The Best Books We Read in 2023

The Best Books We Read in 2023

by Joe Walters & the IBR Staff

What are the best books you read in 2023?

My picks are different than yours. Different than Jaylynn’s, than Tucker’s, than Joelene’s, than Andrea’s, than the New York Times.

I love that about books. We couldn’t possibly read them all, and media outlets couldn’t either. Every list is different because reading is subjective, specific, dependent on real-life availability, experience, past interests, current interests, future goals, you name it. There is no one best book.

And yet, one book is the best book someone has ever read.

There’s so much singularity in this. And so much honesty. Only that person in that circumstance who has read those books before this one can have their specific opinion on their best one ever. And still, some books are chosen by multiple people. Both can exist at the same time.

Want to see our picks for the best books we read in 2023?

The IBR team is awesome and so uniquely them. They love books, they’re smart as hell, and when they tell me that this is the book that wrecked them, I listen. And I love to listen. They read so many books this year, both the ones that contributed to the 400+ reviews we’ve published this year and the ones they choose to read on their own time. If you’re going to listen to anybody’s recommendations this year, let it be this team.

Another plus here is that these are ALL indie books.

While a majority of most bookstores are filled with books published by the same five publishing companies, IBR reviews the digital masses: the indie press & self-published books. If you know an author or publisher in real life, there’s a pretty good chance they published indie. Those are the people we review.

So read indie!

Not only are they the little guy that feels good to support–your neighbor or friend or family member–they publish damn good books. And books that these reviewers have chosen to be among the the best books they’ve ever read.

Here are the best books we read in 2023!

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1. Monstrilio

If the lung of your favorite person became a monster, could you love it the same?

Magos removes a piece of her son’s lung after he dies, and she keeps it in the closet. And from that point on, her grief exists in the physical world. Not only for Magos but also for Joseph, her now ex-husband.

It stays close to Magos, until it doesn’t. Until it grows. Transforms. Starts wrapping its tail around the bar in the closet and swings. It becomes hungry. Ravenous. And turning into Santiago, their dead son.

The grief is real: monstrous but real. Maybe if they love it, they’ll be able to tame it.

I couldn’t believe this book. How could something with such a heavy topic like a child’s death be so beautiful to experience? I started this thing on vacation with a toddler and finished within DAYS. And let me tell you, I miss it!

It’s so smart and easy at the same time. The analogy for this grief is so fascinating. Not only is it fun to watch new Santiago swing and develop, but we always know he has the power to destroy absolutely everything.

2. I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself

Shame is a shadow: visible, connected, following or leading you.

In you do something the state considers wrong in this sci-fi dystopia, you are given an extra shadow so you can be ridiculed, outcast, and feared in society.

Or, in Kris’s case, you are given two shadows.

Kris has recently been widowed and is now the single parent of a child she has no idea how to raise. Especially alone. But here she is doing it and in turn, following the kid’s lead.

This book is inventive and realistic and personal and global and important and even visibly appealing. But on top of it, it’s written lyrically, creatively, intimately; it’s even capable of being read quickly. Kris writes the book directly to Beau (her dead wife) and includes love letters, memories, and lists. It feels like a collection of notes to a loved one: heartbreaking, surprisingly plot-happy, and deeply affecting notes.

Any literary sci-fi reader would be thrilled to find this one. As a new parent at the time I was reading this, I got a lot from it. It’s got relatable parenting content in droves.

3. Weather and Beasts and Growing Things

Inventive & important. Stylish and bare. An eco-fever-dream.

This dystopian sci-fi meets us in a state of climate disaster at the end of this century. Stevven and Eli are just a couple of growing things trying to take care of a garden at the top of an abandoned apartment building, but they’re not allowed to do that.

When a drone finds them, they are chased out of their home in search of another one, but they’re forced across a bare, dangerous landscape. They hear Sewanee’s got the answer, but who in the world knows for sure where is safe. Stevven doesn’t, that’s for sure.

Weather and Beasts and Growing Things is a stylish dystopia in concept and form. Words are conjoined, like “Stevvenarm,” and articles (like “the” and “a”) are hard to come by. It makes for strong, sharp, needle-like one-sentence paragraphs that give you an image but ask for you to conjure the rest yourself. It makes the violence, the world seem more abrupt, more in-time, and more disorienting.

When I read books about climate & weather, I want to encounter nature writing. And I’m fulfilled here! The nature writing is spare—those one-word, three-word descriptions—but full in specificity, knowledge, and appreciation for our world. For a book to place such importance on keeping a plant alive and to follow it up with good nature writing gave me just what I came here for.

Honorable Mentions:

• Hashtag Good Guy With a Gun by Jeff Chon (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
• The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. The Tenement Nurse

The time period, the setting, the characters, the storylines: they’re all sure to enrapture you.

This enthralling novel set in NYC during the roaring 20s follows Millie, who devotes herself to her chaotic job as a nurse in a tenement building made up mostly of immigrants. But things take a turn when one of her pregnant patients dies at the hands of her alcoholic husband. That’s when Millie creates her own idea of justice. It’s up to her to decide what a woman should and should not do.

This book is fantastic: I was constantly engaged, constantly questioning what was going to happen next. Millie finds herself in increasingly dangerous situations, and her circumstances are always changing. I was pulled along by the freshness of each succeeding chapter. She always has the option to disappear into the life of a housewife, and each avenue we take along the way ends up being as entertaining as the last. There’s not one paragraph I wanted to skip.

2. At the Edge of the Woods

A spellbinding debut set in a lush natural world

Laura lives in a remote cabin in the Italian Alps. Her days consist of exploring the woods behind her home, tutoring young children from the nearby town, and translating documents for money. It’s all quite cozy, until someone from her past knocks on her door, shattering the illusion that Laura is simply a person who needed a change in life.

The reality of her situation is a bit darker, and as it catches up with her, our understanding of her present situation begins to untangle. And with it comes chaos and freedom. 

