I’ve been looking forward to writing this post!
It’s like a “Spotify Wrapped”, but for the books I read. I’m a bit of a nerd and love diving into all of the numbers. How many books did I read? What genres did I choose? What were my favorites?
According to my book journal, I read 79 books in 2023!! That’s an all-time record for me.
Let’s take a look at the breakdown and my top 10 picks from the year!
And just like that we are tying a bow on 2023.
I really don’t know where the time went. I know you always hear that the years go faster as you get older, but it’s so weird to experience. 2023 really did fly by.
December proved to be a strong month of reading, which included finishing up an 800+ page book that’s been on my list for a while:
– The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
– Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
– A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith
– The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
– Long Live the Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl
– The Only One Left by Riley Sager
– Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
Time for the reviews!
How are we already in the last few weeks of 2023? It’s like it was January, I blinked, and now, suddenly, I’m thinking about New Year’s resolutions again.
November wasn’t my biggest month of reading in terms of number of books, but several of these books were thick! (I also put a big dent in another 800-page book that will probably be included in my December recap).
Here’s the list:
-The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
-Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
-Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
-Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
-Up To Speed by Christine Yu
-What About the Baby?: Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction by Alice McDermott
Oddly enough, I am maintaining my near-even split between non-fiction and fiction even though I consider myself largely a fiction reader.
Let’s get into the reviews!
I was on a roll with reading this month, finishing 9 books! I really leaned into fiction, reading only two non-fiction books:
-Hollow Heathens by Nicole Fiorina
-Rootbound by Tarah Dewitt
-Cat Tale by Craig Pittman
-A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing
-The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman
-Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
-Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
-Pumpkin Spice Scare by Molly Maple
-The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
As you can see, the book choices are really all over the place. I had two holiday-esque books, romance, fantasy, and a memoir throw in there as well.
Let’s get into the reviews!
Since I’ve been on a big fantasy kick lately, I tried to force myself to read a few other books outside of that genre this month, including a horror novel in the spirit of fall.
I ended up reading six books in total for September:
-The Guest by Emma Cline
-Trail of the Lost by Andrea Lankford
-The Troop by Nick Cutter
-The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
-King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
-Bow Before the Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl
Let’s get into the reviews!
To say this year has been flying by would be an understatement.
I remember looking forward to summer one moment and now I find myself already thinking about the holiday season and enjoying pumpkin spice lattes. Time is so weird.
In August, my reading picked back up from the slower July and my trend of leaning toward fantasy continued.
August’s reads included:
-The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark
-King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
-Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St. Clair
-The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis
-Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
-Your Money Or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joseph Dominguez
-Cultish by Amanda Montell
Now for the reviews!
Despite my intentions to read some beach-y, fun summer books… that didn’t happen.
In fact, my reading seemed to slow way down this month. In part, because I was traveling and exhausted. But I did also tackle a 784-page book, so that likely played a role.
I still seem to be continuing my trend this year toward non-fiction and fantasy with July’s reads including:
-A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
-A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
-The Power of One More by Ed Mylett
-Ragdoll by Daniel Cole
-Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
Now for the reviews!
I have a confession.
Summer is only just officially in full swing… and yet, I find myself already opening my fall candles and smelling them. I love that time of the year, but I’m trying to get myself to embrace the season I’m in more. Maybe, I’ll actually read some summer/beachy books in July!
As for June’s reads, I’m continuing to read a lot of non-fiction (which is a bit surprising) and fantasy:
-A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
-Ledge by Stacey McEwan
-To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
-The Good Life by Marc. S Schulz and Robert J. Waldinger
-Mastering Plot Twists by Jane K. Cleland
-How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind by Dana K. White
-Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Now for the reviews!
I seriously can’t believe we are already halfway through the year! Where is the time going?!
I feel like I have so many things I want to work on and accomplish before the year’s end, but I can’t seem to get myself to actually do the things. Anyone else struggling with this lately?
Something I can get myself to do is read. In May, I read six books, four of which were non-fiction:
-The Practice by Seth Godin
-Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
-Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton
-A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
-Beach Read by Emily Henry
-The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker, PhD
Let’s get into the reviews!
This month felt like a whirlwind.
One minute it was April 1st and now suddenly I’m about to flip my calendar over to May. Time is so weird, but I am looking forward to summer (minus the extreme temperatures)! I’m definitely getting the urge to pick up some beach reads. Another Elin Hilderbrand novel may be in my near future.
For whatever reason, my lean toward non-fiction continues. I read 5 books in April, 3 of which were non-fiction. Here’s the list:
-The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
-Drinking Games by Sarah Levy
-Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
-Impossible Odds by Jessica Buchanan, Erik Landelmalm, & Anthony Flacco
-A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Let’s get into those reviews!