2023 Reading Challenge
Goal: Read 48 books (at least 4 titles per month)
June
27. The Winners by Fredrik Backman ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the third book in the Beartown series. It picks up two years after the events of the second book have concluded and show the teens as young college students. This final book in the trilogy intensifies the conflicts as long-term consquences of that fateful night from book 1 continue to play out. I do not think there are any other intended books from Backman for this series.
26. Us Against You by Fredrik Backman ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the second book in the Beartown series. The drama between the towns and families continue to escalate and new characters are introduced entangling the characters and their interests even more. The plot unfolds in the same nonlinear pattern as the first book and keeps the reader engaged with suspenseful foreshadowing.
25. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams (translator) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The whole time I listened to this book, I imagined I was Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat Pray Love in Tutu’s hut soaking up his wisdom and sage advice. The candid relationship these two gentlemen make the audiobook a preference for reading this book. The topics are timeless and helpful at any stage of life for all cultures and identities.
24. Happy Place by Emily Henry ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Emily Henry’s latest publication was true to her style and tropes. While the ending was a little predictable, how the characters got there was interesting and the themes served as a nice reminder that things are often times not what they first appear. Life can be really challenging sometimes and her books are always a wonderful distraction.
May
23. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brene Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is wonderfully encouraging struggling to stay positive, especially for those who feel taken advantage of or just generally challenged by their relationships. I appreciate the storytelling and metaphors Brene uses throughout. Her BRAVING acronym is helpful when putting these ideas into practice. If you’ve seen and love her TED talk about being in the arena and taking the hits, you’ll love this elaboration on those ideas.
22. Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution. by Brene Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This title is perfect for anyone feeling like they are struggling. Brene Brown walks the reader through the transformational process we go through when trying to turn tragedy into strength and positive change. I especially appreciated Brene’s own vulnerability in connecting and sharing her research. I also value that she shares different perspectives on the different topics she covers. The audiobook for this title is a recording of a seminar she leads, which made it especially interesting.
21. Bear Town by Frederik Backman⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book gave me major Thirteen Reasons Why vibes. However, I found the characters more maturally developed. The Alaskan setting and hockey-centered plot made it more interesting. This book is part of a trilogy and I plan on reading the second book, Us Against You, in the month of June. I also plan on watching the TV series when I finish reading the trilogy.
20. It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is a continuation of the plot Colleen Hoover debuts in It Ends With Us. Like its counterpart, I really appreciated the depth of the title’s meaning to the characters, their conflicts, and their development throughout the novel. I appreciated the dedication to authenticity and vulnerability despite the heaviness of the conflicts.
19. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book started out slowly and with a lot of different characters. However, once the connections between them began, the plot picked up and the perspectives became dynamic. This book is well written and the plot is captivating. It is both raw and beautiful in its themes.
18. Kill Joy by Holly Jackson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a quick read and was a fun prequel to the series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. I loved reading about the events that helped Pip realize her passion for mystery and investigation. I’m sure there will be some people who do not like the conclusion of the dinner party, but I think it beautifully foreshadows the resolutions of each book in the trilogy.
April
17. Beach Read by Emily Henry ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love how Emily Henry’s books are quick to read, lighthearted, and just overall satisfying. Beach Read was no different than her other titles. The plot follows two authors through a summer of heartbreak, self-discovery, and passion. The chapters alternate between January and Gus’s points of view, and is an excellent reminder that things and people are not always what they first seem to be.
16. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was a refreshing reminder of the social progress women have made. It was also a beautiful testament to the beauty in being an authentic person and the courage it takes to know and remain your true self. Elizabeth Zott is a passionate chemist and is Bonnie Garmus does a beautiful job developing her character throughout the plot.
15. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was hard to get into, but once I was involved in the plot, I couldn’t put it down. The storyline is in a near-future world where deaths are acurately predicted and citizens are called to be notified. The plot grapples with life’s meaning and questions what would make the most of a person’s limited time on Earth. It was hard to get into the morbid themes, but the characters were honest and captivating. This was a beautiful story of what makes us human and our need for connection with others.
14. One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a thrilling page-turner with a wonderful balance of drama between friendships, self-love, and romantic relationships. The story follows a group of women in the affluent town of Buckhead and their almost daily trips to Glow, an exclusive salon. It seems every expertly-developed character has a deep, dark secret and the alternating points of view added a delicious suspense to the plot. Jeneva Rose is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
March
13. The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was paradoxical for me. It was both timely and much overdue. Building on ancient wisdom from the Toltecs, Miguel shares details for how their lessons can help us live more fulfilling, purposeful, and meaningful lives.
12. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I found this book perfect for spring break. The story follows Poppy, a travel blogger, and her best friend’s trips over the years. The nonlinear plot digs deeper into these 10 different vacations giving a deeper look into the development of their relationship. This book is perfect for readers in their 20s and 30s as they contemplate expectation versus reality and reevaluate what they really want their lives to be.
