2023 was a year of lots of reading in my world! According to Goodreads, I read 46 books and over 16,000 pages this year. Here’s a rundown of my favorite titles, hot takes, and reading suggestions!
This post contains affiliate links which can earn me a small commission. I only use affiliate links for products that I myself use or strongly endorse.
Favorite of 2024
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
I loved a lot of the books I read this summer, but none got me like Book Lovers did. I’ve loved all of Emily Henry’s books, actually. But this romantic comedy about two competing book editors felt more personalized to me, as a fellow lover of books.
Here’s a description of my favorite book of 2023:
One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…
Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.
Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.
If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.
Honorable Mentions
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
A friend and fellow teacher has been urging me to read this book for years. I always put it off, explaining that the title sounded incredibly boring. This year my friend brought it up for the umpteenth time, explaining that she doesn’t read much, so an endorsement from her counts as more.
I finally read it this summer, finishing it in only 4 days. It’s a beautiful coming-of-age story, paired with symbolic meanings of flowers (a personal interest of mine).
Here’s a description of the book, taken from Goodreads.com:
The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
After loving Nine Perfect Strangers last year, I was excited to return to one of Moriarty’s books. I can’t say which is my favorite, but I definitely loved them both! This story, told with various points of view interspersed with police interviews, unfolds deliciously as you discover what happened in this small Australian town. I haven’t watched the series yet, but the book is almost certainly better!
A murder…A tragic accident…Or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.
Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare but she is paying a price for the illusion of perfection. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny. She comes with a mysterious past and a sadness beyond her years. These three women are at different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same shocking place.
Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the little lies that can turn lethal.
Bird Box by Josh Malerman
While I may have read a lot in 2023, I did not watch many movies! This is another book-t0-film adaptation I have yet to watch. I read the book on the suggestion of my dad, and an endorsement from him is very high praise. I love thrillers and this one blended just enough supernatural mystery to terrify me without taking me into fantasy territory.
Here’s a description of the book:
Something is out there . . .
Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.
Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?
Series I’m Obsessed With
The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn
You’ve probably heard of Bridgerton, the racy period series on Netflix. After tolerating the first season and liking the second, a friend recommended that I check out the books. It wasn’t until book three (Penelope and Colin’s story) that I became hooked, reading each subsequent installment faster and faster. I’m sad to have finished the series, but look forward to watching season 3 on Netflix over break!
I’m not typically a romance fan, but I feel like these avoid the “smut” label that most romances bear. They are also historically accurate period pieces that accurately depict the aristocratic lives of Englishmen and women. Julia Quinn, if you didn’t know, did graduate from Harvard, so she knows what she’s doing!
AP Lit Title
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
I was a little hesitant about reading Klara and the Sun after being disappointed with Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go. It’s true that Ishiguro writes in very subtle themes, so I wouldn’t call his books pleasure reads. However, the themes are extremely relevant today, as we battle wars against AI and finding true authorship. This book would pair well with Frankenstein and I look forward to suggesting it to my AP Lit students for independent reading.
Here’s a description of the book, taken from Amazon:
Here is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her. Klara and the Sun is a thrilling book that offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?
Biggest Disappointment
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
To describe why I hated this so much, I’m going to post my own Goodreads review, which goes more in depth than I’m known for:
Here are my problems with this book:
1)I listened to the audiobook, and McCurdy’s monotone voice and extremely fast way of talking was so hard to follow.
2) At no point does McCurdy realize the true harm her mom did and she never acknowledges that she did more harm than good. She defends her all the way through, until suddenly it’s over.
3) This is billed as a comedy. It’s not funny. Not even a little bit.
4) Despite this being a brutal tell-all about her family, she doesn’t acknowledge or thank them at any point.
Maybe I’d like this better if I knew her as a child star, but as an adult, this was very disappointing.
Most Accurate Depiction in Movies/TV
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Like many, I loved this book. (It has a 4.6 rating on Amazon and 4.3 on Goodreads.) I did, however, find the protagonist a bit halting and cold, despite behind brilliant and ahead of her time. I enjoyed Brie Larson’s depiction of Elizabeth Zott in the miniseries. While she is still calculated and serious, she brings some heart to the role that I missed in the initial read.
Best Audiobook
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
I read several books through Audible this year, but Tom Hanks’ reading of The Dutch House was my favorite. Not only is this a brilliant book (great for AP!), but Tom Hanks’ voice is just meant to be listened to. I also loved Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto, so I am excited to read more of her titles in the future.
Here’s a short description, taken from Amazon:
Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives, they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.
Best ReRead
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
I reread this book at the start of the new year as I worked on teaching materials for it. I loved the book on my first read and enjoyed it even more on the second reading. I’m quite proud of the materials I created for this book, so check them out if you haven’t yet!
Here’s a description from Amazon:
The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history, The Kite Runner transports readers to Afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction. A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.
