Staff Picks: The Best Reads of 2023

What was your favorite read of the year?

We learned last year that when you ask a group of bibliophiles for their favorite read of the year, and not just what they think the best book of the year is, you will get fascinating answers that span genres and subjects and publication dates, leading you to books you never would have caught otherwise. That is because your favorite read of the year could have come out at any time!

That is why I did it again this year, asking our staff to tell us both their favorite new book of the year, and their favorite read, to interesting results. Unlike 2022, when Jenette McCurdy published her blockbuster of a book I'm Glad My Mom Died, our staff did not have a clear 2023 favorite. (Though you can see our general consensus at our Best Books of 2023 page.)

That isn't to say there were no titles as good as hers this year, there were an abundance of amazing, newly-published titles—Can you believe Spare, The Woman in Me, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, BTS's Beyond the Story, Happy Place, Iron Flame, Yellowface, My Name is Barbra, ALL came out in the same year?!—so it's no wonder our staff didn't have a single, united favorite.

Plus, those books were vying for the attention of readers who could be reading any of the 15 Million+ titles ThriftBooks has right now! That is probably why you won't see any of those huge titles I just mentioned on this list at all. Because a year in books is so much more than the books published that year or what others were reading, it is about what you read and loved and that's why we ask what we ask.

Forgoing further fanfare, here they are! ThriftBooks Staff Picks for both the Best Books of 2023, and the Best Reads of the Year.

The Best Books of 2023

For this question, I asked our staff: "What was the best new release you read this year? (meaning a book first published in 2023)" You can read what our staff thought right beloe the picks, in their own words.

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

Like him or hate him, it is amazing to see what Elon Musk has accomplished in his life so far. Isaacson's writing is superb and he gives great insight into Musk's psyche. Easier to read if you remove the cover so you don't have Elon staring at you. Yikes!—Lance P., Marketing

There Will Be Fire by Rory Carroll

"It's a pity they both can't lose."—Hugo M., Customer Service

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

Warrior Girl Unearthed tells the all-too-real story of how Indigenous artifacts and their ancestor's bodies are kept captive by museums, colleges, and private collectors. Boulley does a beautiful job of introducing us to these everyday problems through the eyes of a 17-year-old Ojibwe girl, who learns more about her own culture and how she can help her tribe reclaim their heritage. This book will make you laugh, cry, and understand part of the everyday trials for a modern-day Indigenous Person.—Sarah M.—Vintage Lead, ATL

Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H.

A stunning LGBTQIA+ memoir that takes us on the raw emotional journey of accepting one's true self. Lamya isn't afraid to be both religious and gay, and this chronicle of their discovery and reconciliation of the two is breathtaking.—Sarah M., Vintage Lead

Every Man for Himself and God Against All: A Memoir by Werner Herzog

We know Werner Herzog as a bad guy in The Mandalorian, as a man gushing over the cuteness of the Baby Yoda puppet, and from comical voice-overs in movies like Penguins of Madagascar, but now get to know him as a one-of-a-kind filmmaker and documentarian.—Terry F., Marketing

Raw Dog by Jamie Loftus

Raw Dog is a comical, sincere, and empathetic analysis of the most American food: the Hotdog. Loftus brings a levity and critique to the meal, and how they are made and consumed in America, while traveling to every corner of the country to find the perfect Dog.—Ashlyn, Chicago Fulfillment Manager

Holly by Stephen King

Recommended by Alex M., IT Service Manager. Holly is Stephen King's latest book, a gripping story that puts one of King’s personal favorite characters, Holly Gibney from Mr. Mercedes and The Outsider, center stage for the first time.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine

Not since Rosemary's Baby has there been more maddening gaslighting done to a woman!—Ray M., Vintage Lead in Phoenix

Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders

The book kept me engaged and it was exciting at every turn.—Oscar G., Distribution & Shipping

The Best Reads of The Year

For this question, I asked our staff: "What is the best book you read this year, no matter the release date?" Read what they had to say about the books right below the title of their picks.

Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede

You ever wonder what it would be like to read a fairy tale where the main characters are aware that they are in a fairy tale? This is the series for you.—Damone J., Sorting Lead

The Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

It had been a while since I'd read a series that truly grabbed me. I LOVE when I can find a book that completely draws me in, and I found that with the Throne of Glass series. I couldn't put it down! I binged the entire series within a couple weeks and suffered from serious PBD (post book depression) when it was over! It was an amazing blend of romance, adventure, and suspense, and I was truly invested in all of the characters' lives.—Rachel S., Project Management

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Part Greek mythology fantasy, part psychological thriller, Piranesi is mysterious and enchanting.—Ashlyn, Chicago Fulfillment Manager

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I got hooked from the start by the tough hand that Kya was dealt and the murder that kicks off the book. I knew the two would collide at some point. I loved every twist and turn along the way that led me to an ending I didn't see coming.—Karen M., Marketing

Blood Meridian: Or The Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy

McCarthy's style of prose, paired with the vicious subject matter in Blood Meridian, makes this a novel I haven't stopped thinking about since I finished reading it.—Erica K., Training

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

This book is a groundbreaking example of South African literature. It is the story of the grief, healing, and understanding of two fathers who lose their sons set against the natural beauty and political turmoil of Johannesburg. I enjoyed this book, and have made it a permanent addition to my library because it is a simple story of how humanity can transcend individual beliefs.—William S., Vintage

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This one was recommended by Oscar G., Distribution/Shipping. Set during World War II, it is a story about a young woman who joins the resistance against the Nazis in France and never looks back, risking her life to help others.

Worlds Beyond Time: Sci-Fi Art of the 1970s by Adam Rowe

Love Sci-Fi. Grew up in the seventies. Book cover art was better back then. 'Nuff said.—Terry F., Marketing

The Banality of Evil: Hannah Arendt and 'The Final Solution' by Bernard J. Bergen

The most interesting book I read in 2023 was this one. It is not the controversial Hannah Arendt's report, but a study of it. The book covers many philosophical concepts, but I enjoyed most learning about totalitarian terror. I found it curious that the totalitarian terror does not shrink as the opposition is reduced. Totalitarian terror grows as the opposition is reduced. I recommend the book for philosophy lovers!—Adriana S., Accounting

High Hopes: The Amityville Murders by Gerard Sullivan and Harvey Aronson

Much more grounded in reality than the fiction written by Jay Anson. This is true crime at its grittiest!—Ray M.,Vintage Lead Phoenix Fortress

American Prometheus by Kai Bird & Martin Sherwin

In April 1962, McGeorge Bundy—the former Harvard dean and now national security adviser to President Kennedy—had Oppenheimer invited to a White House dinner honoring forty-nine Nobel laureates. At this gala affair, Oppie rubbed elbows with such other luminaries as the poet Robert Frost, the astronaut John Glenn, and the writer Norman Cousins. Everyone laughed when Kennedy quipped, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."—Hugo M., Customer Service

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

The first book of three and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole ride.—Rob M., Receiving Lead.

There we have it! With the myriad of personalities here, it's no surprise we have the selection to match.

Your turn! Our customers matter to us just as much so now is your chance to tell us in the comments: what was your best read of 2023, no matter when it was published?

Read more by Amanda Cleveland