I look forward to the end of year survey every year - both posting my own and reading everyone else's. The survey was created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner and while I'm not sure she still hosts/posts the survey, I'm still linking back to her site.2023 READING STATS
(I'm keeping the stats short and sweet because I find them incredibly boring - even my own lol)
Number of books you read: 127
Number of re-reads: 4
Number of books you DNF'd: 2
Most-read genre: contemporary romance
FIRSTS AND LASTS
First 2023 release you read: Drake by Sawyer Bennett
BEST IN BOOKS
Best book you read in 2023?
I spent way too much time trying to choose between these two, but I can't.
Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn't?
a rom-com kind of girl, but I enjoyed the first book in this series so much. Unfortunately,
this one was a big miss for me.
Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
I figured Pucking Around would be fun, light-hearted and overall just a good steamy read. It was sooo much more (witty, clever, emotional, thought-provoking) and
surprisingly became one of my top favorites of the year.
Book you "pushed" the most people to read (and they did)?
a lot, and was happy to see that a few blogger friends read her and loved her, too!
Best series you started in 2023? Best sequel? Best series ender?
Best series I started was Whispers of You (first in the Lost & Found series), best sequel Grace Note (the final book in Bengtsson's Cake series).
Favorite new-to-you author you discovered in 2023?
amazing. She's definitely a new favorite.
Best book from a genre you don't typically read/was outside your comfort zone?
thriller (a genre I very rarely read). I adore her contemporary romances so
I trusted her to deliver a great story here... and she did, in a big way.
Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
I had to know how the story was going to unfold and was listening/reading
every available minute.
Book you read in 2023 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
I very rarely re-read, but I can imagine reading Wolfsong again. I'd love to experience that story all over again.
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2023?
Plenty to choose from but Lotus was a particular favorite. I also really liked the cover for Pucking Around since it features part of the skyline of my city. :)
Most memorable character of 2023?
Most beautifully written book read in 2023?
Book you can't believe you waited until 2023 to finally read?
Had I known how much I would love it, I would have read it years ago.
Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2023?
The only home I've ever known is in your arms
With the echoes of your heartbeats whispering my name
You are my favorite book, your frayed pages filled with
moments I want to read a thousand times
And I wish, and I hope, and I wonder...
if you feel the same
Shortest and longest books you read in 2023?
Book that shocked you the most:
OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!):
I'll go with Noah and Fisher from Here With Me. Loved them together. ❤
Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year:
Favorite book you read in 2023 by an author you've read previously:
I can't believe it's taken this long for Fourth Wing to make an appearance in this survey!
But it definitely fits for this question. Yarros is a longtime favorite and Fourth Wing was a big hit for me.
Best book in 2023 that you read solely on a recommendation (friend/blogger/Bookstagram/etc):
I'm a super picky reader so I don't often read based on recommendations
trusted blogger friends review it.
Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2023?
Hm, I don't know that I get fictional crushes, but Fisher (Here With Me) and
Best 2023 debut you read?
I don't actually pay any attention to this, but I don't think I read
any debut authors this year.
Best world-building/most vivid setting you read this year?
Easy one! Fourth Wing is the clear winner. From Basgiath War College to the dragons, I was completely transported.
Book that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read?
Sarina Bowen has a great way with banter and that made
Book that made you cry (or nearly cry) in 2023?
How much time do you have? I read lots of angsty, emotional, drama-filled books.
If a book doesn't make me cry, something has gone terribly wrong. lol Here are
Hidden gem of the year?
was excellent. I kept thinking about it long after I finished it.
Book that crushed your soul?
a character death I will never recover from.
Most unique book you read in 2023?
I don't know if it's unique, or just extremely well-produced, but the audio version
narration, the inclusion of interviews, pod casts, and more made for a pretty unique
listening experience.
Book that made you the maddest (doesn't necessarily mean you didn't like it)?
It wasn't so much that the book made me mad, but more that I was mad at myself
for continuing to read it. lol The female main character was too stupid to live
and I wanted to beat my head against a wall for all 258 pages.
*Note: I'm skipping the entire section of Blogging questions.
Either the questions don't apply to me or I have no interesting answers. :)
LOOKING AHEAD
One book you didn't get to in 2023 but will be a priority in 2024?
Book you are most anticipating in 2024 (non-debut)?
2024 debut you are most anticipating?
No idea. I really don't keep up with debut authors.
Sequel or series-ender you are most anticipating in 2024?
One thing you hope to accomplish/do in your reading/blogging life in 2024?
Continue to blog as I am able - never forcing it or making it feel like a chore,
always reading what I want/when I want - keeping it fun and entertaining.
A 2024 release you've already read and would recommend?
That's it for me. My 2023 year of reading is in the books (I know, I know...).
What topped your list this year? What 2024 release has you most excited?