Another year of reading is in the books! (Pun intended.) This year I started a Book Club and the picks were amazing! There were so many that I would have never picked myself, and that is probably my favorite part about it. Coming across a novel that is so powerful and moving and opens my eyes to something new. It was great always having a book to look forward to reading and in between the book club picks, when there was time, I continued to go through my personal book list. Here are my books and reviews from 2023!
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
Fantasy | Mystery Thriller
Kicking off the year was Spells for Forgetting, the first novel Adrienne Young wrote outside of the YA genre. I fell in love with her books last year and couldn’t wait to read this one. She did not disappoint. The characters and worlds she creates take you to another place. This story takes place on a remote and mysterious island, Saoirse Island, rooted in magic and folklore, and tells the story of Emery Blackwood. Her best friend died on the island years ago and the love of her life was accused of her murder. She continues to live on the island but he disappears, only to return after his mother’s passing to bury her ashes, and the truth begins to unravel.
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Fiction | Contemporary Romance
After reading my first Colleen Hoover book, Verity, I couldn’t wait to read another one. Reminders of Him was the first one I chose out of her many titles, and I think it is still my favorite one of hers. She’s great at creating characters you fall in love with and developing incredible relationships. This one is about Kenna Rowan, a troubled mother who just got release from jail and is returning to the town where things went all wrong for her, in hopes to see her daughter. It’s a tangled story with so much emotion and a mysterious past that unravels as we get to know her. Such a great read!
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Historical Fiction
Taylor Jenkins Reid is another author I discovered last year when I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. By now I am sure everyone knows what this book is about, due to the Amazon series special. It’s written in such an interesting way, like an interview with the band. It’s one of those books that makes you wonder, “Is this a real band? Did this really happen?” Taylor has a great way of making her historical fiction novels sound so real, you have to Google it to find out.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Fiction | Dystopian
Ok, we all know Margaret Atwood is brilliant. But anyone who watched or read Handmaid’s Tale and wondered what happened next, has to read this one. Or better yet, I recommend listening to the audiobook version. Ann Dowd, the actress who plays Aunt Lydia, narrates parts of this book and it is amazing. Highly recommend, and you will not be disappointed in the ending.
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
Historical Fiction | Mystery
This book was captivating. I remember being fully entrenched in the story and characters right from the beginning and the writing was amazing. Definitely a twisty, turny type of mystery with a solid plot and an ending that made sense. I didn’t know until writing this, but the story is based on the true disappearance of Agatha Christie. Although the reason for her disappearance remains unknown, this author’s idea of it is far more complex than other theories. It’s definitely worth the read!
It ends with us by Colleen Hoover
Fiction | Romance
It Ends with Us was the next Colleen Hoover book on the list. It’s about a love story so strong, it hurts. There was a very powerful message throughout this story and at the end with the Author’s notes. It really opened up some conversations about why and how women can be with abusive partners. An emotional story that felt really real and provided a sense of understanding to those in very difficult situations. There was also a positive message of encouragement woven throughout on how to get out of it.
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
Thriller | Fiction
We Were Never Here is about two best friends who go on a trip together, and someone ends up dead. This book kept my attention enough to get all the way through it, but it’s forgettable. A typical story about two friends, one with a troubled past, and another too naive to know its time move on. It felt repetitive and slow to get to the action and the ending was predictable. This one was just ok, let’s keep moving.
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
Fiction | Romance
It Starts With Us is the sequel to It Ends With Us (see what she did there?) and I liked it even more than the first one. It continues on with the story and how Lily (the girl from the abusive relationship) moves on, rekindles a relationship with her true love from her childhood, and navigates motherhood in a split home. I love a book with a great ending and this satisfied.
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
Historical Fiction
This was a book club pick and I didn’t know how I would like it since it’s not something I’d pick off the shelves myself, but I ended up loving it so much. I didn’t know much about the history of Cuba, let alone the transition of how Castro came to power. The book begins when Cuban-American, Marisol’s, grandmother passes away. Marisol was very close to her grandmother and is going back to Cuba to scatter her ashes. But where? Marisol uncovers her family’s rich Cuban past in a story that’s so well done, going from past to present in an inspiring and eye-opening way.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Young Adult | Mystery
I found this book on Reece’s book club list and thought it sounded so interesting. A murder mystery set on a Native American reservation. It’s a unique twist on a murder mystery with an insight into what it’s like to live on a reservation, or for Daunis to live there. She’s biracial and an unenrolled tribal member because of it, complicating her life there. She gets tangled up witnessing a murder and joins forces with the police, going undercover to help solve it.
