Top 24 Books Of 2023 That You Should Consider Reading
Welcome to our roundup of the top 24 books of 2023! This year has been a remarkable one for literature, with a plethora of compelling narratives and thought-provoking ideas gracing the shelves. From riveting thrillers to poignant memoirs, from groundbreaking science fiction to transformative self-help guides, 2023 has offered something for every reader.
Join us as we journey through the pages of the year’s most impactful books.
1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
“Fourth Wing” is a novel by Rebecca Yarros, part of “The Empyrean” series. The story revolves around a twenty-year-old character named Violet Sorrengail. Originally destined for a quiet life in the Scribe Quadrant, immersed in books and history, Violet’s life takes a drastic turn when her mother, a commanding general, orders her to join the candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. However, Violet’s small stature and brittle body pose a significant challenge, as dragons are known not to bond with “fragile” humans.
The novel is set in the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders. Violet must navigate this dangerous environment, where most would kill her to improve their chances of success or simply for being her mother’s daughter. The story is filled with friends, enemies, lovers, and everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda. As the war outside grows more deadly and the kingdom’s protective wards fail, Violet begins to suspect that the leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
“Fourth Wing” has been praised for its representation of chronic illness through Violet’s character, who deals with chronic pain and must negotiate how to be a dragon rider given her physical limitations. The book has been described as a fun read, with an interesting world full of adventure, dragons, magic, and love triangles set at a war college. However, some reviews have noted that the central romance feels immature and the political intrigue could be more developed.
2. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
“The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder” is a non-fiction book by David Grann. The book tells the story of the survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, a British vessel that left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. The Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon known as “the prize of all the oceans,” but it wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, after being marooned for months and facing starvation, built a flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles of storm-wracked seas.
The book reveals the deeper meaning of the events on the Wager, showing that it was not only the captain and crew who ended up on trial, but the very idea of empire. The crew had fallen into anarchy while stranded on the island, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death–for whomever the court found guilty could hang.
“The Wager” has been praised as one of the finest non-fiction books. Grann’s recreation of the hidden world on a British warship rivals the work of Patrick O’Brian, his portrayal of the castaways’ desperate straits stands up to the classics of survival writing such as The Endurance, and his account of the court martial has the savvy of a Scott Turow thriller. The book surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann’s crisp and evocative prose.
3. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
the Covenant of Water” is a novel by Abraham Verghese, set in Kerala, South India, and follows three generations of a family. The story begins in 1900 with a 12-year-old girl from Kerala’s Christian community who is sent by boat to her wedding to meet her 40-year-old husband for the first time. This young girl, who later becomes the matriarch known as Big Ammachi, witnesses significant changes over her extraordinary life. The family suffers from a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning. This curse, referred to as the “Condition,” is something that everyone hopes a doctor will find a cure for.
The novel also tells the story of Digby Kilgour, a young Scottish doctor who travels from Glasgow to Madras to join the Indian medical service during colonial times. The two stories converge towards the end, symbolically described as “a river linking people upstream with those below”. The novel is interspersed with historical events such as Indian soldiers fighting for the British in the world wars, India gaining independence, the formation of the state of Kerala, the communists winning elections, and the Naxalite revolution.
“The Covenant of Water” has been praised for its detailed depiction of the bountiful nature of Kerala, the intricate rituals of everyday life, and the rigors of medical study. The novel is described as an epic saga of births, deaths, and everything in between happening in cycles. The plot turns on climate catastrophes, diseases, and accidents, each of which is tragic, riveting, and pivotal to the story. The book was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction in 2023.
4. Holly by Stephen King
“Holly” is a novel by Stephen King, featuring the character Holly Gibney. The story begins when Holly, a private detective, receives a call from Penny Dahl, who is seeking help to find her missing daughter, Bonnie. Despite dealing with personal issues, Holly is unable to turn down Penny’s desperate plea. As Holly investigates, she discovers a connection between Bonnie’s disappearance and a series of other disappearances in the neighborhood over the years.
The narrative alternates between Holly’s investigation in the present and the experiences of the victims over the years. The victims were captured by Professors Rodney and Emily Harris, a seemingly respectable elderly couple. The professors harbor a horrifying secret in their basement, which may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. Each capture is described in devastating detail, from a vegan who refuses to cooperate to a teen skateboarder whose mother descends into alcoholism after his unsolved disappearance.