Survival in the natural world, isolation, not having children–I love so much of what Bromwich is able to do with this novel. But my infatuation all starts with her protagonist Laura, a woman after my own heart. Just when we get comfortable with her, the narrative flips our understanding on its head. I never knew what was going to happen.

Still, it’s Browmwich’s effortless nature writing that may shine brightest here. The natural world is captured in gorgeous description. It brings a sense of calm to the reading experience even when situations are tense. About as close to a walk through the real world as a book can be, these descriptions simultaneously communicate the beauty of nature while never over-glorifying the reality of her way of living.

If you read this book, you’ll feel the underlying fear for a woman alone in the woods just as you’ll admire her constant ability to overcome it. This is a book to be remembered.

Give to yourself this holiday season! Here are the BEST gifts for book lovers.

1. To Refrain from Embracing

A smartly indelicate fiction exploring every aspect of a boy’s weird trauma 

At first, this story seems to be about Ted Moore, who’d enlisted at 17, became a UN Peacekeeper in the Congo, and recently self-injured in front of his 10-year-old son. “I don’t consider it my best hour,” he admits of his suicide attempt, “but that’s what happened and that’s that.”

As the novel leads us into the woods, the drama recenters onto Ted’s son, Josh. For him, the way to impress an older neighborhood boy is to divulge a really good secret. Fortunately (or not), Josh has a few of those.

A big achievement of this novel is how it investigates overlapping strands of identity. Josh’s mother grew up on a reservation in Minnesota, and his Aunt Doris in particular values her Indian heritage. On his father’s side, his aunts are fanatical born-again Christians. So who might Josh grow up to become?

It’s a twisted tale with touching moments that are meant to feel awkward. To Refrain From Embracing is an apt title insofar as the novel is about people who spend more time trying to control themselves and each other than to listen and connect.

Luscombe keeps piquing our curiosity into this weird kid born into an even weirder family, and he weaves an elaborately detailed world that’s ultimately left open-ended. He gives us an extended peepshow of Josh’s formative—perhaps de-formative—year. 

2. Opening to Darkness

An ordained Zen priest delivers a sensitive, compelling exploration of a slippery philosophical topic: the vast amount we don’t know or can’t know.

In a dark place, we may feel stuck or in pain, but we may still find support and gain insight there. It’s the most fertile ground, and we can encourage our mutual work there. Manuel says she writes especially for those whose skin, like hers, is racialized as “dark,” and she also says her message is for everyone. Darkness doesn’t destroy light; it’s an essential part of our existence, and it shows us what light is. 

3. La Syrena

An impressive debut poetry collection that will give you a new way of seeing

Spoken word poet & scholar of Syrian women’s creative work, Banah el Ghadbanah addresses war, ecological crisis, and revolution. Just as the title plays on words for “mermaid” and “Syrian,” so do the poems consistently weave layers of mythic consciousness: ancient Babylonian goddesses, modern refugees, linguistic shift, playfulness with gender, and the fluidity of all identity. La Syrena is sensual, visually inventive, and inspirational.

1. A Seat for the Rabble

Masterful storytelling and epic worldbuilding make this a must-read for fans of political fantasy.

Ryan Schuette weaves a complex world of political intrigue, class conflict, and the pursuit of power in this enthralling epic fantasy. 

Set in the richly imagined world of the Kingdom of Loran, the story begins with the death of King Hexar, throwing the realm into a tumultuous struggle for succession. 

At the heart of the narrative is Jason Warchild, the illegitimate son of the late king. Despite his uncertain origins, Jason is driven by a noble purpose: to bring equality to the people of Loran. 

One of the many strengths of A Seat for the Rabble is the relevant themes reflecting modern day issues. The intricate political landscape, mirroring our own challenging political systems, reflects the power struggles seen in today’s world. Furthermore, the novel delves into the pressing issues of class conflict and social inequality, drawing parallels with contemporary societal challenges.

Ryan Schuette’s writing style is rich and immersive, drawing readers into the vividly detailed world of the Kingdom of Loran with its knights, magic, and powerful griffons. As the narrative unfolds, the book mixes in plenty of action and suspense too, reminding me of the Game of Thrones series. 

2. The Mystery Next Door

There’s something about southern mystery that brings out a childlike wonder. 

The Mystery Next Door becomes addictive when Moore brings out old tales of piracy and long-lost treasure. It’s the type of adventure one would recognize from movies such as The Goonies (1985) and Tom & Huck (1995). Whose inner child didn’t wish they could find secret treasure in their own backyard?

Moore’s book begins with young Zoey Morganton as she moves into a small town with her mother in North Carolina. It isn’t long until she learns about the mysterious plantation not too far from her home: Oak Harbor. The house is covered with many secrets, ranging from a crazed slaveowner to a secret pirate treasure. 

As Zoey Morganton delves deeper into the history of Oak Harbor, readers are treated to an alluring journey through time. Readers become engaged with the golden age of piracy and life in the South (before and after the Civil War). Although the characters in these times are fictional, it does provoke educational interest as Moore’s research shines through the pages.

Middle school readers who are exploring the American South in other classes and those who relish in satisfying mysteries and adventure are going to love this story.

3. Ferren and the Angel

A fast-paced and engaging dystopian fantasy with loads of fascinating lore

What will happen in the next thousand years? Some people believe there will be significant alterations, some that it will be eerily similar, and others think there will be no Earth at all.

Author Richard Harland has some other ideas. The future depicted in Ferren and the Angel shows angels and humans in an epic never-ending battle for dominance. 

The worldbuilding here is addictive. You won’t want to miss any developing details about what the world will look like in this future.

What will break young Ferren out of his humdrum life at the start of this book? Watching an angel fall from Heaven. Miriael, the Fourth Angel of Observance, has no way of returning to her ethereal realm. Her powers have faltered since she arrived in the material world, but she cultivates a new friendship in Ferren. Unfortunately, it has to be kept secret, and it doesn’t stay that way for long.

Honorable Mentions:

• Oversight by Dennis Batchelder (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
• The White by Matt Micheli (Amazon | Review)

1. To the Woman in the Pink Hat

A powerful exploration of racial inequality through the lens of feminist sci-fi 

In the near future, a horrifying organization has risen. Posing as a health center that conducts birth control studies, it instead steals the uteruses of young women of color who seek its services and transplants them into women who are willing to pay.

