The books everyone is talking about in 2023

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder Kerryn Mayne

‘Loveable’, ‘humourous’, and ‘unlike anything you’ve read before’ – these are just a few of the many praiseworthy words that have been used to describe Kerryn Mayne’s debut novel, Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder.

Touching on a serious subject in a lighthearted way, this book strikes the perfect balance between intrigue and entertainment.

‘With Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder, Kerryn Mayne makes a very grand entrance into the Australian literary scene,’ said fellow author Sally Hepworth. ‘With humour, heart and characters you come to love, this is a book you will devour now, and keep thinking about later. Hard to believe it’s a debut! I can’t wait to see what this new Aussie talent comes up with next.'

Pineapple Street Jenny Jackson

What do you get when you combine the vibe of Gossip Girl with the writing acumen of a longtime editor? The result is an unputdownable read, lush with descriptions of the lives of New York’s most wealthy residents. As the story develops, the growing tension between the old and new generations adds depth and substance to the glitz and glamour.

Dubbed ‘A lovely, absorbing, acutely observed novel about class, money and love' by Nick Hornby, this one is a must-read for 2023.

Hello Beautiful Ann Napolitano

Hello Beautiful has been so widely loved that Oprah even picked it for her milestone 100th book club book. An instant New York Times bestseller, the book follows four sisters from childhood through adulthood with all the joy and tragedy that is accumulated in a lifetime together. Spanning decades, generations and state lines, the sisters must find their way back to the love and loyalty that once bound them.

The book has been called ‘radiant and brilliantly crafted’ by the New York Times; ‘beautiful, perceptive and wistful’ by Miranda Cowley Heller; and Marian Keyes has said of the author, ‘Ann Napolitano’s writing is astonishing.’

Go as a River Shelley Read

In Go as a River, debut author Shelley Read weaves a rich tapestry of nature, motherhood and the choices we make to survive. Set in 1940s Colorado, the book follows Victory Nash, whose life is changed when a young drifter named Wilson Moon passes through town. Displaced from his tribal land, Wil opens Victoria’s eyes to the realities – and dangers – of discrimination. When tragedy strikes and Victoria flees, she is stuck choosing between the path she knows and the one that will change her life forever.

Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry has praised the book saying, ‘Shelley Read's lyrical voice is a force of nature and when she lends it to a woman leading a hardscrabble life in rural Colorado, the result is tragic, uplifting and completely unforgettable.’

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Gabrielle Zevin

From John Green to Jimmy Fallon, everyone has been obsessing over Gabrielle Zevin’s latest book Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. A different kind of love story, the book interrogates work relationships rather than romance. Following young video game creators, the book asks difficult questions about creativity, art and what it means to have a partner for life.

Author Rebecca Serle called it, ‘The sort of book that comes around once in a decade – a magnificent feat of storytelling. It is a book about the intersection between love and friendship, work and vocation, and the impossible and relentless pull of our own west-bound destinies.’

Chain-Gang All-Stars Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

The reviews are in, and Chain-Gang All-Stars is a must-read. From fellow authors to Penguin Random House staff, everyone agrees that this book is one of the best of 2023. Fast-paced, action-packed and full of tough questions, this book is a daring debut that will stick with you for years to come.

Author Jessamine Chan has called it ‘a defiant, awe-inspiring novel that will be read, studied and celebrated for generations’, and we couldn’t agree more.