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Fiction | Dystopian
If anyone knows me, they will tell you I am obsessed with the Hunger Games. So I was so excited about a prequel by Suzanne Collins. And I have to say, it felt like a completely different author wrote this. It took me a while to get into the story, it was really slow in the beginning, and then it just got weird. It was already a stretch trying to gain sympathy for one of the worst villains of all time, so this back story just didn’t do it for me. I made myself finish it because the movie was coming out and I was excited to see if they could make it better. They didn’t. Not happy with this story—Suzanne could have picked any other character to do a backstory on and it would have been better than this.
Anatomy by Dana Schwartz
Historical Fiction | Fantasy
I fell in love with Dana Schwartz after her book Anatomy. The characters she created were lovable and the storyline was so unique. Hazel, the main character and a fierce female protagonist (which I always love), wants to be a surgeon in a man’s world. She is smart and determined and will do anything to study anatomy, even work with resurrection men to get what she needs. There’s a love story woven throughout and it’s such a great one. I highly recommend it.
Immortality by Dana Schwartz
Historical Fiction | Fantasy
Anatomy was so good, I immediately checked out Immortality. The sequel continues on with Hazel’s story. She’s unaware if the love of her life made it out alive after the gallows, and continues to practice anatomy and treat patients, illegally. When she’s suddenly arrested, only a turn of events can set her free on a completely new path.
November 9 by Colleen Hoover
Fiction | Contemporary Romance
I enjoyed the unique storyline of this romance novel by Colleen Hoover. She has a great way of turning a love story into a tangle web of a plot and create unique situations. I loved the idea of this one, where Ben and Fallon meet the day she is leaving town and have an instant connection. They agree to meet up every November 9th, the day they met, and have a unique relationship, even until the end.
Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Historical Fiction
The Nightingale is an emotional story set in German occupied France during WWII. It follows the story of two sisters who show their own strength in two very different ways. Another brilliant story from the women’s side of being at war, the horrors they had to face, and the courage they both had.
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Fiction | Contemporary Romance
This was the last Colleen Hoover book I read for a while after as it wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t love the characters as much, and the story didn’t feel that original. It’s about a girl named Tate, coming to live with her brother for school and work and doesn’t have time for a relationship. Until she meets her brother’s coworker and friend, Miles, and is immediately attracted to him. It’s a perfect relationship because Tate doesn’t have time for love and Miles doesn’t want it. Until their feelings for each other break every rule they’ve set up for themselves and love turns ugly.
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
Mystery | Thriller
I talked about this one in a book club post. It was written beautifully and the setting was chilling, but the story had too many holes in it to give it more than three stars.
Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Adult Contemporary Fiction
This was a very interesting read about race and privilege today and adulthood in general. It follows Emira, a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both. The characters are so real and the storyline is really interesting. It definitely offered a unique perspective on being a grown-up, forming relationships and and what it means to make someone family.
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
Thriller | Suspense
Such a great and fast read. This is the story everyone’s wanted. Two women. Two completely desperate situations. Two flights switched. Two lives changed forever. When Claire and Eva meet in the airport, they decide to switch flights and ultimately lives in order to get away form the trouble they are in. With twists and turns and beautiful relationships along the way, this is a don’t put down kind of read.
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Literary Fiction
This is my full opinion on this story, but overall it was OK. I didn’t understand the meaning behind this book and I had too many questions at the end. It was different that is for sure and I know Elizabeth Strout is a talented author, so I may have needed to read some of her other novels to understand this one better.
The Drowning by T.J. Newman
Thriller | Fiction
Wow. Just wow. Action, love, heart-racing moments and tears galore. This story had everything. Non-stop action about a flight that goes down in the pacific. But that’s not where it ends. There are twelve survivors still in the plane that is sinking to the bottom. This needs to become a movie, I think it would kill it in the theaters!
Lots of books to cover this year and some great ones to add to your lists.
