The top three books of 2023 are here! The bronze medal goes to M.L. Rio’s classic dark academia novel, If We Were Villains.
What is it about? Oliver has spent the last ten years in prison for a crime that former investigator Colborne believes he didn’t commit. Now freed, Colborne meets with Oliver one last time to find out exactly what happened. As one of seven students studying at an elite college that specializes in Shakespeare theater, Oliver is happy and mostly content with his life. He has friends that have the same passion as him and he is away from his arguing, bickering parents who don’t support his dreams. Despite the friends normally being typecast with the same roles, they seem satisfied and happy. That is until the teachers decide to switch up a few things and the once peaceful friend community collapses, resulting in murder. Who fell victim and who was responsible?
Why did I love it? In 2023 I read two cornerstones of the dark academia genre. Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, which is credited as starting the genre, and Ms. Rio’s, often considered the runner up for best dark academia book. I’ve already made my feelings about Ms. Tartt’s novel be known (and if you missed it you can read about it at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/09/its-all-greek-to-me-a-deep-dive-into-hyped-books-with-the-secret-history/) and to put it simply it wasn’t the book for me. Ms. Rio’s, on the other hand, was everything I could have possibly wanted.
As an English major, I loved that this story was set at an elite school that deals with Shakespeare’s plays. And in all honesty it was the perfect setting for a group of friends who are consumed with being the best actor and wanting the best roles for themselves. The friend group and their dynamics is truly the best part of If We Are Villains. Despite having the same interests and wishes, the group is very competitive and one gets the feeling earlier on that they would be willing to do anything to secure a better role. This Machiavellian atmosphere carries throughout the book and the twist for why Oliver went to prison is surprising and catches you off guard. This, combined with the book’s dark atmosphere and well written dialogue, makes it a very worthy book to pick up if you haven’t already.
Read my full review of this dark academia staple at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/09/if-we-were-villains-by-by-m-l-rio-review/.
The 4th best book of 2023 goes to What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall.
What is it about? When they were children, best friends Naomi, Cassidy, and Olivia would go into the woods and play “the goddess game.” It was good, harmless fun until one night Naomi is attacked and Cassidy and Olivia barely escape, alerting authorities that their friend has been murdered. But a miracle occurred; Naomi survived her attack and she was able to identify her attacker. Now an adult Naomi has a career as a photographer and has just learned that her convicted attacker has died in prison. It seems to be the end of a decades long journey but when Naomi receives a cryptic call from Olivia, she is forced to go back home and confront the ghosts of her past. Did everything that happen that night really occur in the way Naomi remembered it? Or was she looking at the wrong person the entire time?
Why did I love it? Loosely based on a true story, What Lies in the Woods is a gripping thriller that hooks you quickly. Ms. Marshall doesn’t take much time to through the reader into this mystery, particularly with Naomi beginning to question what did and did not happen that fateful night. Like Dark Places‘ Libby, Naomi isn’t a perfect character. She has several flaws but also many pains that makes her sympathetic to the reader. As the story unravels, Naomi finds herself questioning her allies and if she truly knows the people she grew up with. This leads the reader to question if anyone is telling the truth, including Naomi. This is a particular strength of the novel as slowly everyone begins to become a suspect in some matter.
I really enjoyed the fast pace of the novel. It’s by no means a short book but it is easily something that can be digested in one sitting. There is also a sense of claustrophobia, suffocating both Naomi and you as the reader, as more secrets and inconsistences are revealed. I also enjoyed how Ms. Marshall took this seemingly innocent, small town and made it a bit more nefarious. Was the attack on Naomi and her friends truly a random act of violence or was it a part of a much darker plan and, if so, why would the person behind it attack three innocent girls? Finally, is Naomi herself reliable? I love a good unreliable narrator and Naomi fits this mold very well. Ultimately the reveal is shocking and very well done. I had come up with many possibilities of what could have happened that night but the true reason caught me off guard. Surprise endings can be very hard to do and that’s why I have selected What Lies in the Woods to be my fourth favorite book of the year.
Read my full review at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/10/what-lies-in-the-woods-by-kate-alice-marshall-review/.
