14 of Our Team’s Latest Book Recommendations
Check out our team’s best book recommendations of 2023!
Calling all bookworms!
Looking to escape reality with a new book? We know the feeling, and it’s why we absolutely love getting lost in a good book. We’ve recently scouted the best team book recommendations for 2023, and the feedback we received is well-rounded enough for every literary adventure you may be seeking.
Here are our team’s top book recommendations of 2023:
1. If you like contemporary literature, read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro $9.89 (list price $17)
“A story of 3 children as they grow up in a secluded private school with a mysterious past. You follow the characters as they grow older, learn their true purpose in attending the school, and the unfortunate events that unfold after as they try to uncover the mysteries surrounding the school and their lives.
It’s beautifully written, has great character development, is atmospheric, and is totally unforgettable!! I’ve reread it so many times!” – Madison, Hip2Save
2. If you like suspenseful thrillers, read The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell $9.40 (list price $17)
Although this novel is not necessarily scary, it will keep you on the edge of your seat! Chelsey Mansion is an estate with a ton of secrets, and when a former orphan receives it as a distant inheritance, those who lived there in the past must return and try to protect their secrets from the house. What exactly happened in this mansion that needs to be protected?
3. If you like problem-solving novels, read Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell $12.73 (list price $18.99)
“This book is really fascinating as it covers ‘snap-thinking’ situations where people make judgments and decisions all in the blink of an eye — hence, the book’s title — and while many would think they’re made without any rationale, there’s a lot more justification to them than one would imagine.
Not really self-helpy like my normal go-to books, but moreso insightful on how your brain and decision-making work. It’s a great recommendation for guys who like to read as it’s my boyfriend’s favorite book (and his favorite author in general).” – Emily, Hip2Save
4. If you like war fiction, read Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams.
Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams $9.47 (list price $16.99)
This story follows Janey, a photographer and war correspondent on a mission. She’s visiting Hawaii with hopes to write a biography on an aviation pioneer who’s been seemingly forgotten from the Spanish Civil War. The plot remains intriguing throughout, with turns and surprises you’d never expect!
5. If you like Sci-Fi, read The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes by Suzanne Collins.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel) $12.74 (list price $27.99)
If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games series, take a trip back in time in this prequel to the tenth annual Hunger Games. We follow a young Coriolanus Snow when he was just 18 years old as a mentor for the Games, and the preparation is not full of the glitz and glam we’ve seen. He’s matched with the humiliating task of mentoring District 12’s female contestant, Lucy.
Despite the dull hometown, Lucy is anything but boring, and, through their unexpected connection, we see the events that lead up to Snow becoming the infamous, and arguably heartless, President Snow we’ve seen him be. This novel was released in 2020, and it has rightfully been met with such praise. It gives you a better understanding of the trilogy and why Panem is the way it is!
6. If you like romance, read It Ends with Us and It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover $10.39 (list price $16.99)
It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover $10.48 (list price $17.99)
If you’ve been on “BookTok” lately, you’ve likely heard of this series, especially since It Starts with Us was just released this year. It follows a woman named Lily who’s rebuilt her life in ways she never thought possible. She builds a life with her husband, Ryle, but, when Lily’s first love Atlas reappears, her new life may be jeopardized. The second book continues right where the first leaves off.
This is actually Collin’s top pick; it’s been taking her just three days to read each Colleen Hoover novel, and these two are her favorites!
7. If you like haunting non-fiction, read The Radium Girls by Kate Moore.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women $11.68 (list price $18.99)
The Radium Girls covers an intense chapter of history where women fought America’s Undark danger during World War I. It covers issues including labor laws based on events that set the scenes for today’s working conditions.
While many of our team book recommendations are meant for adults, there is a young reader edition if you want your little ones to read this captivating novel without any overly haunting descriptions.
“This book is extremely haunting, but it really makes you appreciate modern safety standards and what people in the past have had to go through to have those standards put into place.” – Chelsey, Hip2Save
8. If self-improvement is what you’re seeking, read I Thought It Was Just Me by Brené Brown.
I Thought It Was Just Me $10.59 (list price $18)
There is social pressure in every aspect of our lives. Whether your struggles are internal or societal, you deserve to be validated and feel supported.
This self-help novel alleviates your stress by providing ways to cope with these anxieties in a healthy way that won’t deter your life. It reminds us that we are in control of our own feelings and standards. Most importantly, it covers the differences between guilt versus shame, which is a recurring theme in many Brené Brown publications.
“I am very into self-help/personal growth books and of my all-time favorites is I Thought It Was Just Me by Brené Brown. She is a goddess of the self-help genre and I’ve read a few other titles of hers, but this one got me through a rough time a couple of years ago. I was feeling extreme guilt about some big life decisions which lead to feeling anxious about any actions I made going forward. We ALL are trying to keep up with the daily societal pressures, and this sparked my journey of letting go of those constraints.
I hadn’t picked up a book in a long time prior to that, and it reinvigorated me to buy a few more of her books on Amazon after.” – Emily, Hip2Save
9. If you enjoy historical fiction, read The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.
The Alice Network $7.44 (list price $9.99)
An Amazon editors’ pick, this novel follows two stories that alternate per chapter about two cousins. After World War II, a young woman named Charlie is at odds with her extremely straight-arrow family after she finds out she is pregnant while unmarried in 1947.
While her family is blinded by disappointment, Charlie is more interested in finding her cousin, Rose, who has been missing in Nazi-occupied France. When she gets the boot, she heads to London to find her cousin, but Rose hasn’t been in the same kind of trouble Charlie originally thought.
