The 25 best books of 2023
The 25 highest-ranked books first published in 2023 in our ranking of 2,819, scored on how much readers love them, their prize, best-list and bestseller record, and current buzz. We rank 84 books of 2023 in all. How we rank
- 1
Fourth Wing93.8Must-Read ScoreFourth Wing
It's the book that turned millions of people into romantasy readers: relentlessly fast, with high stakes, real danger, dragons with personality and a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance.
- 2
King: A Life90.2Must-Read ScoreKing: A Life
It brings King down from the monument and back to life as a real person: funny, doubting, exhausted, flawed and extraordinarily brave.
- 3
Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World85.9Must-Read ScoreFire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World
The fire chapters are as gripping as any thriller, and the bigger story is essential for understanding the world we're entering.
- 4
A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy84.4Must-Read ScoreA Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy
It's a devastating, closely reported human story that won the Pulitzer Prize, and it explains the realities of the West Bank more vividly than any policy book.
- 5
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity83.8Must-Read ScoreOutlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and a #1 bestseller.
- 6
The Frozen River83.3Must-Read ScoreThe Frozen River
It spent more than thirty weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 7
How to Say Babylon: A Memoir81.8Must-Read ScoreHow to Say Babylon: A Memoir
It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 8
The Will of the Many81.8Must-Read ScoreThe Will of the Many
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and became a word-of-mouth fantasy hit.
- 9The Housemaid's Secret81.5Must-Read Score
The Housemaid's Secret
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for mystery and thriller and has spent more than 80 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 10
The Covenant of Water80.9Must-Read ScoreThe Covenant of Water
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and an Oprah's Book Club pick.
- 11
Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning80.7Must-Read ScoreOath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning
It hit #1 on the New York Times list.
- 12
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder80.6Must-Read ScoreThe Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
It won the Goodreads Choice Award, spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list, and is being made into a Martin Scorsese film.
- 13
Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives80.4Must-Read ScoreCobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives
It was a Pulitzer finalist and a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 14The Last Devil to Die80.3Must-Read Score
The Last Devil to Die
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 15
Elon Musk80.0Must-Read ScoreElon Musk
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and spent months on it.
- 16
Funny Story79.0Must-Read ScoreFunny Story
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for romance and was a #1 New York Times bestseller.
- 17Divine Rivals79.0Must-Read Score
Divine Rivals
It has spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 18
Poverty, by America78.5Must-Read ScorePoverty, by America
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and won the Goodreads Choice Award for nonfiction.
- 19The Running Grave78.5Must-Read Score
The Running Grave
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 20Brotherless Night78.4Must-Read Score
Brotherless Night
It won the Women's Prize for Fiction.
- 21
Tress of the Emerald Sea77.6Must-Read ScoreTress of the Emerald Sea
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 22
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi77.3Must-Read ScoreThe Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi
It was a Hugo finalist and a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 23Theo of Golden76.9Must-Read Score
Theo of Golden
Self-published, it became a word-of-mouth phenomenon, spending 16 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 24The Director76.7Must-Read Score
The Director
It was a finalist for the 2026 International Booker Prize.
- 25
The River We Remember76.5Must-Read ScoreThe River We Remember
It was a finalist for the Edgar and the Goodreads Choice awards.