February
11. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is one of those books where the plot details are seamless and subtle, but once the twist is revealed those clues were so glaring obvious all along. The more I went back and thought about what was already revealed and how it was revealed, the more I appreciated the writing. The change in perspectives and multiple parallel plots added depth and suspense in the best ways possible. While I guessed some of the plot twists, they never stopped coming. This book is sure to surprise its readers.
10. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It Ends With Us is a romance with a few surprising changes in perspectives. I really enjoyed how CoHo’s challenges the reader’s own ideas about the love we want for ourselves and the relationships we have with our parents.
Of course, this story also includes a love triangle and a nuanced take on the conflict between being loved and loving oneself. I love the title as it helped make this book a page-turner and really makes the point hit home.
9. Book Lovers by Emily Henry ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the story of two publishing professionals, the authors and stories they work with, and the layers and messiness that comes with developing complex characters and parallel plot lines. It challenges first impressions and the subtle divides between fiction and reality. It’s a enthralling story illuminating the reasons books capture our hearts and minds and the truths we often deny of ourselves.
8. The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It is extremely difficult for a historical fiction to be surprising, especially one set in WWII. However, this story was a beautiful reminder of the joy a love for reading brings and the amazing community that bookworms provide to one another. The Last Bookshop in London follows the story of Grace, a young woman trying to find something purposeful to do as war threatens everyone and every thing. She begins by working in a bookshop tidying things up. Before she knows it, she and the neighbors are hooked on the stories. Through love and loss, they come together in a heartwarming, bittersweet story.
7. The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This thriller has more subplots and twists and turns than any other I’ve read. Between William’s affairs, Sadie’s misconduct at work, and their son’s trouble at school, the family decides to start fresh in the house and with the 16-year-old neice Will’s sister leaves them when she commits suicide.
Between jealousy, unknown diagnoses, and a distraught, grieving family, facts and reality are constantly challenged. On the small, isolated island they now call home, gossip and police interrogations stir up drama and doubt in every relationship. Which couples are happily married? Whose jealousy led to Morgan’s gruesome murder?
6. This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The sequel to This Poison Heart, this YA title picks up at the first book’s conclusion, the death of Briseis’s mom and the promise that she can get her back from the underworld. The catch? She has 1 month to reunite all the pieces of the Absytrus heart but she must do it before the next new moon. With fates that rival Shakespeare’s and her own odyssey, Briseis, her aunt Circe and her immortal girlfriend, Marie, take on the world, the gods, and their own identities to travel the world and attempt the impossible.
January
5. Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I found this controversial title to be both tender and endearing. I appreciated the thoughtful and talented writing; Many of the chapters ended with impactful, short sentences loaded with the weight and irony of life’s highs and lows. I appreciated Harry’s candor in explaining the ways he has worked to overcome his struggles. Harry reveals himself as a down-to-earth spirit with two missions: (1) Have an openly loving and warm family, and (2) Share that love with the world through acts of service. My only wish for this book is that the timing would have been different. I lament over the fact that Brene Brown has paused her podcast. I would have loved to hear her delve into his courage and vulnerability in an interview with him.
4. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes ⭐⭐⭐
This modern retelling of classic Greek heroes and gods is told from the perspective of the historic women of the time. It was ironic that I read this title at the same time I read This Wicked Fate, when I read the similar titles Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller the same time I was reading This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron. While the retellings of the stories of which I was familiar were interesting, I found the constant change in perspectives in changes in times and locations a little difficult to follow.
3. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into with a title like this. The shock value alone had me prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. However, Jennette did a wonderful job presenting her perspective. She struck a wonderful balance between honoring her truth, recognizing a child’s perspective is just that, and the weight that little girls feel when wanting to make their mothers happy. Jennette tackles alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and emotional trauma in an honest and self-loving way. Her retelling alone is a testament to the progress she’s made in her own healing and the positive future she is sure to have.
2. The Lost Summers of Newport by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White ⭐⭐⭐
With all the Gatsby vibes, this old money vs. new money story alternates from the modern-day, no-money Kat, who is hired to oversee the historic renovation of Sprague Hall, to the third-person narration of the seaside palace’s original build and the family that resided there. As the project progresses, Kat ends up unearthing the family’s darkest secrets, which of course is complicated by her growing feelings for the grandson. Will the family’s secrets remain hidden or will the truth finally set them free?
1.The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was a complete page-turner. The chapters alternate between Sarah’s and Adam’s (a married couple’s) points of view. The first six chapters slowly captured my attention and then I was absolutely hooked. Sarah is a defense attorney who ends up defending her husband in his trial for the death of his mistress in their vacation home.
In a story of too many conflicts of interests to count and the constant reminder that things are never what they appear to be, the plot barrels forward in a talented unraveling of subplots and suspenseful exploration of who-done-it?