10 Books I Want To Read in 2023
From space missions to (possibly embarrassing) dark romances
What to read next?
This story shows you 10 books I will definitely read in 2023. Hopefully, I’ll find some books to add to your TBR list.
“I read books because I love them, not because I think I should read them.” — Simon Van Booy
1. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Goodreads rating: 4.52 Genre: Science Fiction
Best Science Fiction in 2021 on Goodreads Choice Awards. A highly praised book written by a lifelong space nerd.
What is it about?
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission — and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.
Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.
All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery — and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.
And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.
Or does he? (From Goodreads)
2. Edge of Darkness by Kyla Stone (Edge of Collapse #3)
Goodreads rating: 4.35 Genre: Postapocalyptic Thriller
I’ve read the first two books in this series (Edge of Collapse and Edge of Madness), and I love them. These books are postapocalyptic EMP survival thrillers.
What is Edge of Collapse about?
In the dead of winter, an EMP attack destroys the U.S. power grid. No electricity. No cars or phones. The country is plunged into instant chaos.
But for Hannah Sheridan, it’s the best day of her life. For the last five years, she’s been the captive of a sadistic psychopath — until the EMP releases the lock of her prison.
Battered but not broken, she emerges from her underground cell into a hostile winter wilderness with nothing but her determination to survive.
Reclusive ex-soldier Liam Coleman is headed nowhere fast. He believed he was prepared for any disaster, until the EMP took everything he’d ever cared about in a matter of seconds.
Two hundred frozen, perilous miles stand between them and their destination in rural Michigan. But the killing cold isn’t the only threat, for Hannah’s captor isn’t about to let her go…
When the country goes dark, ordinary people find themselves facing the end of the world as they know it. With society collapsing before their eyes, they’ll have to risk everything to protect their home and the people they love. (From Goodreads)
3. The Enemy by Charlie Higson
Goodreads rating: 4.10 Genre: Horror
The Enemy is the first in a jaw-dropping zombie horror series for teens. It sounds exciting, and I can’t wait to check it out.
What is it about?
Everyone over the age of fourteen has succumbed to a deadly zombie virus and now the kids must keep themselves alive.
When the sickness came, every parent, police officer, politician — every adult fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry.
Only children under fourteen remain, and they’re fighting to survive.
Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city — down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground — the grown-ups lie in wait.
But can they make it there — alive? (From Goodreads)
4. Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads rating: 4.04 Genre: Fantasy
The critics say this fantasy book was good from start to finish, and there was never a dull moment.
What is it about?
Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?
Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. (From Goodreads)
5. All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown
Goodreads rating: 4.30 Genre: LGBT postapocalyptic romance
A postapocalyptic, queer YA adventure romance. Wow! I must definitely read this one.
What is it about?
When Andrew stumbles upon Jamie’s house, he’s injured, starved, and has nothing left to lose. A deadly pathogen has killed off most of the world’s population, including everyone both boys have ever loved. And if this new world has taught them anything, it’s to be scared of what other desperate people will do . . . so why does it seem so easy for them to trust each other?
After danger breaches their shelter, they flee south in search of civilization. But something isn’t adding up about Andrew’s story, and it could cost them everything. And Jamie has a secret, too. He’s starting to feel something more than friendship for Andrew, adding another layer of fear and confusion to an already tumultuous journey.
The road ahead of them is long, and to survive, they’ll have to shed their secrets, face the consequences of their actions, and find the courage to fight for the future they desire, together. Only one thing feels certain: all that’s left in their world is the undeniable pull they have toward each other. (From Goodreads)
6. Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score
Goodreads rating: 4.36 Genre: Contemporary Romance
Lucy Score writes amazingly, and this romance book has a rating of 4.36 on Goodreads. I have high expectations!
What is it about?
“You may be faking the relationship, but you’re not faking the orgasms.”
Downsized, broke, and dumped, 38-year-old Marley sneaks home to her childhood bedroom in the town she couldn’t wait to escape twenty years ago. Not much has changed in Culpepper. The cool kids are still cool. Now they just own car dealerships and live in McMansions next door. Oh, and the whole town is still talking about that Homecoming she ruined her senior year.
