Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together
Happy Tuesday and New Year y’all! I know I’ve been quite absent this last year dropping off sometime in April and only posting sporadically the rest of 2023. Life kinda got chaotic so I just haven’t had a chance to post. I have however been reading 😉 This week’s topic is “Favorite Books of 2023.” As always, covers/titles link to Blog, Goodreads, or Amazon (affiliate) and, this time, are listed in the order I read them last year.
January 2023
Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucia
This one took me by surprise. I had this one on my TBR since early 2020, but just never got around to reading it. Y’all I listened to this one in almost one sitting. It was so good and so not what I expected! Set in a fictional Spain and loosely inspired by the Black Death of the 14th century, this fantasy is a dark read, broken up with a quirky sense of humor and beautifully written characters.
February 2023
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
I’ve slowly been making my way through the Bridgerton series this year (hopefully will have them finished before season 3 hits Netflix). This is my favorite story so far. It features Benedict and Sophie and is a true rags-to-riches, Cinderella story which is my favorite trope.
March 2023
Thalassa is a go-to, drop everything and read author for me. I auto-buy her books before I know what they are about 😂 This one goes back to one of her first series and is set in the same world with different characters. It has a forbidden love element, curses, and ancient artifacts. It’s everything I could ask for in one book.
April 2023
The High Stakes Saga by Casey L. Bond
I spent a majority of April reading this series. I love when I can binge a series from start to finish, so this was a treat for me. I thought I was getting a vampire historical romance, but I got SO MUCH MORE. This is like Outlander meets paranormal fantasy meets dystopian post-apocalypse. Unputdownable!
May 2023
A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Like April, I followed up in May by reading all of the Blood and Ash and its prequel series. This was my favorite book of that series binge. I loved learning about Sera and Ash. I couldn’t help falling in love with them. I did listen to this one (and the whole series) which I highly recommend if you enjoy audiobooks.
June 2023
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Not to be left out, I binged another series in June. This is one of my all-time favorite series, and I was so excited to buddy read it with my friend Lenore at Celebrity Readers. If you enjoy YA dystopia/sci-fi, I highly recommend it.
July 2023
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig
I loved the first book in this series, and this one was just as good if not better. It’s haunting and leaves you with a questionable happy ending. This author will be one I pick up and read again and again.
August 2023
Exposing the Groom by Rachel Van Dyken
I devoured this one in one sitting. It is such a fun, spicy, and entirely fluffy read. This is a second chance romance that starts unlike any other book I’ve read: the bride gets left at the alter. I laughed, I teared up, and I laughed some more. 💯 recommend!
September 2023
My husband convinced me to start reading some of the Star Wars novels this year, and I’m sad I was so resistant. I’ve loved most of the ones I’ve picked up this year. This one is set during the original trilogy and follows two people who work their way through the Imperial Academy and up to officer status. It’s a Romeo and Juliet story with the exciting action of a galaxy at war.
October 2023
This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede
This was one of my most anticipated books of this year, and I’m so glad it lived up to my expectations. It was the perfect conclusion to the series. The characters are pushed and stretched in new ways. The romance is *swoon* and *chef’s kiss* Seriously, perfection!
November 2023
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
To be completely honest, this was the only book I finished in November 😅 However, it was fantastic. I enjoyed the magical element involved. The characters are well-written and beautifully flawed. I was captivated to say the least. Highly recommend!
December 2023
Snowed In for Christmas by Jaqueline Snowe
I adored this new holiday romance, reading it in almost one sitting. It’s all things naughty and nice 😉 Two neighbors who cannot stand each other and are forced together during a snow storm. Grumpy meets sunshine trope all the way!
Your turn! What were your favorite reads in 2023? Any recommendations I should read this year? Share below
I’m interested in reading What the River Knows. I like a good archaeological adventure!
Ellie recently posted…Best of 2023
I hope you enjoy it! It was such a fun and exciting read.
What the River Knows has such a nice cover.
Lydia recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2023
Isn’t it pretty? The cover really matches the content too!
These look great! I’m happy to see you sorted yours by month as well—so far I haven’t seen anyone other than me do that this week! Though I still need to read the first book in that Erin A. Craig series, I’m hopeful that I’ll like both books enough to add them to my “best books” list of whatever year I read them in. 😉 Happy reading in 2024!
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday ~ Favorite Books of 2023
I hope you enjoy them when you get a chance to read them. They are beautifully done, haunting gothic fantasies. I think book one was on my favorites list as well 😀
I love seeing your faves. I think I should try Veronica Rossi. Feel free to link up to our Top 10 list from last week to share with more readers.
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…Book Blog
Thank you ☺️ I love Rossi, though I’ll admit I’ve only read her Under the Never Sky series.
That sounds like a good year of reading. It’s so fun to binge a whole series at once. That’s reat that you managed it multiple times in 2023.
Joy Weese Moll recently posted…Favorite Books of 2023 #TopTenTuesday
It’s one of my favorite things to do, being able to binge a completed series ☺️
I love how you did this by month! I might need to keep track this year and do it that way. I loved This Cursed Light and can’t wait to read book two! I
My Top Ten!
Leslie @ Books Are The New Black recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Best of 2023!
I love your blog name! I have What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez on my TBR, glad to hear you enjoyed it!
My TTT: https://mamaneedsabook.blogspot.com/2024/01/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-of-2023.html
I love how you did this by monthly favorites. I need to remember that for next year. I also love seeing Snowe’s book on your list.
I love that you organized yours by favorite each month. I’m glad you that you enjoyed these as well. I haven’t read any of them, but a few are on my TBR. Happy 2024!
Jenni Elyse recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #43
Ooooh nice ones! Did you read Roar of the Tides? I’m making it my next read and it continues the series a bit but you know, focusing on Roar! HORAR made my list as well! Loved that one! Dying for her to write another one after that ending! Lol. I also read ALITF this year too! Nearly forgot that! I’m hoping to read What the River Knows this year but since I now know it’s a series I might wait for the second one. Great picks all around!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Roar is amazing!! It’s why I went back and binged the series. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it.
The ending of HORAR about killed me 🤯 I’m hoping she expands on what it all means in the next book.
I enjoyed UNDER THE NEVER SKY when I read it. I’m glad you enjoyed it and all these others. I hope you find many more gems in 2024!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
What a great way to do the wrap-up! I loved the Under the Never Sky series too. I need to read on in the Bridgerton series, I’ve only read the first one. Great choices! Here was my Top 10 reads of 2023:
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2023/12/25/top-10-of-2023-best-of-the-best-favorite-books/
I loved the Under the Never Sky trilogy! I still haven’t read Roar of the Tides! I was so excited when she announced it and now it’s been out for almost a year! My husband also got me to read Lost Stars. lol.
Roar of the Tides was amazing! It’s why I binged the series. I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to read it. It was everything I didn’t realize I wanted 💗
I’m glad you found some amazing reads. Happy 2024!
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Best Books Of 2023
Great list. I also liked A Light in the Flame and the Bridgerton series, of course. Hope this year brings more great books.
Rolé @ Hooked By That Book recently posted…Monday Musings – January 8, 2024