Best Books of 2023 ...

Here (in no particular order) is our compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2023and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups.

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library and New York Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages.

Best of 2023 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Deb Caletti’s Plan A. I have already enthusiastically reviewed others on the list like Angeline Boulley’s Warrior Girl Unearthed and Isabel Ibañez’s What the River Knows.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly (honestly, not wild for their Top 10, but All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby made the mystery choices) OR Kirkus Reviews. Some of the Kirkus fiction choices that I also really liked include an eclectic mix: Happiness Falls, Five-Star Weekend, and Deep Sky. A separate list is provided for non-fiction (like People’s Hospital, Democracy Awakening, and The Teachers) and a list is forthcoming for best teen books.

And Goodreads will release its Choice Awards across several categories for 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2023   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2023. LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2023: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Favorites2023.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists (including 10 best audiobooks). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2023 list for books. 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; There is also a top ten list on their site.

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!

Added: STILL looking for ideas to read? The Smithsonian Magazine has compiled a set of links to the most borrowed books from public libraries in 2023.