The 25 Best Books of 2023 Are Just Right for Thrill-Seekers and Go-Getters
It’s been a great year for books and we’re excited for you to discover your next great read, or two, or three. We found the best releases of 2023 across five categories: non-fiction, mystery/thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, and self-help. All of them have a rating of no less than 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads at the time of writing. Our reading stack has gotten considerably taller in the making.
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Why You Should Trust Me
I’m a book-obsessed reviewer, collector, and novelist with an MFA in creative writing from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine. I’ve been reviewing everything from mountain memoirs to epic fantasy for more than 15 years. I also created Adventum, a literary journal with a focus on outdoor adventure writing. Recently, I’ve been riding the waves of new releases to write book lists for publications like Greatist and Healthline. When I'm not reading or spending time outdoors, I'm scrolling and posting on bookstagram.
Related: The 54 Greatest Adventure Books
Best Non-Fiction Book of 2023: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann
In 1742, a patched-together ship washed up on the shore of Brazil, carrying 30 men who were barely alive. This wasn't the ship the men set off from England in 2 years earlier on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. They were welcomed ashore as heroes–but 6 months later, three more castaways from their crew appeared and told a very different story. A life-and-death court martial ensued between the two parties. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder is their harrowing story, in the hands of a very skilled storyteller. The fact that we had to keep checking to make sure it wasn't fiction makes this one our favorite non-fiction read of the year.
For the Reader Who: Loves true crime stories and tall tales.
Other Top Non-Fiction Books of the Year
Best Mystery/Thriller Book of 2023: An Honest Man by Michael Koryta
Set on an isolated island off the coast of Maine, many reviewers say this is Koryta’s best book since The Prophet. An Honest Man tells the story of Israel Pike, who was convicted of murdering his father and is now a prime suspect in the murder of seven powerful men found on a yacht. With emotionally compelling characters and a plot that doesn’t let up, this thriller earned our nod for best of the year.
For the Reader Who: Loves a weather-heavy, atmospheric thriller.
Other Top Mystery/Thriller Books of the Year
Best Sci-Fi Book of 2023: System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries #7) by Martha Wells
System Collapse is the seventh book in a series, but unlike many sci-fi sagas, you don't need to read the previous books in order to hop into this one and be engaged. If you love a good AI story that leaves you thinking about the human condition, this one's for you. Overall, the strong world-building and strong character voices makes this a stand-out sci-fi title.
For the Reader Who: Doesn't mind getting emotionally attached to robots.
Other Top Sci-Fi Books of the Year
Best Fantasy Book of 2023: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
It might've been the breathtaking cover that initially drew us to this first installment of the new trilogy, but it was the author’s masterful prose and whimsical yet slightly nightmarish premise that kept us reading past our bedtime. The Book That Wouldn't Burn follows two strangers who find themselves connected by a vast, mysterious library. One of them has grown up outside the library and the other trapped in a hidden chamber inside of it. An inescapable plot paired with an inescapable pace makes this title the fantasy of the year for us.
For the Reader Who: Loves books about books.
Other Top Fantasy Books of the Year
Best Self-Help Book of 2023: 8 Rules of Love by Jay Shetty
Storyteller, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author of Think Like a Monk draws on ancient Vedic wisdom (a predecessor of Hinduism) and modern science to give relationship advice in 8 Rules of Love. This works as both a straight-through read, as well as a handbook–to flip through chapters for the right nuggets you need at the time. It’s packed with advice, anecdotes, meditations, and exercises applicable to a range of relationship statuses. I fell in love with this self-help book above others due to its use of clear, actionable steps for readers.
For the Reader Who: Wants advice for loving others and also loving themselves.
Other Top Self-Help Books of the Year
