Best Books To Read In 2023

So, you've scrolled through Netflix, finished a few podcasts, and maybe even survived a week of doom-scrolling. At some point, you just want to grab something warm and hold it in your hands — a good old-fashioned book.

Reading hasn't gone anywhere, even though we live in a world of short-form videos and five-second attention spans. In fact, 2023 has been a great year for books that actually matter.

Why Bother Picking Up a Book?

Think about it. When was the last time you read something and felt genuinely changed by it — like the story followed you around all day?

Books do that. They sneak into your thoughts while you're washing dishes or stuck in traffic, and that kind of is magic.

And no, there's no rule saying you need to read a 600-page novel to feel the benefits. Sometimes a slim 200-page treasure hits harder than anything on your Kindle's homepage.

Best Books to Read in 2023 — The Picks

1. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

If you liked The Color Purple, this one is going to feel like a long walk home. McBride writes about a small community in the 1970s where everyone is somehow connected even when they don't realize it.

It's the kind of book that makes you call your old neighbor just to say hi. You'll finish it and immediately want to do that.

2. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

This one's about an Artificial Intelligence friend — yes, a robot that cares about a human child. Sounds weird? Totally is, but in the best possible way.

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Ishiguro asks the questions none of us want to face: what makes a person truly special? Your heart will pinch, your eyes will water, and you'll definitely won't blame yourself for it.

3. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Kingsolver basically rewrote David Copperfield and set it in rural Appalachia. The title character, Demon, is a boy with nothing going for him and everything stacked against him.

It's raw, funny at times, and painfully honest about poverty and addiction. You'll remember this one long after you close the last page.

4. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

A family is falling apart in slow motion, and every character is lying to everyone else — including themselves. It's like watching people you know struggle with real problems but with literary flair.

The writing is sparkling with dark humor that keeps the heaviness from dragging you down. Perfect for a lazy Sunday and a big blanket.

The Best Books of 2023

5. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Okay, maybe you're more of a fantasy person. If you've ever binged Game of Thrones or a Hunger Games rerun at 2 a.m., this one belongs on your shelf.

Dragons, war colleges, deadly betrayals — this is popcorn entertainment that reads as quickly as a thriller. You'll finish it in a weekend and look for the sequel immediately.

6. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This novel follows a Korean family that moves to Japan across four generations. It's one of those stories where you're putting the dishes away while narrating out loud.

Lee writes about identity, home, and legacy in a way that feels universal even if you've never been to Seoul or Osaka. It's honestly a work of art.

How to Actually Start

You already know the trick: keep the book somewhere you physically can't ignore it. Bathroom, kitchen table, next to the remote — somewhere.

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Give yourself permission to read just five pages a day. That's about three minutes, less than a TikTok binge, and it adds up fast.

And please, don't force it. If a book isn't working for you, set it down and grab another. Reading should feel like putting on a favorite sweatshirt.

A Small Reminder

Life is noisy, busy, and full of deadlines. A good book is the closest thing to a quiet room you'll find all day.

So put down the screen, grab a cup of something warm, and let 2023 be the year you fell in love with reading again.

You might just surprise yourself. 📚