2023 Goodreads Wrap-Up

I wasn't even going to make this post because it's ridiculously late, but here we are. My 2023 reading year was kinda mid (for lack of better words). My goal was 60 books because I knew there was no way I could read 100 again. Spoiler: 60 was also too many.

The Worst

These books make me feel like I could be a published author

3. Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

Tessa, I was rooting for you!!! When I tell you I was in shock the entire time reading this. I just couldn't believe the same woman who wrote It Happened One Summer wrote this disaster of a rom-com. The romantic leads were insufferable, the plot wasn't great and it had several holes. 🍅🍅🍅.

2. This Is For Tonight by Jessica Patrick

I'm pretty sure this was stolen from Wattpad and then somehow rewritten worse than whichever preteen uploaded the original. Let's just say, the hardcover was $2 for a reason.

1. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

This has to be the worst sequel of all time. I love The Summer I Turned Pretty for exactly what it is. Corny, melodramitic fun. However, this was just bad.

The Best

I read so many new favourites this year!

5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

Bones & All is the third book I've read in anticipation of a film adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet. I'm really squeamish, so I thought reading the book first would help prepare me for the movie. It didn't, but I'm glad I read the book because the story was riveting, the characters were well-developed, and I just couldn't put it down. I remember my roommates coming in at like 3 am, and I was still reading.

4. The Secret History by Donna Tart

I started reading the Percy Jackson series in preparation for the new series coming to Disney+. The entire Twitter timeline seemed excited about it, so of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon. I love all five books, but the first one is pure magic.

3. Finding Me by Viola Davis

I absolutely adored this book. I don't remember the last time I cried so many times while reading, but my attachment to Chloe Brown was just that serious. Talia Hibbert is a hero for giving me a cute story and a heroine I could relate to!

2. The Crucible by Arthur Miller

The audiobook experience for Carrie Soto is Back was like none other. Goodreads users were so right for voting it best historical fiction because it was fantastic. The storytelling was impeccable, and you need to read it ASAP if you haven't already.

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Solitaire became my new favourite book five pages in. The fact that Alice Oseman wrote this masterpiece at 17 is beyond incredible. As much as I love Nick and Charlie and all things Heartstopper, nothing can compare to the brilliance of Tori Spring's story.

Most Anticipated & Biggest Dissapointment

I guess you win some and you lose some

Most Anticipated: The Woman In Me by Britney Spears

For some reason, I was really on my Audible memoir kick this year. Especially memoirs about celebrities I knew next to nothing about. I'm gonna be so for real, I didn't understand the #FreeBritney campaign at the time. So, imagine my surprise when I learned how much her family has put her through. Also, the ghost writer ate DOWN, and Michelle Williams was a fantastic narrator.

Biggest Disappointment: Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey

I was willing to look past the disaster that was Secretly Yours, hoping it was just a glitch in the system. It wasn't. Technically, this book wasn't as bad as the first, but the amount of potential it had to be great is the main source of my disappointment.

Related Stories