Brazen Bibliophage

While glancing over the books I read in 2023, I noticed several fantastic reads that I didn’t hear enough about. Here’s my list of underrated books first published in 2023.

The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis

Connie Willis is one of my auto-buy authors. I will read anything she writes, no matter how many pages it is. I’m not into aliens, Roswell, or UFOs, yet I devoured this hilarious rom-com featuring a tumbleweed alien and an alien-themed wedding (what else would one be doing in Roswell?).

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Alix E. Harrow has become an auto-buy author. Her novels are terrifying, moving, and uncanny. Starling House is no exception. It centers around a haunted house in the small town of Eden, which is held captive by a corporation that sickens Eden’s people by working them to death and poisoning the environment. No one does gothic peculiarity quite like Alix E. Harrow.

A History of Burning by Janika Oza

I vaguely recall receiving a NetGalley recommendation for this book from a publishing rep. I liked the cover and the title, so I scooped up the egalley. As the publication date loomed, I read the synopsis and thought, This isn’t a book for me. I opened it, started reading anyway, and was immediately absorbed in world history I knew next to nothing about. A brutal act of survival in India in 1898 sets off a series of events that spans four continents and centuries. I was captivated by the historical events and the characters’ experiences and by the characters and their stories and journeys. If you enjoy family sagas, you must read this book.

The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye

Strong female protagonist alert! Victoria Swann writes wildly popular romance novels in Gilded Age Boston. The women’s rights movement is in full swing, and Victoria has delved into the foray. She’ll take on shitty men and the literary establishment, revising her life and her writing in the process. This one is for those who love books, reading, writing, feminism, and women who work through hardships without lionizing them after the fact.

The Future by Naomi Alderman

A secret group of friends mastermind a heist to take down tech giants in this near-future dystopia from the author of The Power. Alderman tells the story from multiple viewpoints, including that of one who isn’t privy to the plot to save the world from greedy, controlling tech bros. You won’t want to put this one down.

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

Murder and romance on Jupiter! This is a brilliant, cozy mystery infused with science, technology, and humanity. It’s the first in the Mossa & Pleiti series. The next comes out in February, so it’s a great time to join Mossa and Pleiti on Jupiter.

The Wellness Trap by Christy Harrison

I previously featured this book, so I won’t rehash why you need to read it. Suffice it to say that I saw zero press about this book and haven’t seen anyone else raving about it. Just go read it.