Book Shelf: Favourite Books of 2023

12 five star favourites + a giveaway of Marisa Meltzer's Glossy

Dec 12, 2023

So far this year, I’ve read 51 books. That’s a big jump from the 39 I read in 2022 and 23 in 2021; 2020 was my biggest reading year with 75 books. 2023 has been a really lovely reading year - a good rhythm I’ve been able to mostly maintain, a bunch of books I really looked forward to and read in one sitting, and a good collection of books to which I gave five stars on Goodreads. Here is a list of the latter group, my very favourites of 2023.

Coincidentally, I’ve mentioned all of them in previous newsletters, so we’ll start with an easy-to-screenshot list of all the titles (in the order in which I read them), followed by short reviews of each if you’d like a refresher or haven’t seen previous posts.

Great Circle, Maggie Shipstead

This is the epic of all epics - spanning the US (Montana, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, LA), New Zealand, and London, weaving together a historical story about pilot Marian Graves and the modern day story of Hadley Baxter, the actor cast to play Marian in a biopic. It is a monumental achievement, one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Last Resort, Andrew Lipstein

Caleb’s manuscript has gained traction: he has an agent and a taste of fame and fortune. But college rival Avi - an editor in the NYC literary scene, and the novel’s ‘inspiration’ - sees it as a stolen story. The bargaining begins. A sharp, well-observed page-turner for fans of Yellowface.

Sunbathing, Isobel Beech

A gorgeous, evocative debut by Australian writer Isobel Beech set in Italy during summertime. A woman is making sense of her grief - while helping her friends prepare to marry - at an old Italian villa, set in the mountains and imbued with histories and stories.

The Anniversary, Stephanie Bishop

Novelist JB Blackwood is on a cruise with her husband, Patrick, to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Then a storm hits, Patrick falls overboard, and the circumstances of his death and the truth about their marriage unfurls.

It’s jam packed with juicy themes like reliability, marriage, truth-telling, travel, writing, and power. The writing sparkles, the story skilfully, masterfully woven. JB’s world is hazy and uncertain and confusing, but as a reader, I felt so confident in the way Bishop deftly pulled me through the story.

Romantic Comedy, Curtis Sittenfeld

Sally is a sketch writer on a weekly comedy show, akin to SNL. Noah is a dreamy pop star who teams up with Sally as the show’s celebrity guest. But someone like him would never date someone like her, right? An easy, witty read, but also a sharp, intelligent exploration of the rom-com genre.

Yellowface, R.F. Kuang

Athena, a literary wunderkind, dies suddenly and unexpectedly in the presence of her friend/rival June. June steals her manuscript, develops it, and publishes it as her own.

I saved this buzzy book for a long flight, and read and read and read, non-stop, until I’d reached the final page. As soon as I did, I wished I could read it again for the first time. It’s as sharp, biting, and good as everyone says it is.

The Rachel Incident, Caroline O’Donoghue

Set across Ireland and London, the book tracks Rachel’s relationships with James, her gay best friend; another James, her boyfriend; and Fred, the professor she’s in love with. It’s also about reflecting on earlier versions of ourselves without shame (the protagonist is in her 30s, retelling the story of her early 20s with the distance and softness that time brings).

The characters felt 3D, and the writing sparkled with truth and humour.

The Happy Couple, Naoise Dolan

Celine and Luke are engaged to be married, but will they follow through? The book charts the lead up to the wedding, told from Celine, Luke, Celine’s sister Phoebe, best man Archie, and friend Vivian’s perspectives. It is clever, intimate, and funny. I’ve thought about it ever since.

Love Marriage, Monica Ali

A big book weaving together familial, parental, and romantic relationships, politics, work, religion, secrets, betrayal, and culture without ever feeling crammed or kitchen sink-y.

Tom Lake, Ann Patchett

Set on a cherry farm, Lara’s family comes together under one roof to ride out the pandemic (don’t worry, it’s handled very subtly). As they spend their days picking cherries, Lara tells her three grown daughters the delicious story of her summer romance with a movie star.

Patchett so deftly weaves together the past and the present to create a story that feels slow yet gripping, meditative yet sparkly. It says a lot that months after finishing it, I’m still thinking about it.

Green Dot, Madeleine Gray

This clever, absorbing, observant debut runs the risk of not rising to its hype: familiar ‘young woman sleeps with older, married man’ and office romance tropes, the risk of becoming just another book in the recently built but ever-expanding pile of ‘sad girl novels’.

But it holds up those tropes, turns them this way and that to find a new angle from which to offer a fresh perspective on power, intimacy, youth, desire, modern friendships, and interior lives.

Good Material, Dolly Alderton

Alderton’s best yet: funny, tender, and nuanced. She interviewed a range of men to inform the story of Andy, a comedian in his mid-30s who doesn’t understand why his long-term relationship ended. The last 70 pages took my breath away.

And if you’re looking for more 2023 book favourites content, the wonderful

Jaclyn Crupi

is now on Substack, and published this round up recently:

Jaclyn’s Substack

My Favourite Books of 2023

My year as a reader Some reading years are better than others. Sometimes the problem is you, something it’s the books. I think in 2023 in my case it was a bit of both of us. I was desperate to find books to love and I absolutely did but nowhere near as many as I usually would. There were also so few short story collections published I won’t have a catego…

a year ago · 53 likes · 18 comments · Jaclyn Crupi

When I bought Marisa Meltzer's Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier, I was accidentally sent two copies! So I’d love to give one away, as a Christmas thank you.

Firstly, you’ll need to make sure you’re subscribed. You can check you are, or pop your email right here:

Then fill out this form. I’ll leave it open until the end of the week. On Monday 18 December, I’ll choose a winner at random + contact you via email for a postal address.

Until next time,

Britt

Top Shelf by Brittney Rigby

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