Here are all of our featured bookshelf 2023 book releases. All of our featured books are in one spot for your convenience. Remember, in accordance with Bookish Brews’ mission, all books on our featured bookshelf will be diverse books to help you decolonize your bookshelf with me. If you want to see the current featured books, you can find them on Bookish Brews Featured Bookshelf. If you want to find even more archives, check out our archive:
Table of Contents
January
A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar
Adiba Jaigirdar, author of one of Time‘s Best YA books of all time, gives Titanic an Ocean’s 8 makeover in a heist for a treasure aboard the infamous ship that sank in the Atlantic many years ago.
February
Liar, Dreamer, Thief by Maria Dong
Read Bookish Brews' full review of Liar, Dreamer, Thief
A gripping page-turner, as well as a sensitive exploration of mental health, Liar, Dreamer, Thief is an intimate portrayal of life in all its complexities—and the dangers inherent in unveiling people’s most closely guarded secrets.
March
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
A house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.
April
Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai
Read my interview with Mia Tsai about Fantasy Worldbuilding
In this xianxia-inspired contemporary fantasy, a Chinese immortal and a French elf navigate romance, family loyalty, and workplace demands. In her debut novel, Mia Tsai has created a paranormal adventure that is full of humor, passion, and depth.
May
Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa
Aristotle and Dante meets The Hate U Give meets The Sun Is Also A Star: A stunning YA contemporary love story about a Mexican-American teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican boy.
June
I'm Not Supposed to Be in the Dark by Riss M. Neilson
From the author of Deep in Providence comes a paranormal young adult romance that follows a teen convinced that her best friend-turned-enemy is possessed by a ghost, perfect for fans of White Smoke and Twilight.
July
Gloria Buenrostro Is Not My Girlfriend by Brandon Hoàng
Read Bookish Brews' full review of Gloria Buenrostro is Not My Girlfriend
When Gary is challenged to acquire the prized possession of the most beautiful girl in school, Gloria Buenrostro, he jumps at the chance to join the in-crowd. But as he gets to know Gloria and they become best friends, Gary starts to wonder if popularity is worth losing
Where’s August? Coming back soon!
September
A Tall Dark Trouble by Vanessa Montalban
Practical Magic meets Erika L. Sanchez in this dazzling YA fantasy about a Cuban American family of brujas who get entangled in love, magic, and murder, alternating between 1980s Cuba and present-day Miami.
✨ Fantasy Romance 👻 Supernatural 🪄 Unique Magic 🌳 Family Focused
October
All the Fighting Parts by Hannah V. Sawyerr
In the vein of Grown and The Poet X, a searing and defiant novel in verse about reclaiming agency after a sexual assault within the church community
🖌️ Novel in Verse ❤️🩹 Trauma and Healing 🎞️ Mixed Media ✒️ Debut Author
November
The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
Zilan dreams of being a royal alchemist, but instead she's stuck in her small town practicing illegal magic: raising the dead. When she finally gets a chance to complete her imperial exams, she realizes that being a royal alchemist is very different than what she dreamed of.
📖 Couldn't Put It Down 👾 Monsters 👑 Non-European Royalty 🪄 Unique Magic
December
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng
Yellowjackets meets She Is a Haunting in this spine-tingling sapphic thriller that follows a disgraced teen idol who comes face-to-face with the demons of her past in a glittering, cutthroat K-pop competition.
📖 Couldn't Put It Down 🪄 Unique Magic 💀 Dark Content 💫 Atmospheric
Happy reading! Let me know if you pick up any of these, I’d love to hear how you like them on social media or via email. All social media are linked in my signature below. Want more featured books? Check out more featured books:
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