The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

We've asked 1,708 authors and super readers for their 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Unwind

Kimberly Baer I this book because...

I’m a sucker for a unique premise. I like a story that makes me think. This YA novel delivers on both counts.

In a dystopian future, parents can have their troublesome teens “unwound”—dismembered into spare parts to be distributed among needy patients. The process isn’t considered killing since all parts of the unwound child remain alive, albeit grafted onto/transplanted into many different individuals.

Tenets of religion, philosophy, society, and family converge as the author explores every facet of this disturbing scenario. One particular chapter, presented from the perspective of a secondary character as he undergoes unwinding, is the most chilling and poignant passage I have ever read. It haunts me still.

By Neal Shusterman,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Unwind 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?

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when…


Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Shiver

Kimberly Baer I this book because...

I’m always on the hunt for well-written young adult novels, and this one took my breath away. The writing is downright lyrical, each sentence polished to dazzling perfection.

The love story grabbed me from the start and stayed with me for days after I finished the book. Ms. Stiefvater is a master at evoking emotion—I was moved to tears by some of the plot developments and the characters’ reactions to them. The story is enhanced by an alternating point of view, which draws readers into the heads of both protagonists.

I’ve heard this book described as “the werewolf version of Twilight,” but that’s selling it short. Shiver is so much more.

By Maggie Stiefvater,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Shiver as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

The #1 bestselling Shiver in the Shiver trilogy,
rejacketed for a new generation of fans.
This chilling love story will have you hooked from the
very first page.

When a local boy is killed by wolves, Grace's small town becomes
a place of fear.

But Grace is fascinated by the pack, and finds herself drawn to
a yellow-eyed wolf. There's something about him - something
almost human.

Then Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her
breath away...



Maggie Stiefvater is the #1 New York Times bestselling author
of the novels Shiver, Linger, and Forever.

Her novel The Scopio…


Want my future book recommendations?

My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

Kimberly Baer I this book because...

There’s nothing like a good plot twist to rev up the reading experience—and the one in this YA sci-fi novel is a doozy.

Romy, a teenager, is alone on a spaceship following the deaths of her astronaut parents, and she’s the sole character throughout most of the story. The author has skillfully captured the eeriness of being utterly alone in outer space, far from human civilization.

I was innocently bopping along, watching Romy progress from despair to hope as salvation came within reach. Then—boom! The plot took a 90-degree turn that had me gasping in horror. Nothing turned out the way I expected, but that’s a good thing. This is a story I’ll never forget.

By Lauren James,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Loneliest Girl in the Universe 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 surprising and gripping sci-fi thriller with a killer twist
The daughter of two astronauts, Romy Silvers is no stranger to life in space. But she never knew how isolating the universe could be until her parents' tragic deaths left her alone on The Infinity, a spaceship speeding away from Earth.
Romy tries to make the best of her lonely situation, but with only brief messages from her therapist on Earth to keep her company, she can't help but feel like something is missing. It seems like a dream come true when NASA alerts her that another ship, The Eternity,…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

The Haunted Purse

By Kimberly Baer,

Book cover of The Haunted Purse

What is my book about?

That old denim purse Libby bought at the thrift store isn’t your run-of-the-mill teenage tote. It’s a bag of secrets, imbued with supernatural powers. Strange items keep turning up inside, clues to a decades-old mystery only Libby can solve.

Intrigued by the mounting pile of evidence, Libby digs for the truth. And eventually finds it. But the story of the purse is darker than she imagined—and its next horrific chapter is going to be all about her.