Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Since it’s absolutely impossible to pick a favourite book of the year when you’ve read around 250 books, I went with a top 23 of 2023!
I mostly read contemporary romance, so these all fall under that category.
Caught Up by Liz Tomforde
I’m completely obsessed with this book. I was so incredibly invested in both Miller & Kai, I loved their dynamic and their individual healing journies.
Caught Up is book 3 in the Windy City series, and is a romance between single dad & pro baseball player Kai & his nanny, Miller, a pastry chef who happens to be his coach’s daughter.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
The Right Move by Liz Tomforde
I LOVE a roommates romance! Throw in fake dating & sports, and I’m super happy.
The Right Move is a grumpy sunshine/forced proximity romance between flight attendant Indy Ivers & her best friend’s brother, pro basketball player Ryan Shay.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
The Space Between by Sarah Ready
This was an incredibly emotional journey that sucked me in from the first pages! I tandem read this one on ebook and audio, and Sarah Ready is incredible at choosing her narrators.
The Space Between is a book about soulmates from different worlds finding their way back to each other, while so many forces are tearing them apart.
Because of Us by Nina Arada
I read this one in January 2023 and it’s still on my mind.
Because of Us is a second chance romance between Josie & her brother’s best friend, Wes. Told through dual timeline, we see what broke them apart, and how they find their way back to each other.
Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young
Mattheus Tito-Jones is probably my top book boyfriend of the year. He’s incredibly sweet, just an all-around good guy. Lane is super relatable to me as well, and the anxiety rep is spot on.
Next to You is book 2 in the Next series (following Next of Kin), and is a friends to lovers, opposites attract romance.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently only on pre-order since new covers are coming!)
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
I’ve loved mixing it up a bit this year with sci-fi elements/magical realism in some books.
The Seven Year Slip is about a magical apartment where inhabitants can slip 7 years in the past or future. This is a beautiful forced proximity time travel romance.
Some Kind of Blunderful by Livy Hart
This was my first Livy Hart book, and definitely won’t be my last! I can’t wait to read more from her in 2024. I was smiling throughout this entire book.
Mia & Alex are enemies(ish) who end up in a forbidden, secret relationship, where they really don’t WANT to like each other, but can’t help it!
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
When I finished reading this one, I declared it my favorite Christina Lauren book – I’m not sure if it’s because it’s my most recent, but it’s definitely in my top 5! They are my absolute favorite duo, and I really loved this one.
Both Fizzy & Connor are loveable characters, though total opposites, who fall for each other slowly with the BEST chemistry! They have complete open and honest communication which is super refreshing.
Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score
This is my favorite Lucy Score book I’ve read so far! I found the characters super relatable in that even though they are in their late 30s, they (and I) really have no clue how to really be an adult 😂.
Marley returns to her hometown and gets a job teaching & coaching at the local high school, and reconnects with Jake, fellow teacher & coach who broke her heart as teens.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
This was probably my most surprising read of the year! I grabbed an arc off NetGalley based on the cover alone, and the story completely blew me away. It’s shocking that this was a debut for Julie Soto, and I can’t wait to get my hands on her 2024 release.
Forget Me Not is a second chance romance between sunshiney wedding planner Ama & grumpy florist Elliot, who are forced into proximity by working together on a celebrity wedding.
Powerless by Elsie Silver
I think everyone has a different fav in Chestnut Springs, and this is mine. I’m definitely a sucker for childhood friends to lovers, which I think is what pushes this one to the top spot for me. The entire series has been 5 star reads, so I highly recommend them all!
Powerless is a spicy, childhood friends to lovers between hockey player Jasper & ballerina Sloane, where they head on out on a road trip and finally give in to their feelings for one another.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
Their Freefall at Last by Julie Olivia
I’m honestly emotional while typing this, as this book tore me apart and (thankfully) put me back together!
This is book 4 in the Honeywood series, and really shouldn’t be read as a standalone. We get bits and pieces of Ruby & Bennett in the previous books, and in this one we finally get these best friends to become so much more.
