“My heart is not mine to give because it is already yours.” – 3.25/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: old friendships, witches, fishermen, mermaids, princes, 3 days, true love, a first kiss, drownings, and… revenge.
Everyone knows what happens in the end. A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss. But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends. One feared, one royal, and one already dead.
Ever since her best friend, Anna, drowned, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. A freak. A curse. A witch.
A girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears offshore and, though the girl denies it, Evie is convinced that her best friend actually survived. That her own magic wasn’t so powerless after all. And, as the two girls catch the eyes—and hearts—of two charming princes, Evie believes that she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.
But her new friend has secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad, or on two legs, unless Evie finds a way to help her. Now Evie will do anything to save her friend’s humanity, along with her prince’s heart—harnessing the power of her magic, her ocean, and her love until she discovers, too late, the truth of her bargain.
Some people may want to read this book knowing this is a Little Mermaid retelling, and if that’s the case, I need to tell you this. While the story progressed I kept thinking “…how is this a Little Mermaid retelling?”. That kept going on for a while and eventually, my question was answered and I finally understood what the resemblance was. For this reason, I want to tell you to keep in mind that this is still very different from the story we all know. If you’re a fan of the Disney version and want to read this book for that reason, let me tell you straight up: you’ll be disappointed!
The writing was okay. There are two timelines here, but I personally was not confused by that format. The author uses two timelines to explain the main event and also the “present”, 4 years after. The pacing is on the slower side, especially during the first half of the book. Things took a while to start moving and I admit my attention was starting to get lost.
Still, there were a few elements in this book that kept me interested and wanting to keep reading – like the mystery surrounding Anna -, but other elements were a little too repetitive – for example, the fact they kept repeating the main event that started it all in different perspectives.
The characters in this book are a little bland, and even though there is some romance in here, the story feels a little flat. I liked the “main” romance, but the “secondary” romances felt a little too insta-lovey for my taste.
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it – it was okay. I think there are better mermaid stories out there, so I wouldn’t exactly recommend this one. With that being said, it’s not a bad story and it was entertaining at the end of the day.
I hope you’re doing well! It’s time to show you all the books that I’m planning on reading in February!
Let me start by saying this month will be a little different! If you read my post onHow I Create My Monthly TBR Lists, you already know my magical formula to plan my reading month. But this month we are doing something different! For reference, I usually read 2 paperbacks, 2 audiobooks, 1 ebook, and 1 manga volume each month – but this month I’m going to mix things up a bit and I’m going to listen to 5 audiobooks and 1 manga.
I need to explain this temporary change on my monthly TBR, so here we go: friends, my life is a MESS! I’m currently going through a lot of changes in my life and there is so much going on that needs my full attention that I just can’t find the time to read a physical book at the moment.
At the same time, I don’t want to compromise my reading altogether, so I decided to pick the same number of books (6), but do it more flexibly. So that’s why I’ve decided to listen to 5 audiobooks and 1 volume of the manga I’m currently reading. I can incorporate audiobooks more easily in my daily life and reading 1 manga volume a month is also doable.
I guess I could do at least one paperback, but I just don’t want to commit to doing it and fail miserably at the end. Another reason why I decided to change the format this month is that I still have a bunch of physical books to finish from the previous months, and I would rather to make progress on them instead of starting a new book.
So there you go, that’s why I’m doing a different format. But have no fear, this is only temporary until I get my life on track. It’s going to be a very interesting month, to say the least (nervous laughter)! So without further ado, here are the books I’m planning on reading in February:
1. The World’s Religions by Huston Smith
Starting strong with the first book! I don’t know a lot about other religions and I want to learn more about the subject, so I found this book and quickly added it to my TBR. I’m sure this is going to be the most complex book of the bunch, but I’m excited to learn more this upcoming month!
2. Pita-Ten (Vol. 4)by Koge-Donbo
For my monthly manga, I’m continuing the Pita-Ten series by reading the 4th volume! Last month I only read 1 volume, so I’m hoping I can make some progress with this series this month and maybe read more than just the 4th volume. We’ll see!
3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This is a book I always wanted to read, so I finally decided to add it to my TBR this month. I also never saw the movie and I know nothing about the story – yes, I’ve been living under a rock apparently -, so I’m going into this without knowing a thing! I’m excited to finally know this story.
