New year, new you, new books to read. Bookworms will understand the feeling of getting lost in a good read, and the year ahead promises to keep book lovers busy with a number of incredible new releases. Whether you’re one for walking in someone else’s shoes through a memoir, exploring new worlds through sci-fi fiction, or learning insights to help you grow in aspects of life through a self-help guide, there’s bound to be a book of interest in this crop of new and most-anticipated books of 2023.
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Local author and literary critic Carissa Foo explores the intricacy and bond of women’s relationships with each other in her first short story collection, No Wonder, Women. From a mother who steals glances at her teenage daughter in the rear-view mirror to a bride misses her best friend on the eve of her wedding, each woman in each short discovers how to express her love without unloving herself.
Release date: January 1
Chinese-American author R. F. Kuang, known for her fantasy novels, takes on a different genre spin with her latest release. Yellowface, a reference to the offensive racist practice of changing one’s appearance in an attempt to imitate an Asian, explores diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation.
The story follows June Hayward, who steals both the identity and work of Athena Liu when the latter is met with a freak accident that results in her death. But June’s secret isn’t safe. How far will she go to keep the fame that she didn’t earn but believes she deserves?
Release date: May 16
Spare, the tell-all autobiography by Prince Harry (and ghostwritten by Pulitzer prize-winning writer JR Moehringer) is arguably one of the most anticipated titles of the year. The Duke of Sussex offers a candid look at his life, ranging from his childhood and growing up with his brother Prince William, to his tours of duty in Afghanistan during his time in the British Army, as well as his thoughts on love, mental health, and public scrutiny.
If the early leaks of the memoir – which occurred five days ahead of its official release date when the Spanish edition of the book was accidentally sold in some bookstores in Spain – are any indication, Prince Harry isn’t holding back with the bombshell royal revelations, whether it’s losing his virginity to a much older woman, his drug use, a physical altercation between him and Prince William at Nottingham Cottage, or a detailed breakdown of the relationship between Harry and Meghan Markle with Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Release date: January 10
Marital discord, artistic ambitions, and the expectant pressures on married women in Chinese society are themes that Beijing-born author An Yu explores in her newest atmospheric novel, Ghost Music. Song Yan, a piano teacher reckoning with her decision to turn her back on a career as a concert pianist, is attempting to have a child with her new husband Bowen, who is not keen on the idea.
When her mother-in-law moves into their home, her life is upturned as she uncovers startling family secrets ranging from a sister who has disappeared to a former wife. As she seeks to discover herself and the man she married, Song Yan is also haunted by dreams of doorless rooms and talking mushrooms with a desire to listen to Chopin.
Release date: January 1
Having clinched a multitude of medals under her belt, Lauren Fleshman is heralded as one of the most-decorated distance runners in the United States. In her upcoming memoir, she tells the story of how she went from a young girl with a dream to an elite runner. Beyond sharing her running journey, the athlete also probes into how the competitive sports landscape is designed for men and boys while routinely failing young female athletes that result in injuries, eating disorders, and mental health issues.
Release date: January 10
Singaporean writer Rachel Heng, who made her author debut with the literary dystopian bestseller Suicide Club, is set to release a new book this year. The sweeping novel is set in Singapore and takes place in the waning years of British rule, the World War II Japanese occupation, and the country’s modern years as it rebuilds the nation. An aching coming-of-age love story, The Great Reclamation follows a young boy, Ah Boon, as he grows up to discover his unique gifts and a childhood love that will eventually complicate the fate of his community and country.
Release date: March 28
Which of the five types of perfectionists are you? Classic, intense, Parisian, messy, or procrastinator? Katherine Morgan Schafler, a psychotherapist and former on-site therapist at Google, is challenging the way one looks at perfectionism and themselves with this self-help book that’s dedicated to “women who are sick of being given the generic advice to ‘find balance’ and who dare to want more without feeling greedy or ungrateful”.
Release date: January 17
Following the release of the Hulu television series Pam & Tommy, which tells the story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s tumultuous marriage and the scandal that came after their unauthorised sex tape was made public, Anderson announced that she will “tell the real story” through her own words.
“A celebration – of imperfections. The book is an unpolished attempt. I had no co-writer. [It’s about] my life – as a mother, as an activist, and as an actress,” Anderson revealed in an Instagram post announcing the book’s release. “I am so proud of this book.”
Release date: January 31
Book editor Jenny Jackson’s debut novel focuses on three women in a prominent ‘old-money’ family living in Brooklyn. Filled with wit, dry humour, and emotional truths, the novel explores the dynamics of family whilst offering a peek at the indulgence of life among New York’s top one per cent.
While the book is yet to be launched, it has already gained quite a buzz with the announcement that the novel has been optioned for a television series.
Release date: March 7
Acclaimed author Kate Zambreno chronicles life as a mother of two young daughters in uncertain times. This memoir from the award-winning writer captures the realities of a mother trying to raise her baby and toddler through the complexities of today’s world while offering insights on how to move away from disenchantment and instead towards light and possibilities.
Release date: July 4
This article originally appeared in Her World.