We are now on to the top five best books of the year. Taking the fifth spot is The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule.
What is it about? In the early 1970s Ann Rule is a divorced mother of four children who is struggling to establish herself as a crime writer, or just as any writer for that matter. Despite her struggles, Ann volunteers for the night shift at a 24/7 suicide hotline and on her first night meets her one single co-worker. His name is Ted Bundy (queue instant shivers down your spine) and his killing spree would define not just an era but Ann’s career.
Why did I like (I can’t just bring myself to use the word “love” in connection with a serial killer book) it? Coined as not just the definitive biography of one of America’s most notorious serial killers but also a defining work in the true crime genre, Ms. Rule’s book was hard to resist despite the brutal nature of the subject. Ms. Rule’s story is without a doubt unique, simply because she became good friends with Bundy before he began his killing spree and even remained his friend when the first accusations started to come out that Bundy might be behind the murders of several young women on the West coast (don’t worry, she eventually sees the light). He was her friend, confidante, and biggest supporter, making the revelation of him being a sadistic killer who targeted young women all the more difficult for Ms. Rule to accept. Nonetheless, Ms. Rule slowly begins to realize the chilling truth and learn that the friend she thought she once had never even existed. This last part in particular was most interesting to read about as the reader can sympathize with Ms. Rule’s situation. After all, if one of our closest friends were accused of a heinous crime, wouldn’t we immediately dismiss the claim and say that the authorities have the wrong person? It’s a dilemma that many of us would want to put ourselves in and it was very interesting to learn how Ms. Rule handled this and eventually seeing that the facts didn’t lie.
One point I have to applaud Ms. Rule on is that she didn’t just focus on Bundy but actually on the victims as well. They weren’t just names in a book or on a long list of women in the wrong place at the wrong time. Instead, we learned their names, their passions, their goals for the future, and the people who loved them. They were real people whose lives were horrifically cut short and are now associated with a garbage of a human being. For that, I could not justify not having this book on my list and am look forward to reading Ms. Rule’s other books.
Read my full review of this terrifying true crime story at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/09/the-stranger-beside-me-by-ann-rule-review/.
The sixth best book of the year is In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead.
What is it about? It’s been ten years since Jessica graduated from college but being the most successful, pretty, and intelligent person in her class remains her number one priority. When she receives the invitation to her class reunion, Jessica accepts it without reservation to show all her former classmates that she has achieved her dream. Not even the memories of the brutal and unsolved murder of her friend Heather can dampen her mood. Soon, she reconnects with her old circle of friends and Jessica seems to have achieved her dream. But not everyone is so willing to party the night away. Heather deserves justice and one person will make sure that her murderer is revealed as well as the former friends’ dirty little secrets.
Why did I love it? Dark academia has exploded as a genre since the pandemic three years ago and I’ve been hooked on it ever since, without actually reading a book that could be classified as dark academia. What can I say? I’m on Pinterest and Instagram too much. So one of my reading goals for 2023 was to pick up a couple dark academia books and this one by Ms. Winstead was the first one I decided to read. Perhaps because it was my first, I loved it immediately and guess what? Nine months later, I still love it.
The characters in this book are not particularly likeable and this can either be to the book’s advantage or to its detriment. But Ms. Winstead was able to navigate this tricky concept and create a story where we don’t necessarily cheer on any of the characters but also want to see justice be served for Heather. A lot like Lucy Foley’s The Guest List, which, coincidentally, I also selected to be in my top favorite books in 2022. Maybe I like the troupe? The ending sealed the book’s success, and it’s position on this list, by the author leading the reader to one conclusion but then revealing a different one, only to throw in one last twist in the final two pages. Mind blown.
Read my full review on this twisty thriller at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/05/in-my-dreams-i-hold-a-knife-by-ashley-winstead-review/.