“Holly” has been praised for its compelling blend of crime and horror genres. The book delves deep into the darkness, with Holly’s relentless pursuit of justice driving the narrative. The novel also touches on contemporary themes such as Covid-19, Black Lives Matter, Trump, and the 6 January insurrection. The book won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror in 2023.
5. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
“Tom Lake” is a novel by Ann Patchett that tells the story of Lara Nelson and her three adult daughters: Emily, Maisie, and Nell. The narrative alternates between present-day Michigan and the same state in 1988, when Lara spent a summer at Tom Lake, where she starred opposite the young Duke in a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. The daughters have always known that Lara once dated Peter Duke, an actor who would later win an Oscar. However, they demand to know everything about their mother’s past relationship with Duke.
The novel is set during the pandemic, and thanks to the lockdown, the Nelson girls are all at home helping with the cherry harvest. Lara’s story, told in daily installments, will be better than any podcast at easing them through the long, back-breaking days. The book is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born23. It explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart.
“Tom Lake” has been praised for its beautiful prose, on-target timing of changes in her characters’ interactions, and droll humorous comments. The book is both hopeful and elegiac, and it combines compelling narrative artistry with piercing insights into family dynamics. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fiction in 20232.
6. Spare by Prince Harry
“Spare” is a memoir by Prince Harry, written with the help of J.R. Moehringer. The book is part confession, part rant, and part love letter. It provides an inside view of what Harry calls a “surreal fishbowl” and “unending Truman Show,” showing the sheer weirdness of his often isolated life.
The memoir begins with Harry’s childhood as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. After losing his mother, Princess Diana, at the age of twelve, Harry’s life changed drastically. He struggled at school, with anger, with loneliness, and with accepting life in the spotlight. At twenty-one, he joined the British Army, which gave him structure, but he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks.
The book also chronicles Harry’s romance with Meghan Markle. From the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Despite the book’s intention to secure sympathy and understanding for its author, some reviews have noted that it is tone-deaf to his privilege and at times bizarre.
7. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
“Iron Flame” is the second book in “The Empyrean” series by Rebecca Yarros. The story continues with Violet Sorrengail, who survived her first year at Basgiath War College. Now, she faces new challenges in her training, which is grueling and designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. The new vice commandant has made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is, unless she betrays the man she loves.
The novel is set during a time of war and involves dragon riders and magic. Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College, and she fears that nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end. The book has been praised for its high stakes, detailed world-building, and the development of its characters. However, some reviews have noted pacing problems and issues with the dynamic between certain characters.
“Iron Flame” is darker than its predecessor, “Fourth Wing”, and it seems that Yarros is not afraid to delve deeper into the darkness in the later books. The book ends with a cliffhanger, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. Despite some criticisms, “Iron Flame” has been described as a wonderful follow-up to “Fourth Wing” and a riveting addition to the Empyrean series.
8. Happy Place by Emily Henry
“Happy Place” is a novel by Emily Henry. The story revolves around Harriet and Wyn, who have been the perfect couple since they met in college. However, they broke up six months ago and still haven’t told their best friends. This leads to a complicated situation when they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade.
The novel is set during their annual respite from the world, where they leave behind their daily lives and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most. Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. The cottage is for sale, and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts.
“Happy Place” has been praised for its relentless positivity and heartbreaking portrayal of growing up. It explores heavy topics, filled with love and loss, grief, hurt, trauma, change, happiness and unhappiness, friendships and family. The book was more melancholy, thoughtful, and deep, which is why it was loved by many. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance in 2023.
9. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
“Yellowface” is a novel by R.F. Kuang. The story revolves around Athena Liu, a literary darling, and June Hayward, a relatively unknown author. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song. The book grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media.
The novel is set in the world of publishing and tells the tale of two young novelists in Washington DC. Athena had just shown Juniper her secret new manuscript – an epic novel about the Chinese workers recruited by the British army in the first world war. In the subsequent blur of events, from 911 call to tear-stained Uber ride home, Juniper spirits away the stack of pages then just can’t help publishing it under her own name.
“Yellowface” has been praised for its addictive, shocking, compelling, ridiculous, and extremely fun to read nature. It wrestles with hot-button topics in publishing surrounding race, classism, white privilege, and tokenism. The book won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fiction in 2023.
10. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
“None of This Is True” is a thriller by Lisa Jewell. The story begins when two women, Alix Summers and Josie Fair, meet at a pub on their 45th birthdays and discover they were born not only on the same day, but in the same hospital. Alix is a popular podcaster, and Josie convinces her that her story is worth telling. Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t resist the temptation to keep making the podcast.