4. Never Grow Upby Jackie Chan
One of the audiobooks I’m planning on reading in February is Jackie Chan’s memoir, named “Never Grow Up”. It’s not like I’m Jackie Chan’s biggest fan and I know all about his work, but I admire him a lot and I feel like he was a pioneer in his field! I have a really good feeling about this memoir, and I hope it’s a good one.
5. Sea Witch Rising (Sea Witch #2) by Sarah Henning
The other audiobook I want to read this month is the second book of the “Sea Witch” duology! I started this duology in January because it’s part of my “Oldest 30 Books on my TBR” list, and I plan on finishing the entire thing in February. I’ll admit I’m not expecting a lot from this book because apparently, the story is completely different from the first book, but hopefully, it’s still entertaining!
6. Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin
This is another book I’ve had on my TBR for a while now and it’s time to give it a go! This is a fantasy series I don’t know much about, but this is just one of those cases I prefer to get into the story without reading the synopsis. I want it to surprise me! Hopefully, it’s a good book and is a great start of the series.
Aaaand there you have it friends, my TBR list for February! As usual, I hope you liked this post! Let me know if you have any recommendations for me. You know I’m always grateful for those!
“Hell with you sounds like heaven to me.” – 4.5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: ugly paintings, offices, libraries, nights out, threats, homemade videos, recognizable shoes, skiing, redheads, a ton of angst, and an enemies-to-lovers trope.
He hates her…almost as much as he wants her.
Gorgeous, cocky, and fast on his way to becoming a hotshot doctor, Josh Chen has never met a woman he couldn’t charm—except for Jules f**king Ambrose.
The beautiful redhead has been a thorn in his side since they met, but she also consumes his thoughts in a way no woman ever has.
When their animosity explodes into one unforgettable night, he proposes a solution that’ll get her out of his system once and for all: an enemies with benefits arrangement with simple rules.
No jealousy.
No strings attached.
And absolutely no falling in love.
**
Outgoing and ambitious, Jules Ambrose is a former party girl who’s focused on one thing: passing the attorney’s bar exam.
The last thing she needs is to get involved with a doctor who puts the SUFFER in insufferable…no matter how good-looking he is.
But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes there’s more than meets the eye to the man she’s hated for so long.
Her best friend’s brother.
Her nemesis.
And her only salvation.
Theirs is a match made in hell, and when the demons from their past catch up with them, they’re faced with truths that could either save them …or destroy everything they’ve worked for.
Twisted Hate is a steamy enemies with benefits/enemies to lovers romance. It’s book three in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.
Warning: It contains explicit content, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. For details, please see content notes inside the book. Recommended for 18+.
My favorite book from the series so far!
I’m a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers story, so I was excited and hopeful about this one – although I wasn’t exactly expecting a lot from it after reading the previous book because I ended up being disappointed. The plot is a pretty typical one for a modern romance: the story of a girl who is running away from her past and mistakes, so she moves to another town to start over. But of course, her past catches up with her and she even starts getting blackmailed – then the guy comes and saves her. It’s not exactly a groundbreaking plot, but not necessarily a bad one in my eyes!
I really liked Josh Chen as the romantic interest, and to be honest, he’s probably the reason why I liked this book as much as I did. In comparison to the first two love interests (Alex and Rhys), Josh is more… normal? He seems like a good, outgoing guy, as opposed to Ale, who has a “too much” gene, and Rhys who is overly grumpy. I also liked Jules as a main character, and how fierce and strong she was! She was also very different from the previous two main characters with her fiery red hair and attitude!
The romance was pretty good! I’m a big fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, so this was a treat for me. There’s a lot of anger, angst, and sexual tension behind their clever banter, which I loved! Also, I really liked the nicknames Josh gave Jules, my favorite one being JR (Jessica Rabbit) – and the one she hated the most.
As a side note, I’m also glad that Josh and Alex were working things out in this book. I still think they have a long way to go, but I’m glad things are moving forward. Good for you Josh! It was also fun to see the girls together now and then, and the author took the opportunity to introduce Stella, the main character of the next book. It was a smooth transition to the next book!
