My Favorite Books of 2023

As per tradition, I am back from hiatus to share my favorite reads of 2023. Before I jump into it, though, I wanted to mention a few caveats. I’m hoping to return to my regular blogging schedule, but there’s a lot going on in my life. Unfortunately, we had a loss in the family, and catching up on writing and work has me busier than ever before. For my newcomers, I post writing and publishing tips every first and third Monday (with the occasional extra post in-between). If you want to see a full list of everything I read this year, visit my Goodreads. To add one last stipulation: these are books that I read in 2023, not necessarily books that released in 2023. I hope you find something to read. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments below! I always love suggestions. 

Now without further ado:

My favorite books of 2023! Favorite Debut

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto: I’m not usually one to snatch up a second-chance romance, but this wedding designer pairs up with her ex florist for an influencer’s wedding story was amazing. 

My “Why Did I Let This Sit On My TBR For As Long As I Did” book

The Girl Who Drank the Moon released in 2016. It’s been on my TBR since then. It won the John Newberry Medal in 2017, so it’s always high up on the children’s lists, and I can see why! It’s so lush. Like taking a bath in magic, it reads like a classical fairytale in the best ways.

That Continuing Series That I Can’t Put Down

Covet by Tracy Wollf: #3 in the Crave series, this book took the series to new heights, twists, heartaches, and magic. I love watching the characters continue to grow and change overtime. If you love paranormal romance tropes, this series is for you. This six-book series is already complete and out! I’m on #5. But #3 was top-notch series writing.

My Friends’ Books!

I loved nothing more than watching my friends’ books release in 2023! I had the utmost joy of reading these books before they released. (Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories edited by Sandra Proudman releases in February 2024, so there’s still time to pre-order!) There’s something so magical about being part of someone’s writing journey, and I love to share that magic by spreading the word about these fantastic stories.

If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun is a romantic fantasy about a girl who sees ghosts and the dead boy she’s slowly falling in love with. She was Sandra and my’s mentee in Pitch Wars with this novel back in 2020.

Angela Cervantas, who wrote THE CURSED MOON, has been a long-time friend and critique partner in our Pancake Combo writers’ group here in Kansas City. This book is super spooky, a story about an older brother whose horror stories unexpectedly come to life. There’s a cat, too!

The Otherwoods by Justine Pucella Winans is a fun, spooky portal fantasy you don’t want to miss. Not only is this book so clever and fun (and also has the best cat ever), but the story also has wonderful non-binary rep we need more of in middle grade stories!

My “Must Read Everything on This Author’s Backlist Now” Author

Anything by Claribel A. Ortega, but especially the graphic novel Frizzy and her Witchlings series. Frizzy is about a girl embracing her curly hair—something I desperately needed when I was young—and the Witchlings is a feel-good magical girl series I can’t recommend enough. It’s funny, exciting, and so incredibly addicting. I haven’t gotten to Ghost Squad yet, but it’s on the top of my TBR for 2024.

Poetry

All poetry by Trista Mateer has just been hitting me in the feels. Artemis Made Me Do It and Aphrodite Made Me Do It and Honeybee. WOW. I absolutely loved her latest, Persephone Made Me Do It. I’m LIVING for this poetry series.

Picture Books Because I’m A Mom 

My daughter’s favorite picture books have been anything by Sandra Boynton, but these were my favorites: A Dress With Pockets, Together With You, Big Little Hippo, Mama’s Days, Tiptoe Tiger, The Laugh, and Today is a Me Day.

Most Surprising Favorite

Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens is a feminist reimagining of the Western revenge story set inside the intimate harshness of a brothel run by women. You’ll love this story told from the POV of sapphic whores and gunslingers! It’s so vivid, and the characters are so alive. It’s a must-read. (Westerns aren’t usually my thing, and I absolutely could not put this one down!)  

My Ultimate Favorite

This is the first year I think my #1 lined up with a million other readers. Not going to lie, I DEVOURED this dragon romantasy series.  The Fourth Wing made me feel all the feelings I felt when the last crave hit the book world, the get-swept-up-in-it delight, where you can’t put it down and you can’t wait to talk with other readers about every little thing. I pre-ordered Iron Flame immediately and devoured it just as fast. Now I need book 3…

These were my favorite reads of 2023, but I read lots of amazing stories. What were your favorites?

~SAT