Each year, one of our favorite books lists is the collection of our best books of the year, based on the books we’ve personally read. Instead of waiting until the end of the year, we like to do a preview of our top books midyear. In December, we’ll update this list to a final version of our Best Books of 2023.
At the end of the year, we’ll also be doing a reader survey and asking you to share your own favorite books of 2023. We’ll compile the results into a list of our Readers Choice Best Books of 2023. If you’re not on the email list, be sure to join now so you don’t miss out on the survey!
In addition to these books being our personal favorite books of 2023, some of the novels have also been included on our reading challenge book lists over the past few months. When that is the case, you’ll also see our average reader rating and the percentage of those readers who would recommend the book to a friend.
Our 5-Star Books Released in 2023
In this section, we’ve included only books published in 2023 that one or both of us has personally read and we still think about as one of our absolute best reads of the year. If your favorite isn’t on the list, there is a good chance we just haven’t had a chance to enjoy it!
The Collected Regrets of Clover
Book Summary
Clover had an unusual childhood, with her Kindergarten teacher passing away during a reading of Peter Rabbit. Then her parents passed away while traveling, and she started a new life with her grandfather in New York City. She continued to be fascinated by death and was studying different cultural traditions abroad when she received the terrible news that her grandfather had passed away alone in his office.
Clover commits to preventing others from dying alone by becoming a death doula. She only takes one patient at a time, so can be more present for her clients than hospice workers. Whether she’s only holding their hand or hearing their regrets about life, she is present to honor them in their last moments. Her only friend was actually her grandfather’s friend, Leo, who is very concerned that when he is gone, Clover will be alone. Between his friendship-matchmaking and a fiesty new client, can Clover shift her life focus outside of work from the dying to a new life of her own?
The Book Girls Say…
Melissa highly recommends this book for anyone who loves the heart of Fredrik Backman and characters like Eleanor Oliphant or Albert Entwistle, who have been loners for much of their life. While the concept of the book sounds like it’s heavy on death and grief is a big theme, the novel is very much about life. It’s a rare book that Melissa wanted to read again immediately, while also wanting to give it a hug. Some readers have reported not connecting with Clover, but Melissa adored her and was rooting for her on every page.
The House of Eve
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Book Summary
House of Eve alternates perspectives of our main characters in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Ruby’s story is told in first person perspective as she tries to become the first person in her lower-income family to attend higher education. However, her plans are threatened when she begins to fall for a Jewish boy.
Eleanor’s story is told from the third person perspective as she arrives in DC with equal parts ambition and secrets. Like Ruby, Eleanor’s plans are changed when she falls for a man, William, at Howard University. William is from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents are picky about who is good enough to join them.
While this setup feels like a romance novel, this is a fast-moving historical fiction novel that will take you into a piece of history you may know little about. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end!
The Book Girls Say…
Melissa hadn’t read much more than our description of this book before jumping in, and she enjoyed the twists along the way that came from not knowing more. She recommends that you enjoy this historical novel the same way as you step into the lives of two young black women in the 1950s who are desperately trying to be their best.
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The Secret Book of Flora Lea
Book Summary
When bombings began in London in 1939, 14-year-old Hazel and her 5-year-old sister, Flora, were evacuated to a rural village in the English countryside. Living with a woman and her teenage son in a charming stone cottage, Hazel comforts Flora by telling her stories of a magical fairy tale land. It provides the sisters with a fictional place where they can escape the fears and hardships of war. One day while playing near the banks of the River Thames, Flora disappears. Hazel blames herself and carries the guilt into adulthood. Twenty years later, Hazel’s life looks ideal from the outside – charming boyfriend, a nice flat in London, and a good job at a rare bookstore. But on the eve of her new career at Sotheby’s, she unwraps a package that changes everything.
It’s an illustrated first-edition book called “Whisperwood and the River of Stars.” It’s the imaginary world that she created for Flora – one that she never wrote down and never told anyone else about. What does it mean? Is Flora still alive? And does this fairy tale hold the truth about her disappearance? Hazel embarks on a feverish quest for answers. Along the way, she’ll reconnect with people from her past and put her future in jeopardy.
