The Best Books of 2023

Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!

Can you believe that we're already at that time of year where everyone is talking about their best and worst books? If the rest of the year was fast, December really just flew by for me. I think I was just not in a good head space for most of it, and therefore blocked most of it out, even though it was a relatively quiet month. Sometimes brains are just like that, you know? 

Anyway, I'm here today to talk about the best books I read in 2023. I was originally planning on doing my worst books first, but after looking at the list I realized there wasn't enough there for a whole post. I had a surprisingly good reading year, apparently. There was only one book that I actively disliked, and I only DNF'd three others, so it felt weird to dedicate a whole blog post to just four books, three of which I didn't even finish and therefore don't have a fully developed opinion on. So, you're only getting one superlative-type post for this year.

I'm going to be separating the books into three categories: standalones, series (or series starters), and nonfiction. There are only a few books in each category, so it shouldn't be too overwhelming. I'll go in the order of which I read them, so there isn't any definitive ranking. In fact I'm not sure if I really know what my top favorite book of 2023 is. Maybe I'll figure it out by the end of this post. 

Okay, enough babbling. Let's get into my best books of 2023!

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Standalones 

1. After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz
    Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.00
    Goodreads thoughts: I am in absolute awe from this book. I want the entire manuscript tattooed on my skin, that's how much I love this writing. Selby Wynn Schwartz has a GIFT and I can't wait to see what she does next.
    Read my review here!

2. The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 4.5/8.14
    Goodreads thoughts: This was brilliant. I wasn't expecting Claire's take on the Perseus myth to be completely based in reality, especially because it's one of the more myth-oriented stories (Medusa being a creature, Perseus the son of Zeus, getting favors from Athena and Hermes, etc) but she did it flawlessly. She really showed how easily tales can be twisted, and how history is written by the ones left standing, and they are now able to spin the story in any way that they wish. Perseus was always one of the better heroes of myth, described as a pure-of-heart hero who saves the women in his life from terrible suffering, who completes an impossible task all for his mom, but Claire's Perseus is definitely not a heroic man. It's interesting to see this side of him, but even more interesting to see the unknown sides of the women he was surrounded by, since they obviously never got a deeper explanation.

3. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.00
    Goodreads thoughts: I mean, was it ever going to be anything other than 5 stars? Kuang’s writing is masterful. Watching Juniper descend into madness was both terrifying and cathartic, and the fact that I actually felt sympathy for her a few times just proves how good the writing is. If you want a modern day “Tell Tale Heart” then this is your next read.

4. The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.14
    Goodreads thoughts: Hi yes I loved this.

I don't think I can actually form any coherent thoughts right now, so have this instead:

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHSFKDJHRFONCFIDURGBFVWEOLN

*SOBS*
    Read my review here!

5. The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 4.5/8.86
    Goodreads thoughts: Sooo good!! I was expecting to enjoy this read, of course, but this was something extra special. I loved every page, from beginning to end. I want everyone to read this!

6. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.00
    Goodreads thoughts: Wow. Wowowowowow. The MIND that White has, I swear. This was so disturbing, and macabre, and horrific, and I LOVED it. I may not relate to Silas's transness, but I felt SO seen through his autism. If you can handle body horror, then I absolutely recommend that you read this!
    Read my review here!

7. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.14
    Goodreads thoughts: I want to go back in time to when I first heard about this book and then scream at my past self for waiting until now to read it, because I loved this! This is the exact kind of dark academia that I want. Not to mention this friend group is so incredible, it reminds me a lot of The Raven Cycle. They're all so in love with each other it hurts. This whole book hurt, actually. It hurt a lot. But I want to thank it, and M.L. Rio, for hurting me so badly.

