Best of 2023

Best of 2023 – Top 12 Books

Jonetta | Blue Mood Café


Another great year for reading as I explored even more genres and new authors.  This list of twelve represents my best choices of the many I enjoyed. They weren’t all published in 2023 but read this year. I hope you’ll consider adding and enjoy them at least as much as I did.


1. Drowning by T. J. Newman
I felt like I was watching a disaster film! It’s that riveting. And, it is coming to a theater near you.

 

 

 


2. Look Closer by David Ellis
If you like clever and diabolical, you’ll love this.

 

 

 


3. The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle
The idea of a museum that features ordinary items from ordinary people with sentimental value for them alone was touching and appealing. A lovely, moving story.

 

 



4. A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristan Higgins
This is a story that had me experience every emotion imaginable and I still wasn’t ready for it to end.

 

 

5. After That Night by Karin Slaughter
It’s Will Trent. Enough said.

 

 

 

 



6. Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent 
I keep thinking Nugent can’t do better than the book before and she proves me wrong…Every. Single. Time.

 

 

 


7. None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
This will rank as the gold standard for unreliable narrators!

 

 

 

 


8. Payback in Death by J. D. Robb
Robb does it again with her 57th book in the best series I’ve ever read. This time, the killer is hiding in plain sight but Dallas can’t prove it.

 

 

 

 


9. Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni
This has one of the best courtroom dramas along with other wonderful things, including an intersection with the Tracy Crosswhite series.

 

 

 

 


10. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
I could kick myself for waiting so long to read this book. The TV series also does it justice.

 

 


11. Inheritance by Nora Roberts
This isn’t your typical ghost story and that’s a fantastic thing. I inhaled this story and still wanted more after 15 hours of listening.

 

 

 

 


12. Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz
I keep thinking the last book in the series was the best one and then Hurwitz makes my head spin with the next. This was crazy good and scary.

 

 

 

Any of these on your list of favorites?
What are some of yours?

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Published by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café

31 thoughts on “Best of 2023 – Top 12 Books”

  1. Lessons in Chemistry was one of my favourites last year too. I also enjoyed the Mike Gayle book but All The Lonely People remains my favourite of his. Interesting to see the different book covers from what we have!

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    1. Another Mike Gayle fan💜💜💜 All the Lonely People ranks as one of my most favorite books. Love his writing. Lessons was a big surprise. Had no idea it was this good.

      I enjoy comparing the US & UK covers. Would love to understand the psychology.

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  4. Very difficult to choose standouts. It can differ from day to day! Here are 12 of the many standouts from 200 books read last year
    1 The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers.
    2 Inheritance by Nora Roberts
    3 Essex Dogs/Wolves of Winter by Dan Jones. Essex Dogs books
    4 The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles
    5 Faine by Veronica Scott
    6 North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan
    7 The Prey by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
    8 Our Last days in Barcelona by Chanel Cleeton
    9 Atlas by Lucinda Riley
    10 Identity by Nora Roberts
    11 Baxter’s Right Hand Man by Lane Hayes
    12 Upstairs at the Beresford by Will Carver
    Gill

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