This is my absolute favorite post of the year! I hit my goal of reading 150 books this year, so it was a little bit harder to narrow this list down. I am so excited to share with you the Best Books of 2023!  The list is in no particular order – it would be too hard to choose a favorite from these selections. Most, but not all of the books were published in 2023. 

Best Books of 2023

Fourth Wing

by Rebecca Yarros

I had a feeling this was going to be on everyone’s list this year. So, my list of the 10 best books of 2023 is actually 11. I didn’t think I was going to like this book since I haven’t been into fantasy books in a while, but I was pleasantly surprised, When I tell you I couldn’t put it down, I really couldn’t. The sequel has been sitting on my nightstand forever, so I think it’ll be the first book I read of 2024!

Yes Chef

by Waitlyn Andrews

t has been a while since I read a romance book that wasn’t classified as spicy- but this one was SO good! I can’t believe this was Waitlyn Andrew’s first book. I hope it’s her first of many because I will read every single one. Yes, Chef a true slow build romance and I savored every single page. I loved the characters just as much as I loved the restaurant aspect of this book. This story is perfect to become a movie and I hope it does! I am fascinated by the restaurant world and the romance was the perfect cherry on top! I absolutely loved this!

Meet Me at the Lake

by Carley Fortune

After her debut novel ended up on my last years Top Ten list, I couldn’t wait for this one to be released. It did not disappoint. If you love the second chance romance trope, then you will absolutely adore this book! Five stars! 

Magnolia Parks

by Jessa Hastings

If you were an OG fan of Gossip Girl, then you will be obsessed with this book! Is it on the longer side, but it was so juicy and entertaining. The characters are all so toxic & I couldn’t get enough!  I purchased the rest of the series, but haven’t started it yet! It’s on my 2024 TBR list for sure!

The Villa

by Rachel Hawkins

I’ve never read a Rachel Hawkins book I didn’t like. The Villa won me over even more because of all of the Fleetwood Mac vibes. I absolutely ate this book up and I didn’t want it to end.  It had it all: suspense, secrets & sisterhood. Another five star book from her! 

Hide

by Tracy Clark 

When I tell you I was anxiously awaiting for the second book in this series – like I couldn’t wait! I love a police, serial killer thriller and the FMC in this one is a bad ass detective who was giving Olivia Benson vibes. The second book in the three part series just came out, and I will be reading it immediately in January!

Wreck the Halls 

by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey can truly do no wrong and Wreck the Halls was such a treat to read! I was hooked from the very beginning. Beat & Melody are the children of the incredibly famous but broken up band, The Steel Birds. The public has gone decades without knowing what caused the band to break up. The group has gone viral & has a whole new generation of fans who are desperate for them to get back together for a reunion. Only one problem: they hate each other.

Beat & Melody are approached to be in a reality show which would follow them in an attempt to get their famous mothers to agree to a reunion.  Neither of them likes the spotlight but Beat needs the money. And Melody would do anything for him considering she hasn’t stopped thinking about him since the day they met when they were 16 years old.

I never wanted this book to end and it absolutely needs to be a movie. Perfect amount of smut. Perfect amount of holiday cheer. Can you tell I love books with Fleetwood Mac vibes?

Down the Drain

by Julia Fox

I came for the Kanye tea, and stayed for her life story. Holy shit I cannot believe everything she went through considering she is so young. This book was so well written – and I really think she wrote it herself and did not use a ghostwriter. Her voice came through on every single page. Her story is both heartbreaking and fascinating. You don’t have to like her to read this book. I think anyone would enjoy it. I love a celebrity memoir, especially a dark one and this one was incredible.

Happy Place

by Emily Henry

I think this is another one that will be on everyone’s list of top books this year. Emily Henry rose to fame with her first book, Beach Read, and has been killing it ever since. Her books are light-hearted, romantic and fun! They are always the perfect beach read and Happy Place was no different! 

Archer’s Voice

by Mia Sheridan

Archer’s Voice is definitely the oldest book on this year’s list. It was published in 2018 – but I kept seeing it all over booktok! I knew it was going to be sad, but I was literally sobbing at the end – and I never do that. This is such a heart-warming and beautiful love story! 

Pucking Around

by Emily Rath

This book is the complete opposite of Archer’s Voice, ha! This was recommended to me by a girlfriend who loves smut as much as I do. This book is not for the faint of heart. You’ve been warned!