Series

1. The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
            The Way of Kings
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 4.5/8.57
    Goodreads thoughts: I’m so late to the hype train but this was SO GOOD! I want to reach through the pages and hug Kaladin and protect him from the world, he’s too precious! I am so excited to pick up book two!!
            Words of Radiance
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.14
    Goodreads thoughts: I enjoyed this book a lot more than book 1, which I find a little surprising because I REALLY enjoyed book 1. But the pacing was so much better, and I wasn't bored during any parts this time. Plus this story was way more satisfying, some characters got the comeuppance I was waiting for, and the reveals felt stronger and more important. I'm super intrigued to see what book 3 brings, because the way the story has ended it feels like it should be a trilogy. So I'm wanting to see how it expands enough to warrant another two books (in this arc) after.
            Oathbringer
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 4.5/8.71
    Goodreads thoughts: I didn't love this one the same way I loved Words of Radiance, but I still had so much fun with it. Learning Dalinar's backstory hurt so bad but seeing how he became who he is at the present was absolutely worth the pain. There were a lot of moments that had me gasping out loud from shock, and the major plot twist at the end had me sitting there like the surprised Pikachu meme. I can't wait to read book 4!
            Rhythm of War
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.14
    Goodreads thoughts: I think this is my second favorite in the series (after Words of Radiance). Kaladin's character arc continues to destroy me in the best way possible, and the world keeps getting bigger with every installment! I really don't know how Brando Sando does it, but I'm not complaining. And now I have to wait for book 5 ;-;

2. To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.71
    Goodreads thoughts: This was absolutely brilliant. I'm completely obsessed! Not only do I love the dragons, the school setting, and the characters, but the social and economic issues brought up stoke a judicious rage in me that I honestly love to see. I can't wait to see how Aneques, Theod, Sander, and Liberty all grow as the series progresses. This is definitely a story to look out for.

3. A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.00
    Goodreads thoughts: Honestly this is everything I loved in Priory dialed up to 11. While there is less worldbuilding in this book, the political intrigue is so much higher and more refined. Shannon saw all of the part that were being praised in Priory—the politics, the romances, and the stakes—and said “I can do more.” And boy, did she!

I still think I love Priory more than this, but it’s not by a large margin, that’s for sure. This is exactly the kind of fantasy that I crave.

4. Earthseed by Octavia E. Butler
            Parable of the Sower
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 4/7.71
    Goodreads thoughts: Oh boy, was this something. I don't know if I can give you any coherent thoughts about it, because I feel like I read this book in a fugue state. It's so heavy and traumatic, but so so powerful, and necessary. And reading it in the 2020s, when it takes place, makes it that much more poignant.
            Parable of the Talents
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 4/7.43
    Goodreads thoughts: I am upsetti spaghetti, that's what I am. Octavia E. Butler either had to be a psychic or a time traveler, because there are things in this book that are wayyyy to realistic, especially for the times. It's more than a little eerie. I didn't love the addition of Larkin as a narrator, but I understand why it was necessary. And now I need to go curl up in a ball and rock back and forth, Squidward style.

5. The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 5/9.14
    Goodreads thoughts: I mean, of course this was brilliant, right? I loved diving back into this world so much. And surprisingly, my favorite character isn't one of the original characters (though Ned will always have my heart), but Tes! As soon as I met her I knew I wanted to adopt her. I hope that we get more of her in the rest of the series, because I loved every moment of her chapters.

Nonfiction

1. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: N/A
    Goodreads thoughts: This was incredibly hard to read but so, SO important. And weirdly soothing/liberating. Jennette clearly has a talent for writing and I hope that she'll continue to pursue it. I know I'm a little late to the game, but I agree with all of the praise this book has received in the past however many months it's been out. Truly one of the best books I've ever read.

2. Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson
    Star rating/CAWPILE score: 4/7.14
    Goodreads thoughts: This was absolutely fascinating. As a kid I was obsessed with storms (more so tornadoes than hurricanes, but I digress) and this book sparked that fascination in me again. I even watched the documentary film based on it. It's so awesome that Erik Larson clearly has that same obsession for untold and wild stories. Highly recommend.

3. 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline
     Star rating/CAWPILE score: 4/7.14
    Goodreads thoughts: I thought this was very well done. The author takes the time to really explain all of the civilizations impacted, explores all of the theories, and provides ample evidence as to why he thinks what happened, happened. I also appreciate that he revised this book to include new discoveries and evidence found after the first publication.

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And there you have it! I think I've determined that my favorite book of 2023 was To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. I don't think anyone, myself included, would have predicted that a YA book would end up being my top favorite of the year, but 2023 was a year of surprises, I guess.

Do we have any overlap on our favorites lists? I'd love to know! Comment with your favorite book (or books) of the year down below, or DM me on Instagram (link in sidebar under the heading "More Media"). 

I can't believe my next post is going to be the final entry of 2023. Until next time, friends!