100 Books I Read in 2023
My New Years resolution for 2023 was to read 100 books, and I am proud to report that I met my goal just in time! I’m pretty burnt out as a result, and I’m excited to welcome 2024 with a big nap and a slice of cake as a reward.
According to my Goodreads stats, I read approximately 30,000 pages this year, which averages out to 300 pages per book. This was not a feat that came naturally for me. It took an immense amount of effort, especially during the final month. I put all of my other hobbies on hold and prioritized reading above everything else. There were many late nights, sacrifices, and mental breakdowns. Lunch breaks at work were spent frantically reading and every train ride was an opportunity to get through a chapter. I listened to audiobooks while walking outside or working on art projects. I always had a book with me.
Now that I am 100 books wiser, would I recommend a challenge like this to others? Probably not. It caused me unnecessary stress and occasionally sucked the joy out of one of my favorite pastimes. Some days, I struggled to soak in details and truly appreciate the writing.
Many stories have blurred together in my mind, but out of all the books I read this year, here are the ones that stood out…
Favorite Fiction:
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
It’s too difficult to decide on an overall favorite, but Mad Honey comes to mind when I think about good books I read in 2023. This novel really makes you question what is true and which characters are lying. Is Asher guilty of murdering his girlfriend? Even his mother secretly has doubts. There are many layers to this novel, and I was captivated by the story and its characters.
Favorite Science Fiction:
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Kindred is categorized as a science fiction novel because it involves time traveling, but it is also based on real American history. The main character, Dana, is a Black woman living in Los Angeles during the late 1970s. She unintentionally travels back in time to a Maryland plantation in 1815, where she experiences the horrors of slavery. The writing is intense, thought-provoking, frightening, detail-oriented, and educational. Kindred is one of the most memorable books I read this year.
The Martian by Andy Weir
My brain got a lot of exercise from reading this geeky sci-fi novel. An astronaut gets lost on Mars during a space mission, and the rest of the crew heads back to Earth without him. Mark, the lonely protagonist left behind, must figure out how to survive on a foreign planet with limited resources. I learned some interesting things about space travel. Thanks to Mark, I know exactly what to do (and what to avoid) if I’m ever stranded on Mars. The narration is clever and witty, which made the book extra fun. I don’t read sci-fi often so I had trouble fully understanding and visualizing a few technical details, but I got the gist of what was going on in each scene. I’m not in any position to question the scientific accuracy of this novel, but it’s clear that the author did extensive research to make everything feel believable. I think I’m a little smarter after reading this book.
Favorite Thriller:
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
I’ve read many mysteries and thrillers so I’ve become slightly difficult to impress, but I still enjoy them as long as the story is exciting. I love to be shocked by a brilliant plot twist, and What Lies in the Woods has a few surprises that I did not see coming. It’s not the best thriller I’ve ever come across, but it was pretty good compared to the others I read this year. If you like creepy books, then you might enjoy this one.
Favorite Romance:
Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
This story begins on Emmie’s thirtieth birthday, when she finds out that her best friend Lucas (who is also her secret crush) is engaged to someone else. It doesn’t sound interesting when I describe it, but I really enjoyed the sweet and emotional journey that this book took me on. I love the characters, the writing style, and subtle sense of humor. The author does an excellent job expressing Emmie’s feelings. It has a similar vibe to The No-Show by Beth O’Leary, which is another book I adore.
Favorite Self-Help:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
This book is interesting and straightforward. It contains practical and accessible suggestions for self-improvement. Although I still don’t feel hopeful about being able to break my excessive napping or knuckle-cracking habits, there is a lot of great advice. I didn’t learn any earth-shattering secrets, but the information is logical, encouraging, and easy to understand.
Since reading this book, it has been helpful to tell myself “I’m going to be 1% better today” or “I only have to practice this skill for two minutes” whenever I find a task daunting. It takes some of the pressure off and I feel accomplished just for starting something, even if I only work on it for a few minutes. Like the author mentions, showing up is often the hardest part.
Favorite Memoir:
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Be prepared to have Britney songs stuck in your head for days while reading this. The Woman in Me totally lives up to the hype — it is super engaging, even for someone like me who doesn’t have a strong interest in celebrities or pop culture. Whenever a specific music video, performance, or interview was mentioned in the book, I went straight to YouTube to watch it.
Britney’s story reveals how broken our society is when it comes to fame, money, and power. I’m not sure how involved Britney was with the writing process, but she sounds more relatable than I expected. I never thought I would have anything in common with Miss American Dream. She reminds us that she is just as vulnerable, sensitive, and human as the rest of us. I hope that she is able to live a well-deserved happy life from here.
Favorite Cover Designs:
You, with a View by Jessica Joyce
As a visual artist, I always judge a book by its cover. Although I was hesitant to read this book because of its cheesy title and the mention of TikTok in the synopsis, I couldn’t help but admire the cute cover illustration. I was drawn to the style and the warm, summery color scheme. You, with a View is a sweet, fluffy romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
I think this is self-explanatory.
I still love reading and I’m excited about the pile books I just checked out from the library, but my goal for 2024 is to take it easy and put less pressure on myself. There’s no reason I have to force myself to read if I’m not in the mood. From now on, my time and energy can be dedicated to more important things.
Acknowledgments:
I never could have completed this reading challenge without the support from my wonderful friends and family. Thank you to my lovely boyfriend Matt, who surprised me with a beautiful cake when I finished my 100th book. I’m grateful for all the times you listened to my crazy rants and gave me head massages when my eyes were strained from reading too much.
Big thanks to everyone who gave me book recommendations, especially my friend Nikki. I love to copy what you read because you always know what’s good.
Shoutout to my mom for lending me her Japanese books.
Thank you to Squishy, who kept me company and provided warmth as I was reading.
I’m thankful for all the libraries in my area — I didn’t spend a single cent on a book this year. I highly recommend the app Libby for e-books and audiobooks, which allows you to borrow books for free with a valid library card. It’s amazing.
And last but not least, thank you to anyone who is reading this blog post! I hope you have an amazing year ahead.
