I haven’t done this survey in YEARS, but it seems to be popping up a lot this year. Originally created by Jamie at the Perpetual Page Turner (I can’t find a recent post on her blog, so I don’t think she’s done it since 2020), this is an in depth look at your year in books with some very specific questions. I thought it would be fun to highlight my year in reading and blogging, so here we are! Plus it gives me a chance to shine a light on some books that didn’t make my Best Books of 2023. I did leave out some of the original prompts, simply because they didn’t apply or I couldn’t think of an answer to them. Here we go!
2023 Reading Stats:
Some talented guy made this book generator, isn’t it cool? And you can get yours here. All you need is a Goodreads account! I’m not sure what to make of the “40 Mystery books,” since I doubt I read that many. But I do love the “Spooky” reading vibe:-)
Best books I read in 2023:
These are my top three books of the year, although it was very hard to narrow it down. I read Whalefall in August and immediately knew it would be tough to beat as my number one book of the year, it was simply mind blowing. September House was a close second and definitely the best debut I’ve read in years! Finally, the third spot has to go to Black Sheep, a horror book with a killer twist that surprised me in many ways.
Books I was excited to read but didn’t love as much as I’d hoped:
I’m a big fan of Zoje Stage, but Mothered just didn’t work for me, unfortunately. I was also disappointed by The Scourge Between Stars, which lots of readers loved. For me, it was a debut that needed more work. And finally, Open Throat was a great idea—a story told through the eyes of a mountain lion—but it ended up being way too depressing and not as whimsical as I had hoped.
Most surprising books I read:
Three books I was looking forward to, and all three ended up surpassing my expectations. The Daughters of Block Island is a creepy, well plotted gothic thriller with lots of atmosphere. Delicate Condition introduced me to Danielle Valentine, and boy am I glad I took a chance on this book! And Dreambound was much better than I thought it would be. I’ve enjoyed Dan Frey’s books in the past, but wow, this is a masterpiece!
Books I pushed the most:
I’m not sure how hard I “pushed” these books, but I was very excited to share my thoughts about them and definitely went overboard with enthusiasm, lol. Whalefall is a book I’ve seen on several “best of” lists, but I still feel like it’s way too under hyped. The Seven Year Slip was so much fun, and because it isn’t my usual genre, I wanted everyone to read it! As for Fourth Wing, I really didn’t have to push it at all, it really sold itself because of all the hype:-)
Best series starter/sequel/ending:
To be honest, I didn’t read a lot of series books this year, but what I did read was very good!
Best series starter: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde #1)
Best sequel: Hel’s Eight (Ten Low #2)
Best series ender: Earth Retrograde (First Planets Duology #2)
Favorite new author I discovered this year:
Waaay more than three, but here are some I loved. Richard Kadrey’s The Pale House Devil was a really fun novella, and I’m glad it’s going to be a series. What Never Happened by Rachel Howzell Hall was so much fun, and I know I’ll be reading more books from this talented author. And I finally read Hailey Piper, and I can’t believe I waited so long. Cruel Angels Past Sundown was bloody and fun!
Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable books of the year:
Whalefall is showing up a lot in this post, sorry not sorry:-) Seriously, if you are looking for the most unique, thrilling book of the year, I can’t imagine anything better than this one. Fourth Wing, despite some of its faults, was very hard to put down, you can’t argue with that! And I loved my first Kate Alice Marshall book, What Lies in the Woods, and I can’t wait to read more.
Favorite covers of 2023:
There were lots of great covers this year, but these three stand out for me!
Most memorable characters of 2023:
I love this category, and it was hard to pick only three. First, Jade Daniels from Stephen Graham Jones’ Indian Lake Trilogy is a character who has really grown on me since the first book, and while I don’t always like her, she’s definitely memorable. In Lone Women, we meet Adelaide Henry, a woman with a terrible burden who is trying to make her own way in the world. And then there’s Emily Wilde from Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, a scholar of the Folk who is writing the first faerie encyclopedia and trying to navigate the world of the fae, romance and danger.
Most beautifully written books of 2023:
Three beautifully written stories by authors I’ll definitely be reading again: The Star and the Strange Moon, The Crane Husband and The Salt Grows Heavy.
Most thought-provoking books of 2023:
This was such a tough category, and only one book came to mind. The Thick and the Lean deals with food and sex, and it certainly gave me a lot to think about!
