As I sit and reflect on 2023, certain books come to mind when I consider which truly stood out to me in the 50 books I read (yay, I met my goal!). When narrowing down my selection, I decided to separate fiction – my preferred genre – from non-fiction in order to make sure both were represented. All of these titles earned 4-5 stars from me and continue to cross my mind as impactful in some way. Depending on your interests, hopefully you can find at least a recommendation or two for 2024!
Top 10 Fiction Recs from 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction (’90s) / Sports / Romance
What I loved about this book…
- Even though I am not knowledgeable about sports, this was still captivating and easy to read
- Strong female representation; unashamedly represents the “bad-ass b” character type
- Extremely well-developed secondary characters that add depth to the story
- Romance blends well into the plotline and the chemistry is believable
- Loving, heart-wrenching father-daughter relationship
- Informative – yet digestable – about tennis
- Warning: grieving over the loss of parents
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Literary Fiction
What I loved about this book…
- Quiet character analysis of a woman in her late twenties going through the tumult and heartbreak of a manipulative relationship
- Relatable depiction of emotionally abusive relationships
- Character arc is believable and relatable; readers will root for Adelaide to find her self-worth
- Discusses the importance of caring for one’s mental health in a realistic way
- Highlights the power of friendships and found-family during hardship
- Warning: emotional abuse and depression
Genre: Historical Fiction (’80s) / Young-Adult
What I loved about this book…
- A look into the life of a teen and his family in communist Russia
- Thematically connects to current events in our world (i.e. Ukraine and Russia)
- Readers want to root for these characters to find their courage and fight for freedom
- Elements of mystery and suspense keep interest
- Technically is categorized as young adult, but can be enjoyed by anyone teenage through adult
- Warning: graphic violence and killing
Genre: Literary Fiction
What I loved about this book…
- Satirical depiction about issues of authenticity and representation in the publishing industry
- The main character – a white woman in her twenties who has stolen and published the writing of her Asian rival – is a cunning, unreliable narrator allows people to believe she is part of the AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) voices minority group
- Series of events – and consequences – are almost comical, as they are entertainingly ridiculous
- Feels like reading juicy gossip about the publishing industry
- Great book club pick
- Warning: racism
Genre: Literary Fiction
What I loved about this book…
- Unique female friendship is developed and serves as a base for the plot; the wife asks the other woman to help her disappear
- Plenty of mystery surrounding the dark, abusive relationship between one of the character’s and her wealthy husband
- Extremely fast-paced, twisty, and downright entertaining
- Reasonably accurate depiction of what homelessness can look like
- Warning: abusive, controlling relationship; violence; psychological manipulation
Genre: Contemporary Romance
What I loved about this book…
- The cozy New-York-City-during-the-holidays vibe mixed with the delectable flavor of vanilla gelato (the primary focus!)
- Whilst searching for a connection to her beloved mother who passed from cancer, the protagonist falls for a man searching for his family’s beloved gelato recipe for their family gelateria; she learns that they are connected by the past
- The protagonist has just left an emotionally abusive relationship; the trauma / PTSD representation was accurate (I felt so understood!)
- Non-linear timeline with flashbacks to reveal secrets
- Fun, lively representation of a dynamic Italian-American family
- Side characters are full of life, love, and personality (found-family trope!)
- Warning: grieving a mother’s death; abusive relationship
Genre: Literary Fiction / Dystopian / Sci-Fi
What I loved about this book…
- Society must decide what to do when everyone receives a box with a string; its length reflects how much longer they have to live
- Presents existential themes that are relevant to our modern society
- Reflects current political issues through society’s responses to these strings
- Multiple POVs represent different perspectives on the issue, but all connect to each other in some way
- Interesting take on traditional dystopian stories
- Warning: death
Genre: Historical Fiction (’60s/’70s) / Women’s Issues
What I loved about this book…
- Female scientist navigates love, relationships, and a male-dominated career in a time period where the odds are against her; she ends up hosting a cooking show called Supper at Six where she strives to empower women – primarily housewives – to think critically about cooking as a form of chemistry and an essential job within the home
- The side characters are absolutely adorable (even the dog has its own POV in the book!) and well-developed
- The strong themes of women’s empowerment and found-family
- Great book club pick for all ages
- Warning: sexual assault and death/grief
Genre: Historical Fiction (’50s) / Women’s Issues
What I loved about this book…
- One Black woman is striving to make something of herself despite the poverty she was born into, but (although taboo) falls for a Jewish boy, which changes the the outlook of her future. Another Black woman seeks acceptance in her Black husband’s powerful, wealthy family, but struggles to conceive. The story follows these two women to discover how they intersect.
- Strong characterization and interweaving of characters
- The author’s writing successfully blends the inspiration of her family with historical research
- Warning: coercion, infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy loss, racism, adoption
Genre: Literary Fiction
What I loved about this book…
- This story follows the friendship between a boy and girl over a span of thirty years; in this time, they encounter the trials of life while they work together to create video games and find fame in this industry
- Beautifully represents issues of friendships, relationships, disability, identity, and coming-of-age
- You can love this book without knowing anything about the world of gaming because it is character-focused
- Warning: suicide, anxiety/depression, gun violence
Non-Fiction Recs from 2023
What it’s about…
- Jennette McCurdy, a child-actress well known for starring on Nickelodeon’s iCarly, tells about her life growing up under the influence of her controlling, arguably narcissistic mother in this memoir
- Best when listened to on audiobook – she narrates it!
- Warning: manipulation, eating disorders, mental health, addiction, cancer, abusive relationships (family and romantic)
What it’s about…
- Covers attachment style theories that explain how we connect to others in romantic relationships and the pros/cons that come with certain attachment style pairings
- It provides explanations, as well as ways to conceptualize, all attachment styles (avoidant, anxious, secure) individually and within pairings to best understand the needs of ourselves and our partners
- (Find out more here)
What it’s about…
- Human intelligence and consciousness is compared to that of animals to consider what separates us in our thinking
- Considers philosophical things like morals, thought processes and abilities, moral systems, understanding of others and environment
What it’s about…
- Matthew McConaughey gives readers his “notes” about life based on what he has experienced using wit and optimism
- Best when listened to on audiobook – he narrates it!
- (Find out more here)
What it’s about…
- How to have difficult conversations with others about topics that might create tension or conflict (i.e. matters of disagreement over politics; miscommunication; issues within the workplace)
- Can be applied to the workplace or personal life
What it’s about…
- Jane Goodall gives reader’s advice on how to stay hopeful in difficult times through anecdotal stories of her time researching in nature
- Best when listened to on audiobook – she narrates it!
Archetypes & Anecdotes 
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