Since its publication in 2003 Kite Runner has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic of contemporary literature, touching millions of readers, and launching the career of one of America’s most treasured writers.
Favorite New Author
Emily Henry
I read three Emily Henry books this year and Happy Place is on the docket for 2024. According to her bio, it seems like Emily Henry experimented with a few different novel types before finding success with her witty romances that we know and love. Film adaptations are in the works for three of her novels already!
Best Memoir
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Ugh, this book. I started it in October 2023 and Perry’s death occurred while I was in the middle of reading it. As a lifelong Friends fan, reading it was cathartic, both joyful and painful. I appreciated Perry’s blunt honesty and no-holds-bars approach to disclosing his dirty laundry. I also listened to the audiobook, which he narrated himself. His slurred speech made the book more authentic but didn’t impair my ability to understand him.
I don’t know why I’m drawn to stories about drug and alcohol abuse, but this one was one of the grittiest and most honest self-reflections I’ve read. For those interested in similar topics, I also recommend:
- Dopesick by Beth Macy (or the miniseries based on the book)
- Beautiful Boy by David Sheff
- Lit by Mary Karr
- Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
Best Poetry
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
I read this book on my way to and from the NCTE Conference, which was held in Columbus. Woodson was one of the conference’s Keynote speakers and she is from Columbus, so it was excellent for that particular travel. While I was unable to listen to her speech as I was getting over an illness, I loved this novel in verse. (My favorite novel in verse is Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, by the way!)
Other Books of 2023
Here are the rest of the books I read in 2023, paired with my rating of each. I’ve indicated if any were re-reads.
The Lying Game by Ruth Ware – 2/5. I usually love Ruth Ware’s books, but this one was sluggish and all of the characters were unlikeable. I recommend The Turn of the Key instead!
The Shining by Stephen King (re-read) – 5/5. SK is my favorite author, and this time my husband read it along with me!
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson – 2.5/5. The story’s happenings are extraordinary, but Anson writes like he’s reporting on the weather. No wonder it keeps getting made into movies…
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – 5/5. My first Emily Henry book, and God, I loved it.
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz – 4/5. I read this on recommendation of a student and it was very intriguing. I did guess the ending though, which never happens.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – 2/5. By the time I finished the book, I had forgotten everything about the murder.
Beach Read by Emily Henry – 5/5. Another Emily Henry masterpiece!
The Maid by Nita Prose – 4/5. This book reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, but with some mystery thrown in.
Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins – 3.5/5. I read this quickly and enjoyed it, but forgot about it soon after. I had to read a plot synopsis to jog my memory, but now I do remember enjoying it!
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – 1/5 – I hated Zevin’s AI-sounding writing style and found both the characters and story boring.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson – 5/5. I asked for the sequels for Christmas and didn’t get them, so I guess I’ll have to go buy them myself!
The It Girl by Ruth Ware – 3/5. This mystery was juicy but everyone in it kind of sucked…
Under a Flaming Sky by Daniel James Brown – 3/5. I’m sure I learned about the burning of Hinckley in Minnesota History in fifth grade, but of course I forgot it all. Brown’s book was very fact-based but the story itself is incredible, even if you’re not from Minnesota!
Congo by Michael Crichton – 1/5. I read this hoping it would be better than the movie. It’s not.
Not So Perfect Strangers by L. S. Stratton – 3/5. This thriller is a twist on the classic film, Strangers on a Train. It was so tense that it made me tense, which is both good and bad…
The Green Mile by Stephen King – 4.5/5. My husband and I listened to this audiobook on a road trip to Colorado. We have always loved the movie and can now say that it is very accurate to the book!
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware – 4.5/5. Ooh this was a good one. Love me some Ruth Ware!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins – 2.5/5. I’m sure you’ve read it (or know someone who has), but my review is similar to others’: the beginning is great, middle is good, and ending is TERRIBLE.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green – 5/5. I LOVED THIS BOOK. This collection of essays should be read with pen in hand and studied individually. It’s perfect for AP Lang teachers!
Artemis by Andy Weir – 2/5. My husband and I both love Andy Weir and have enjoyed The Martian and Project Hail Mary, but this shorter text by Andy Weir missed for us.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon – 4.5/5. I don’t normally read much young adult literature, but I devoured this one. It also had a huge plot twist at the end, which I loved!
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid – 3/5. There is nothing wrong with this book, I just hate tennis.
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry Gabrielle Zevin – 3.5/5. This book was charming and enjoyable, but a little bland.
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann – 1/5. Although these true events are compelling, I found Grann’s storytelling needlessly slow and deliberately boring.
The Need by Helen Phillips – 4/5. Not too many people have heard of this book but I highly recommend it. I found the plot line very compelling and have been telling everyone, especially fellow mothers, all about it.
What were your favorite books from 2023? Please leave me a comment and let me know!
