In 2023, I read 76 books and here are the 6 books you need to add to your “To Be Read” list this year!
- Talking to Strangers | By Malcolm Gladwell | Published 2019 | Sociology | 5 Stars
My favorite book of the year, Talking to Strangers, is a must-read for so many reasons. It is such a thought-provoking novel that engages the reader, applies real world examples, and makes you question why you think the way you do. Ultimately, Malcolm Gladwell challenges our understanding of the world and how it works by dissecting major news stories where an interaction between two individuals went wrong and reexamines the way people interact, trust, tell the truth or lie. He masterfully articulates his points in a way that sticks with you and manages to actually impact the way you think about interacting with others. Honestly, his book is a work of art and the perfect read if you plan on interacting with others this year.
2. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder | By Holly Jackson | Published 2019 | Mystery | 4.75 Stars
If you haven’t already heard about this book and its upcoming TV adaptation, allow me to fill you in. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is the first in a trilogy and it focuses on a small town in Connecticut and a seemingly solved crime from five years ago. The tragedy still haunts the town as many questions about the crime still linger. So, 17-year-old Pip finds herself digging into the past to investigate the truth behind the crime for her senior capstone project. This book is quite a page-turner with an unpredictable plot full of twists, turns, and plenty of red herrings. Readers become just as invested in the crime as the main characters do, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be writing notes in the margins trying to solve it yourself. The characters are written beautifully – they’re not too exaggerated and just like you. Every minute detail contributes to the plot and hooks readers in. It’s the perfect murder mystery to read this year with equal parts drama, thriller, and adventure.
3. Happy Place |By Emily Henry | Published 2023 | Romance | 4.5 Stars
Emily Henry’s latest romance novel is so deliciously heartwarming that I read it in one sitting. Happy Place is a cutesy romance story that explores the everyday complexities of friends who become family and the lengths people go to protect those they love. Set in a cabin in Maine, a group of friends gets back together to celebrate an upcoming wedding. It’s been a long time since they have all been together and they have a lot to catch up on. The dual timelines of the wedding and the past of the friend group unveil an amazing ensemble of well-developed characters and a rollercoaster of emotions. Emily Henry’s witty and relatable prose makes the story easy to get invested in. In fact, she might just be one of the best romance writers there is. A master of the slow burn from strangers to friends to lovers, she artfully crafts some of the most lovable characters and appealing dynamics. I read 3 of the 4 romance books she has written this year and all of them are worth the read.
4. Check & Mate | By Ali Hazelwood | Published 2023 | Romance | 4.5 Stars
Check & Mate is brand new, having just come out this past November. And yet it is one of my top books of the year. Though not a twisty plot, this book is quite the page turner as I read it in one sitting! Something about Ali Hazelwood books is so addictive. In fact, she was tied as my top author since I read 4 of her books throughout the year. Her latest book is fairly different from her others and is about a retired chess prodigy and her unplanned return to the game. As she fights the double standards women face in chess and learns who she can trust, the reigning chess champion prepares to play against her.
5. The Player’s Plate | By Emily Cole | Published 2022 | Nonfiction | 3.75 Stars
If you’re an athlete, this book is the perfect guide to fueling. Emily Cole, a D1 runner at Duke shares her own story and interviews a number of other athletes, registered dietitians, and coaches to help young athletes realize how different their nutritional needs are compared to the general population. By the time you’ve finished reading you’ll be equipped with the tools to find your optimal fueling plan. I cannot stress how important of a message this book carries and recommend it to any athlete. If that’s not enough to convince you, there are even a couple of recipes weaved in that you can try for yourself.
6. All My Rage | By Sabaa Tahir | Published 2022 | Contemporary | 3.5 Stars 
In All My Rage, Sabaa Tahir poignantly depicts the tale of two Pakistani American best friends, Salahudin and Noor, who desperately desire to leave their small town in Juniper, California, and struggle to see a way out especially as they individually face personal crisis. Featuring alternating interweaved points of view, this book beautifully expresses the tragedy, love, teenage fever dream that is the lives of the characters. Filled with magnificent depictions of Indian culture, readers can connect their own lives to the lives of Salahudin and Noor. Noor is stuck living a dream that isn’t hers because her uncle-turned-guardian wants her to take over the family liquor store while she wants to attend college. Salahudin battles family obligation and self-preservation as he takes over his family’s motel with no help from his alcoholic father and dying mother. It is a beautiful coming of age story about love, loss, found family, and connecting to your roots.
