Category: books

2023, books

My Year in Books: 2023

Charlotte

The other day, I did a silly Instagram challenge picking my favorite book that I read every month. Before finishing this task, I thought that this would be a great way to see what my favorite books for the year were…but it really did not! Given the year that I had–a stressful job hunt, reading slumps, etc.–it’s no wonder that some months had slim pickings and others were chock full of good books. 

I also didn’t read as much as I did in 2022. In 2022, I blew through my GoodReads goal eventually reading 108 books. Thus, I went into this year COCKY AF. I set my goal at 100 books, but before February was out, I had to change it because I was already so far behind. I changed it to 65 books, and spent most of the year behind. In October, I shifted my goal to 70 and just this week I met that goal. I will likely go a little over. (Is it cheating to adjust your goal? I don’t think so. I didn’t like that I was feeling stressed out about a FUN GOAL, so I’m allowing myself to change my goals!) 

At the end of 2022, I set two goals for my reading in 2023: (1) to read more diversely, both in terms of genre and to read more books by diverse authors, (2) to read more non-fiction. I don’t know that I really met either of those goals–but I didn’t really set benchmarks so I don’t have a better way to evaluate. For the first goal, were some of my authors BIPOC? Yes. Were some authors queer and did they tell queer stories? Yes. Is the majority of my fic still written by white people? Yep. Women, at least but still a lot of white women. Most of my fiction was written by Americans or Europeans (not exclusively), but still a majority. Clearly, I have work to do here. As for non-fiction…I unequivocally failed to finish many non-fiction books. I did read a few self-improvement books, but I don’t count those. 0/2, zero stars on achieving those goals–but I will continue to try to increase these stats every year. 

On to my top 10 favorite books I read in 2023, not including re-reads, in order of how I read them. 

  • House of Sky and Breath, Crescent City #2, (series) Sarah J Maas: In 2022, I discovered ACOTAR and read the first of the Crescent City books. I have unabashedly joined the ranks of SJM girlies and am waiting with bated breath for the third installment of this series. Admittedly, when I started Crescent City I was put off by the ~*modern*~ setting rather than the historical one, but like all of her other books, I was sucked in. 
  • Thursday Murder Club, (series) Richard Osman: I read all of the books currently released in this series this year. I love a good multi-narrator mystery where the line of good and bad is constantly redrawn and characters are a little morally gray. This series is a great addition to the canon of murder mysteries set in Britain–it follows a group of 4 septu- and octogenarians who solve murders. It’s not your grandma’s Murder She Wrote though (I say as someone who deeply loves her some Jessica Fletcher and MSW.)
  • Kingdom of Ash, Throne of Glass #8, Sarah J Maas: I’m not great at separating individual books from their series. They’re all one big story. Throne of Glass was an adventure. I laughed. I cried. I think it–for all intents and purposes–has replaced Harry Potter as *my* series. It also might be why I failed to hit 100 books this year. I think I spent the rest of the year recovering from and trying to find the next best thing to TOG. Forever chasing that feeling of reading an amazing new series again. I have already been fighting the urge to re-read it. (Should we take bets on how long it takes me to reread it into 2024?)
  • A Shadow in the Ember, Fire & Flesh #1, Jennifer L. Armentrout: An incredibly polarizing author on BookTok, I was nervous about starting to read Armentrout’s books. It helped satiate my desire for a bunch of romantasty books and fill that SJM hole in my life, even if her books need some massive structural editing (especially the From Blood and Ash series.) I would not make the argument that her books are good in quality but they are candy. I think a lot of the problems with FBaA are fixed in the F&F books. They are much better and tighter reads and narratives. 
  • Fourth Wing, The Empyrean #1, Rebecca Yaros: This is an interesting one to include on this list. I read this and devoured it. I was sucked in immediately. It wasn’t perfect, but I was immediately taken in by the DRAGONS and the enemies-to-lovers plotline. I couldn’t wait for the upcoming sequel Iron Flame. However, Iron Flame disappointed me so much that I didn’t finish it. It was a painful read and I just didn’t want to keep going. I skimmed the rest and it’s up in the air whether I will ever finish it. I debated whether to put Fourth Wing on my favorites list then…but I think it qualifies. I even BOUGHT MERCH. 
  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Sangu Mandanna: This is a book that I tried to read once before but just wasn’t in the right mood (a frustrating thing for me). I decided to try again during the spooky season and fortunately, I was in the right mood. It was a charming story about found family, love, and magic. 
  • The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch, Melinda Taub: I have had an uneven history with sequels or re-tellings of Jane Austen. I find that most try too hard to be like Austen in style (which feels off) or they do something that tries to disrupt the “happy ending,” which I think is boring. I saw authors I enjoyed saying that they quite liked this book, and I do happen to LOVE imaginative retellings through the eyes of other characters and I was especially interested in how one would rehabilitate Lydia Bennet, the incredibly scandalous and obnoxious youngest sister in Pride & Prejudice. Reader, it was not like Austen, and it didn’t try to be, it was simply the story of a known character and it was good. I enjoyed it thoroughly and I look forward to what this author does next. 
  • Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date, Bright Falls #3, Ashley Herring Blake: The first book in this series was in my top 10 last year. I had the wonderful privilege of getting this book at an author event at one of my favorite Nashville bookstores, Parnassus Books. Like the two books in the series, it was a charming and emotional romance that hit all the right spots for me, totally grumpy sunshine, and very cute. I can’t wait to see what Ashley Herring Blake does next! 
  • Six of Crows, Six of Crows #1, Leigh Bardugo: I started Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse a little backwards, starting with this duology rather than the main trilogy but I think it will be fine. This quasi-dystopian, multi-perspective heist was so much fun and tense. I happened to read this around when I saw Inception for the first time (yes, I know I’m 10 years late on that), and it was so fun to think about what goes into a heist movie. 
  • Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson: This was a great whodunit, definitely a twist on the unreliable narrative trope, with tons of fun twists that kept you guessing. I had a hunch, but I didn’t figure it out and I usually do, so that was nice. 