The writing is okay and it is easy to follow. The books are on the bigger size, but it’s super easy to read without feeling demotivated. The plot itself wasn’t bad and I was fairly entertained, so I think this series is a good option if you just want to read an easy romance/smut book.
To finish this review, I feel like I have to mention the hype around these books: I do believe this series is a little overrated. I don’t think the books are bad… just not great as most people promote them. They’re entertaining but I still think they lack something. Maybe plot-wise or weird pacing, I can exactly pinpoint what it is.
Like I said, from the three books I’ve read from the series, this is so far my favorite. I had high expectations when I started Bridget’s story because I thought that would be closer to what I like in romances, but I felt like something was missing. Then I thought about what went right with this book, and the answer is: the characters made this book. If they didn’t have great personalities, I don’t think this book would have worked for me. Josh and Jules had chemistry and great banter, so I believe that’s the reason why this was my favorite.
Ok, only one book missing now… I can see the finish line!
“Why do you think it’s so popular? The missing-woman story?” “Because who can resist a damsel in distress?” – 3.25/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: letters, non-bio sandwiches, caves, fake names, and a lot of sneaking out.
A couple’s fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…
Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.
We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.
We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive.
Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.
I’ve been wanting to read this book for years! It’s funny how I barely pick thrillers anymore, but this was probably the only one I had on my TBR that I really wanted to read for the synopsis. A couple that spices up their boring lives and marriage by killing women together? That sounded so different and interesting!
Unfortunately, this wasn’t what I expected and the story ended up disappointing me a little. I was hoping we would see their dynamic together while kidnapping and killing the women, but we get almost nothing of the sort. A big portion of the book is focused on the kids and the parents thinking about how their actions are affecting them. Also, I thought this would be a dual POV since the couple is doing it together, but instead, we only get the husband’s POV. There’s a lot of “what is my wife doing to the women behind my back” and not a lot of “this is what we are doing to the women”.
There’s a bit of a plot twist at the end, but I didn’t think it was surprising. You kind of see it coming as the story progresses. Also, the pace is on the slower side, so coupling this with the fact there’s almost no action… it gets a little boring.
It wasn’t a terrible book and part of me was entertained, but I thought the story would be a little better and more engaging. Oh well, at least I’ve finally read it!
“We want you to be better than us. Because if our kids don’t grow up to be better than us, then what’s the point of all this? We want you to be kinder, smarter, more humble, more generous, and more selfless than we are. We want to give you the very best circumstances we can possibly provide. So we follow sleeping methods and go to seminars and buy ergonomic bathtubs and push car-seat salesmen up against the wall and shout, ‘The safest! I want THE SAFEST, doyouhearme?!’ (Not that I’ve ever done that, of course; you shouldn’t pay so much attention to what your mother says.)” – 3.5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: starting bands, strong women, masculinity, justice, IKEA, teams, helpful (and unhelpful) advice, and tons of poop.
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World collects the personal dispatches from the front lines of one of the most daunting experiences any man can experience: fatherhood.
As he conveys his profound awe at experiencing all the “firsts” that fill him with wonder and catch him completely unprepared, Fredrik Backman doesn’t shy away from revealing his own false steps and fatherly flaws, tackling issues both great and small, from masculinity and mid-life crises to practical jokes and poop.
In between the sleep-deprived lows and wonderful highs, Backman takes a step back to share the true story of falling in love with a woman who is his complete opposite, and learning to live a life that revolves around the people you care about unconditionally. Alternating between humorous side notes and longer essays offering his son advice as he grows up and ventures out into the world, Backman relays the big and small lessons in life, including:
-How to find the team you belong to -Why airports explain everything about religion and war -The reason starting a band is crucial to cultivating and keeping friendships -How to beat Monkey Island 3 -Why, sometimes, a dad might hold onto his son’s hand just a little too tight.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove shares an irresistible and moving collection of heartfelt, fictional, humorous essays about fatherhood, providing his newborn son with the perspective and tools he’ll need to make his way in the world.
Reading this small book felt like reading a heart-warming love letter. This is such a beautiful and loving dedication from the author to his newborn son, and I’m glad he decided to share it with the world as well.