As Alix delves deeper into Josie’s life, she realizes that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets. Suddenly, Josie disappears, leaving a terrifying legacy in her wake. Alix discovers that she has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat. The narrative unfolds in the present tense, with transcripts from Alix’s interviews offering increasingly varied perspectives on Josie’s story.
“None of This Is True” has been praised for its gripping storyline and the unique twist of a Netflix documentary spin. However, some readers found the last part of the book disappointing. The book was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller in 2023.
11. Love, Theoretically Ali Hazelwood
“Love, Theoretically” is a novel by Ali Hazelwood. The story revolves around Elsie Hannaway, a theoretical physicist and adjunct professor. By day, she teaches thermodynamics and grades labs in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, embodying whichever version of herself the client needs.
The novel is set in the world of academia and tells the tale of Elsie’s struggle with her ambitions in science. Elsie’s carefully constructed world comes crashing down when Jack Smith, the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere, turns out to be the same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.
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“Love, Theoretically” has been praised for its representation of women in STEM and academia. The book genuinely challenges its heroine in realistic ways. However, some readers found the romance between the main characters falling in love too soon for their own good. The book was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance in 2023.
12. The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
“The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure” is a novel by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro. The story revolves around demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace, who must endure the terrors of Tartarus to rescue an old friend. As the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo has been through so much, from the premature deaths of his mother and sister, to being outed against his will, to losing his friend Jason during the trials of Apollo. But there is a ray of sunshine in his life–literally: his boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo.
The novel is set in the world of Percy Jackson and involves a quest to Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld. Nico is being plagued by a voice calling out to him from Tartarus. He thinks he knows who it is: a reformed Titan named Bob whom Percy and Annabeth had to leave behind when they escaped Hades’s realm. Nico’s dreams and Rachel Dare’s latest prophecy leave little doubt in Nico’s mind that Bob is in some kind of trouble. Nico has to go on this quest, whether Mr. D and Chiron like it or not. And of course Will insists on coming with.
“Sun and the Star” has been praised for its glorious knack for mythical machinations, profoundly sharp conflicts, and contemporary humor. At its core, this stellar tale centers a richly woven love story that shines with ease between two boys who are seemingly different from one another. The book was rated 4.28 out of 5 by 29,152 ratings on Goodreads.
13. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
“Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” is a historical novel by Lisa See. The story is inspired by the true story of Tan Yunxian, a woman physician from 15th-century China. Born into an elite family, Yunxian is raised by her grandparents, who are both doctors, and given an unusually advanced education, including in the healing arts. Despite the constraints of her class and gender, Yunxian breaks free of traditions to treat women and girls from every level of society.
The novel explores the dynamics of living in an elite household as a woman, showing their strong bonds and many conflicts. It’s a beautiful story of love, loss, tradition, and friendship. The lifelong friendship between Yunxian and Meiling, a midwife-in-training, has an indelible impact on both women. Despite the book’s pace sometimes slowing, it’s packed with historical detail.
“Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” has been praised for its heartwarming portrayal of the beautiful bonds of the women who support each other. It also provides a sad and incomprehensible look at horrific customs like footbinding. The book was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction in 2023.
14. The Only One Left by Riley Sager
“The Only One Left” is a thriller by Riley Sager. The story is set in 1983 and revolves around Kit McDeere, a home-health aide who arrives at a decaying mansion called Hope’s End to care for Lenora Hope. Lenora is a local figure who allegedly murdered her parents and sister back in 1929. Now in her seventies and mute due to a series of strokes, Lenora communicates with Kit by typing on an old typewriter\. One night, Lenora makes a tantalizing offer to Kit: “I want to tell you everything. It wasn’t me,”.
As Kit helps Lenora write about the events leading to the Hope family massacre, it becomes clear there’s more to the tale than people know. However, when new details about her predecessor’s departure come to light, Kit starts to suspect Lenora might not be telling the complete truth. The novel alternates between Kit’s narration in the present and Lenora’s typewritten account of her life leading up to the incident.
“The Only One Left” has been praised for its simple yet vivid descriptions and the pace of its writing. The first half of the book is tense and propulsive, but in later chapters, the narrative takes many outlandish turns so quickly that it borders on camp. Despite some criticisms, the book provides a thrilling ride for those with a high tolerance for plot hijinks. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller in 2023.