Links:
Review of Their Freefall at Last
Review of the Honeywood series
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
Roommates is one of my absolute favorite tropes, and this book made me so happy! I related a lot to Tara, and was rooting for her to get her happily ever after.
Exes and O’s is a forced proximity, slow burn, friends to lovers romance between nure/bookstagrammer Tara & firefighter & reformed playboy Trevor.
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
I’m currently doing a reread of this one on audiobook as I write this, and it’s reminding me why this book is on this list.
This is a really special one. Don’t let “accidental pregnancy” deter you, it’s done in such an incredibly beautiful way.
Wyn & Bo meet at a Halloween party, and after the most phenomenal night of their lives, end up having a baby together. They are one of the sweetest couples I’ve ever read, as they navigate this huge change in their lives.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer
I knew from the first chapter that this one would be a fav for me.
The history & chemistry between Rory and Hazel was PERFECTION. I loved how he had been pining for her since FOREVER, and how cute and patient he was.
The Fake Out is a fake dating, he falls first romance between pro hockey player Rory and physiotherapist & yoga teacher, Hazel.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
Play with Me by Becka Mack
Garrett Anderson is another top tier book boyfriend for me, and I absolutely adored Jennie too!
This is book 2 in the Playing for Keeps series, and I’d definitely read book 1 (Consider Me) first.
Jennie is Carter’s (from Consider Me) little sister, and Garrett is his (hockey) teammate and best friend. They become neighbors, which leads to a friends with benefits situation, which leads to so much more.
A Long Time Coming by Meghan Quinn
Book 3 in the Cane brothers series, and my absolute favorite – possibly my favorite Meghan Quinn I’ve read so far!
Breaker Cane is amazing, a humble billionaire and the perfect best friend for Lia. They meet in college and have an incredible dynamic. Lia being engaged to someone else is the catalyst they need to realize how much more they mean to one another.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
I’m torn whether this or book 1 (Lovelight Farms) is my favorite in the series – I love both so much!
In Mixed Signals, Caleb has had a crush on Layla for forever, finding excuses to frequently visit her bakery to see her. They end up sorta fake dating – or more like temporarily dating – which slowly turns into more.
Caught on Camera by Chelsea Curto
Shawn Holmes sets such a high standard for fictional men! This is one of my favorite best friends to lovers stories I’ve ever read. Something I loved about it was that they their feelings developed during the story, instead of one pining secretly for the other – they just naturally fell in love with the person that was perfect for them.
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
Tempting the Player by Rebecca Jenshak
This one is book 4 in the Campus Wallflowers series, which I highly recommend – it’s a lot of fun! College sports romances where the mmc is an athlete and the fmc is somewhat of a shy wallflower.
This one is my favorite mostly because I was waiting for Jane’s story, and also because Hendrick is the sweetest protective mmc. His brothers as side characters are such a fun addition to the story!
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
First Down by Grace Reilly
Bex needs someone to help her get rid of her pushy ex (by fake dating), and James desperately needs a tutor to pass his writing class. Neither is looking for a relationship, since their main focus is on their goals – without distractions. Obviously, they quickly become that for one another, as their chemistry is undeniable.
First Down is book 1 in the Beyond the Play series, and I’ve loved the rest too!
Links:
Full Review
Goodreads
Amazon (currently available on KU)
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
Gahhh Best friends to lovers is such an auto-buy trope for me!
I love the dynamic and mutual pining between Bree & Nathan.
Yes, another fake dating sports romance – but it’s just so so good! The mental health rep is so well portrayed, showing behind the scenes of panic attacks.
The Love Wager by Lynn Painter
This book had me smiling throughout the whole story! I LOVE texting banter, and Lynn Painter is seriously the banter queen.
Also, Jack & Hallie are one of my favorite couples ever. After a one night stand, they reconnect and become best friends, and support each other in their quests to find “the one.” But duh, they’re obviously meant to be!
Links:
Did you enjoy this list? Let me know in the comments & pin the image to save for later! 📌
