The year 2023 has been significant for highly anticipated book releases, whether they are the continuation of series left on cliffhangers, fresh picks by famous authors, or even debut novels. The best way to summarize the books of 2023 is through GoodReads: a platform used by millions of readers to set reading goals, shelve and rate books, track reading progress, discover new novels, and connect with others. English teacher Mrs. Steier says, “I think Goodreads is a great resource for readers, especially students who don’t know what they like to read or don’t know what they want to read next. Getting book recommendations from real readers is invaluable. I also like the way they organize recommended titles into lists which makes browsing for a new book easy. I think the most helpful feature is the individualized recommendations based on books you have enjoyed in the past—the algorithm suggests titles that other readers liked who have similar reading interests. The more books you rate, the more accurate your recommendations are. It’s cool!” Furthermore, English teacher Mr. Basili comments on the more social aspect of the platform, “I love GoodReads! It’s essentially a combination of reading Amazon reviews and social media. You can see what your friends read and what they thought about each book. Seeing someone’s favorite stories and reading what they liked about them can be one of the best and most interesting ways to get to know a person and connect.” Each year, they host the GoodReads Choice Awards in which users vote on ten nominated books from twenty categories. Let’s take a look at some of this year’s books from the 15th annual GoodReads Choice Awards!
Fiction: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Rating: 3.87/5.00
The book Yellowface follows protagonist June Hayward as she steals her deceased friend’s manuscripts for a book and publishes it as her own, giving her rise to fame as a struggling writer. However, when evidence is brought to light that threatens her success, she realizes just how far she would go to keep what she believes is hers. It is meant to satirize the publishing industry and covers topics such as racism, diversity, and cultural appropriation.
Historical Fiction: Weyward by Emilia Hart
Rating: 4.13/5.00
The book Weyward weaves together three stories from three different centuries about three remarkable women. There is Kate, who is living in 2019 when she begins to suspect secrets held within the cottage she inherited from her Great Aunt, which dates back to the witch-hunts of the 17th century. There is Altha, a convict of witchcraft in 1619 who tries against all odds to gain her freedom. Lastly, Violet, living during World War II, follows traces to discover her mother’s past. This book explores the deep connections between these three women and the natural world.
Romantasy: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.63/5.00
Upon its release on April 5th, 2023, Fourth Wing has blown up across social media platforms, namely TikTok, due to its immersive storytelling, dynamic characters, and an overall reading experience similar to that of Harry Potter. This novel takes place in Basgiath War College, where twenty-year-old protagonist Violet Sorrengail, prepared to enter a quiet life among books in the Scribe Quadrant, is thrown into the dragon rider’s quadrant, a ferocious branch of the school where many enter and few survive. She will need to use every skill and ounce of will she has to make it through every day, considering her fragility and that many people would kill her just because of who her mother is.
Young Adult Fantasy: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Rating: 4.26/5.00
Divine Rivals is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel following two rivaling journalists during a war among gods. Iris Winnow’s family is falling apart: her brother is missing from the front lines and her mother is struggling with addiction. Winnow believes her best chance to hold them together is to win a promotion at the Oath Gazette. She begins to write letters to her brother, and they are placed into the hands of Roman Kitt, her rival journalist. When he writes back anonymously, they form a connection that follows Iris to the front lines of battle. This book represents the horrors of war, familial bonds, and finding love. Being the first in the series, many readers have been anticipating a sequel, and there’s good news: the second book, Ruthless Vows, is being released on December 26th, 2023! It’s the perfect time for a new read over the holiday break!
Nonfiction: Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Rating: 4.30/5.00
Poverty, by America dives deep into understanding “why poverty persists in the richest country of all time,” explains Mr. Basili. He was recommended this book by another reader as well as the story I Do Everything I’m Told by Megan Fernandes, a collection of poetry. In Poverty, by America, Desmond makes a compelling case on why and how wealthy Americans are knowingly and unknowingly exploiting the poor and keeping them in poverty, and what we can do about it.
Those are just five of the winners of the GoodReads Choice Awards this year, and many more can be found on the website under the other categories: mystery, thriller, horror, humor, romance, fantasy, science fiction, young adult fiction, memoir, debut novel, autobiography, history, and biography. Lauren Fleissner, a senior at Ramapo, loves “a lot about the platform, such as the ability to put books into other ‘shelves’ by your own chosen categories. I love being able to find friends through groups that do giveaways, readathons, or just provide room for discussions on whatever topic you want! My top book of the year was definitely Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood. Her writing has grown on me, especially for when I’m looking for a silly read to distract me from life, and this book is actually now my favorite of hers!”
This year was remarkable for famed new releases. Authors like Rebecca Yarros, Rebecca Ross, and Stephanie Garber have become widely renowned on BookTok for their novels published in 2023. Ramapo junior Lucy Balaam states, “My favorite month for releases was definitely October or November. A Curse for True Love was so perfect, I read the whole thing in a few hours. I’m reading Iron Flame right now too, which came out in November, and am so obsessed. 2023 had so many great reads, and I hope everyone gets the chance to read at least one!” Here is a list of the top three new releases each month this year, as well as some highly anticipated books coming out later this month, as provided by GoodReads!
January
Spare by Prince Harry
Stolen Heir by Holly Black
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
February
Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
March
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond
April
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
May
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
June
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon
July
One of Us is Back by Karen McManus
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
August
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
September
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Holly by Stephen King
Rouge by Mona Awad
October
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
King of Greed by Ana Huang
November
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher
December
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
