Some of the Best Books of the Year Are on Sale Right Now

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Dedicated bookworks

Dedicated bookworms already know, there's just nothing like getting lost in a good book. Whether you're the type who loves to walk in someone else's shoes through a well-penned memoir (including one by everyone's favorite early aughts pop star), scare yourself silly with a page-turning mystery or thriller, get all hot and bothered with a juicy new romance novel, hold your breath through the twisty turns in an exciting suspense, learn something about the past via historical fiction or explore new worlds through sci-fi or speculative fiction, there's bound to be something you'll love in this list of the best new books of 2023. Established favorites like Nicole Chung and Maggie Smith are back at it with breathtaking new work, and we've got a whole array of debut authors stand ready to capture your hearts.

This has been a banner year for new books, so you're sure to find something on this list that intrigues you. Books also make great gifts, especially for people who are otherwise impossible to buy for—they always fit, don't need to be walked or fed and can go with you wherever you do. And when you're done here, head on over to the GH Book Club to find even more feel-good reads. We'll keep your bookshelf stocked all year long.

Flores and Miss Paula by Melissa Rivero

Three years after losing their beloved patriarch, Flores and her mother, Paula butt heads about everything: their respective jobs, romantic lives (or lack thereof) and what they're going to do about their impending eviction. This is a story about love and loss, the meaning of family and the importance of community, passion and what happens when it's misdirected or lost entirely. It's one of those books where the characters quickly feel like friends, then family. You won't be able to put it down.

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Age of Vice: A Novel by Deepti Kapoor

This stunning crime epic starts off with a car crash that leaves five people dead, a driver who wasn't supposed to be there and a lot of unanswered questions. More Qs emerge throughout as we come to know the wealthy Wadia family, loyal servant Ajay and journalist Neda, who all find themselves swept up in a complex, gasp-inducing drama that accelerates to an explosive ending. Block out some time: You won't be able to put this one down.

Liar, Dreamer, Thief by Maria Dong

Sure, Katrina knows every detail of her coworker Kurt's life, but that doesn't make her a stalker. And yeah, she followed him to a bridge late at night where she sees him jump to his death right after he tells her it's all her fault. But she's the victim here...right? This surreal mystery is perfect for fans of Severance or anyone who wishes their own workplace had a little more spice.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

The writer who brought us The Final Girl Support Group and The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires returns with the heartfelt, terrifying and yes, funny story of two siblings locked in a battle over selling their late parents' house. It just so happens that the house wants in on the wrestling match, and it's full of dolls who can't seem to stay put. Maybe put your kids' stuffies in the closet for this one.

Decent People by De'Shawn Charles Winslow

It's 1976 and three secretive siblings have been shot in the still-segregated town of West Mills, North Carolina. The authorities don't have a sense of urgency about the crime, but someone has a lot of questions for which she expects answers — Jo Wright, freshly back home from NYC and ready to take matters into her own hands. You'll find yourself rooting for the nosy, self-appointed detective as she uncovers far more than she bargained for in her hunt for justice.

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The Faraway World: Stories by Patricia Engel

These 10 compelling stories follow characters that feel as real as I do, grappling with human struggles that feel both uniquely new and nearly universal. If you're looking for a collection that will touch your heart and make you look at your fellow humans more generously, this one's a can't-miss.

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Freaky Friday is all grown up in this heartfelt and heartwarming tale of two women in very different circumstances who get the chance to quite literally walk in each other's shoes after a bag mix-up at the gym. From the storyteller behind Me Before You comes a story of reinvention that just might inspire you to make a change yourself — just buy your own shoes.

Stealing: A Novel by Margaret Verble

Kit, a young Cherokee girl, gets ripped away from what's left of her family and sent to a Christian boarding school just when she's most vulnerable. There, she suffers horrifying abuse but finds solace in her journal, where she records what happens to her and what she remembers about her past. It's a historical reckoning with a hint of mystery that keeps the plot past-your-bedtime propulsive.

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Your Driver Is Waiting: A Novel by Priya Guns

A queer feminist retelling of the 1970's film Taxi Driver, this one had me laughing loud enough to draw looks on the subway, and that takes some doing. It's a crackling social commentary on the social justice movements of our time, the gig economy, performative wokeness and who gets to speak on behalf of the disadvantaged. It's a fast-paced read that begs to be devoured.

I Have Some Questions for You: A Novel by Rebecca Makkai

A privileged boarding school that covered up an old murder, a former student-turned-podcast host and guest professor who can't help digging up long-buried secrets, and all the fallout thereof? This psychological thriller hits all the high notes, complete with at least a few revelations you won't see coming.

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez

In this hilarious and heartwarming novel, the Ramirez family is still reeling after 13-year-old Ruthy disappeared 12 years ago. So when oldest sister Jessica spots a woman on a raunchy reality TV show that she swears is Ruthy, she just has to know for sure. Together with her mother Dolores and youngest sister Nina, they set off from Staten Island on a road trip that will show them just how much family means, even through some snort-inducing hijinks.

