As I've gotten deeper into publishing news, marketing, and advertising, I’ve found myself more susceptible to jumping into newer books as they're published—and it's paying off. I loved so much of what I read this year.
I read 43 books, just five less than last year, but 10 more than in 2021 and 2020. What's most crazy is how many more new (aka frontlist) books I read this year compared to most years. 21 out of 43 books—almost half—were released in 2023. Add in the 8 I read that were published in 2022, and two-thirds of the books I read in 2023 were published in the last two years!
Here's a quick look at the numbers:
- Total Books: 43
- Total Pages: 13,757
- Format: 13 Print / 30 Digital
- Genre: 17 Fiction / 26 Non-Fiction
- Author Gender: 12 Female / 31 Male
- Library Use: 27 books were from the library (including 11 audiobooks)
Despite again reading almost 10 more non-fiction books than fiction, it’s the fiction I recall most fondly. While I enjoyed learning about Matthew Perry, behind-the-camera stories of Bourdain, and the history of the Oscars, the best non-fiction was closer to therapy—Good Inside was the best parenting book I’ve ever read, and I Think You Should Talk to Someone was a therapy book wrapped in a memoir.
Fiction was the standout. I listened to more audiobooks than ever, and I highly recommend the hybrid model of switching between an audiobook and the Kindle version. I also read twice as many male writers as female writers—not intentionally! It's helpful to look back on this now, as my favorites from the year were almost all by women.
So in 2024, I’m pledging to pick up more fiction, more women authors, and more print books.
If any book below catches your interest, I hope you find a way to read it. I write a review for every book I read, and you can find them on my Goodreads profile. Send me your recommendations!
My Top Reads from 2023
Favorite Fiction:
- Wellness by Nathan Hill
- Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
- Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
Favorite Non-Fiction:
- The Path to Power by Robert A. Caro
- Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
- Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy
Honorable Mentions:
- Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois
- The Midcoast by Adam White
- Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
Want to read more? Visit my Goodreads profile.