My 2023 Reading Wrap Up

I hope this list provides a book to read or to gift this holiday season.

2023 has been another busy year, filled with more flights from LAX to DC than I care to count. Amidst those bumpy flights and late nights, I sought refuge in books, a lifelong practice that helped me survive rough and tumble siblings and being a single mom. 

In no particular order, here are ten of my favorite books I read this past year. Several are debut novels, so follow these authors for future books too. I hope this list provides a book to read or to gift this holiday season.

1. Maame by Jessica George

   • This debut novel by Jessica George speaks to friendship, familial duty, immigrants’ experiences, and the role of race and racism.

2. The Celebrants by Steven Rowley 

   • Written by a California author, this is a story about a group of college friends who reunite in Big Sur nearly three decades after graduating.

3. True Biz by Sara Novic 

   • This novel follows a teacher and a student at a boarding school for deaf students. Cleverly woven throughout the book is a primer on deaf culture. 

4. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

   • A 2013 novel that I read this year, this is a heartwarming story of a neurodiverse man finding love later in life. 

5.  Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

   • Partially set in Orange County, California, two estranged siblings discover their mother’s past as a child in the Caribbean in this terrific debut novel (and yes, you get the recipe for Black Cake).

6. Exes and O’s by Amy Lea

   • A fun read, this story follows a romance-novel connoisseur on her quest for love. I mean, who wouldn’t want a hot firefighter as a roommate (hypothetically speaking).

7. This Bird Has Flown by Susanna Hoffs

   • From the guitarist and singer of the Bangles, this debut novel is an uplifting story about overcoming self-doubt and accepting one’s talents and shortcomings.   

8. One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London 

   • A first book by an LA based author who served as lead digital writer for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.

9. Bodyguard by Katherine Center

   • Fun fact, Katherine Center, the author, is the sister of my colleague from Texas, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher. Like many of Center’s books, the female protagonist has a job in a traditionally male field.

10. The Subtle Art of Not giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

    • I went “viral” for reading this on the House floor during the never-ending January vote to elect a Speaker of the House. 

Bonus recommendation: I Swear: Politics is Messier than my Minivan. This year, I also became an author (save for the law books that I have written). Writing this book was a two year long, but rewarding, experience, and it was a highlight of the year to become a New York Times bestselling author.

Next up on my list of things to read are The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese and Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond. 

This year, I’ve also gotten more into book merchandise and events, attending the LA Festival of Books (WOW, how had I never been?!) and collecting stickers from favorite authors to adorn my iPad cover (which makes it harder to lose it during travel). 

Happy reading (and remember to shop at your local bookstore!). Or, if you prefer public libraries, to support their work by volunteering your time or making a donation. 

Katie Porter