Top 5 Reads of 2023

I know. I know. It’s mid-February, and it’s a little too late to be sharing reflections from last year, but I finally got around to putting together a list of my top 5 reads of 2023. These are in no particular order…

Top 5 Reads of 2023

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

Sue Monk Kidd, best known for her novel The Secret Life of Bees, imagines what it would have been like for Jesus Christ to have been married. She uses the relatively little information we have about Christ’s pre-ministry life to craft a narrative about a young woman named Ana who marries Jesus as a teen and observes his transformation from a hardworking tradesman to a status-quo-changing rabbi.

While Jesus is in the story, it’s really a story about Ana and the desire she has for independence and creativity that women in first-century Israel did not have access to. Jesus is a key character in the story who shapes Ana in important ways, but it’s ultimately about her life and how she moves against the grain to make a life worth living. 

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Mom gave me this book and said she didn’t make it all the way through because it was too sad… but I had to read it. So I did, and sure enough, it tore my heart out and became one of my most-recommended books of the year. 

Set in rural Kentucky during the Great Depression, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a poignant commentary on prejudice. The titular book woman suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes her skin to appear blue, making her a victim of racism, despite her compassion for others. The story recounts the struggles she faces living and working in the mountains as packhorse librarian, bringing reading materials to people in the most remote areas of the state. Raw, heart wrenching, and unwavering, Richardson tackles some of the darkest pieces of American history in a unique, memorable way. 

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

J. Ryan Stradal is one of my favorite authors. His books are classified as literary fiction and family life fiction, meaning they are heavily character driven and often deal with family drama. Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club is his third book, and while it’s not his strongest work, it’s still one of my top five favorite reads of 2023. 

This novel follows the story of a midwestern couple from two very different restaurateur families—one the heir to a chain of diners and the other the owner of a supper club in rural Minnesota. Stradal’s ability to paint memorable characters and bring humble settings to life really makes this a standout story of family, friendship, and food. 

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

I didn’t read much non-fiction this year, but this book was suggested to me by a couple of friends and kept popping up on my Goodreads feed, so I gave it a shot. If you feel like you’re always rushing from one thing to the next, and don’t have time for the important things in life, this is the book for you. 

Part memoir, part self-help, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry recounts Comer’s experience leaving his role as the lead pastor of a megachurch and opting for a slower, smaller life. To his surprise, slamming on the breaks didn’t bring his life to a halt—it enriched it and made it much more meaningful. 

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

I’m not sure if I liked this book, but it haunted me for months. Donna Tartt is one of the most renowned novelists of our time, having won a Pulitzer for her novel The Goldfinch in 2012.

The Secret History is Tartt’s first novel and is based on her own college experiences. Richard Papen moves across the country to attend a small, private liberal arts college in Vermont where he joins a small, secretive group of students studying classics with an eccentric, reclusive professor. Part detective story, part psychological thriller, The Secret History dives into a moral grayness that leaves you wondering how far you’d go to protect your friends and yourself.

Have you read any of the books on my list? What were your top reads of 2023?