This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is all about picking your favourite books of 2023. I don’t often think about books in terms of favourites, especially since my reading is highly capricious and mood-based… so I’ll just be picking ten books that stand out when I think back on the year, without trying to say they’re the best or my favourites. I’ll omit any rereads, just to make things easier.
And these are the books I read in 2023, which probably didn’t come out in 2023, because I’m rarely that up to date on recently released books.
- Nettle & Bone, by T. Kingfisher. It’s rare lately that I find it difficult to put a book down, with lots of other things grabbing my attention. Nettle & Bone is one that I found myself eagerly picking up again right away, ready for more.
- The Governess Affair, by Courtney Milan. I haven’t posted my review for this one yet, but I really liked it: Milan handles a traumatic issue sensitively, creating a bond between two characters that felt solid and real.
- An Immense World, by Ed Yong. I love non-fiction when it makes me want to tell everyone the facts I’m learning, and Ed Yong’s book fit the bill. I was actually texting my mum about stuff I’d learned from it while waiting to be discharged from the post-op ward after a minor surgery!
- Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree. I actually read this twice in 2023, because it really hit the spot for me — cosy and full of people being good to one another, and forging bonds.
- Death of an Author, by E.C.R. Lorac. I often really enjoy Lorac’s work, and this was no exception, though it wasn’t much like her other work. It felt less cosy somehow, but it was a heck of a brainteaser.
- The Waking of Angantyr, by Marie Brennan. Marie Brennan’s an auto-buy author for me, and I ended up reading this side-by-side with my wife while we were on a weekend away. We raced through it!
- Untethered Sky, by Fonda Lee. I found this story lingering with me after I was done. I loved how the obsession was built up, the special relation between the handler and the roc illustrated.
- The Good Virus, by Tom Ireland. Totally fascinating stuff about bacteriophages, and I learned a fair amount I didn’t know about existing bacteriophage therapy.
- Murder: The Biography, by Kate Morgan. A history of murder and trials for murder, showing how precedent has shaped law. Interesting for its own sake, but especially in light of my interest in crime fiction!
- He Who Whispers, by John Dickson Carr. Finally, this is the only one on the list not rated 5/5 by me this year, but it deserves a mention because it’s the book that actually piqued my interest in John Dickson Carr. Previously I’d tried several books by him and just couldn’t get on with them… but here we are in a world where I enjoy his books now, at least some of them!
And before we go, I have to give an honorable mention to Juneau Black’s Shady Hollow books, which I discovered in the last couple months of the year and had me totally absorbed.
How about you? Can you pick a top ten? Fascinated to see what has stood out for people this year!
I feel the same way about Carr – tried out a few books by him but nothing really stuck. And then this year, I read his “Black Spectacles” and it was so so so good. Have you tried that one?
I read that one quite recently too! I feel like the Gideon Fell books have reliably worked the best for me — Fell seems a bit more human than e.g. Bencolin and so on. Also even though he’s famous for his locked room mysteries, I prefer his others! XD
Honestly, same here. It can take me years to finally get around to reading certain books!
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
It did turn out a few of mine were from 2023, but that honestly surprised me. My reading is so driven by my random whims, haha.
You’ve inspired me to go ahead and request Legends & Lattes as well as An Immense World.
Ahhh, Legends & Lattes is so warm and lovely. I know some people feel it was overhyped, but it was like a mug of something warm and comforting for me; not groundbreaking, but deeply satisfying in its way!
T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors, and Nettle and Bone is so good! I’ve also got Legends and Lattes on my TBR, and I really can’t wait to read it!
Yes, I really like most of T. Kingfisher’s work that I’ve tried! I need to get round to reading some of the ones that I’ve missed.
I really liked Legends & Lattes, it’s just so warm!
Interesting list, haven’t heard of any of these books before.
My taste is a bit… random, haha. I like trying a bit of everything!
