Brrr, TBR: 10 of the Best Books of Winter 2023

First up is this sapphic YA thriller! At one time, Sunny, Candie, and Mina were headed for superstardom as the hottest new teen pop group. But then Mina died and left behind broken dreams and a lot of unanswered questions. Years later, Sunny discovers Candie is back in town, trying to jump-start her career again. She decides to confront Candie and get the answers she’s been seeking. But the truth might be even more terrifying than she can handle.

Angel knew his new job as a nursing assistant would be challenging and that he’d meet interesting people. But he didn’t know he’d meet a 93-year-old man who claims to have been reincarnated over and over since medieval times. Geno claims to have lived multiple lives and has the stories to prove it. But are his stories just that — stories? Or is Angel in the presence of a miracle?

The third release from Roxane Gay’s imprint is racking up all the starred reviews! It’s a taut, psychological story of friendship and betrayal. Jackie and Theresa have been best friends since they met in the maternity ward over a decade ago. Jackie is trying to change her life to be more like Theresa, who seems to have it all. But an act of betrayal will shatter their seemingly perfect lives and lead to deadly repercussions.

This is the second novel from Nunez since The Friend won the National Book Award for Fiction. It’s about connections between strangers, Gen Z, and a parrot named Eureka. It’s narrated by an unnamed woman and explores our need for company and humor in our lives.

Tracy K. Smith is an acclaimed, award-winning poet and the former poet laureate of the United States. This is her memoir about her heartbreak over the treatment of Black lives in America. Smith examines Black history and her ancestors and details what she thinks can power hope and healing for the future.

This is the long-awaited (and pricey!) memoir of one of the biggest icons of our day. Streisand has been a singer and actress for over six decades and is one of only a few EGOT winners. The star of such hits as Yentl, The Way We Were, The Prince of Tides, Funny Girl, and more promises to tell it all, from her beginnings in Brooklyn to her legendary status today.

The romantic fantasy novel The Fourth Wing was the big runaway hit of 2023. It has over half a million ratings of Goodreads and a 4.66 average, which is unheard of. So, it stands to reason this sequel will be equally as popular. It returns to Basgiath War College, the drama of the dragon riders, and a centuries-old secret.

Michael Cunningham, the award-winning author of The Hours, returns with a timely novel about family and quarantine. Dan and Isabel’s marriage was seemingly on the rocks even before the world shut down because of the pandemic. Now they’re quarantining with their two young children while Isabel’s brother is stranded in Iceland. And when the quarantine lifts, their relationships with each other and themselves will be frayed and broken.

Anthony Veasna So’s story collection Afterparties was published posthumously in 2022 to great acclaim and is now being adapted for television. This is another collection of linked fiction stories, plus memoir essays, all of which are bits of brilliance from a talented life tragically cut short.

And last but not least, the fifth volume of one of the biggest YA sensations of the last several years! Heartstopper is a graphic novel series following two boys in love, which has been turned into a huge Netflix hit, now in its second season. This is the continuing romantic adventures of Nick and Charlie and is sure to make the fans happy.