I have to admit, it’s kind of fun to go through the books I’ve read each year (thank you Goodreads!) and share my favorites. I haven’t done it for a couple of years but read so many that I absolutely LOVED this year that I just had to share. If you follow me on social media or are signed up to my newsletter, you would have heard me gush about all of these already but they’re that good I’m sharing them again. Sorry, not sorry!
Click on any of the images or links to read more about the book.
In no particular order, I give you my top ten favorite books I read for the first time in 2023:
A Seaside Wonder by Melissa Tagg
I read all three of the books in this series for the first time this year and loved them all, but this one was by far my favorite. I loved Indi’s journey and found myself both laughing and crying with her as she tried to figure out life and where she fit. Favorite takeaway: It’s okay if things haven’t all come together yet. God’s not in a hurry and I don’t have to be either. There’s beauty in the mess.
This one doesn’t release until April 2024 but I had the absolute privilege of reading an early copy for endorsement and it very quickly cemented its place in my top ten. From first page to last I was utterly captivated by Novalise and Zadien’s story and the journey they take to discovering not only who they are but their purpose and reason to stand in a world determined to pull them down. Brilliantly written and imagined, this one is going to stay with me a long time. Can’t wait for book two!
Dust (and Shadow) by Kara Swanson
This duology was deep, but absolutely beautiful. It cut right to the heart but in a way that offered healing and hope. Life isn’t a fairytale. It’s deep. And real. And painful at times. But there is beauty amid the shadows. And hope behind the dust. And such a story to be told. In short, I absolutely loved this series and am so looking forward to Kara’s upcoming 2024 release.
Love and Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean
This was such a fun and fascinating story. From the first sentence, I was captivated, not only by the literary tour of the UK (so good!) but by the characters’ personal journeys. There was a lot more to it than I was expecting and I love that. It made me want to read more classics, which is a fun side effect. Also, gotta love a teacher who sees something in her students that they haven’t yet seen and takes the time to grow it, too. Awww!! My favorite.
I picked this book up one day, planning to just read a couple of chapters, and accidentally finished it. Oops. Sorry family, housework and everything else that got ignored that day. I usually find books about memory loss difficult to read but this one had me captivated. There was a lot in there (as with most of Becky Wade’s books) but it was so beautifully written. Counting down the months until book two releases.
The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak
Okay, this one was just fun. Lead singer of a famous boy band meets and falls for the one girl who couldn’t care less. Sweet, corny at times but just plain adorable. YA romantic angst aside though (which, I have to say, I love), I loved the relationships between the band and the main girl and her siblings. They were all just a lot of fun and totally (in a weird way) relatable. Super cute.
Since You’ve Been Gone by Tari Faris
After loving every other book in this series so far, it didn’t surprise me in the least that I adored this one too. Every time I pick up one of Tari’s books, it’s like coming home. I love the small town charm, the realistic and hard fought (but so sweet!) romance, Otis the traveling hippo, the focus on family. They’re just beautiful and will stay on my keeper shelves forever.
Wow, this book. Vivid is a really great title for it because that’s how it reads – larger than life, brilliant in its brilliance, amazing world-building, unforgettable characters full of color and intrigue… I found myself falling for them, even while wondering if I could, or should, trust them. I haven’t read a book quite like this in a long time (ever?) and wanted to reread it as soon as I’d finished. Cannot wait for the rest of the series!
Worthy of Legend by Roseanna M White
Once again, Roseanna has held me utterly captivated with one of her stories. Surprised? I’m not. She’s one of my all time favorite authors for a reason. The treasure hunt in this one, with all its Arthurian references, kept me totally intrigued the whole way through and I loved reading more about Emily (after having gotten to know her a little in the previous books). Parts of her story were difficult to read, but that only added to the authenticity of her character and journey. Absolutely beautiful.
Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
My favorite bit about this book? The fact that it was set inside a publishing company and told from the point of view of an author working on edits. The romance was sweet and Savannah’s journey to discovering her identity is really beautiful (and challenging, in a good way), but it was definitely the inner workings of a publishing house and brutal reality of what goes into editing a book that had me smiling, laughing and sometimes cringing (on Savannah’s behalf – edits can be brutal!) all the way through. As a romance author myself, it was so relatable. I’ll definitely be reading this one again.
So, there you have it – my top ten books I read for the first time in 2023. Have you read any of these? Anyone want to share their top books of 2023? 🙂
As always, happy reading!
Hannah
Hannah Currie 
Good list. I only read one fiction book this year, “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez, and it was great. I definitely need to more fiction books in my life.
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