It’s that time of the year again, when the book review site Goodreads asks its users to pick the most popular books of the year. From November, readers all over the world have voted in the Goodreads Choice Awards and now the results are in.
Let’s see what the 15th Annual Goodreads Awards says about the best books of 2023. 5,879,213 votes were cast, and these were the results:
Fiction Winner:
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Yellowface was released this year with much fanfare. The novel follows failed author, June Heyward, as she steals the manuscript of her frenemy Athena Liu and passes off the work as her own after Liu dies in a freak pancake accident. Yellowface holds up a mirror to the publishing industry, the book community and social media.
Historical Fiction Winner & Best Debut Novel Winner:
Weyward by Emilia Hart
Weyward is a historical fiction novel that follows three women across three timelines, 1619, 1842 and 2019. Jumping between the stories of these women, readers explore feminine growth, and transformative power rooted in the natural world.
Mystery/Thriller Winner:
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden beat out heavy hitters like Riley Sager and Lisa Jewell winning this year’s Goodreads Awards. The sequel to The Housemaid, this psychological thriller, follows Millie Calloway, a maid with a secret who works for wealthy clients in the Garricks, and soon finds herself caught in the middle of a web of mystery and manipulation.
Romance Winner:
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Emily Henry is on a hot streak, winning her third year in a row in this category. Happy Place is her latest winning book. This adult romance follows a couple who just broke up, but doesn’t want to put a damper on the upcoming trip they have with friends.
Romantasy Winner:
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Running away with this year’s votes is Rebecca Yarro’s romantasy novel, Fourth Wing. Following the story of Violet Sorrengail who becomes a dragon rider for Navarre. She must attend Basgiath War College a dangerous college for dragon riders and she must survive. Booktok took this book straight to the best-seller list and with that made it Goodreads’ Award choice for Romantasy.
Fantasy Winner:
Hellbent by Leigh Bardugo
Leigh Bardugo returns to win with the sequel of Ninth House, another winner from 2019. This dark academia follows Ivy League straight to hell with its protagonist Galaxy ‘Alex’ Stern.
Science Fiction Winner:
In The Lives of Puppet by TJ Klune
Goodreads readers choose TJ Klune’s new book In the Lives of Puppets as their pick for best Science Fiction. A novel about a unique family living in a hidden home nestled within a grove of trees. When a new android comes into the picture, it reveals the dark past that threatens the harmony of this family.
Horror Winner:
Holly by Stephen King
In the Goodreads world King isn’t a stranger. His name is very familiar in these lists, especially as a winner. Sometimes he’s just on the list: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, the list goes on. Sometimes it’s not even for horror. In 2018, he won twice, taking home thriller and horror. This year, he won again in horror. Holly is his newest novel about fan favourite private investigator Holly Gibney, putting her up against a pair of depraved antagonists.
Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction Winner:
Divine Rivals – Rebecca Ross
Another Booktok Sensation wins. In this Young Adult Fantasy by Rebecca Ross sees two enemies become more. Iris hopes to get a promotion as a columnist at the Oath Gazette. There she meets her rival Roman Kitt. When Roman stumbles onto letters that Iris secretly writes to her brother, he writes back to her, and they both forge a connection in the mists of a gods war.
Young Adult Fiction Winner:
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
This year, Ali Hazelwood dips her toes into the young adult romance genre with Check & Mate. This is her first Young adult fiction novel and it follows checkmate prodigy Mallory as she gives up on her love for chess to take care of her mother.
Nonfiction Winner:
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Nonfiction choice for this year takes a look at poverty in the U.S. Matthew Desmond takes a deep dive into the job within the pages of Poverty, by America. This nonfiction exploration beat out Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke and The Art Thief by Michael Finkel for Goodreads Best Nonfiction for 2023.
Memoir & Autobiography Winner:
The Woman in Me – Britney Spears
Released just in time for the awards, this late release The Woman in Me is the long-awaited memoir by Pop sensation Britney Spears. The book dives into Spears’ journey through life, her trial, her experience within the music industry and her love of music.
History & Biography Winner:
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
Goodreads readers voted David Grann’s tale of an imperial vessel as it embarked on a secret mission during a war with Spain Best in History & Biography. The book follows the journey of the British vessel, the Wager, as it finds itself wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia.
Humor Winner:
Being Henry: The Fonz and Beyond by Henry Winkler
Henry Wrinkler lets us in on the iconic character of the Fonz and goes beyond his stardom to share his personal journey and the lifelong impact of fame. Filled with heart, charm and self-deprecating humour, Being Henry goes beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and explores the deeper meaning of Winkler’s life.
And there we have it. All of the winners for 2023’s Goodreads Awards were chosen by the readers. Have you read any of these for the best books of 2023? Do you agree or disagree with their choices? Did you vote in the Goodreads awards? Comment below and let us know!