Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week’s topic is Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2023. That is so hard to narrow down! I have a bunch on my TBR that I’m super excited for. Let’s check some of them out!
1. In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune
Page Length: 432
Publication Date: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Tor Books
Synopsis: In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots–fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.
The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio-a past spent hunting humans.
When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.
Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?
Inspired by Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, and like Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-E, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful stand-alone fantasy adventure from the beloved author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.
2. Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
Series: A Vine Mess #1
Page Length: 384
Publication Date: Feb. 7, 2023
Publisher: Avon Books
Synopsis: Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family’s winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned to their small town. When Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she’ll finally get that smooch. But the grumpy professor isn’t the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly. One wine-fueled girls’ night later, Hallie can’t shake the sense that she did something reckless–and then she remembers the drunken secret admirer letter she left for Julian. Oh shit.
On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans to write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction. She’s eccentric, chronically late, often literally covered in dirt–and so unbelievably beautiful, he can’t focus on anything else. Until he finds an anonymous letter sent by a woman from his past. Even as Julian wonders about this admirer, he’s sucked further into Hallie’s orbit. Like the flowers she plants all over town, Hallie is a burst of color in Julian’s gray-scale life. For a man who irons his socks and runs on tight schedules, her sunny chaotic energy makes zero sense. But there’s something so familiar about her… and her very presence is turning his world upside down.
3. Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
Page Length: 272
Publication Date: May 16, 223
Publisher: Underlined
Synopsis: Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer.
Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.
Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.
In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.
Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?
4. Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken
Series: Silver in the Bone #1
Page Length: 480
Publication Date: April 4, 2023
Synopsis: Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.
Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.
As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .
5. Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith
Page Length: 464
Publication Date: Feb. 14, 2023
Publisher: Harperteen
Synopsis: Inspired by Moulin Rouge! and set on an island in a magical version of Prohibition-era New York, Revelle is a breathtaking YA stand-alone fantasy full of dazzling magic, romance, and mystery from debut author Lyssa Mia Smith.
On the island of Charmant, magic flows like bootlegged champagne, and fantasies can be bought for the price of a gemstone.
Luxe Revelle, star of her family’s fantastical show, knows the splendor is just an illusion. With Prohibition threatening their livelihood, her family struggles to make a living, watering down champagne and patching holes in their sequined costumes. So when the son of Charmant’s wealthiest family makes her an offer—everything the Revelles need to stay in business, in exchange for posing as his girl and helping him become mayor—she can’t refuse.
The moment Jamison Port sets foot in Charmant, he can’t shake the feeling of familiarity. An orphan with as few memories as gemstones, he’s desperate to learn what happened to his parents. But as he delves into the island’s secrets, he risks angering the wrong person and discovering a truth that just might break his heart.
When Luxe and Jamison accidentally meet, the sparks that fly are more than her magical enchantments. But keeping secrets from powerful people is a dangerous game . . . one that could destroy them both.
6. Tours Truly, the Duke by Amelia Grey
Series: Say I DO #1
Page Length: 368
Publication Date: March 28, 2023
Publisher: St. Martin’s
Synopsis: Fredericka Hale needs a husband, and fast. She’s been caring for her deceased sister’s three young children, and now a childless cousin has petitioned the court for custody. Fredericka is powerless to stop her, but having a husband might sway the ruling. The last thing Fredericka wants is a hurried-up marriage to a man she doesn’t know—much less love, but she’ll do it for the children. So when the handsome Duke of Wyatthaven shows up with a proposal, she accepts. He’ll help her, and in return, they’ll lead separate lives. But distance cannot keep them from their powerful attraction.
At the top of his game in London, the Duke of Wyatthaven has no interest in marriage. However, if Wyatt doesn’t marry by week’s end, he’ll lose a sizable inheritance from his grandmother. When Wyatt’s solicitor finds Miss Fredericka Hale, Wyatt considers this little hiccup solved. Miss Hale is lovely, and intelligent. Most importantly, she prefers country life to London, so he’s free to continue his life as usual. But when circumstances force Fredericka and the children to show up at the duke’s door, Wyatt can’t deny he’s always been under her spell. Will the duke give up his bachelor lifestyle and give into the fiery passion growing between them?
7. Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong
Page Length: 240
Publication Date: Feb. 28, 2023
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Synopsis: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes two captivating new novellas surrounding the events of Foul Lady Fortune and following a familiar cast of characters from the These Violent Delights Duet!
In A Foul Thing, Roma and Juliette have established themselves as the heads of an underground weapons ring in Zhouzhuang, making a living the way they do best while remaining anonymous in their peaceful, quiet life. But when they hear about several Russian girls showing up dead in nearby towns, they decide to investigate—and ultimately discover that this mystery is much closer to home than they ever imagined.
In This Foul Murder, Benedikt and Marshall have been summoned by Roma to find the elusive scientist, Lourens, and bring him to Zhouzhuang. Time is of the essence aboard the week-long Trans-Siberian Express, but when someone is murdered on board, Benedikt and Marshall convince the officer in charge not to stop the train so that they aren’t thrown off-schedule. Instead, they pretend that they are investigators and promise they can solve the murder, but as they dig deeper, they realize that the murder might having surprising ties to their own mission…
8. Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
Page Length: 304
Publication Date: May 9, 2023
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Synopsis: From the beloved, bestselling author of Elektra and Ariadne, a reimagining of the myth of Atalanta, a fierce huntress raised by bears and the only woman in the world’s most famous band of heroes, the Argonauts
Princess, Warrior, Lover, Hero
When Princess Atalanta is born, a daughter rather than the son her parents hoped for, she is left on a mountainside to die. But even then, she is a survivor. Raised by a mother bear under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis, Atalanta grows up wild and free, with just one condition: if she marries, Artemis warns, it will be her undoing.
Although she loves her beautiful forest home, Atalanta yearns for adventure. When Artemis offers her the chance to fight in her name alongside the Argonauts, the fiercest band of warriors the world has ever seen, Atalanta seizes it. The Argonauts’ quest for the Golden Fleece is filled with impossible challenges, but Atalanta proves herself equal to the men she fights alongside. As she is swept into a passionate affair, in defiance of Artemis’s warning, she begins to question the goddess’s true intentions. Can Atalanta carve out her own legendary place in a world of men, while staying true to her heart?
Full of joy, passion, and adventure, Atalanta is the story of a woman who refuses to be contained. Jennifer Saint places Atalanta in the pantheon of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology, where she belongs.
9. Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Page Length: 336
Publication Date: July 11, 2023
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Synopsis: Sadie Montogmery has had good breaks and bad breaks in her life, but as a struggling artist, all she needs is one lucky break. Things seem to be going her way when she lands one of the coveted finalist spots in a portrait competition. It happens to coincide with a surgery she needs to have. Minor, they say. Less than a week in the hospital they say. Nothing about you will change, they say. Upon recovery, it begins to dawn on Sadie that she can see everything around her, but she can no longer see faces.
Temporary, they say. Lots of people deal with this, they say. As she struggles to cope―and hang onto her artistic dreams―she finds solace in her fourteen-year-old dog, Peanut. Thankfully, she can still see animal faces. When Peanut gets sick, she rushes him to the emergency vet nearby. That’s when she meets veterinarian Dr. Addison. And she’s pleasantly surprised when he asks her on a date. But she doesn’t want anyone to know about her face blindness. Least of all Joe, her obnoxious neighbor who always wears a bowling jacket and seems to know everyone in the building. He’s always there at the most embarrassing but convenient times, and soon, they develop a sort of friendship. But could it be something more?
As Sadie tries to save her career, confront her haunting past, and handle falling in love with two different guys she realizes that happiness can be found in the places―and people― you least expect.
10. The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao
Page Length: 368
Publication Date: Jan. 17, 2023
Publisher: Berkley Books
Synopsis: A working-class woman who infiltrates Singapore’s high society to fulfill her dreams risks losing everything in the process—including herself—in this propulsive novel by debut author Kyla Zhao.
For as long as she can remember, Samantha Song has dreamed of writing for a high-society magazine—and she’d do anything to get there. But the constant struggle to help her mom make ends meet and her low social status cause her dream to feel like a distant fantasy.
