2023 End of Year Survey

 

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 book you read: Visions of You by Catherine Cowles

Last book you read: Broken Dreams by Corinne Michaels

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.

Both Wolfsong and Still Beating were outstanding in their own way.

  

Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn't?

Right Man, Right Time by Meghan Quinn. Oof, this one was painful. Granted, I'm not

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)? 

There wasn't one book I pushed, but I recommended author Catherine Cowles

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

was Souls Unfractured (#3 in the Hades Hangmen series), and best series ender was

Grace Note (the final book in Bengtsson's Cake series).

    

Favorite new-to-you author you discovered in 2023?

Without a doubt, that was Jennifer Hartmann. I read three of her books

this year (Still Beating, Lotus, The Stars Are on Our Side) and each was 

amazing. She's definitely a new favorite.

Best book from a genre you don't typically read/was outside your comfort zone?

All the Little Raindrops by Mia Sheridan. Sheridan went dark with this

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?

When it comes to unputdownable, None of This is True tops the list.

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? 

Ox from Wolfsong. ❤

Most beautifully written book read in 2023?

The Lovely Return... achingly beautiful.

Book you can't believe you waited until 2023 to finally read?

Wolfsong. 

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

- The Lovely Return, Carian Cole

Shortest and longest books you read in 2023?

Shortest: 53 pages - On the Defense 

Longest: 756 pg - Pucking Around

   

Book that shocked you the most:  

The Stars Are on Our Side had a twist I did not see coming.

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: 

The brotherhood among the Hades Hangmen.

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 

or hype. But I guess I picked up Part of Your World after seeing some

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 

Alex (The Lovely Return) were pretty swoony.

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 

The New Guy and I'm Your Guy fun to read.

   

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 

a few that definitely triggered the tears: Keep This Promise, Say You Want Me, 

Shadows of You, and The Stars Are on Our Side.

   

Hidden gem of the year?

While it didn't seem to make much of a splash, All the Little Raindrops 

was excellent. I kept thinking about it long after I finished it.

Book that crushed your soul? 

The Stars Are on Our Side was definitely a soul-crusher. And included 

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

of None of This Is True was so entertaining and memorable. The full-cast 

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? 

Two words: Iron. Flame.

Book you are most anticipating in 2024 (non-debut)?

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

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? 

The Lily of Ludgate Hill (releasing on January 16, 2024) was an utter delight.

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?

The Best of 2021: All the Bookish Bests

 

This year has been filled with so many great books. Yeah, there have been a few duds, but thankfully they were the exception. So now, just hours before we kick this year to the curb say goodbye to 2021, I'm sharing my standout reads. Those books that, for various reasons, made a lasting impression. Here we go...

BEST COVERS

The Awakening | Before I Saw You | Heard it in a Love Song

BEST DEBUT

 

The Charm Offensive | Always, in December

The Charm Offensive was *this close* to being included in my Best of the Best of the year, but I had to draw the line somewhere. That in no way diminishes my love for this absolute gem. The Charm Offensive was like a giant hug to my heart.

Always, in December was an amazing, emotional story of love lost and love found. While not a romance, it still delivered all the feels and I was completely invested in Max and Josie's story. I can't wait to see what Emily Stone delivers next.

BEST SURPRISE

 

Down Too Deep | Playing the Palace

Color me surprised by Down Too Deep! I expected a run of the mill romance but I was amazed at how connected I was to those characters and how their story touched me. Way more emotional than I anticipated. And it was one of the rare instances where I was not put off by children playing a prominent role in a romance novel. The kids were sweet, their dialogue felt age-appropriate and believable, and they added so much to the story.

I requested Playing the Palace from Netgalley on a whim and what a great decision that turned out to be. Playing the Palace didn't take itself too seriously and instead delivered a campy, frothy good time. Nonstop fun.