Jada Morris had been leading the SU’s, a resistance movement against the company, until she was incarcerated for a violent crime. Now she has been transferred to The Center, a rehabilitation program aimed at helping her confront her past and getting her back into society. 

Speculative fiction has long been a vehicle for exploring cultural and social issues in the world, and Jordan uses it to its full potential here. Echoes of Marge Piercy’s feminist masterpiece, Woman on the Edge of Time, flicker within these pages.

This novella packs a powerful punch for something so succinct. It doesn’t flinch from the dark places science will go if left unchecked, but there is also warm compassion and, above all, hope. To the Woman in the Pink Hat is a heavy and often confronting read with lovely sparkles of light scattered throughout, a wonderful addition to the shelf of anyone with an interest in social politics, race theory, or feminism.

2. Montecito

Dark secrets lurk beneath the glittering veneer of this slow-burn thriller.

Moving to wealthy Montecito seemed like a fantastic idea to Hollis Crawford and his wife Cricket. When an obscenely rich family moves to the area, they bring with them Hollis’s last hope in the form of a spectacular job offer. Not everything is as it seems in this luxurious, glittering world, however. 

Montecito is difficult to categorize into a particular genre. It could fit under psychological thriller or domestic mystery; it even has aspects of family drama. Whatever the genre, it is an astoundingly good read. 

How could this be a debut? The execution is too deft and confident. Nothing is over-explained or hammed up. In fact, there’s a rare degree of subtlety to the writing. Everything in this story unfolds at its own pace, revealing secrets upon secrets until the final page.

Montecito is like an exquisite little machine where all the moving parts slot impeccably together. The story couldn’t stand without the setting or characters, and Hollis’s specific flaws are the force that drives the narrative.

3. Soiled Dove Murder

Clever, nuanced, entertaining, and fun all at once.

School is out for the summer. Schoolteacher Lucie Santoro and Delores Bailey, her incongruous moonshiner companion, are using the break to help one of Lucie’s old pupils.

The once-impoverished student is now running a bordello of prostitutes in Virginia City. When one of her so-called “soiled doves” goes missing in suspicious circumstances and law enforcement doesn’t care, Ruth turns to Lucie, the one person she knows will help.

As a teacher in the 1920s, life is a delicate balancing act for Lucie. Being seen with the owner of a bordello would be enough to shatter her reputation and destroy her career. Little does Lucie know that losing her career may be the least of her worries. On this holiday, she’ll be in danger of losing her life.

As with all of the books I’ve read from Sherilyn Decter, the historical attention to detail is remarkable. From the very first bumpy, exhausting bus ride to the portrayal of Chinese immigration in 1920s USA, it’s clear how well Decter understands the world she’s writing. 

What I love about these novels is that the protagonists aren’t immune to the values of their time. They judge and misstep, but they are fully rounded empathetic characters and the more they experience, the wider their understanding becomes.

Honorable Mentions:

• Echo from a Bayou by J. Luke Bennecke (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. Cursebreakers

Cursebreakers is nonstop action, pierced with so much heart and heightened emotion on both ends of the scale.

The book follows Professor Adrien Desfourneaux, who finds himself entangled in the life-threatening position of preventing a magical coup linked to a rapidly increasing number of comatose victims—while he is experiencing a significant flare-up of his bipolar disorder symptoms. The book’s characters come alive off the page in a way that is rare and precious and will no doubt fuel the rise of a powerful fandom.

Cursebreakers is outrageously good—phenomenal, even. This is a novel as electric as the lightning-bolt magic its protagonist wields, filled with curses, destruction, and piercing heartache. It’s an ode to true, enduring friendship and a call to believe in our capacity for good.

2. Just Wide Enough for Two

A love story between childhood best friends Emily Dickinson and Susan Gilbert, spanning years of complicated life changes and passionate connection

Emily Dickinson is wild and offbeat, more comfortable running around outdoors and speaking out of turn than she is in any stereotypical “ladylike” capacity. 

Between vivid descriptions of the ever-changing natural landscapes, seductive descriptions when looking at each other, and the secret-coded letters slipped between breasts before sneaking off to rendezvous, open-hearted Emily and Susan always take center stage. 

Just Wide Enough for Two feels like a classic romantic comedy filled with grand gestures of love in a charming historical setting. There’s a powerful sense of longing and suspense while reading, as we cannot imagine how the women may achieve their happily ever after under these circumstances, but trust that they will.

A long-lasting romance with steady beats of delicious sapphic sexual tension, this book makes sure that even readers who are unfamiliar with the story of Emily Dickinson’s life will be pulled in by the beautiful, sincere, and poetic love depicted.

3. I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself

Like paging through a beautifully rendered therapy exercise that was designed to remain in the closed-door confines of the psychiatrist’s room.

It’s easy to imagine, when reading Crane’s gorgeous, heartbreaking prose, that Kris is sitting amongst the cluttered dishes and take-out wrappers, writing her heart out to the person she loves and misses more than it seems her body was built to hold. 

You’ll need an assortment of colored pens when reading I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself. This novel is so full of sharply observed gut-punches and painfully human truths (about love, loss, desire, bureaucracy, fear mongering in the media, loneliness, kink, queerness, and new motherhood) that you’ll be thinking about Crane’s magnificent, evocative phrases for a while.

I highlighted and underlined more in this book than I ever have before, often pausing to really let the words sink in before I continued reading. Writing about inequality with a clarity and creativity this rich is always going to feel relevant and important.

Equal parts queer, devastating, precious, and thought-provoking, I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself is an unforgettable experience, exploring what it means to be human and illuminating the healing significance of finding community in the depths of your despair. 

Honorable Mentions:

• Smash the World’s Shell by Daniel Fliederbaum (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
• Fated Sworn by Kristin L Hamblin  (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. A Boring Book

A charming read about taking on the dull challenges of life with good will, grace, and a keen eye for inscrutable human behavior

A Boring Book presents itself as the ghostwritten autobiography of Canadian John Smith, growing up in the not-so-distance past, from childhood through young adulthood. 

