Hello there friends and book-lovers! Happy New Years y'all! It is officially 2024 and I could not be more ready to leave 2023 in the dust. However, I did read some pretty fantastic books in 2023... and even if I am totally ready to leave the year behind, I am NOT ready to forget these books. So here I am, writing about my favorite book that I read each month of 2023. Most of these books have not been featured on my blog before, so get ready for some new recommendations that span multiple genres (I even have one non-fiction book on this list, isn't that exciting?? I never thought I would see the day). With all of that said and done, let's go!
January
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
When Wallace finds himself at a funeral for a man who looks an awful lot like him with a girl who calls herself a "reaper", he thinks he might be dead. And when "reaper" takes him to an eclectic tea shop that serves as a bridge for souls from this world to the next he starts to think this may really be the end. So, with the help of tea shop owner Hugo, he decides to spend what little time he has left living the life he missed out on.
I've read a couple of Klunes books before and I can honestly say that they go straight to my heart every single time. House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favorite books of all time and was the first book that I annotated for fun. When I found Under the Whispering Door on Kindle I bought it and started reading it immediately. About 5 chapters in I had purchased a physical copy because I knew that I needed it in my library as well. It is beautifully written and haunting and heartbreaking in all of the very best ways. 10 out of 10 as far as I'm concerned.
February
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
When Louise finds out that her parents have died she dreads going home to take care of their estate. Mostly because that estate is full to the rafters of her mothers greatest passion: puppets. Yeah, I said puppets. As soon as Louise shows up strange things start to happen... the tv turns on by itself, dolls move from room to room... you know, haunted house stuff. And it only escalates from there.
If you have read my blog before you may remember that I am not fantastic with horror. It makes my stomach hurt and my head feel fuzzy and I end up watching cartoons or musicals to get my blood pressure back down. I bought this book because of the title, I love ghost stories, but it was way more terrifying than I thought it would be. First of all, puppets. PUPPETS?? Terrifying. Then, the puppets talk on their own. And move. And stab people with nails. I also made the mistake of finishing it at 3 am. And then I watched Phantom of the Opera until the sun came up. If you're a fan of horror, I highly recommend.
March
Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus
Echo Ridge is the definition of small-town America. Except for the fact that it has a history of murders involving high school homecoming queens. When Ellery has to move in with her grandmother in Echo Ridge right before she begins senior year she lands right in the middle of a mystery that is decades in the making.
I'm a big fan of McManus and her mystery/thrillers. They are twisty and intense without being too graphic, which is great for *sensitive* readers like me. If you are looking for a mystery book that will keep you guessing and entertained this is definitely a good one.
April
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
This one is a sequel, so I am not going to give you a summary since it would most definitely contain spoilers. This is book 2 of Maas' ACOTAR series and it's by far my favorite. It's one I go back to over and over when I'm in a reading slump or need a pick-me-up. The romance is wonderfully written and the characters are beautiful. This one gets a little spicy *romance-wise* so keep that in mind if you're thinking about picking up this series.
May
The Host by Stephanie Meyer
The world has been taken over by aliens. Crazy smart aliens that take over human bodies and create an idyllic utopian society that works flawlessly. Is this a bad thing? The few humans who remain think so. When Melanie is captured and has an alien inserted into her mind she fights with everything she has to not disappear, and in doing so she makes an unlikely friend... The alien inside her mind. Together they seek out the last remaining humans and do everything in their power to keep them safe.
This book has been featured on my blog before, on my list of my top 5 books of all time. It's one of my favorite books that I have ever read and I go back to it often. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but I am a huge fan. I recommend this book to literally everybody. It has science-fiction, it has romance, it has suspense... it's amazing.
June
Dumplin by Julie Murphy
Willowdean Dickson may be the daughter of a beauty queen, but the annual Miss Clover City pageant is her own personal nightmare. Until she decides to fight the system and show her small town that you don't have to be thin to be beautiful. Along the way she makes some new friends and gains the confidence she needs to get on that pageant stage and show everyone what beautiful really means.
Confession time: I totally watched the Netflix movie Dumplin before I ever picked up this book, which is usually a major no-no for me. I always want to read the source material before I witness whatever Hollywood decides to turn it into; but the movie is fantastic, and it actually stays pretty faithful to the heart of the story. It also features a soundtrack made up entirely of Dolly Parton songs, which is a major win in my book. This book is sweet and heartwarming and it really hit home with me as a *not skinny girl* who did at one time attempt a beauty pageant. I think it portrays the emotions of being in high school and not feeling great about your body really well. The romance between Willow and high school jock Bo is very sweet and the insecurities that she has to overcome to make that relationship work were relatable and realistic. All in all, I loved it.
