2023 Book Highlights.
By popular demand, here are my favorite reads of the publishing year. Family and relationship dynamics are front and center in a lineup full of heartache and hope. Plus, a few of my favorite authors are back in action.
“Who am I? I am love. I am forgiveness. I am memory. I am misfortune. I am pain. I am art. I am friendship. I am family. I am sorrow. I am hate. I am rage. I am beauty. I am wonder. I am ink. I am blood. I am learning. I am longing. I am action. I am courage. I am laughter. I am joy. I am gratitude. I am fire. I am water. I am dirt. I am past. I am future. I am fate. I am taken. I am lost. I am returned. I am found. I am heard. I am seen. I am home. I am here.”
Best Of The Best.
Hello Beautiful
by Ann Napolitano
William Waters escapes an unspeakably tragic and traumatic past through basketball, earning a college scholarship that takes him far away from his childhood home. Soon after, he encounters steadfast Julia Padavano, a spirited woman with three devoted sisters who are all full of life in their own unique ways. When Julia and William begin dating, the Padavanos quickly and lovingly embrace him as one of their own.
As darkness from William's past resurfaces, he and Julia’s carefully planned future unravels. In the fallout, the girls’ unwavering loyalty to one another shatters, causing a catastrophic family rift that ripples for generations.
Profoundly moving and beautifully written, Napolitano has given readers a modern epic akin to “Little Women.” Deep, devastating, and tender, this was my favorite book of the year. It’s a remarkable tribute to the power of loving someone not despite who they are but because of it. Don’t miss this one.
Wellness
by Nathan Hill
Finally! Bestselling author (and one of my personal favorites) is back with his sophomore effort and it doesn’t disappoint. Packing multiple punches, “Wellness” is a poignant and witty exploration of marriage, the pursuit of health and happiness, and the stories that bind and break us.
Jack and Elizabeth, once thriving in the underground art scene, now face challenges in married life—parenting, mindfulness cults, polyamorous suitors, and Facebook wars, to name a few. As they grapple with unfulfilled ambitions and confront personal demons from their own dysfunctional families, Jack and Elizabeth risk losing each other, forcing them into separate, essential excavations to salvage the best thing in their lives: their relationship.
Hill is unmatched in his emotionally astute—and often hilarious—observations. From the '90s Chicago art scene to a suburban world of detox diets and home-renovation mania, “Wellness” is an instant classic that redefines the love story with insight, irony, and heart.
Lola in the Mirror
by Trent Dalton
Trent Dalton is a master coming-of-age storyteller. His debut, “Boy Swallows Universe,” is an all-time favorite of mine, and it was a cultural phenomenon after its release. His latest, “Lola in the Mirror,” is—I can’t believe I’m saying this—even better.
A girl with no name is on the run with her mum. They have been running from the police and from the monster they left dead in their kitchen for sixteen years. Now living in a torn-up van next to the Brisbane River, the girl begins working for known drug queen Flora Box in hopes of making enough money to fund her vision of a life as a groundbreaking artist of international acclaim.
Impossible to encapsulate, “Lola in the Mirror” is a sprawling, darkly funny, violent, heartbreaking, and beautiful novel of love, fate, life, death, and all the things we see when we look in the mirror—all of the past, all of the present, and all of our possible futures.
Dalton sums it up nicely in his acknowledgments: “The river is a metaphor, of course. The river is whatever stuff you carry inside that turns and stirs beneath your skin. Not trying to be all clever-like, just trying to say something about the people who pull us out of the river.”
Blaze Me a Sun
by Christoffer Carlsson
Halland, a small Swedish town, is shaken by a serial killer's first murder on the same night the prime minister is assassinated. Policeman Sven Jörgensson is drawn into the case, haunted by the unsolved murders and a possible connection between the two shocking events. Unable to put the pieces together, more fall victim to the killer who remains on the loose. After retiring in defeat, Sven passes the obsession to his son.
Years later, the murders are brought back up to the surface when a novelist returns home to Halland. He befriends a retired police officer who worked closely with Sven in hopes of unraveling the community's collective guilt for a story. Elegantly constructed with perfect pacing, the storytelling highlights the enduring shadows of violence and the elusive pursuit of truth.
Carlsson’s American debut is brilliant—an atmospheric, moody noir that will stick with you long after you finish. It’s no wonder Carlsson is so beloved by critics and readers alike. He’s the youngest winner of the Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year award, the top prize for Swedish crime writers whose past winners include Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell. Keep him on your radar.
Small Mercies
by Dennis Lehane
Tread lightly; this one hits differently. The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author returns with a masterpiece that rivals “Mystic River.”
Set against a scorching 1974 Boston summer, Mary Pat Fennessy, a Southie resident, faces financial struggles. When her daughter Jules goes missing on the same night a young Black man dies under mysterious circumstances, Mary Pat's desperate search unravels secrets that disturb Marty Butler, leader of the Irish mob.
As the city grapples with the explosive desegregation of public schools, "Small Mercies" becomes an intense thriller, exposing the brutal realities of crime, power, and the dark heart of American racism. Lehane crafts a mesmerizing and wrenching narrative about one of the most tumultuous episodes in Boston’s history that only he could create.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
by Lisa See
Inspired by a true story, Lisa See transports readers to 15th-century China, where a young girl is raised by her grandmother to be a physician. Despite societal norms dictating a woman's worthlessness in education, Tan Yunxian defies expectations and learns the Four Examinations of Chinese medicine. Her friendship with a midwife-in-training, Meiling, becomes a source of mutual support and purpose.