I would describe this small book as a collection of essays, where the author describes to his newborn son his first time experiencing fatherhood. He says to his son that he will fail a lot as a parent and how much he is trying. He also gives him “practical” advice on multiple everyday things – which was very funny considering the chosen topics! And yet, there’s a lot of love and wisdom behind his words – and that’s not only directed to his son but to his wife as well. She also received her fair share of love letters from this small book, and it was a joy to read about it!
I’ve read a few Fredrik Backman books before this one, and I can see his familiar humor shining through. I just love how funny this was! Fredrik Backman has a great sense of humor and I’m glad we got to see it not hidden behind his works of fiction.
It’s not often you see a fiction author open up a window like this to their personal lives. Sometimes in the world of fiction, we easily to forget that authors are real people who live real lives and have real experiences. This book made me think about my favorite authors and the kinds of lives they’re living and what challenges they are dealing with daily.
It was a book that made me feel very happy and warm inside. Also, it was a very easy read and I read it in one sitting! I would recommend this one to Fredrik Backman fans, but I’m sure if you have kids this would be a very special read anyway.
So you’ve read my post “My 8 Reading Goals for 2024“, but we still haven’t talked about if I reached my goals for 2023. Last year, at the beginning of the year, I shared with you “My 8 Reading Goals for 2023“, so today we will see together how my reading year went… and laugh at how miserably I have failed!
I always like setting a few yearly goals for reading because I think it’s the perfect opportunity to push boundaries, explore new things, and get out of our comfort zone!
In the following list, I will list all of my reading goals for 2022. In front of each goal, I added an icon: ✔️ if I achieved it or ❌ if I failed. So here are the reading goals I set for 2022:
1. Read 60 books: ACHIEVED ✔️
This was an easy one for me to achieve! This was not very hard for me to achieve since this has been my yearly goal for the last few years. This year I was able to read 78 books, which means I read about 6.5 books per month (average). At this point, I’m used to reading this many books.
2. Reduce book collection to 200 (or less) books: FAILED ❌
Another year, another flop. I swear this is one of the hardest goals to achieve! Somehow I ended up with more books than when I first started the year! The funny thing about this is that I sold dozens of books this year… but somehow I bought even more! This is something I desperately need to fix, so I’m working on this in 2024.
3. Read 20 books from my physical TBR: ACHIEVED ✔️
I’m so proud of myself! I can’t believe I achieved this goal by reading 21 books from my physical TBR. This was easier than I thought and I’m happy I was able to read a bunch of books that were waiting for me. I hope this goal will be achieved again in 2024!
4. Read 2 fantasy series I have always wanted to read: ACHIEVED ✔️
Another goal that was achieved! Wow, who am I and what did I do to Neide? I was able to conclude the “Ready Player One” and “The Blade of Secrets” fantasy duologies, so this was another hit! I also started the “Skin Books” series in 2023, so I did more than expected. I’m very proud of myself for this one!
5. Read 2 big books (>500 pages): FAILED ❌
I once again failed this goal! If you read my “My Fear of Big Books” post, you know I’m intimidated by big books. I wanted to work on this fear of mine because I don’t want to miss out on all the amazing stories out there. I started reading “The Priory of the Orange Tree” (which is almost 900 pages long) at the end of the year, but I would be still missing one book! This goal was a fail.
6. Do not finish books if I really don’t want to:: MIXED ✔️❌
I really don’t know what to say about this one. Part of me thinks I got better at DNFing books, but at the same time, I kept reading the “Skin Books” trilogy because I kept giving it a chance and I didn’t want to leave the series unfinished. I’m wondering if this goal was really worth doing? Sure, life is too short to read boring books… but I also don’t like leaving things unfinished. I have mixed feelings about this one, it’s probably something I’ll ignore in the future and I’ll do whatever I feel like doing! At least I learned something about myself with this goal: maybe there’s a grey area here.