The Book Girls Say…
Centered around the fairytale world created by Hazel for her sister, this novel blurs the lines between the real and the magical in the most wonderful way. The book focuses on the relationship between the sisters while also showing the realities of Operation Pied Piper and its long-lasting impacts on the families who were faced with such difficult choices during the war.
It’s hard to say too much without spoilers, but Angela loved the book from the first page to the last. Told in dual timelines, the mystery is unraveled bit by bit through beautiful prose.
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Magical Realism
Famous In a Small Town
Book Summary
Mary Jackson is from a long line of women who have spent their lives running the Very Cherry General Store in Good Heart, Michigan. Like her lakeside hometown, the store is constantly inundated by tourists and facing threats from developers. She’s in her eighties and ready to retire, but when she was young, a mysterious prediction told her to await the arrival of a stranger – a young woman – to take over the store and carry on her legacy.
Newly 40, Becky Thatcher takes a vacation to Good Heart with her best friend in order to forget about her real-life troubles for a while. After meeting Mary at Very Cherry and listening to the octogenarian talk about destiny, Becky begins to reflect on childhood memories and future goals.
The Book Girls Say…
Viola Shipman, the pen name for Wade Rouse, is one of our favorite authors of feel-good books. We were eagerly awaiting this summer release, and it did not disappoint! Wade was raised in Missouri and now calls Michigan home for much of the year. His beautiful descriptions of these two states are so vivid that you’ll feel like you are spending your summer alongside his quirky and lovable characters. And, like us, you may also find yourself dreaming up a future trip to northern Michigan!
This is the first Viola Shipman book we’ve read that has a thread of magical realism, and we loved how seamlessly it was woven throughout the story. We also loved, however, that the magical elements did not overpower the very real-life lessons about family and friendship.
You’ll be craving cherries the entire time you read this book – so plan accordingly! 🍒
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Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
Book Summary
This historical novel is based on the real-life & historic memoir of a 15th-century female physician in China. Tan Yunxian was raised in the Ming Dynasty era by her grandmother, also a physician, who taught her the art of Chinese medicine. She also learned about female conditions from her best friend, Meiling, who was training to be a midwife. While Yunxian was on the path to be a success in her own right, she was still sent into an arranged marriage.
Her new mother-in-law was a traditionalist who forbade her from seeing Meiling and stopped her from helping the girls and women in their household. Instead, she is supposed to be a “proper wife,” learning poetry, embroidering foot-binding slippers, and staying within the walls of their compound.
How did Yunxian break free and go on to treat women from all classes of society and create remedies that are still used over 500 years later? Lisa See tells her compelling life story in this novel.
The Book Girls Say…
While Melissa loves historical fiction, she prefers anything from the Gilded Age – the present and usually avoids earlier settings. However, she was drawn to Lady Tan’s Circle of Women as her Book of the Month pick in June. While she was compelled by the description, the book was even better than expected and often left her awestruck as she learned about what it was like for women in Ming Dynasty era China. It was fascinating to see what was “normal” at the time for a wealthy and revered family. Knowing the book is based on a real woman adds to the page-turning nature of the novel!
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The Spectacular
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Book Summary
Nineteen-year-old Marion’s dreams come true when she’s cast as a member of the Rockettes, Radio City Music Hall’s precision dance troupe. It’s an honor for any dancer to be selected for the role and given the opportunity to perform at the art deco masterpiece of a theater that is Radio City. But Marion soon learns that, behind the scenes, the days are long and the rehearsals grueling.
One night, in 1956, a bomb explodes in the theater. It’s suspected to be the work of the infamous “Big Apple Bomber” who has been planting bombs in crowded places around the city for the past sixteen years. The police still have no leads, leaving citizens living in fear. At Marion’s urging, the police agree to try psychological profiling, a radical new technique at the time.
While the Rockettes are trained to stay in line, Marion realizes that to help catch the bomber, she’ll have to stand out.
