People who love to read often have the same complaint: There’s just not enough time in the day to dig into every novel, memoir, or nonfiction book on their shelves. And that means they must choose their pages wisely.

While there are a lot of wonderful options available, we recommend adding the following to your 2023 must-read list:

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

The Hunger Games may be years behind us, but dystopia still reigns supreme when it comes to literature. Ng embraces our fascination with dystopian worlds with her tale of a son struggling to find his poet mother who’s gone missing after her work is censored by the government. The themes of the book include bias, bigotry, and hatred, as well as the value of art, love, culture, and acceptance.

Trust by Hernan Diaz

Trust tells the story of a fractured couple who unwittingly becomes famous when they’re the subjects of a bestselling novel. Buoyed by their power and wealth, they have the book destroyed, but not before it affects their lives. This tale is told through multiple perspectives, making it a creative and poignant read that reinvents itself at every turn.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead borrows from David Copperfield, the autobiographical 1850 novel by Charles Dickens. It’s set in modern-day Appalachia and addresses the issues of growing up in poverty, foster care, the opioid epidemic, and the urbanization of rural lands. Like Dickens, Kingsolver focuses heavily on exploring how an artist becomes an artist while never shying away from politics or charm.

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong

An Immense World is an ideal book for animal lovers (or anyone you’re trying to convert). This nonfiction exploration invites humans to step outside themselves and discover how animals experience the world (often in ways we cannot). With dynamic storytelling and immensely interesting facts, each page taps into our appreciation of our four-legged friends while subtly reminding us of our own insignificance.

Solito by Javier Zamora

Solito is a page-turning memoir about nine-year-old Javier who leaves El Salvador for a 3,000-mile journey to America. Traveling without his family, the trip takes two months and shows the reader the extraordinary sacrifices people make in pursuit of better lives. This is a story of thirst, starvation, and extreme desert treks, but also one of kindness, love, and unyielding perseverance.

Regardless of your favorite genre, these books won’t disappoint. Make it a goal in the new year to escape into one of their worlds, one chapter at a time.

The Habitat Apartments is located in Gunbarrel with convenient access to shopping in downtown Boulder and beyond. We offer apartments and townhomes with private patios, a heated pool, outdoor kitchens, pet-friendly perks, and multiple floor plans to choose from. Contact us today to learn why we’re the perfect place to start the new year.