We may not be able to predict everything the near year will bring. But based on 2023’s new book releases, we have a feeling we’ll be reading all year long.Below, we’re highlighting just a few of the new books coming out in 2023 that you may want to check out.
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Sadie Montgomery’s life takes an unexpected turn when she goes from celebrating her achievement as a finalist in a prestigious art competition to waking up in a hospital bed, diagnosed with face blindness, a condition that turns every face into a confusing puzzle of disconnected features. Navigating her new reality becomes a struggle as she tries to maintain her artistic dream, resolve family issues, and care for her beloved dog, Peanut. Amidst it all, Sadie finds herself entangled in a complicated web of emotions, torn between two very different men. With her life feeling out of focus, Sadie longs for clarity, yet she discovers that sometimes the best discoveries happen when we least expect them.
As she grapples with her situation, she realizes that alternative perspectives and unexpected encounters can shed new light on her journey, offering different ways of seeing and understanding her world. Katherine Center does it again! She delivers a warm-hearted lighter read with substance. She doesn’t shy away from dealing with tough issues, but does so with a light hand.
Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Chandler Cohen, feeling like the invisible presence of a “ghostwriter,” experiences an unsettling moment when the author of a book she wrote fails to recognize her at a signing. However, her fortunes seem to change when she meets a captivating man at the bar, and an immediate connection sparks between them. Unfortunately, their sexual tension culminates in a remarkably awkward hookup, leading Chandler to believe that erasing this night from memory is for the best. Yet, letting go proves challenging. Fate throws her into a new project: ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor famous for his role as a lovable nerd on a werewolf TV series and now touring fan conventions.
However, Chandler knows him better from their comically disastrous one-night stand. Determined to maintain professionalism, she confesses to Finn that their encounter was not as extraordinary as he believed, leaving him distraught. Intrigued by him, Chandler strikes a deal: she will teach Finn the art of satisfaction when they’re not working on his book. As their bond deepens both inside and outside the bedroom, they must navigate the delicate balance between business and pleasure, discovering if it’s possible to have both.
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
Ama Torres is a passionate wedding planner who adores weddings but has sworn off marriage due to her mother’s multiple failed marriages. As a small business owner, she excels at matching clients with the perfect vendors to create their dream weddings. Elliot, on the other hand, reluctantly inherited his father’s flower shop and dislikes his profession. His proposal to Ama two years ago left their relationship complicated. However, as time passed, he grew fond of both flowers and Ama. When Ama is hired to plan a high-profile celebrity wedding, she discovers that Elliot is already contracted as the florist.
The situation becomes even more chaotic as the two brides, unaware of Ama and Elliot’s complicated history, try to play matchmakers. To make matters worse, their past and present collide with a meddling ex-boss and a reality TV crew documenting the wedding preparations, jeopardizing not only their hearts but also their livelihoods. This is one of the most highly anticipated romance novels of 2023, and it definitely lives up to the hype! The passion, blooming romance, and heartbreaking love story of Ama and Elliott caught all off guard.
The St. Ambrose School for Girls by Jessica Ward
In this thrilling coming-of-age novel set in a boarding school, Sarah Taylor’s arrival at St. Ambrose School brings with it a host of secrets and danger. With shades of Heathers and The Secret History, Sarah navigates the treacherous world of the school, targeted by the popular and cruel Greta Stanhope. Finding solace in her roommate Strots and the captivating RA Nick Hollis, Sarah must withstand Greta’s relentless pranks while dealing with her own bipolar diagnosis. As scandal and death rock the school, Sarah’s resilience is put to the test, leading to a riveting and unforgettable tale that lingers even after the final page is turned.
The Silent Bride by Shalini Boland
In this chilling tale by the bestselling author of The Secret Mother, Alice’s dream wedding turns into a horrifying nightmare when she doesn’t recognize the man waiting for her at the altar. Despite everyone’s insistence, including her own parents, that he is her fiancé Seth, Alice becomes panicked as she realizes all traces of the real Seth have vanished. Determined to find the truth and escape the nightmarish situation, Alice embarks on a quest to uncover the whereabouts of her true love, while facing the challenge of convincing those around her of the imposter’s deceit.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
In this captivating novel by the bestselling author of The Dead Romantics, a book publicist named Clementine strives to protect her heart by staying busy, working hard, and searching for genuine love. However, her carefully constructed plan is thrown into disarray when she encounters a charming man in her late aunt’s apartment—a man who exists seven years in the past. Despite the undeniable connection between them, Clementine knows that succumbing to love would defy the laws of time. This witty and insightful story explores the complexities of love and the delicate balance between fate and timing.
Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie
In this gripping and timely novel, bestselling author of Please Join Us introduces us to three women harboring dark secrets, whose lives intertwine in the captivating and treacherous landscape of Yosemite National Park. Cassie Peters, armed with a burner phone and a fresh start, leaves behind her enigmatic life in New York City to return to her hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California. Resuming her work with Yosemite Search and Rescue, Cassie is haunted by a past case. As she falls back into familiar routines, she encounters Petal, a young woman documenting park activities in her trailer, and Jada, a college graduate chronicling her cross-country journey on Instagram. When their paths converge, Cassie’s hidden history catches up with her, unleashing shocking consequences that surpass all expectations in this riveting thriller.
Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
In Banyan Moon, Ann Tran’s life takes a dramatic turn when she receives news of her grandmother Minh’s death. Already at a crossroads, Ann’s seemingly perfect life crumbles when she discovers she is pregnant. Forced to confront her estranged mother, Huơng, Ann returns home to Florida. As they mourn Minh’s loss, they discover that they have both inherited the Banyan House, Ann’s childhood home. Living under the same roof for the first time in years, Ann and Huơng must grapple with their past and uncertain futures while rebuilding their relationship. Meanwhile, Minh’s story unfolds, depicting her journey from Vietnam to America and the secrets hidden within the Banyan House. Spanning decades and continents, Banyan Moon explores the complex bonds between mothers and daughters and the impact of our choices on future generations.
Crimson River by Devney Perry
Lyla Eden, consumed by her work and witnessing her siblings’ love stories unfold, is thrust out of her comfort zone when her sister stages an intervention and forces her out of her coffee shop. With nowhere else to go, Lyla embarks on her beloved hiking trail, where she encounters a man washing blood off his hands. Suddenly, he has her in his grip, but unexpectedly releases her. Disturbed by the encounter, Lyla reports it to the local police, leading to the arrival of Vance Sutter, a ruggedly handsome yet enigmatic investigator. Despite his fleeting presence in Quincy, Lyla finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. Vance, unable to resist the undeniable chemistry between them, realizes that Lyla holds the key to solving a case that has plagued his career. Determined, they join forces to retrace her steps and locate the scarred man they encountered by the crimson river.
What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman
In a chilling tale set in a prestigious DC suburb, “Desperate Housewives” meets “The Couple Next Door.” Alexis and Sam, a hopeful couple expecting their second child, are thrilled when they purchase a neglected Cape Cod house. Their seemingly idyllic neighborhood is shattered when their neighbor, Teddy, a successful father of three, is found dead. As the police struggle to solve the murder, tensions rise, and buried secrets come to light. Amid the chaos, Alexis forms a close bond with Blair, Teddy’s captivating widow, but the unraveling truth forces both women to question their friendship and the lengths they’ll go to protect their carefully constructed lives.