Reviews mentioned that one story is told in a third-person perspective while the other is in a first-person perspective. Although that may seem tricky, the writer does a beautiful job of writing these two women’s stories clearly and eloquently. Our Hip sidekick Alli said she has not been able to stop thinking about this book since she finished it!
10. If you like thrillers, read The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient $11.69 (list price $17.99)
This novel is one of the most chilling yet incredible stories in the thriller genre. It follows the story of Alicia, an artist who seemingly lived the best life. This was turned upside down when she caused her husband’s death, which resulted in her refusing to speak even when arrested.
Her psychotherapist Theo is determined to crack this case, but his determination turns into an obsession regarding Alicia’s case.
11. If you like light reads, read Magical Midlife Madness by K.F. Breene.
Magical Midlife Madness $12.92 (list price $14.99)
Think of this novel as a coming of age but following a charismatic and hilarious female lead in her forties. After her husband of 20 years leaves and her son moves to college, this lead finds herself looking for a new adventure.
This novel is truly refreshing, light-hearted, and hilarious! It proves that, regardless of age, you can always find new adventures and start over.
“K.F. Breene’s Magical Midlife Madness is a series. It’s not finished yet either, but most of the books have had me literally laughing out loud. It’s a light reading series with a little romance, but they are fun to read when you’re looking for something that isn’t so heavy.” – Chelsey, Hip2Save
12. If you would enjoy a tense and twisty thriller, try In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife $14.05 (list price $26.99)
I recently finished In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead. I must warn you that it’s a slow burn (as I ALMOST let it go) but once it gets going it’s sooo good! 
– Krystal, Hip2Save
13. If you’re looking for a truly unexpected love story, read In Five Years by Rebecca Serle.
In Five Years $10.03 (list price $17)
I HIGHLY recommend In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. It is SO GOOD! I read it in 48 hours! – Bryn, Hip2Save
14. If you’re working on mindfulness, pick up Real Love by Sharon Salzberg.
I’ve branched out of my usual preferences and picked up this book from the Personal Development section over the weekend. It’s AMAZING. Full of mindfulness exercises, real-life situations and solutions, and tips on how to effectively and compassionately communicate with yourself and others. Great for reflection! I can say it’s definitely helped me be more mindful and open to conversations I’d usually stray away from! I’ve had so many moments where I’ve had to set it down and just say “WOW, I didn’t know I was doing that.” It also has more info on meditative practices which I’ve yet to explore, but will hope to try out soon! – Madison, Hip2Save
Looking for more of the best book recommendations of 2023? Check out the Best-Selling Kindle Unlimited eBooks on Amazon!
Always appreciate a good book recommendation. There are some in here I haven’t read – great post!
Yay! Thanks for the sweet feedback! Hope you enjoy these too! 🤗
Thank you for the great recommendations to add to my reading list! I’ve read “The Silent Patient” before and loved it!
You’re welcome, Mary! Glad you found this post helpful! Happy reading! 📚❤️
Thanks for these recommendations! Please consider making this a regular post.
You’re welcome, Charity! I’ll be sure to pass along your suggestion to the team! ❤️
Radium Girls is an amazing book. I didn’t even know there was a prequel to the Hunger Games! Thank you for the recommendations, I will definitely be adding to my wish list.
You’re so welcome, Rachel!! 🥰 Radium Girls was a good book and I just finished It Ends with Us today! Can’t wait to read them all.💕
I read radium girls and was spellbound, there is a movie also; you wont put this book down its that good.
I absolutely love book recommendations!! Some of my favorite authors are Kimberly Belle,Freida McFadden,
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke,Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
And the best thing is I get to read almost all the books for free because my local library gets brand new books each week!! Check out your local libraries. They are a treasure!!
So happy to hear that you’re loving this post, Renee! 🥰 Thanks for sharing your favorite authors, and the tip about libraries! So awesome that yours gets fresh books in weekly! 🙌
Love love love reading Lisa Jewell books & if you like her check out Shari LaPena(Couple Next Door, A Stranger in my house … etc)
Thanks for sharing your book recommendations, Gabbyd! 📚🤗
Any recommendations for a good Christian book or series? Just started reading again since kids are getting older
Hey Ashley! You might check out this link! Hoping that’s helpful! 📖❤️
Karen Kingsbury. Mostly her stand alone and short series books.
The Mitford series by Jan Karon are charming and endearing! First one in the series is called At Home in Mitford, and there are about 1/2 dozen others in the series…..
Or, if you like Christian thrillers or Fantasy, check out Ted Dekker’s books.
It should be noted that It Ends With Us deals heavily with domestic abuse and should be handled with care for readers who may be triggered by that.
Love the recommendation list though!
Thanks, Annie! We sure appreciate you pointing this out. 🥰
OT, but the pie in the first picture is absolutely beautiful!!
I agree with you, Di!!😊
Where are the pjs in #5 from?!
Hey Ava! It looks like that’s a photo from the product page. I did find a similar pair of pants on Amazon here, if you’d like to check those out! Hoping this might be helpful! 💕
If you like The Alice Network, read The Rose Code by the same author. It’s even better (although I absolutely loved both)!
Thanks for sharing your book recommendation, Suzanne! 📖🤗
My favorite reads from this summer have been the Thursday Murder Club series. It took me a little bit to get into the first book, but then I was hooked – sweet, hilarious, and occasionally pretty suspenseful for something set in a retirement village.
How neat! Thanks so much for sharing about the series that you’ve enjoyed, Melie! ❤️📚 Good to know that it took a bit to get in to it, but you ended up really enjoying them! I’ll have to add this to my list to check out! 🤗
Love that you posted book reviews! Keep them coming!!!
Glad you’re enjoying this post, Katie! Thanks so much for the happy feedback! I’ll be sure to pass this along to the team. 🥰