Hello you lovely people! Welcome back to another book favorites post. Somehow we are already halfway through 2023 and I honestly have no idea where the time went. As I get older and older, the years go faster and faster and I am not a fan. So somehow as I write this, we are about to enter the month of July. The first half of the year has brought many highs and lows for reading. I have been through more reading slumps the past 6 months than I probably ever have but I also have found some new all-time favorites that I will cherish forever. And yes, did I steal this tag from the BookTube girlies, 100% I did. So gotta give credit where credit is due. And it wouldn’t be my kind of post if I didn’t give more than one option for each question.
Best Book You’ve Read so far in 2023:
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
I’m waiting for this book to get the praise and recognition that it deserves. For my Greek Mythology fans or fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe/The Songs of Achilles, this is a book that you need to pick up. The writing is so beautiful and it amazes me that this author is so young and this is her debut. Watch out for this author, lots of great things are coming for her. I don’t know the last time I Googled as much as I did while reading this book. This is the Greek tragedy we should be reading in schools.
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
I’m embarrassed to announce how long it took me to get into the Queen of Summer’s books. I read her book Golden Girl a few years ago and thought it was very much just ok so I took a pass on reading her other books for a long time. It took a friend trying to convince me for many months for me to finally pick up this book, and I am so glad I did. If you look up warm hug in the dictionary, this is the book that will show up. It’s not a romance book like I originally thought. It’s a book of friendship and looking past what shows on the outside and learning to love what is inside. Plus, how cool would it be to have the job of the secret hotel reviewer?
Best Sequel You’ve Read so Far in 2023:
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
As we know, I am not a sequel girlie. Books that have multiple books in the series often turn me away as I have so many I want to read that I don’t want to get invested in just one thing. However, every once in a while the first book is so good that I find myself wanting to read the remaining books. I deeply enjoyed the first book in this series (The Inheritance Games) and I wanted to read the remaining two. I love a good mystery and puzzle and this is a great book for not only young adult readers but for everyone.
Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
This is for my spicy romance fans. This whole series revolves around this version of Disneyland and the rich brothers who own it and the ladies they end up falling in love with. It’s a great grumpy/sunshine trope if that is something you enjoy. Plus I think all books should have a music playlist at the start. Makes it an entirely different reading experience. The whole series is a fun read if you are good with a little spice.
New Release I haven’t read yet but want to:
Homecoming by Kate Morton
From the looks of this cover it originally gave fantasy vibes but it’s supposed to be this mystery/cold case story. A friend of mine read this recently and raved about it. I love a good mystery when I can’t figure out what I want to read. Especially when done right, it becomes addicting to read and consume. Patiently (or not so patiently) waiting to get my hands on this book.
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
I read Sadeqa’s The Yellow Wife a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Would definitely recommend checking out that one as well. So I knew I liked her writing, was just waiting for the next one of her books to be released. Instead of being set during the Civil War time frame, this one is centered around 1950s Philadelphia and DC and highlights what it was like growing up in either a mixed family or a predominantly black family.
Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year:
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
As stated earlier, I quickly fell in love with this series and all the puzzles the author was able to add in. I’m not sure if this will be the last book in the series or if they will continue to come, but I will take them all. As many as the author wants to create for this universe, I shall read.
The Fury by Alex Michaelides
This is technically a stretch since this book is not supposed to come out till early January, but Alex Michaelides has finally written his next book and I can not wait. I devoured The Silent Patient and The Madiens and can’t wait to be taken on the rollercoaster of his writing. If you have not read his books, I highly, highly recommend it. Might have already preordered this one.
Biggest Surprise:
His & Hers by Alice Feeney
This was one of the first books I read this year, and it ended up being such a good decision. I haven’t had my luck with Alice Feeney but I deeply enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down and kept saying just one more chapter. Each chapter has a cliffhanger and the ending has a twist you can’t imagine happening. Had to reread it multiple times just to make sure what I read was true.
Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor
I originally bought this book, cause I was looking for an easy mystery and my library did not have it, and it was a very good purchase. It’s such a good historical mystery. Only like 900 people have read it according to Goodreads and I think it needs more attention than it is getting. If you have a historical fiction fan in your life, this would be a great book for them.
Favorite New Author:
Abby Jimenez
I read two books by Abby this year and I need to read all of the books she has ever written as not only are her books entertaining and beautifully written, she makes sure to hit on real-life situations that impact people every day. Her romance books aren’t just some fictional writing. Her characters are dealing with obstacles that many, many people face. I have loved her books and am ready for more.
Amy Harmon
When I was trying to figure out who to put for the second author here, I kept going back to Amy as I read probably 4 of her books this year and have more I want to read by the end of the year. She has very poetic writing that whisks her readers away. A great historical writer but not overly historical. What the Wind Knows and The Songbook of Benny Lament are some of my personal favorites.
Newest Fictional Crush:
Charlie Lastra from Book Lovers by Emily Henry
I mean who doesn’t want to fall in love in a book store. Charlie is just a very cute guy and his romance with Nora just made you grin while reading it.
Jacob Maddox from Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
I love Jacob for the fact that he isn’t the perfect book character you often read about. He has many flaws and feels very personable. Jacob suffers from horrible anxiety and I feel like so many readers are able to connect to him easier. Everyone deserves a Jacob in their life.
Book That Made You Cry:
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
The last 30 pages had me sobbing so much I had to leave the room at one point. But that is to be expected with books by TJ Klune. They have a way of making you cry from both happiness and sadness. Would recommend any of his books to anyone that is looking for a good cry.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Part of Your World was what prompted my love for Abby Jimenez. Plus the fact that this book had me almost sobbing while in the middle of the Orlando airport is why it gets a place for this question. A feel-good romance that just makes you want to cry tears of joy for the couple.
Book That Made You Happy:
The Candid Life of Meena Dave by Namrata Patel
The amount of food references in this book made me both very hungry and very happy. Plus the travel had me dreaming of my neXT trip. It’s a great feel-good book.
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
A charming romance that does a great job of representing the LGTBQ+ community. A not so typical romance that leaves you smiling as you read it all unfold.
Most Beautiful Book I bought:
I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover, but it is something we all definitely do. Both of these books had me wanting to read them just for how beautifully it was designed. So hats off to the artist behind these covers as they are truly stunning.
River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer
The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch
What I want to read by the end of the year:
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
This story takes place in Syria and follows a young women’s journey living in war and a country fighting for freedom. With a current rating of 4.52 and over 17,000 people having read it, this book clearly has something going for it. How she is able to overcome everything that is thrown at her and see the revolution and what she does to get there.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi
Trying to continue and see if fantasy is a genre I can get into. This book is full of magic and pirates and ancient mysteries all with a strong female lead. Packed this for my vacation for this summer and am excited to get to it.
Until Next Time, The Library Abroad
The Library Abroad 
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