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Readers' Hit Books of 2023 (So Far, That Is)
We’re halfway through the new year, believe it or not. Time flies when you’re reading!
At any rate, that means it’s time for our annual midyear check-in, where we suss out Goodreads members’ most popular books of the year so far. As always, these selections are based on the total number of reader reviews and which titles are making their way to Goodreads members’ Want to Read shelves.
This time around, we’ve sorted out the top nine books in each of the usual-suspect categories, in order of popularity. So, glancing below, you’ll see that Ann Napolitano’s Hello Beautiful currently holds the top spot in contemporary fiction. The genre designations can get a little blurry, but we do the best we can.
Scroll down to find the top nine books in historical fiction, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, horror, romance, young adult, and nonfiction. This can be a fun jumping-off page and a place to get a sense of what’s resonating in the culture. Haunted houses, androids, and insomnia, evidently. And storm hags. Ah, well, these are anxious times. On the upside, you might find your happy place.
Click through the cover images below for more details, and don’t forget to feed your Want to Read shelf.
Contemporary Fiction
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Historical Fiction
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Mystery
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Fantasy
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Science Fiction
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Horror
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Romance
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Young Adult
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Nonfiction
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Which 2023 new releases have been hits with YOU? Tell us about them in the comments below.
Comments Showing 101-150 of 225 (225 new)
I read Weyward earlier this year and loved it! I just finished Hell Bent, too, which although not quite as good as Ninth House, was still a solid sequel.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Yellowface is worth imo! A quicker, easier read, but an interesting satire/thriller!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Vera Wong was great
True Love Experiment was great
Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin was great , not on this list...
Some of these are interesting, except for Harry's book (which shouldn't even be published; its a god awful book), Shannon (cover is cool but over reliance on woke in fantasy is what killing it), and biography of King (something the "official" history wont tell you, but he was actually a terrible guy and if people knew half of the real things about him, woke leftist and people wound be singing him praises)
Ive read Spare (5 stars), Maame (4 stars, slow start) and Hello Beautiful (very good, 4 stars)
Spare is the only one on the list that I have read.
Lone Women was a fantastic surprise and I am not at all a horror genre fan so that is saying something!
I’ve only read fourth wing out of all these. I’m gonna start on Witch King next because I’ve been waiting for a fantasy Martha Wells books for ages.Romance really has nothing for me anymore. None of these books are speaking to me at all…
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"I loved Somebody Else's Shoes!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"It depends on what you like and your preferred genres. Personally, I'd recommend Fourth Wing! This is coming from a person who completely shies away from "overhyped" books, but found this one was totally worth it; if you like fantasy, found family/ragtag friendships, high stakes, the war college dynamic and best of all dragon riding, you may enjoy it!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"I read a lot but the only book on this list that I've read so far is Maame. It was okay, but I didn't love it.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?" If you like your sci-fi with a side of irony, then "Chain Gang All-Stars" is for you.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"The Right Move is definitely what you don't wanna miss out on. It's wholesome.
Becky wrote: "I’ve asked this question before, I’ll ask again. WHY, WHY WHY can’t there be a listing for children’s books and middle grade books?"I agree with you. I think there should be listings for those too.
I agree with you. I think there should be listings for those too.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"I'm on my 62nd book this year but I've only read SPARE which I found enjoyable.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"I enjoyed reading The Bandit Queens. The only other book on this list that I've read is Birnam Wood, which didn't work for me.
The only good books I’ve read this year so far have been “Hell Bent”, “Swamp Story” and “Weyward”.
Going to read atlanta by Jennifer Saint and see how it goes
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Hi, I was a little surprised that only three books listed are on my "to read" list. I am pretty fussy about what I read, and I have read quite a few different great books this year that aren't on the list. I did try to read Yellowface, which I won through Goodreads - I didn't like it - so much profanity and very self-absorbed main character. My picks from the list were; The Trackers, The Bandit Queens, and In the Lives of Puppets. A few of my personal newly published choices to read: Greenwild by Pari Thompson, The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan, No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. and Drowning by T.J. Newman.