Written as a first-person account, John frequently interjects comments on the “ghostwriter’s” prose as well as third-wall-breaking direct address to the reader. These devices, along with the engaging voice, are intriguing and pull the reader into this everyman’s tale. With a dry, subtle wit and spot-on characterizations of the various actors in John’s mundane life, the tale is both amusing and compelling.

I was impressed by this “boring” story’s ability to infuse the mundane situations of life with tension and conflict. The stakes matter to the protagonist, and so the reader is engaged. We identify with the protagonist, and the mundane is made interesting. I found this book a real page-turner, actually, without any car chases and fires. 

Readers who enjoy a unique take on narrative and characterization will be glad to spend some time with Mr. John Smith. There’s plenty of nostalgia here, as we relive the common, everyday experiences of growing up seen from a gently humorous perspective. 

2. A Moonserpent Tale

Danger, adventure, magic, and romance: What else could you want out of a high fantasy?

A Moonserpent Tale tracks a young witch (Araina), her guide (Sol), an elf, and a pigeon on a quest through a barren, peril-fraught land. 

Along the way, the characters grow, change, and develop through a number of challenges. They bond as a team and then must deal with the heartache of misunderstanding and betrayal. The book’s worldbuilding is thorough and thoughtful, and the description is immersive. A Moonserpent Tale’s sweet, slow-burn romance is perfect for these characters in this situation. 

Readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy fiction such as the fantasy novels of Lois McMaster Bujold will be impressed with A Moonserpent Tale. This is a tale both thoughtful and entertaining, a true pleasure to read. 

3. Making Comics

Much more than the curriculum for a comics class

Making Comics digs up and examines the roots of childhood creativity: that time and mental space where the line is the story, no matter if it represents an image, a letter, a numeral, or simply the joy of mark making. 

Through a series of fun, accessible exercises and assignments, Making Comics breaks down the barriers that adults tend to put up between ourselves and storytelling through visual art. 

Much of this head-and-heart work is applicable to any creative endeavor. Our authentic art must sprout from self-confidence and trust in the message rather than our technical skills. 

Honorable Mentions:

• Heliophobia by Christopher X. Ryan (Bookshop | Amazon)
• Swedish Cults by Anders Fager  (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. Half a Cup of Sand and Sky

A sweeping story of Iranian people, poetry, and politics, spanning three decades

Nadine Bjursten’s debut novel Half a Cup of Sand and Sky follows Amineh, a young Iranian woman who has moved to Tehran for university from the small village of Qamsar. An aspiring novelist, Amineh longs to tell her parents’ story as rural rose farmers, even as she is caught up in the air of revolution surrounding the death of a classmate which is sparking protests against the Shah. 

Amineh is pulled between the traditional and the revolutionary as she survives through turbulent times. She struggles between realizing her dreams of a novel, coming to terms with what it means to be a wife and partner to her husband, and mothering her children in a country fraught with war and loss, all while nurturing her independent spirit. Her emotional intelligence and strength through the various seasons of her life make Amineh a well-developed narrator that readers will root for through her highest and lowest moments. 

Half a Cup of Sand and Sky was a finalist for the PEN/Bellweather Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction in 2016, and it’s easy to see why. From beautiful images of Iran, Sweden, and the UK, to heavily researched historical events, and to characters that are deeply human in their joys, mistakes, and dreams, Nadine Bjursten has written an exceptional book. This is a necessary story of maturity and resilience told from a perspective that is often overlooked by Western readers. Half a Cup of Sand and Sky will captivate folks of all genres and ages with its craft, vitality, and wisdom.

2. Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City

A book of rage and nourishment, action and healing, of celebrating chosen and blood family

Jane Wong’s verdant, nonlinear memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City tells the story of a Toisanese-American girl coming of age in New Jersey. The fragments of this memoir-in-essays are held together by Wong’s abundant and tender relationship with her mother. (Excerpted from a print review at Rain Taxi).

3. Obit

A book shaped by grief, unforgettable in its stark lines and the way it encapsulates the death of one’s parents

It took me almost two years to get through this book, because it is meant to be digested very slowly, to be sat with. The speaker’s depth of love and pain is rendered so artfully, so precisely, so rightly. This is a handbook for loss like no other.

Honorable Mentions:

• The Tiny Journalist by Naomi Shihab (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. Gone to Ground

A suspense novel like an ornate mirror, reflecting what needs to be changed

Gone to Ground follows Javier Jimenez, a smart, young kid on the brink of graduating high school. Javier’s struggles are echoed in his community of Horseshoe Barrio; many are stuck in an unforgiving poverty loop. To make ends meet, Javier often works with his sister Betzaida, towing cars and trucks. During one of their jobs, Javier innocuously pockets a phone found in one of the cars. Without realizing it, Javier becomes entangled in a gentrifying bloodbath scheme to devour his community and regurgitate a tech community. He’s determined to put an end to it, but the cost could be fatal. 

The writing is bewitching from the first page. After this explosive beginning, the book switches to Javier pondering his future. One of the many things that Hatch does well is make Javier’s mind a fascinating hub of observation and emotion. 

Gone to Ground delivers in all aspects of suspense too. Jones, the antagonist, is calculating, threatening, and yet scarily familiar. He is nearly omnipresent, representing the greedy, lecherous system that prioritizes quick profit well. 

I was quite amazed by Gone to Ground. It’s a suspense book that captivates while it brings forth an important conversation about shelter, community, and commodity.

2. Word Petals

A lovely collection that serves as a portal to many different worlds

From life in Japan to life back home in Jamaica to reflections on tradition, this book is expansive yet succinct, thought-provoking and surprising.

Like petals on a flower, the words beautify the narrative and color it. There are poems centered around religion while others ruminate on growing older and enjoying the present. A lot of the poetry is also meant to be inspirational and to push the reader to take risks despite hesitations. There’s a nugget of wisdom in each poem that will leave a lasting impact.

