2023 feels like a blink-and-you-missed-it kind of year. It has gone so quickly and I can barely believe it is already December!
I read fewer books this year than I normally do. Only 38 so far, but I have overwhelmingly enjoyed most of them with only five rated lower than three hearts. Two of those books never made it to this blog because I didn't even finish them (we don't think it's fair to review books we don't finish). Four books appear on both my list and Amy's this year, which means if you haven't read those four yet, you absolutely should!
I didn't read any nonfiction books or any cookbooks this year. I did read several crochet pattern books but I loved them all so I'm not going to pick a favorite. As always, this list is not in any order, but these are the books I've been recommending to people when asked. Be sure to click on the title to get the full blog review.
Favorite Fiction:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
An absolutely delightful novel, filled with charming, interesting characters, I was drawn in to
the story from the first page. There is a mystery to solve, connections to be made,
friendships and family to discover. The cast of side characters,
each with their own stories and subplots, add to the dynamics of this
fascinating tale. Sure, there are plenty of predictable elements in
this novel, and it's clear their lives will come together somehow but it
is a pleasure to watch it unfold. I read the book and listened to the audiobook of this novel at the same time and it could also be a candidate for favorite audiobook because the narrators were wonderful. This is also on Amy's favorites list for a reason — it's a great book!
A book about female friendship, believing in your own worth, and the power of a good shoe. What more could a woman want? After a gym bag mix-up, two women must figure out if they are more than the clothes that they wear. Another book that I listened to and read in print, I would also add this to my list of favorite audiobooks of the year as Daisy Riddle's narration was spectacular. It was Moyes' story of female friendship, however, that really held my attention throughout.
Favorite Young Adult:
All My Rage by Sabaa TahirRage. Rage is not the only emotion in this amazing novel,
but rage courses through every page, infusing itself into every other
emotion as it plays out. Rage at the hardships that immigrants face as they try to
fight their way toward fulfilling their own American dream. Rage at the
power of addiction to blow apart lives and families and how powerless it
can make loved ones feel. Rage at how difficult it can be to escape an
abusive home, how hard it is to get help. Rage at the loss of loved ones
gone too soon. So. Much. Rage. And yet, that rage is also
paired with love and friendship and family. All My Rage was a gripping
story from beginning to end and I found myself compelled to finish it
and find out what would happen to Noor and Salahudin.
What if every single human on earth instantly got a genie and one wish. The world would be changed forever as wishes and desires transform the world and the people on it. Soule and Browne have created a thought-provoking series that explores the ways humanity changes when anything a person wants is possible — once. How these wishes help, harm, collide, and cancel one another plays out across the pages.
Favorite Audiobook:
Oliver
is a middle school moron. At least, that's what he wants everyone
around him to believe. The truth is, Oliver is the third richest person
on earth with a devoted
and well-paid staff of minions at his disposal.
He just has to make sure that his parents, teachers, and the other kids
at school continue to believe in his incompetence. When his father waxes
poetic about his own history as class president, however, Oliver sees it
as a challenge and plots to prove that any moron can become class
president... even him.
I can't recommend the audiobook highly enough, because Marc Thompson's
voice repertoire is an absolute delight- especially when
differentiating between Oliver's public voice and his evil inner
monologue!
I loved every minute of O'Leary's adorably infuriating characters. Once
again, O'Leary has created a fun rom-com setting with lovely
characters, a silly misunderstanding that could be easily solved if the
characters would have a conversation, and then just allows the tension
to build like Augustus Gloop stuck in the chocolate room's pipe. In other words, the perfect, fun vacation book!
Here's to another great year of reading ahead in 2024. In case you're curious and looking for more reading ideas, here's a link to my favorites lists from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Also don't forget to check out Amy's Favorite Books of 2023, too, which will be posted tomorrow!
No comments:
Post a Comment