Our Favorite Reads of 2023

We’re just days away from a whole new year, which means it’s the perfect time to reflect on our favorite books of the year. From fiction to nonfiction and even a few audio books, here are some of our top reads for 2023. 

Audio Book | Fiction

The Keeper of Lost Things

Ruth Hogan

“Truth be told, The Keeper of Lost Things was a book I found in the ‘Discover’ section of Audible and clicked on because I liked the cover, but I’m so glad I did,” said Mandy Crow, founder of The Bookery. The Keeper of Lost Things, published in 2017, is Hogan’s debut novel and tells the story of Anthony Peardew, a writer who has become focused on rescuing the things people have lost, dropped, forgotten or inadvertently left behind. He builds his life around cataloging these items in the hopes of reuniting them with their owners, but in the twilight of his life, he’s selected Laura, his housekeeper, as the person to continue his work when he’s gone. A sweet story with endearing characters you’ll actually root for, The Keeper of Lost Things is well worth your time. 

Audio Book | Fiction

Tom Lake

Ann Patchett

Tom Lake is Ann Patchett’s latest release, and the audio book is read beautifully by Meryl Streep. If you’re looking for a page-turner, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you’re looking for a quiet reassuring book that’s centered in the redeeming love of family, this might be a great end-of-year, holiday read for you. It’s not to say that Tom Lake is a happy book; it’s not. Set during the recent global pandemic, it’s the story of a family of three daughters who’ve found themselves back at home from college, working in the cherry orchard with their parents. To pass the time, the mother, Lara, tells her daughters the story of her long-ago, short-lived career as an actress—as well as her summer fling with a now-famous actor. Patchett uses Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” as a framework for the novel. Be aware: Tom Lake does include language, mentions of sex and some very self-centered, destructive behavior from at least one character. But over all, Patchett managed to craft a story about love in all its forms and the beauty of familial love most of all. 

Nonfiction

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

John Mark Comer

“I ended 2022 feeling exhausted and unfocused, like I’d failed at my goal of being present in my own life,” said Mandy Crow. “So I leaned into that in 2023, wanting to focus on what it really means to rest, and Comer’s book was a part of the journey I’ve been on this year.” Comer’s writing style and tone (and the typeface choice for the print version of his book) take a little getting used to, but it’s a quick read that will challenge you to think about the way you’re living your life and why. Comer’s basic point is that our modern infatuation with busyness distracts us from our true purpose as Christians, which is to walk in the ways of Christ. He makes a compelling case for spiritual disciplines such as Sabbath, silence, solitude and simplicity, and calls us to live our lives in opposition to the values of the world. It will challenge and change you, and you’ll be thinking about this book long after you’ve finished it. 

Nonfiction

Killers of the Flower Moon

David Grann

An Apple+ movie, Killers of the Flower Moon is a nonfiction book written by journalist David Grann, reflecting deep research into the Osage murders of the 1920s and ’30s and the beginning of the FBI. Removed from their ancestral lands to Oklahoma, the Osage have become among the richest people in the world after oil is discovered on their land. A definite advantage, this wealth also becomes a danger as entire systems are developed to try to tap into the wealth, including stealing, drugging and ultimately, murder. Grann tells the story in three acts, focusing his tale on the story of Mollie Burkhart, whose family is picked off one by one; Tom White, a cowboy-hat-wearing Texan and FBI agent, who breaks the case wide open; and finally, himself, the journalist, and the painstaking research that’s led him to believe the murders can’t be pinned on one person. It’s a heartbreaking and tough read that’s sure to make you uncomfortable, but will open your eyes to an often-overlooked point of view. 

Memoir

All My Knotted-Up Life

Beth Moore

All My Knotted-Up Life is Beth Moore’s memoir, in which the well-known Bible teacher unpacks the difficult details of her life from childhood to present day. It’s deeply personal and thoughtful, shocking in places as Moore discusses childhood abuse, depression, heartache and difficult days. All My Knotted-Up Life isn’t an enjoyable read, per se, but it’s an important one, if you’re trying to trying to look beyond preconceived notions about the state of the evangelical church in America. It’s a beautiful glimpse into Moore’s heart and the tangled mess we all make of our lives—and a powerful testimony of the redeeming, all-sufficient grace of Jesus Christ. 

What were your favorite reads of 2023? Tell us in the comments! 

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