3. Please Write

Like an intricate wax seal, concealing a wonderful surprise inside

Please Write by Lynne Kolze is an impassioned plea to get you to return to writing letters. It is evidence of just how meaningful the act can be—for writer and recipient. This book can inspire readers to become more compassionate through their own words, and there’s supplementary material, like real letters that were preserved in Kolze’s family, along with pictures and stories. Each chapter spearheads a separate but vital aspect of letter writing to make it special and accessible in this new wave of technology. 

The premise of this book excited me. I thought of writing letters as a bit dusted over, didn’t you? But as I read on, I found myself resonating deeply with Kolze’s purpose and narrative. The writing, when centered around Kolze’s personal reasons for loving letter writing, is emotionally pulling to the point where I found myself replicating those emotions. 

Please Write also includes a lot of fascinating history regarding letters. The “Dear John” letters call to me especially. Receiving a letter can be a touching event, but other times it can be heartbreaking. The wide scope of letters covered in this book make it that much more engaging; like an unopened box, whatever is inside can contain so much.

Honorable Mention:

• Monsters in Our Shadows by Edward J. Cembal (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. The Joy of Costco

Beautifully illustrated and just bizarre enough to adorn your coffee table

The Joy of Costco won’t just sit pretty in your living room. It will have you enraptured with fun facts and inspire you to leave right now to buy a wholesale box of cashews.

Costco enthusiasts David and Susan Schwartz, sparked by their love for the versatile superstore, spent seven years researching the history and fun facts of Costco. They did this by traveling to at least one Costco in each of the 46 states that housed a facility and multiple Costcos outside of the U.S. 

The book is in a fun A to Z format, but the alphabetization of the topics is playfully organized, ultimately giving readers the experience of the structured chaos that Costco attendees often feel when roaming the store themselves.

The Joy of Costco is engaging for Costco fans and intriguing for those who have never stepped foot in the store.

2. Landscapes

Lai captures the intersectionality of art, feminism, and environmentalism in this moving debut novel

A major focus of this novel is destruction and what it means to create anew; destruction often is not the end but a site for rebirth. Though Penelope has devoted so much of her life to the preservation of [an art archive], in its demolition, she is able to transition into a new future… Landscapes is beautiful, provocative, and accessible. It will remind you that destruction is rarely the end and that we all must continue forward. 

3. Dreaming in Chinese

An act of resistance and self-preservation; an ode to the resilient human spirit.

One can tell a lot about a country from the way it treats its most affluent citizens; one can tell a whole lot more from the way it treats its lower class citizens. William Tsung’s memoir goes on the offensive, toe-to-toe with the Taiwanese penal system. The memoir captures the grim reality that Taiwanese prisoners experience day-to-day for multiple years and for some, even decades. Tsung took the challenge of making sympathetic characters out of criminals and felons and thoroughly succeeds in his endeavor. Dreaming in Chinese challenges the reader’s understanding of fair punishment by highlighting the corruption of a system that benefits from prisoners’ forced labor. 

Dreaming in Chinese is a condemnation of a system designed to see and even benefit from under-resourced people failing. In Tsung’s experience with Taiwan’s prisons, this book also calls into question America’s penal system. I highly recommend this book to those dedicated to social justice. 

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1. Second Best

What does it take for one to decide to live differently? 

Martin Hill is the 10-year-old boy who wasn’t chosen to be Harry Potter. This slim novel is the story of his life, tracing his crippling anxiety alongside the chance encounters and happenstances that shape his world. I was utterly swept up in the book’s short, poignant chapters. Each have a distinct melody and sensibility that is unexpectedly joyful to read.

2. Hate Hunters

Combining biting satire with deep insight into the human condition—a timely novel of ideas about tolerance and the folly of extremism

In a not-so-distant future where the United States has been divided into the Virtuous Federation and the Patriot States, Hate Hunters follows a large cast of characters struggling to live in accordance with the Virtuous Federation’s exacting moral standards. 

Ambitious and multi-voiced, individual narratives and fictional texts are woven into an immersive tapestry-like world that is at once unsettling and extremely recognizable.

Impressive in ambition and philosophical scope, Hate Hunters stands out for its expert plotting, beautiful writing, and an intricately designed structure. This is an exceptional book that enrages, enlightens, and above all, affirms the humanity of every individual regardless of their beliefs.

3. The Moon and the Bonfires

A devastating, gorgeous, pensive look at the country’s postwar politics and identity

After making a fortune in America during WWII, a man is drawn back to his impoverished childhood town in Piedmont to reflect on his brutal childhood as an orphan and search for what he has missed while being in America. A sense of loss and dislocation animates the book. Lyric and philosophical musings conjure the bucolic landscape in its harsh beauty. Intense hardly does the book justice, it dives headlong into the battered psychology of its unnamed narrator and that of the country at large. 

Honorable Mention:

• Pay As You Go by Eskor David Johnson (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. The Mill House Murders

A chilling locked-room mystery that unfolds within the ominous walls of the remote Mill House, a setting shrouded in both secrecy and tragedy

Ayatsuji builds a compelling tale of intrigue around the eccentric Fujinuma Kiichi, the consequences of his accidental disfigurement, and his annual house party for a very select group of guests. When a killer strikes, brilliant amateur sleuth Kiyoshi Shimada sets about unravelling the complex web of secrets and lies that led to the perplexing crime. Ayatsuji is a master at combining the macabre with the mysterious, creating a tense work of crime fiction that is packed with alarming events, red herrings, and psychological insights.

2. Beasts of England

Adam Biles’s modern reimagining of Animal Farm chronicles disturbing if all too believable events at a version of the farm restyled as the country’s premiere petting zoo.

Rather than being raised and ultimately sacrificed as farm animals, the residents of this zoo are subjected to being gawped at, poked, and prodded by visitors seeking an amusing distraction from real life.

Mirroring the tumultuous landscape of contemporary politics, as if being put on display to the general public isn’t bad enough, the animals also face rigged elections, factional strife, societal chaos, and a mysterious epidemic that threatens to kill them all.

