I haven’t done a “Favorites of the Year” list in quite some time but I was reviewing my reading for 2023 and thought I’d talk a bit about some of my favorites. My lists tend to include books you won’t see on the “Best of” lists from the usual places, so I hope you find something you might have missed this year.
There’s a good bit of the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller genre, with a solid dose of fantasy & magical realism, and at least one “remarkable” children’s book.
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallatt is a very unusual book, with a good portion of it consisting of transcribed messages. This is a book where you really have to pay attention, but if you are a puzzle-lover, you will adore this book. I didn’t read anything else like it this year.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – I am usually not a fan of twee romantasy stories, but this one captured my attention because the female protagonist is strong, clever, and determined. This is a debut author I will follow, for sure. Well worth the time.
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen – Addison Allen’s previous books have hooked me with their gentle, sometimes raw, always honest stories of families, and this one is no different. Here, it’s mothers and daughters and the sometimes complicated relationships they share. Just a lovely, gentle book.
Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim – hands down the best fantasy novel I read in 2023, and one I am hoping gets turned into a mini-series or film, it’s that good.
River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer – This book has it all – rage, heartbreak, despair but also hope, love, and resilience – all driven by a mother’s unyielding love for her children. You won’t forget this one.
Last Remains by Elly Griffiths – I’ve been a fan of Griffiths “Ruth Galloway” books and this one is the last in that series. Griffiths does an outstanding job of tying up loose ends and ending the series in a very satisfying way. If you like British mysteries that are not filled with gore, I highly recommend the Galloway series.
Gospel of Orla by Eoghan Walls – This novella took me back to my mother’s death in 1984 and reminded me of all the feelings that consumed me at that time. A beautiful little book about grief and family dynamics.
Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas – Thomas successfully jumped genres with this, her first fantasy book for children. It’s full of appealing and powerful Black characters who I am sure have captured the hearts of middle grade readers everywhere.
Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon – This quirky murder mystery features one of the more unusual female protagonists and cast of characters I’ve ever come across. Read it in a day.
Lady in White by Zachary Finn – As a Rochester NY resident who grew up on the “White Lady of Durand Eastman Park” folk story, I had to include this one among my favorites this year. So good!
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian – If Stephen King wrote The Sisters Brothers – I flew through this weird and wild mash up of the western and horror genres.
White Hare by Jane Johnson – This story has all the things that captivate me in a book: magical realism, plenty of folklore, colorful characters, secrets from the past, and complicated family relationships.
These are books I read in 2023, but some of them may have been published in other years. They are all worth your time!
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