HomeBest OfBest Books of 2023

By Year • 2026 Edition

Best Books of 2023

Looking back at 2023's finest. The books readers could not stop talking about.

25
Books
13,248
Total Pages
3.0/5
Avg Spice
#1
Fourth Wing cover

Fourth Wing

by Rebecca Yarros

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 517p ★ 4.58
RomantasyDragon FantasyNew Adult Fantasy

A action-packed, romantic tension New Adult romantasy built around enemies to lovers, forbidden love, war academy. 517 pages with a moderate to high-heat romance and a Cliffhanger conclusion.

#2
The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King cover

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King

by Carissa Broadbent

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 544p ★ 4.49
Romantasy

A dark, epic Adult romantasy built around war, established couple, vampire. 544 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#3
Light Bringer cover

Light Bringer

by Pierce Brown

🌶️ 1/5 672p ★ 4.46
Science Fiction

A epic, action-packed Adult science fiction built around war, heroism, space battles. 672 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

#4
God of Fury cover

God of Fury

by Rina Kent

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 416p ★ 4.44
Dark RomanceLGBTQ+

A dark, intense Adult dark romance built around mm romance, enemies to lovers, secret society. 416 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#5
Children of Fallen Gods cover

Children of Fallen Gods

by Carissa Broadbent

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 576p ★ 4.44
Romantasy

A dark, romantic Adult romantasy built around war, forbidden love, magic tournament. 576 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#6
The Will of the Many cover

The Will of the Many

by James Islington

❄️ 0/5 608p ★ 4.42
FantasyPolitical Fantasy

A intense, political Adult fantasy built around hidden identity, political intrigue, magic academy. 608 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

#7
Tress of the Emerald Sea cover

Tress of the Emerald Sea

by Brandon Sanderson

❄️ 0/5 480p ★ 4.41
FantasyFairy TaleAdventure

A whimsical, adventurous Adult fantasy built around princess bride vibes, quest, unreliable narrator. 480 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

#8
The Crown of Oaths and Curses cover

The Crown of Oaths and Curses

by J. Bree

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 576p ★ 4.39
RomantasyReverse Harem

A dark, steamy Adult romantasy built around reverse harem, fae, war. 576 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#9
The Endless War cover

The Endless War

by Danielle L. Jensen

🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 520p ★ 4.35
Romantasy

A epic, romantic Adult romantasy built around war, multi-couple, resolution. 520 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#10
A Soul of Ash and Blood cover

A Soul of Ash and Blood

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 704p ★ 4.35
RomantasyFantasy

A romantic, dark Adult romantasy built around dual pov retelling, fated mates, war. 704 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#11
Chain of Thorns cover

Chain of Thorns

by Cassandra Clare

🌶️ 1/5 752p ★ 4.35
YA Fantasy

A epic, romantic Young Adult ya fantasy built around final battle, sacrifice, romance. 752 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

#12
Iron Flame cover

Iron Flame

by Rebecca Yarros

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 623p ★ 4.35
RomantasyDragon FantasyNew Adult Fantasy

A dark & intense, action-packed New Adult romantasy built around established couple, forbidden love, secrets & betrayal. 623 pages with a moderate to high-heat romance and a Cliffhanger conclusion.

#13
Heat of the Everflame cover

Heat of the Everflame

by Penn Cole

🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 608p ★ 4.35
Romantasy

A romantic, dark Adult romantasy built around war, forbidden love, hidden power. 608 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#14
Labyrinth's Heart cover

Labyrinth's Heart

by M.A. Carrick

🌶️ 1/5 752p ★ 4.35
Fantasy

A epic, satisfying Adult fantasy built around final con, war, romance. 752 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

#15
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter cover

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

by Brandon Sanderson

❄️ 0/5 480p ★ 4.32
FantasyRomanceCosmere

A romantic, atmospheric Adult fantasy built around body swap, cultural clash, slow burn. 480 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

#16
A Power Unbound cover

A Power Unbound

by Freya Marske

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 384p ★ 4.29
Historical FantasyRomanceLGBTQ+

A romantic, atmospheric Adult historical fantasy built around enemies to lovers, magic, lgbtq+. 384 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#17
Things We Left Behind cover

Things We Left Behind

by Lucy Score

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 624p ★ 4.29
Contemporary RomanceSmall Town

A steamy, angsty Adult contemporary romance built around enemies to lovers, childhood rivals, small town. 624 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#18
Yours Truly cover

Yours Truly

by Abby Jimenez

🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 416p ★ 4.29
contemporary-romancehospital-romanceenemies-to-lovers

A sweet, emotional adult contemporary-romance built around enemies-to-lovers, fake-marriage, workplace-romance. 416 pages with a moderate to high-heat romance and a happily-ever-after conclusion.

#19
Caliginous cover

Caliginous

by Callie Hart

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 500p ★ 4.28
Dark RomanceFantasy

A dark, steamy Adult dark romance built around war, enemies to lovers, dark fae. 500 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#20
King of Greed cover

King of Greed

by Ana Huang

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 400p ★ 4.26
Contemporary RomanceBillionaire

A emotional, steamy Adult contemporary romance built around second chance, marriage crisis, groveling. 400 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#21
God of Malice cover

God of Malice

by Rina Kent

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 400p ★ 4.22
Dark Romance

A dark, steamy Adult dark romance built around secret society, dark hero, captive. 400 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#22
The Graham Effect cover

The Graham Effect

by Elle Kennedy

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 480p ★ 4.2
Sports RomanceNew Adult

A steamy, fun Adult sports romance built around rivals, hockey, coach's daughter. 480 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#23
He Who Drowned the World cover

He Who Drowned the World

by Shelley Parker-Chan

🌶️🌶️ 2/5 480p ★ 4.2
Historical FantasyDark FantasyLGBTQ+

The devastating conclusion — Zhu and Ouyang clash for control of an empire, sacrificing everything they love for power. 480 pages of ruthless ambition.

#24
God of Wrath cover

God of Wrath

by Rina Kent

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 384p ★ 4.19
Dark Romance

A dark, intense Adult dark romance built around captive, enemies to lovers, dark hero. 384 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

#25
Bookshops & Bonedust cover

Bookshops & Bonedust

by Travis Baldree

❄️ 0/5 352p ★ 4.19
Cozy FantasySlice of Life

A cozy prequel to Legends & Lattes — a young barbarian discovers the magic of books and community while recovering from an injury. 352 pages of pure comfort.

How these profiles are built

Every Sort By Cravings profile is written after a full read-through — not scraped from publisher blurbs. We cross-reference BookTok discussions, Goodreads reviews, and 500+ reader reactions before publishing any mood tag, spice rating, or compatibility note. Read our editorial standards.

FAQ

Best Books of 2023 Questions

This curated list features 25 books, totaling 13,248 pages. Every book has been read and rated by our team.

Rankings are based on our read-through ratings, reader community feedback, and how well each book delivers on the promise of its genre and mood. We cross-reference BookTok discussions and Goodreads data.

The average spice level across this list is 3.0/5. Individual books range from clean to scorching — check each book's spice rating for details.

We update our best-of lists quarterly to include new releases and adjust rankings based on ongoing reader feedback and our own re-reads.

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