July
Karmic Refreshments by Brittany Andreasen-Parkins
This one is a book of poetry, so I wont give you a summary because I want you to read it and experience it for yourself. Andreasen-Parkins does an incredible job of transcribing emotion onto paper and it really hit home for me. If you have ever struggled with family or depression or anger you will find your thoughts reflected on these pages. There is a pretty good range of poetry in this book as well, so I think anyone who picks up this book will find something they relate to. My favorite poem is "Consent Has Not Been Granted", so now you have to go buy the book to find out what it's about.
August
Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
This one is another sequel so I won't be giving a summary here. I'm sure most of you have heard of the Percy Jackson series. If you haven't... welcome! It's an incredibly well-written young-adult series about the Greek Gods and their hero children. It is an expansive series and if you get started with it you will have reading material for A LONG time to come. Which I think is fantastic, I love finishing a book and knowing exactly what I'm going to read next. It's a good lighthearted series that is appropriate for everyone from early teenagers and up.
September
Life With the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned About Ghosts by Amy Bruni
Amy Bruni, who has worked as a paranormal investigator on shows like Ghost Hunters and Kindred Spirits, shares some of her most incredible ghostly experiences while also spilling some secrets of the field. As I said earlier in this post, I love ghost stories. I remember watching the original Ghost Hunters with my parents as a child and I continue watching Kindred Spirits to this day. I am also a huge fan of Bruni and her take on spirits. She is always compassionate and eager to listen when she is investigating and never goes into a space ready to yell and fight a ghost (unlike SOME people on their ghostly adventure shows... you know who I'm talking about). I loved getting to read about spiritual experiences from a person who has basically dedicated their life to the field.
October
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas
Yes, Maas made it onto this list twice. Don't question me, just read the series. Kingdom of Ash is the final book in the Throne of Glass series and it is beautiful. It brings all of the characters and stories from the previous 6 books together and it is amazing. It also made me cry. A lot. Despite that fact, I recommend this series to anyone that enjoys fantasy. The characters are beautifully written and have unique and diverse personalities. I can honestly say that this series is one of my favorites of all time, it's another one that I go back to when I'm having a bad day.
November
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Fifteen years ago, Emma Davis watched as her summer camp bunkmates left the cabin in the middle of the night, never to return. Emma is questioned and the woods are searched, but the girls are never found. Now, when the owner of Camp Nightingale decides to reopen the camp once again she seeks out Emma as a counselor. Emma agrees to return to the scene of her nightmares, if only to find answers. There are no answers waiting for her though, just more secrets and lies and danger. When Emma finds that three of her young campers have vanished into the night she must follow all of the clues she has collected and try to solve the mystery of Camp Nightingale before anyone else gets hurt.
This is another part mystery/ part thriller that I really enjoyed reading. It is not gory or extensively violent, but it is suspenseful and draws you in very quickly. It also has some pretty great plot twists that keep you guessing right up until the very end.
December
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Bee is a genius neuroscientist who just landed the job of her dreams- building helmets for astronauts. Literally working at NASA. The only problem? Her co-lead on the project is engineering genius Levi, who happens to hate her and has since grad school... but Bee will not let that get her down! Even when Levi can't look her in the eyes, or talk to her without seeming uncomfortable, or stay in the same room as her for too long. As the project takes off and Bee and Levi are forced to work together, Bee starts to realize that maybe she doesn't have Levi all figured out quite yet.
We are closing out the year with one of the cutest romance novels that I have ever read in my life. I read this book from start to finish in less than 6 hours and spent all of that time kicking my feet and giggling like I was a teenager again. The main character Bee is funny and sarcastic and her inner dialogue was a huge highlight of the book for me. And Levi? Such a good romantic interest. I love Hazelwood's books and this may be my favorite of them all. This book does have some spice (I'd consider it maybe a 6 out of 10), so keep that in mind if you decide to pick it up.
All right my friends, here we are! This post was a LONG one, so if you're still here reading this, thanks for sticking around! I hope you enjoyed the recommendations and I hope to be writing here again real soon. Bye for now!
