My Top Reads from 2023

I read 82 books in 2023 (not counting a few I read and didn’t finish) and I wanted to do a post dedicated to my favorite books from those 82. I read a pretty good mix of genres in 2023, but I will say I think I read more non-fiction than ever. These are the books form 2023 I absolutely loved and would recommend to anyone who asks. Please note these are not in any particular order.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing – Mattew Perry

As a Friends fan, there was absolutely no way that I was not going to read this book. However, that said, I think this was one of the best celebrity memoirs I have ever read. I appreciated Matthew Perry’s complete candidness and most of all, how much he survived. It’s such a sad thing to know he died the same year his book came out, but I am a firm believer that this book is going to help so many people and it’s because of that that his story being told is so important. I was honestly blown away by how much he put himself through before, during, and after Friends. I felt for a long time like he was on borrowed time after what he put himself through. It’s amazing he didn’t die 30 years ago during the height of his fame! If you have not read this, I really truly suggest you do.

Things We Hide from the Light – Lucy Score

I actually went to the book release for this book and had the opportunity to meet Lucy in person. She’s just as, if not more, amazing as the stories she tells. I asbolutely loved this book and was SO pumped for the final book which came out later in the year. This was also one of the books that I completely binged in like 12 hours. I don’t even think I slept a full four hours after I finished. I could not put it down.

Things We Left Behind – Lucy Score

Sadly, this is the final book in the Knockemout series but it was definitely my favorite one. I wish Lucy had done a book tour for this one as well. I would have loved to talk to her about it. Lucian is definitely a zaddy and I cannot wait for these books to be adapted.

Forever Never – Lucy Score

This is another, beautiful, book by Lucy Score that was incredible. Her writing is just so captivating and I was hooked on this book immediately. I also binged it which is pretty crazy since the book is rather long, but it was so worth it.

Song for Olivia – Maruchi Mendez

Song for Olivia is a book written by a dear, family, friend. It’s inspired by the story of Maruchi’s family and sister, and what they went through coming from a Communist Cuba. It was such a powerful book to read, and knowing the family personally just made my love for the book that much bigger. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I loved it.

The Housemaid – Frida McFadden

This was such a mindfuck of a story, but so worth it. I am going to read the sequel this year, which I’ve heard is even better. I’m newly into thrillers, thanks Verity, and this one did not disappoint. You definitely don’t know where it’s going to go, until you get there. Highly recommend.

Vacation Wars – Meghan Quinn

I discovered Meghan Quinn in 2022 via TikTok and I’ve become obsessed with her and her books. She pumps out like five books a year, which is insane, and they are all really good. This one was a binge for me and I loved it so much. I hope someone adapts it, because it would be so nice to see this story come to life.

Icebreaker – Hannah Grace

I fell into the #BookTok trap with this book and boy am I glad I did! I absolutely loved it and she actually wrote a sequel which I also read. She has book three coming out in 2024 so I am excited for it. This was my second “hockey” themed series/book and I loved it.

Twenty Years Later – Charlie Donlea

This was an amazing read. I can honestly tell you I was fully convinced it was going to end one way and it went in the complete opposite direction, and wow did it not disappoint. Highly recommend. I hope it’s adapted as well becauae this was insanely good.

Love & Other Words – Christina Lauren

When someone asks me for a romance book that I would recommend they read to get out of a reading funk, I would recommend this. Christina Lauren is a pure genius in this book. It’s absolutely gut wrenchingly beautiful and I absolutely binged the shit out of this. Highly recommend, but be ready to cry (pretty cry, not ugly cry).

Romantic Comedy – Curtis Sittenfeld

I loved this SNL-inspired rom-com. It was such a fun and refreshing read, with the perfect amount of laughs built in.

Heart of Hope – Lucy Score

I love to cry when I read books that are meaningful and Lucy Score did not disappoint with this one. To be honest, I would say that Lucy Score was the author of the year for me in 2023. I read about six or seven of her books in 2023 and this was one of my favorites. I definitely ugly cried in this one, but it was so beautiful that I totally forgive Lucy for triggering an ugly Kim-K style cry.

Fourth Wing – Rebecca Yarros

If Lucy Score was the author of the year for me, then Rebecca Yarros is the second. I finally caved and read Fourth Wing and absolutely LOVED it. Rebecca Yarros really knows how to make her readers experience a range of emotions when reading her books. I was happy one minute, cursing the next, yelling and frustrated, then crying…I was super all over the place (emotionally) that’s for sure. If you haven’t read Fourth Wing yet, GET YOUR ASS TO IT. She is currently working on book three (THANK GOD) and this is being adapted into a movie. So good.

Iron Flame – Rebecca Yarros

I absolutely loved Iron Flame, but I did see A LOT of mixed feelings. I will tell you that I was fucking cursing Rebecca Yarros left and right at certain points and I would get so frustrated that I would text my best friend bitching. However, I was obsessed with this book and the ending left me SHOOK. I cannot wait for book three and Rebecca Yarros better do three and four together because I cannot wait another two years to finish the series. If you don’t know, the Fourth Wing series is a five book series so she needs to get her ass to it and finish writing it all.

The Summer of Broken Rules – K.L. Walther

This was the first “Taylor Swift” inspired book I read this year and it was absolutely adorable. I loved it so much. It was light, it was fun, and the romance was just right.

The Woman in Me – Britney Spears

I have been a Britney fan since I was 7 years old and I will forever be a Britney fan. This book has to have been very hard for her to write and I appreciate that she did. She has been through absolute hell at the hands of her family and I am so happy to see her be free of them and learning to live life on her own terms again. Selfishly, I am hoping she releases at least one more album before she quits the industry but I do understand if she never performs or sings on her own again. That being said, I also seriously hope her father rots in hell and has to pay for what he put her through. NO ONE should have to go through what Britney did. NO ONE.

‘Tis the Damn Season – Kimi Freeman

This was another “Taylor Swift” themed book, but with a Christmas twist. I loved it so much and it was the perfect Christmas read. Totally rom-commy and cheesy, but still cute and bearable. I think this was my favorite Christmas read of 2023 and I read a bunch.

This year I’ve bumped my goal to 85 so I’m hoping to be as successful, if not more, than last year. Make sure to follow me on Goodreads, here, to see what I’m reading and how my challenge is going. Here’s to happy reading in 2024!