Hi, hello, it’s me. I am alive and well, with a one year old crawling around my feet as I write this. So much has happened this year, and also, I read a lot of books. Back in January, I set a Goodreads goal of 52 books. I figured one book a week was a reasonable expectation for life with a newborn.
I hit that goal in August.
Since then, I’ve upped my goal to 90 (which I hit in November), and I’m currently on track to read 110 books this year. WILD. While some of my goals have had to fall away a bit (goodbye, nonfiction), I’m still really proud of everything I’ve accomplished this year, including becoming a parent.
If you’re interested, here’s my year-end wrap ups from 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017. *Note that this post has statistics updated through 12/25/2023. I will do a final update on the numbers (but likely not the graphs) at the end of the year.
The Stats
Number of Books I Read: 109
Average Books Read Per Month: 9.08
Number of Re-Reads: 3 (This is the first year in 10 years I don’t read a Harry Potter book!)
Number of Books I Quit: 9
Average Year of Publication: 2018
Total Pages Read: 18,954 pages
Total Audiobook Hours: 531.5 (a huge increase from last year!)
Average Number of Pages Per Book: 365
Average Rating Given: 3.98
Visual Stats
Diversity Goals
Additionally, I have a goal of reading at least one nonfiction, one book written by an author of color, and one book featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist each month.
- Total Nonfiction: 10 Books
- Total Written by a Person of Color: 30 Books
- Total Featuring an LGBTQIA+ Character: 19 Books
These numbers are lower across the board from where I was at the end of 2022, and I hope to get them back up next year.
And now, on to the books…
I’ve decided to switch it up this year… there were too many books that I loved and wanted to mention that wouldn’t fit neatly into any one category. So instead of “Best Of” categories, I’ve decided to go with superlatives. Some of them are classic, others are a bit more wacky, but I hope you take them all as they are intended to be – a glowing recommendation of a book I loved.
Best Adult Fiction
Babel by R.F. Kuang was a book that completely surprised me. It’s a long one (nearly 550 pages), but it was such a great mix of both the fantasy and adventure of a young boy and a scathing commentary on colonialism and elitism. Just as it felt too heavy in the commentary, we would fall back into adventure. Just as we were getting swept up in the adventure, the author would force the characters to make a decision that would have wide implications. I thought the execution of this novel was brilliant, and it really spoke to me in a way I wasn’t expecting at all.
Honorable Mentions: The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Best Young Adult Fiction
Far From the Tree by Robin Benaway is a story of three children who are separated from their parents. Two were adopted, and one was placed in the foster care system. When the children (and I say children, but I mean teenagers) find out that they have siblings, they go on a quest to connect to each other and to their mother. It was… profound. Each character had their own backstory that was compelling, and this book on audio was excellent. I laughed. I cried. Not all YA books have adult appeal, but this one most definitely does.
Honorable Mentions: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Best Nonfiction
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe was… awful. And I say that with full understanding that I am recommending this book to you. I’ll be honest, I mostly enjoy memoirs for nonfiction, and this one is more of a history/biography. But wow, did it hook me in. The history of the Sackler family and the legacy they left in America is… not great. And hearing about the family from back in the 1930s until today was especially insidious. Even though this audiobook was over 18 hours long, I could not stop listening, and I actually finished it in a week. So good. So infuriating. So good.
Honorable Mentions: What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
Best on Audio
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo was so, so good on audio. This is a memoir about Complex PTSD, and it was a tough listen. I read this months ago and still have very vivid memories from hearing her describe her father beating her with a golf club. However, aside from it being an author-narrated memoir (my favorite!), the author also included actual recorded audio of her therapy sessions. To say this was mind-blowing is an understatement. I immediately wanted to ask my therapist if we could record my therapy sessions for me to listen to (I didn’t ask, but I wanted to lol).
Honorable Mentions: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Best Series
This is so silly, but wow did these books get me through the year. I read all five in the series, with the first in February and the last one in December. When I needed a break from all the heartache and devastation in the world, Bromance was there for me. Honestly, I’m not ever interested in reading a male perspective again, unless it’s written by a female. This whole series is a little ridiculous but also perfectly wonderful.
