Top Five Books of 2023
- List of the Month
- December 2023 (see all)
- Description
- The year is coming to an end, and our December List of the Month is dedicated to LibraryThing members' Top Five Books of 2023. Please note that books don't need to have been published in 2023, just read this year. You can see the LT Staff picks on the blog: https://blog.librarything.com/2023/12/top-five-books-of-2023/, and you can join the conversation on Talk: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355740
1
3,330 members
145 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 136.26
Added 2023-12-08, 02:49 PM
- 38 Members
- laytonwoman3rd, seabelis, erinclark, zhejw, sipthereader, JMC400m, terran, kxn11, LDVoorberg, bell7, shaunie, msf59, CarltonC, lindapanzo, michigantrumpet, vwinsloe, exfed, HelenGress, nmaners, Laura1124, bsmuts, Juneberry, WendyRobyn, Kendra_Gale, quondame, AnrMarri, ijamiedee, GinaHMM, Kat_by, NancyAK, KaCatte, Craftybilda, rfl22338, jlkbmcd08, Tboehne, anniesrun, GMbooks, BelindaNagelMcDonald
2
5,315 members
286 reviews
4.2
Score 83.03
Added 2023-12-17, 11:42 AM
- 24 Members
- LibrErica, Morphidae, foggidawn, kristenl, MAJic, jeanned, rebcamuse, bigcurlyloz, TheoClarke, HelenGress, nmaners, bsmuts, REW67, baughga, slittleson, ijamiedee, Onj, Kat_by, MaureenONeill, jlkbmcd08, Tboehne, ChoChoLin, jerigoins, anniesrun
3
- 22 Members
- kellyslist, erinclark, mzonderm, Micheller7, kxn11, bjappleg8, LDVoorberg, lizzy50usa, Copperskye, L-Anne, edparks, PaulCranswick, nmaners, msjudy, jbjohnsonius, Juneberry, Kendra_Gale, baughga, Kat_by, NancyAK, soniamk, Tboehne
4
- 19 Members
- knerd.knitter, mahsdad, kxn11, wanderlustlover, bigcurlyloz, ehough75, exfed, timetunnel, garylivingston, quondame, slittleson, Bubu1969, Kat_by, kyle555, Craftybilda, josie2479, melorafaelas, acristina00, revtizzy
- Explanations
- knerd.knitter: This book was so much fun to read. The kind of book that you simultaneously want to read as fast as possible and read slowly so it never ends!
5
1,511 members
74 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 63.35
Added 2023-12-08, 10:06 AM
- 19 Members
- aprille, cornerhouse, kxn11, bell7, perennialreader, PaulCranswick, traceylkb, nmaners, Laura1124, msjudy, bsmuts, Kendra_Gale, rcarpent, GinaHMM, Kat_by, NancyAK, Craftybilda, lacinsinna, anniesrun
6
1,218 members
68 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 59.38
Added 2023-12-08, 09:44 AM
- 17 Members
- kellyslist, majkia, mvo62, abbottthomas, jeanned, Copperskye, L-Anne, Sarielle, traceylkb, AbigailAdams26, garylivingston, hikarugenji, AnrMarri, AnaraGuard, tabareads, jlkbmcd08, yomnathefairy
- Explanations
- traceylkb: Listened to the recorded book. Enjoyed it very much, but want to "re-read" the physical book, so it is still on my wish list.AnaraGuard: All the books in the Thursday Murder Club series are a delight to read, but this one takes the characters to deeper places, and brings the reader along. Some serious topics of dementia and death are handled gracefully and generously. A good one to tide us over for a few years until he writes another one.
7
4,682 members
205 reviews
4.1
Score 52.93
Added 2023-12-08, 09:49 AM
- 16 Members
- wookiebender, schmootc, knerd.knitter, kxn11, Eat_Read_Knit, rebcamuse, specialkay, vwinsloe, Juneberry, AnrMarri, ijamiedee, NancyAK, smoore14, MaureenONeill, Tboehne, yomnathefairy
- Explanations
- knerd.knitter: So many things in this book were familiar to me, having grown up in the 80s/90s and enjoying video games and online role-playing games. It’s always fun to read a book where you can relate to the experiences of the characters.
