My 2023 Year-End Reading Survey

This Year-End Survey was created by Jamie over at Perpetual Page Turner. Below is a look at my 2023 reading year!

2023 Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 60

Number of Re-Reads: 8 (Yay!)

Genre You Read The Most From: I think my most read genre this year goes to fantasy.

Best in Books

Best Book You Read In 2023? 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi made it on to my favorite books of all time list. 10 ⭐!

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield wasn't a "bad" book, but I thought I was really going to love it. It was OK.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle was so different that what I was expecting, but I loved it!

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I "pushed" a few books last year, but my most successful campaigning had to be Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Favorite new author you discovered in 2023?

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is the first book I've read by Shannon Chakraborty. I look forward to going back and reading her Daevabad trilogy.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I read Book Lovers by Emily Henry while in my cozy area and I found a new favorite author in the process!

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

I was most glued to Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2023?

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace is a STUNNING book.

Most memorable character of 2023?

Ren from Chlorine by Jade Song.

Most beautifully written book read in 2023?

I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt so much. The octopus Marcellus was probably my most memorable character of the year but I wanted to include Chlorine in the question above.

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2023 to finally read? 

I'm so glad I finally read Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. Many thanks to my book club for picking this one this year.

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2023?

"Nora." He just barely smiles. "You’re in books. Of course you don’t have a life. None of us do. There’s always something too good to read." - Emily Henry, Book Lovers

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2023?

Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney was my shortest book at 122 pages and my longest was Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson at 1,087 pages. I loved them both!

Book That Shocked You The Most?

I think I gasped out loud more than once at the reveals in Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson.

Favorite Book You Read in 2023 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson is such a treasure. I love it so much.

Best Book You Read In 2023 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure?

I read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros purely for the hype. I had a great time and I've pulled my friends into the hype as well.

Best 2023 debut you read?

Absolutely Chlorine by Jade Song.

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

I don't do a lot of visualizing when I read, but I could see the world of Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson.

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

I read Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon with a group of great friends and we had such a fun time. We still talk about it.

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2023?

Emily Henry gets me right in the feels, and she got me with Beach Read.

Hidden Gem Of The Year?

I'm hoping as more books in the series are released The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty will gain more popularity. It's so good and deserves more hype.

Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Oof. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire hit me hard. I will never be the same.

Most Unique Book You Read In 2023?

The September House by Carissa Orlando had the most unique elements in it. 

Book That Made You The Most Mad?

The amount of deceit in A Winter in New York by Josie Silver!

Blogging/Bookish Life

Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

The readalongs, buddy reads, and movie nights over on the Horror Spotlight discord server. We have such an amazing group over there. Everyone is so kind and thoughtful and I'm thankful for such a wonderful, fun group.

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2023?

I'm grateful for all of my bookish friends.

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Definitely writing reviews.

Best bookish discovery?

The app called Bookmory. I'm going to try to use it consistently next year to track what I'm reading each day.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

The only goal I ever set is my Goodreads Challenge goal which I did meet.

Looking Ahead

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2023 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2024?

I wish I had found the time to read Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree. Hopefully this year!

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2024 (non-debut)?

I am most anticipating Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

2024 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock - "Told with wit and warmth, this is an extraordinary tale of family, fungus and more than a dash of bloody revenge from an exciting new voice in queer horror."

Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2024?

The Stormlight Archive #5 is going to be such a huge release in December. I need to get caught up with #3 and #4 this year so I can read on release day!

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2024?

I want to get back to writing reviews in 2024.