In the seventh spot we have The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
What is it about? Evelyn Hugo is a Hollywood legend. An Academy Award winning actress and fashion icon, Evelyn is known throughout the world not just for her glamour and beauty but for her seven publicized marriages. Now in her twilight years, Evelyn grants no interviews and seems content on living out the rest of her days in her New York City home and raising money for charity. So it’s no surprise that when journalist Monique receives an email from Evelyn, asking her to write her biography, the young reporter jumps on the opportunity. But as she sits down with Evelyn and attempts to answer the question we all want to know, who was the love of Evelyn’s life, Monique learns that Evelyn’s life is far more complex than the tabloids led us all to believe.
Why did I love it? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has become a phenomenon in the book community and it seems that nearly everyone has not only read the book but loved it. Since I try to avoid over publicized books, I didn’t pick it up for some time and when I finally did, I attempted to lower my expectations. As it turns out, all the people who hyped up this story were right. It is a beautifully written, well crafted story about a fictional Hollywood legend, blended with the stories and legacies of real Old Hollywood stars. This might have been one of the reasons why I loved it so much but one cannot deny Ms. Reid’s ability to write a compelling story.
I won’t reveal the big surprise/twist of the book but I will say that The Seven Husbands, to me, was much more than a love story. It was an examination of our fascination with Hollywood, how quickly we are to judge women and make assumptions about their love lives, and the great depths many public figures have to go in order to keep a “devastating” secret quiet. I also found the relationship between Evelyn and her daughter one of the strongest elements of the book. Don’t get me wrong, the love story is done well too but if I have to confess, I cried more over Evelyn’s daughter than Evelyn’s true love. It would seem that the hype lived up to my expectations and that is why Evelyn Hugo is sitting pretty at number seven.
Read my full review of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/05/the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo-by-taylor-jenkins-reid-review/.
The eighth best book of 2023 goes to Marina Osipova’s The Drau River Flowers to Siberia: The Victims of Victory.
What is it about? In 1945 the Soviet Union was one of the victors in World War Two. It was supposed to be the end of repression, genocide, and tyranny but for those who found themselves under Soviet rule that was far from the truth. Told from the perspective of Anna and Zakhary, two individuals who are labelled as “enemies of the people” for different reasons, we learn about the victims of victory, whose stories have been hushed and silence in the decades after they happened.
Why did I love it? Having studied and written about World War Two for a long time now I have, of course, learned about the many crimes committed by the Soviet Union both before and after the war. Stalin is among one of the worst mass murderers in history and it should come as no surprise that he would continue his reign of terror after peace had been restored in Europe. Yet, despite this fact and the opening of Soviet archives in the late 1980s and 1990s, the stories of people arrested, tortured, and imprisoned after World War Two is surprisingly few and far between. One would be hard pressed to find many books focusing on these crimes, particularly ones focusing on what has been coined “the betrayal of the Cossacks.” Case in point, I only found out about the Cossacks and their betrayal while flipping through some decades old documentary that mentioned the incident in passing. I did a Google search and while you can find a Wikipedia article about it, there aren’t many other sources.
But Ms. Osipova set out to change that. In extraordinary prose, Ms. Osipova weaves together a heart wrenching story about two people who exemplified the victims of Stalin; Anna for the Soviet citizen caught in the crossfires of the Communists and the Fascists, and Zakhary for the person who viewed Stalin as the greater enemy and chose to fight for the Axis forces. While I won’t get into the complexities of their decisions, particularly Zakhary’s, I will say that as the reader I could not help but feel immense pity for them and many, many other real life people who suffered under Stalin. The Victims of Victory is, unsurprisingly, a very difficult book to read but that is no excuse to not pick it up. Writing and teaching about history is about learning from the past and how can we ever expect to learn about it if we refuse to read books like Ms. Osipova’s? It is easier to pick up a historical fiction story in which we know the ending is happy but it’s just as important to read the difficult stories as well. And that is why I have selected this historical fiction for the number eight spot.
Read my full review of The Drau River Flowers to Siberia: The Victims of Victory at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/09/the-drau-river-flows-to-siberia-the-victims-of-victory-by-marina-osipova-review/.
In at #9 for best books of 2023 is The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz.