RELATED: Best Books by Latinx Authors

Confidence by Rafael Frumkin

From the dead-eyed stare of Elizabeth Holmes to the snake oil shysters of old, America loves a scam. Or at least, that's what best friends and sometimes-lovers Ezra and Orson are banking on. The two meet at a summer camp for troubled teens and are soon using Orson's Adonis-like looks as the frontman for Nulife, a company that promises bliss. But just like the wizard behind the curtain, things aren't what they seem in this delightfully suspenseful novel.

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

Spooky season may have passed, but the occult obeys no laws of man, calendar included. In this fierce, feminist historical fiction, a London men's club claims to communicate with the dead, but their chicanery is threatened by an indomitable spiritualist who actually does. This is a gripping story you'll want to read in broad daylight, full of delicious scandal that goes all the way to the top, then back down into the depths of darkness.

Hang the Moon: A Novel by Jeanette Walls

Fans of plucky heroines will find a lot to love in Sallie, the daughter of big-shot Duke and sister to the timid Eddie. When an accident leads to her banishment, everyone in their small Virginia town all but gives up on her. But Sallie returns nine years later ready to fight for her place in the family, and there's a lot of spunk in Sallie yet.

A Living Remedy: A Memoir by Nicole Chung

The past few years have caused a lot of us to question truths we'd previously taken for granted: Who is the "middle class?" When we say we're there for each other, what does that really mean? Who defines the "American dream," anyway? In this beautiful and thought-provoking memoir, Chung explores great depths of grief and rage as she takes a hard look at the pervasive inequality in American society and what community really means.

Cursed Bread: A Novel by Sophie Mackintosh

Based on the unsolved mystery of a mass poisoning in 1951, this wonderfully weird book sees the residents of a small town lose their collective minds. Some say it's spoiled bread, some say it's a government conspiracy, but whatever the cause, mass hysteria has everyone vibrating at a fever pitch. And then an alluring new couple arrives in town, and things escalate even further. You'll just have to read to see what I mean.

You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smith

This is a memoir of a woman who recommits to herself after heartbreak, but it's also a meditation on patriarchal power dynamics, a mother's love for her children and what that means in today's world and how to bet on yourself, even and especially when we're told not to. If you expected Smith's latest to serve as a balm for the soul and a rallying cry for the heart, you won't be disappointed.

Life and Other Love Songs by Anissa Gray

Ozro’s disappearance on his 37th birthday breaks his wife and daughter’s hearts, especially as the years go by without a trace. Shuttling from the 1970s to the 1990s and following the fraught journey of the Great Migration to Detroit and New York, this is a story of how the cords of one family’s hopes can fray over time, especially if some of its members hold secrets that test their strength.

If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook

When Gerry dies suddenly, his far-flung family returns to Georgia to mourn their patriarch. But when his best friend reveals a shocking secret during his eulogy, it throws the clan into turmoil. Suddenly, the Williams cousins are forced to confront their own secrets while grappling with a new perspective on the man they thought they knew in this heartwarming family saga.

Graveyard of Lost Children by Katrina Monroe

As a baby, Olivia narrowly escaped being murdered and now that she’s a mother herself, the “dead women” that haunted her mom have begun whispering to her too. Olivia’s post-partum life isn’t the joyful time she expected, and she’s starting to suspect her baby isn’t hers at all. This harrowing tale of what it means to be a good mother will keep you up at night, whether you have kids or not.

The Guest by Emma Cline

Who among us hasn't wanted to slide into someone else's life like a silk slip dress? In this expertly drawn observation on power and access, Alex has charmed her way into her much older (and richer) boyfriend's life in the Hamptons. But when he unceremoniously dumps her a week before Labor Day, she's determined to somehow hide out on Long Island until his blowout end-of-summer bash. And frustratingly enough to us mere mortals, she does.

Glassworks by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith

This captivating saga that feels as taut and fragile as the glass-blown ornaments at the center of it follows four generations of people who discover that one wrong choice can echo across the ages. It's a twisty tale of love, chosen family, hard choices and harder people that picks up speed as it goes, careening breathlessly toward the last page.

The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

Anyone who's ever struggled to find themselves while so many around them are doing the same (hello, everyone's early 20s) will find kinship in this novel about a group of grad students, artists, food service workers and other Iowa City residents all trying to figure it out.

The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller

A deadly pandemic is sweeping the globe and Neffy, a former marine biologist, has signed up for a vaccine clinical trial because she needs the cash. When she awakes from her post-infection fever, London is basically post-apocalyptic and her fellow trial members—Rachel, Leon, Yahiko and Piper—have to figure out how to survive without leaving the. It's a story you'll both recognize from our collective recent past, and a thrilling departure from our reality.

Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie

After a devastating breakup, Kathleen Chen is back living with her mom and trying to figure out her next steps. But her mom, Marissa, isn't the wallowing alcoholic Kathleen cared for growing up—she's sober, fit and preparing to marry a tech entrepreneur. When Kathleen takes a job as a professional cuddler, she finds herself confronting not only her relationship to intimacy, but what she and her mom need from each other too in a story that's both refreshingly unique and as familiar as a hug.

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Haunting, a little spooky and occasionally heartbreaking, this sweeping debut novel follows three generations of Vietnamese women as they try to find their way in the world. It's a story of what we inherit from our ancestors and how generational trauma impacts those who come after, the love that keeps us together and how we're uniquely suited to hurt those we keep closest.

Don't Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna

Twelve years ago, Abby Hartman, 18, disappeared, but her story has long been overshadowed by that of Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder. Now that he’s about to be executed, Abby’s former best friends, Bree and Chelsea, reunite to share her story on a high-profile true crime podcast. Old resentments resurface, deeply buried secrets come out and the past haunts them in this thought-provoking tale.

King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner

Victor’s life is thrown into turmoil when he gets diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy, and has to leave the Bronx to quarantine at a federal institution. At first he dreams of escape, or at least telling his mom back in China where he is. But over time he finds unlikely friends, first love and a passion for music in this lush drama about belonging.

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

Mrs. King wants revenge after getting fired from her position running a grand mansion, so she recruits an eclectic group of women to plan a heist. On the night of a costume ball, they’ll rob it bare right under the nose of their elusive heiress host. But there’s one thing Mrs. King craves even more than money: the truth. Fans of Bridgerton will love this one.

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

When her nonverbal brother returns bloodied and alone from a hike with their father, Mia doesn’t call the cops right away. She’s got a ton of explanations for where her hyper-responsible dad might be, but they all unravel over the days and weeks that follow. Their family has secrets, but it turns out her dad did too in this missing-person story that’s so much more than that.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

On Chicken Hill, the Black and immigrant Jewish residents live on the margins of white society. Join them on the proverbial porch rocker as an engrossing yarn unspools about their secrets and sorrows, traditions and trials — not to mention that skeleton in the well.

Rouge by Mona Awad

When Belle returns to Southern California to deal with her late mother’s estate and staggering debt, a cryptic invite to a “life-changing” spa treatment awaits her. But the dizzying descent into the darker side of the mirror that comes next is a complete surprise. This commentary on beauty, envy and grief feels like a Brothers Grimm fairy tale for the modern age.

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

June has grown up under the shadow of her family’s curse, so when she starts seeing things, she fears that it has come for her at last. But then she walks through a door she always assumed was an illusion — and into a world of possibilities for the past as well as the future. Come for the fresh twist on time travel; stay for the love story.

Night Side of the River by Jeanette Winterson

Turn off the lights and immerse yourself in the spine-tingling delights of this frighteningly modern ghost story collection. Blurring the lines between nonfiction and campfire tale, this book imagines what would happen if there really were a ghost in the machine.

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

After Annis is sold by the enslaver who fathered her, she begins a harrowing journey from his Carolina estate, through the slave markets of New Orleans and to a sugar plantation in Louisiana. The memory of her beloved mother, lost lover and stories of her African warrior ancestors bear her up and she meets spirits who comfort and cajole her battered will. This is a luminous masterwork from one of our best living writers, and it's not to be missed.

Absolution by Alice McDermott

Women tend to take a backseat in war stories, and stories in general. But this one, about two American women living in Saigon during the Vietnam War, all but shoves them into the spotlight. It's all about the relationship between two very different women and the way their influence on each other and the world echoes long after the war is over. It's an affecting story, and one you'll think about for a long time.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

If you didn't hear Britney has a memoir out this year, have you even been online? Whether you've loved her music for decades, followed her courageous journey into speaking and living as her own woman or are just curious to learn what all the buzz is about, pick up this one up like, yesterday.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

After 4-year-old named Ruthie goes missing from near the Maine berry fields where her family spends the summer picking, it sets off a chain of events that reverberates through the whole family. Not far away, a girl named Norma grows up the only child of two loving but overprotective parents, haunted by dreams about a mysterious woman. This book is a heartbreaking tale of family and loss, deathbed regrets and revelations. It's a force as powerful as any of those.

The Future by Naomi Alderman

It's coming for us one way or the other, and nobody can escape — except, of course, billionaires who can literally control the weather. In this all-too-prescient dystopia, two women may hold the keys to the end of the world: A famous survivalist and a former member of a cult whose apocalyptic warnings are starting to come true. This is a novel about money, power and how both corrupt us, or set us free. Clear your schedule; this one's a breathtaking one-sitting read.

The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac: Stories by Louise Kennedy

Short story collections are perfect for anyone with a long to-do list who still loves to read, because you can squeeze one in wherever you've got a few minutes and not worry about picking the plot back up next time you've got a reading break—no matter how long that takes to come back around. This taut, sometimes surreal collection is all about women's lives and it dives to gut-twisting depths and soars to dizzying heights. Perfect for women and anyone who's ever met one.

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