All the Books I Read in 2023
This post is loooong over due. I’ve been putting it off and putting it off and putting it off. It’s one of those things that feels like it will take a million years to put together. When in reality it will only take an hour. You know? Like folding those baskets of laundry that have been sitting or putting away the garden stuff at the end of the summer. I know you know.
Last year I challenged myself to read one book a month. I had a lot of the books picked out already because they were books lounging around my house waiting to be read. I desperately wanted to get back into reading. I love reading.
Well ladies and gentlemen, your girl did it. Not only did I read one book a month but I doubled that number. I read 24 books last year!
I know. I was shocked too.
Here are the books I read in 2023. These are not grouped by genre or category or alphabetized. I don’t have time for that. They’re listed as is on my Google spreadsheet. Sorry, not sorry.
All the Books I Read in 2023
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, Book 2, Elena Ferrante
The Story of a New Name, Book 3, Elena Ferrante
The Story of the Lost Child, Book 4, Elena Ferrante
My sister said the My Brilliant Friend t.v. series was really good so I bought the first book. The first book was so so so so good. There was so much juicy drama but also horrible trauma for the two best friends Lina and Lila. It took me almost a year to read the rest of the series. I was highly disappointed. Both characters became extremely irritating. Lila knows how to manipulate and take advantage. She sucks as a friend. Lina never stands up for herself. The last three books are about politics and Nino. I can’t even with Nino. He’s the “hot” guy that all the girls want to be with but he treats them like crap and you’re wondering what the ladies seen in him. Know a guy like that? I do!
Twilight, Book 1, Stephanie Myers
New Moon, Book 2, Stephanie Myers
Eclipse, Book 3, Stephanie Myers
Breaking Dawn, Book 4, Stephanie Myers
I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Granted the hype was back when I was in middle school. But I never got on the Twilight train then. And I am not on the Twilight train now. I’ve seen all the movies and thought they weren’t that great. Bella never smiled and always looked depressed. The books were the same. Not good. They were super quick to read and Bella cried the whole series. If you forced me to choose, I’d be team Jacob. You’re warm. You don’t have to stay out of the light. You’re super strong and buff. You can eat people food.
Tithe, Book 1, Holly Black
Valiant, Book 2, Holly Black
Ironside, Book 3, Holly Black
A friend recommended this series. This was my first time reading faerie fantasy books. I like happy, pretty fairies. These faeries cannot lie, they are mischievous, and I don’t think they are very pretty. Iron makes them sick. Kaye ends up in the middle of a dispute between the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Roiben tries to protect Kaye but in the end Kaye is the one protecting Roiben.
Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret, Judy Blume
The funniest book that took me back to 7th grade! Judy Blume really captures the essence of what it’s like to be in the oddest stage of life and waiting to grow up and become a woman—if you know what I mean. I thought the movie was the cutest thing ever. I cannot wait to see it with my girls when they’re older!
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
The language is a little difficult to follow. Either my brain “doesn’t get it” or it’s of the times and what can I do. The movie really helped to solidify I did actually know what was going on most of the time. Mr. Darcy is a grump a lump. I did not find Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet’s love story romantic at all. Most of the time Mr. Darcy is so serious but “he’s loved her the whole time”. Okay…
Persuasion, Jane Austen
Persuasion on the other hand… loved it. Captain Wentworth’s love notes made me cry. I’m getting bookbumps right now! (Bookbumps are goosebumps from books.) Despite everything, Captain Wentworth has only loved Anne Elliot. Unfortunately, Anne took the advice of a trusted friend not to marry him because he didn’t have any fortune. Anne deeply regretted her choice. Captain Wentworth later became a well known sailor and made loads of money. He wrote the most romantic letter ever to Anne and they rekindled their love. The movie with Dakota Johnson was amazing and also made me cry. I may or may not have watched it five times in one month.
Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens
OH EM GEE. Did not see the plot twist coming! Delia Owens did a really great job with description and making you feel like you were there. I could not put the book down. Kya lives on the marsh by herself. Her whole family has left her. She has to figure out how to survive on her own. She does but the town thinks she is a freak. The popular guy in town shows interest in her. His name is Chase. He ends up dead. Kya gets accused and acquitted of the murder. We find out at the very end who did it!
Sorcery of Thorns, Margaret Rogerson
An enemies to lovers book. Elisabeth Scrivener works in a library. Her job is to protect the books. Some of the more dangerous books get out and wreak havoc on nearby towns. Elisabeth later discovers what is really going on and who is behind the disasters. However, she has to trust an unlikely person to help her. Another enemies to lovers book.
Red Queen, Victoria Aveyard
This book has a bit of Hunger Games vibes. There the Reds and the Silvers. The Silvers have wealth and live a life of luxury. They also have special skills. The Reds are poor and work for the Silvers. Mare Barrow is a Red but discovers she has a hidden power because she is both Silver and Red. She partners with the Rebellion and is fighting to save her people.
November 9, Colleen Hoover
Fallon and Ben become friends and decide to meet on the same day every year—no communication in between meetings. So a year without talking. Crazy right? However, they end up crushing on each other. But Ben has a HUGE secret that was the best plot twist I had read in awhile.
Read my review of November 9 HERE.
Maybe Someday, Colleen Hoover
Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her with her roommate. She moves out and moves in with a deaf hot guy in her apartment complex. Sydney falls for the guy. His name is Ridge. But she finds out he has a long term girlfriend. Maggie. Sydney gets jelly and she and Ridge cheat. Talk about hypocrisy, right? Sydney cries the entire book. It is rather annoying.
Read my review of Maybe Someday HERE.
It Starts With Us, Book 1, Colleen Hoover
It Ends With Us, Book 2, Colleen Hoover
OBSESSED with book one. Not so obsessed with book two. Lily meets a guy, Ryle. He’s super hot and super cool and super smart. They end up dating. It’s all awesome sauce until it isn’t anymore. Turns out Ryle has anger issues and becomes abusive. Lily has to make a choice to stay with Ryle or leave. Book two follows the decision Lily makes in book one.
Take the Stairs, Rory Vaden
Rory Vaden is a Christian author. Take the Stairs is a guide to achieving success and making your dreams come true. It’s about doing the hard work… like taking the stairs versus the elevator (a.k.a the easy way). It’s about trusting God to use your gifts and getting out of your own way to use those gifts.
The Lifegiving Parent, Clay and Sally Clarkson
I read this book because a friend asked a couple of us girls if we wanted to read it together, book club style. I said yes because I’ve always wanted to do a book club. Turns out book clubs aren’t for me. (That’s another story for another day.) This book was so boring and the family dynamic was unrelatable. Clay explains how his family lives out the bible in “practical” ways. I found some of them odd/unrealistic. But hey, everyone is different and if it works for you then rock on!
The Power of a Positive Mom, Karol Ladd
I was feeling like I was a Debbie Downer when I read this book. It’s an easy read. She gives realistic and practical applications on how to implement positivity towards your children. Things like positive praise, praying for your kids, and practicing gratitude. Update: I no longer feel like a Debbie Downer.
It’s Not Supposed to be This Way, Lysa Terkheurst
A friend recommended I read this book. I was having a hard time getting over things that happened in the past—being dumped by boys, friends, life… Motherhood seemed extra hard. Who knew kids could cry so much. Anyways, I was able to see some meaning in the suckiness of things that happened and move on with my life. Lysa went through a divorce and shares her struggles while giving biblical, insightful thoughts on why things in life happen the way they do. She’s also pretty funny and relatable.
I need some new reads now! What are some of your favorite books? Let me know in the comments!
xo L.
