
Several of Saint Paul Public Library's staff are excited to share their favorite reads of 2023 with you! To explore this list:
- Hover over the book cover to learn more about each staff's recommendation.
- Use your computer's search function (ctrl + F, ⌘ + F) to search books by the following features:

Recommended for 4th grade and up readers who want to read a little romance."
Recommended by: Matthew, Rondo
Features of this book:
Love & Romance, Eye-Opening Perspectives
#teens #tweens #graphicnovels

Recommended for: anyone who likes science fiction or who needs a bit of hope."
Recommended by: Isaac, Riverview
Features of this book:
Rather Short, Beautiful Prose/Well Written, Geeky & Nerdy, Philosophical, Adventure, Science Fiction & Speculative Fiction

Recommended for: people who like fantasy."
Recommended by: Lorenzo, Merriam Park
Features of this book:
Adventure, Fantasy, Engrossing & Immersive
#ebook

Recommended for: those who like biographies about family connections and set in Minnesota."
Recommended by: Maura, Merriam Park
Features of this book:
Humor, Family Affairs, Biography
#memoir
Recommended by: Leslie, Merriam Park
Features of this book:
Family Affairs, Intergenerational & Multigenerational, Mystery and Intrigue

Recommended for: Everyone"
Recommended by: Heather, Riverview
Features of this book:
Light-hearted, Cozy, Intergenerational & Multigenerational, Love & Romance
#picturebook
Recommended by: Alaina, Merriam Park
Features of this book:
Educational, Culture, Stories from Around the World, Engrossing & Immersive
#nonfiction, #ebook, #audiobook

Recommended for: Families, children's librarians, elementary teachers, people who enjoy looking at really adorably illustrated children's books!"
Recommended by: Laura, Saint Anthony Park
Features of this book:
Humor, Light-hearted, Culture
#picturebook
Recommended by: Becky, Materials Management Center
Features of this book:
Adventure, Light-hearted, Cozy
#kids, #tween, #gradeschool

Recommended for: Fans of Neil Gaiman, Grimms Fairytales, H.P. Lovecraft, more generally adult fiction that doesn't have happy endings. Lovers of creatures, folklore, and the supernatural horror."
Recommended by: Coral, Admin
Features of this book:
Thrilling Plot Twists, Emotionally Devastating, Dark and Twisted, Engrossing & Immersive, Fantasy
Recommended by: Maura, Merriam Park
Features of this book:
Humor, Rather Short, Homegrown Stories (from MN)
#localauthor
Recommended by: Becky, Materials Management Center
Features of this book:
Love & Romance, Eye-Opening Perspectives, Beautiful Prose/Well Written, Philosophical, Historical, Culture, Engrossing & Immersive

Recommended for: Speculative fiction fans, activists, and people who are disillusioned!"
Recommended by: Genna, Merriam Park
Features of this book:
Science Fiction & Speculative Fiction, Intense

Recommended for: Readers looking for something engrossing that isn't pure fluff or pure tragedy."
Recommended by: Alice, Rondo
Features of this book:
Humor, History-adjacent, Stories from Around the World, Intense, Engrossing & Immersive, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized

Recommended for: Any teen or adult wanting to dive deep into another person's life experience."
Recommended by: Marika, Central
Features of this book:
Eye-Opening Perspectives, Beautiful Prose/Well Written, Family Affairs, Culture, Exploration of Identity, Intense, Engrossing & Immersive, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized, Read by the Author (for audiobooks)
#audiobook, #memoir
Recommended by: Maureen, Central
Features of this book:
Rather Short, Beautiful Prose/Well Written, Philosophical, Emotionally Devastating, Family Affairs, Historical, Essays and Short Stories, Stories from Around the World, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized

Recommended for: Anyone who runs, enjoys spectating the sport of running, or loves someone who runs -- especially female runners."
Recommended by: Marika, Central
Features of this book:
Eye-Opening Perspectives, Science-y, Sports!, Educational, Read by the Author (for audiobooks)
#audiobook, #memoir
Recommended by: Jaye, Merriam Park
Features of this book:
Love & Romance, Light-hearted, Exploration of Identity, Cozy, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized, Humor, Artsy
#teens, #graphicnovel
Recommended by: Heather, Riverview
Features of this book:
Beautiful Prose/Well Written, Intergenerational & Multigenerational, Eye-Opening Perspectives
#picturebook
Recommended by: Rhica, Central
Features of this book:
Intense, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized, Engrossing & Immersive, Dark and Twisted, Audiobook , Fantasy , Mystery and Intrigue, Beautiful Prose/Well Written
#audiobook

Recommended for: People that are into thriller-murder-mysteries but also touch on relevant social and cultural topics."
Recommended by: Laura, Saint Anthony Park
Features of this book:
Family Affairs, Mystery and Intrigue, Engrossing & Immersive
Recommended by: Mai, Arlington Hills
Features of this book:
Fantasy, Mystery and Intrigue, Intense, Engrossing & Immersive, Emotionally Devastating
Recommended by: Aura, Rice Street
Features of this book:
Eye-Opening Perspectives, Humor, Rather Short, Educational, Light-hearted
#picturebook
Recommended by: Marco, Central
Features of this book:
Thrilling Plot Twists, Emotionally Devastating , Science Fiction & Speculative Fiction, Culture, Intense

