Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Fiction Books of 2023

Publishers Weekly released its favorite books of 2023. Let's see what's on their overall best and on the fiction-specific list. Expand for more information. 👇
Links 💻
The Top 10 List: best-books.publishersweekly.c... The Best Fiction List: best-books.publishersweekly.c...
Further Viewing 🎥
Last Year’s List: • Publisher’s Weekly’s B...
My Let Us Descend Review: • Let Us Descend by Jesm...
Titles Mentioned 📚
Biography of X, Catherine Lacey
The Country of the Blind, Andrew Leland
Flee North, Scott Shane
The Maniac, Benjamin Labatut
My Work, Olga Ravn (translated by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russell)
Ordinary Notes, Christina Sharpe
The Rediscovery of America, Ned Blackhawk
Same Bed Different Dreams, Ed Park
The Talk, Darrin Bell
The Wren, the Wren, Anne Enright
Age of Vice, Deepti Kapoor
August Blue, Deborah Levy
Bariloche, Andrés Neuman (translated by Robin Myers)
Beyond the Door of No Return, David Diop (translated by Sam Taylor)
Company, Shannon Sanders
A Cowardly Woman No More, Ellen Cooney
Eastbound, Maylis de Kerangal (translated by Jessica Moore)
The Fraud, Zadie Smith
Greek Lessons, Han King (translated by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won)
I Have Some Questions for You, Rebecca Makkai
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, James McBride
Let Us Descend, Jesmyn Ward
North Woods, Daniel Mason
The People Who Report More Stress: Stories, Alejandro Varela
Small Worlds, Caleb Azumah Nelson
Terrace Story, Hilary Leichter
This Is Salvaged, Vauhini Vara
This Other Eden, Paul Harding
Tremor, Teju Cole
The Unsettled, Ayana Mathis
My husband made a cookbook! Check it out here:
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[@Elizabeth-Reads]

Thanks for doing this, Greg, I was surprised to see so many books I wasn’t aware of! I love, love, love Deborah Levy. All her nonfiction is great, and for fiction my absolute favorite was The Man Who Saw Everything, it blew me away. (It was shortlisted for the 2019 Goldsmith Prize, and the Booker.) My second favorite is probably Swimming Home, also brilliantly done!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for your thoughts on Levy! I do need to read one of hers at some point.

[@susanneill7142]

Thanks Greg for your vid & discussion! I know about some on the lists but def not all. I rarely read recently published books but have read Eastbound (I recommended it in a very late comment on your novella recs vid) & loved it. It’s hard to describe so I’ll say that PW’s description is pretty good as far as it goes. I’ll also say that Kerangal’s style sort of feels like structured stream of consciousness, the story propelled me with more & more speed exactly like the moving train that it takes place on, & her 2 main characters are compelling. To me, the book deserves all the accolades it’s getting!!

[@emmavd]

Thank you, Greg🌷Fun fact: the Dutch translation of North Woods has just been chosen as book of the month by my local bookshop here in the Netherlands. I have put the original English version, together with Maniac (I’ve heard a lot of good things on BookTube and also from the press) and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (based on your recommendation of a couple of weeks back) on my Christmas wishlist. Knowing Santa, I’m sure he won’t disappoint me😉🎄

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Thanks for going over the list. I’m very excited by it and several of the books you would like to be convinced about I’ll give it a shot after I read them. I am particularly intrigued by Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter mainly becauseI enjoyed Temporary so much.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up!

[@leesawarshauer7928]

I gave the James McBride book to 3 people. All raved about!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I can’t wait to read it!

[@nathansnook]

i thought My Work was exhausting! but that's what motherhood is. and i think it accurately depicts the brutality of how much work goes into the body of an artist, the body of a woman, and the body of a mother. she was so real for this one! especially coming out of a tiny book like The Employees!

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's really interesting. Thanks.

[@peaseblossom4252]

The only book I’m familiar with from this list is North Woods-I picked it up at my library on my last visit, and last weekend was reading it in bed, completely enthralled, and halfway through, turned to my hubby and asked, “Have you ever read a book and thought, ‘I’m reading my favorite book for the first time?’” I loved reading it so much, I had to stop, and order my own copy, because I want to mark it up with all thoughts it keeps sparking. I have a day off tomorrow and nothing else planned except tea and finishing North Woods.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Wow, that’s great! I do love that feeling when you just know you’ve found a new book for the favorites list.