Now Samantha finds herself working at a drab PR firm. Living vicariously through her wealthy coworker and friend, Anya Chen, is the closest she’ll get to her ideal life. Until she meets Timothy Kingston: the disillusioned son of one of Singapore’s elite families—and Samantha’s one chance at infiltrating the high-society world to which she desperately wants to belong.
To Samantha’s surprise, Timothy and Anya both agree to help her make a name for herself on Singapore’s socialite scene. But the borrowed designer clothes and plus-ones to every glamorous event can only get her so far. The rest is on Samantha, and she’s determined to impress the editor in chief of Singapore’s poshest magazine. But the deeper Samantha wades into this fraud, the more she fears being exposed—especially with a mysterious gossip columnist on the prowl for dirt—forcing her to reconcile her pretense with who she really is before she loses it all.
What books are you excited for? Comment below!
Atalanta sure sounds interesting.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-most-anticipated-books-releasing-in-the-first-half-of-2023/
Thanks, Lydia. I’m super excited to read it!
So many exciting books! In the Lives of Puppets and Fake Dates & Mooncakes made my list too, but I’m also excited about those Tessa Bailey and Katherine Center books!
Yes! they all sound fantastic! We have a lot of books to look forward to this year. 🙂
Great list, Julie! I have a few of these on my TBR already, but I’m adding Secretly Yours because it sounds amazing 😀
Oooh, it sounds so good! I love her books.
Center’s books are always fun! I hope you enjoy all these.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks, Susan!
Great list! I can’t believe I forgot Fake Dates and Mooncakes. sign. I have arcs for Silver in the Bone and Hello Stranger! Really excited for those two!!
I adored Secretly Yours and I’m very much looking forward to Silver in the Bones.
They both sound fantastic!
#1 is on my list today, too. I loved #9 when I read it recently.
Yay! Good to know. It sounds great!
Great list Julie! I’m really excited for Silver in the Bone, and I’ve seen Fake Dates and Mooncakes on a couple of lists – it looks super cute, and I just had to add it to my TBR.
Thanks, Leah! Doesn’t it look cute? I’m on the ARC team for it and am excited to read it. Love the cover!!
I’m looking forward to seeing your review of it!
Atalanta is on my list too! I need to read the other books by this author. Super curious about Revelle.
Oooh, I read Elektra and Ariadne 0 loved them both!! If you like Greek myth retellings from the women’s pov, you should totally give them a shot. And I was sold on Revelle when I heard it was a Moulin Rouge reimagining. I NEED it!!! lol
I did love Song of Achilles and Circe, also Lore Olympus.
I love those too – Saint’s books don’t have the romantic element, but the feminist retelling is fantastic
Great list, Julie! I’m quite excited about tons of these as well and I can’t wait to read FDAM with you and Leslie. Also, Gong’s book looks so good but I still haven’t read Foul Lady Fortune yet but hopefully I’ll get to that this year so I can immediately pick this one up! 😍 Let me know if you’re still keen to do a buddy read for Silver in the Bone! 😃 I hope you enjoy all of these reads.
You’ll love Foul Lady Fortune, Dini! It’s sooooo good. I definitely want to do a buddy read of Silver in the Bone. Maybe after we do The Poppy War?
Sounds great! I’ll message you 😃
Great list!! Super excited for Atalanta and Fraud Squad as well!! Note adding Revelle and Silver in the Bone to my ever growing TBR😂
Nice! I hope you love them all when you get to them!
This is a fantastic list! Revelle has such a wonderful cover and I am very intrigued by it.
Me too! I love Moulin Rouge, so I’m really curious to read a reimagining of it.
Some great choices and interesting books here, Julie. I know my TBR mountain is going to grow today!
lol – mine too!
Fantastic list! So looking forward to In the Lives of Puppets, and Silver in the Bone looks interesting too. Might have to check it out.
I just started In the Lives of Puppets. Sooooo good!!!
I hope you enjoy all of these!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/10/top-ten-tuesday-402/
Super excited for Hello Stranger! I hope you enjoy these when you get to them!
Thank you. You too!!