8
- 14 Members
- raidergirl3, redbookforest, Violette62, vancouverdeb, FerneMysteryReader, DeborahJ2016, Kendra_Gale, AnrMarri, GinaHMM, zzora, roxrosengarten, CelticGreyWolf, acristina00, bdeforest
- Explanations
- FerneMysteryReader: An author's debut that is stunning in storytelling and beautifully written, atmospheric, and immersive. I loved the strength of the women, the determination, reaching deep within themselves, confident that the natural world empowers them and that their legacy from the past is greater than the men who wish to control them. I found the women resilient and inspiring. They are women to remember not as characters but as the women who came before us and why their strength can become ours.
9
1,234 members
68 reviews
3.8
Score 46.54
Added 2023-12-08, 09:49 AM
- 14 Members
- ursula, ablachly, jilld17, Chatterbox, LDVoorberg, N1na, bparsons, vwinsloe, YPlfl, GinaHMM, Carrieida, NancyAK, roxrosengarten, yomnathefairy
10
- 11 Members
- tardis, LadyUndomiel, Storeetllr, tabemono, okeres, corcra, BookLizard, oceancat, jennifergeran, quondame, hikarugenji
- Explanations
- Storeetllr: Murderbot. What else needs to be said? Oh, right. ART. Murderbot and ART. And Three. And 2.0!!! Well, sort of. The saga continues.
11
- 11 Members
- Chatterbox, terran, sallylou61, rebcamuse, lindapanzo, perennialreader, HelenGress, Kendra_Gale, Craftybilda, lacinsinna, Tboehne
12
2,575 members
166 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 34.16
Added 2023-12-10, 05:45 PM
- 10 Members
- erinclark, raidergirl3, jeanie0510, DeborahJ2016, REW67, baughga, LindaLoretz, Tosta, smoore14, Retired2006
13
- 9 Members
- Chatterbox, kristenl, thornton37814, bjappleg8, okeres, vwinsloe, YPlfl, roxrosengarten, Aviva95
14
- 8 Members
- LadyUndomiel, Storeetllr, Eat_Read_Knit, merrystar, cabyrum, Constant2m, lovelypotato111, hiboutimide
- Explanations
- Storeetllr: As advertised, this is high fantasy with low stakes, though the stakes are worth fighting for, just not in the way you might imagine, what with an orc involved. So much fun!
15
- 8 Members
- Ling.Lass, sundancer, lovelypotato111, josie2479, zzora, roxrosengarten, cheree_blossoms, Retired2006
- Explanations
- sundancer: A delightful read- beautiful imagery, amazing storytelling, and excellent word building.
16
- 7 Members
- Copperskye, gypsysmom, JenMDB, debann6354, bsmuts, WendyRobyn, roxrosengarten
17
by R. F. Kuang
4,677 members
107 reviews
4
Score 22.41
Added 2023-12-08, 09:49 AM
- 7 Members
- ablachly, revbean, claire.rivers, tabemono, msjudy, AnrMarri, Librarian_Liz1
18
- 7 Members
- tardis, amberwitch, Chatterbox, revbean, okeres, oceancat, quondame
- Explanations
- oceancat: the imperial radch trilogy should be read first but this is an amazing story about personhood set in the same universe
19
5,434 members
362 reviews
4.1
Score 22.25
Added 2023-12-09, 03:49 AM
- 7 Members
- laytonwoman3rd, yoyogod, ahef1963, hikarugenji, slittleson, YPlfl, josie2479
20
by Kate Beaton
809 members
50 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 21.5
Added 2023-12-08, 05:03 PM
- 7 Members
- bookwoman84, Deedledee, LadyUndomiel, charl08, claire.rivers, tabemono, Capybara_99
21
251 members
15 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 21.08
Added 2023-12-08, 04:28 PM
- 6 Members
- foggidawn, lizzy50usa, merrystar, KaCatte, Craftybilda, alai3
22
- 6 Members
- anglemark, wdwilson3, cipeciop, hikarugenji, mazecto, phantasmbunny
23
- 5 Members
- wookiebender, wanderlustlover, bell7, KatyBee, baughga
24
1,930 members
133 reviews
4.2
Score 18.4
Added 2023-12-08, 10:48 AM
- 5 Members
- thornton37814, CarltonC, SirThomas, bsmuts, airedalerd
- Explanations
- CarltonC: Harrowing subject matter, but beautiful and clear storytelling.
