Great Books to Read this Year (2023 Edition)

I’m so excited about bringing this Annual Book Recommendation Post to you today. (To see past years posts click HERE.) There are some fantastic books in this list that have charmed my year. You’ll find a wide variety of genres, including captivating Historical Fiction, heart warming Memoirs, books about religion and God, reads that focus on emotional health as well as a great self help book about essentialism and time management. There’s lots to love here!

Please feel free to leave a comment telling us all a great book you have enjoyed recently. I love reading your comments and have found so many great books through your recommendations.

Now, on to the list!

KITCHEN TABLE WISDOM by Rachel Remen
5 STARS (If I could give it 10 stars, I would)

It’s safe to say that this book easily finds a place on my list of Top Ten Favorite books of all time. I read it slowly with a pen to underline and mark all the beautiful insights I don’t want to forget. It is by far the best book I’ve read this year.

Rachel Remen has worked as a medical doctor and currently counsels cancer patients. Each chapter of the book is a short story featuring a lesson she’s learned from a patient, parent, coworker, or other person she’s worked with or encountered.

The stories are very touching, real, and often raw. Her ability to describe them is lovely. The truths she draws out of the stories are beautiful. Her respect for each person and their individual struggles and challenges is moving.

I read many chapters to my husband and kids. They loved them, too.

A favorite quote…”Our listening creates a sanctuary for the homeless parts of the other person.”

If I could give it 10 stars, I would.

ESSENTIALISM, THE DISCIPLINED PURSUIT OF LESS by Greg McKeown
4 STARS
I loved this book! McKeown explains what an essentialist is and how to become one by putting boundaries and reasonable expectations around your time, things, relationships. It left me with a lot of peace as I was reminded of my own personal freedom to choose what I add to my life, and how to focus in on the things that matter most. A struggle for me, absoluty…as it is with most of us I imagine. We live in such a full world, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with all of the choices. I appreciated this good reminder.

RUNNING FOR MY LIFE: One Lost Boys Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games by Lopez Lomong
5 STARS
What a wonderful book! My teenage son who runs cross-country recommended it to me. Not only is Lopez Lomong’s story awe inspiring, but his wonderful attitude is a joy to see. I loved how he writes openly about His reliance on God and how he chose from a very young age to see the good in things. Such an inspiration. Loved it.

WHAT THE WIND KNOWS by Amy Harmon
4 STARS

Oh, how loved this book. It’s historical fiction and time travel mixed into one, with a beautiful love story and a writing style I adored. It takes place in Ireland in the mid 1920’s. I have many ancestors from Ireland, which made it especially interesting to me. The audio version is spectacular. A treat to listen to.

This is the first of Amy Harmon’s books I’ve read, and wow! She is a fantastic storyteller. I’m thrilled to know about her and look forward to reading many more by her, see the next recommendation. 😉

FROM SAND and ASH by Amy Harmon
4 STARS

I loved this beautifully written book.

This book is a WWII novel, taking place in Italy. Both the Jewish and Cotholic faiths are represented, and the author does a wonderful job honoring each. The love story is so touching and supports so many of my beliefs about the eternal nature of love, of families, and of God.

The audio version is fantastic.

THE OFFICE BFFs: TALES OF THE THE OFFICE FROM TWO BEST FRIENDS WHO WERE THERE by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
4 STARS

I listened to the audio version of this book, and it was a lot of fun. The Office is one of those TV series that has played in the background of my life for years. All of my teenagers went through phases of binge watching it (mostly during the summer months), which means I’ve heard (and sometimes actually watched) every episode 5 times. This book was an adorable look behind the scenes, through the eyes of two main characters…Pam and Angela. It was so enjoyable to hear what was going on in their lives during the filming of the show. There’s a fair amount of the book that champions friendship, which I loved. A great light read. Perfect for summer, actually, and brought back a lot of family memories and jokes that we shared watching the show.

SPEAKING FOR MYSELF: FAITH, FREEDOM and the FIGHT of OUR LIVES INSIDE the TRUMP WHITE HOUSE by Sara Huckabee Sanders
4 STARS

I loved listening to this book! Sara Huckabee Sanders shares some of her experiences while working as the press secretary for Donald Trump. I loved hearing her perspective and views of the Trump family and so appreciated her patriotism and acknowledgment of God. She champions motherhood and is very open and real about the challenges of working in such a demanding job while raising three small children. A great listen!

ATLAS OF THE HEART: MAPPING MEANINGFUL CONNECTION and the LANGUAGE of HUMAN EXPERIENCE by Brene Brown
4.5 STARS

I am big fan of Brene Brown. I’ve read almost everything she has written and have been impacted greatly by her work. Her research regarding perfectionism, vulnerability and living a well rounded life that includes REST (go figure!) have been especially meaningful to me. This most recent of her books is different than the others. It’s a big dictionary of emotions. She sites much of her previous work in it as she discusses more than 80 different human emotions. Her theory is, that if we understand, and can communicate about our specific emotions we will better be able to connect with ourselves and with others. I found it fascinating. I ended up listening to it as well as buying a copy, and I’m so glad I did. It will be a great reference, and I’ve found myself re-reading many of the definitions to since finishing it.

Along with her research findings, she shares many life experiences and examples to support the definitions in the book, and while I found some of her political scenarios and opinions opposite of my own view point, her research is well grounded and extremally helpful. 4.5 stars for this great resource.

RADAR GIRLS by Sara Ackerman
3.5 STARS

This is a great historical fiction book based in Hawaii during WWII. I listened to the audio version of this book while traveling to and from Hawaii, and it was such a good fit! I loved hearing about the islands during war time and learning about the role some women played in learning to read radar. It’s got a great love story as well. A good vacation read.

ONE ITALIAN SUMMER by Rebecca Serle
3 STARS

A great vacation read (or listen). The story is about of a woman who loses her mother to cancer and while grieving her ends up visiting Italy and learning more of who her mother was in her earlier years. I loved the scenic descriptions of Italy. I loved the references to motherhood and womanhood and what it means to create a balance between the two. Lots of great one liners.

THE READING LIST by Sara Nisha Adams
4 STARS

What a charming story. It’s about a list of book recommendations that is randomly picked up by several people. The story follows their individual experiences reading the same books, their interactions with each other and how the books affect them. The majority of the plot focuses on a older gentleman, recently widowed and a young 17 year old girl responsible for a mentally ill mother. Not a likely match for a great friendship, but one materializes as they share thoughts on the books they read. Such a great idea for a story!

A long time lover of stories and books, myself I found it lovely to see the character development change based on what the characters were actually reading. Here are a couple of favorite quotes.

“Sometimes, books just take us away for a little while, and return us to our place with a new perspective.”

“They were all her favorite books, the books she had grown up with, the books that had found her at the right time, that had given her comfort when she needed it, had given her an escape, an opportunity to live beyond her life, an opportunity to love more powerfully, a chance to open up and let people in.”

A great read. 4 strong stars.

FROM GRACE to CHARITY by Emily Belle Freeman
5 STARS

I love Emily Belle Freeman’s books, and this one did not disappoint. It’s the 3rd in a series of books on Grace. It focuses on how we can pour out genuine love to others, once we have experienced grace ourselves. I loved her personal stories and honesty. Such a great, uplifting read.