LJ editors and columnists select 149 titles across 15 categories as our best books of the year. Each is a work we have treasured.
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December 4, 2023

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 Illustration © 2023 Jim Tsinganos 

Best Books of 2023
By LJ Reviews

There are many ways to measure a year—in calendar days, school semesters, anniversaries, or birthdays; at LJ we measure the year in books. Our bibliometric datebook is marked by titles we look forward to for months, books we read in one big, delightful spree, and those we savor, re-read, and share. Every year we convene to ponder our top picks. We talk about what we’re reading, suggest titles to one another, and discuss, with growing excitement and anticipation, selections that we just know will be among our best books. Here are our choices: 149 titles across 15 categories; each a work we have treasured. We are excited that these books exist in the world, waiting to be found or read anew.

 

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Best Pop Fiction of 2023

By Liz French 
The best pop fiction novels of 2023 journey to self-realization and survival, untangle family ties, slay social shibboleths, and uncover hidden histories. 

 

 

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Best Romance of 2023 

By Melissa DeWild & Neal Wyatt 
Flying pirate ships, a family finding its way, and a delightful rendition of the fake-marriage trope are just a few highlights of the best romance books of 2023. 

 

 

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Best Crime Fiction of 2023 

By Liz French & Lesa Holstine 
This year’s best crime fiction novels contain simmering secrets, rage and revenge, dogged detectives, and plenty of murder and mayhem. Dig in!

 

 

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Mystery Mashups Offer Readers Something New


Mystery publishers are reveling in a surge of genre mashups. Creative pairings combine classic crime thrillers with elements of genres as wide-ranging as horror, romance, dystopian, sci-fi, paranormal, political, and western. New mystery titles also feature historical characters like Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare. Why this influx of genre mashups?

 

Read more>>>

Mystery Mashups
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Best Horror of 2023 

By Melissa DeWild & Becky Spratford  
From intensely unsettling to heartbreakingly beautiful moments, the best horror novels of 2023 offer fresh spins on terrifying tropes.

 

 

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Best SF/Fantasy of 2023 

By Kristi Chadwick, Melissa DeWild & Marlene Harris 
Full of riveting speculative stories, sci-fi/mystery blends, and enchanting fantasy worlds, the best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2023 provide engrossing reading adventures. 

 

 

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Best Literary Fiction of 2023 

By Barbara Hoffert  
The best literary fiction titles of 2023 probe human nature, celebrate creativity, depict history, and investigate the stories we tell ourselves. 

 

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Best World Literature of 2023 

By Barbara Hoffert 
The best world literature books of 2023 examine colonialism, limn loss, juxtapose past and present, and scrutinize human relationships. 

 

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Best Short Stories of 2023 

By Barbara Hoffert & Lisa Peet
The best short stories of 2023 provide bite-sized but potent looks at life, loss, grief, oppression, isolation, and, of course, wonder and joy.

 

 


SPONSORED CONTENT

 

Penguin Random House Winter Book & Author Festival 2023

This December, join Penguin Random House, Library Journal, and School Library Journal for our Winter 2023 virtual book and author festival, a free day-long event celebrating reading, authors, and librarians everywhere! Enjoy a day packed with author panels and interviews, book buzzes, virtual shelf browsing, and adding to your TBR pile.

Register today>>>

 

Webcast
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Best Graphic Novels of 2023 

By Tom Batten & Melissa DeWild 
Impactful illustrations complement poignant, thought-provoking tales and memoirs in these unforgettable best graphic novels of 2023. 

 

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Best Poetry of 2023 

By Barbara Hoffert 
Discover verse with style and substance, unsettling proclamations, and contained majesty in the best poetry collections of 2023. 

 

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Best Arts & Humanities of 2023 

By Jill Cox-Cordova, Liz French & Kevin Howell 
The best arts and humanities titles of 2023 include intriguing conversation starters, special tributes to pioneers, and fresh takes on creative art forms and people. 

 

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Best Cookbooks of 2023 

By Melissa DeWild & Neal Wyatt 
The delights of snacking bakes, the flavors of fruit, and the wonders of yogurt and whey help bakers and home cooks discover technique and tastes in the best cookbooks of 2023. 

 

SPONSORED CONTENT

 

No Misinformation, Please. Reference Sources Worthy of Your Trust


In a world of continuously proliferating sources of information, finding and recognizing reliable information has become harder than ever before. To that end, the reference publishers featured here go to great lengths to ensure that the titles and databases they offer are accurate, free of bias, and genuine. 

 

Read more>>>

Sponsored Content
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Best Memoir & Biography of 2023 

By Jill Cox-Cordova 
The best memoirs and biographies of 2023 have three traits in common: they’re insightful, evocative, and direct. 

 

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Best Social Sciences of 2023 

By Jill Cox-Cordova 
Racism, poverty, and burnout are dominant themes of many of 2023’s best social sciences books. But there is also joy, along with journeys to find comfort and welcoming communities. 

 

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Best Science & Technology of 2023 

By Jill Cox-Cordova
The best science and technology titles of 2023 entice, educate, and entertain readers. These books are a mixture of dirt, delight, and a demand for change. 

 

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Fabulous First Impressions | Top 10 Book Covers of the Year 

By LJ Reviews 
The top 10 book covers of the year, selected from our 2023 Best Books, offer a fabulous first impression, inviting readers to appreciate their design, ponder what might be inside, and, best of all, dive in. 

 

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