rich quick that causes a lot of commotion
and emotion. And when faced with rejections, the friends try and
try again to stay true to…


My 8-year-old's 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Mothering Heights

Heather DiAngelis I ❤️ loved this book because...

This book is really funny and sad. It makes me laugh. The bad guys are pretty weird but hilarious.

The story’s well thought-out and deserves more kids to read it. It’s the 10th book in the Dog Man series and my favorite now. The characters are so funny and weird.

By Dav Pilkey, Dav Pilkey (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Mothering Heights as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 7, 8, 9, and 10.

What is this book about?

Dog Man and Petey face their biggest challenges yet in
the tenth Dog Man book from worldwide bestselling author and illustrator
Dav Pilkey.
Dog Man is down on his luck, Petey confronts his not so purr-fect
past, and Grampa is up to no good. The world is spinning
out of control as new villains spill
into town. Everything seems dark and full of despair. But hope
is not lost. Can
the incredible power of love save the day?

Dav Pilkey's wildly popular Dog Man series appeals
to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes,
including:



empathy

kindness

persistence…


Explore all books for 8-year-olds