Shortest and Longest book I read:
Shortest: I Am Ai – 80 pages
Longest: Black River Orchard – 640 pages
Books that shocked me the most:
It was a great year for hard-core horror, and these three were some of the most shocking. A female serial killer who works at Disneyland as a Princess (Maeve Fly); a pandemic with Eldrich gods and buckets of blood (Sister, Maiden, Monster). And a story about a very expensive watch that may or may not kill it’s owner by severing their ulnar artery (Death Watch).
Favorite books from previously read authors:
This is another tough category, because I read so many good books from favorite authors this year, but these three stand out. Charles Soule never disappoints, and The Endless Vessel is one of his best. I love ALL of Louisa Morgan’s books, but The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird is a new favorite. And finally, Chuck Wendig finally wrote his apple book (if you follow him you’ll understand), and Black River Orchard is THE evil apple book of the year!
Best debuts of 2023:
All I can say is “wow.” These three debuts didn’t feel like debuts at all! I cannot wait to see what Carissa Orlando does next. Yume Kitasei has her sophomore book releasing this year (yay!), And I’m so glad I read Bethany Jacobs‘ debut, which is the beginning of a series.
Best world building/most vivid setting:
I read so many books this year with wonderful, vivid worldbuilding, but these three were my favorites. Gods of the Wyrdwood features an incredible, magical, dangerous wood, and I can’t wait for the sequel. Episode Thirteen is creepy and strange and like nothing else I’ve ever read. And Dreambound does some unique things with the fae realm that combined the city of Los Angeles, and really, you just need to read it for yourself.
Books that put a smile on my face:
Three books that made me smile? Bookshops & Bonedust, A House With Good Bones and Claws and Contrivances🙂
Books that made me cry:
Tiffany McDaniel can always make me cry, and On the Savage Side was very hard to read, but I’m glad I read it. Boys in the Valley was heartbreaking and emotional, and it was a perfect “first” Philip Fracassi. And The Endless Vessel is a wonderful, hopeful story but very emotional at the end.
Most unique books of the year:
What Kind of Mother gets the “Strangest Book of the Year” award for sure, which means it fits this category perfectly. Schrader’s Chord is a unique take on the haunted record theme. And of course, Whalefall has to be in this category: the story of a teen who is swallowed by a sperm whale.
Favorite post I wrote in 2023:
My favorite posts are lists, in case you haven’t figured that out, lol. Some of my favorite lists this year (yes, it was sort of a horror focused year):
24 Horror Books To Read in 2024
Ten Horror Books That Revolve Around Movies & TV
Favorite bookish photo of 2023:
This one is bittersweet. This is one of the last photos I took of my beloved Otis, and therefore one of my favorite photos of the year.
Most challenging thing about blogging this year:
This was one of my most successful years of blogging, with overall stats almost double what they were in 2022. But I had some big life changes in 2023, mostly selling our house of 20+ years and moving to a completely new town. I’m a pretty happy person in general, but I’ve been depressed a lot this year because of that change, and honestly, still struggling with it at times. I guess blogging has saved me, though!
Most popular post on the blog this year:
The runaway winning post, in terms of total views, was my review of Fourth Wing, with over 16,000 hits. I think the reason for this was good timing: I read Fourth Wing early on, soon after it was published, so I caught a lot of Google searches after the book went viral.
Post you wish got a little more love:
My review of Whalefall by Daniel Kraus. This was one of the least viewed reviews of the year, and I can’t understand why. I really gushed over this book and pushed it hard!
One book I didn’t get to in 2023 but hope to read in 2024:
I’m sad I didn’t read The Reformatory last year, especially since everyone raved about it. It’s one of my TBR Jar Challenge books this year, so I’ll definitely be reading it at some point this year.
Books you are most anticipating for 2024 (non debut):
If you follow this blog you know how many 2024 releases I’m looking forward to! But these three top the list right now.
Debuts you are most anticipating in 2024:
These are only a few debuts I’m looking forward to!
A series sequel or ending I’m most anticipating in 2024:
There are quite a few sequels I’m excited to read, but most of them don’t have covers yet. But I’m super excited for these three!
One thing I hope to accomplish in my reading/blogging life in 2024:
Read more backlist books! For the first time ever, I’m going to try to read one backlist/owned book each month. Wish me luck!
