This year I read an astonishing (to me) 66 books! Although I do keep track on Goodreads, I don't consider reading more books a competition. My goal in 2022 was 50 books and I will keep it the same in 2023. I read some amazing books this year and three of favorites were read in December!
Out of those 66, I gave 24 books 5-stars, 24 books 4-stars, 16 books 3-stars and 2 books 1-star. I think I am too generous with those 5-star ratings, so I am going to rethink my process (more to come in a future post). When I posted my favorite books on IG and FB, I narrowed it down to 16.
However, that would be a lot to summarize in a blog post. So, I am going to focus on four that I think will appeal to a lot of my readers. All are fiction and since you can find book summaries on Amazon, Goodreads, etc., I am going to focus on what I like about them and why you might enjoy reading each book.
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman I appreciated the honesty in this book. Edi and Ash have been friends their entire lives. When Edi is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she moves to a hospice center close to Ash. Author Catherine Newman writes a tribute to friendship, marriage, parenting and love. And believe it or not, you will chuckle at times. Newman has created quirky characters with a great sense of humor to balance the sadness and tragedy.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver In addition to Damon's coming-of-age story in a dysfunctional foster system, Demon Copperhead is a love story with Appalachia, where the novel takes place. It gave me a new perspective on the area and the people who live there. Yes, there are issues with drugs and poverty but Kingsolver weaves in explanations for why this area has been forgotten by much of the US.
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid I read several of her books this year but this one stuck out because of the format. The story of this fictional band is told in interview format which I haven't seen before. It was a clever tool and allows the reader to get different characters perspectives in a creative format. Plus, the story is fantastic!
This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel Poppy was born Claude but even as a toddler wants to be a girl, eventually taking the name Poppy in kindergarten. Frankel tackles some of the hardest questions for parents of a trans or queer child. Do we keep this a secret? How do we talk to the school? How should I guide my child? The story also addresses the difficulties for Poppy’s brothers. The oldest brother is angry that they moved across the country for Poppy, just to keep her secret. One brother struggles keeping the secret from his girlfriend – aren’t you not supposed to keep secrets from people you love? The story felt realistic.
Whether you read one of my top 16 from 2022 or the newest bestseller, I hope you find time to read what YOU want in 2023!
Happy Reading!
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