Hello Readers! Happy New Year! Before we say goodbye to 2023, it’s nice to look back on our reading year and see what worked and what didn’t, what goals we met, what new bookish things we discovered, and what maybe we decided to let go. Sometimes it’s only while working on my year-end wrap-ups that I discover what new things I want to focus on for the next year.

Once again, I’m using the amazing spreadsheet created by Kal @ Reader Voracious to track my bookish and blog stats. As someone who is mathematically and logistically challenged, this extensively thorough spreadsheet makes everything simple. And Kal makes it available for free! Be sure to check out her spreadsheet and her blog. She just released an updated spreadsheet for 2024, as well. If you decide to use her spreadsheet, leave her a tip, if you can. 🙂

The last few years, I’ve used Kal’s spreadsheet, my Goodreads Stats, the Reading Survey shared by Merline @ Merline Reads (originally shared by Gabby @ Gabby Reads), and I’ll also be taking a look back at my blogging and bookish year with the survey prompts shared by Jamie @ Perpetual Page Turner.

Previous wrap-ups: 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022

Let’s wander in!

Reading Stats

Source: 38 ARCs, 21 bought new or used, 13 owned, 17 borrowed (Libby), 10 gifted (freebie or via author), and 1 won in a giveaway

Genre: 54 Romance, 12 Fantasy, 11 Contemporary, 5 Historical Fiction, 3 Nonfiction, 3 Science Fiction, 3 Classics, 3 Horror, 2 Literary Fiction, 1 Graphic Novel, 1 Memoir, 1 Thriller, and 1 Mystery

Audience: 75 Adult, 23 Young Adult, 0 New Adult, 2 Middle Grade, and 0 Children

Format: 70 Ebooks, 20 Paperbacks, 10 Hardcovers, and 0 Audiobooks

Reading Survey

(Link to add on Goodreads through the book title.)

How many books did you read? Did you meet your goal?

I did have to finish out my year with a few short stories to reach my Goodreads goal of 100 books, but I made it happen!

Most read genre?

Not too surprising, my most-read genre was Romance. I think it was almost exactly the same as last year. But I did double the amount of Fantasy I read, so that was nice to see.

Longest and shortest books you read?

Favorite book published in 2023?

I’m happy to report that Emily Henry has returned to my favorite book of the year. She hasn’t held that place since I read Beach Read. While Happy Place didn’t overtake Beach Read, it did match it.

My Review

Favorite debut book published in 2023?

I read 19 debuts, if my count is correct, but I was most impressed with Lost Kingdom by Laurel Black.

My Review

Favorite book NOT published this year?

It was the second book, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, in The Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert that was my favorite out of all three!

A book that lived up to the hype?

I didn’t have any plans to read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus until I saw the trailer for the adaptation which very much intrigued me. Then I asked on the blog if I should read it, and many of you said yes! I think it lived up to its hype.

A book that did NOT live up to the hype?

It breaks my heart to say it, but I was a little disappointed with Greywaren, the final book in The Dreamer Trilogy series by Maggie Stiefvater.

Book that felt like the biggest accomplishment?

I’ve had All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr on my shelf for years. It took the adaptation and encouragement from my daughter to make me finally pick it up. I highly recommend it, as well!

Favorite character(s)?

I don’t know if I have a clear favorite for the year, but I adored Sally and Noah in Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld.

My Review

Least favorite character?

I’m still not a fan of Grace Blackthorn from The Last Hours series, even if she did make an appearance on the cover of the final book, Chain of Thorns.

My Review

Most shocking book/moment?

Definitely several moments in Whalefall by Daniel Kraus.

My Review

Favorite couple/OTP?

Harriet and Wyn from Happy Place by Emily Henry. So much angst. Such great characters.

My Review

The best written book you read this year?

Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner may not be a book for everyone, but I thought it was superbly written. Just genius.

Book that you pushed most people to read in 2023?

I feel like I talked a lot about Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood, but I don’t know if I actually did. I think it’s my favorite of hers, so far.

My Review

Favorite book cover of the year?

It’s a repeat author for this prompt. Last year Luck & Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz held this place, and this year it’s the next book in the series, Last Call at the Local, that gets the honor. I adore the homeyness of this one.

My Review

Favorite book adaptation?

I think I counted 14 books I read and watched the adaptations this year! My favorite was probably The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. I thought the film was better than the book!

What book made you cry the most?

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes had me crying more than I expected.

What book made you laugh the most?

The Roommate Pact by Allison Ashley was a last-minute ARC I read, but I was surprised by how witty it was while still being emotional.

My Review

A new favorite author you discovered this year?

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim was an ARC that arrived in my book subscription box from The Strand Bookstore, so it wasn’t on my radar at all, but I was very impressed with it!

My Review

Guilty pleasure read of the year?

No guilt here, but I finally read Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren, the famous writing duo’s first book.

Favorite book you reread this year?

I reread 7 books in 2023! Which is a big step up from 2022 when I didn’t read ANY. I’m a fan of rereading, and I had so much fun rereading The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins before I picked up The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

What is the best non-fiction book you read this year?

I only read 4 nonfiction books in 2023, but Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann was phenomenal! I still need to watch the adaptation, though.

Were you happy with your reading year?

When I scroll through all the books I read in 2023, I’m happy to see more books off my existing shelves, less ARCs, more books read via Libby, more fantasy, and a few select unknown authors, as well, which is always important to me. So I’d say I was pretty satisfied with my reading last year.

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Your Blogging/Bookish Life

New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2023?

Just as I did in 2022, I failed to expand my blog hopping much past my trusted fellow bloggers in 2023. Maybe in 2024!

Favorite post you wrote in 2023?

I did so well participating in Let’s Talk Bookish reading discussions in 2022, but I only participated in a few at the beginning of 2023. I’m not sure why, but maybe I’ll get back to it! One of my favorite posts in 2023 was my Let’s Talk Bookish discussion post about spoilers.

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

I have no memory of participating in any bookish events, which is quite sad.

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2023?

Honestly, each time I’m approved for an ARC from one of my favorite authors, I’m still awed and delighted. Other than that, celebrating my 4th Blogiversary!

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

Just balancing life, blogging, and reading is always a challenge.

Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My all-time most popular post continues to be a post I created in 2020: My Chain of Gold TBR: What To (Re)Read Before Starting Cassandra Clare’s Next Novel. But my review for Happy Place by Emily Henry is gaining on it!

 Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

While it hasn’t been too long since I published it, I would love for my review of Lost Kingdom to get more attention. For my review AND for the book, which is amazing.

 Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

The only discovery I can think of right now is Pangobooks. I’ve purchased books and my Owlcrate reading journal with the app, but I’ve yet to sell books myself.

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

I did something different in 2023 and didn’t set a lot of goals, as well as scaling back on my reading challenge goals. I wanted a low pressure year. I mainly just wanted to focus on reading less ARCs and reading off my existing shelves, which I did, so I’m happy! But I did complete my yearly Popsugar reading challenge and my Goodreads reading goal for the year, as well.

Whew, that was a lot!
What was your favorite read of the year? Did you reach all your goals? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering & Happy 2024!