A year in reading: the Amazon Editors look back at the best-selling books of 2023
2023 was one for the books (had to say it). This year’s big and best-selling books ran the gamut from explosive royal and celebrity tell-alls, to literature’s new queen of #BookTok and the seemingly unanimous pick for the Best Book of the Year, to yesteryears titles, which just continue to sell and sell and sell….
As editors, it’s always fun to look back at the year and reflect on the big moments that captured so many readers’ minds and hearts. Here are picks for the notable bestsellers of 2023:
Prince Harry’s memoir sold more than 3 million copies in its first week on sale—making it not only one of the biggest memoirs of 2023, but possibly of all time. And, yes, it lives up to the hype, especially if you’re a connoisseur of royal gossip. The son of the sitting king of England literally holds nothing back—offering so many TMI details of his personal life that you may alternate between wanting to offer him a hug and cringing. He characterizes his father, King Charles, as an aging and pleading Pa, the late and regal Queen Elizabeth II is just Granny, brother Willy is called out both for his “advanced baldness” and for being Harry’s archnemesis…and that’s just the first chapter. Forget the tabloid rumor mill—read this book to get the real story, straight from the source, about Prince Harry’s childhood, romance with Meghan Markle, as life as a father. And here are 11 more reasons to read this unputdownable memoir. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
If last year’s TikTok queen was Colleen Hoover, the 2023 crown goes to Rebecca Yarros. Until I read Fourth Wing, I didn’t realize how much I’d been missing a big, epic romantasy in my life. A marvel of world-building and story, this tale of a kingdom under duress, a deadly competition to become one of the elite dragon riders, and the fragile young woman who bucks the odds to become powerful in her own right, is thrilling and impossible to put down. Luckily, once you’ve finished this one, you can jump right back in with the sequel, Iron Flame, which also made our list of the Best Books of 2023. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Elizabeth Zott, the zainy, hilarious, whip-smart, ambitious (and sometimes infuriating) scientist turned mother and TV star, continues to capture the hearts of readers everywhere. First published in 2022, this novel, which has gone on to become a beloved series on Apple TV, is one of the runaway bestsellers of 2023. No surprise—it’s a lot of fun to read: giddy laughter will bubble up, but so too will your respect and admiration for a fearless and strong-willed woman who dares to be herself, in any circumstance. And, if you’re wondering what to read after Lessons in Chemistry, we’ve got some recommendations for you. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Featuring a cacophonous cast of characters you will adore, and a story chock full of the social, racial, and ethnic politics of the small town in which they live, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is an irresistible novel—profound as it is ingeniously entertaining, making it one of the great American novels of our time. And everyone seems to agree on this: we named it the #1 Best Book of 2023, as did Barnes and Noble; the New York Times named it a Notable Book of the Year; The Washington Post, The New Yorker, Time magazine, NPR, and Oprah named it a Best Book of the Year; and the list goes on. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
2023 was a banner year for David Grann, one of the best (if not the best) narrative nonfiction writers working today. This year, his epic story of murder and mayhem on the high-seas, The Wager, released, and it was an immediate bestseller—and we named it a Best Book of the Year (as did many other outlets). But it’s his previous book (and our previous #1 Best Book of 2016) that has captured headlines with the release of the movie adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Martin Scorsese. Returning to the best seller list, this page-turning story of one of the most monstrous crimes in US history will make your blood boil—and we mean that it in the best way. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Of course, we can’t possibly reflect on 2023 without mentioning Taylor Swift, whose Eras tour has earned an estimated 4 billion dollars, stimulating the US economy everywhere her stage is set up. Whether or not you’re a Swiftie, there’s no denying that she’s captured the national spotlight this year, which is why it’s no suprise that the Golden Book biography of the Grammy Award-winning and multiplatinum artist has skyrocketed to the top of best seller lists. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Despite being one of the most famous women in the world, the public hadn’t heard much from Britney Spears since she was placed under a court-ordered conservatorship in 2008. So to say her side of the story was anticipated is an understatement—the pop star’s memoir sold more than a million copies in just a week. Spears starts from the beginning, detailing her charmed, yet deeply troubled, upbringing in Louisiana, where she started drinking with her mom at age 13. She also reveals her passionate first love with Justin Timberlake, the heartbreaking moments their relationship unraveled; her bullying by the music industry, her father, and the press; and the euphoria (and staggering pressure) of new motherhood. Vulnerable and honest, fans of music and pop culture will tear through this book—or the audio version, expertly narrated by Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Williams. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
It’s been more than a decade since Abraham Verghese published Cutting for Stone—a book that’s sold more than a million copies and is on virtually everyone’s must read/best books ever list. So, his latest was hotly anticipated, but I don’t think anyone quite expected this 700- page epic novel to catch on like wildfire as it did. We named it a Best Book of the Year So Far and Best Book of the Year, Oprah picked it for her book club, and it’s been flying off the shelves ever since. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
With Blacktop Wasteland, S.A. Cosby catapulted himself into the upper echelon of American thriller writers working today. Razorblade Tears proved the previous book was no flash in the pan, and All the Sinners Bleed is testament to the fact that he’s here to stay, and he’s only getting better with each book. When we spoke with him about his latest work (all three have been Amazon Best Books of the Year selections), he told us that the book was born from a moment in which he “realized that organized religion is one thing and spirituality is another.“ The sinuous power of his writing coupled with a provocative plot that goes from 100mph to zero, and then whiplashes back, had us all in on sin this summer. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor
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