Best Books 2023

I started an Instagram dedicated to books, and then I stopped posting about books on here, but I was recently reminded people want me to share that information here, too. So here is my very belated post with my favorite books in 2023.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang is a brilliant social commentary on publishing, literature, society, racism, anti-Asian racism, and so much more. I loved it.
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. I love Baldwin. His writing is so thought-provoking. A phenomenal essayist.
Circe by Madeline Miller. Feminist re-imagining and retelling of the classics? You know I’m going to be there for that.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is a poignant look at slavery, identity, and race. She weaves the story of one family that remains in Africa and one that is enslaved. Beautifully done!
Good Kings, Bad Kings by Susan Nussbaum is such a striking book! It follows seven people’s experiences with an institution for juveniles with disabilities. Representation matters, and this book is powerful!

Finding Me by Viola Davis. I cannot speak highly enough about this. It won the Grammy for Best Book of the Year for a reason. A great look at poverty and identity.
How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana- This is YA nonfiction but powerful for all ages. Sandra grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her book discusses those experiences, surviving massacres, immigrating to America, and trauma and activism.
Civil Rights Queen by Tomiko Brown-Nagin–yet another edition in “the awesome women you definitely should have known about, but were not taught enough about” collection.
Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Tuassig. A powerful memoir about her experiences as a disabled person.
Solito by Javier Zamora. A powerful look at our immigration system.
Shirley Chisholm by Anastasia Curwood. You may have heard about Shirley by now, but you likely don’t know much about her. This book tackles her life in detail.

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson- The explanation for race in America everybody wants you to read. There is a reason for that.
Wise Gals by Nathalia Holt- I didn’t know that I cared about women who started the CIA, but trust me, you care. This book was great.
At the Dark End of the Street by Danielle L. McGuire- The book about women and their issues in the civil rights movement you don’t hear enough about.
Stolen Girls by Wolfgang Bauer- The book that tells the story of the girls who were captured by Boko Haram. (A sadly timely book today as these events repeat in various forms.)
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond- Evicted is better, but this is a great one.
Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries by Katie S. Martin. This was a very thought-provoking book that dives into hunger in America.