Best New Books 2023

The golden boy and the heir to the billion-dollar empire, Bash Hughes has been the love of Trinity’s life even if he’s a bully. He has everything the world can offer, but she’s only his best friend—nothing more, and it eventually ended badly. They went separate ways then. Years later, their worlds collide, but they’re two different people—Trinity transforms into a gorgeous redhead. Well, Bash always has the looks, money, and now power. What happened when their first glance reignites something hard to shake off? Is there still a friendship to catch up, or they want something more?

We grew up in the same neighborhood, his parents are billionaires, while my parents worked for his parents, but they were too nice, to sponsor my education. I went to the same school he attended, he protected me from being bullied, while I help him with his assignments and to keep up his grade. He is a great dancer, and I dance very well too, we usually practice together, we read together, and he tells me everything about himself while I tell him almost everything about myself too. He was everything to me, he was that brother I never had, and I was the sister he never had, people see us more like siblings than just friends, because of our closeness, and because of his status and protectiveness, I also became popular. I watch him date hot beautiful girls, he asks me for advise him, on how best to treat them and I tell him, but I was dying inside, he even encouraged me to date one of his friends, and I did, just because he said it, but I could never love his friend, the way I love him. I really want to leave the friend's zone, but I am scared, telling him how I feel, might put a strain, on our friendship, and that is worse, than death itself, but how long can I keep hiding my feelings for him, I really need to leave the friend's zone.

On our wedding day, Carter Hall's father took his own life in our new home. He left a suicide note, blaming me for his death. From that day forward, Carter despised me to the core. He said, "Lindsey Thomson, you deserve to rot in hell, atoning for your sins for the rest of your life." Eventually, just as he wished, I wandered the streets, mute and half-insane, living a life worse than a stray dog. But then, he regretted it.

the mystical world of Moonstone, Elana White's life takes a wild turn after facing rejection and betrayal. Struggling with her weak wolf and shattered dreams, she finds solace in the arms of her father's best friend, Alpha Alexandar Cor. But their forbidden love leads to a secret baby and a dangerous game of deception, as Elana fights to protect her child from the very man she loves. With age gaps, rejected mates, and a web of lies threatening to tear them apart, will Elana and Alex find redemption in each other's arms, or will their love be lost to the darkness forever?

Isabella, 22 years old, was raised in a poor family with an alcoholic and violent father. Determined to change her life and give her mother a new beginning, Isabella accepts a unique opportunity: working as an au pair for a family in Spain. But what she didn't expect was that her new boss would be Miguel Moretti, an arrogant and closed-off CEO who has buried his feelings for years after the tragic loss of his wife. Miguel, 35, has made work his only refuge. The only light in his life is his daughter, Giulia, a five-year-old girl full of life and curiosity. Determined to give his daughter the best possible education, he never imagined that the arrival of this young Brazilian woman would shake up his routine and awaken emotions he swore he had left behind.

"I'm not yours!" I snap, my eyes narrowing into slits as I glare at him. A wicked grin curls on his lips. "Oh, but you are, little deer. How can you even begin to deny it?" He leans in closer, his breath hot against my neck as he drags his nose along my skin, inhaling deeply. "You let me touch you. Now, you. Are. Mine." I shake my head vigorously, my voice trembling as I stammer, "I... I wasn't awake. I didn't know it was you. I thought it was him!" The words spill out, more an attempt to convince myself than to sway him. His dark, sinister laugh reverberates as he presses closer, pinning me against the wall, his body a cage around mine. "Yet your eyes were fixed on his face, weren't they, little deer? Even as you came so hard around my fingers." He's right. My heart pounds as I recall the moment, my gaze locked on Justin, terrified he would wake and discover us. Luna thought she had everything she wanted—a loving relationship with her boyfriend, Justin, and a life that felt secure. But everything changed in a single, haunting night. For years, Luna had been living under the shadow of a mysterious stalker, someone who invaded her apartment, left unsettlingly sweet gifts, and even stole her clothing. She never imagined that the danger was closer than she could have ever suspected. After a night of partying, Luna drifts off to sleep between Justin and his best friend, Dante. But what she doesn't know is that Dante, the man she trusted, is the very stalker who has been obsessing over her for years. And now, with her so close, his twisted desires are becoming impossible to resist.

On New Year's Day, my childhood friend asked me for the passcode to my new house. I thought she was planning to bring a housewarming gift, but when I opened the door, I froze in shock. There were more than a dozen people inside. She walked over with a smile before giving me a subtle look. "Ryan, what are you doing here? Come on in. You're just in time. You're lucky enough to catch our family gathering." I stood there in stunned silence. Before I could even ask what was going on, her boyfriend suddenly spoke in a mocking tone. "Is your childhood friend very persuasive? I'm curious how he sweet-talked you into giving him your house's passcode." Her expression instantly turned serious. "He didn't sweet-talk me. He got on his knees and begged. He said he had a fight with his family and got kicked out with nowhere to stay. You know how soft-hearted I am. I didn't think much of it and just gave it to him." Her boyfriend's eyes had a look of contempt. "No normal man would stoop that low. Who knows how many women he's begged behind the scenes just to get what he wants." She gave him a look of approval. "Babe, how are you so smart? There was a time he stripped naked and begged me just to buy a watch he liked. I've told you about it." Her boyfriend burst out laughing. "So that was him? He's honestly shameless." Seeing her spew lies so casually and irresponsibly, I couldn't contain my anger. I stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face. "Who the hell do you think you are? Taking over my house and slandering me? Get out."

Salma Gascon falls in love with her best friend on the day he saves her at a frat party. On graduation night, Salma confesses her feelings and Brandon McLean admits he feels the same. By morning, he is gone and has erased her from his life. Weeks later, Salma learns she is pregnant. When she goes to him, she finds him with the woman who once hurt her. He rejects her and the child. At home, Salma hears plans to force her into aborting her child. She runs away without looking back. Years later, Salma returns as a successful surgeon and a daughter that looks just like Brandon. Brandon finds himself in need of her help but when they finally see each other, old feelings of lust, desire and also hate rise up. They become locked in a custody battle for their daughter, Leona. But Leona unexpectedly falls sick and they are left with a choice. To keep fighting their attraction for each other or to fight to stay together.

I've spent the day trying on bridal gowns with my fiance, Philip Dillon. Just as I'm about to pay for the wedding gown that I really want, another woman suddenly snatches it out of my hands. "Sorry, but I had my sights set on this gown first!" I frown instantly at her words. That's when one of my friends suddenly pats me on the shoulder before murmuring to me, "Hang on. Let your fiance deal with this situation. He already placed an order on this wedding gown when it was first released, so he must be specifically waiting for you to come here and pick it out." I turn to look at Philip instinctively. As expected, I see him approaching the woman… only to help her stuff the gown's hem, which is sticking out, back into the gown's bag. "Since someone else has already set her sights on the gown, then I suppose we don't have any other choice." Philip then pinches me on the cheek, the smile on his face tender yet casual. "My Elyse is the most gracious woman I've ever known. It's not like this is the one and only gown for you, right?" I just stare at the woman's smug look, feeling very dazed. Instead of responding to Philip, I just shoot a small smile at my friend, who looked pretty awkward on my behalf. "It's fine. I don't want the wedding gown anymore." It's true that the gown isn't the one and only gown for me. Similarly, it's not like Philip is the one and only man for me in life as well.

From a campus romance to marriage, Dominic Fleming had always believed he led a perfect life. His wife, Isabella Sinclair, was dazzlingly beautiful. Their daughter, Lilith, was sweet and obedient. Dominic sometimes told himself he must have been a saint in a past life to deserve such happiness. Everything began to change the moment Isabella's so-called "sworn brother," Alexander Grant, entered their lives. Alex's name appeared more and more often, and it crept into every corner of their marriage. For Lilith's sake, Dominic endured the strain again and again until the day of the accident. As he lay on the operating table with his life hanging by a thread, Isabella was not at his side—she was with Alexander instead. That was the moment Dominic's heart finally turned cold. So why did Isabella regret it? She knelt with Alexander, who likewise barely clung to life, and wept as she begged Dominic for forgiveness. "Dom, I know I was wrong. Let's get married again. I will make him kneel and beg you for forgiveness," Isabella said. "Scram," Dominic replied. Isabella nodded eagerly. "Fine. I will throw him out right now!" "Get the fuck out too!" Dominic barked.