Book Club Books 2023
Choosing a title for your for your book club discussion is something I’m very familiar with. I’ve been part of a book club since 2012 as I mentioned in this post. There are so many choices that I thought it would be helpful for me to share what I thought would be a useful book club books 2023 list.
Not all of the books will have been released in 2023 but they are fairly recent. My main criteria for selection is that they generate plenty of talking points whilst being a good read.
My first inclusion is ‘A Heart that Works’ by Rob Delaney, because it’s an unflinching account about the death of a young boy called Henry, and grief is something we all have experience of. Although it’s raw, there’s also plenty of dark humour and I found it an incredibly moving read. There’s plenty to talk about, with love, art and relationships all featuring. Although most book club discussions centre around fiction, I think a well written memoir can be just as involving.
‘The Boy in the striped pyjamas’ was a popular book club pick one the years, and this follow up is a great addition to the book club books 2023 list. ‘All the Broken Places’ by John Boyne picks up where that bestseller left off, following Bruno’s sister Gretel through the post-war years into the modern day. With themes of regret and guilt, the main character will generate different feelings amongst readers, which always makes for a good book club discussion.
Historical fiction is always a popular book club pick, which is why I’m including ‘My father’s house’ by Joseph O’Connor. It’s based on a true story and set in war time Rome, a page turning thriller with a colourful cast. With themes of resilience and courage, compassion, love, and faith, this is an easy pick for the book club books 2023 list.
One of the best book club picks is the title that generates plenty of discussion. With themes such as capital punishment, nature vs nurture, redemption and justice, ‘Notes on an execution’ by Danya Kukafka about a serial killer on death row, is ripe for debate. This will be one of my favourite reads of the year, and definitely deserving of it’s place on the book club books 2023 list.
Sadly we didn't read this for our book club, but some of the other members did and told me how much they enjoyed it. I eventually got around to reading it myself - it’s a long book, so give yourself plenty of time, but there’s so much to talk about here - Demon Copperhead is such a strong narrator, as he experiences poverty, abuse, grief, the foster care system, high school, the opioid crisis, life & love and all the stuff in between. It'll take you as long to discuss this brilliant book as it will to read it.
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It’s hard to beat a page turner that covers some difficult topics, and Strange Sally Diamond is that book. Word of warning - this book features trauma, abuse, violence - it goes to some dark places. Sally is a similar quirky character to another book club ‘favourite’ Eleanor Oliphant and will completely pull you into the narrative. Nature versus Nurture is definitely one subject that will be featuring in your book club discussion.
Crime mysteries aren’t always great choices for book club books because once you’ve talked about how they mystery was solved, there’s not much left to discuss. But throw in desegregation, racial tensions, the lengths parents go to protect their children, community loyalty, and how people can change for the better after learning the harshest of lessons. ‘Small Mercies’ by Dennis Lehane has all that, and then some. The more sensitive flowers of your reading group might want to avoid this one due to the language, but everyone else will enjoy talking about this fierce and utterly authentic tightly plotted thriller.
As the year progresses, I’ll continue to add more picks to the book club books 2023 list. Happy reading and chatting! Have you any favourite reads this year that would make a good book club pick? Let me know below.