Satire at its best, Biles’s work presents by turns distressing and amusing glimpses into a world that is not different from reality, even if it can serve as a warning of things that might be to come. 

3. Mild Vertigo

An unrestrained exploration of the human condition

Meiko Kanai’s captivating storytelling renders this an engrossing account of the unexpected depth of housewife Natsumi’s outwardly ordinary life. Kanai uses elegant prose and a rich portrayal of Natsumi’s inner world to reveal surprising conflicts with the outer world she must interact with and conform to. And this ensures that her protagonist’s musings and reflections are always rewarding and sometimes disturbing. Kanai’s ability to evoke emotions and provoke thought about even the most seemingly insignificant detail is a marvel. The book as a whole provides an introspective account that delves deep into the complexities of human emotions.

Honorable Mentions:

• In the Silence of Decay by Lisa Boyle (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
• The Molossus of Old Man Moyer by Joe Lyon (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. Rearranged

 A lyrical memoir chronicling the life-altering vicissitudes of cancer

Kathleen Watt pulls back the curtain on the Metropolitan Opera, giving readers an inside look at the competition, the backstage behaviors, and the culture of the opulent and expansive productions at the famous New York City Opera House. With her pursuit of being in the Extra Chorus finally realized, Kathleen looks forward to celebrating with her partner, Evie, on their ski vacation, but a bump on her gumline brings up the concern that’s usually coupled with any new bump or pain: What is this? Am I overthinking this? Should I be worried? After trips to several dentists and then a few doctors, she learns of her shocking prognosis: cancer. 

Her journey to find not just her singing voice, but her voice in her world and the world at large is a testament to the difficulty of putting one’s life back together after a trauma like battling a chronic illness. 

Rearranged is a bel canto of a book, full of lyrical language, the crescendo and decrescendo of cancer, and the universal search for one’s voice.

2. How to Monetize Despair

A reverie of memory and the existential wonderings on life and loss that make us human

In How To Monetize Despair, Lisa Motollo captures the intricate and sometimes random thoughts and feelings that arise when dealing with life’s most difficult chapters: trauma, grief, loss, and the mundane.

This collection beautifully balances the vulnerabilities and agonies of grief with the dark humor and odd realizations that come with experiencing trauma. But it also muses on the anxieties a person can feel attending a party or during everyday activities like making a sandwich. 

Life is full of many experiences that we either don’t want to discuss or even know how to discuss, but How To Monetize Despair is a beautiful example of how to start and navigate those conversations. 

Honorable Mention:

• The Seven Month Itch by Tanvier Peart (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. No God Like the Mother

A raw look at those crucial moments when the realities of life are laid bare

No God Like the Mother by Kesha Ajọsẹ-Fisher is a story collection that explores pivotal moments in the lives of women and girls. Though the settings and details of the stories vary widely, from naive young girls in Nigeria to grieving mothers in Portland, each one functions as a glimpse of the defining moment of a person’s life story.

In all, No God Like the Mother is a quietly devastating and frank look at the interplay between hope and grief that is experienced by someone whose body can produce life. It is also about the way others throughout the world have historically reacted to that ability with fear, desire, shame, or a combination of those and more.

2. Invitation to a Hanging

A meditation on the life and death of a lawless town in the waning days of the Wild West

When Adam’s parents moved to Mondak early in the 19th century, it was a frontier boom town and a symbol of unlimited potential. Now, with both his parents long dead, the town is nothing more than a reminder of things that had been. People are moving away or dying, and businesses are closing. All that is left are those with no place else to go and the town bosses who oversaw its fall, presiding over a place with more dead than living.

The author does a stellar job of evoking the atmosphere of the Wild West and the forces at work in the country at large at that time. There are rumors of coming war and the upheaval that comes with train tracks being laid. There are remnants of forts and graveyards of soldiers and civilians. There’s reckoning with the ongoing unimaginable treatment of the people forcibly removed from their land when settlers moved in, and that is still going on with their incarceration in “hospitals” that are worse than prisons. 

Invitation to a Hanging is an artful portrait of a young man discovering the magic of self-determination. The people it depicts strive to carve a life out of whatever circumstances they might find themselves in. It is about quiet persistence in the face of greed and evil intentions, of choosing when to fight and when to walk away.

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1. Pure Cosmos Club

A hallucinogenic satire of the worlds of art, fashion, and cults.

Penned with the wisdom of a philosopher and laugh-out-loud wit, this novel follows Paul, a struggling artist and his best friend, a dog named Blanche, as they hop from parties to art and fashion shows, maneuvering through a directionless life. Paul finally finds meaning in a new age cult called The Pure Cosmos Club, but the cost of admission becomes more than he can handle. 

Binder’s prose sings all throughout Pure Cosmos Club, parrying anxiety with hilarity and the bizarre with a touch of the sober and sane. 

2. The Red-Headed Pilgrim

Review originally published in Cleveland Review of Books

Heartbreakingly witty, Kevin Maloney’s The Red-Headed Pilgrim captures the coming of age of an idealistic man-child as he tours the united states in search of meaning. 

 While it’s difficult to argue that a true “Western”—whether it be prefixed by “Acid” or “Anti”—can be limned outside of the setting of the Wild West, Maloney’s revisionist treatment of Western themes make The Red-Headed Pilgrim at least the offspring (dare I say red-headed step-child?) of the Acid Western genre. And I don’t believe it’s overly generous to say that The Red-Headed Pilgrim is the next iteration of the Western, one with enough music and heart to propel the genre into the twenty-first century and beyond.

3. The Nature Book

A bold exploratory work; a canonical collage of the natural world

In The Nature Book, Tom Comitta compiles descriptions of the natural world from 300 canonical English texts into a vibrant literary collage. In the foreword, Comitta tells the reader that the following text is “closer to a YouTube supercut than a Burroughsian collage novel.” They categorize the excerpted texts into four sections, The Four Seasons, The Deep Blue Sea, The Void, and The Endless Summer, each of which features language poached from the pages of writers from Charles Dickens to Cormac McCarthy and beyond. With surgical precision, Comitta lifts phrases from Louisa May Alcott, Zora Neal Hurston, and Stephen King, and combines them into a single sweeping tale, often ruminative, but with its share of conflict and tension.