What is it about? Alex is suffering a bad case of writer’s block (honestly relatable), compounded by the loss of her good friend, Wren, over a year ago. She seems destined to never become a critically acclaimed writer and instead have a by the numbers office job. That is until she gets the opportunity to participate in a month long writing retreat, hosted by no other than Alex’s favorite author, Roza Vallo. Only catch? Wren is going to be there too. Bummer, but Alex isn’t about to let Wren get in the way of her writing dreams. Joined by three fellow female writers, Alex settles in to Roza’s routine and attempts to handle her eccentric personality. But when one of the fellow writers go missing and questions begin to emerge about Roza and the true intentions of the retreat, Alex begins to realize that writer’s block and the loss of a best friend aren’t her biggest issues; it’s getting out alive.
Why did I love it? Books about writers and the writing process are not necessarily new ideas but Ms. Bartz manages to bring something new and fresh to the idea. Stress and tension can bring out the worst in people and boy does Ms. Bartz take that thought and run with it. This is a thriller in every sense of the word and once one of our supporting characters go missing it is a nonstop thrill ride.
As I mentioned in my original review if I didn’t work a full time job I would have finished this book in one setting. Just get me a glass of wine and a warm blanket and I’m ready to go. It’s the perfect book to pick up on a cold winter night, especially if it’s snowing. Soon, you too will begin to feel the claustrophobia that Alex and the other women are experiencing. Though I initially gave this book 4.5 stars because of the ending, it is a story I haven’t stopped thinking about and that is why it is on my list. Books that keep you thinking about it long after the story ends are keepers and I suspect I’ll be thinking about The Writing Retreat for quite some time.
For my full review of The Writing Retreat: https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/12/the-writing-retreat-by-julia-bartz-review/
In at #10 on my best books of 2023 is The Undercover Secretary by Ellie Midwood.
What is it about? Based on the incredible true story of Dora Schaul, The Undercover Secretary follows Dora who has lost everything to the Nazis and is set on settling the score. Joining the underground resistance, Dora takes on a new persona to land a position as secretary to Occupied France’s most sinister Nazi official, Klaus Barbie. As Dora attempts to play the part of perfect Nazi secretary she must also keep her identity and true intentions a secret because if she is discovered she is all on her own.
Why did I love it? Does Ellie Midwood ever miss? I’m not sure and her recent trend of telling true stories about people who lived during World War Two is an exciting development. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good fictional story by Ms. Midwood but often times, as I have learned myself, the real stories can be just as compelling and shocking as the fictional ones. Dora’s story fits that bill to a tea. She’s Jewish so her life is already at risk but what does she do? Takes a job that lands her right in the middle of the lion’s den and in one of the most terrifying ones (anyone remember Liberation in The Indigo Rebels by Ms. Midwood in which we got to really know Mr. Barbie? Yeah, I’m still scared too).
The Undercover Story is a short read but it doesn’t feel like that, and I mean that in all the best ways. From the first pages we are on the run with Dora, a typical Ms. Midwood character that doesn’t take anyone’s crap and is more courageous than I think I ever could be! And that’s the greatest strength of this novel. Ms. Midwood manages to create a character that we can cheer for but also someone who is human, who makes mistakes and has opinions that everyone might not agree with. Nonetheless, there is no denying that Dora is a great character that you end up caring about and hoping to the very end that she makes it out alright.
Read my full review of The Undercover Story: https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/05/the-undercover-secretary-by-ellie-midwood-review/
Let’s kick off the best books of 2023 with my three honorable mentions; Lovely War by Julie Berry, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden, and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.
What are they about? All three books are uniquely different yet compelling in their own rights. Lovely War is a mixture of historical fiction and romance, all told from the perspective of the Greek god of love. Cool, right? Not only does the book have a unique framing device but it also attempts to answer the question of why do people fall in love during wartime? Set during World War One, we follow two different couples who fall in love in impossible situations.
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall is a debut novel by Ms. Lumsden that takes place in Victorian England. When her husband dies, Margaret is forced to accept a governess job at an isolated estate where a single mother lives with her young son. It doesn’t take Margaret long to realize that something isn’t right; the townspeople whisper horrible things about Mrs. Eversham, the estate is supposedly haunted, and Mrs. Eversham’s daughter seems to have died in mysterious circumstances. Margaret is willing to toss these musings up to malicious rumors but could it possibly be true?