25
by TJ Klune
6,258 members
329 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 17.77
Added 2023-12-09, 03:48 AM
26
1,685 members
84 reviews
4
Score 17.77
Added 2023-12-09, 07:27 AM
- 5 Members
- erinclark, PaulCranswick, Boand, rfl22338, airedalerd
- Explanations
- Boand: Simply my favourite book of the year! A completely new way of looking at this period of history from a woman’s point of view. Excellent and intriguing stuff
27
by Ed Yong
1,233 members
43 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 17.77
Added 2023-12-08, 04:27 PM
- 5 Members
- lorax, sipthereader, wdwilson3, lizzy50usa, arsmith1994
28
1,687 members
86 reviews
4.1
Score 17.4
Added 2023-12-09, 08:04 PM
- 5 Members
- zhejw, bjappleg8, msf59, msjudy, lacinsinna
29
1,223 members
31 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 17.08
Added 2023-12-08, 09:57 AM
- 5 Members
- lorax, susanna.fraser, corcra, hikarugenji, ManWithAnAgenda
30
- 5 Members
- timspalding, charl08, WendyRobyn, quondame, ijamiedee
31
- 5 Members
- Deedledee, craso, cabyrum, ChrissyQuise, hollythepenguin
32
5,399 members
266 reviews
3.9
Score 15.27
Added 2023-12-08, 04:04 PM
- 5 Members
- wdwilson3, HelenGress, Carrieida, nojod, revtizzy
33
- 5 Members
- Chatterbox, charl08, bookcookie1920, lscan2, YPlfl
34
1,510 members
32 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 14.4
Added 2023-12-08, 08:12 PM
- 4 Members
- Constant2m, sailorfigment, mattries37315, Librarian_Liz1
35
by K.C. Davis
655 members
14 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 13.44
Added 2023-12-14, 12:26 AM
- 4 Members
- LibrErica, schmootc, bcbcmarianna, bookmelon
36
- 4 Members
- lorax, hipdeep, norabelle414, DeborahJ2016
37
- 4 Members
- pdebolt, Stewdar, vancouverdeb, exfed
38
774 members
30 reviews
3.8
Score 12.71
Added 2023-12-08, 05:18 PM
- 4 Members
- Storeetllr, Whisper1, Tosta, KeithChaffee
39
- 4 Members
- seabelis, ReluctantTechie, YPlfl, rfl22338
- Explanations
- ReluctantTechie: A vivid, detailed true story from a child's point of view of a illegal immigrant's journey to the USA, without any politics mentioned. Powerful.
40
41
- 4 Members
- TheoClarke, CarltonC, Boand, Tosta
- Explanations
42
10,794 members
253 reviews
4
Score 12
Added 2023-12-12, 07:06 PM
- 3 Members
- bcbcmarianna, LovingLit, rhbouchard
43
- 3 Members
- jeanned, sturlington, RachelGMB
44
- 4 Members
- CarltonC, PaulCranswick, traceylkb, Boand
- Explanations
- Boand: A many layered Irish novel which gradually peels back the years to reveal several shocking underlying truths. Very sad and beautifully written story of the Irish Republic’s history through the protagonist’s eyes.
