I read 51 books in 2023 which was 11 more than my goal of 40! I read 60 books in 2022 but that was mostly before I had a newborn haha. I have loved falling back in love with reading over the past 4 years. I really jumped back into reading after college in 2019 and then in 2020 it picked up during quarantine times. I love getting book recommendations from other people so I wanted to round up my top books of 2023! I typically read a mixture of historical fiction, romance, rom-com, and thrillers. What was your favorite book of 2023?! Let me know below or send a DM on Instagram! 

I had 13 five star reads this year, I’m a softy for giving out 5 stars haha. If I think about a book for weeks after I finish it, that’s normally a 5 star read in my mind. Or if I finish it in just a few sittings because I can’t put it down, 5 stars! 

Here were my 5 star reads of the year: 

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane 

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

Happy Place by Emily Henry 

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

The Measure by Nikki Erlick 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 

We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han (reread) 

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

In The Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros 

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Mass

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Mass

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Mass

And now from that list, my top 5 books:

5. Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane 

This was the most emotional book I read all year! I read it in January and it stuck with me all year! If you are looking for a book to make you feel something and totally have you engrossed in a novel, this one would be my recommendation! It’s a wonderful novel about friendship, tragedy, marriage, and forgiveness. 

4. In The Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros 

I discovered Rebecca Yarros this year and I have to say, she was my favorite author of the year! All of her books feel so different which I really like. This one felt like I was watching a movie the entire time, I don’t know how else to describe it! If you like romance books, this was one of my second favorite romance book this year! 

3. Happy Place by Emily Henry 

I am not always the biggest Emily Henry fan but her last two books I have LOVED. I really didn’t like People We Meet on Vacation and thought Beach Read was just okay. But I loved Book Lovers and my all time favorite of hers is now Happy Place! Although there are some parts that make me giggle as the wife of a current surgical resident haha. If you want a romance novel that feels raw and real, read this! My favorite romance book of the year! 

2. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Mass 

I finally dove into this series after starting and stopping 2 times prior. This is the second book in the series and makes the first book being a little slow SO worth it! I devoured this series in just one month which is wild because some of the books are 700+ pages. Books 2,3,& 4 were all five star reads for me but this one is just next level. If you are looking for a series to transport you to another world this year, a Court of Thorns and Roses is it! 

1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 

If you would have told me in January 2023 that my top 1 and 2 books would be romance fantasy books, I would not have believed it. I think prior to this year I had read 1 fantasy book since reading The Hunger Games in high school. But this book you guys!!! It is truly magical. The characters, the dragons, the high stakes, the ending…. If you haven’t read it yet, this is my number 1 recommendation for this year! 

Did Not Finish Books of the Year: 

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This is probably one of my most unpopular opinions of all time haha. I was 50% of the way through this book when I decided to abandon it. I really didn’t like a single character and I was so bored the whole time. I was dreading reading it every night so I decided although it has so much hype, it just wasn’t for me. And that’s the amazing thing about reading! It’s so personal and everyone interacts differently with the words on the page. 

Least Favorite Book: 

The Guest by Emma Cline

I am a big dnf reader (did not finish) so I normally don’t have a ton of least favorite books. I can be 50% of the way through and it really doesn’t bother me to never pick it up again. But I powered through a book I despised the whole time. And that was The Guest by Emma Cline. Nothing. Happened. The main character was so unlikeable, you didn’t learn anything about anyone. It just wasn’t for me. 

That’s it for 2023 books! I’m excited to hopefully have another year full of 5 star books, discovering new authors, and reading some new books from my favorite authors. I also love a good reread so I’m sure there will be some of those too.