Books I Read In 2023

I would like to say that this year I experimented a bit more than previous years with my book selection. As I have probably mentioned I started my reading journey with Self Help books or as I like to call them Self Development books.

I read “Girl Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis and to this day I play it back when I lack confidence and drive. I know that this book has gathered a bit of controversy due to the lack of wording but people need to stop being so sensitive to literally everything…

Then I was recommended “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover back in 2018 before TikTok and BookTok… I like to say I was one of the new bunch who raved about her books back in the day that led Colleen to follow me on my Instagram. Yes, yes I will always mention that Colleen follows me on Instagram because that is an accomplishment now that she has a 2M followers.

Then I read Verity by Colleen which that is when I found the love of a good psychological thriller book.

I stayed on the psychological thriller path for years then last year I dabbled in romance a lot more than this year I picked up fantasy as a genre.

With that being said here is my 2023 recap

1. Before I Let Go by Ryan Kennedy

I loved this book and I marked the crap out of it with some heartfelt quotes… oh and I cried but we do not talk about that.

2. Spare by Prince Harry

I enjoyed reading about someones life that I can NEVER relate to. I wanted to hear/read his side of the story since we all know the media POV. PS I mostly read it because I look up to Meghan Markle she is so eloquent, smart and classy.

3. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I mean can we talk about heartbreak… this book had to bawling, eyes puffy and everything…. LOVE this book!

4. Last Girl Ghosted

I had to look up my review of this book because I did not remember what it was about but apparently I loved it. I think “loved it will be thrown around this blog post a lot” The Last Girl Ghosted is about a crazy “dating” story oh how the main author gets ghosted from her boyfriend and he disappears no trace of him.

5. The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter

This book is a series and duh I didn’t know at the beginning that but it is still great stand alone. It’s a book that had a lot of detail and layers.

6. Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren

I am a sucker for this book…. this romance, second chance love trope kind of books are to die for. This book is about teenagers that find each other again in the future because duh they were meant to be together!!! Anyways no, wonder I love “The Notebook” (movie never have read the book)

7. Twisted Love by Ana Huang

I just didn’t get the hype… this book seems toxic… just no. I need more depth to characters something I can cling to so I can root for.

8. The Housemaid by Frida McFadden

No, immediately no just read “The Last Mrs. Parrish” it’s the same book. Also, I refuse to read her books I feel like she blatantly copies other authors. Plead Fridas case below… if you disagree.

9. The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

I thought I was tripping when I read this book because the answer was obvious but I was wrong. It’s an enjoyable book.

10. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Picture this: It’s 6:30am I am listening to the book while I am doing my makeup…. the big “bammm” section of the book happens right when I am putting on mascara and then all you hear is me saying “noooo are you serious I just put on mascara I can not cryyyy I have to go to workkkk” I am in disbelief even going up the elevator to work. This book did a number on me and had me binge watching War World II movies for weeks to come.

11. Evidence of Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This was my first kindle read. It’s a short story with so much emotion. You’ll read it in a couple of hours if you need a quick book. PS. it’s free on the kindle app.

12. The IT Girl by Ruth Ware

Ruth Ware has never disappointed me this book will hook you and have you playing detective on who done it. You won’t expect it, so it’s a surprise.

13. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Surprising this is the only Colleen Hoover I read this year and surprisingly I really liked it. I have heard mixed reviews about this series. It’s so good!!! Yeah so buy it!

14. The Quiet Tenant

I joined “Thrillers by The Bookclub Jax” and this was the first book I read that was chosen by the hosts and it was DARK. I love psychological thrillers but this was darker than what I have read in the past. I would recommend it but I wouldn’t have minded if I never read it.

15. All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers

The only reason why I wanted to read this book was because I am a fan of the podcast “Crime Junkie” and Ashley is the host and owner of this podcast and many. Also this book was amazing the ending had me mad because I want to know what happened like whyyyy cut the book there?! Miss Verity kind of ending!

PS. This was my white elephant gift for Thrillers by the Book Club Jax. (join us I am one of the hosts)

16. Happy Place by Emily Henry

Predictable but so good!!! The layers in the characters aka second chance of love trope… I mean this is it right here.

17. The Maid by Nita Prose

Honestly this book made me mad… I could not relate to the main character because of her awareness of the situations upset me but it was still a great book the ending kind of reminded me of “Where the Crawdads Sing”

18. A Court of Thorn & Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Beauty and the Beast kind of vibes with a lot of world building. My first fantasy book and I didn’t like it but the last few chapters made up for the pain.

19. A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J. Maas

LOVE IT! Had everything. Character building, world building, aka bob the builder kind of book a lot of building with emotions and fire!

20. A Court of Wing & Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

I mean I cried, I screamed… anxiety at a time high…. this book had it all.

21. A Court of Frost & Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

This was a holiday kind of book to me kind of like a Hallmark movie type of book. It was alright… a bit bland.

22. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

This book is A LOT and I loved it. Also… it’s written a bit differently from the other books and it might take a few chapters to get used to it.

23. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

The ending was too fast that was the only downfall of this book. PS. it’s free on the kindle app.

24. Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Another Bookclub pick and what a pick! It was so twisted and well written.

25. Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

Sad to say but this was a disappointment, the characters started to get too complicated and following the whole string of how they’re related to one another was a lot.

26. None of This is True by Lisa Jewel

Wow, I mean this book had to yelling “trust your gut” and then the ending was like wait was my gut wrong what just happened. Another Verity kind of ending.

27. Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter

I was confused on who was who, so I had to go back to see which detective was who and what they did.

28. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Similar to the movies but there were a few things that were not, that do affect the course of the other 3 books.

29. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I just loved this series, but they played down their traumas a LOT.

30. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

By this point of the book everyone was a literal drug addict and their brains too affected by the games. Greattttt book just couldn’t stop comparing to the books.

31. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

So good…… please watch the movie too.

32. Fourth Wing by Rebeca Yarros

It’s good, if you’re reading it skip the below.

Okay “A Court of Mist and Fury” wait I mean Fourth Wing. I liked it but seemed a bit similar to “Game of Thrones and the White Walkers and how many die if you kill the one who created them etc….

33. Currently Reading “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros