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 The Night Circus

Malinda Fugate I this book because...

By the time you finish the first page, you’re already immersed in a world of magic.

The author’s imaginative descriptions bring the story to life, and we believe that anything is possible. Wonder is woven together with the perfect amount of tension, while the twists and turns of the narrative keep the pages turning. After wistfully reading the last paragraph, I fervently hoped for a sequel.

By Erin Morgenstern,

Why should I read it?

19 authors picked The Night Circus as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE TIKTOK SENSATION

Rediscover the million-copy bestselling fantasy read with a different kind of magic, now in a stunning anniversary edition to mark 10 years since it's paperback debut.

The circus arrives without warning. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and white. A sign hanging upon an iron gates reads:

Opens at Nightfall
Closes at Dawn

Full of breath-taking amazements and open only at night, Le Cirque des Reves seems to cast a spell over all who wander its circular paths. But behind the glittering acrobats, fortune-tellers…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode--and into a Life of Connection and Joy

Malinda Fugate I this book because...

Insightful and kind, the therapist who wrote Try Softer offers information, practical application, and personal stories to show that she speaks from a place of relating, not preaching.

Faith is integrated into mainstream mental health practices, which is encouraging to those of us who see how our spirit and brain overlap and are connected. This reinforced some of the things I’ve learned in my own therapy journey and gave me a new perspective that helped concepts “click.” 

By Aundi Kolber,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Try Softer as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Over 100,000 copies sold!

In the wise and soulful tradition of teachers like Shauna Niequist and Brene Brown, therapist Aundi Kolber debuts with Try Softer, helping us align our mind, body, and soul to live the life God created for us.

In a world that preaches a "try harder" gospel―just keep going, keep hustling, keep pretending we're all fine―we're left exhausted, overwhelmed, and so numb to our lives. If we're honest, we've been overfunctioning for so long, we can't even imagine another way. How else will things get done? How else will we survive?

It doesn't have to be this…


Want my future book recommendations?

My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Dear White Peacemakers: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace

Malinda Fugate I this book because...

Stories that give us a new perspective are gifts. As a white person learning about racism, I appreciate beyond words when someone from the Black community takes time to generously share their experience.

Beyond learning to recognize the ways I’ve been oblivious to my own biases, it was a blessing to figuratively walk with Osheta Moore through Dear White Peacemakers, as she shares her story and shows us a better way to care for our neighbors. 

By Osheta Moore,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dear White Peacemakers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Dear White Peacemakers is a breakup letter to division, a love letter to God’s beloved community, and an eviction notice to the violent powers that have sustained racism for centuries.

Race is one of the hardest topics to discuss in America. Many white Christians avoid talking about it altogether. But a commitment to peacemaking requires white people to step out of their comfort and privilege and into the work of anti-racism. Dear White Peacemakers is an invitation to white Christians to come to the table and join this hard work and holy calling. Rooted in the life, ministry, and teachings…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

The Other Three Sixteens

By Malinda Fugate,

Book cover of The Other Three Sixteens

What is my book about?

The words of the Bible weave a tapestry of love that our Heavenly Father has for His children.

The Other Three Sixteens examines each third chapter and sixteenth verse in the Bible and invites a fresh, new perspective to uncover surprises or remind us of forgotten truths of a routine faith. Through Genesis to Revelation, we can soak in its depth, wonder at its intricacies, and be moved at how much the Lord truly does love us. Together we’ll find a deeper understanding of our Heavenly Father’s care for us today.