The most anticipated books to read in 2023

Prince Harry has been the subject of headlines since he was a child. His memoir, touted by his publisher (Transworld/Penguin Random House UK) as “the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him,” is the perfect book for anyone who has followed his trajectory from a young boy who lost his mother to the proud father and husband he is today.

Release date: January 10, 2023

Even those of us born before the internet (yep!) or smartphones were a thing aren’t immune to the incredibly distracting quality of life we all live right now. Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, invites us to consider how we’ve “developed new habits, expectations, and cultural practices” thanks to technology. But all these time-saving devices have caused a reduced capacity to focus. Rather than give unrealistic tips to de-throne technology, Mark offers strategies to harmonize our relationship with tech and create ways to be productive without an incessant need to multitask.

Release date: January 10, 2023

International bestselling author Natalie Haynes retells the story of Medusa with a much-need feminist flair. Turning the legend of Medusa on its writing, snake-covered head, Haynes paints a picture of a woman who is assaulted by a powerful man (Poseidon) and is blamed for it. A tale as old as time? Sadly, yes. But this version promises to be empowering and enlightening. If you loved Madeline Miller’s Circe, you will love this exciting new novel.

Release date: February 7, 2023

When you’re ready for a thriller that inspires some dark, creative thoughts, pick up this debut novel by Julia Bartz that Publishers Weekly called “an audacious psychological thriller debut.” The plot revolves around an aspiring novelist named Alex, who attends a coveted, month-long writing retreat held at the grand home of feminist horror writer Rosa Vallo. But when one of the other writers in attendance goes missing, Alex begins to suspect real-life horror is afoot.

Release date: February 21, 2023

No matter where your trauma stems from, Tara Schuster, author of “Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies” wants you to know you can do the inner work to heal from it. Penned from a place of true authentic experience, Schuster was sure she was on even footing—healed and repaired from childhood wounds—until the loss of her job sent her into a “panic-attack-doom-spiral” from which she fought her way out. If you want to shake loose of a just-getting-by mentality and get a spectacular life, this book will be your anthem for 2023 and beyond.

Release date: February 28, 2023

This collection of poetry by innovative poet Monica Youn approaches the question Asian Americans constantly face, “Where are you from? No―where are you from from?” As is her signature style, Yuon artfully uses the language of poetry to weave her own identity and address ignorant stereotypes about Asians. If you like to “discover” a new favorite literary genius, pick up this book.

Release date: March 7, 2023

If you’ve binged any of the adaptations of Harlan Coben’s novels on Netflix (The Stranger, Stay Close, Gone for Good) then you probably already have a good idea of how suspenseful his work is. Grab a copy of his latest book in print and binge it before it becomes the next big series. We promise he’s even better on the page than on the screen.

Release date: March 14, 2023

Part memoir, part self-help with inspiration, activities and prompts, wellness author Chrissy King redefines an entire genre of body books by inviting readers to wake up to the reality that diet and fitness industries are rooted in white supremacy. In response to her own realization of this truth, she’s created an actionable book to help radicalize self-worth, self-love and true wellness. We can’t wait for this one to take the world by storm.

Release date: March 14, 2023

Megan Miranda, author of “All the Missing Girls, The Last House Guest” and other New York Times bestsellers, has written another heart-pumping thriller sure to keep you guessing til the last page. The premise? A group of former classmates get together on the tenth anniversary of a tragedy: What could possibly go wrong?

Release date: April 11, 2023

A super luxe art book from Academy-Award winning costume design legend, Ruth E. Carter, who has helped shape the Black story on screen for decades. Not only does Carter discuss her own story and inspiration, but she also shares mood boards and never-before-seen sketches. Readers will even see film stills and behind-the-scenes stories of working with actors like Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, Lupita Nyong’o and many more.

Release date: May 2, 2023

If you like science books, this one is a unique find. An anthropological exploration of seventeen of the perfume industry’s most prized ingredients, including their cultural and historical significance, the cultivation methods, and why we are so obsessed with these scents. From tonka beans to rose oil, the author has traveled the world in pursuit of these ingredients. He’s the head of sourcing at Firmenich, a Swiss company that provides leading perfume brands, including Bulgari and Yves Saint Laurent, with natural fragrances, essences and extracts. You’ll never smell your perfume the same again.

Release date: May 2, 2023

As part of the nonprofit, Project Contrast, activist and photographer Maxwell Poth traveled the U.S. documenting the stories of LGBTQ+ youth. He’s compiled these photos and stories into one moving book featuring 75 queer kids and teenagers from fifteen different states, creating a portrait of what it is really like to be queer in America today.

Release date: May 2, 2023

It’s a tragic fact that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women. But what do we do about this disparity? Author Dr. Monique Rainford offers a hopeful look at just what the issues are and how to repair the damage of the past. Drawing on her own experience both working for more than twenty years in obstetrics and gynecology, she shares the stories and testimonies of Black women who have struggled during their pregnancies along with extensive research. This book not only lays out the problems at hand, but gives a path forward to correct it.

Release date: May 9, 2023

From the author of “Perma Red“, Debra Magpie Earling, comes a novel that rescues the story of Sacajewea from non-Native versions. This is the story of the kidnapping and survival of Sacajewea, centering her as the authority in this harrowing tale of abuse, conflict and triumph. Not only is this one of the most anticipated books of 2023, it brings long-overdue reclamation to storytelling for Native voices everywhere.

Release date: May 23, 2023

From the masterful writer, Isabell Allende, comes another genius work weaving war and immigration, past and present. Set in both Europe in 1938 and the United States in 2019, two different children experience having to leave their home countries. One, a boy fleeing alone on a train to England from Nazi Germany, and the other, a young girl and her mother fleeing danger in El Salvador and seeking refuge in the United States. Allende writes like poetry and this book might be the best read of 2023.

Release date: June 6, 2023

Irish writer, Nicole Flattery, has reinvented the coming-of-age novel with her teenage protagonist, Mae, who gets hired as a typist for Andy Warhol’s Factory in 1960s America. Tasked with transcribing Warhol’s conversation with his famous friends, Mae quickly becomes obsessed with the stories and numb to her own life.

Release date: July 11, 2023