15. The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
“The Little Liar” is a novel by Mitch Albom, released in 2023. The story is a captivating allegory about evil, lies, and forgiveness. It revolves around Udo Graf, who is proud that the Wolf has assigned him the task of expelling all 50,000 Jews from Salonika, Greece. In that city, Nico Krispis is an 11-year-old Jewish boy whose blue eyes and blond hair deceive, but whose words do not. Those who know him know he has never told a lie in his life¹. Udo and Nico meet, and Udo decides to exploit the child’s innocence.
At the train station where Jews are being jammed into cattle cars bound for Auschwitz, Udo gives Nico a yellow star to wear and persuades him to whisper among the crowd. When Nico realizes the horrific nature of what he’s done, his truth-telling days are over. He becomes an inveterate liar about everything. The story is narrated by the Angel of Truth, whom according to a parable God had cast out of heaven and onto earth, where Truth shattered into billions of pieces, each to lodge in a human heart.
The book has been praised for its well-crafted narrative and its exploration of truth and deception. It was rated 4 out of 5 by Kirkus Reviews. Despite the difficult WWII content, the book provides a great deal to ponder as it exposes the liars and examines the consequences.
16. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” is a novel by James McBride. The story is set in 1972 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. The narrative begins with the discovery of a skeleton in a well, which is a mystery to be solved and pivotal to the plot.
The novel revolves around Chona Ludlow, the compassionate Jewish proprietor of the novel’s eponymous grocery store. Her instinctive kindness and fairness toward the Black families of Chicken Hill exceed even that of her husband, Moshe. The ties binding the Ludlows to their Black neighbors become even stronger over the years. However, that bond is tested most stringently and perilously when Chona helps Nate Timblin, a taciturn Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of his community, conceal and protect a young orphan named Dodo.
“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” has been praised for its profound storytelling, featuring a cacophonous cast of characters. The novel is an irresistible work—profound as it is ingeniously entertaining, making it one of the great American novels of our time. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction in 2023.
17. The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
“The River We Remember” is a novel by William Kent Krueger1. The story is set in 1958 in Jewel, Minnesota, where the wealthiest—and least-liked—citizen is murdered and a war veteran is suspected of the crime. The narrative is told from the standpoint of the sheriff of Black Earth County, Minnesota, and it is the story of the investigation into the murder of the richest citizen of the county.
The novel revolves around Memorial Day (or Decoration Day, as it was still called in 1958) which takes on new meaning for the residents of Jewel. The book is so much more than a murder mystery. It provides food for thought while making observations about human nature as well as nature itself.
“The River We Remember” has been praised for its beautifully written, insightful, gripping, and hard to put down nature. It is another well-written and satisfying stand-alone novel from Kent Krueger, reflecting the character and sometime mystery of the northern lake country. The book was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller in 2023.
18. The Secret by Lee Child and Andrew Child
“The Secret” is a Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child, published in 2023. The story is set in 1992, when eight respectable, upstanding people have been found dead across the US. These deaths look like accidents and don’t appear to be connected. However, one body – the victim of a fatal fall from a hospital window – generates some unexpected attention. That attention comes from the Secretary of Defense, who promptly calls for an interagency task force to investigate. Jack Reacher is assigned as the Army’s representative.
Reacher may be an exceptional soldier, but sweeping other people’s secrets under the carpet isn’t part of his skill set. As he races to discover the link between these victims, and who killed them, he must navigate around the ulterior motives of his new ‘partners’. And all while moving into the sight line of some of the most dangerous people he has ever encountered. His mission is to uncover the truth. The question is: will Reacher bring the bad guys to justice the official way . . . or his way?.
“The Secret” has been praised as a classic Jack Reacher novel, with fast and furious action. It was rated 4.12 out of 5 by 26,586 ratings on Goodreads.
19. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
“Divine Rivals” is the first book in the “Letters of Enchantment” series by Rebecca Ross. The story is set in a fantasy world and revolves around two young rival journalists, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt. Iris and Roman find love through a magical connection, and they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.
“Divine Rivals” has been praised for its lush and beautiful writing filled with hope. The historical elements of the book were very well done, and readers enjoyed the hints of fantasy world-building. The book is heartwarming and heartbreaking, intense and dark and hopeful. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction in 2023.
20. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
“Yumi and the Nightmare Painter” is a novel by Brandon Sanderson and is part of the Cosmere universe. The story revolves around two characters from incredibly different worlds: Yumi, who comes from a land of gardens, meditation, and spirits, and Painter, who lives in a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. Their lives become intertwined in strange ways, and they must put aside their differences and work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save their communities from certain disaster.
The book is inspired by the manga/anime Hikaru no Go by Yumi Hotta (writer) and Takeshi Obata (illustrator), the anime Kimi no Nawa (Your Name), and the video game Final Fantasy X. The narrative is filled with duality, contrast, and cooperation. The book has been praised for its beautiful narrative, amazing world-building, and great characters. It was rated 4.51 out of 5 by 35,653 ratings on Goodreads. Despite the learning curve, this book is worth it. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction in 2023.
21. “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano
“Hello Beautiful” is a novel by Ann Napolitano. The story revolves around William Waters, who grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him. He meets Julia Padavano, a spirited and ambitious young woman who surprises William with her appreciation of his quiet steadiness. With Julia comes her family; she is inseparable from her three younger sisters: Sylvie, the dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book and imagines a future different from the expected path of wife and mother; Cecelia, the family’s artist; and Emeline, who patiently takes care of all of them. Happily, the Padavanos fold Julia’s new boyfriend into their loving, chaotic household. But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable loyalty to one another.
The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?. Vibrating with tenderness, “Hello Beautiful” is a gorgeous, profoundly moving portrait of what’s possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.
The book has been praised for its emotionally layered and engrossing story. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fiction in 2023.
22. “The Spy Coast” by Tess Gerritsen
“The Spy Coast” is a thriller by Tess Gerritsen. The story revolves around Maggie Bird, a 60-year-old former CIA agent who is comfortably retired in Purity, Maine. However, her peaceful retirement is disrupted when a body turns up in her driveway, and she realizes it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why.
The narrative alternates between the present and the past, revealing Maggie’s history and her relationship with her husband, Dr. Danny Gallagher. The story moves to various locations, including London, Bangkok, and Milan, before ending in Purity. The book has been praised for its atmospheric read, interesting plot, engaging characters, and varied settings. It was rated 4.39 out of 5 by 43,236 ratings on Goodreads.
23. “The Exchange: After The Firm” by John Grisham
“The Exchange: After The Firm” is a novel by John Grisham. The story is set in 2000 and brings back Mitch McDeere, the brilliant hero of “The Firm”. Mitch is now a high-powered partner at the world’s largest law firm, Scully & Pershing. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favor that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family.
The narrative kicks off when Mitch is called to Rome to take the lead on a case involving a Turkish company that built a $400 million bridge to nowhere in the Libyan desert. When Mitch assigns a London-based Scully associate to go on a fact-finding mission to the bridge, she is taken hostage and this legal thriller pretty much drops the adjective and just becomes a thriller. Mitch’s job is not to legally outsmart his colleague’s captors, but to try and make sure she’s not beheaded by terrorists by working every angle to come up with their ransom.
“The Exchange: After The Firm” has been praised for its fast-paced action and international suspense. However, some readers wished the action would slow down a little so they could spend some time with the characters. The book was rated 3.74 out of 5 by 43,869 ratings on Goodreads.
24. Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
“Someone Else’s Shoes” is a novel by Jojo Moyes. The story revolves around two women, Alix Summers and Josie Fair, who meet at a pub on their 45th birthdays and discover they were born not only on the same day, but in the same hospital. Alix is a popular podcaster, and Josie convinces her that her story is worth telling. Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t resist the temptation to keep making the podcast.
As Alix delves deeper into Josie’s life, she realizes that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets. Suddenly, Josie disappears, leaving a terrifying legacy in her wake. Alix discovers that she has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat. The narrative unfolds in the present tense, with transcripts from Alix’s interviews offering increasingly varied perspectives on Josie’s story.
“Someone Else’s Shoes” has been praised for its engrossing and fast-paced read that captures the essence of women’s empowerment, friendship, and self-discovery. With witty dialogue, clever twists, and relatable characters, this book is a must-read for fans of Moyes and readers who enjoy women’s fiction. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fiction in 2023.
Conclusion
And there you have it – the top 24 books that defined 2023! Each of these books has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape, captivating readers with their unique storytelling and profound insights. As we bid farewell to 2023, we carry with us the lessons, the laughter, the tears, and the moments of wonder that these books have gifted us. Here’s to another year of great reading ahead!
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