The Book Girls Say…
Fiona Davis is one of our favorite authors because she has such a knack for turning historic NYC buildings into living, breathing characters in her novels. Like most of Fiona’s books, this one includes a mystery and a dual timeline, although in this novel, the later 1990s point of view is limited to several short chapters.
Before reading, Melissa was unaware of the real Manhattan bombings that took place in this time period. Between that history, the inclusion of mental health care at the time, and the dawn of criminal profiling, this book was the perfect mix of entertaining and educational.
Hello Stranger
Book Summary
Sadie is a talented portrait artist, who is finally getting the recognition she deserves as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition. Before her death, her mom was a finalist in the same competition, so Sadie is full of emotions about the new painting she must produce as part of the contest.
However, in one moment, everything changes for Sadie. The only constant is her beloved dog, Peanut. With both her work and her family in chaos, how will Sadie overcome the hardest period in her life?
The Book Girls Say…
If you’ve been a Book Girls’ Guide reader for long, you know that we always seem to connect with Katherine Center books, and Hello Stranger was no exception! We kept our summary more vague than the publisher’s so you can be as surprised as the main character by some of her experiences. It’s rare a book provides a real surprise, and this one does it well.
Like Center’s other books, you get a mix of a main character with internal struggles, family drama, and some romance. However, these common pieces do not make her books predictable. They each have their own unique characters and setting. Hello, Stranger is no exception!
Don’t miss the author’s notes at the end for her thoughts on romance novels and the reasons they are so delightful!
The Sunshine Girls
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
This dual-timeline novel opens in 2019 at the funeral for BettyKay in a small town in Iowa. BettyKay’s daughters are shocked when Hollywood movie star Kitty Devereaux walks in and places something into their mother’s casket. Over the course of the weekend, BettyKay’s daughters discover a whole other side to their mother as Kitty shares stories of their lifelong friendship, which all began in 1967 at a St. Luke’s Nursing School in the fictional town of Greensboro, Iowa.
BettyKay grew up on a farm in the Midwest and risked everything to attend nursing school against her parent’s wishes. Her assigned roommate, Kitty came to Iowa to escape her past in Atlanta, but already had her sights set on Hollywood. The two, having little in common, became unlikely friends. Another new student, Jenny, completed their trio. Jenny had aspirations of becoming a doctor, but she knew that the combination of being a woman and being Black meant that the odds were stacked against her in the late 60s.
The bond these three women formed at their Iowa nursing school would carry them through the years as their lives led them in different directions – from the jungles of Vietnam to the movie sets of Hollywood.
The Book Girls Say…
We both loved the strong female leads in this historical fiction novel. Each of the women had different backgrounds and goals for life, but a shared experience at nursing school brought them together in a deep way. It’s a great story of lasting friendship, but also of what it was like to be a woman in the late 60s with big dreams.
NOTE: Technically, this book was released at the end of 2022, but it was after our cutoff for the Best Books of 2022 list so we considered it with our 2023 titles.
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Books Set in Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Nebraska
Summertime Reads for Historical Fiction Fans
The Five-Star Weekend
Book Summary
This novel centers around Hollis, a popular food blogger who loses her husband to a car accident. The fight she had with him right before he drove away drives an even deeper wedge between her and her teenage daughter, Caroline.
After learning about a trend called a “Five-Star Weekend,” where one woman organizes a trip for her best friends from each phase of life, Hollis decides to host her own. But gathering her best friend from each decade from childhood through midlife doesn’t turn out to be the joyful Hallmark movie she’d envisioned. But it will definitely be a weekend she’ll never forget.
The Book Girls Say…
Melissa loved this summer novel and agrees that it lives up to its 5-star namesake. While Elin delivers a page-turning beach read, she also provides plenty to think about in your own life. It’s the perfect mix of light reading with some deeper themes of friendship and relationships included to stop it from being too fluffy.