As Yunxian faces the constraints of an arranged marriage, she grapples with societal expectations and being forbidden from assisting women. Along her journey, Yunxian manages to break free from traditions, support women from all walks of life, and leave a lasting legacy that transcends five centuries.
Despite its ancient origins, "Lady Tan's Circle of Women" resonates with relevance today, proving how female friendship and resilience go hand-in-hand.
Happiness Falls
by Angie Kim
Angie Kim, acclaimed for her 2019 debut "Miracle Creek," is back with another gripping mystery of profound philosophical and psychological consequence.
A biracial Korean-American family in Virginia faces a crisis when their beloved father goes missing. Initially unconcerned, Mia's reassurances crumble when her youngest brother, Eugene, returns home alone covered in blood. Unable to speak due to Angelman syndrome, Eugene is of no help to the family or authorities looking for answers.
A ticking-clock investigation ensues, unraveling the family's secrets and raising questions of love, language, and race. However, out of the emotional upheaval of the unimaginable circumstances, comes a poignant and original tale of a family navigating extraordinary lengths to understand one another and find common ground.
Age of Vice
by Deepti Kapoor
In the quiet hours of New Delhi, a speeding Mercedes careens off course, leaving five dead. Surprisingly, the rich owner is missing, replaced by a shell-shocked servant without explanation. As the dust settles, "Age of Vice" unfolds, skillfully navigating contemporary India's seductive wealth, corruption, and violence within the powerful Wadia family.
Amid lavish estates, extravagant parties, and political intrigue, three lives become dangerously intertwined. Ajay, the poverty-born servant, rises through the family ranks. Sunny, the playboy heir, dreams of surpassing his father at any cost. Neda, a curious journalist, grapples with morality and desire. Set against a backdrop of loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence, and revenge, their connections become a path to escape or a trigger for further destruction.
If you’re looking for a cinematic crime thriller, pick this one up. It manages to pack gangsters, lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption into a single binge-worthy story. The entertainment is just getting started, too. This is the first of a rumored trilogy!
Honorable Mention.
Yellowface
by R.F. Kuang
R.F. Kuang takes on the world of publishing in her latest, a dark satire with biting truths at its core. Once the first domino falls, it’s impossible to put down.
Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were meant to be twin rising stars, but Athena's literary success overshadows June's anonymity. When Athena unexpectedly and accidentally dies, June seizes the opportunity, stealing Athena's just-finished masterpiece on Chinese laborers in World War I.
June edits and submits it as her own, becoming Juniper Song and achieving bestseller status. However, Athena's shadow looms, and mounting evidence threatens June's success. As June fights to protect her secret, the novel sickeningly and hilariously explores issues of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, all set against the backdrop of social media's alienating influence.
Kuang delivers a timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable exploration of today’s hot topics. I read it in a single sitting!
Monstrilio
by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
In the midst of grief, Magos, a mourning mother, cuts out a piece of her deceased son Santiago's lung. Guided by fierce maternal instinct and an old folktale, she nurtures the lung into a sentient, carnivorous being, Monstrilio, hidden within her family's decaying Mexico City estate. As Monstrilio starts resembling Santiago, his innate impulses, though restrained by his chosen family, jeopardize this delicate second chance at life.
Equally weird and wonderful, Gerardo Sámano Córdova’s horror debut is a thought-provoking exploration of grief, acceptance, and the monstrous aspects of love and loyalty. With bold imagination and evocative prose, he delivers a cathartic and precise portrait of humanity, blending emotional depth with uncanny clarity.
Fingers crossed a movie studio like A24 brings this story to visual life.
Bright Young Women
by Jessica Knoll
I didn’t think it was possible, but Jessica Knoll has given readers a fresh—and partly fictional take—on celebrity-like serial killer, Ted Bundy’s, final murderous spree in 1978.
In this inspired retelling, two different timelines and realities converge. In one, a Pacific Northwest serial killer haunts Florida State University's top sorority. Pamela's decision to stay home saves her life but puts her in the center of a terrifying mystery. In the other, Tina seeks justice for Ruth, a young woman gone missing. As Tina discovers connections to the Tallahassee tragedy, she collides with Pamela in a pursuit of justice and impending tragedy.
"Bright Young Women" tells the story of two women from opposite sides of the country united in their quest for truth, challenging the narrative surrounding a charismatic serial killer and highlighting the exceptional lives of his victims.
Required Reading.
Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity
by Dr. Peter Attia with Bill Gifford
“If you want to find someone's true age, listen to them. If they talk about the past and they talk about all the things that happened that they did, they've gotten old. If they think about their dreams, their aspirations, what they're still looking forward to—they're young.”
In this comprehensive guide to longevity, Dr. Peter Attia leverages cutting-edge science to introduce innovative nutritional interventions, optimization techniques for exercise and sleep, and tools for enhancing emotional and mental well-being.
Mainstream medicine, despite its successes, has struggled against age-related diseases like heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Attia advocates for a shift from this outdated approach to a personalized, proactive longevity strategy that prioritizes both lifespan and healthspan.
Rejecting the notion of mere "biohacking," he emphasizes a scientifically grounded, strategic approach to extend lifespan while improving physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Rather than dictating specific actions, Dr. Attia empowers readers to develop a personalized long-term health plan by fostering a thoughtful and informed mindset.
Let me know if you pick up one of these books, and please send me any titles on your to-read list for 2024; they might show up on next year’s highlights! You can also follow my reading journey on Goodreads and check out previous year’s highlights here. Happy reading, y’all!
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Metta,
Drewsome.
