Last year I was all about the thrillers. Prior to that, I went through at an least a two-year phase where I devoured all the celebrity memoirs I could. This year, my book list comprised a whole lot of fiction in general.
Here are the best of the best out of the 97 books I read in 2023.
Best Fiction
Swamp Story by Dave Barry
I adore Dave Barry and his hilarious Florida characters. I will take straight from the jacket copy here, because it just speaks for itself:
“…Ken Bortle of Bortle Brothers Bait and Beer has hatched a scheme to lure tourists to his failing store by making viral videos of the “Everglades Melon Monster.” The Monster is, in fact, an unemployed alcoholic newspaperman named Phil wearing a Dora the Explorer costume head.”
Jaws by Peter Benchley
Yes, you read that right. There is a Jaws novel and I read it. Published in 1974, it’s by far the oldest book on my 2023 list. I honestly thought the book probably wouldn’t live up to the hype of the movie, not unlike Jurassic Park, but it is fantastic.
There are a couple of things that make the story different – and more exciting – than the movie. I read this shortly before the 4th of July, mirroring the timing in the book, just for fun.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
If you read at all or visited at least one bookstore in 2023 you’ve heard of Lessons in Chemistry. This endearing book about a female scientist turned cooking show host in the 1960s has captured the hearts of many.
One thing I really liked about the book is that it occasionally tells the story from the dog’s viewpoint – I love it when authors do that with animals.
All Hollows by Christopher Golden
This book has: multiple protagonists, family drama/dysfunction, and it takes place over a period of close to 24 hours – these three elements are my favorites in fiction. AND there’s some supernatural stuff going on.
I mean. I don’t know what you look for in a good story, but this one was basically tailor made for me. (Unfortunately, unlike Jaws, I did not time it right – it’s a Halloween book, and I read it in early November.)
The Plot by Jean Hanff
Similar to Yellowface, coming up, this book deals with the stealing of an idea for a novel, after the author is deceased. The Plot starts off a bit slow – and I’m not complaining, and in fact welcome getting into a story slowly, without all that pressure to have something catastrophic happen within the first 100 words – but it picks up quickly and delivers all the way through.
This book has layers, it has tension and conflict and guilt, and there are local references for Albany area and Vermont folks, so that’s always fun.
Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen
Speaking of crazy Florida characters, Carl Hiaasen is right up there with Dave Barry. Slightly below Dave Barry, but he’s up there. This one has a lot of social/political commentary, particularly with you-know-who. There is a hilarious side story where Melania is hooking up with a secret service agent.
I don’t normally love books that take real-life people and play them off in a fictional way, because it tends comes across as false or off, for me, but Hiaasen pulls it off beautifully.
Fright Night: Origins by Tom Holland
Yes, that Fright Night. That Tom Holland. I am admittedly a major fan of the movie and so am biased, but I jumped at the chance to listen to the audio version of this literary adaptation of the film.
It’s narrated by Chris Saranadon! (He’s the vampire). This book is exactly Fright Night, but more of it.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
As with Lessons in Chemistry, you’ve heard of this one, or you’re living under a rock. This novel follows the story of a writer who quasi steals the work of her suddenly dead fellow writer friend she’s always been jealous of. Racial issues also come into play.
What I like about this one (and The Plot), other than the obvious fact that it’s a great story, is that it centers largely around the publishing and book world. I feel like you don’t see that often in novels, because it’s so on the nose, but it gives this book a little bit of a play within a play feel.
Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen
I would not have picked this one up (or listened on Audible, as the case was) if it wasn’t for a writing podcast I listen to, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. One of the hosts is the literary agent of the author, who they had on the show and she sold me on it.
I would have assumed from the cover it was women’s fiction, which isn’t always my jam, but it’s not about girls who love getting their nails done, it’s about a Vietnamese-Canadian family who is trying to keep their nail salon open.
You know I love family drama and multi-POV stories! This has that plus racial issues; gentrification; the whole, big box stores taking over the mom and pop shops thing; plus plenty of humorous moments.
Inspection by Josh Malerman
If you enjoyed Stephen King’s The Institute, you will like Inspection. Malerman is best known for Bird Box, but I have enjoyed his other books as well, and this is one of his best.
A group of boy geniuses are being trained at one school, and girls at another. They are completely unaware that another sex even exists, and they’re at puberty age. But the two schools aren’t that far away from each other, and each exists in a huge tower. One of the students is bound to see the other tower at some point!
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Haunted houses seem to be having a moment right now (shoutout to The September House, which just missed being a Fiction Honorable Mention for me), and Home Before Dark is a great one with a duo timeline.
Our protagonist grew up in a supposed haunted house. Her father wrote a book about the family’s time there, gaining fame and fortune, but many believe it’s all made up. What’s a real childhood memory, and what’s coming from this book of (possible) lies?
Also: The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) – the 7th book in the series. I don’t typically like to review/recommend sequels at length, because if you’re committed to the series you already love it!
Fiction Honorable Mentions
- The Lake House by Mikaela Bee
- Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen
- The Circle by Dave Eggers
- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
- The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger
- China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan (2nd in the Crazy Rich Asians series)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas (1st in a series of 5)
- The Assistants by Camille Perri
- How Can I Help You by Laura Sims
Best Nonfiction
- Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood by Minna Dubin
- Writing in the Dark by Tim Waggoner
- Consider This: The Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different by Chuck Palahniuk
Nonfiction Honorable Mentions
- How to Keep House When You’re Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis
- Ghosts of the Orphanage: A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice by Christine Keannelly
- The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre
Best Memoirs
- Pressure: A Memoir by Eric Canori
- When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair by Ryan Rae Harbuck
- Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger & Higher Education by Stephanie Land
- I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeannette McCurdy
Memoirs Honorable Mentions
- Under the Henfluence by Tove Danovich
- Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster
- Worthy by Jada Pinkette Smith
I also read a lot of kids books. I love Jon Klassen. Maybe I’ll include children’s books recommendations next year!