Every year, I take up the challenge of reading 100 books a year. Due to that, I come across a lot of great ones, and a lot of questionable ones. Of all the books I’ve read this year, I’ve had some truly amazing standouts. For anyone looking to get into reading, or any readers who need something new, here are my five-star books of 2023.
“The Stand In” by Lily Chu is a great romance with an enemies-to-lovers undertone. Gracie, the main character, is employed to be a publicity ‘stand-in’ for the Chinese television superstar Wei Fangli. To do this, she’ll need to learn how to expertly impersonate the star, and Fangli’s close friend and co-star, Sam Yao, is going to be the one to teach her. Over the course of the novel you see Sam and Gracie’s relationship develop from icy and business-like to a beautiful romance, with some important conversations about mental health and relationships coursing through. I couldn’t put this book down, and the voice of the novel, as well as the plot and characters, made it one of my favorite romance novels of all time.
“Gods of Jade and Shadow” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was the first and only book this year to have me actually set the novel down to take a walk around the room from disbelief. Casiopea Tun somehow finds herself setting free an ancient Mayan death god (who happens to be stunningly gorgeous), who employs her help to regain his place in the underworld before the effects of his power drain Casiopea of life. We follow her and the stunning death god Hun-Kame through their adventure as Casiopea’s family work to stop them. Set in the Mexican Yucatan during the 1920s, the novel takes the tone and plot of a fairytale, mixes it with some of the best slow burn I’ve ever read, perfect twists and turns, and an amazing plot. This quickly landed it as one of my favorite books of all time; I expected nothing less from my favorite author Moreno-Garcia.
“Know My Name” by Chanel Miller is the best memoir I’ve read ever. Chanel tells her story as a rape victim of (at the time) Stanford University athlete Brock Turner, her journey through healing, and the repercussions and tribulations that are the result of going through the American legal system. She eloquently tells the raw story of what happened, what led up to it, and most importantly, how she healed, and how she fought for her justice. A summary does not give this book enough credit, but it is a beautiful, raw, and important novel that encapsulates the experience of being a woman, the cyclical nature of healing from trauma, societal pressures and legal issues in a powerful way.
“Sharp Objects” by Gillian Flynn was a book I never thought I’d gravitate towards before this year. Camille Preaker is a reporter who returned to her small town in the deep south to investigate the mysterious deaths of two young girls. She reconnects with her estranged mother, stepfather and her half sister, Amma. Quickly realizing this situation is getting continuously sinister, Camille faces the intense trauma of her past while grappling to find the killer that has been lurking without secrecy in the plain light of the southern sun. It’s a fantastic thriller, with beautiful writing and an intensely captivating plot. Content discretion is also advised for distressing themes.
“When Brooklyn Was Queer” by Hugh Ryan is a collective history of the LBGTQ+ people of Brooklyn, New York. Beginning with early LGBTQ+ artists from the area such as poet Walt Whitman, it moves through the exposure of men and women of different ages and identities through the ages of New York. This history does a beautiful job of not only recounting the experiences of many overshadowed queer people, but also addressing some of the earliest modern roots of homophobia, transphobia, inaccurate stereotypes and prejudice, as well as the birth of the concept of sexuality and what LBGTQ+ people had to do to survive under the radar. This incredibly well-researched and interesting book is great for anyone looking to become more well-read on these topics, and for some readers, including myself, bring themselves closer to their queer history.
“Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke is one of the most interesting novels I’ve ever read. With a unique blend of fantasy and mystery, this novel begins by throwing you into a strange situation, and slowly unfolds the many layers that are the fictional worlds’ circumstances. Unfolded through the journal of main character Piranesi, he recounts his experiences and background as an inhabitant of The House; a mysterious and infinite labyrinth covered every inch with statues. Throughout the book, layers are unfolded revealing the mysterious nature of Piranesi’s background, as well as the labyrinth itself. This book is very hard to explain which is just another reason it is a great read. For readers who like books that keep them wondering even after it’s ended, this is a great pick.
“Red, White and Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston has been beloved since its release. Political romance is a genre I never thought I’d get into, but this book makes it intensely enjoyable. Alex Claremont-Diaz is the son of the (fictional) President of the United States, and has had an odd rivalry with Prince Henry of Britain, which somehow turns into one of the most heart wrenching and beautiful love stories I’ve read. Funny, intense, and the right amount of cheesy, I still think about this book all the time. Although intensely idealistic, it is also intensely sweet and enjoyable. For any readers who haven’t picked it up yet, this is a sign from me to do so.
That concludes my best reads from this year, from fiction, nonfiction, history, mystery, to romance, there’s something here for everyone. One hundred books a year is definitely a challenge, but one worth completing to find and share books like these.