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Romantic Comedy
Book Summary
Sally is a late 30-something sketch writer for a late-night live comedy show called “The Night Owls.” Time after time, she’s seen talented but dorky men from the writer’s room end up dating glamorous celebrities that they met via the show. She documents the phenomenon in a recurring sketch called “The Danny Horst Rule,” which pokes fun at how unlikely it is that the reverse would ever happen for a smart but average-looking woman.
When rock star Noah Brewster is tapped to serve as both the host and musical guest for an episode of Night Owls, Sally pitches a Danny Horst sketch for him to star in. But Noah has sketch ideas of his own, and Sally takes on the role of mentor for the week. Are there sparks between them, or is it just the same charm Noah uses on everyone he meets?
Sally hides behind a shield of sharp humor and sarcasm, while Noah is fighting against the two-dimensional caricature portrayed in the tabloids.
The Book Girls Say…
This book has received mixed ratings, and we think that’s due in part to the fact that the title might make you expect a typical rom-com. And while this book is comedic with just enough romance, it doesn’t fit neatly into the standard rom-com box. Author Curtis Sittenfeld typically writes literary fiction (a genre defined by the character-driven, introspective tone). This book is a smartly-written mash-up of these two genres. And, in our opinion, that’s exactly what makes it so wonderful!
Fans of Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock will love the late-night sketch comedy show setting of the first part of the novel, but you definitely don’t have to be an avid SNL watcher to enjoy this storyline.
A few other things you should know before deciding if this book is a good fit for you: (1) this book is told in three long parts, rather than shorter chapters; (2) Sally is endearing, but she also has her faults, which may frustrate some readers; and (3) the middle section of the book is epistolary in format that takes place during the 2020 Covid lockdown.
Angela felt that the audiobook narration was particularly well done and hit all the right notes with the humor and the pacing of the banter.
Book Summary
In this intimate memoir, Prince Harry tells his story, beginning when he learned of his mother’s tragic death at the tender age of 12.
We all remember the image of two young boys – two princes -walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.
For Harry, this is his side of the story finally made public. After his mother’s death, he struggled at school while dealing with anger and loneliness. Because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he also struggled to accept his prescribed life in the spotlight.
After his teen years, he found purpose and structure during his two combat tours with the British Army. But after the military, he felt more lost than ever. He suffered from post-traumatic stress and became prone to crippling panic attacks.
Above all, Harry dreamed of finding true love and some sense of normalcy. He hoped to start a family of his own and to somehow protect them from the media scrutiny that ended his mother’s story so tragically.
The Book Girls Say…
We expected to enjoy this memoir, but what made it a 5-star read for us was the fact that Prince Harry didn’t skip the hard stuff and didn’t shy away from the stories that show he is not perfect. Listening to the audiobook, we could feel how relieved he was to be able to share his side of things without a filter.
While many question the accuracy of Harry’s stories, we found it very informative to reading the memoir for ourselves and then compare it to the often twisted and inaccurate headlines about its contents. This alone lends veracity to his allegations that the press has unfairly demonized him over the years and painted pictures of him to suit their own needs.
We highly recommend this book in audio format, read by Prince Harry himself.
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Our Top Rated Books of 2023, But Published in Prior Years
In addition to new releases, we always enjoy reading books published previously. There are so many older gems that are now easier to get from the library, and these received our 5-star ratings.
Horse
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Through the true story of a racehorse named Lexington, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks manages to weave a tale of spirit and injustice over 150 years of American history.
The book has three timelines. In 1850, you’ll meet an enslaved horse groomer, Jarrett, in Kentucky, who has a special bond with Lexington. There is also a young artist who paints images of the horse. When the Civil War erupts, the artist fights for the union and runs into the young groom and stallion again far from the racetrack.
In 1954, an art gallery owner takes a special interest in a 19th-century equestrian old painting, even though the artist and provenance are unknown.
In 2019, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia and a Nigerian-American art historian unexpectedly connect through a common interest in the painting as they look for clues to the origin.
The Book Girls Say…
This story goes well beyond horse racing and art! Angela was hooked from the very first chapter. She found herself drawn in so deeply that she just keep turning pages with no regard for what time it was or what other tasks were on her to-do list.