45
4,150 members
119 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 11.58
Added 2023-12-13, 06:12 PM
- 4 Members
- laytonwoman3rd, wdwilson3, gypsysmom, josie2479
46
- 3 Members
- FAMeulstee, Stewdar, Bubu1969
47
11,760 members
780 reviews
4.1
Score 11.36
Added 2023-12-08, 09:50 AM
48
by Clint Smith
1,224 members
40 reviews
½ 4.6
Score 11.36
Added 2023-12-08, 06:09 PM
49
- 3 Members
- raidergirl3, RidgewayGirl, nankuo
50
6,644 members
119 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 11.04
Added 2023-12-12, 07:07 PM
51
by bell hooks
2,381 members
43 reviews
3.8
Score 10.83
Added 2023-12-08, 09:50 AM
- 3 Members
- claire.rivers, mice_elf, arwa-fm
52
- 3 Members
- Minthe, FAMeulstee, vwinsloe
53
by Marge Piercy
2,579 members
52 reviews
3.9
Score 10.4
Added 2023-12-13, 01:04 PM
- 3 Members
- elahrairah, zzora, alai3
- Explanations
- elahrairah: Fantastic and heartbreaking story; a novel the same age as me that forsaw where capitalism was taking us at a time when most people couldn't even predict Reagan or Thatcher. A novel that showed us very clearly that our parents had a choice between utopia and dystopia, and they chose dystopia.
54
1,530 members
24 reviews
4.1
Score 10.19
Added 2023-12-08, 04:37 PM
- 3 Members
- kleo, timetunnel, Bubu1969
55
by Anna Funder
218 members
5 reviews
4
Score 10.09
Added 2023-12-18, 11:43 PM
- 3 Members
- digitalmaven, rhbouchard, ChrissyQuise
56
57
2,010 members
48 reviews
4.2
Score 9.87
Added 2023-12-10, 07:17 AM
- 3 Members
- lorax, FAMeulstee, birder4106
- Explanations
- birder4106: A book that has influenced my view of nature and the world almost as lastingly as [The Origin of Species] by [Charles Darwin] and [The Origin of Continents and Oceans] [Alfred Wegener].
58
3,195 members
162 reviews
4
Score 9.71
Added 2023-12-19, 08:21 PM
- 3 Members
- Deedledee, okeres, airedalerd
59
60
- 3 Members
- Stewdar, mattries37315, Bubu1969
61
62
63
- 3 Members
- zottel, msjudy, MaureenONeill
64
- 3 Members
- uru, blackhornet, RachelGMB
65
2,249 members
129 reviews
4.2
Score 9.02
Added 2023-12-18, 02:48 PM
- 3 Members
- casvelyn, mzonderm, hiboutimide
66
2,858 members
58 reviews
4.2
Score 8.54
Added 2023-12-18, 07:04 AM
- 3 Members
- Minthe, nx74defiant, alai3
- Explanations
- nx74defiant: Favorite Trollope so far. The focus on greed is still relevant. I really enjoyed Paul Montague growth from a push over to standing up for himself and what he believed was right.
67
68
- 2 Members
- realSandy, BonnieJune54
70
71
- 2 Members
- revbean, bigcurlyloz
73
- 2 Members
- RidgewayGirl, boo-radley
75
- 2 Members
- sturlington, BLBera
78
- 2 Members
- kellyslist, boo-radley
79
- 2 Members
- jnsp13, phantasmbunny
80
1,420 members
60 reviews
4.1
Score 6.83
Added 2023-12-14, 02:24 PM
- 2 Members
- LadyUndomiel, Librarian_Liz1
82
83
- 2 Members
- pitjrw, BookLizard
84
64,685 members
3,488 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 6.68
Added 2023-12-19, 11:25 AM
86
- 2 Members
- acceptance, alai3
87
- 2 Members
- Ciruelo, BookLizard
88
90
by Sid Meier
185 members
4 reviews
3.9
Score 6.68
Added 2023-12-08, 09:54 AM
- 2 Members
- timspalding, Lauren-at-LT
91
- 2 Members
- N1na, PaulCranswick
92
136 members
11 reviews
4.2
Score 6.68
Added 2023-12-08, 03:45 PM
93
- 2 Members
- kleo, aethercowboy
96
1,003 members
28 reviews
3.8
Score 6.4
Added 2023-12-08, 09:33 PM
97
98
99
100