Honorable Mention: A River Enchanted and A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross
Best Book Club Pick
There will certainly be a longer blog post to come about our book club picks this year. They were overwhelmingly awesome, and the couple that didn’t hit the mark at least left us plenty to discuss. We also may never forget #Krampus.
Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon was an overwhelming favorite amongst the group. As of this writing, no one gave it less than 4 out of 5 stars, and all of us wanted to have a French 75 or two after we finished reading it. There’s just something so compelling about a WWII heroine, and this is a story about a real life woman (Nancy Wake) who played a major role in the Allied forces. She was feminine and crass and brave and vulnerable and whew, we could not get enough of her story. If you are someone who enjoys historical fiction, this is a must read.
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan was another runaway winner this year, which is surprising since our July picks are usually pretty lowkey. But we could not stop talking about this book at beach trip, and after. It’s a romance centered around two people who are separated and heading for divorce. There’s some weight to this story, and a trigger warning for stillbirth/miscarriage. But there’s also some steam in this story, and the trust that (hopefully) it all works out for the characters. If you’re a fan of romances that have serious plot, or you are looking for a way to add some diversity into your rom-com readings, this is an excellent choice.
Most Likely to Make You Cheer
The Change by Kirsten Miller is such a badass book. Three women, all going through menopause, decide to lean into their new powers to take down a man who has been killing girls. Yes, menopause gave them powers (may we all be so lucky). I categorized this as a murder mystery, because it is, but it’s also magical realism and general kickassery. The friendship that these women form was so beautiful, and the ending of the book literally had me gasping. I recommend for all females ever.
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González was a different type of “make you cheer”. When I started the novel, it felt a bit light, a bit fluffy, in a main-character-is-a-wedding-planner sort of way. But as the story went on, more and more inequalities and corruption exposed themselves, and by the end of this book, I was ready to start a revolution. I did have a bit of whiplash because the book changed tones as it went on, but whew, looking back, that’s part of what made it so powerful.
Most Likely to Make You Cheer for Characters You Hate
Look, I do not love a villain story. I am not the type to cheer for the bad guy. But these two books made me root for the characters, even while acknowledging that the characters were kind of awful.
Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake was… fantastic. It’s a love story! But it’s definitely not a rom-com… let’s call it literary romance? Our two protagonists are self-centered, egotistical, brash, and, frankly, rich pricks. But they show just enough vulnerability to make us hope that they find each other and stay together. And Blake’s writing… oof. It was SO excellent.
Speaking of Olivie Blake…. maybe she just writes so well that I don’t mind that the characters are assholes? The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake is another novel (first in a series) where the main characters are just… brats. Each are assholes in their own way, whether it’s the rich snob, the intellectual, the do-gooder… they are all insufferable. So why couldn’t I look away? Because it’s a very well-written trainwreck rolling down the tracks, and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended up. Plus the premise of this one (six people selected for outstanding magic ability to keep the library of Alexandria afloat) realllllly sucked me in. This novel was definitely more academic than Alone with You in the Ether, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend one if you liked the other, but I really enjoyed them both.
Best #TBT
Even though I’ve read less historical fiction this year, I couldn’t not include a historical fiction category…
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner was set in San Fransisco during the 1906 earthquake. Yes, there was a massive earthquake there in 1906 and it was devastating… see what I learn from reading historical fiction? This book was a little bit about the earthquake and a lot a bit about friendship and resilience and revenge and found family. In my review, I wrote that anyone who “enjoys seeing bad dudes get what they deserve” should read this one, and that feels right.
Look, Kate Quinn can do no wrong, and, while I pre-ordered The Diamond Eye, I somehow waited a whole year to read it. I don’t know why I do this to myself, but at least I have good taste in picking books for my own reading because WHEW I loved this novel. This book was about a female sharpshooter who is Russian, and the whole novel is pretty heavy on the Russian pride. It was really so captivating from the very beginning, and our main character Mila is such a badass – my favorite kind of female heroine.
