Favorite Books of 2023 (+ reading year breakdown)

Jan 5

Written By Shirsten Shirts

Happy New Year!

I feel like I had an especially good reading year in 2023, including discovering some new all-time favorites.

Here is the breakdown of what I read this year:

Total Books: 80

Age Categories:

Adult: 51 (including non-fiction)
YA: 20
Middle Grade: 8

Genres:

Romance: 18
Fantasy or Sci-Fi: 27
Nonfiction: 18
Classics: 4
Mystery/Thriller/Horror: 2
Contemporary/General: 3
Historical Fiction: 8
Re-reads: 9

Ratings:

Overall (balancing my experience of the overall story with my experience/critique of the overall craft):

5 stars - 15
4 stars - 35
3 stars - 23
2 stars - 4
1 star - 0

Subjective (purely my enjoyment level):

5 (loved) - 17 (10 new, 7 re-reads)

3 romance
1 fantasy
3 YA romance
2 YA fantasy
2 middle grade fantasy
4 nonfiction (psychology)
1 memoir
1 nonfiction (spiritual)

4 (really liked) - 32
3 (liked) - 18
2 (okay) - 7
1 (disliked) - 7

Writing Craft:

Gulp. I only read 2 writing craft books this year, and they couldn’t have been more different. That’s not to say I didn’t learn a lot from studying stories and consuming writing craft information in other formats, but I definitely have a goal of more writing craft in 2024.

Here are the two books I read:

Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly by Gail Carson Levine

Gail Carson Levine is one of my favorite authors. I re-read Ella Enchanted almost every year, and have done since middle school. (Maybe elementary? Can’t remember when I first picked it up.) She has a knack for effortless, captivating, enchanting stories. So of course I wanted to see what she could teach me about the craft!

This was very short and straightforward. A lot of the information was beginner-level, but I definitely gained a few insights that helped improve my own storytelling. If you love sweet, whimsical, younger-leaning fantasy, pick it up!

On Writing by Stephen King

On the other side of the spectrum, I have yet to read a Stephen King novel. But he’s on my radar for 2024. The first third-ish of the book was memoir, and for the rest he transitioned into cut and dry writing lessons.

As with Levine, I gained valuable insights. Also, King told a story from his own life toward the end of the book that absolutely convinced me he is a masterful storyteller. I will be reading more soon.

10. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (FANTASY)

I heard this pitched as Pride and Prejudice meets Howl’s Moving Castle, and I thought, “Was there ever anything more up my alley?”

Set mostly in a Regency-inspired London with hints of magic, it was a dream to read, utterly enchanting, and I will definitely be picking up more in the series.

9. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton (MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY)

This middle grade fantasy was such a blast! The world was immersive, seriously detailed, and so much fun. I LOVED the New Orleans backdrop even more than the magical school in the sky.

The second book recently came out, and I 100% plan to continue in the series.

8. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (YA HISTORICAL FICTION)

In my experience, the Newberry committee knows what it’s doing. Every Newberry book I’ve read has been a dream, and this was no different. Set in America during early colonization, the history, conflict, prose, and characters in this book were rich and incredibly atmospheric.

7. Saint by Adrienne Young (YA FANTASY)

The truth is, I’m just an Adrienne Young fangirl. If she comes out with a book, I know I’m going to love it. Her worlds feel real and raw, her romance is always breathtaking, and this prequel story of Fable’s parents deserves all the love. Trader/ship captain/boy from the wrong side of the tracks Saint paired with stubborn/strong-willed heiress Isolde made for a story that completely swept me up and away.

6. Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz (YA HISTORICAL FICTION)

I am not a big historical fiction reader, but apparently I need to give these stories more love, because TWO ended up on my favorites list. (Though, to be fair, there were fantasy elements at play in this particular story.)

I had to pick this book up when I heard the premise: a young girl in 19th century (I think?) Edinburgh desperately wants to become a surgeon, but females aren’t allowed to learn the trade. So, naturally, she pairs up with a grave robber in order to get subjects to practice on.

Loved.

5. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (MEMOIR)

In my opinion, this memoir deserves ALL of the hype. Jennette McCurdy is a powerful writer, and her story read like fiction. It was heartbreaking, yes, but also connective. I felt for her, I rooted for her, I cried for her, and I couldn’t wait to pick up the audio book every single time.

4. A Tangle of Spells by Michelle Harrison (MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY)

If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know how I feel about a good middle grade fantasy. They are the epitome of “warm hug” reading. In my opinion, very few adult or YA fantasies ever comes close to that cozy, excited, enchanted feeling I get reading a good middle grade fantasy.

Following three sisters and a curse, this book is the third in the Pinch of Magic series, and my favorite so far. I already have #4 and will be picking it up soon.

3. Happy Place by Emily Henry (ROMANCE)

I don’t remember what I was reading right before I picked up Happy Place, but I do remember that within the first couple of pages I looked over at my husband gleefully and said something like, “Oh, that’s right, Emily Henry can WRITE.”

I don’t know how she does it, but I am always completely entranced in her books within the first page or two. She just knows how to weave a story, and she is extremely skilled at delivering effortless, inviting prose.

Set at a beach house in Maine during summer, this story features a second chance romance and a close-knit friend group. I heard Henry say that if it was a Taylor Swift song, it would be “Maroon.” That tracks. Sad, emotional, but also…happy.

2. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (ROMANCE)

I know, I know, this book has a cheating trope. But it’s still my favorite romance I’ve ever read. (Romance is definitely not my most read genre, and they’re typically pretty hit-or-miss, but I do enjoy them—2 ended up on my favorites list!)

The vibes are there. Another beachy summer read, this time the story takes place at a Canadian lake house over the course of several summers. Best of all, it features my favorite trope of all time: childhood friends to lovers. If that’s your thing, I highly recommend.

1. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (FANTASY)

This was another book that featured a drastic difference in the level of writing compared to what I had been reading directly before. Again, within the first couple of pages, I was wrapped completely in the story, blown away by Heather Fawcett’s skill.

The characters were vivid, the world was cozy, the writing was impeccable. AND, it had heavy, heavy Sophie/Howl dynamics going on (Howl’s Moving Castle—my all-time favorite book). Set on a wintery Icelandic island, we travel to Fae worlds, go on mini quests, and get rewarded with sweet found family and heartwarming romance. It’s everything I ever wanted.

And those are my top 10 favorite books of the year! What stories swept you away in 2023?