Anyone else a total book nerd? I’ve been using literature to escape reality since I could read. Although I do have a little brother, we weren’t raised in the same home so I spent a lot of time reading and writing my own stories to entertain myself. The characters became my friends, the communities there my own, and some of the story lines of my favorite books still resonate very deeply with me to this day. There is something about ignoring your responsibilities to slip off into another world or to learn something new that really gets me LIT.
Here are my top picks from 2023. Below you’ll find a little summary, what I loved about each book, and my preferred way of consuming them. All book covers are linked to Amazon!
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Coming in hot with the ACOTAR series! This entire series is great, but this book in particular made me fall in love with the characters. So much so that I purchased a decal of Velaris (IYKYK) to put on my car. If you’re into world building, a strong female lead character, a lead male character who loves freedom of choice, romance and some faerie fighting you should check this series out. I listened to this series in audiobook, and re-listen to this book about every two months.
A Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
This book was a cozy little mystery that merged a historic setting and present day. This was a quick read for me because it was written so well that I flew through it. The mystery aspect gives you just enough bread crumbs to keep you turning the page, and the characters are personable enough to get you invested. The main characters are innovative women who are clever in making their own way in the world. I read this book in physical copy.
Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel
If you’ve spent any time in my general line of sight this year, you’ve probably heard me reference Mother Hunger. In fact, you’re probably tired of hearing me talk about Mother Hunger! The summary noted on the cover says it all. This book was the starting point of healing a lot of things in me. I was going to write this long list of suggestive reasons to read this book, but really, if you have a mother, are a mother, or have daughters, you should take your time reading this one so we can talk about it together! I listened to this first as an audiobook, but TRUST ME, you’ll want to get the physical copy.
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
I LOVED this book. This Gothic fairy tale is set in the South in present day. There is romance, chivalry, overcoming adversity and discrimination, and a little touch of mystery mingled with real life issues that the main character struggles with. I listened to this book via Libby (The free Library Card app), but I would consider reading this in physical copy because I mean, LOOK at that book cover!
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
I read this over the Summer and it carried me through every pool day. This is the first in a two-part series of Who-Dun-It mysteries. She is a THIC GIRL and totally worth every page. This book is clever and full of suspense with multiple layers of mystery that intertwine between the classic English crime scene and a present day mystery. I read this bad boy in physical copy, broken spine and all (don’t come for me).
Sacred Rest by Saundra Dalton-Smith, M.D.
You need to read this book. You need to read it in physical copy, and you need to get you some tabs so you can mark it all up. This book is written by an Internal Medicine physician who, after experiencing her own burn-out, explored the effects of burn-out, exhaustion, and rest on our bodies, emotions, mental heath and spirituality. She is a Christian physician that provides insight with scientific data that is backed up with scripture. She even has a challenge and some questions to ask yourself to work through. You need this book.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
You KNOW I had to include this one. As much as I’d like to go against the grain on this, I can’t. I LOVED this book. It was a little slow at first but once I got into the meat of it I was hooked. The only bad part about this recommendation is that this book is the first of a five part series and there are only two books out. I thought about these characters, I dreamt about them, I had a hangover when it was over. I read this on Kindle and will read the rest of the series there also.
Have you read any books this year that you’d recommend? Or have you read any of these books and need someone to hyperfocus with about how great they were? Well, I’m your girl!