Most Wholesome
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer was so nostalgic and beautiful. It took me right back to being a child and loving a book series so much, while also giving us some really interesting characters and setting. I read it in 24 hours. I didn’t even have time to mark it as “Currently Reading” before I finished it. If you’re looking for a warm hug wrapped in a cozy mystery, this is it.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson was a surprise read for me. This book is definitely more action-packed and feels a bit more… uncertain? But the narrator is hilarious, the main character is so earnest, and the adventure is so exciting. I loved the world that Sanderson created, and the cast and crew were so fun to cheer for. The book took twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, but it was really just heartwarming from start to finish.
Most Likely to Make You Appreciate Your Family
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach is a book that was not on my radar until the Tournament of Books shortlist came out, but I’m so glad I read it. It’s narrated by a girl whose sister dies, and the teenager left behind is stuck trying to figure out how to move past that death. The novel spans decades and is narrated directly to her sister (which means it’s directly to the reader). It was a beautiful show of grief and resilience.
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson takes a different approach to making you appreciate your family…. in that you will appreciate that your family is (hopefully) not this crazy. I loved loved loved this book, and it may well be one of my most recommended of the year. It’s a murder mystery (of course) but the author speaks to the reader, pointing out clues, giving them side information, and letting them know the page number of each death so they can be prepared. It was hilarious and fun and made me feel like an actual sleuth trying to solve the case.
Most Likely to Make You Say “WHAT?!”
This is a category that feels necessary this year only because these two books that I read were really, really off the wall. I think what made both of these books so wild was that they were set in our everyday world. Other than the bizarre, the environment felt like it could be realistic fiction.
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is about a man… who turns into a shark. Not figuratively. He literally transforms from a man in a loving relationship and who has a real job and everything into… a shark. Apparently that was one of the tougher transitions in this world (which felt basically exactly like our world, except with people who turn into animals). We see it being used as a metaphor for someone who has a terminal illness, and man, this book was HEARTFELT. Did I cry? Maybe. It was just really powerful.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova is one that I just picked up this month, and it opens with an 11 year old boy dying and his mom cutting open his chest to save a piece of his lung. Yes. I know. This book was certainly not for everyone, but wow. It was so powerful. For a book in translation, it had complexity, emotion, and longing. Not all books can pull off a grieving mother growing a new sentient being from a piece of her dead son’s lung, but this book did it, and did it so well.
Most Realistic Love Story
Does “most realistic” mean that the characters actually break up (not in a third-act-they-will-definitely-get-back-together way)? Maybe. It definitely means that the characters fight and struggle to figure out themselves and who they are within and outside of the relationship.
I never expected to loveYerba Buena by Nina Lacour as much as I did. This book felt SO REALISTIC. Two women meet, interest sparks but the timing isn’t right. They go through struggles. They come together. They fall apart. Will they get back together? The ending didn’t feel like a foregone conclusion… I was really anxious about how it would go.
I picked up Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler on a whim this month, and fell right into the story. This story felt… familiar. I feel like every woman has a story of a man who pressured her or ghosted her or pushed her to do things she may not be comfortable with. Every woman has gone above and beyond for a man who didn’t appreciate it. While this book could have been *too much*, it actually struck a really nice balance, and in the end, it was more about Adelaide’s growth than who she was attached to. And I loved that.
Most Likely to Leave You Sobbing
My husband, while crying during Hallmark movies, told me I have no heart. Not true… I don’t cry for movies, but I certainly cry while reading books and these two…. whoosh.
The Measure by Nikki Erlick was not a book I expected to be in this category but very much belongs in this category. One morning, everyone wakes up with a box outside of their door, and in it, there’s a string. The string tells them how long their life will be. There was so much nuance to this novel, so many different conflicts, both personal and worldwide, that these strings inspired. If you’re someone who enjoys books about the human perspective and motivation, this is an excellent book for that. Also, bring tissues.
On the other hand, As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh will wreck your soul from page one. It’s set in a war-torn Syria, and our main character is a pharmacy student turned doctor in a hospital. I read this just before the war in Israel broke out, and it made that real-world experience even more devastating. This is a book that your soul must absolutely be ready to tackle, but it will be worth the heartache with its beauty and pain.