Though no human characters disturb the natural world of The Nature Book, Comitta reminds the reader that nature isn’t tranquil. Storms rage. Lightning strikes. One such storm leaves several pheasants slaughtered. Nature fears for its life, whether it is  “the river’s babbling (which) sounded like the call of a liquid throat waiting, just waiting for the world to end,” or the beaver that seeks escape from the otter.

The language often tends toward the apocalyptic; the end of the world is mentioned at least five times in the novel. But beginnings also proliferate, such as the river which was “like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings.” In short, the language reflects the scope of the novel, which is epic, spanning from the lowest depths of the ocean to the outer reaches of the universe, from darkness to darkness, creation to apocalypse.

Honorable Mentions:

• Bardo by Joseph Edwin Haeger (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
• Other Minds and Other Stories by Bennett Sims (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. The Cabinet

Definitely the strangest, most surreal, and most innovative book I’ve read in 2023

The titular filing cabinet, which is watched over by harried Seoul-based office worker Kong Deok-Geun, contains files on all the known “symptomers,” that is, all those people who exhibit peculiar powers and report experiencing preternatural phenomena. As Kong’s work brings him into contact with an eclectic cast of oddballs, he finds himself engaged in a mind-bending catalogue of events and recollections that pokes fun at the delightfully absurd occurrences that can be found hiding behind the mundane elements of modern life.

2. Golden Age Detective Stories

Top-notch examples of the various non-official folks who have been called upon to solve crimes that have perplexed the police, including a magician, a publisher, a nun, and more.

Featuring stories by Golden Age greats such as Ellery Queen, Erle Stanley Gardner, Clayton Rawson, and Mary Roberts Rinehart, Golden Age Detective Stories is a very welcome addition to the sublime American Mystery Classics series. The crimes are generally not gory, although they’re certainly far from cozy, and the puzzles involved are sufficiently complex to get your little gray cells going as you attempt to identify the culprit before the relevant amateur detective does.

1. The Catch of a Lifetime

Sparks fly in this endearing romance about a once in a lifetime love

 The Catch of a Lifetime offers an intoxicating blend of passionate romance, relatable characters, and heartwarming moments that will leave romance aficionados enchanted.

 When Becca Linton decides to give Colt Mason—her best friend’s twin brother—a chance, she doesn’t expect things to move as quickly or as intensely as they do. With her budding career as a yoga instructor and Colt’s commitment to hiking mountains in different continents, Becca doesn’t think of it as a serious relationship or that long distance would affect her much. 

Alexandra Neville really brings the heat in this one! Colt and Becca are such a heartwarming, relatable couple. I love how both of them, despite the other commitments or past trauma they had, try so hard to make their relationship work. Through Colt and Becca’s relationship, we get to see the amount of effort, trust, and open communication that goes into a long-lasting relationship. 

However, Colt and Becca’s love story isn’t the only awe-worthy relationship within these pages. The Mason family radiates genuine warmth and affection, effortlessly endearing themselves to readers. What makes their family remarkable is not just their closeness but their welcoming and inclusive nature, extending warmth and kindness to all—be it friends, employees, or strangers. 

2. The Violence of Reason

Fate plays a cruel, twisted game in this compelling historical thriller.

A beguiling mystery with a web of secrets and shocking twists, The Violence of Reason is first a tale of freedom and survival. The novel delves into the intricate nature of trust and loyalty during a time of war. It shows that battles aren’t just fought on the frontlines but also in our neighborhoods, homes, and workplaces, where our friends suddenly become our foes and trust becomes a deadly commodity.

The Violence of Reason follows Norill Haugen, a Norwegian spy during the Nazi occupation of Norway. Norill joined the Milorg, the Norwegian resistance, as a way to help liberate and free her country. She works as a translator and courier for the resistance with other members of her resistance cell. Things were going as normal as they could be in a time of such uncertainty and turmoil.

But when Nazi soldiers show up to schedule piano lessons with Norill’s teacher—the house of Vinni Nases, which serves as their resistance cell—things take a turn. Has Norill’s cover been compromised? Are they here to arrest Norill and the other members of the resistance? Has someone betrayed them?

1. The Baron’s Ghost

Pirates, spires, treason—The Baron’s Ghost is an escapade to remember.

Christina Rushing has had her fair share of adventure, and that was before she became a spy. Forced to marry a horrible baron and left with nothing upon his death, she finds herself taking on deadly missions to make ends meet.

When her latest mission provides evidence that her late husband might not be dead after all, Christie is set on a far different path—and is there really a big difference between espionage and piracy anyway?

The characterization is impeccable. I couldn’t help but fall in love with their snark and passion. The mystery is satisfying and successful too, filled with plenty of little twists and turns. And if pirates, spies, and adventures aren’t enough, the Victorian and steampunk vibes are there to help this book overflow with things to enjoy.

For all you romantics out there, Dean includes a bit of a love triangle with Christina caught in the middle. Christina’s desire for independence after a checkered past and her inherent need for a sense of security is something that resonates and adds greatly to the romantic payoff.

2. Curse of the Anito

A thought-provoking novel of ancient evils buried just beneath the surface

Angela has spent the summer with her family in the Philippines, learning about her culture and seeking some sort of belonging. When her grandmother says that she will help Angela learn the family’s healing practices, she is overjoyed. 

However, a dark and ancient power has a far different plan for Angela. She wakes in the night to find the Anito, an old God, at the foot of her bed, telling her she has been chosen, that she has a destiny to fulfill. 

This is the first of a number of terrifying encounters for Angela, ones she cannot escape even when she flies back home to Australia. If given the chance to learn more about where you came from, would you take it? Would you take it even if it meant accidentally awakening an ancient deity? Isabella R Duffy sends readers on a captivating adventure alongside Angela in Ancestral Shadow: Curse of the Anito.