In this fairly short novel by Gillian Flynn, Dark Places follows Libby Day, the sole survivor of the Day Family Massacres in which her mother and two sisters were brutally murdered by Libby’s brother. Short on money, Libby accepts a proposition by a group of true crime enthusiasts to interview key members from the investigation in a vain attempt to show that Libby’s brother didn’t commit the murders. Switching between Libby’s perspective and that of her mother and brother on the day of the murder, we get a thrilling tale of family secrets and places too dark to explore.
Why did I love them? I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for romance, especially ones set during wartime. I’ve basically made a writing career out of it. So naturally I would pick up Lovely War. Though the book starts off rather formulaic in the beginning, by the time we get to the trenches I was fully engulfed in the story. Ms. Berry’s desire to answer the question of why people fall in love during wartime is the overall theme of the book and it does do a fairly thorough job of answering that question. Ultimately, this is a beautiful love story that pulls at your heartstrings.
Do you ever go into a book with low expectations? Perhaps it’s because you have heard nothing about the book or author but figure hey, it’s on clearance for a good price, why not give it a shot? That would describe my journey with The Secrets of Hartwood Hall. I had heard absolutely nothing about this book but the title, cover, and summary caught my attention and, added bonus, it was on clearance at Barnes & Noble. I’m very thankful that I did give the book a chance as it was an excellent debut. Ms. Lumsden truly captured the gothic themes and atmosphere, reading very much like a Victorian novel like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights.
Having read Gone Girl, I knew a novel by Ms. Flynn would carry plenty of twists and turns with a shocking ending at the ending. Dark Places delivers in these arenas, weaving together a story that could have been very formulaic and unaspiring. The strength of this novel lies with the characters, all of whom have their own strengths and weaknesses. Libby in particular is the not the typical heroine, she is flawed, ordinary, and surprisingly relatable. But that plays to the advantage of the novel as the reader is not quite sure who is innocent and who is guilty.
Read my full reviews of these books below.
Lovely War: https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/11/lovely-war-by-julie-berry-review/
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall: https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/10/the-secrets-of-hartwood-hall-by-katie-lumsden-review/
Dark Places: https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2023/08/dark-places-by-gillian-flynn-review/
Can you believe 2023 is already at an end?
In some ways it feels like we were just ringing in the year and in other ways it feels like 2023 has lasted A LONG TIME. Speaking personally, it feels already like a lifetime ago that I graduated with my Master’s degree (it actually happened in May) and has it really been that long ago since I published Infiltration?*
But there are some positives to it being the end of the year. The holidays (duh!), end of the year sales (#yesss), time off from work (about time), spending time with family & friends (always something to look forward to), and best books of the year lists! Yes, now is the time of the year where every book blogger, YouTuber, and self proclaimed book addict shares with the world their favorite books they read in the year and I’m hear to kick off mine.
If you’ve been following me for a while (and if you are new, welcome!) you will know I did this for the first time last year. It was before I had the website so they were all posted on Facebook (link: https://www.facebook.com/RachelRHeil) and I had a lot of fun sharing my selections with you. So, here we are again!
What is my criteria for a book to be in my top 10 books of the year? Here’s how I broke it down.
- I have to have read the book between December 15, 2022 and December 15, 2023. Since I have to plan these lists a bit in advance, my book year dates run a little different than the calendar year.
- Has to be a book I read for the first time in 2023. Any re-reads are not included.
- Book does not have to be published in 2023, just have to be read this year.
In addition to the top 10, I have also selected three books as honorable mentions. Those mentions will kick off the list tomorrow followed by one book being announced everyday until the last day of 2023. Any bets on what my favorite book the year will be? Check in every day to see if your predication is right and make sure to share in the comments below your favorite reads!
Finally, I want to thank all of you for your love and support! This website and my books wouldn’t exist without you! I hope 2023 was good to you and that 2024 will be even better. Happy holidays!
*And if you are screaming yes to that last question, don’t worry. My next book will be traveling to the editor very soon! Make sure you are signed up for the newsletter to get an exclusive sneak peek!