Recommended for: Especially Gen Xers for the cultural references but really anyone 4th grade and up who enjoys graphic novels."
Recommended by: Savitri, Bookmobile
Features of this book:
Humor, Culture, Sadness-sweet, Intergenerational & Multigenerational, Adventure, Family Affairs, Exploration of Identity
#graphicnovel, #teens

Recommended for: Any true crime nerd who likes a good psychological deep dive. There is a series of books for the truly dedicated."
Recommended by: Cindy, Central
Features of this book:
Philosophical, Dark and Twisted, Educational, Exploration of Identity
Recommended by: Maureen, Admin
Features of this book:
Historical, History-adjacent, Educational, Family Affairs, Culture, Exploration of Identity

Recommended for: Fans of Neil Gaiman, Grimms Fairytales, H.P. Lovecraft, more generally adult fiction that doesn't have happy endings. Lovers of creatures, folklore, and the supernatural horror."
Recommended by: Coral, Admin
Features of this book:
Thrilling Plot Twists, Emotionally Devastating, Dark and Twisted, Engrossing & Immersive, Fantasy

Recommend for: Anyone who's looking for something unique and different. Would also offer a content warning re: historical/generational trauma, especially for SE Asian readers"
Recommended by: Maureen, Admin
Features of this book:
Love & Romance, Thrilling Plot Twists, Emotionally Devastating , Family Affairs, Artsy, Science Fiction & Speculative Fiction, History-adjacent, Exploration of Identity, Engrossing & Immersive, Mystery and Intrigue

Recommended for: kiddos & the young at heart"
Recommended by: Alicia, Merriam Park
Features of this book:
Humor, Rather Short, Artsy, Mystery and Intrigue
#picturebook

Recommended for: Someone looking for a short but impactful read, featuring a deceptively cozy setting (Ireland around Christmastime) inhabited by complicated interpersonal dynamics."
Recommended by: Becky, Materials Management Center
Features of this book:
Eye-Opening Perspectives, Emotionally Devastating , Historical, Exploration of Identity, Stories from Around the World, Cozy, Engrossing & Immersive, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized
Recommended by: Savitri, Bookmobile
Features of this book:
Humor, Eye-Opening Perspectives, Family Affairs, Culture, Exploration of Identity, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized
#graphicnovel, #memoir, #teen

Recommended for: Comedy fans, and anyone who has dealt with or knows someone who has dealt with mental health issues (which I would guess would be everyone)."
Recommended by: Betsy, Sun Ray
(also recommended by Laura, Saint Anthony Park and Jonathan, Materials Management Center)
Features of this book:
Humor, Eye-Opening Perspectives, Exploration of Identity, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized, Read by the Author (for audiobooks), Mental Illness, Addiction, Pugs
#memoir

Recommended for: Adults who are ready for some sadness and emotional reckoning centered around racial justice."
Recommended by: Cindy, Central
Features of this book:
Emotionally Devastating , Family Affairs, History-adjacent, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized, Eye-Opening Perspectives

Recommended for: Anyone. Everyone!"
Recommended by: Heather, Hayden Heights
Features of this book:
Humor, Love & Romance, Adventure, Eye-Opening Perspectives, Thrilling Plot Twists, Beautiful Prose/Well Written, Philosophical, Family Affairs, Educational, Culture, Exploration of Identity, Engrossing & Immersive, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized, Multiple Narrators, Emotionally Devastating, History-adjacent, Mystery and Intrigue, Intense

Recommended for: Anyone interested in experimental fiction and who doesn't want to know what happens."
Recommended by: Isaac, Riverview
Features of this book:
Love & Romance, Thrilling Plot Twists, Beautiful Prose/Well Written, Emotionally Devastating, Family Affairs, Science Fiction & Speculative Fiction, Historical, Mystery and Intrigue

Recommended for: People who are autistic, people who love autistic people, and people who want to learn more and engage with people of neurodiversity with more understanding."
Recommended by: Francesca, Highland Park
Features of this book:
Eye-Opening Perspectives, Educational, Culture, Exploration of Identity, Read by the Author (for audiobooks)
#audiobook

Recommended for: Fans of Horror and Sci-FI"
Recommended by: Max, Highland Park
Features of this book:
Geeky & Nerdy, Science-y, Philosophical, Dark and Twisted

Recommended for: Anyone interested in Ireland or history, and especially Irish history."
Recommended by: Isaac, Riverview
Features of this book:
Eye-Opening Perspectives, Rather Long, Beautiful Prose/Well Written, Emotionally Devastating , History-adjacent, Culture, Exploration of Identity, Stories from Around the World, Intense
#nonfiction

Recommended for: writers and wanna-be writers and literary people, anybody who likes unreliable narrators."
Recommended by: Maureen, Admin
Features of this book:
Thrilling Plot Twists, Philosophical, Educational, History-adjacent, Culture, Exploration of Identity, Dark and Twisted, Intense, Engrossing & Immersive, Humor, Unreliable Narrator

Recommended for: Anyone who's looking for fantasy with romantic elements and interesting magic."
Recommended by: Idris, Highland Park
Features of this book:
Love & Romance, Adventure, Thrilling Plot Twists, Artsy, Science Fiction & Speculative Fiction, Emotionally Devastating, Fantasy, Exploration of Identity, Engrossing & Immersive, Multiple Narrators, Distinctly Voiced & Well-Characterized, Humor