It has been another year of great literature and I shared 24 reviews of books I recommend, but I enjoyed many others in 2023. (See Book Reviews in the menu to see all the books I reviewed.)

Here are some titles I didn’t have a chance to write about until now:

The 6:20 Man, David Baldacci. This is another New York Times bestseller from the master of thrillers. Like his other books, this one is tough to put down. (You may already wonder about the significance of 6:20.) The second book of this series, Edge, is on my read next list.

You Asked for Perfect, Laura Silverman. The author earned rave reviews for this story about a teen-ager whose life of pursuing academic perfection takes a dramatic turn when he falls in love with Amir, his calculus tutor. An intriguing story.

Biased, Jennifer Eberhardt. We are all biased, the author says. Whether it’s race, gender, religion, or a host of other areas, bias affects what we see, think, and do. A compelling, eye-opening book.

The Nickel Boys, Molson Whitehead. Winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize for fiction, this 1960s story follows two boys unjustly sentenced to a juvenile reform facility called the Nickel Academy. Faced with a perilous existence, the boys scheme to survive.

Irondad Life, Russell Newell. The Amazon description calls the book a hilarious look at the world of Ironman triathlons and how one man tries to juggle training with the demands of a busy family. I thought he was crazy until I quickly learned to admire the author’s incredible dedication to competing in the Lake Placid Ironman.

On the Waterfront, Mike McCoy. At summer camp, Danny is 13 and the youngest boy on staff, but expects he will have no problem fitting in. It turns out he has a lot to learn, and his swimming teacher is reluctant to help. A heartwarming and comedic story.

Anxious People, Fredrik Backman. A quirky, but powerful people story, Anxious People is just one of Backman’s successful books. The author of A Man Called Ove scores another hit title. Insightful, witty, and heartwarming.

The Emigrants, Vilhelm Moberg. The first of a popular four-book series, the emigrants are from Sweden, their destination is America, and the time is the middle of the 19th century. Moberg is a master of developing characters who seize readers’ interest. Many surprises here about what drove Swedes to America. Their journey is filled with hardships and hope.