2023 Take Aways

  • 2023 was the YEAR OF ROMANTASY for me. Though I first read ACOTAR in 2022, it was the majority of what I read in 2023, and it’s the kind of stories I want more of. 
  • Historical Romance–the kind without magic and fae–my longstanding ‘home’ genre–barely made a dent this year; though it did make a mild appearance. There have been more closed-door/non-spicy historical romances popping up and that proved annoying to me. 
  • I only re-read 6 books, which is wild for a committed rereader. (And five of them were ACOTAR -.-). 
  • While I didn’t read to my goals (diversity, non-fiction) I did read more adventurously. I tried a lot of new authors. 
  • Gosh I’m a sucker for a series. I love finding something that’s reliably good and knowing that there’s more where that came from. Hence, I think, why I was so bummed Iron Flame in no way lived up to The Fourth Wing. 
  • I read long books. My average book was 456 pages long in 2023. Almost 100 pages higher than my 2022 average. 
2022, books, Personal, Top 10, Travel

2022 in Review

Charlotte

My first full year in Nashville was a momentous one. Here’s a look back in pictures of some of the highlights.

2022 was the year of the musical…..

I saw ten* live stage shows this year, nine of which were musicals, including my FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, and FIFTH shows on Broadway. (I never did a full write up of my second trip to NYC where I saw Funny Girl, A Strange Loop, and SIX, but maybe I will, because I still have thoughts.) I saw PATTI FREAKING LUPONE, Sutton Foster, Hugh Jackman, Beanie Feldstein, and Jane Lynch.

*Shows on Broadway: The Music Man, Company, Funny Girl, A Strange Loop, and Six; Broadway at TPAC: Mean Girls, Hamilton, Oklahoma!, and To Kill a Mockingbird; Nashville Rep: RENT

I wish I could afford to do this every year, but instead I will see every traveling show that I can at TPAC and most things that the Nashville Repertory Theatre does. Already have two shows on the books for early 2023!

