TOP 23 BOOKS OF 2023

[@PeruseProject]

sooooooo excited to watch and take all the notes while watching this

[@juliacollis8825]

I love love love all these books and how you explain them, Elliot! I’ve been watching you since I was 15 and I’m 18 now and I’ve never stopped loving your recommendations!

[@Johanna_reads]

While harrowing, Kindred is one of the most impactful standalones I’ve ever read, and I’m glad to see it on any top book list. Beautifully said about The Arrow’s Trilogy showing ways an adult can postively influence a child! 💙

[@andrewmmbogori8339]

I just started Kindred after finishing Butler's Lilith's Brood Trilogy (fantastically strange), I needed a minute because of just how raw everything was. I'm not even halfway and i'm unsettled. Nothing like a good writer writing an at times uncomfortable story.

[@mariareadsssf]

If 2022 was the year of Octavia E. Butler for me, 2023 was the year of Ken Liu. Here is my top 10 books of 2023: 🥇"Speaking Bones" - Ken Liu 🥈"Blood Over Bright Haven" - M. L. Wang 🥉"The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi" - Shannon Chakraborty "The Book That Wouldn't Burn" - Mark Lawrence "Spinning Silver" - Naomi Novik "Perdido Street Station" - China Mieville "Bloodchild and Other Stories" - Octavia E. Butler "Lone Women" - Victor LaValle "Talonsister" - Jen Williams "Godkiller" - Hannah Kaner

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

My favorites: Weight of Ink, Anne of Green Gables, Way of Kings, Ruin of Kings, We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future trilogy, Anna Karenina, The Idiot, The Secret Garden, The Shadow of What was Lost, Salem's Lot, In Search of Mary Shelley, Psycho,Sapphire Altar and The Waste Lands.

[@KittenCece]

I'm so glad to see a reread of shades of magic on here, it was the kick in the butt I needed to reread it myself. I've been also really craving VE Schwab lately and I have been ignoring my craving for fear it won't hold up. And they do just have an absolutely stunning way of telling a story. ❤ TY!

[@LyraValley]

Brandon Sanderson for me is a mixed bag, but I just read Yumi and the nightmare painter this month and I loved it. I was more invested than I had been in a book in a while because I have been a bit slumpy and I was so happy. Also, the illustrations were so gorgeous. And my mind was blown at how Sanderson could write about stacking rocks and make it interesting.

[@jelenamerm]

Looooved Green Rider! My TBR grew just 20 books - really like your recs and you made me want to read all the ones I haven't considered before.

[@wiebsche]

Am I the only one thinking that Divine Rivals would have been even better if it were adult instead of YA? Don't get me wrong, I loved it anyway. But the MC is sent into an active war zone to report on the situation there and she is only 19 years old... anyhow, I absolutely adore Rebecca Ross' writing!

[@dbeep2822]

And without the purity culture nonsense at the end of book one. Blech. I also hated the sequel which was such a letdown because I enjoyed the first one.

[@rubymoon1487]

I loved it, but I agree that it could have been a bit better as an adult fantasy book!

[@strawberryorange3755]

I didn't like the sequel at all,I thought it was so boring. roman and iris are supposed to be very good writers, yet their article and letters seem so childish to me, and I am sorry to say it, but it's so cringe. And the romance, it went from rivals to lovers so fast in the first book😂 and the gods, never have I found such boring immortals in book.

[@sphinxinherhat]

Re: Good Reads Readers Choice Awards and Divine Rivals, Ya, I know we love to hate them, but I am grateful to the awards as they brought this book to my attention. Being long past being a young adult reader, I would never have come across it without it being featured in the awards.

[@katedingemans]

I am so glad Green Rider is getting some hype! It’s my favorite series!

[@BeckyJo8kids]

I’ve read 20 of your top 23 and agree with your take on almost all of them. The one that I really struggled with was The Wishing Game. As a mom of eight children who teaches grade school, I felt the dialogue between Lucy and Christopher wasn’t authentic. While there were some aspects of the book I enjoyed, that dialogue and relationship dynamic made me squirm. I also felt like there was very little growth in any of the characters, which makes the story fall flat for me. I feel like such a grump, but I am surprised it’s rated as high as it is. That said, I love love loved Green Rider! Thank you for that recommendation! ❤

[@johnhenry5835]

Hi Elliot, question for you. I know you have done videos with Jessie Mae. If not too personal, is she okay? She hasn't done a video in w months and I hope she is okay. Thought you might have public info? Thank you.