[@alexsarchives]

I loved Biography of X. The balance in the first half between the micro (the Carol-style love story) and the macro (the horrifying Handmaid's Tale society) is well done and really interesting. My view was the second half gets bogged down in the details of its alternate history art world, but overall it's a really lovely meditation on art and the timeless literary question of how well you can understand another person. Definitely worth checking out, and I think it's been the biggest snub in the literary prizes so far. A real Pulitzer contender imo.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Oh wow--thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@sarahjessup1751]

I really liked Eastbound. A short novel but fascinating story throughout.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's good to know!

[@sir_swagalot]

I absolutely loved The Heaven & Grocery Store! It should most definitely be in the conversation for the next Pulitzer.

[@jacksontalley]

I read The People Who Report More Stress because I really liked The Town of Babylon. It wasn't great. It's way too "now" if you know what I mean... all of the cultural references are so specific that I don't see it aging well. The Immortal King Rao was excellent! So creative and scary and inventive. I think she will be huge deal in years to come.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It is interesting how being a Pulitzer finalist can raise an author's profile. It worked wonders for Percival Everett and Daniel Mason, and now it seems to be working for Vauhini Vara. Thanks for the feedback on People Who Report More Stress.

[@hayleystenger2799]

Have you read The Colony by Audrey Magee? It is so wonderful and perfect for Ireland. I also liked, The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue. The audio was really fun.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I haven't read either, but Rachel Incident has been recommended to me by others as well. Thanks!

[@Katie-ie1pp]

I definitely recommend Alejandro Varela! I've read both the novel and the story collection. I think I like the collection slightly more, but both are very good. I want to read North Woods and This is Salvaged!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m really excited to get to Varela.

[@bookofdust]

I feel vindicated by Heaven and Earth Grocery Store being here, since it didn’t make NBA. I’m pulling for it to be in Pulitzer running too.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I think it will be!

[@AdyGrafovna]

Me too!

[@Tensytheneedlesmith]

Yes, to reading Deborah Levy, full stop, August Blue is a short novel but needs to be read with attention. Really also enjoyed her working autobiogrphay.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[@jankrehelmishin8825]

North Woods❤️❤️❤️ Amazing story, lots of allegory if you want/need, but fun and fast. GREAT ending.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Gaaa I really need to read North Woods.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’ve read two on the list and I’m reading a third currently. I’d recommend The Wren, The Wren ( especially on audio) However I’m not so enthusiastic about This Other Eden I’m currently listening to The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store Last month I listened to the audio of The Winter Solider by Daniel Mason I liked his writing and would read more from him. 🍀👋☘️📕📚📖🇮🇪☕️

[@SupposedlyFun]

☘️

[@judybrown1624]

I really liked The Wren, The Wren 5*. No reason not to read it first. Also, good on audio, but also beautiful writing. I've read The Gathering 4* and Actress 3*

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@janethansen9612]

I just finished The Maniac by Benjamin Labatut. Phew, what to say? It is pretty dense but the sciencey bits were not too difficult to understand and the characterisation of historical characters was very good and lightened it up a bit. It also reads reasonably quickly and is undeniably very clever. However to me it read like non fiction and the final section felt like an add on in a way although it is integral to what the book is saying. It does take a bit of work.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I heard someone say that it feels like a matter of time before Labatut wins a Nobel Prize for Literature, and that feels intriguing.

[@michelacarletti3671]

I really enjoyed Age of vice, the writing was beautiful

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@erinh7450]

I *loved* Biography of X. Five stars. I can't even say quite what it was that hit, it was a mix of so many things but somehow for me how they came together really worked. I could see how it could not work for others, but for me, I really enjoyed the ride. I thought The Vegetarian was kind of meh, but I really liked Greek Lessons. More cohesive narrative, no body horror, (for me) more interesting themes.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you for all the feedback.

[@ReadBecca]

I've read none of them 😄 lots to look forward to. I do have Cowardly Woman No More on my shelf already at least, and adored both Diop & Ravn's previous books so have been hotly anticipating getting to these new ones soon. I did also very much like Pew, but from what I've heard Lacey's X is maybe going over mostly rehashing trod ground there, likely will give it a shot, but not a big priority.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@mrl9418]

You could try Every Day Is For The Thief by Teju Cole. It's a memoir (or at least that's how I read it) and it's very hard to not like it

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s an interesting idea. Thanks.

