2023 in Books

January 12, 2024

Written by Erika

I’ve enjoyed getting back into reading the last couple years and tracking my books in the StoryGraph app. I set a goal to read 30 books this year and ended up reading 33. I love seeing what other people read, it’s always exciting to see a shared interest, and to find new books to add to my TBR list. These are Amazon affiliate links for easy reference, but please support your local library through paper books and apps like Libby and Hoopla! That is how I read nearly all of these books.

FAVORITES

hello stranger by katherine center book cover

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston- This was such a fun read! I loved the relationship development between the two main characters. One of them is a chef and one used to travel a lot, and I really enjoyed reading about those parts of their lives, too.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center- Another really fun, light-hearted read. I don’t want to give anything away, but I was rooting for many of the characters in this book and I loved the journey the author took them on. It’s such a clever take on romantic comedy. I think this book would make a great movie, too!

The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson- I cried several times in this book! It was an unexpectedly beautiful story about lost love, found family, and changing paths in life. It was so heartwarming and a really special read.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides- This is on several “top book” lists and for a good reason! I listen to a lot of audiobooks sped up, and I regretted listening to this one sped up. I was sad when it got to the end!

FANTASY

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros- I don’t usually read fantasy, but I kept seeing “Fourth Wing” recommended on Instagram and TikTok, so I added it to my holds on Libby. I ended up really liking it, it was pretty easy to follow the world building and all the new words/names. It was an entertaining book with lots of different characters that make you feel a variety of feelings about them. While I enjoyed it, at the end of the first book, I wasn’t sure if I would read book 2.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros- Well, book 2 came out and I read it in December. It was something like 28 hours long, and I enjoyed the plot and the journey, and again at the end I thought “I’m not sure if I will read the next one.”

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas- After stepping back into fantasy with Fourth Wing, I decided to try reading the ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) series again. My sister-in-law had recommended it to me a while back, but the first chapter has a really long descriptive scene about a wolf and I just couldn’t get into it. I’m glad I tried them again though, I haven’t been sucked into a book series like that for a long time.

I binge read all the books (there are currently 5 with more to come) within a couple weeks and was genuinely depressed when I finished the last one. There are some parts of the books that I have mixed feelings on, but as a whole, I really enjoyed this series! A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, A Court of Silver Flames.

ROMANCE

All of these were entertaining and enjoyable reads. This is my favorite type of book, there’s substance and plot, but nothing too heavy or emotional. Just fun and quick reads!

Happy Place by Emily Henry

The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay

CONTEMPLATIVE

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver – This is a long and heavy book. There is a lot of really sad things that happen, and it was pretty depressing. I read it a couple months ago and still think about it sometimes. It’s very thought-provoking and reminded me how many good and easy things I have in my life.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller – This was such a good read, and like Demon Copperhead, also sad and hard to listen to at times. I’m so grateful for Chanel for sharing her story. Hearing the first hand account of a victim and everything she went through, not just with the assault, but for literally years after is really eye-opening. Her voice and the experiences of other victims is so important to changing the narrative and it was so brave of her to break her anonymity.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll- This book is a fictional story about victims of Ted Bundy. Even though it’s fictionalized, a lot of the details and experiences are similar to what his victims went through. I really liked that the focus was on the victims, I don’t know if his name was even mentioned in the books. It was definitely a disturbing and depressing read, but a page-turner for sure.

BIOGRAPHY

Spare by Prince Harry – Phew, the tea was hot in this one! I love following the royal family and am a big fan of Diana, so I really enjoyed his book. I did feel like he is kind of still in the middle of working through a lot of his feelings/experiences and I think he should have waited a few more years/a few more therapy sessions before writing this book.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears- This book made me sad for Britney. I hope she has people in her corner that support her better now.

XOXO, Cody by Cody Rigsby- I love Cody, but I was not the target audience for this book.

SELF HELP

Atomic Habits by James Clear- This was a good one to start the year out with, and in the same breath, I’m not sure if any of the “habits” actually stuck.

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown- I love Brené Brown’s books because I always go into them expecting one thing and I feel like I get so much more out of them. This book had a lot of great things to apply to any relationship. I was constantly bookmarking things to talk to my husband about to improve our relationship with each other, our kids, and the other people in our lives. I probably will read this one again at some point because it was that good!