Seems like a lot of people in the comments are just complaining because this list is mainly made up of books they haven't heard of or books they wouldn't like. But y'all... do you know how many books are published every year? And they picked only the top 9 books from 9 different categories "based on the total number of reader reviews and which titles are making their way to Goodreads members’ Want to Read shelves."
I went on Amazon and selected to view Mystery, Thriller & Suspense books released within the past 90 days, and there were over 30,000 results.
For Romance, the list had over 50,000 results; same for Science Fiction & Fantasy.
This kind of list isn't going to be inclusive. And with THAT MANY choices, it's not surprising that you haven't heard of or aren't interested in all of these books.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"The only one I've read is Final Offer, and I loved it! I got Things we hide from the light in my TBR, cause I loved the first book in the series, and I got Fourth Wing in my TBR
Cosimo wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Why did goodreads take away the ratings at the bottom of the book on these lists?! It was nice to look at a list like this and have the quick reminder of how I rated the books that I'v..."Almost no male authors? lolllllllllllllll
everybody better read did you hear what happened to kitty karr bc it was the best book i’ve read so far this year
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Yellowface, Vera Wong, Highly Suspicious & Unfairly Cute
I read 'The Lives of Puppets' and loved it. T.J. Klune is creative and unique. I can't wait to read the rest of his books.
Hello Beautiful & Pineapple Street were excellent books.
New books are great! Absolutely support emerging authors and established authors with new releases. But I'd also really love to see more people pick up older books and discover new to them worlds, characters, and experiences. Go to your local library and run your finger along the spines of well-loved books and choose something you've never seen before, something that maybe doesn't have a splashy overtly graphically designed cover, that is creased and bent and waiting to be read again.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Covenant of Water is incredible. Must read. Pineapple Street was a disappointment. Trusted bookstagram said to pass on Romantic Comedy and I'm dying to get my hands on Chain Gang All Stars.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Tress of the Emerald Sea, Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries, and In the Lives of Puppets were all 5-star reads for me this year!
shell [NO POLL REQUESTS] wrote: "something’s happened to the book industry this year, so dead… missing last year when we talked about every new book that was published all year long"Agreed!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is my fav book of the year and might just be my fav book period. I've read it four times so far and absolutely love it. :3
I've also read and liked Yellowface, Fourth Wing, Poverty by America, and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. (And read 6 others on the list that didn't make an impression on me.)
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Spare was pretty good if you’re a fan of the Royal Family.
Not on the list but "Buried Treasure" comes out of left field and stands out this year as something refreshingly different. Highly recommend!Sven Axelrad
Buried treasure
Go As a River by Shelley Read was an awesome 10/10 read, & now ranks as one of my top ten favourites ever!
How on earth is 'The book that wouldn't burn', by Mark Lawrence not on a list!
Good Night, Irene, by Luis Alberto Urrea. It’s a WWII story, and it evolves around the women who were Red Cross volunteers at the Front.
Eric wrote: "Not on the list but "Buried Treasure" is comes out of left field and stands out this year as something refreshingly different. Highly recommendSven Axelrad
[book:Buried treasure..."
Buried Treasure looks awesome! Thank you.
A Fever in the Heartland by Timorhy Egan is my favorite book of 2023. As a Catholic, I have no interest in Prince Harry and those royal ass******.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"We can only say what we like and who knows if that matches up with your taste.
Don’t waste your money on Claire Fuller’s new book The Memory of Animals it’s nothing more than science fiction and horror
I Will Find You by Harlan Coben is my favorite thriller of the year so far. Phenomenal!Also The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White is fabulous!
Anything by Karen White. If you're not into supernatural, then pick up her older books like The Color of Light or Memory of Water.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"i read the wager, it was a fascinating story
Tress can be considered a very stand-alone story, but is also a great addition to The Cosmere overall.