Happy New Year!

I’m already a couple of books into my reading for 2024, but it’s tradition for me to recap my year here on the blog, so here’s a summary of what I read in 2023.

My reading was up in 2023! I finished 90 books (versus 80 in 2022). I didn’t have a particular reading goal for 2023, but there ended up being a couple of trends.

First, since I was writing a mystery, I read a significant number of mysteries and thrillers, both young adult and adult.Second, I made a point of reading books that caught my attention, just for fun. So if I saw a book everyone was talking about, I picked it up to read, even if I had a list of books I’d intended to read for research purposes. (Quite honestly, SO MUCH of my reading is for research.) Which leads me to my third point…I read more non-fiction than I perhaps ever have in a single year. I generally only pick up non-fiction for research purposes, and as a result, it’s rare for me to read it cover to cover. All of these books grabbed my attention and kept me reading. Imagine my surprise when I wanted to read a book about plants from beginning to end!Fourth, I made a concerted effort to reread books on my shelves. I used to alternate these every third book in order to try and weed out any I’d outgrown. I didn’t quite get through that many, but I rediscovered some books I still love and also found a few to take to the used book store or a Little Free Library.

Here are the stats breaking the books down by category, followed by the list with notes.

6 middle grade51 young adult26 adult7 non-fiction

Total: 90 books, including 15 rereads (mostly among the adult books but a couple YA)

The Betrayed by Kiera CassThe Ballad of Never After by Stephanie GarberAll of This Is True by Lygia Day PeñaflorReckless Girls by Rachel HawkinsMonday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. JacksonYou Were Never Here by Kathleen PeacockA Study in Charlotte by Brittany CavallaroThe Cheerleaders by Kara ThomasThe Bodyguard by Katherine CenterOne Last Shot by Kip Wilson – Added to my permanent collection The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy SpringerSadie by Courtney SummersStalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri ManiscalcoThe House Swap by Yvette Clark – Received an ARC, which is now part of my permanent collection A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly JacksonTruly Devious by Maureen JohnsonOne Girl in All the World by Kendare BlakeMindhunter by John E. DouglasThe Vanishing Stair by Maureen JohnsonSeven Percent of Ro Devereaux by Ellen O’CloverGood Girl, Bad Blood by Holly JacksonThe Hand in the Wall by Maureen JohnsonFrench Kissing in New York by Anne-Sophie JouhanneauThe Cove by Catherine Coulter – Reread  The Party Crasher by Sophie KinsellaDays of Gold by Jude Deveraux – Reread Perfect Shot by Debbie RigaudThe Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy SpringerFinlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle CosimanoFlowerheart by Catherine Bakewell – Added to my permanent collection The Scent of Jasmine by Jude Deveraux – Reread The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets by Nancy SpringerNot An Easy Win by Chrystal D. GilesYou Wouldn’t Dare by Samantha Markum – Added to my permanent collection The Box in the Woods by Maureen JohnsonLavender Morning by Jude Deveraux – Reread A Whole Song and Dance by Sarvenaz Tash – Added to my permanent collection The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan by Nancy SpringerGirl Forgotten by April Henry – Added to my permanent collection Throwback by Maureen GooBegin Again by Emma LordScarlet Nights by Jude Deveraux – Reread Nine Liars by Maureen JohnsonPlants That Can Kill: 101 Toxic Species to Make You Think Twice by Stacy Tornio –  This book was both fascinating and surprisingly funny, with entries like “You pretty much need to stay away from this one. There’s a reason people used it to poison others. The Bottom Line: No. Just no.” (About the strychnine tree.) After I talked about it so much, my husband bought it for me for Mother’s Day!  Well, That Was Awkward by Rachel VailThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne CollinsWhen the Vibe is Right by Sarah DassLuring a Lady by Nora Roberts – Reread Picture-Perfect Boyfriend by Becky DeanA Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife by Kendall Kulper – Added to my permanent collection The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson – Added to my permanent collection Save the Cat! Writes A Young Adult Novel by Jessica Brody – Revolutionized my manuscript restructure! And yes, I read every single example, even the ones that didn’t apply to my book. Also added to my permanent collection. Something Close to Magic by Emma Mills – Added to my permanent collection The Prince & The Apocalypse by Kara McDowell – Added to my permanent collection Book Lovers by Emily HenryWell, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. SutantoBorrow My Heart by Kasie WestTake Me Home Tonight by Morgan MatsonThe Blonde Identity by Ally Carter – Added to my permanent collection Always Isn’t Forever by J.C. CervantesManslaughter Park by Tirzah PriceEmma by Jane Austen – Reread The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – Added to my permanent collection Saving Grace by Julie Garwood – Reread Reign by Katharine McGeeRed Velvet by Carla Luna – Added to my permanent collection Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas – Reread Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas – Reread Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Kleypas – Reread Married by Morning by Lisa Kelypas – Reread Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas – Reread Once Upon Another Time by James RileyOnce Upon Another Time Tall Tales by James RileyOnce Upon Another Time Happily Ever After by James RileyHighly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia HibbertWeep No More, My Lady by Mary Higgins Clark – Reread A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak by Laura Taylor NameyGoing Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt – Reread Enchanted Hill by Emily Bain Murphy – Added to my permanent collection A Curse for True Love by Stephanie GarberA Smart Girl’s Guide: Babysitting, the Care and Keeping of Kids by Harriet BrownWitch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez GillilandDon’t Sit on the Baby: The Ultimate Guide to Sane, Skilled and Safe Babysitting by Halley BondyBreaking Cover: My Secrety Life in the CIA and What It Taught Me About What’s Worth Fighting For by Michele Rigby AssadThe Naturals by Jennifer Lynn BarnesLife Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA by Amaryllis FoxThe Hunting Party by Lucy FoleyThe Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth WareTell Me What Really Happened by Chelsea SedotiThe Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith

In previous years, I linked books on this list to reviews. However, I stopped writing reviews on the blog at the end of 2022. Instead, I often highlight books in my monthly newsletter. You can subscribe here, and my latest issue will be out later this morning.

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