A 2024 release you’ve already read and recommend:
Both of these books were excellent, and I can’t wait to share my reviews:-)
Nice post ✍️
A great year of reading 😀
Emily Wilde book 1 is definitely a great way to begin a series. I’m still reading it now and go between wanting to get straight back to it and wanting to draw it out for as long as possible. Such a good book.
Pages and Tea recently posted…Reading Resolutions 2024
I really need to pick up Whalefall at some point! I love seeing Kate Alice Marshall 🙂
Jen | Book Den recently posted…My 2023 Year-End Reading Survey
I hope you do pick up Whalefall!
It’s always fun to look at end of year stats. I didn’t realize you had read so many mysteries this year! I didn’t put it on my list of top books but I really did enjoy Black Sheep. September House is still on my TBR and I hope to read that one this year.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Romance Review – LAST CALL AT THE LOCAL by Sarah Grunder Ruiz @berkleyromance
I don’t think I did read that many mysteries, lol, but I guess the algorithm thought I did!
I love these types of posts and see a lot of familiar books here – either ones I’ve read or want to read. I have to admit, September House was one of my faves as well too. I can’t wait for First Light as I really loved the first one. It was such a quiet but chilling vampiric read. I want this year to be my Vampire era – I ‘ve been watching Booktube too much with all the era talk
Ha ha I love the thought of a vampire era!
Ohhh! I love this articulated form of recap of the reading year! It’s even better than the colorful graphs I have fun creating :-). I will have to remember this one for next year, thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…THE GLASS BOX, by J. Michael Straczynski
It’s a really fun recap and makes you think carefully about everything you read:-)
Very fun post. My reading vibe was “Living on the edge,” lol. Hey, I’m sorry the move has been challenging, and I hope this year finds you happier with it. I always wish you the best.
Thanks Marian!! I do hope this year is better. And I love “living on the edge”:-)
I’m glad you liked your first Kadrey, but I’m not sure you’d want to go back and read some of his older stuff (unless you’re in love with urban fantasy and LA, in which case…;) But I AM pretty sure that if I could piece through your books from 2023, I’d find enough that people classed as mysteries.
I love LA stories so i might venture into Kadrey’s older stuff at some point.
Ugh, Whalefall caught my attention when I was first stocking it months ago, and I decided against buying it at that time! Looks like I know what my first book purchase of 2024 is going to be.
Oh cool, I hope you do buy it. It’s seriously underrated and needs more hype!
It was a great reading year! It makes me happy to see Episode Thirteen A House with Good Bones, and Bookshops and Bonedust on your list. I was so close to picking Mister Magic for the same thing. I’m going to have to check out that myyearinbooks asap. You’re definitely right about Fourth Wing- it really does sell itself – 16,000 is something else!
The year in books app is pretty cool, I hope it sticks around for next year too:-)
Spooky, yep that’s definitely it, lol.
For me, that was adventurous, which is good too.
Congrats on your wonderful year
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…Year of reading 2023 part 3
Thanks Emma! I love “adventurous.”
Great post – you shared a lot. I was surprised to see mystery rather than scifi in your stats. But Horror is not a surprise. Please feel free to link up to a Top 10 post if you decide which one fits.
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…National Park Mysteries : Canyon Sacrifice, Mountain Rampage by Scott Graham @sgrahamauthor @joeljrichards @TantorAudio #LoveAudiobooks
Thanks Anne! I’m not sure why “Mystery” popped up, but oh well.
I love reading end of year book surveys from everyone! I totally have to try out that book generator this year, how neat. Open Throat is one that I had been really curious about, it’s always a bummer when things aren’t quite what was expected. You’ve also convinced me to push Whalefall to the top of my TBR, now! Salt & Broom really has a beautiful cover. Maeve Fly and Sister, Maiden, Monster are perfect for that category, lol. This was a really fun survey, I’m glad you decided to participate!
Thanks! It is a fun tag and really makes you think carefully about the books you read.
Fun end of year survey.
Stormi recently posted…Week in Review #65 ~ Happy New Year!
It’s fun but takes forever, lol.
Love your end of year survey… I always do it too but with the baby and all, I just didn’t have the time to type up the whole thing. But now I feel bad that I wasn’t able to think about all these books that I read over the year. Hopefully I’ll get to do it in 2024.
There’s always next year:-)
All those books do bring a spooky vibe. I would like to read more horror and some of these do sound interesting.