[@Lizzyb1813]

I was also so so on The Vegetarian but Greek Lessons is one of the best books I’ve read this year. The writing is so beautiful. I highly recommend!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@raymondhodgson1190]

Haven't read The Vegetarian (yet) or Greek Lessons, but Human Acts was quite good if also very sad and strange. Might be one of those writers that are hard to gel with, but I'm going to (slowly) make my way through her books. I had a similar reaction to yours WRT "On Beauty" by Zadie Smith. Haven't tried any of her other books yet.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Could very well be one of those writers that is hard to gel with.

[@user-cn6qf4rj8e]

I adore Zadie Smith, maybe White Teeth the most - I think you should try it

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@user-cn6qf4rj8e White Teeth is the one I would probably try!

[@eusaypdx]

Thank you, I am also excited to read McBride s new book. Biography of X is very and ambitious and exciting, but lost focus on the second half for me - I gave it 3 stars, well written but unsatisfying. - I wouldn't prioritize this one personally. Just my humble opinion.

[@azu_rikka]

I've read 5 Enright books, and she is an author that I like reading, but her books don't wow me. My favourite is The Green Road. Have you read Colm Toibin? I like and want to reread all his books, beautiful writing! And I just read Down by the River by Edna O'Brien, which I adored...

[@SupposedlyFun]

I have not read a Toibin book yet but I aim to before we leave for Ireland.

[@azu_rikka]

@@SupposedlyFun Good! I would prioritize Toibin😊

[@TheLeniverse]

Small Worlds by Caleb Azuma Nelson is lovely. But it also deals with grief and loss, (amongst other things) so you might want to bear that in mind. I haven't read the new David Diop, but I plan to. At Night All Blood is Black is brutal, yes, but also poetic. How to explain it... It's not Cormack McCarthy brutal, it's more emotionally charged. I don't know if that makes it better or worse for you.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's good to know--thanks.

[@onourpath]

Ugh, The Gathering! The *perfect* novel for me. It had everything I love: a big Irish family, a death in the family, a wake (ffs!), family secrets and lies. I should have loved the hell out of this, but I hated it. It was incredibly boring, and I don't know why. Still, I got another Enright book (The Actress) because I should love it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ We'll see..... if I can bring myself to try another. But, I'd steer clear of The Gathering.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It's always disappointing when a book that should tick all your boxes just doesn't work.

[@kimswhims8435]

I preferred Actress over The Gathering. I read The Gathering the year it was listed for the booker prize and it was definitely not my favourite on the list, despite it winning that year.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@kimswhims8435 I have heard good things about Actress.

[@erinh7450]

I've only read one Anne Enright, but found it thoroughly boring. Not tempted to read more.

[@Anna-wh1zn]

I love to hear Zadie Smith speak and I really enjoy her essays but I have never got on with her fiction. Just a style thing I guess.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Having only read the one fiction book I can't really say if I just don't get along with her fiction yet. We shall find out at some point.

[@thaliad6759]

I Have some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai was the first book I read of hers. I almost dnf'd due to lack of depth in story, characters and writing. Plot may have been interesting if I were drawn into her characters or writing, which I was not. Sadly, when finished, I felt I'd wasted my time. Just meh. It has made me very hesitant to spend time on any more of her books. Vaster Wilds - on my list of best books of the year! I think it may also be a cilantro book, but is about SO much more than how it is described. Absolution - @ 1/2 way through and so far I love the way she creates her characters and plays with some moral dilemmas, especially given the times. Too soon to judge book as whole, but I am enjoying reading it so far.

[@bookofdust]

Definitely one of my most disappointing reads of this year and shocking to see it here.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I did really like Makkai's The Great Believers, but there are definitely many who did not like it nearly as much as I did.

[@larryyonce]

_Age of Vice_ has plenty of vice, so it's aptly titled, lol. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads . I read it when it came out; and it has stuck with me. It changes timelines and points-of-view frequently but everything dovetails in the end. However, it feels incomplete in many ways which screams "sequel coming" to me. Not sure I would spend anymore time with these characters.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Someone else comments to say that Age of Vice is the first in a trilogy, so there you go! Makes me feel comfortable passing.

