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The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

We've asked 1,641 authors and super readers for their 3 favorite reads of the year.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Light Bringer

Zoe Routh Why did I love this book?

Pierce Brown is a master of plot, character, and pacing.

The writing is exquisite, with well-turned phrases and fabulous memorable dialogue and quotes. The battles are epic, the personal drama intimate. Each character is so flawed, and so deliciously compelled to do the right thing in their own way, I couldn’t help but read with one hand half covering my eyes silently screaming ‘no! don’t’ as they made poor choices and cheering with the heroic ones.

The penultimate battle was a tidal wave of drama and raucous action, while a final betrayal left me heartbroken for a favourite character. And still the saga is not over! One more to go. I want to go back and re-read the entire series to feel the drama deepen and unfold. It’s the first time I also want to go and listen to the audiobooks as well and feel completely immersed in this tortured and aspirational universe. 

By Pierce Brown,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Light Bringer as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Darrow returns as Pierce Brown’s New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age.

The Reaper is a legend, more myth than man: the savior of worlds, the leader of the Rising, the breaker of chains.

But the Reaper is also Darrow, born of the red soil of Mars: a husband, a father, a friend.

Marooned far from home after a devastating defeat on the battlefields of Mercury, Darrow longs to return to his wife and sovereign, Virginia, to defend Mars from its bloodthirsty would-be conqueror Lysander.

Lysander longs to destroy the Rising and…


My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Zoe Routh Why did I love this book?

The story is cute, quirky, and delightful. With humour and sensitivity, Becky Chambers unveils a complex, advanced world with a deft hand full of rich details that bring it all to life.

It’s a hopeful story of friendship and love and family, that uplifts as each character finds a path through their challenges to discover connection and love of sorts. I felt uplifted and satisfied at the end of this lovely book. It’s a nice change from the cautionary, disaster-filled stories that fill the sci-fi shelves.

By Becky Chambers,

Why should I read it?

11 authors picked The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

'A quietly profound, humane tour de force' Guardian

The beloved debut novel that will restore your faith in humanity

#SmallAngryPlanet

When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn't expecting much. The ship, which has seen better days, offers her everything she could possibly want: a small, quiet spot to call home for a while, adventure in far-off corners of the galaxy, and distance from her troubled past.

But Rosemary gets more than she bargained for with the Wayfarer. The crew is a mishmash of species and personalities, from Sissix,…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of (R)evolution

Zoe Routh Why did I love this book?

I was only 10% into this book when I had to pause and catch my breathso much had happened already!

I was sucked straight in and sent on a roller coaster ride as the action ripped through the pages, pushing the characters into precarious situations and edge-of-your-seat cliffhangers. All this while surfing advanced technology like nano-bots and computer brain interfaces, in a speculative fiction whirlwind, complete with secret societies, betrayal, subterfuge, mystery, and many points of no return.

Manney’s writing is vivid, strong and doesn’t pull any punches. When I put the book down, I had to take a deep breath and go for a walk, with my mind expanded, and my heart racing. A triumph! Hugely enjoyable.

By PJ Manney,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked (R)evolution as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Philip K. Dick Award Finalist

Scientist Peter Bernhardt has dedicated his life to nanotechnology, the science of manipulating matter on the atomic scale. As the founder of Biogineers, he is on the cusp of revolutionizing brain therapies with microscopic nanorobots that will make certain degenerative diseases become a thing of the past. But after his research is stolen by an unknown enemy, seventy thousand people die in Las Vegas in one abominable moment. No one is more horrified than Peter, as this catastrophe sets in motion events that will forever change not only his life but also the course of…


Plus, check out my book…

The Olympus Project

By Zoe Routh,

Book cover of The Olympus Project

What is my book about?

Beyond Earth's ruin, Xanthe and crew chart a course for lunar salvation.

The future of humanity hangs by a thread. Climate change has rendered much of the world desolate, with failing crops and flooding coastal communities. The Olympus Project is the last hope for humanity, a plan to colonise the moon led by three of the world's best and brightest—Troy Bruin, Xavier Consus, and Xanthe Waters. But even this intrepid crew can succumb to weaknesses, leading to a battle for control while a secret organisation plans to destroy their work. It's up to Xanthe and crew to save the project, and with it, humanity.

If you enjoyed Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven, you'll love this thrilling dystopian science fiction series.