The narrative jumps back and forth between the three timelines, and there are lots of characters to keep track of. However, the story is revealed, bit by bit, in such a brilliant way that it feels effortless. This incredibly well-researched historical fiction novel will stick with you long after you reach the final page.
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Best Audiobooks for Road Trips
Best Book Club Books From 2022
Love & Saffron
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Fifty-something Imogen Fortier is a magazine columnist living on Camano Island outside of Seattle. When she receives a fan letter, containing a gift of saffron, from 27-year-old Joan Bergstrom in LA, she writes back. Thus begins an unlikely friendship between these two women.
As the years pass, their letters to one another help them through the ups and downs of the world – the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of President Kennedy – as well as the unexpected twists and turns in their own lives. From world events to romantic relationships, through their letters they discover that food and a good life can’t be separated. Can anything shake the trust they’ve built over their years of correspondence?
This book is fully written in epistolary style, so you’ll be reading the letters back and forth between the women. The author kept the book on the shorter side, hoping it could be enjoyed in one sitting.
The Book Girls Say…
Melissa read this book at the end of July as a Decades Challenge pick. She was going on a family vacation and knew time would be limited, so she looked for something short and light. Love & Saffron exceeded her expectations! It was such a lovely story of friendship and the power of making a friend through writing first before ever meeting. As Melissa & Angela (the Book Girls) met through online communication, it was fun to be reminded that before computers, pen pals could become your dearest friends.
Don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book, which shares details about the real-life women who inspired the story.
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The German Wife
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Book Summary
Inspired by the true events of Operation Paperclip, this historical fiction novel tells the story of the US intelligence program that employed former Nazis in Huntsville, Alabama after WWII.
The story begins in Berlin in 1930. Changing political powers are sweeping through Germany. Sofie von Meyer Rhodes and her husband, Jürgen, are concerned with the social views taking hold in their country. But her academic husband’s work benefits from the ambitions of the newly elected chancellor. Soon, however, their morality is challenged and they realize that neutrality has a price.
At the same time, Lizzie Miller is living in the Texas panhandle during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The future looks bleak as their farm dries up. And that’s all before her brother, Henry, is called to Germany to fight in WWII.
Twenty years later in the 1950s, Jürgen is one of the many German scientists who is offered a pardon for their part in WWII in exchange for working on the fledgling space program in the US. Sofie welcomes the chance for a fresh start in a new country, but she soon finds that her Huntsville neighbors aren’t as welcoming or forgiving of her family’s past as she’d hoped.
Jürgen’s boss at the US space program is Calvin Miller, Lizzie’s husband. This is where the two women’s stories collide.
The Book Girls Say…
Kelly Rimmer is the author of one of our very favorite WWII historical fiction reads, The Things We Cannot Say, so we had high expectations for this book. Those expectations were far exceeded!
Even if you read a lot of WWII novels, we’re certain this novel will offer you a new perspective. It draws unexpected parallels across the decades, and it will leave you contemplating how history will reflect on the events of our lifetime.
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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Book Summary
Beginning in the 1980s and spanning 30 years, this story follows the lives of Sam and Sadie as they continue to reconnect at various points in their lives. Their first meet as children in the hospital – Sadie is visiting her sister, and Sam is recovering from a terrible car accident. They bond over their love of video games, and their instant friendship helps pull Sam out of his depression. But eventually, they have a falling out, and they don’t meet again until Sam’s junior year of college at Harvard (she is a student at MIT). He’s exiting a subway car when he sees Sadie across the platform.
This unexpected reunion soon begets an incredible collaboration as Sam and Sadie create a legendary video game before they’ve even graduated from college. They are young, brilliant, rich, and successful, but none of these characteristics can protect them from their creative ambitions, future betrayals, and inevitable failures.
The Book Girls Say…
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is from the author of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, but besides being well-written narratives, the two books have almost nothing else in common.