Snapdragon recently posted…December Wrap up 2023
There’s a lot of good horror out there:-)
Something tells me I should read Whalefall. 🙂 I love that you included Bookshops & Bonedust under “Books that put a smile on my face” because that’s exactly what Legends & Lattes has been doing. I’m thoroughly enjoying it so far, and being a lover of both coffee and D&D/fantasy, it’s such a perfect mix. This was an interesting look back at your reading year, very cool!
I think you might enjoy Whalefall:-) I’m glad you’re enjoying Legends & Lattes, it’s on my list.
How did you not read any book longer than 640 pages? I thought you were rereading Rise and Fall of the 3rd Reich this year?
Ha ha 640 was unusual for me anyway, I’m a 300-400 page lover, lol.
You have a lot of good answers for the prompts! Someone in my book club brought up WHALEFALL. To be honest, when I read the synopsis some time ago it didn’t immediately strike me as something I’d read. Maybe I should reconsider it! And I’m sorry your life changes in 2023 made you feel down…I hope you’re feeling better about the changes and that 2024 brings you more contentment. <3
Celeste | A Literary Escape recently posted…Monthly Book Blog Wrap-Up: December 2023
Thanks Celeste! I feel pretty good about this year so far:-)
Fourth Wing didn’t need pushing indeed but was still amazing! I have read several of these on here!
It definitely sold itself:-)
Well, you’re definitely making us all want to add Whalefall to our reading pile ASAP, Tammy! 😛 Fantastic wrap-up. I hope 2024 will prove to be a phenomenal year of reading as well. Happy 2024! 😀
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…My Monthly Anticipation | January 2024
Oh good, my plan worked;-) Thanks Lashaan, it hope we both have a wonderful year.
I have been seeing this tag all over too! If I hadn’t done all my Top 10 posts already, I might do this one too! The books you pushed have one I’ve read and two that I want to read1. Love the picture of Otis.
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Top 10 of 2023 – Favorite New or New to Me Authors
Thanks Lisa! It is a fun tag but it takes a long time to pull together.
I love doing this tag every year, although it takes a long time to do. Love the cover of “Cruel Angels Past Sundown.” Makes me think of some old movie poster.
It does take forever, lol. I spent DAYS on it!
lol!
Wow! What an awesome load of books you read! Here’s to more of the same in 2024!
And my deepest condolences about Otis. ❤️❤️❤️
Awwwww thank you. 2023 was rough because I lost him:-(
I can only imagine. Big hugs.
I got about a quarter way through your post and found myself adding too many new books to my TBR! I have to stop and come back when I have fewer books on the TBR, it’s getting out of control!
Haze @ The Book Haze recently posted…Sunday Post | A Very Book Blog-ish Week
LOL sorry not sorry??
This year was great for the reading!! And changing house can be a traumatic experience for sure!!
Yes, it was such a tough time, but things are getting better:-)
I love this book survey. Great answers. I wish I’d given this a try.
I hope you’re starting to feel more comfortable in your new home. It’s a big change and I’m sure losing Otis was a major blow but you have your cute pup Badger to make you smile.
Lynn 😀
Yes, Badger is definitely making me feel better about things:-)
Nice, this looks like a fun tag! Love to see the love for These Burning Stars of course! I have so many of your horror reads on my TBR too.
And either Goodreads is wrong or the coding of that wrap-up is because mine said I read 71 fantasy books, which is almost double what I have on spreadsheet and StoryGraph
I think Goodreads is wrong, lol. I have no idea why they think I read so many thrillers.
Hooray, I’m glad you decide to do this! You’ve finally convinced me to take a look at WHALEFALL with the number of times it’s mentioned here, haha. I have a thing with whales (not sure if I’m fascinated by or terrified of them…) so we’ll see if I pick it up 😛 Not sure why THE SALT GROWS HEAVY isn’t already on my TBR but it’s there now!! Good luck with your backlist goal 🙂
Jenna @ Falling Letters recently posted…2023 End of Year Book Survey
Whalefall is just so unusual and surprising, I think it’s worth trying.
Oh man I have been so sick this week I wish I had seen this survey because it looks so fun to do. I guess I can still do a post, but I think it’ll look a lot like yours, lol!
I’m sorry to hear 2023 was such a hard year for you mental health wise. I hope 2024 is better for you. And if you ever need to vent you know where to find me <3
Annemieke @ A Dance with Books recently posted…Time to Crunch Some Numbers | Reading Stats 2023