📚Summary of Books I Read, DNF and Currently Reading 2023

 

Hello! This is my first proper annual book wrap-up as I've finally read just enough for a wrap-up. In this post, I will share with you the 11 documented books I read that made it to my finished pile, the ones that got kicked into my DNF list, the "meh", and the ones that I'm currently reading. As a blogger who is slowly rediscovering her love for reading, I always wanted to write honest reviews of the books I read.

Books that I LURVED 🥰

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson 

Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just devoured the first book of this epic series and I'm obsessed. I seriously can't stop thinking about the plot twists, the characters, the world-building. I had to order the next two books ASAP. I won't lie, it was a bit of a struggle to get into the story at first because I'm fairly new to this genre, though due to my small appetite for books that are different to my usual reading palate, I just thought "why not?" There's also so much going on and so many names to remember, but trust me, it pays off big time. Would I recommend this book to readers who just started into fantasy? Yessssnoooo. This is not a book for the faint of heart, but if you're looking for a high fantasy adventure that will take you to another world, this is THE book to try. 

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 

Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

So, I picked up this book again after a year and I don't know what possessed me to do that. It's still awesome and I love the characters and their bond so much. This is one of those books that make you want to erase your brain and start over, just to feel the thrill of reading it for the first time.

Deadpool Classic Killogy by Cullen Bunn 

Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is actually my husband's comic he bought from Bookxcess a while ago and I was bored and suddenly in the mood to read comics. I'm not that familiar with Marvel or its heroes and villains, but I knew a bit about Deadpool. This one... was over-the-top in a really good way and Deadpool was super unpredictable in his "mission" to eliminate all Marvel heroes and villains. It's an interesting and borderline "concerning" read, I'd recommend it.

Some notable mentions:

• Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Books that Got DNF (did not finish) 🤨

The Canterville Ghost the Happy Prince: And Other Stories by Oscar Wilde

I was a huge fan of The Picture of Dorian Gray (movie adaptation was great too) when I read it last year, so I was eager to check out more of Oscar Wilde's stuff. I snagged this a copy from Bookxcess, but sadly, after a couple of stories in, I was snoozing and bored out of my mind. Maybe I'll give it another shot when I'm in the mood for some classics literature, but for now, it's going to the shelf of shame.

The Assignment by Liza Wiemer

I also bought this book from Bookxcess on a whim when I was in the area (not that I was actively trying to go bankrupt or anything). The blurb on the hardcover edition caught my eye; it was about a class project that required students to find positive aspects of the Holocaust, which sparked a lot of controversy. I thought it would be an interesting and provocative read, but I was disappointed by the writing style which felt flat and unpolished, meanwhile the plot of the book was... I don't know enough because I dropped it anyway. It just didn't hold my attention and I doubt I'll ever finish it, which is a pity.

Books I Thought Were "Meh" 😒

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang 

Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐

Okay listen, this book has a huge, dedicated fan base and extraordinary number of positive reviews on Goodreads, TikTok, etc. I was sold to the idea of this book the first time I heard about it on TikTok because people were just loving it so much and recommending others to buy and read it when they could. I fell for it because I thought why not since so many have rekindled their reading hobby from this, enough to pursue the rest of the series. I read the entire book, starting off strong, loved that the main female character was badass (go gurl) and she had powers, there was plenty of action, but I just couldn't connect with her on a personal level at all. I couldn't understand why she did the things she set out to do. I really tried to like it but failed, so I gave my copy away to someone else.

If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio 

Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐

I made a dedicated thread on Twitter about my thoughts on this book. I'll quote the summary of that here: "I think the book is a little overhyped, I did have high expectations for it. At the same time, I can see why some people love the book so much. You either love it or just think the story was okay, but could be better."

And I'm currently reading... 😁

• Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. I'm only 2 pages in and will definitely continue over the holidays once I'm back in full health.