[@christinadurvisfr5119]

First-I want to thank you for recommending Loved and Missed. What a fantastic book. Greek Lessons was underwhelming. Since you didn’t like The Vegetarian I’d say skip it. I enjoyed I Have Some Questions for You. Thank you so much for your videos. I get so many good recommendations from you.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm so glad you enjoyed Loved and Missed! I'm so glad you get a lot of recommendations--that makes me happy to hear!

[@AdyGrafovna]

I DNF’d Age of Vice because it was reading like a crime novel and that’s just not my thing. I also DNF’d August Blue, but that’s a soft DNF. It just requires more focus than I had at the time. It was a short book, but not an easy read. I am surprised at how many of these books I either DNF’d or didn’t love as much as I thought I would, but I loved McBride’s book and am currently enjoying North Woods.

[@AdyGrafovna]

Oh.. Makkai… I loved The Great Believers but hated her new book. I am still shocked that it’s the same writer. A five star and a one star for me.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I feel pretty comfortable passing on Age of Vice and the Makkai based on the comments. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@spexi513]

Really liked Unsettled. Henceforth I’m really gonna try to hold comments until end

[@SupposedlyFun]

All good! I don’t mind.

[@tam876]

Eastbound was a “meh” for me, but agree the blurb makes it intriguing!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Good to know!

[@ljw1980]

Suggestion for Scottish author, William Boyd

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks!

[@kimswhims8435]

All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien is one of the best books I've read this year and it didn't make the list. It's just won The Readings Prize in Australia and been listed for a number of others. She lives in the US so it should be published there. Saw a youtube vid of her doing a book reading in SanFran. I'm really only interested in The Fraud and I still haven't read her other two.

[@janethansen9612]

It feels like Aussie books have been ignored this year, yet there have been some fabulous novels. I wonder if publishers are holding back on making them available? I don't really know.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It does feel that Australian literature is frequently overlooked.

[@spexi513]

Read Age Of Vice over the summer & think the corruption it describes makes it an important book, I just grew very attached to the initial character introduced and less interested in the following ones. I don’t regret reading it all & would say it’s a good book.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s interesting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.

[@mariyamak]

The Talk by Darrin Bell was a very quick and easy read since it's in comics. I did it as an e-book and that was fine, but print would have been better. It differed from my expectations as it was a bit more of an autobiography framed through a view of race than a discussion of racism, but it was still educational.

[@SupposedlyFun]

My library had a copy so I put a hold on it. Hopefully soon!

[@ljw1980]

Love is Blind by Boyd is a very Scottish novel

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm checking my library now!

[@onourpath]

My favorite Irish novel is The Earth Hums in B Flat by Strachan. There are some cheap copies on Thriftbooks. Also, The Secret of Roan Inish by Fry -- both very Claire Keegan-like! Also cheap on Thriftbooks.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@onourpath Thanks for the recommendations! Those sound great.

[@judybrown1624]

I read it. I'm not too sure it will be for you... Biography of X

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's good to know--thanks.

[@mrl9418]

Your plaid shirts though. When you go to Scotland you'll be able to buy a kilt to match 🤔

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love a good plaid!

[@mrl9418]

@SupposedlyFun I have a friend in Glasgow and he says there's also a washable type that he uses for parties. I think they call "plaid" "Tartan" too. We sure do in Europe.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@mrl9418 That would make sense.

[@spexi513]

Sameeeee regarding The Vegetarian. Ppl will rave about it & I’ll be like 😳 🤐

[@SupposedlyFun]

I was SO excited to read Vegetarian and then I did 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@suzanneward5131]

I Have Some Questions For You. -Meh Terrace Stories -Meh, DNF

[@SupposedlyFun]

I Have Some Questions is not getting good response in the comments so I feel fine passing on it now.

[@LorrieReads]

I wanted to love Biography of X but I didn’t. The concept of the book was unique, but the protagonist was annoying and it dragged so much for me.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@maureencalder9911]

Pleaseg et over yourself and read David Diop

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's a bit blunt.

[@maureencalder9911]

Sorry, wasn't meant to be, I just loved At Night All Blood is Black.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@maureencalder9911 All good!

[@loriroemer1122]

Greek Lessons made me yawn a lot. I think you are right to skip it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It has not gotten very good feedback at all in the comments, so I feel very good about my choices right now. 🤗

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’d start with The Gathering Actress The Wren ,The Wren A better Deborah Levy is Hot Milk

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you!