Our Best Books of 2023 yearbook
Al Woodworth| November 16, 2023
This is our favorite time of year, when we get to share the Amazon Editors Best Books of the Year list. All year, we’ve read and championed the Best Books of the Month, and after lots of debate, we put together our list of the top 100 books of the year, naming James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store our number one pick of 2023.
In addition to the top 100, our list includes the top 20 books in categories such as biographies and memoirs, mysteries and thrillers, nonfiction, romance, young adult, cookbooks, and more. It's a great list, but to help you discover your next great read—and to celebrate these talented writers—we thought we'd help you out even more, and have fun along the way, yearbook style.
Remember superlatives? Well, we thought we'd create our own yearbook using our Best Books of the Year list. Cheeky, right? Hope you enjoy. (And of course, if you can’t get enough of our kicky hilarity, please feel free to peruse our 2022, 2021, and 2020 yearbooks.)
Most likely to succeed as the next Great American Novel
Irresistible. The editorial team fell in love with this cacophonous cast of characters and McBride’s unforgettable story of a small community. It’s as profound as it is ingeniously entertaining, making it one of the great American novels of our time and our # 1 pick of the year. —Al Woodworth, Senior Editor
Most lengthy book title, for which you have to be prepared to hold your breath and shed a tear before you begin to finish this vital narrative history
Your heart will pound, your blood will boil, you’ll feel the rush of adrenaline as Paul Kix tells the history—complete with the unsung heroes, villains, and funders—of how Martin Luther King Jr., his team, and thousands of children in Birmingham, Alabama changed America. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you want a prenup
A widow in the process of penning a biography of her late wife discovers that she's writing a mystery instead, or at least, about a mystery. Turns out she didn't know "X" as well as she thought she did, complicating her grief, as well as the love she feels for someone who spun so many fictions about herself, it’s impossible to know what was real. Lacey’s latest proves what great fiction can do when you’re bold enough, and talented enough, to push its boundaries. —Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor
A widow in the process of penning a biography of her late wife discovers that she's writing a mystery instead, or at least, about a mystery. Turns out she didn't know "X" as well as she thought she did, complicating her grief, as well as the love she feels for someone who spun so many fictions about herself, it’s impossible to know what was real. Lacey’s latest proves what great fiction can do when you’re bold enough, and talented enough, to push its boundaries. —Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor
Hottest
A fiery portrait of the Canadian wildfire that raged for more than a year— devasting land, lives, and livelihoods. Vaillant's descriptions of the inferno flames are hotter than hot, and his narration of the havoc, the danger, and the consequences of a hotter world are unforgettable. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you tip bigger in hotels. Waaaay bigger.
Molly the maid has a new murderous mess to clean up at the Regency Grand in this second in series. Only this time, the murder victim has ties to Molly and her late gran. Molly is one of the most endearing heroines in a long time, and this winning mix of heart, humor, and quiet heroism sees her a little older than in the first book, a little sadder as she navigates life after Gran's death, but also a little more certain that though her talents may be admittedly unusual, they're hers, and she's proud of them. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you think about taking swim lessons, swashbuckling, and murdering your boss
This is adventure writing at its finest—you can almost feel the salt spray on your skin, the creak of the HMS Wager as it cracks beneath your feet, and the heart-pounding anticipation of defying your captain and calling for a mutiny. The characters aboard this 18th century ship are ones for the history books, as the saying goes, and the best-selling historian is up to the task for this wild and intrepid true story on the high seas. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Most likely to flip the bird to figures of authority
Sixteen-year-old spitfire Perry Firekeeper-Birch gets more than she bargained for during a summer internship that starts at the Sugar Island Ojibwe tribal museum and leads her to uncover terrible deeds of greed, theft, and injustice. Stolen ancestors and artifacts, repatriation mired in bureaucracy, and a daring heist are at the heart of this gripping story that subtly educates readers within the pages of a captivating novel. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Most fetching
With the inexorable momentum of the catamount that lurks throughout this novel, North Woods moves with grace and gravitas through the centuries, weaving the story of the ever-shifting residents (along with their clandestine affairs, catamount attacks, and ghost visits) of a yellow house in the woods. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you want to turn on some jazz and mix yourself a cocktail
Take 70 recipes, add a healthy splash of history, and infuse with recollections and musical melody for a top shelf cookbook celebrating the cocktails and legacy of Black mixology. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you call your realtor and ask them to be on the lookout for a secret community of retired spies for you to live amongst
Heart-pounding action, silver-haired spies back on the job, decades-old scores, and a woman’s battle to protect the life she’s built for herself (“being predictable is always the first mistake”) make for a gift of a read. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you use the scream face emoji
You’ll fly through this true story of an idealistic maniac on a mission to filch priceless treasures—upping the ante with each outrageous crime. A blast to read—but also horrifying, considering what happened to $2 billion worth of art. I was spellbound while reading this book in just a couple of hours, all the while gasping, laughing, and texting my favorite terror-face emoji. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you want to build a little library
Books and stories are at the heart of this delightful and heart-warming novel for young readers. There are mysteries and twists, a boy, a cat, ghosts, and a Little Library risen from the ashes of one that came before—bringing people together as all good books do. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you want to put on your tool belt and binge HGTV
Sexy and swoon-worthy, I fell head-over-heals for Dahlia and Julian—lifelong competitors, who can’t go 60 seconds without uttering a snarky comment directed at each other. Encouraged to play nice, Julian enlists Dahlia’s design expertise on a local project. The characters are so well developed, you absolutely want to know them IRL and the storyline is layered, but not overly complex. You just have to check this one out. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
Best Godfather meets Narcos meets Crazy Rich Asians vibes
Age of Vice was one of the buzziest debuts of 2023 (and one of our favorites). It’s got everything: power and pleasure, sex and drugs, love and loyalty, respect and violence. Paced like a TV series, this juicy and entertaining story about a powerful Indian family trying to control all around them will keep you on the edge of your seat and hotly anticipating the next in the trilogy as you root for each character to find their place in the world. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Most likely to make you throw on your favorite all-denim low-rise jeans and match with your bestie
Britney Spears finally tells her side of the story: her rocky childhood and home life, her rapid-fire rise to fame, and life under a conservatorship lockdown. She also dishes on her intense relationship with Justin Timberlake (matching denim outfits and all), and her most memorable performances—including the "terrifying" time she flawlessly pulled off a VMA performance with a giant snake draped across her shoulders. You'll read this gripping memoir in a day, and think about it for weeks. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