[@eilindene]

You're the only booktuber I've seen who actually loves the Shades of Magic series! Hearing you talk about them was cathartic! They're good!! Other people just don't get them! Also i read Green Rider in 2022 and it was an honorable mention for me too. I found the second book at a thrift store recently and hope to get to it this summer.

[@suzannemoore404]

I'm excited to try out Green Rider! Thank-you so much for introducing it💚

[@MacScarfield]

My Top Favorite Read of 2023, is a tie between «Under Heaven» by Guy Gavriel Kay & «The Veiled Throne» («Dandelion Dynasty #3) by Ken Liu: «Under Heaven» should be teached next to «War & Peace» and «Le Miserables» for GGK’s prose and Ken Liu’s Character Work has few if any rivals! A character that has only one scene in «TVT» (though a series veteran in «The Dandelion Dynasty»), earned with that scene alone my favorite character of 2023: Cogo Yelu! Next is another tie between «The Retreat to Avalon» by Sean Poage & «The Winter King» by Bernard Cornwell: Poage has written my favorite take on «A Historical King Arthur» and the Seige of Yves Trebon/St. Michel in «TWK» shows why Cornwell might be the best at writing battles! The next are unsorted: «The Winter Road» by Adrian Selby «The Way of Edan» by Philip Chase (You might have heard about him! 😄) «Bold Ascension» by Vaughn Roycroft «Salammbo» by Gustave Flaubert «The Farthest Shore» by Ursula K. Le Guin «The Name of the Wind» by Patrick Rothfuss «Brigantia» by Adrian Goldsworthy «Tortilla Flat» by John Steinbeck «The Little Emperors» by Alfred Duggan My Honorable Mentions «Tehanu» by Ursula K. Le Guin «Speaking Bones» by Ken Liu «River of Stars» by Guy Gavriel Kay «The Conscience of the King» by Alfred Duggan «The Black Gods Kiss» (Jirel of Joiry) by CL Moore «In the Grip of the Minotaur» by Farnham Bishop & Arthur G. Brodeur

[@LibrariesandLattes]

Loved Emily Wilde and Divine Rivals too!!

[@ThePetiteReader]

Two of the greatest books from 2023!! 😊

[@alejandrovelasquez620]

I picked up The Flatshare based on your recommendation and really enjoyed it!

[@amandaius]

I hope you go to Dragonsteel this year!!! It's going to be amazing! I went last year for the Defiant release and I had so much fun. I just really want all of my favorite book tubers to show up and do a panel there. ♥️

[@Kayce62]

I read and enjoyed Green Rider years and years ago. I didn’t finish the second book but can’t remember why, so I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts on future books in the series.

[@maggythestray6869]

I loved Yellowface !

[@moev29]

Bonesmith really was fun. I picked it up on your rec and I’m pleased I did. I am excited for the next book

[@laurenschenck5355]

I loved The Crane Husband so powerful one of my favorites of 2023 the cover is gorgeous 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🩵🩵📚🩵🩵📚📚🩵📙📙📖📖📙📙🎉🎉🎉📙📖📖📙📙📚🩵🩵🩵📚📚🩵🩵📚🩵📚🩵📚📚📚📚🩵🩵📚📚🩵🩵📚📙📙📖📖📚🩵🩵📚🩵🩵📚📚📚📚📙📙🩵🩵

[@chrissyfuhrie]

That’s it. I need to pick up Encyclopedia of Faeries. You explained it the best so far.

[@jensenwahlquist]

Ok universe I’m taking the sign from Elliot and putting green Rider on hold at my library. Thank you for the push I needed 😅

[@joeystett]

I have the engines of empire audiobook ready to go, this made me more excited to read it

[@kirsty-f8i]

The foundations series is my favourite lackey books

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

New to this book tube and finding my way around. Best wishes with your reading choices in 2024. I hope you get some great reads.

