2023 reading roundup
I wish I’d done this my entire life, but a few years ago, I started logging my reading. Here is a summary of my 2023 reads followed by a list of every book I read this year. If I’ve written a review of a book, it will also be hyperlinked.
the year in books: a summary
Top book of 2023 (by enjoyment and also by number of times read): Summer Sons, by Lee Mandelo
This is the most unexpected book I’ve ever enjoyed-full credit to my friend Veronica, who convinced me to read it despite my aversion to the ghost stories, fast car, and angsty men mentioned in the synopsis. It’s incredible, and was also the catalyst for my foray into more fantastical literature.
Most read author of 2023: Natasha Pulley
I had previously read The Watchmaker on Filigree Street, and loved it, back in 2016, but I picked up the sequel (The Lost Future of Pepperharrow), fell back in love, and binged her entire canon. She’s YA-meets-magical realism with compelling yet understated queer romance and I’ve already pre-ordered her new release, The Mars House, slated for March 2024.
Top genres of 2023: queer fiction/romance, magical realism/light fantasy, and young adult fiction.
I’ve historically been a hardcore purist for “realistic” and often quite serious fiction (along with the classics), but my reading recently took an unprecedented turn away from my usual repertoire, and I’m excited for the expanded reading opportunities I’ve finally unlocked. In the end, I just like good storytelling, strong interpersonal dynamics, and nuanced character development, so if a magical plot is the vehicle for that, I’m in.
books read in 2023
In order of reading. Those I highly recommend are bolded.
Harry Potter #5 (reread), JK Rowling
To Paradise, Hanya Yanagihara
Short Stories in Italian, Volume 1, Olly Richards
Harry Potter #6 (reread), JK Rowling
My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante
Music, Math, and Mind, David Sulzet
Beasts of a Little Land, Juhea Kim
The Lost Future of Pepperharrow, Natasha Pulley
The Watchmaker on Filigree Street (reread), Natasha Pulley
The Half Life of Valery K, Natasha Pulley
Kingdoms, Natasha Pulley
The Bedlam Stacks (reread), Natasha Pulley
What We Were Promised, Lucy Tan
The Binding, Bridget Collins
Young Mungo, Douglas Stuart
Summer Sons, Lee Mandelo (read 3 times)
A Marvelous Light, Freya Marske
How To Kill Your Family, Bella Mackie
The Betrayals, Bridget Collins
Weyward, Emilia Hart
These Violent Delights, Micah Nemerever
The Island of Missing Trees, Elif Shafak
Things We Lost to Water, Eric Nguyen
Edinburgh, Alexander Chee
A Little Life (reread), Hanya Yanagihara
Happy Go Lucky, David Sedaris
Swimming in the Dark, Tomasz Jesrowski
Lie With Me, Philippe Besson
Exciting Times (reread), Naiose Dolan
Greenland, David Santos Donaldson
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
If We Were Villains, ML Rios
Haunting Season, various authors
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin
Babel, RF Kuang
Winter Spirits, various authors
Macbeth, Shakespeare
Love in the Big City, Sang Young Park
The Siren’s Lament, Jun’ichiro Tanizaki
What Belongs to You, Garth Greenwell
Tales of Korea, Im Bang
The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle book 1), Maggie Stiefvater
The Dream Thieves, (The Raven Cycle book 2), Maggie Stiefvater
Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle book 3), Maggie Stiefvater
The Raven King (The Raven Cycle book 4), Maggie Stiefvater
The Foxhole Court (All For the Game book 1), Nora Sakavic
The Raven King (All For the Game book 2), Nora Sakavic
The King’s Men (All For the Game book 3), Nora Sakavic
Cloud Cuckoo Land, Anthony Doerr