BEST AUDIOBOOK

Malibu Rising

Malibu Rising is another one that was *this close* to being in my overall favorites of the year. Taylor Jenkins never disappoints and Malibu Rising was another great example of her gift of weaving a story that makes me forget I'm reading fiction. I was 100% invested in the Riva clan and the dual timeline made for such a rich story. Julia Whelan is a top-notch narrator and she brought every character to life.

BEST MYSTERY / SUSPENSE

The Night She Disappeared

Lisa Jewell is a long-time favorite. I've been reading her books for two decades now but I can safely say The Night She Disappeared is her best yet. Jewell managed to weave together three timelines and doled out bits of information and small clues as the story was slowly revealed. My favorite thing about Jewell's brand of mystery/suspense is that the characters are always front and center. The plot, while strong and intriguing, never overtakes the real story: the characters and how their lives are impacted. Side note: The audio version was absolute perfection.

BEST FANTASY / URBAN FANTASY

Grace and Glory

It's safe to say that Jennifer L. Armentrout has a definite formula to her writing, but it's also safe to say that it's completely addictive. Grace and Glory was an epic series finale and it delivered in a big way. All my favorite characters were in attendance complete with action, humor, romance, battle scenes, and several twists that I never saw coming., What more can you ask for? 

BEST PARANORMAL

Layla

With Layla Colleen Hoover delivered another what-the-hell-did-I-just-read moment. There were several instances in the beginning that gave me chills. Such a great creep factor. As the story started to unfold, and the twists kept coming, I was absolutely fascinated. This was one of those don't want to put it down/can I read and walk at the same time books. 

BEST SERIES

  

  

The Cake series by J. Bengtsson (Books 2-6)

When I read Cake (the first book in the amazing series) in 2020, I was instantly hooked. And throughout 2021 I inhaled the next six books in the series. This is one of those series that I could rave about endlessly. At its core is the story of the McKallister family and how one tragic event changed their lives and continued to effect them all for years to come. Reading each book was like returning to friends that I'd missed - ones that I was desperate to check on. Nothing in Bengtsson's writing is over the top or melodramatic which makes these characters and the issues they are dealing all the more believable and emotional. The books are fantastic, the audio versions are superb... The whole series is *chef's kiss.*

BEST OF THE BEST

 

 

The Things We Leave Unfinished | Tied

When You Come Back to Me | Ripple Effect

I decided to not even bother trying pick one favorite book of the year. Way too stressful. 😊 But I decided I could handle choosing one favorite per quarter so that's what I did.

January-March

The Things We Leave Unfinished was among the first books I read this year (way back in early February) and the fact that it still resonates with me almost eleven months later says a lot. The dual timeline and the way the characters in both times were connected drew me in. But it was the characters themselves, and what they experienced and sacrificed, that made this one unforgettable.

April-June

Tied was a story that was like a punch to the heart and it took me by surprise. It was so much more than I expected, in all the best ways. This was like a fairy tale romance but with a dark and gritty edge. I was utterly captivated from the very start and my heart ached for the characters who had been through so much. They desperately needed each other and were so much better together than apart. I adored this story of healing and know I will read it again.

July-September

Emma Scott knows how to write angst. And I admit, sometimes it's a bit much, even for me. But not the case in When You Come Back to Me. I lapped up every delicious, angsty drop and was begging for more. Holden and River were characters that I held close to my heart. I desperately wanted to hug them and promise everything would be okay. Few characters move me on such a visceral level as Holden Parish did and I shed so many tears throughout this story. The audio version was phenomenal and I found myself replaying certain scenes just to experience it again and again. 

October-December

Ripple Effect is my most recent read and before I even finished it I knew it would be among my favorites of the year. Once again, J. Bengtsson proved what a stellar storyteller she is and created characters and a narrative that had me finishing the book in record time. Filled with one of the best character arcs (I'm looking at you RJ), tension, humor, swoony moments, a great cast of secondary characters, and an epilogue that was everything, Ripple Effect was an instant favorite. 

So there you have it... my best of 2021.

Have you read any of these books?

What was your favorite book of the year?