[@iheartwalle]

The first full-length Murderbot novel is my favorite if the entire series! It had all my favorite things.

[@TH-vc5sl]

I have been searching for the hardcover to match with the second book of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia. Can you please share the direct link to purchase?

[@noelanikaanana]

So many are on my TBR 🎉

[@courtneyposey924]

I read Godkiller this month and I'm hooked! Mad at myself though because I thought the sequel was coming out in January and it's not coming out until March lol. 😅

[@vincaalkaloids6732]

Waiting for you to dive into Crown Of Stars series!

[@artres7]

Thank you

[@maeve_ever_manga]

I LOVE Bonesmith!

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I just got a copy of encyclopedia of fairies for Christmas! 🥰

[@ivylilybasket]

The timestamp for Bonesmith reads Phone Smith and that's somewhat funny.

[@laurenschenck5355]

I loved Yellowface and MAAME I enjoyed it so much and amazing cover and I really connected to it love the cover 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉📙📚🩵🩵📚📙📙📚🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📙📙🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📙📙🩵🩵🩵🩵📚📙🩵🩵📚🩵🩵📙📖📖📖📚🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📙📙📚🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📖📙📙🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📖📙📙📚📖📖📚📚📚📖📚📙🩵📙

[@aaatt268]

I want recommendations on books about the plight of the people of 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (KZbin keeps removing my comment) . Can anyone please share books in the similar vein as Cobalt Red?

[@aaatt268]

I want recommendations on books about the plight of the people of Palestine. Can anyone please share books in the similar vein as Cobalt Red?

[@Murrayfan]

Who was that god killer book done by ?

[@ThePetiteReader]

Probably Illumicrate…it is gorgeous!!

[@Alexandra-bh1up]

Can someone please suggest Whether I should start the mistborn series first or the stormlight archieve.. I am planning to read both the series but I am confused as to which series I should start first?

[@brooklynkelsey703]

Hi! I'd recommend Mistborn first because it's smaller / it gets exciting sooner. Stormlight can take a minute to get into, which is easier if you already trust Sanderson.

[@Alexandra-bh1up]

@@brooklynkelsey703 Thank you for the suggestion 😊😊

[@TomOrange]

What edition of Godkiller is that? It looks so nice!

[@angelc12000]

I think it's the Illumicrate edition.

[@scar3crow.]

hey, you

[@viktoriabazyk8193]

for me network effect was what raised the entirety of murderbot diaries from 4 to 5 stars. very curious what you're gonna think of it :) isn't using they/them pronouns for someone who doesn't use them still misgendering though? it's such a big theme in murderbot how humans-related perspectives and ideas shouldn't be imposed on individuals who aren't humans and don't want to be considered humans. and they/them pronouns are never used for murderbot. murderbot isn't nonbinary in that sense.

[@angelamccollister]

Man, I can't wait for you to read The Last Herald-Mage trilogy based on how you are describing Arrows.

[@trafomft]

First like!!!!🎆

[@lordramoth3416]

Mandatory viewing but what happens for the year 2099? 🤭

[@angelaholmes8888]

Here's my picks Spare by prince harry Reminders of him by colleen hoover Delilah green doesn't care Tell me everything by minka Kelly memoir What my bones know by Stephenie foo memoir Someday maybe The mind series by s.t abby The woman in me by britney spears memoir The fiancee farce by Alexandra belfour Any man by amber tamblyn Blood sugar by sacha Rothschild Lucky me by sachi parker memoir The bodyguard by katherine center Heart bones by colleen hoover Pageboy by elliot page memoir Troublemaker by leah remini I have the right to by chessy prout memoir Crazy is my superpower by aj mendez memoir Birds of California Tough by Terry crews memoir Paris Hilton memoir Love Pamela by Pamela Anderson memoir The blood traitor

[@laurenschenck5355]

So proud of you Elliot you read amazing beautiful books in 2023 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉📚📙🩵🩵📚📖📚📙🩵📙📚📚📙🩵📚📚🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📚📚📖📚📙🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📚📚📙🩵🩵🩵📙📚📚📚🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