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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 151-200 of 225 (225 new)
If you like biographies highly recommend King. I grew up in the 1960s and thought I knew most facts about his life but came away with a new respect for the man and what he went though in his short life.Also read The Wager; it was good but for me very anti-climactic. IMO not near as good as Killers of the Flower Moon.
Kitty Karr- worth a read if you are interested in a current day/past intertwined family. I am grateful for the insight on passing, very interesting.
I love hello, Beautiful andThe Covenant of Water
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"I've read 5, and like all things it depends on your mood and what you like to read.
That said:
I really liked Fourth Wing and Forget Me Not and recommend both
How to Sell a Haunted House was OK
Happy Place was OK
Big Swiss just left me cold
A couple of others are on my TBR list
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Check out Jack Edwards on YouTube. He has two channels - his official channel, and his more casual one. He's really good at letting his viewers know which books are worth it or not. If you find you clash with his tastes, try Dakota Warren.
Read only two of them- The Covenant of Water and Victory City. Both are fabulous reads.
Marcus wrote: "my favorites from 2023 so far have been The Shamshine Blind (Paz Pardo), Pure Cosmos Club (Matthew Binder), Koala (Danielle Clode), and Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone (Benjamin Stevenson)."I loved Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"The Covenant of Water is excellent.
Ariel wrote: "beth ‧ ₊˚୨୧ ₊˚ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Fourth Wing!"
I agree! Fourth Wing!
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"beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"
I've read 8 of the fiction/historical fiction titles. Of those, I'd recommend The Covenant of Water, Hello Beautiful, Maame, and House of Eve. I was disappointed in Homecoming, as I've loved Morton's other novels, and in Pineapple Street and The Trackers. Among the mysteries, I will Find You is also very good.
The Ferryman is very very well done! I thoroughly enjoyed it from the very beginning to the very end and everything in between.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"THE BOOK SPY BY ALAN HLAD. THE HOUSE OF EVE BY SEDEQA JOHNSON. THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT BY CHRISTINA LAUREN. HAPPY PLACE BY EMILY HENRY.
So i love fourth wing and i also read chain of thorns. A day of falen night is still on my list, just like stolen heir.
Stephie wrote: "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..."
Sorry to hear you're burning out on romance. On this list, I found Yours Truly a fantastic book. The description doesn't do it justice.
Fourth wing and right move are good Things we hide from the light is OK
Momma wrote: "Of the ones listed, I enjoyed Someone Else’s Shoes; Adelaide; All the Dangerous Things; I Will Find You; Happy Place; Yours Truly; and, The True Love Experiment. Just picked up Pineapple Street an..." 110! Go you! I’m at 64. Loved Nora and Iona…gonna check out some of your other recommend. Thanks!!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Hello Beautiful and The House is On Fire are both excellent!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Homecoming by Kate Morton-My new all-time fav.
Now the hard time comes. Which book should I start with?
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Ann Napolitano - Hello Beautiful. That's about it.
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"The issue, as I see it is narrow-minded agents, publishers and book reviewers. For all their talk about diversity and inclusion, what we are left with is not a diverse selection of books that appeal to a diverse readership. We are getting what they decide is worthy, not what we want to read. And of course this also means narrowing our selection to what sells big. Many of the books I've read this year make me shake my head, wondering how they got published to begin with: many unlikable characters, poorly written, non-existent editing. It has been a pitiful year for readers.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"I am not done with In the lives of puppets but absolutely love it so far. Unique and witty. He is such a wonderful writer.
I’ve read a few on this list but things have gotten pretty mundane for me lately.
Start with Yellowface this week and I have great expectations
Kassi wrote: "Check out Jack Edwards on YouTube. He has two channels - his official channel, and his more casual one. He..."
Can also recommend Jack's reviews!
Divine Rivals is my favorite 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?"I am reading yellowface atm, I like it so far!
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice, is it more mystery or more, Mitch Albom style?Like is it more heart-warming, and wholesome, or is it more of the type that keeps you on the edge of your seat? I was about to pick up this book but I needed to think a bit.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"absolutely yellowface
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"The Covenant of Water has become one of my favourite books this year. I'm still working my way through the 700+ pages but it is so worth it!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Fourth Wing, The True Love Experiment, Spare
You could use these result as an antithesis for democracy;what most people have as a common interest is often a menace to society at large.
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"I really enjoyed "In the Lives of Puppets." T.J. Klune is a really good writer and I enjoy his books quite a bit.
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"god i know :(
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"My opinion, I don't know your taste but I know mine.
Worth reading
All The Dangerous Things
The Covenant of Water
Hello Beautiful
Yellowface
How to Sell a Haunted House
They rest I haven't read or would not recommend. Don't water your time with Price Harry.
Adelaide was so good! So was Maame and Someone Else’s shoes and Hello Beautiful. I just finished Homecoming, amazing. Weyward was also one of my faves this year and although I’m not much of a horror person, Lone Women was fantastic. Given that I’ve loved everything I’ve read on this list, I’ll be checking out others on the list.
You could make this place beautiful was fantastic!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"Weyward! Excellent read. How to sell a Haunted House and Pineapple Street were also great reads!
Where's Demon Copperhead??? This is by far the best book I've read all year, has won so many prizes!
beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"If you like Throne of Glass or A Court of Thorn and Roses, then Fourth Wing is phenomenal.
Prince Harry? What kind of joke is this?
Definitely NOT the first one, "Hello Beautiful"! So overrated, as many others on this list!
But I liked "M..."
Cosimo wrote: "beth ☆ wrote: "Can someone reply to me and tell me which ones on this list are worth it?"
Definitely NOT the first one, "Hello Beautiful"! So overrated, as many others on this list!
But I liked "M..."
I loved Hello Beautiful. Why not just say the ones you liked??