The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,708 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

J.J. Sorel I this book because...

I stumbled upon this quirky book at a secondhand book fair. After reading it, I understood how it managed to hold a solid spot on the bestseller list for quite some time. 

Now in her mid-30s, Eleanor, who’s lived a sheltered life, is refreshingly oblivious to social media. Her astute observations, once she jumps online, mainly to stalk a pop star, yes, it sounds crazy, and it kind of is, are hilarious. She dissects popular trends and, through witty inner dialogue, exposes just how absurd that world has become by its blind adherence to popular, at times, ridiculous trends. Despite her naivety about the world at large, her colorful, often unfiltered language reveals an erudite mind. 

Eleanor gradually shares a dark childhood secret with a work colleague, who befriends her, unleashing a rollercoaster of emotion: from dark humor to profound pathos and everything in between.

Books that can convey such a broad spectrum of emotion are rare, and kudos to Ms. Honeyman for creating this little gem. In my humble and unscholarly opinion, her portrayal of this, at times, disengaged being could be a modern-day Camus, where just the mere act of existing is enough. That is until one scratches the surface. This is one of those timeless tomes that will remain on my bookshelf, unlike the quick reads I occasionally digest when seeking light diversion.

By Gail Honeyman,

Why should I read it?

27 authors picked Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine 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 Book Club Pick

"Beautifully written and incredibly funny, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is about the importance of friendship and human connection. I fell in love with Eleanor, an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a chance encounter with a stranger; I think you will fall in love, too!" -Reese Witherspoon

No one's ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine.

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Nine Perfect Strangers

J.J. Sorel I this book because...

Yet again, Liane Moriarty has made it onto my list of favorite reads for the year. From page one, I fell under its spell. 

Nine individuals meet at a secluded health resort for various reasons like weight loss and life rejuvenation. Amidst luxury and self-care, they anticipate challenges ahead, but they don’t expect the New Age equivalent to a Dominatrix, who seems to enjoy shaming their weaknesses and dishing out torturous discipline.

Here we discover a disparate bunch of characters, some of whom are bigger than life, that, in the wrong hands could quite easily descend into caricatures. But as each character slowly unravels, they reveal vulnerabilities and spill those messy emotions and feelings that as humans, we strive to keep hidden.

Moriarty skillfully dissects what defines our humanity. This exploration primarily occurs through the lens of some rather negative yet strikingly familiar traits, which almost makes one wince despite making for an irresistible read. As with all her books, humor and drama collide, delivering an emotionally charged narrative, the kind I enjoy.

By Liane Moriarty,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Nine Perfect Strangers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Now a Hulu original series

“If three characters were good in Big Little Lies, nine are even better in Nine Perfect Strangers.” ―Lisa Scottoline, The New York Times Book Review

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little Lies

Could ten days at a health resort really change you forever? In Liane Moriarty’s latest page-turner, nine perfect strangers are about to find out...

Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t…


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My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Housemaid

J.J. Sorel I this book because...

Here is a harmonious blend of story, character, and an unforeseen twist, where the reader is left questioning who the baddie might be all the way to the surprising end.

It’s a story about toxic relationships, the dark side of marriage, and all those juicy, scandalous details that make for a page-turner. At its core, this psych thriller is about people taking control of their lives. Whether the law is on their side or not, they plot against the hidden malevolence lurking behind suburbia’s locked doors and those pristine houses with flawless façades. 

This book marked my introduction to this author’s work, and once I started, I was hooked. Her choice of words was just right, avoiding an overload of unnecessary detail that can sometimes bog down the flow. McFadden’s writing seems effortless in her ability to communicate emotion, narrative, and finely tuned characters in one engaging tale. Only the truly talented can make their art look easy when indeed, it’s anything but. 

By Freida McFadden,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked The Housemaid as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Don't miss the New York Times and USA Today bestseller and addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist that’s burning up Instagram and TikTok--Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid is perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell, and Verity.

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Awakened by a Billionaire

By J.J. Sorel,

Book cover of Awakened by a Billionaire

What is my book about?

One night, billionaire Declan Lovechilde risks his life to rescue a young woman from a grisly fate, but she then slips away without a trace. Months later, Theadora reappears at his sprawling estate as a maid. She has no idea who he is…but he remembers her. Theadora soon captures his fascination, forcing him to put everything on the line to win her heart, including the ire of his domineering mother, who has other plans for her son.

Burdened by a dark past, Theadora tries to distance herself despite their undeniable chemistry and her chance at a fairy tale romance. But Declan doesn’t give up that easily, and what are a few dark secrets here and there? After all, he has a few of his own.