In 2023, I read like I’ve never been able to read before.
In 2022 I only read three books. Three. I’m shocked to admit it, as a writer and an avid lover of reading. However, when you uproot your lives and move across the country on a whim, sometimes both the desire and ability to pick up a book falls to the wayside.
Let’s just say that my reading failure became a learning opportunity. Notably, about what I didn’t want to feel again.
And despite entering into 2023 with a bleak disappointment in the book department (wishing I picked up more books, wondering how to prioritize, knowing I could do better), I managed to turn things around. Thankfully, I’m back where I belong: nose-deep in a blanket of words.
I ended the year on a strong note. My goal was to read 23 books (you know, 23 for 2023), and officially reached 53 books read. I’m pretty proud of that growth!
Here’s a list of the books I read in 2023.
𖤓 My very favorites are marked with a sun!
The Last Thing He Told Me
Laura Dave
Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Gail Honeyman
That Summer
Jennifer Weiner
𖤓 Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng
The Tourist Attraction
Sarah Morgenthaler
𖤓 City of Girls
Elizabeth Gilbert
𖤓 A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 A Court of Frost and Starlight
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 A Court of Silver Flames
Sarah J. Maas
Beautiful World, Where are You
Salley Rooney
A Bad Day for Sunshine
Darynda Jones
A Good Day for Chardonnay
Darynda Jones
A Hard Day for a Hangover
Darynda Jones
𖤓 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Modern Lovers
Emma Straub
𖤓 Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 The Great Alone
Kristin Hannah
Paris for One and Other Stories
Jojo Moyes
You and Me, Always
Jill Mansell
Book Lovers
Emily Henry
Ordinary Grace
William Kent Krueger
The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins
The House Across the Lake
Riley Sager
𖤓 The Giver of Stars
Jojo Moyes
White Ivy
Susy Yang
𖤓 Every Summer After
Carly Fortune
One Italian Summer
Rebecca Serle
𖤓 Everything I Never Told You
Celeste Ng
𖤓 The Signature of All Things
Elizabeth Gilbert
Love on the Brain
Ali Hazelwood
Nocturns
Kazuo Ishiguro
Leaving Time
Jodi Picoult
The Summer Place
Jennifer Weiner
Homewreckers
Mary Kay Andrews
𖤓 Daisy Jones + The Six
Taylor Jenkins Reid
𖤓 Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 Crown of Midnight
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 Heir of Fire
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 Queen of Shadows
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 Empire of Storms
Sarah J. Maas
Tower of Dawn
Sarah J. Maas
𖤓 Kingdom of Ash
Sarah J. Maas
The Assassin’s Blade
Sarah J. Maas
Beach Read
Emily Henry
In Five Years
Rebecca Serle
Outlawed
Anna North
Georgie, All Along
Kate Clayborn
You Shouldn’t Have Come Here
Jeneva Rose
Malibu Rising
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Silver Bay
Jojo Moyes
How I read more
The keys to my own success are pretty straightforward. Here’s how I managed to read more books:
- I got a Kindle, which allowed me more access and less time physically sorting and finding and waiting
- Most importantly: I signed up for a local library card, which is compatible with my Kindle (through the Libby app)
- I kept the momentum going by limiting down time between books
- I bought the books I was most excited about, in order to limit library hold wait times
- It was helpful for me to keep track diligently on Goodreads—both tracking read books and adding “want to read” items—which kept me motivated and always with ideas for what to get next
- I went into the year with low pressure. It wasn’t a resolution as much of a side quest, so there was no guilt/shame involved if I didn’t meet my own expectations. This was a great attitude shift!
- If I liked an author, I’d immediately look for more! Helps to keep moving forward with what I’m enjoying in the moment
Personal highlights
If I’m being honest, I owe a lot of my reading fervor to each of the series written by Sarah J. Maas. And, to all the people who recommended them! A Court of Thorns and Roses not only opened me up to a whole new genre (I never cared for fantasy before), but also gave me something new to be excited about. This continued with Crescent City, and even most of all with Throne of Glass. These books were fun, approachable, and very, very easy to dive into.
And the other big nods go to Taylor Jenkins Reid and Elizabeth Gilbert for their novels. I’m walking out of 2023 with these two on my vision board. Both of these authors excited and inspired me as a writer. With Reid, I so badly want to emulate the same kind of story that’s so, so, fun and clever. And Gilbert? Wow. Gilbert can write. I hope to someday make that same kind of impression—of an author that can weave together sentences so beautifully to make an impactful narrative with each word.
What’s next?
Thanks for checking out the books I read in 2023! If you’re interested in being friends on Goodreads, drop a line—let’s connect.
What else should I read? What should I add to my list? I’m always open to suggestions.
Established in 2018, Sunshine with Savannah is a catch-all blog with an emphasis on weekend travel, millennial-style marriage and fun, reflection-based musings, outdoor adventure, home design, and all things lifestyle.
Though the content is diverse and varied, the heart of this space stays true to a single, guiding principle: a simple pursuit to find sunshine, wherever I go.
John Rieber says
Terrific list…I have about 60 books still unread – yes I am a collector, focusing mostly on travel, food and entertainment, with a dose of Nordic noir police thrillers as well….try to read a bit every day to stimulate the mind!
Sunshine with Savannah says
That’s amazing! I think there’s an art to finding and selecting books that speak to you in the moment, even separately from reading them. Two separate and meaningful joys! All of those genres sound so lovely. Enjoy!
Love this and your reading challenge – “nose-deep in a blanket of words”.
Thank you! So many fantastic books, I wish there was time to read them all.
Love this. Gonna have to get kindle. Cause I love reading but going to library isnt an option. Which one would you recomend to start with?!
Thank you for reading! I was able to sign up for a library card online and I use my kindle with it, through the Libby app! Highly recommend going that route for free books it it works! 🙂
And I highly recommend the The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo! Such a good one.
Amazing amount of books. Well done! There’s a few here I’ve read too, I really enjoyed Emily Henry books this year x
Absolutely—I love her settings and she always incorporates a fun twist. Thanks for reading and commenting! x
Great post. I love my kindle so much, I couldn’t be without it lol. If you enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid, I would recommend her newest, Carrie Soto is back…so good!
I’m so glad I made the switch! And yesss, after recently finishing Malibu Rising, I think Carrie Soto is Back will be the perfect follow up. I’ve heard only great things! Thanks for reading and for your recommendation. 🙂
I’ve read quite a few of these. I didn’t know you could access books from the library via an app. Good to know.
It has really increased my access to books! Highly recommend, if you’re an e-reader. Thanks for checking out my list!