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 The House in the Cerulean Sea

Laura Shovan Why did I love this book?

After writing my own book of poems about monsters and how they represent feelings, I was excited to read this light romantasy novel.

As with many modern books that explore the monstrous, this story defines monstrosity by how characters behave, not by their “monstrous” abilities or parentage. The so-called monsters are a group of adorable children living in an orphanage. But the true monsters are human bureaucrats who view these children as a threat to be controlled.

Enter protagonist Linus, a by-the-book caseworker sent to assess the orphanage and its charges. As the island and its inhabitants work their magic on Linus, he realizes that there is life – and love -- beyond his cubicle.

By TJ Klune,

Why should I read it?

20 authors picked The House in the Cerulean Sea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of M is for Monster

Laura Shovan Why did I love this book?

This modern Frankenstein retelling is so compelling. Told in graphic novel format, M Is for Monster is a YA story about two scientist sisters.

After the younger sister dies in a lab accident, her older sibling reanimates her. The problem is that “M” does not remember who she was before. She knows herself to be a wholly new person.

I love how Talia Dutton uses the Frankenstein story to explore grief, sibling relationships, and the sovereignty of the body. As in Mary Shelley’s classic novel, the question posed here is: Who is the real monster, the creator or the creature?

By Talia Dutton,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked M is for Monster 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?

A scientist attempts to bring her younger sister back to life with unexpected results in this Frankenstein-inspired graphic novel about ghosts, identity, and family

When Doctor Frances Ai's younger sister Maura died in a tragic accident six months ago, Frances swore she would bring her back to life. However, the creature that rises from the slab is clearly not Maura. This girl, who chooses the name "M," doesn't remember anything about Maura's life and just wants to be her own person. However, Frances expects M to pursue the same path that Maura had been on-applying to college to become a…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Healer of the Water Monster

Laura Shovan Why did I love this book?

This contemporary middle-grade novel is infused with Navajo culture. Protagonist Nathan is spending the summer out in the desert on his grandmother’s ancestral land.

It’s hot, dusty, and there is no running water. He’s miserable until he meets a Water Monster, whose mysterious illness is causing a decades-long drought.

This is a great quest/adventure story blended with contemporary themes about family dynamics. The storytelling is so rich that I was totally caught up in Nathan’s quest to save the Water Monster.

By Brian Young,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Healer of the Water Monster 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?

American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner: Best Middle Grade Book! Brian Young’s powerful debut novel tells of a seemingly ordinary Navajo boy who must save the life of a Water Monster—and comes to realize he’s a hero at heart.

When Nathan goes to visit his grandma, Nali, at her mobile summer home on the Navajo reservation, he knows he’s in for a pretty uneventful summer, with no electricity or cell service. Still, he loves spending time with Nali and with his uncle Jet, though it’s clear when Jet arrives that he brings his problems with him.

One night, while lost…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Book cover of Welcome to Monsterville

What is my book about?

Welcome to Monsterville, where the residents are anything but ordinary. The monsters here are “friendly! thoughtful! shy, and scary,” much like their human neighbors.

Readers will meet a monster house that plays hopscotch and makes the sidewalks quake, laugh at a bubblegum-headed monster’s epic tantrum, and cry with a monster called Sadness.

This quirky collection of illustrated poems is a celebration of friendship, emotional intelligence, and creative play as a form of healing.

My book recommendation list

Book cover of The House in the Cerulean Sea
Book cover of M is for Monster
Book cover of Healer of the Water Monster

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