Author Actor Writer Bookaholic Grandma TikTok Icon
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 Lavender's Blue

Susan B. James Why did I love this book?

Lavender’s Blue is Book 1 The Liz, Danger Series. I devoured the series as fast as they came out. This series is Jennifer Crusie, and Bob Mayor at their best.

The books are mysteries with a growing romantic thread between the two protagonists. Their writing style is snarky, warm hearted, and funny. This series gave me so much joy. I can't stop thinking about them.

By Jennifer Crusie, Bob Mayer,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Lavender's Blue as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the NY Times Bestselling duo that wrote Agnes and the Hitman, the first book in a new series.

Liz Danger has come home after fifteen years to deliver a giant teddy bear for her mother’s birthday (color: Guilt Red) when a cop with a great ass picks her up for speeding, fixes the missing lug nuts in her back wheel, pulls her out of a ditch, doesn’t give her a ticket, and helps her avoid her family. This is a man with real potential.

Vince Cooper picks up Liz for speeding and his life gets a lot more interesting.…


My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Rest in Pink

Susan B. James Why did I love this book?

The second book in the series lives up to the first. Do you know the best part about this series? These two are New York Times best seller authors.

Of course, they had an offer from a major publisher to publish these books, but they didn't want to wait and they self-published them. Can I say how grateful I am? P.S. I adore the covers.

By Jennifer Crusie, Bob Mayer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Rest in Pink as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the NY Times Bestselling duo that wrote Agnes and the Hitman, the second book in the Liz Danger series.

Liz Danger is a ghostwriter, trapped in her old hometown for the summer. Good thing she has Vince Cooper, her recurring one-night stand living down by the river in his old diner car, making her feel happy and safe and normal until September when she’ll be leaving again, although she’s starting to wonder if she really wants to.

Vince Cooper is a cop in a town with a shady new housing development that’s bringing a lot of armed strangers, a…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of One in Vermillion

Susan B. James Why did I love this book?

Perfect ending to a hilarious series. I got the last book as I was having a total knee replacement. I read it while in the hospital and it saved me and made me laugh.

I felt a lot less pain because of this book. And it made me crazy happy. I still think about it. Also, I originally read the series on my Kindle. I loved them so much that I bought two sets of the paperbacks – one to give away. My sister is currently devouring my copies.

By Jennifer Crusie, Bob Mayer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked One in Vermillion as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the NY Times Bestselling duo that wrote Agnes and the Hitman, the third book in the Liz Danger series.

Liz Danger is stuck in her hometown of Burney, Ohio, because her insane employer has rented a house there for the summer, which means she has three more months of trying to get a copy edit done, babysitting a seven-year-old, and figuring out what to do with three hundred and ninety-two teddy bears. And then there’s her mother. Even the good news that she’s living with a hot cop is tempered by the knowledge that sooner or later, she’s going…


Plus, check out my book…

Maybe This Time

By Susan B. James,

Book cover of Maybe This Time

What is my book about?

London stage star Jennifer Knight's life goes haywire when her genius niece sends her tumbling back in time from London in 2001 to 1968, bringing her face to face with her worst nightmare—her first husband.

Now the only hope of righting the universe is to go forward in time and alter their future.

Maybe this time Jen and Lance will get it right.

My book recommendation list