7. Read a book for every genre: ACHIEVED ✔️
Another goal I wanted to achieve in 2023 was to read from different genres! I like to think of myself as a diverse reader and I want to get out of my comfort zone, so I made this goal last year to ensure this would happen. I have below all the genres I selected, and as you can see the only one I wasn’t able to achieve was paranormal. Since there were so many genres and I only failed 1, I still decided to mark this goal as achieved. I think it’s important to be flexible and embrace our victories… and this was a great accomplishment for me either way! Check out the genres I tried to read this year:
Romance✔️
Thriller✔️
Fantasy✔️
Young Adult✔️
New Adult✔️
Adult✔️
Horror✔️
Historical✔️
LGBTQ+✔️
Contemporary✔️
Science Fiction✔️
Science✔️
Self-Development✔️
Memoir / Biography✔️
Mystery✔️
Paranormal ❌
Graphic Novel / Manga✔️
8. Do TBR lists again:ACHIEVED ✔️
Wow, this went super well this year! I was very consistent with my TBR lists and I tried following them. I felt very organized and in control of my reading. It was a lot of fun to write my TBR posts every month and pick new books for each month! Another plus is that I was able to track my reading goals a little better as well. This worked really well and I’m planning on keep doing it!
And there you have it friends, my reading year. Wow, I’m impressed with myself… this went smoother than I thought! I achieved a lot in 2023 and I made a lot of progress with my reading (and discipline). I can only hopefully I’ll achieve more and better in 2024! 🙂
What about you? Have you revisited your goals? Let me know how your year went! 🙂
I hope you’re all doing well! Today I’m bringing you all the books I read in December. I’m not going to lie, this was not the best reading month for me. I believed I would have time to read all the books I planned for the month, but unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned in December!
The truth is that I wasn’t exactly busy because of the holidays – I picked up a new hobby that consumed a lot of time (I’ll tell you all about it soon). I hoped I would read like I did in November, but that just didn’t happen – and that’s okay.
I ended up reading 5 books this month, which include 2 manga volumes, 1 non-fiction book, 1 fantasy book from a series, and a memoir. Let’s take a look at the books, shall we?
1. Pita-Ten Vol. 1 by Koge-Donbo: 3.5/5⭐
This was the manga I decided to start in December! It was part of my monthly TBR and fortunately, I was able to finish it. So far so good, but I still prefer the anime version! We’ll see how the rest of the volumes go.
2. Pita-Ten Vol. 2 by Koge-Donbo: 3.5/5⭐
Another volume from the manga was completed in December. I was planning on reading the third volume as well, but I just didn’t have the time!
3. Ready Player Two (Ready Player One #2) by Ernest Cline: 3.5/5⭐
I’m very excited to say I completed this duology! To be completely honest, I didn’t love this one as much I did the first one. It was just not as good, but I’m still glad I finished another series I’ve been wanting to read!
4. Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman: 3.5/5⭐
This is a book I picked randomly and I didn’t know much about it other than who the author was. I’ve read a few books from Fredrik Backman before and I was curious about this one. Unlike his usual work, this is a non-fiction book and it’s essentially a love letter to his newborn son. It was very beautiful and sweet, and I appreciate him sharing it with the world.
5. Pageboy by Elliot Page: 3.5/5⭐
An interesting memoir to say the least! As soon as I saw this was going to be released I was immediately interested in it. I have a few conflicting feelings about this memoir because I wish was more focused on him instead of focusing so much on romantic relationships. Also, I think if the book followed a timeline it would be easier to enjoy. Not great, but I still liked it though.
As usual, I’ll be posting the reviews for these books soon.
What about you guys? How was your reading month? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading friends, I’ll catch you guys later!
Did you read my last post “The Best Books I Read in 2023”? I had a very positive year because most of the books I picked were good and interesting… but not all of them were.
I’ve also read a few books that I didn’t like as much, so that’s exactly what I’m sharing with you today: the worst books I read in 2023. Well, I want to clarify that not all of these are bad books – they were just at the bottom of the list for me. This means not all of these received bad reviews – I just didn’t like them as much.
So I’m bringing you the 5 books I read last year that I disliked and the reasons why I disliked them.
Just a small disclaimer: please don’t take it personally if I mention a book you loved! We all have different opinions and tastes when it comes to reading and I’m not trying to offend anyone… this is just my personal opinion. 🙂
Okay, now let’s go into the list! Here are the books:
1. Ink (Skin Books #1) by Alice Broadway
This was a bit of a disappointment to me. I had really high expectations when I started the “Skin Books” trilogy, but the first book was very slow and nonsensical to me. It seemed like nothing made sense in this story (the character’s attitudes, actions, plot, etc.). I was sad and disappointed because the concept seemed really interesting, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out for me in the end.