2022 was the year of finally having bariatric surgery….

After a long wait, I finally had bariatric surgery. It’s been a journey, and I’m so glad to be on THIS side of things. I’ve lost almost 75 pounds since surgery, and almost 140 lbs since beginning this process. The best part of this journey is just FEELING better. While none of my numbers were in danger territory, they were all on the high end of normal pre-surgery, and 6 months post op my blood sugar, cholesterol, etc., are all on the lower end of normal. I feel in control around food and trust my body in ways I did not before.

2022 was the year of flying to LaGuardia thrice…..

I took the exact same flight to LaGuardia from Nashville three times this year (it was at 5:50 AM). I flew literally nowhere else all year either. Two trips to NYC one in January and May, and then a trip to NJ in August to see one of my besties and to finally meet my godson! I hadn’t been to NYC since 2006, so two and half times in one year was nuts!

2022 was the year of a Framily trip to Disney!

In October, my framily (friend family) went to Disney World, and a few of us went to Universal so that we could finally go to Harry Potter World (everyone else had gone before). It was exhausting, but SO much fun to a) experience my nephew’s first Disney-trip, b) to see how much easier these exhausting days were 100+ lbs lighter, and c) to see Disney with adult eyes with some of my favorite people.

2022 was the year of the book…

As I mentioned in my previous post, I read over 100 books this year, most of it new fiction!

2022 was a year that reinforced how very lucky I am to have a lot of amazing people in my life. A year with such big life changes required that I have a solid support system in place. I am truly rich in friendships. Thank you ❤

2022, books, reading, Top 10

My Year in Books: 2022

Charlotte

I read a lot of books this year. A LOT. My usual goal for my annual Goodread’s challenge is around 50 books, which I sometimes have handily accomplished and other times have woefully fallen short. I set the ambitious goal of 75 books this year as I read 90 books last year, but somehow, some way, I blew past the 75 books and read over 100 books. (101 at writing, but we still have 2 weeks in 2022. I predict 104.)

I’m not sure how or why I did this; I think maybe it’s a combo of factors. One–and this is a big one–I’m no longer in graduate school nor really working on academic work (sadface), so my reading energy is not depleted with academic reading and writing. Second, I have access to a pretty great library system so almost any book I want is available to me relatively quickly. I’ve also tapped into the bookstagram and bookTok worlds, and I get recs far more frequently than I did before. 

Some notable facts about my 2022 reading habits: 

  • I’m a genre loyalist. This should not be surprising. I read a LOT of romances. A LOT. So many. This year saw a higher number of contemporary romance than previous years, but romance is without a doubt my top genre. Mystery/thrillers also made a strong showing, with appearances by some fantasy romances, memoirs, and nonfiction. 
  • Queer Romance is awesome. I love seeing what authors are doing with standard Romance tropes in queer relationships. My 2022 reading list featured a healthy dose of romances with same sex and or trans individuals in the lead roles. 
  • I only re-read 9 books this year. I am a sworn fan of re-reading books. There are some that I visit in moments where I need emotional comfort. My re-reads this year mostly comprise a single series that I never finished and hadn’t read in ages–so it was essentially like reading a new book. (I think this predilection for re-reading may have slowed down my book count in previous years.) 
  • I leaned into DNF’ing books. I usually can tell pretty quickly whether or not I will like a book and if it will pull me in. When I read, I’m looking for some level of escape or immersion–if stylistic quirks or failings pull me out of it, it’s usually pretty quick to tell. I’ve gotten better at letting go–even when I’ve made decent progress–when it’s just not for me. (Those books don’t count to my “read” count.) 

So, without further ado, here are my top books that I read in 2022. 

Top 10 Books, in no particular order

**I will say that few books on this list entered into the pantheon of “instant favorite” and prime re-read material. They were good and I enjoyed them, but not many insta-favorites. 

