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The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

We've asked 1,608 authors and super readers for their 3 favorite reads of the year.

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

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Mary-Jean Harris Why did I love this book?

I was pleasantly surprised to have stumbled across this book, because it became not only my favourite book of this year, but easily one of my favourite books of all time!

The writing was captivating and absolutely beautiful, truly brought to life by the author’s finesse. I adored the main character and was completely drawn into her story and rooting for her the entire time. There were tough moral questions addressed that left me thinking and agonizing (in a good way!) long after finishing the book.

The ancient Chinese fantasy style was compelling and reminded me of Chinese historical dramas that I also love to watch.

By Sue Lynn Tan,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Daughter of the Moon Goddess as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The bestselling debut fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess.

A young woman's quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm, setting her on a dangerous path where those she loves are not the only ones at risk...

*THE INSTANT TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*

THERE ARE MANY LEGENDS ABOUT MY MOTHER...

Raised far away on the moon, Xingyin was unaware she was being hidden from the Celestial Emperor - who exiled her mother for stealing the elixir of immortality. But when her magic flares and reveals her, Xingyin is…


My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

Mary-Jean Harris Why did I love this book?

This was a captivating story about a professor who is an expert on all things faerie and her adventures to investigate the faeries who live in the harsh winter climate of Hrafnsvik.

Emily was such a relatable character and I personally felt that we had a lot in common with the way we think and navigate life. The world of faerie was mysterious and beautiful, and Emily and her companion from university are such a fun pair to follow on their adventures. I’d definitely recommend this to someone who loves fairy stories and scholarly adventures!

By Heather Fawcett,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love in the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new fantasy series.

“A darkly gorgeous fantasy that sparkles with snow and magic.”—Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Maid

Mary-Jean Harris Why did I love this book?

This was such a fun book! The main character, Molly, is such an appealing and genuine character.

This isn’t a book that I would have normally picked to read, but I am very glad to have been introduced to it for a book club. It was a fun mystery about a neurodivergent maid at a posh hotel who’s taken unawares by unsavory people. It’s amazing how the author really gets inside Molly’s head and keeps the reader intrigued and constantly wanting to read more.

Even scenes where we see Molly cleaning and doing her best to be the perfect maid, sometimes obsessively, were captivating from start to finish.

By Nita Prose,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

*THE NO.1 NEW YORK TIMES & SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER
*WINNER OF THE NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION
*A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK AT BEDTIME PICK

'An escapist pleasure' SUNDAY TIMES
'Delightful' GUARDIAN
'An instantly gripping and delightful whodunnit' STYLIST
'Smart, riveting, and deliciously refreshing ' LISA JEWELL

_________________________________________________________________

I am your maid.
I know about your secrets. Your dirty laundry.
But what do you know about me?

Molly the maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She's used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping…


Plus, check out my book…

Night Of The Immortals

By Mary-Jean Harris,

Book cover of Night Of The Immortals

What is my book about?

In nineteenth-century Bristol, Zacharias discovers a young man from another world named Wyndor, and learns that he comes from a world of starlit beings called Velans. He is searching for a Velan object that can return him to his world, a pearl that a group of spiritual adepts called the Lung Hsieh are also searching for to return to their order in China. Throughout his adventures with Wyndor, Zacharias learns more about the powers inherent in other worlds and dreams, and he comes to make a decision that will change his life forever.