Don’t not to let the topic of gaming push you away from this book. Angela has zero knowledge about gaming (and even less interest), but she quickly realized that this story is so much more than that! While it does provides interesting insights into the gaming industry’s history and business (without requiring any prior knowledge of the topic), this is really a character-driven story about the human experience. This unique novel also touches on many different themes – including race, identity, technology, disability, and much more!
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Readers’ Favorite Books: 2022 Edition
Best Book Club Books From 2022
Book Summary
Alexis is a thirty-seven-year-old sophisticated city-girl. Daniel is the twenty-eight-year-old small-town mayor who saves her when her car gets stuck in a ditch. They have almost nothing in common, other than a strong sense of commitment to their respective communities, Nonetheless, their chemistry is undeniable!
She comes from an ultra-wealthy family who looks down on her for being a mere ER doctor (rather than carrying on the family legacy as a world-renowned surgeon). She’s also recovering from a toxic relationship.
As she spends time in Daniel’s tight-knit small town, she begins to discover what’s really important to her. But it seems impossible to reconcile these revelations with her obligations. Is there any chance that their fling could be anything more than that? How can she choose between her world and his?
The Book Girls Say…
We love a good rom-com, but many fall more into the four-star range. Those that rise to the five-star level for us mix humor and romance, with deeper topics, and Part of Your World does that so well! It will make you laugh and cry (sometimes even at the same time). It’s a book that you’ll want to hug
Let’s start with the laughs… this book includes one of the absolute funniest scenes we can remember (the tutorial – IYKYK)! Angela was laughing out loud while listening to the audiobook and had to rewind and listen again to catch every hilarious detail! Then she played the scene over for her husband, who was literally in tears from laughing so hard.
On the flip side, this story deals with some heavier issues, including both emotional and physical abuse. Neither is graphically portrayed on the page, but the impacts on the survivors are felt throughout the book.
We could go on and on, but we don’t want to spoil anything for you. We’ll just leave you with this, in case you’re not already convinced to pick up this book… the lovable characters include a baby goat in pajamas and a pig named Kevin Bacon.
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Best Rom Com Books of 2023: The Ultimate Reading List for Romantic Comedy Lovers
The Personal Librarian
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
This historical fiction novel is based on the remarkable true story of J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, a Black woman who became one of the most powerful women in NYC at the turn of the century by passing as white.
Belle da Costa Greene was working at Princeton University Library when J.P. Morgan’s nephew recommended her for a position curating a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artbooks for his uncle’s newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. This position of prominence made her one of the most influential people in the art and book world. She became a fixture on the New York social scene.
But Belle had a secret that could change everything. She led people to believe that her dark complexion was the result of her alleged Portuguese heritage. In truth, however, she was born Bella Marion Greener – the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard University.
The Book Girls Say…
We both rated The Personal Librarian five stars! The writing duo of Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray put together a seamless story that educates and entertains. From learning about the progress and recession of the civil rights movement in the decades surrounding the turn of the century to literary and art history, the book introduces several aspects that left us eager to do more research. However, that education was wrapped in a page-turning story full of romance and intrigue.
The book manages to move gracefully between lighter and heavier storylines. We were always on the edge of our seats, wondering if Belle’s secret would be revealed.
If you ever find yourself in NYC, be sure to plan time for The Morgan Library! Angela had a chance to visit back in March, and she was awed by the architecture and grandeur of each and every room, including Belle’s private office.
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Books Set in the 1900s-1910s: The Turn of the Century
The Personal Librarian Book Club Guide with Discussion Questions
PS: We also have a printable Personal Librarian book club guide available on Etsy, including discussion questions, 7 pages of bonus contextual information and photos, a printable bookmark, and more!
The Not-Quite States of America
Book Summary
Four million people inhabit the US island territories spread from the Caribbean to the Pacific. While these lands don’t have the benefits of statehood, like representation in the US Senate, they do have everything from US Post Offices to Little League teams.
When the author of this book realized that he (and most other Americans) knew very little about these territories, he decided to visit each one. After covering 30,000 miles and spending time with locals on each island, he was uniquely equipped to write a book about how the territories are an interesting and important part of America’s story.