  1.    The House on the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune: This book was a delightful, escapist found-family story/LGBTQ+ romance with a magical twist. The magical element was not overbearing or under-done, but rather provided a framework to explore society’s expectations of what and who people are based on categories over which they have no control. 
  2.    A Lady for a Duke, by Alexis Hall: This is one of the books that I loved owing to the work the author did with expanding the genre of historical/regency romance. With a trans MC, the best friends turned lovers trope definitely took on a new life in the regency setting. The author said they were hoping to set up the romantic plot NOT to be centered around the character’s transness, and I’m not 100% sure they were successful in that, but I love seeing the inclusivity regardless. MORE LIKE IT. 
  3.   A Court of Mist and Fury, by Sarah J. Maas (book 2 in ACOTAR) My sister has lowkey been trying to get me to read this for a while. I finally bit the bullet and read the first three books in this series. I couldn’t possibly savor them–I tore through the first three in less than a week. I still don’t know that the whole genre of fantasy romance is for me, but these books are addictive and this book was the best one. My biggest complaint is there were some anachronistic moments that made me wonder exactly the setting that we were in, but I think I’m just ruined because of my academic training. 
  4.   All the Feels, by Olivia Dade: This series by Olivia Dade is great for its fat positive storylines, and this was my favorite book of the 3 I’ve read. I do think the primary setting of the series isn’t really my jam (the characters are all actors in a TV show that is Very Obviously Based on Game of Thrones, with strong elements of fanfic, fandom culture, that I just didn’t connect with). I’d love to see her write out of this framework. 
  5.   Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, by Ashley Herring Blake: This book and its sequel, Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail, were probably two of my favorite romances of the year. These sapphic novels just were full of emotion and depth and definitely fit the bill of delightfully escapist romance that I like. Based on what I’ve read so far, Herring Blake is entering my list of ‘always read.” 
  6.   Still Life, by Louise Penny: At my Dad’s recommendation, I read the first book of Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series (and subsequently read several others). A classic Christie-esque mystery series set in the fictitious town of Three Pines in Quebec, this is a fantastic mystery series that I will continue to read in 2023.  
  7.   Killers of a Certain Age, by Deanne Rayborn: This book seemed like a step outside of my usual and was definitely a lot of fun. 4 soon-to-be retired lady assassins at around 60 years of age, discover that there are hits on their heads. I don’t usually do this, but one of my friends always casts actors in the roles of book characters. This book is BEGGING to be made into a movie and when it happens, I have some great suggestions for the casting director. 
  8.   I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy: The title of this book is shocking, and deservedly so. It was a fascinating read, but it wasn’t really about her working through her gladness at her mother being dead, but more showing you the reasons why. As someone who has a lot of complicated feelings about my own mother’s death, I was looking forward to the unpacking of how you handle well, being glad your mom died. (Not that I am glad my mom died, but my life is in some respects easier now that she is gone. That requires some reckoning.) I kind of hope there’s a follow up in a few years.
  9.   Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter–Then, Now, and Forever, by Josh McWhorter: This book was a fascinating exploration of how English’s rudest words were formed and how their use has shifted over time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, even if I have some disagreements (like, I don’t think a non-rhotic pronunciation of the n-word makes it a different word than the rhotic version, as he suggests at one point…though with lots of caveats.) [He also since penned a book that criticizes wokeness, that I have not read, but its premise is troubling.]
  10.   Stamped from the Beginning: the Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, by Ibram X. Kendi: This book should be a must read for anyone in the US. It took me a lot longer to get through than it usually takes me because it is such a weighty topic. 

Goals for 2023

  1. Read more diversely. I mean this in a few ways. My read list this year was so romance heavy, it’s clear I have a type. But also, I should be reading more authors of color and non-US authors. I have a few ideas on how I can expand my reading horizons, especially in fiction. A read around the world challenge maybe(a book from every country)? Or pick a continent a year? Or something?
  2. Read more non-fic. Non-fiction is a weird category for me. I don’t consider academic writing the same as popular non-fiction and I have a hard time figuring out how to incorporate academic reading into my reading habits when it’s not “work,” but I want to keep it up so my brain still works. I need to figure out new habits.