Duffy’s novel is full of self-discovery, familial love, and the need for cultural connection. In Angela’s storyline, readers feel the push and pull of what is modern and what is tradition. 

This journey of self-discovery will have young adult readers thankful for its nuance and ever-looming danger.

1. Geographies

Through fleeting encounters and lasting impressions, these stories capture the essence of places as ephemeral homes, where the heart finds refuge in unexpected corners.

Carmelinda Blagg’s short story collection, Geographies, explores the enduring impact of places, and our feelings and relationships with the people within them. Tucked away in our hearts are the memories of everywhere that we have been before, and may never truly escape from; regardless of whether they represent a blissful sanctuary or a place crumbling with regret. 

Blagg has an exceptional ability to create characters that are more than words on a page; they truly leap from the pages as if they are living, breathing souls made from flesh and blood. Each and every character is searching for the place inside them that they recognize as home. This search, intertwined with grief and nostalgia, forms a poignant undercurrent, echoing the constant in their lives—change, inevitable and heart-wrenching. This theme of change, depicted through various lenses—a fall leading to assisted living, the transformation of a childhood monster into a frail old man—emerges from every story, wrapped in grief; an emotion that Blagg expresses in ways that others never have. 

Reading Geographies is more than a literary experience; it is an introspective journey, one that invites you to look to the hidden places within your heart. This collection of stories doesn’t just evoke ache and wonder; it is unrelenting in its bold—almost brutal—sentiment and intentions. Yet, every probing question Blagg asks finds its answer within her narrative, steadfast in its unwavering pursuit to explore the uncharted territories within her characters. What lingers is the unexplored place within you, tethered to your heart and your lungs, patiently waiting to be acknowledged and understood. 

2. Numamushi

Step into a realm of vivid characters, haunting realities, and the legacy that words leave behind. 

Mina Ikemoto Ghosh’s fairytale, Numamushi, beckons readers into a mesmerizing realm where reality and enchantment intertwine seamlessly. Set in post-World War II Japan, Numamushi, a child marked by the scars of napalm, becomes an unlikely protagonist, raised by the guardian spirit of a river, blurring the boundaries between humanity and nature.

Numamushi stands out as a precocious and delightful main character, bridging the gap between a world of wonder and hate, one dominated by both man and beast. Many authors struggle to create a child protagonist that resonates with mature audiences while maintaining authenticity and sincerity. However, Ghosh deftly navigates this challenge, portraying Numamushi with a personality that never loses its charm. 

The story blurs the line between the world of beast and man, but it does not question or compare the nature of each and make the reader consider which is more brutal. Instead, Ghosh allows the story to breathe and intertwine around the themes of love, forgiveness, and pain: raw and unforgiving pain. And with pain comes healing, as Numamushi reflects: “If snakes had venom to fill and protect the stomachs that made them snakes, then humans had tears to protect and clean the hearts that made them humans.” 

hosh’s ability to blend enchantment with stark reality, coupled with their skillful characterization and thoughtful prose, creates a world that lingers in the reader’s mind. With its rich thematic depth and compelling storytelling, Numamushi stands as a testament to Ghosh’s literary prowess, offering readers an incredibly lovely yet bittersweet escape. 

1. Between the Mountains

A heartwarming tale that underscores the important bond between animals and humans while exploring themes of friendship, forgiveness, and community

Between the Mountains is a compelling read for those who adore dogs, but it also delves into the themes of second chances, healing, love, and loss.

The prose flows beautifully, maintaining a consistent and suspenseful tone throughout. Each sentence effortlessly transitions into the next, drawing readers in with unexpected perspectives, such as that of a dog. “Scars of the past and worries of the future sit out of mind, like spectators on the riverbank, while a canine’s present needs race through his head as fast as water gushes through Morgan’s Cove after a summer rain.” The result is an emotionally charged tale that keeps readers hanging on to every word, even when exploring typically mundane moments.

2. In the Name of Family

An authentic exploration of love, devotion, and unconventional family dynamics during an era of conformity

In the Name of Family delves into the lives of two central characters: Ruth, a conservatively-raised Jewish woman, and Tony, an Italian Catholic. Their journey begins when Tony musters up the courage to ask Ruth out on a date one day while at work at The Hoffman Shoe Factory in the year 1950. Over the next few months, the more time spent together, the deeper their bond grows. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when Ruth becomes pregnant and they both must reveal long-held secrets from their pasts.

This narrative successfully explores the intricate tapestry of love and life. It unfolds against the backdrop of a conformist era. In the face of societal norms, Ruth and Tony defy conventions to discover love, happiness, and joy while trying to create an environment where family comes first. In the Name of Family vividly illustrates how children within the same families can lead radically different lives based on how the people around them navigate pivotal life moments and family conflicts.

In the Name of Family beautifully illustrates that even amidst the most tumultuous and challenging lives, happiness can flourish. The story stands as a testament to the enduring power of love and family bonds, offering a resounding message of hope and resilience.

3. Invisible Sun

An intense, raw, and quite beautiful exploration of trauma and grief

Invisible Sun opens with Ian revisiting the traumatic scene where he discovered his brother Hugo, who had taken his own life. The room is still stained with blood, and Ian is engulfed by a torrent of emotions—pain, guilt, anger, and sorrow. In addition to grappling with this emotional turmoil, Ian is burdened with the practical responsibilities of arranging for cleaners, claiming Hugo’s body at the morgue, and packing up the family home. Amid this chaos, he is haunted by the relentless question of why this tragedy occurred.

Beneath the surface, the novel delves into the intricate dynamics among three brothers, shaped by a shared history of abuse and control imposed by their tyrannical father. 

Invisible Sun unflinchingly navigates the complexities of loss, guilt, and despair, which could prove emotionally taxing for some individuals in certain situations. Nonetheless, these weighty themes provide valuable insights into the multifaceted personalities of the characters within the narrative. The novel skillfully observes the convergence of philosophy, emotions, and the human psyche when confronted with death, encapsulated in the haunting notion that, “The dead have it easy; they don’t have to live with the guilt.”

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