I’m throwing in a fun tag today, just because:-) Thanks to Lauren for putting this on my radar, and it was created by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. I’ve decided to focus on books I’ve read in 2023, since it’s that time of year. Here we go!
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Favorite bookish couple
I don’t read a lot of romance, but The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston captured my heart with its feel good romance between main characters Clementine and James/Iwan. If you love time slip stories with great characters, this is a must read.
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” – A book where the character is away from home
What better book for this prompt than one of Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children installments, a portal fantasy series where children must come to grips with the different worlds they’ve been in and why they’ve been kicked out. In Lost in the Moment and Found, a young girl is most definitely far from home when she finds herself in a “nexus” world.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – A favorite novella or short story
The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill was one of my favorite novellas of 2023. This story packed an emotional punch, dealing with trauma and recovery, and it made me a Kelly Barnhill fan for life.
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – What book do you hope Santa brings you this year?
Sadly, I didn’t receive a review copy of The Reformatory by Tananarive Due (or request it all, actually) , and now it’s popping up on all kinds of “best of” lists. I have so much regret! I’ve actually ordered a copy, but it’s taking forever to get here. Hopefully it will show up before Christmas:-)
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – A book that made your nose turn red (made you cry):
I read On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel way back in January, but it’s a book that’s lingered with me all year. Don’t go into it unless you’re in the right headspace for some horrible stuff: drug addiction, child neglect and abuse and many more triggers (read my review for a complete list), but as heart-wrenching as this story is, there’s a beauty to it as well.
“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – Your favorite type of book to read during the holidays:
I don’t have a “holiday specific” type of book that I read, but if I did, I’d pick something funny, cozy and heartwarming, like Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree.
“We Three Kings” – Favorite trilogy
I have not been reading a lot of series this year, so I don’t even have a series ender that I can highlight. But I did read Hel’s Eight, book #2 in Stark Holborn’s amazing Ten Low series, and next year the third book, Ninth Life, will be released!
“Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” – A character you would love to be snowed in with
I fell in love with the two main characters of The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird by Louisa Morgan hard: Beatrice Bird and Anne Iredale. I’m not sure it snows on Beatrice’s island sanctuary, but if it did, I’d love to be stuck there. Plus there are two cute cows to milk!
“Last Christmas” – A book that let you down
After loving Delilah S. Dawson’s The Violence, I had high hopes for her novella, Bloom. But I didn’t like the characters much at all, and the story was way too slow for the novella length.
“White Christmas” – Upcoming releases you’re dreaming about
I’m excited for oh so many 2024 releases, but right now these three are at the top of the list: The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones, The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert and An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson.
Nice post ✉️
Thanks!
Fun tag! 😀 I haven’t read any of these books but I see a few that are on my wishlist. The Seven Year Slip, The Crane Husband, Bookshops & Bonedust, An Education in Malice (especially this one!). The Bad Bones kind of freaks me out because it reminds me of the weeping angels from Doctor Who and they scare me. lol
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Book Blitz: The Black Unicorn by Heather E.F. Carter
Ha ha I actually love the cover of The Bad Ones, and I get the Doctor Who vibe:-)
This looks like fun, I might try and have a go myself 😀 The Seven Year Slip definitely interests me. I haven’t read much romance either but one or two I’ve tried recently have left me wanting to read more.
Me too, I don’t read romance that often, but usually I’m pleasantly surprised.
I’m so glad you did this tag, Tammy! The Wayward Children are perfect that prompt – why didn’t I think of that! 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me recently posted…The Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings): Flight of Icarus (Stranger Things #6) by Caitlin Schneiderhan
I had just read the book so it was fresh in my mind:-)
That’s a great tag!!!
It is a great tag:-)
Very cute! Love your picks!
Thanks!
What a fun tag!
It was fun:-)
This is a fun tag. Love your answers and agree that the characters in Louisa Morgan’s latest would make great friends.
Lynn 😀
She does characters so well:-)
This was a good reminder that I still need to start Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series hahah Great post! 😀
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…Code Vein (2019) Video Game Review
Thanks Lashaan!
I’ve not read any of these, but I’m hoping to get to Travis Baldree’s books soon, as well as the Wayward Children series and one or two I have by Kelly Barnhill.
Travis Baldree is a lot of fun:-)
This is a nice festive book tag and I like how you interpreted the prompts with your choice of books 😀
This tag is so fun! Bookshops & Bonedust seems like a good pick for a holiday read–I tend to think of something cozy, too. Also a bummer about Bloom! I still haven’t read it, but have seen some similar sentiments.
I’m always happy to see you do a book tag . I haven’t read any of these though, but I still have Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes on my tbr.