The Best Books I Read and Loved in 2023

I wasn’t sure how my reading life would change when I started working full-time for my church last January. I suspected that I wouldn’t be able to read as much, and I was correct! But books have been my main hobby for years now, and I was still able to make the time to read over 55 titles.

I love browsing book lists at this time of year and finding new ideas about what to read next. I also love talking about books with friends; I find it’s one of the easiest and best ways to get to know someone! So without any further fanfare, here are the best books* I read and loved this year, in four main categories (with specific recommendations at the end!)

Top 10 Fiction Reads

The Lager Queen of Minnesota, by J. Ryan Stradal – Never was there a book more charming! The story was beautifully written, I loved the narrator’s voice. Each of the characters was nuanced and sympathetic and kept me turning the pages. I was thoroughly entertained and delighted by this book!

The Wishing Game, by Meg Shaffer – This uplifting story was an easy read with likeable characters. This is one of those books I could feel good about recommending to anybody!

In the Wild Light, by Jeff Zentner – A moving story of love, home, and bravery, centering around a couple of teenagers. Couldn’t have loved this one more and I highly recommend it!

Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett – I loved the mother-daughter relationship, the looking-back-in-time storytelling, the beautifully ordinary love story, and the setting. I loved thinking about the secrets we keep and the secrets we tell. This book was a joy to read!

Woman on Fire, by Lisa Barr – Very well-written, fast-paced, and highly entertaining through all the plot twists. Compelling characters and plenty of intrigue (caution: some open door scenes). This was also great on audio!

Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver – This is a modern retelling of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Though I’d never read David Copperfield, I enjoyed Demon Copperhead immensely. The narrator has a strong and compelling voice throughout the book. There were heavy themes throughout, but the writing was so fantastic and the story stayed under my skin long after I finished reading it.

The Violin Conspiracy, by Brendan Slocumb – I know nothing about music, but I really enjoyed this compelling story! Ray was a character you can truly root for — not just in winning a competition or recovering his violin, but in overcoming the injustice he faces throughout the book. This one was fantastic on audio!

Hello Beautiful, by Ann Napolitano – Absolute perfection from beginning to end. This is a family saga centered around four sisters and the two men who love them. Bravery and the choices we make for love are strong themes throughout.

Signal Fires, by Dani Shapiro – This one is a work of art! Masterful storytelling. I was struck by the incredible and moving depth of insight the author has about family dynamics, about what shapes us, about the function and disfunction of love. This is my favorite kind of fiction: beautiful and true.

Happiness Falls, by Angie Kim – A compelling story told from the single point of view of a delightful but flawed 20 year old. Very well-written, exploring themes of happiness, and communication against the backdrop of complex family dynamics. Really loved this book!

Top Historical Fiction Reads

Go as a River, by Shelley Read – Beautiful writing and a moving story about courage, motherhood, and the people and places that shape us. Couldn’t put this one down!

Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee – A sweeping family saga about a Korean immigrant family living in Japan. Immersive, beautiful story about suffering, resilience, and love.

The House of Eve, by Sadeqa Johnson – A well-told story in two perspectives about what it means to be a woman and a mother. Really enjoyed this one!

Top Essay and Memoir

The Anthropocene Reviewed, by John Green – One part fascinating non-fiction, one part deeply touching memoir, I very much enjoyed each essay!

These Precious Days, by Ann Patchett – Wait, Ann Patchett again? Yes, because Ann Patchett is a national treasure! The writing shines in these masterful essays. I loved each of them and found them to be deeply satisfying and emotionally resonant. I especially enjoyed whenever she talked about her life as a writer!

All my Knotted-Up Life, by Beth Moore – I have never read anything else by Beth Moore, despite my years in the evangelical church. I was surprised in the best of ways by her memoir. It was moving, deeply insightful, simply phenomenal. The audio version is worth it!

Top Christian Nonfiction

The Sin of Certainty, by Peter Enns – Incredibly relevant to Christians today! I wanted to highlight all of it. This book will reframe the way you think about faith, doubt, darkness, and what it means to know God.

Seeking God, by Trevor Hudson – These gentle words spoke right to my soul. This book has many deep and moving insights as well as spiritual practices for readers to engage with. So much quotable wisdom in this one!

The Night is Normal, by Alicia Britt Chole – Disillusionment (when reality doesn’t match expectations) with God, oneself, or others brings with it pain, sorrow, doubt, and confusion. In this phenomenal book, Alicia normalizes these dark times of faith and helps us move forward with her biblical wisdom and heard-won insights from her lived experience. 

Curious Faith, by Lore Ferguson Wilbert – This book has short chapters that pack a punch. It will make you think and will help you draw nearer to God, even if God feels far away.

Grace Can Lead Us Home, by Kevin Nye – Well-researched, well-lived, well-written. This book will forever change how I understand homelessness as well as what I can do to help.

Top Reads for People in Christian Ministry

The Samaritan Woman’s Story, by Caryn A. Reeder – Very well-researched and easy to read. I wish every Christian, and especially those working in ministry, would read this account of John 4 and its enormous implications on women in the church.

An Unhurried Leader, by Alad Fadling – There were loads of nuggets of wisdom in this book that encouraged me in my work WITH God.

Reason to Return, by Ericka Andersen – I would highly recommend this book for women who are feeling the lack of in-person Christian community in their lives, as well as for women who have given up on church (or who feel that the church has given up on them.) Additionally, this book is a great resource for those in ministry and church leadership positions!

Celebrities for Jesus, by Katelyn Beaty – A must-read for anyone in Christian leadership, especially for those of us in Christian publishing. This was such a valuable reality check to all Christians as we are so prone to put our leaders on pedestals. A relevant and timely read that opened my eyes to how the church mimics and perpetuates celebrity culture!

Specific Recommendations

For animal lovers: Wesley the Owl, by Stacey O’Brien – No great literary feat, but a simply written first-hand account of how raising a barn owl changed her life. There were some fascinating and hilarious stories in here!

For those of us who feel Time marching on: In Good Time, by Jen Pollock Michel – A fresh perspective on what it means to live faithfully in the time God has given us. I really appreciated her counter-cultural insights, especially for the habits of belonging, receiving, and practicing!

The book I hope every Christian parent reads: Woven, by Meredith Miller – A wise and insightful guide to faith development, as liberating as it is practical. The focus on knowing and trusting God as the foundation of our faith, instead of an approach based on fear and behavior-management is much needed. Meredith shows us the way with this wise and gentle guide!

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*The links I share are from Amazon, where I’m an affiliate. This means if you happen to purchase through my link, I’ll earn a few pennies on the dollar at no extra cost to you!

**Feature photo from Pixistock