After graduating with an English degree, then going on to start a blog with daily posts, and writing 3 books in 5 years – all while working a full time job reading legal documents and raising 3 small kids – I took a decade-long hiatus from pleasure reading. And 2023 was the year of books for me. My goal was to read 50 and I was both thrilled and proud of myself to exceed my goals! After reading over 50 books in 2023 – fiction and non-fiction – here’s my top recommendations of the Best Books of 2023.
Best Books of 2023: Stacy’s Top 15
My overall top favorites aren’t necessarily the ones I find myself recommending regularly. I want to help others rediscover their love of reading: audiobooks, books on my Kindle, and the good ole’ paperback every now and then. Last year I wrapped up with my best dozen books of the year and I’m excited to share this year’s favorites from the 52 books I read. Overall, these are the books that long after I finished them I still think about the characters, the worlds, or the lessons I learned:
Nonfiction
- Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith, podcast show notes here
- We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
- Renaissance of Our Own: A Memoir & Manifesto on Reimagining by Rachel Cargle
- Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty (audio recommended)
- The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
- I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Fiction
- The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
- The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- ACOTAR series by Sarah J Maas (counting as 1)
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow: A Novel by Gabrielle Zevin
- Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
- The House of Eve by Sedeqa Johnson
- Fourth Wing & Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (counting as 1)
Fun facts
- 16,257 pages read
- 52 books read
- 757 pages of longest book
- 312 pages average per book
EVERYTHING I read in 2023
Well, of what I didn’t actively dislike or not finish intentionally. Note: I’ve bolded books I really enjoyed, and for specific recommendations you’ll see an image of those books.
What I’ve Read for “Work”
As a leader, business owner, and a podcast host, I am so grateful for the opportunity to read books on so many different topics. Here are a few I think you’ll find interesting – it pairs great with the podcast with the author (listen to The Whole View on your favorite podcast app).
Podcast Guests
- Fat Talk by Virginia Sole-Smith, podcast show notes here
- The Revolutionary Ketamine by Dr. Johnathan Edwards, podcast show notes here
- Bliss Brain by Dawson Church, podcast show notes here
- You’re Going to Be Okay by Madeline Popelka, podcast show notes here
- Forever Strong by Gabrielle Lyon, podcast show notes here
- Are You Sure? by Ginger Campbell, podcast show notes here
- Unbottled Potential, by Amanda Kuda, podcast show notes here
- ADHD Refocused, by Dr. David Sitt, podcast show notes here
- Inner Workout by Taylor E Morrison, podcast show notes here
- Take Your Own Advice by Jeffrey Marsh, podcast show notes here
- Renaissance of Our Own: by Rachel Cargle, podcast show notes here and met her on tour here
Leadership & Personal Development
- The Courage Solution by Mindy Mackenzie
- We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers
- The Emotion Code, by Dr. Bradley Nelson
- Power, for All by Julie Battilana (from my Harvard Business School curriculum)
- The Elevation Approach by Tina Wells
- Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose by Jay Shetty
- Call Us What We Carry, Amanda Gorman
What I’ve Read for Fun
- Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman
- The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
- Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
- Small Town, Big Magic & Big Little Spells (Witchlore, #2) by Hazel Beck
- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow: A Novel by Gabrielle Zevin
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
- I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
- Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
- ACOTAR series by by Sarah J Maas: A Court of Thorns and Roses; Mist and Fury; Wings and Ruin; Frost and Starlight; and A Court of Silver Flames
Read With Me (“Naughty” Book Club Books)!
One of the coolest best thing I did last year was start my “Naughty” Book Club with all of you! Here are the picks from this year so far. Want to join in? Join me at StacyToth.com for my Book Club membership (only $2 a month or $20 a year). The act of just 5 pages a day can have a huge impact on your well-being, and this is a way to give yourself the gift of commitment and have a community to chat with all month long in the forums, through our group chat and/or on our monthly Zoom Call!
- City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
- The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
- The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
- Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory
- Happy Place by Emily Henry
- Meet Me At the Lake by Carley Fortune
- Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
- Kiss the Girl (Meant to Be #3) by Zoraida Cordova
- The Ex Hex & The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling
Short stories are a great way to get into reading:
- Golden Hills by Jennifer Weiner
- Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman (of Practical Magic)
- The Sixth Wedding (28 Summers #1.5) by Elin Hilderbrand
I’d love to read with you! Join my virtual book club here (only $2 a month).
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