The Book Girls Say…
When we decided to dedicate a month of the Read Around the USA Challenge to the five inhabited US Territories, we weren’t sure how difficult it would be to find engaging, highly-rated books. For many of the territories, it was a challenge, but then we stumbled upon this gem.
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands each have a distinct culture and history, and they each have a different relationship with the United States. Through Doug Mack’s travels to each island, we learned more than we expected and often wished we were alongside him. While it’s a non-fiction title and Mack digs into the details of the different government structures and unique challenges of being a territory, neither of us found the content to be dry. He infused enough personality into the book to keep us coming back for more! We think anyone interested in how and why the US has territories separate from the states should add this to their TBR list.
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Honorable Mentions for 2023
These 2023 new release books didn’t quite get our full five stars, but we still highly recommend them!
The Celebrants
Book Summary
The Celebrants focuses on a group of five college friends who are now approaching their 50s. Right before graduation, they lost the 6th member of their friend group, and the tragedy has had a lasting impact on each of them. During the memorial, the group made a pact that each person could summon the group together once with no prior planning. As part of the gathering, whoever has gathered the group gets a living “funeral” to remind them that life is worth living.
Twenty-eight years later, Jordan has a big secret that may destroy their nearly three-decade-old pact.
The Book Girls Say…
While this book has some hard themes and deals with grief, the character-driven story is wrapped in Steven Rowley’s signature wit and heart. However, If you’re looking for a book that makes you smile as often as The Guncle, you’ll want to reset expectations before picking up The Celebrants. It leans further into grief and harder moments of life. There are still humorous parts and great 90s pop culture references, though, like our favorite – the Courtney Scale. The characters use the scale to describe events in their lives as too Courtney Cox, too Courtney Love, or too Courtney Thorne-Smith.
The friendships aren’t perfect, and neither are the individual characters. And because the timeline is non-linear, it may take a bit longer to connect with them. However, if you know anyone who lost a friend during the pivotal period of life around high school and college, Melissa found the ongoing impact represented in this book to be very accurate.
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Book Summary
Picture-perfect couple Harriet and Wyn met in college and have been an inspirational duo ever since. But, as their annual week-long Maine vacation with their best friends approaches, they have a big decision to make. Do they finally confess that they broke up six months ago and still haven’t managed to tell their best friends?
The cottage they visit each year is being sold, and it’s the last time they’ll all be together in their sacred spot. It feels wrong to ruin the whole mood with their bad news. So Harriet and Wyn decide they can surely fake being in love for one week. After all, they’ve had years of practice.
This book alternates between chapters titled “Happy Place,” through which you see Harriet and Wyn’s relationship from and grow through the years, and chapters titled “Real Life” where you see them in the current broken-up status.
The Book Girls Say…
We can always count on Emily Henry for a perfect new summer title, and this year is no exception. In Happy Place, she tackles one of our favorite tropes – fake dating. We absolutely loved the vivid descriptions of Maine that captured not only the sights but also the tastes and smells!
We both rated this one 4.5 stars. Book Lovers and Beach Read still remain our favorite Emily Henry titles, but we enjoyed every minute of Happy Place.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
2023 Highly-Rated Books On Our TBRs
There are quite a few notable 2023 books that we think have major potential to make our year-end list. Here are a few have at the top of our TBRs and hope to read in the coming months:
- The First Ladies by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
- Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
- Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls
- The Seven-Year Slip by Ashley Poston
- Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
- Go As a River by Shelley Read
- The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
More 5-Star Book Recommendations
If you’re looking for more five-star book recommendations, be sure to check out both our favorites and our readers’ favorites from prior years using the links below.
Top 22 Books of 2022
Best Books of 2021
Readers’ Favorite Books of 2022
Readers’ Favorite Books of 2021
Laura Wooldridge
Wednesday 20th of September 2023
This is a great list! I would absolutely add Nora Roberts new book, Identity. It made me laugh out loud and tear up so that makes it a 5⭐️ read for me. It also has a character who travels through lots of states so it works for the Read Around the USA September prompt.