Most Likely to Help You Finish Your GR Goal
These short little novels are captivating and quick!
My Murder by Katie Williams was a bit out of the box, but in a fun way! The main narrator gives us the POV of a clone. Yes. A woman was murdered by a serial killer, then brought back as a clone… until she starts to wonder about how she was murdered. It was meta, it was quirky, it was a page turner. It is technically sci-fi, but it felt more like a literary murder mystery.
The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon is such a quick read. It’s set over the course of just a few hours, but the flashbacks and movement of the plot give a real dimension to the characters. Our narrator is the wife of a man who just lost an election for a state Congress seat. She’s hosting a dinner party, but she’s concerned about the FBI showing up… and the suspense builds. For such a quick read, it really left an impact on me.
Best Distraction from the World
Julia Whelan is my favorite audiobook narrator (yes, I have one of those), and when I saw Thank You for Listening I knew I had to listen. It was… so good. It felt a bit like a peek behind the curtain of audiobook narration, with a killer love story, a grandmother relationship, and excellent intrigue. Clearly, this one should be done on audio!
Emily Henry has become a must-read author for me, and Happy Place was so good. It’s a fake dating and second chance romance trope, both of which are not necessarily my favorite, but I really got sucked into the main character’s story. Also, who doesn’t envision taking a vacation with all of your best friends? I will say that the main character’s actions felt a bit close to home (she’s definitely an enneagram 9), and it occasionally felt like it was holding up a mirror, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Best Books to Help You Empathize
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir tells the story of two teenagers who are put in a tight spot and have to fight their way out. Rage is a good word to describe the way I felt when I read this novel; these teenagers (kids!) are struggling with so much, too much, and watching the fallout of their decisions hurt my soul. I know that this book described a reality I’ll never experience but that so many do, and it was heartbreaking to not be able to reach into this novel and comfort these kids. The list of trigger warnings is long on this one, but it was so impactful.
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty was my first book of 2023, and I’m still thinking about it. It’s set in a low-income housing complex and, while it focuses on one main character, there are many side narratives about the other people who live in these apartments. Our main character is a girl who aged out of the foster system and is now struggling to find her way in a small town that is on the decline. This is another novel where I wanted to just reach through the pages and give her a hug… Heartbreaking but it gave me another perspective of poverty in small town America.
Most Likely to Make You Believe in Magic
I am such a sucker for some fantasy and magical realism, especially this year when I really needed an escape.
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs was SUCH a fun read. I love when magic is treated in a new and interesting way, and I got it in this novel. There is friendship and romantic relationships and family relationships and class structures and… really such a fun and interesting tale. It’s one that I’ve recommended widely because the magic is there but not confusing, and the subplots are excellent.
A River Enchanted and A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross converted me to duologies. I loved this island, I loved the warfare and clan connections, and I loved the wait everything came together in the end. Honestly, I had to check to make sure there were only two in the series because whew, it felt like the story was so big and sprawling. This one is very atmospheric, and closer to high fantasy than magical realism, but everything was believable. I wanted to live in that world forever.
Best Dressed
Otherwise known as books you want to have on your shelf for both the inside and the outside. And books I couldn’t make fit any other category but also needed to have on this list.
Dani Shapiro’s memoir was one of my favorite nonfiction books a few years ago, so when I saw this novel by her, I knew I had to grab it. And it did not disappoint. It was a shorter novel, but it was full of characters that I loved. It’s definitely a character study – the plot happens but it jumps back and forth by decades and the plot matters much less than the way the characters come to terms with what’s happening to them. The writing was poignant and beautiful and hit me in my soul.
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich, on the other hand, was an adventure. There’s a haunted bookstore, and we live this book through Covid and all of the racial unrest of 2020. It is literary, so there’s a lot of character study here as well, but the plot moves forward, with us trying to figure out where this ghost is coming from and why it won’t leave. There was discussion of class, of background, of culture, of motherhood, of old age… this book had so much and I loved getting to discuss it with book club.