Desperate for a new start, Marley accepts a temporary teaching position. Can the girl banned from all future Culpepper High Homecomings keep the losing-est girls soccer team in school history from killing each other and prevent carpal tunnel in a bunch of phone-clutching gym class students?
Maybe with the help of Jake Weston, high school bad boy turned sexy good guy. When the school rumor mill sends Marley to the principal’s office to sign an ethics contract, the tattooed track coach, dog dad, and teacher of the year becomes her new fake boyfriend and alibi — for a price. The Deal: He’ll teach her how to coach if she teaches him how to be in a relationship.
Who knew a fake boyfriend could deliver such real orgasms? But it’s all temporary. The guy. The job. The team. There’s too much history. Rock bottom can’t turn into a foundation for happily ever after. Can it? (From Goodreads)
7. Loathe to Love you by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads rating: 4.06 Genre: Contemporary Romance
I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Ali Hazelwood, so I can’t miss this one.
What is it about?
Under One Roof An environmental engineer discovers that scientists should never cohabitate when she finds herself stuck with the roommate from hell — a detestable big-oil lawyer who won’t leave the thermostat alone.
Stuck with You A civil engineer and her nemesis take their rivalry — and love — to the next level when they get stuck in a New York elevator.
Below Zero A NASA aerospace engineer’s frozen heart melts as she lies injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station and the only person willing to undertake the dangerous rescue mission is her longtime rival. (From Goodreads)
8. Hook, Line, And Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Goodreads rating: 4.02 Genre: Rom-Com
The sequel to the wonderful “It Happened One Summer”. I’m looking forward to reading the story of the youngest Bellinger sister.
What is it about?
King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time — in bed and out — and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.
Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.
Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… and… man overboard! He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she’ll choose him instead? (From Goodreads)
9. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Goodreads rating: 3.92 Genre: Contemporary Romance
A #booktok-favorite which also won Best Debut Novel in 2021 on Goodreads Choice Awards.
What is it about?
Catalina Martín desperately needs a date to her sister’s wedding. Especially since her little white lie about her American boyfriend has spiralled out of control. Now everyone she knows — including her ex and his fiancée — will be there and eager to meet him.
She only has four weeks to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic and aid in her deception. New York to Spain is no short flight and her raucous family won’t be easy to fool.
Enter Aaron Blackford — her tall, handsome, condescending colleague — who surprisingly offers to step in. She’d rather refuse; never has there been a more aggravating, blood-boiling, and insufferable man.
But Catalina is desperate, and as the wedding draws nearer, Aaron looks like her best option. And she begins to realize he might not be as terrible in the real world as he is at the office. (From Goodreads)
10. Stroke of Midnight (Cinderella #1) by K Webster
Goodreads rating: 3.88 Genre: Dark romance
A Dark Romance. I’m intrigued and prepared to be uncomfortable and embarrassed.
What is it about?
Money can buy anything. And anyone. As the head of the Constantine family, I’m used to people bowing to my will. Cruel, rigid, unyielding — I’m all those things. When I discover the one woman who doesn’t wither under my gaze, but instead smiles right back at me, I’m intrigued. Ash Elliott needs cash, and I make her trade in crudeness and degradation for it. I crave her tears, her moans, her submission. I pay for each one. And every time, she comes back for more. When she challenges me with an offer of her own, I have to decide if I’m willing to give her far more than cold hard cash. But love can have deadly consequences when it comes from a Constantine. At the stroke of midnight, that choice may be lost for both of us. (From Goodreads)
2023 will be the year of books. I can’t wait to read these promising books. Hopefully, this collection will give you more book titles on your TBR list. Happy reading! 📚
“I believe in the magic of books. I believe that during certain periods in our lives we are drawn to particular books — whether it’s strolling down the aisles of a bookshop with no idea whatsoever of what it is that we want to read and suddenly finding the most perfect, most wonderfully suitable book staring us right in the face. Unblinking. Or a chance meeting with a stranger or friend who recommends a book we would never ordinarily reach for. Books have the ability to find their own way into our lives.” ― Cecelia Ahern
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