The Best Books of 2023 (according to Publishers Weekly)

We're nearing the end of 2023 and best books of the year lists are coming out! Here I discuss the top fiction choices from Publishers Weekly. Click ‘Show More’ for info & links.

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Books discussed & purchase links:

Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor

August Blue by Deborah Levy

Bariloche by Andrés Neuman (trans by Robin Myers)

Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop (trans by Sam Taylor)

Company by Shannon Sanders

A Cowardly Woman No More by Ellen Cooney

Eastbound by Maylis de Kerangal (trans by Jessica Moore)

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

Greek Lessons by Han Kang (trans by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won)

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

North Woods by Daniel Mason

The People Who Report More Stress: Stories by Alejandro Varela

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter

This Is Salvaged by Vauhini Vara

Tremor by Teju Cole

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis

Biography of X by Catherine Lacey

The Maniac by Benjamin Labatut

My Work by Olga Ravn (trans. from the Danish by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russell)

Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park

The Wren, the Wren by Anne Enright

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:35 Age of Vice
2:11 August Blue
3:47 Bariloche
4:26 Beyond the Door of No Return
5:20 Company
6:23 A Cowardly Woman No More
6:51 Eastbound
7:21The Fraud
9:24 Greek Lessons
10:00 I Have Some Questions for You
10:39 The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
11:12 Let Us Descend
11:38 North Woods
11:58 The People Who Report More Stress
12:26 Small Worlds
13:41 Terrace Story
14:14 This Is Salvaged
14:53 Tremor
15:09 The Unsettled
15:29 Biography of X
17:02 The Maniac
17:49 My Work
18:52 Same Bed Different Dreams
19:38 The Wren the Wren
21:37 Conclusion

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Get in touch

[debrahills]

North Woods is truly unique in its depiction of entangled time and the people who pass through a house in the woods of Western Massachusetts, some returning after death. Although the chapters take place throughout the seasons of the year, it is delightfully spooky at times and feels autumnal to me. The chapters definitely are linked but many stand as great stories on their own. Panthers and trees and beetles are included as narrative voices, and eventually climate disruption brings more sweeping changes to the land. I really enjoyed it!

[santiagosascochirinos]

Thanks for this video Erick! We need more content creators like you here on Youtube! Great Job 🙌

[janethansen]

I’m reading The Maniac at the moment. The subject matter really isn’t my thing but the writing is so interesting and it is carrying me along. Im quite surprised at how much I am enjoying it.

[nancymihalik]

I just purchased Company and Let Us Descend while visiting my daughter in DC. I have found two lovely independent bookstores in the area, East City Bookshop and Solid State Books. I love exploring bookstores when I travel. Thanks for your observations!

[fergalohearga]

I note that you have Kruso on your bookshelf ... I've heard very little of that book, but read it when it came out in English. One of the oddest, most atmospheric and ominous books I have read in some time.

[BandysBooks]

This is an interesting list. It’s definitely very literary fiction focused. I agree with your assessment of August Blue. It was good, but not the best of 2023. I enjoyed Small Worlds, but not quite as much as Azumah Nelson’s previous book. I just ordered a copy of Let Us Descend which I’m really looking forward to. I love Ward’s writing. I also have Age of Vice on my bookshelf but I keep putting it off. Several of these other books are on my TBR and I’ve definitely added a few more! Thanks for all of the concise summaries.

[judithgreen]

Thanks for your brilliant book reviews of 2023. Winter is coming and I need a few books to cozy up with. The Maniac sounds slightly interesting as I don't know or understand much about AI. And, I'm a big Dickens fan so I'd like to add The Fraud. As to The Wren, The Wren I'm drawn to the orange cover because the girl holding the bird looks a bit mysterious. I'll add that book, as well. Thanks.

[MsReadsAlot]

Wow! I haven’t read a single title in this list 🤷‍♀️

[danellegerber]

Just started Reading Let Us Descend last night! Ward is one of my all-time favorite authors. Unrelated: sending good vibes to you and yours after the recent events in Lewiston Maine. I thought of you right away. It was unsettling for me to be so close as it was unfolding.

[ReadBecca]

Wow, I've read none of them. 😄 lots to look forward to. I do have Cowardly Woman No More on my shelf already at least, and adored both Diop & Ravn's previous books so have been hotly anticipating getting to these new ones soon. I'm with you on the US cover being better for once with Enright's book

[douggordy]

The two I've read are the Levy and Enright. Levy is one of my fave authors and I thought this was every bit as good as any of her other books - but her autobiographical series is exquisite too! I didn't think the Enright was as good as the two of hers that got Booker nods, but is an improvement over her last one, Actress, which I didn't care for. Oh - and I preferred the US covers for both! :-) I have copies of about half a dozen of the others that I hope to get to by the end of the year! Cheers!

[ygftiui]

What a great list. Many I plan to read and several I’ll add to my list. I’ve read Biography of X and found it fascinating. I’m most looking forward Terrence Story because I really enjoyed Temporary by Hilary Leichter. Have to update my shopping list.

[tml]

I wonder why they have different cover art in the UK?
I would say I prefer the UK's version more often, which I can not get here in the US.

[lindawatton]

Great video, Eric. I’ve read Age of Vice, it was ok, The Fraud, loved it, August blue, agree with your comment, Work. -Olga Ravn is mesmerizing, so well done. I want to read Heaven & earth grocery store & the wren. I prefer the U.S. cover for this book, generally prefer the UK covers.

[jaynelewis]

I have read 4 of these. August Blue and I Have Some Questions for You were enjoyable but I’m surprised they are ‘best books’. Heaven and Earth Grocery and North Woods are both extraordinary and would definitely put them on the list. Top of my TBR is Let Us Descend

[BooklyWookly]

I have to admit, this list surprised me with a lot of titles that are not a part of the booktube/bookstagram echo chamber.

[kimswhims]

Wow, normally I've read a couple but not this time. I'm only really interested in The Fraud and The Wren, The Wren. I've read some great Auslit this year I'll be continuing my reading in that direction, just finished Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton and loved it, one of my favourites this year.

[apocalypsereading]

as a great fan of green i still have to say the UK cover of the wren the wren is much better imo ~ tho i also like orange in general ~ they should do a white one now and they'll have the full irish flag =P

[Thecristina]

I've read"Life &times of Michael K" by M. Coetzee.

[readandre-read]

The ones I've read are The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (terrific) and I Have Some Questions For You (really liked it, but probably not in my top 10) I recently bought North Woods but haven't read it yet. I will probably read Let Us Descend as well. I'm intrigued by a few on this list that I wasn't familiar with. Thanks for the roundup!