In many respects, 2023 was a floozy. There were endless strikes in Hollywood, skylines thick with dystopian smog, and politicians who, even for the U.S., defied the standards of absurdity. 

If there was an industry that had an okay year, though, it’s fair to say that publishing could be a contender. Whether it was the long-awaited release of Brittney Spears’ The Woman in Me, Rebecca Yarros’s instant fantasy hit Fourth Wing, or the triumphant return of Zadie Smith in The Fraud, books provided catalysts for conversation in what was, at many times, a heavy year. 

In the spirit of this, below is a list of the best books ZIPPED staff read in 2023. In true ZIPPED fashion, this list has got a bit of everything, from photo essay collections to sci-fi bestsellers. Here’s to more reading (and hopefully less chaos) in 2024.

A campus novel for the podcast age! 

The protagonist of this story is Bodie Kane, a film professor and true-crime podcaster who returns to her New Hampshire boarding school to find out what really happened to her roommate Talia, who was murdered at the school decades prior. This book is a masterclass in storytelling that I can only describe as A Secret History meets #MeToo meets Serial. Once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop. 

– Isabel Bekele, Copy Director

My favorite read of 2023 was Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley. I devoured this book within days because I had to know what happened to the protagonist. The book is set in Oakland, California, and follows a brother and sister whose family has been fractured by death and prison. While the brother fights for his dreams of rap stardom, the sister hunts for work on the streets to pay rent. 

– Sophie Cohen, Editorial Director

Anna: The Biography 
by Amy Odell 

Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell was such an inspiring and educational read. Learning insights into an industry that I have followed my whole life gave me a broader perspective of what working in fashion means and looks like. Being able to follow along and recognize the names referenced in the book also made me realize how small and influential the industry can be. 

– Ava Lahijani, Editor in Chief

 

Never Let Me Go / Klara and The Sun
by Kazuo Ishiguro

Kazuo Ishiguro has an affinity for the bizarre– Never Let Me Go takes place in an alternate version of England in which human beings are regularly cloned, while Klara and The Sun is the story of Klara, an “Artificial Friend” robot with oddly humanlike qualities.  

Ishiguro was such a fun side path to discover this year. In both Klara and the Sun and Never Let Me Go, I unlocked this new, elevated genre of science fiction that I was obsessed with when I was younger.
 
– Livvy Doe, Styling Director

The Good Life: Perceptions of the Ordinary
by Jasper Morrison

In The Good Life, designer Jasper Morison reimagines the power of simple visuals, examining the life behind everything from tables to garden hoses.

I’ve been trying to read more about photography and this book was such an interesting take on photographing the mundane. It’s short and sweet, but the way Morison critiques his work is super thought-provoking. 

- Dominic Brancoli, Creative Director

The Power of Strangers 
by Joe Keohane

My favorite book of the year was The Power of Strangers by Joe Keegan. It opened my eyes to how little I interacted with strangers, and how important it is to talk to people out in the world. It is such a great book to reframe your view of the world, the people around you, and how the way we socialize with each other impacts us and our happiness. One of my favorite books ever. 

– Ashley Girouard, Video Director

The Shift 
by Tinx

The Shift by Tinx gave me a plethora of life lessons on happiness, fulfillment, and relationships (romantic or not). She navigates not only dating in a post-college world, but also self-discovery and what truly fulfills us as humans. Tinx shares so many theories on life, knowing your worth, and finding your strengths through “hiccups” down the road. Definitely a must-read self-help book for anyone looking for direction when entering the “real world”. 

– JD Triolo, Social Media Director

Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous struck me from the inside out. This coming-of-age story is simultaneously devastating and beautifully tender. It is written as a letter from a son to his mother who cannot read, exploring the immigrant experience, the aftermath of trauma, freedom and identity. The language is so poetic and emotionally charged. I hung onto each sentence breathlessly. 

- Audrey Weisburg, Staff Writer

Icebreaker
by Hannah Grace

Icebreaker is the perfect example of a book that you just can’t put down once you open it. Focused on a college romance, the book shows different perspectives from the two main characters. What I loved most about this book was that, unlike many college romance novels, the ending was not predictable and was realistic in the way the characters communicated. I immediately bought Wildfire, Hannah Grace’s next book in the series, because of how much I loved the first one. 

- Mia Tiano, Staff Writer