Best Fiction of 2023

2023 was full of so many amazing books! It was difficult to narrow the list down to these few favorites, but these ones stood apart from the rest for me. This collection will take you to the the past of the American Revolutionary War and 1950s California, to the fantasy lands of fairies, dragons, and gods, to present day Washington state, and to a dystopian future. Check out my reviews below!

A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon | 5 ⭐

A Girl Called Samson takes place during the American Revolutionary War. Deborah Samson secretly enlists in the continental army, which is against the law because she is a woman. This story tells about her adventure. With a bit of history and a bit of romance, this one had me turning page after page. I enjoyed the historical references and the realistic description of what it may have been like for a woman disguised as a man in a time when it was unimaginable to do so. The characters were well developed and I found myself rooting for them. This is very loosely based on the true story of Deborah Sampson who really did disguise herself as a man to fight in the continental army in the 1770s.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus | 5 ⭐

This book was so full! Well-rounded story with unique, quirky characters I loved. Elizabeth Zott's story takes place in 1950s America, where women were more likely to be found in a career of homemaker and not scientist. Breaking all the norms, Elizabeth becomes a scientist at a research company in California where she meets the famed Nobel prize winner and crew rower, Calvin Evans. As their story unfolds, they discover what it means to be colleagues, friends, and lovers in a world where one of them has been respected and uplifted simply because he is a man, and the other has fought tooth and nail to be where she is simply because she is a woman. Elizabeth’s experience of sexism is that of so many women. The story is poignant, funny, and heartbreaking. I enjoyed almost every page and did not find myself trying to get through chapters just to see what came next.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros | 5 ⭐

Violet lives in a world where war from the outside of a magical barrier has defined her culture for hundreds of years. Originally trained to be a scribe, she is thrust into the fighting / dragon unit where death is a part of daily life. You either fly, or die. This one kept me reading, and I enjoyed the world building and character development. Can’t wait to read the next one.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick | 5 ⭐

What if everyone in the world had the ability to know the span of their lives? How would it change them? This novel was unique and well written. I liked the concept and the different ways it approached each character's story.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt | 5 ⭐

This was a lovely story about a retired widow and her friendship with a giant octopus. It sounds weird, but it was quirky, funny, and heart warming. I enjoyed each character's story and how they connected. I did not expect to like the parts with Marcellus, the gian pacific octopus, but they were hilarious and linked everything together.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas | 5 ⭐

These books keep getting better and better. So exciting, lots of magic, romance, and bad-assery. Sarah J. Maas does what she does best - with exciting twists, magic, romance, and faerie lore, this installment of the Throne of Glass series was on the mark.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross | 5 ⭐

Divine Rivals is the story of Iris and Roman - counterparts at a fictional newspaper where they are both vying for a permanent columnist position. However, outside of their territory’s boundaries, the gods are at war and recruiting the citizens to fight in their battles. Iris and Roman discover a special connection despite their animosity, and I was rooting for them. I loved the sweet romance and how they discover a history between their families. I can’t wait to read the next one!