Most of my favorites were from 2023, but their were several that were not. I listed the “read” in 2023 favorites as well. I want to try John Dickson Carr. I hadn’t heard of him but apparently he’s a classic in the mystery genre. I love that cover for He Who Whispers. Great list and thanks for visiting my TTT! 🙂
He is! He’s the master of the locked room mystery… but oddly enough, I usually prefer his books that aren’t locked room mysteries, haha. I was really surprised to enjoy He Who Whispers, I was so cranky about getting a John Dickson Carr book from my subscription… and then hey, turns out I really liked it! XD
Absolutely loved Nettle and Bone! But then I like pretty much anything T. Kingfisher writes /
She is pretty consistently great! I’m behind on some of her work, but I’ve always liked her fairytale and fairytale-adjacent stories.
I want to read Legends and Lattes. It was fun seeing it make your list today. Happy 2024!
It was so cosy and lovely! I recommend it. 😀
I wasn’t looking at publication dates either, although I did feature some that came out in 2023. Happy New Year!
I did feature a couple from 2023, but honestly I pay very little attention to that. Oops. ^^; Happy new year!
A few of these are on my TBR. I’m glad they stood out to you. It’s always nice to know a book isn’t forgettable. Happy 2024!
https://jennielyse.com/top-ten-tuesday-43/
Honestly, I read so many good books this year it was hard to pick, but I reserve five stars for books that really blow me away, so all of these definitely did!
I really enjoyed Nettle & Bone. I’ll be reading more TK Kingfisher in 2024 for sure.
Me too! I know I have some to catch up on. I liked Thornhedge as well…
Legends & Lattes and death of an Author need to go on my list!
They’re so good! Death of An Author isn’t typical of E.C.R. Lorac’s work, but I really enjoyed it. It kept me guessing!
T. Kingfisher. became one of my auto-buy authors, i love her atmospheric cozy but dark style, very fairy tale
Yes, indeed! I need to catch up with some of her backlist, I’m sure I’m going to love it.
You have a bunch on your list that are on my TBR. I’m so excited to get to them! Happy New Year!
Ooh, hope you enjoy when you do give them a shot!
Murder: The Biography sounds very interesting! You have an intriguing mix of favorites. Thanks for sharing!
Hahaha, yeah, I have a very random taste sometimes. I just love trying a bit of everything!
LEGENDS AND LATTES isn’t in my usual genres, but I still enjoyed it. It appealed to me for the same reasons it appealed to you – cozy and happy.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Yes, exactly! Have you read the prequel, too? I enjoyed that, but maybe a bit less, even if it was set in a bookshop.
Legends & Lattes is such a great read! I actually gave my husband a copy for Christmas because I’m sure he will love it! I wish you a wonderful 2024.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/my-twelve-favorite-reads-of-2023
Haha, great minds! I got it for my sister.
Nettle & Bone is such a fun book. I also couldn’t put it down.
T. Kingfisher’s books are pretty much always like that for me, I just want moooore.
This is a great list! T. Kingfisher is basically guaranteed to make it onto a top ten list for me, she’s awesome. I’m also a big fan of Fonda Lee’s writing.
I really need to read more of Fonda Lee’s work!
Nettle & Bone was in my top reads of 2023 as well. I also read What Moves the Dead, but didn’t enjoy it quite as much. I will definitely be picking up a couple more Kingfisher books this year!
T. Kingfisher is great!
(Sorry I didn’t reply to this sooner — I don’t get email notifications at the moment, so it depends on me checking back manually!)
An Immense World sounds like exactly my kind of nonfiction. Adding it to my list! Legends & Lattes has been on my radar for a while but I haven’t read it yet. This winter feels like a good time. I’ll probably have to request it. And the Shady Hollow books are so good! I like them on audio. I hope 2024 is an even better reading year for you!
Thank you! An Immense World was really fascinating, and Legends & Lattes is so warm and feel-good. Hope you enjoy them when you get to them!
(Sorry I didn’t reply to this sooner — I don’t get email notifications at the moment, so it depends on me checking back manually!)
Legend and Lattes and Nettle and Bone were both great reads. I’m glad we both enjoyed those.
They were very fun!