Synopsis
“There are no secrets in Saintstone. From the second you’re born, every achievement, every failing, every significant moment are all immortalized on your skin. There are honorable marks that let people know you’re trustworthy. And shameful tattoos that announce you as a traitor. After her father dies, Leora finds solace in the fact that his skin tells a wonderful story. That is, until she glimpses a mark on the back of his neck…the symbol of the worst crime a person can commit in Saintstone. Leora knows it has to be a mistake, but before she can do anything about it, the horrifying secret gets out, jeopardizing her father’s legacy…and Leora’s life. In her startlingly prescient debut, Alice Broadway shines a light on the dangerous lengths we go to make our world feel orderly–even when the truth refuses to stay within the lines. This rich, lyrical fantasy with echoes of Orwell is unlike anything you’ve ever read, a tale guaranteed to get under your skin…”
2. Lore by Alexandra Bracken
“Lore” was not necessarily a terrible read and it didn’t get a negative rating from me, but it was definitely one of the books that I thought I would mention here for a simple reason: it was super confusing! I thought this was a “me” problem, but apparently, a lot of readers shared my opinion on this book. Not only it was confusing to understand the story and who was on each side, but there were so many characters with funky names that I kept rereading bits thinking “Who is this again?”. It wasn’t a very enjoyable read for this reason, even though the concept seemed promising.
Synopsis
“From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love and redemption. Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man–now a god–responsible for their deaths. Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods. The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to bind her fate to Athena’s and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost–and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.”
3. Me by Elton John
Don’t come for me Elton John fans, hear me out first! I just didn’t find this memoir to be enjoyable. To give you some context: I’m not necessarily an Elton John fan, but I also don’t dislike his music – it’s just not something I listen to. Obviously, music is a huge part of his life, but I easily got bored while reading this. There’s a lot of Rock’n’Roll talk and “I met this person” moments… and I just didn’t care about it. The only part that I enjoyed the most was knowing about how he met his husband and their sons’ adoption story he shared near the end. I wish we had more moments like this instead of just talking about music. Like I said, I understand why it’s written like that… I just didn’t care about it. I’m sure if you’re a fan, you will probably like this book.
Synopsis
“In his only official autobiography, music icon Elton John writes about his extraordinary life, which is also the subject of the film Rocketman. Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was on his first tour of America, facing an astonished audience in his tight silver hotpants, bare legs and a T-shirt with ROCK AND ROLL emblazoned across it in sequins. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again. His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with song-writing partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade. In Me Elton also writes about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father.”
4. Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
I liked “Brave” from Disney, so I thought it would be fun to read this retelling written by Maggie Stiefvater. I can’t say it was a bad book, but from all the books I’ve read this year, this is probably the most bland and unmemorable. The story was a little weird and uninteresting, and I’m a little confused about the plot that was chosen for this. The original “Disney” plot was about her proving she didn’t need to marry, so this plotline could be picked up in this book by her finding someone who she truly loved and seeing love differently – at least that would make more sense than the “change” plotline. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t good as well.
Synopsis
“Merida goes on an all-new, life-changing adventure in this original YA novel set several years after the close of Brave! What if you had one year to save everything you loved? ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family—jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets— and her peaceful kingdom. But she’s frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge – maybe even, someday, love. TWO GODS. But the fiery Princess never expects her disquiet to manifest by way of Feradach, an uncanny supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, who appears in DunBroch on Christmas Eve with the intent to demolish the realm – and everyone within. Only the intervention of the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, gives Merida a shred of hope: convince her family to change within the year – or suffer the eternal consequences. THREE VOYAGES. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of epic journeys to kingdoms near and far in an attempt to inspire revolution within her family. But in her efforts to save those she loves from ruin, has Merida lost sight of the Clan member grown most stagnant of all – herself? FOUR SEASONS TO SAVE DUNBROCH – OR SEE IT DESTROYED, FOREVER.”
5. The Rainbow Catcher by Cédric Mayen
This was a book sent to me from a publisher to review, but it ended up being a little too weird for me. The story was super inconsistent and fragmented into bits that didn’t connect well in my opinion. Also, I just couldn’t connect or care too much about the story and characters. I personally liked the artwork, but other than that this was all over the place! Probably the worst book of 2023, not going to lie.
Synopsis
“As the plague rages through England, Hayden Springworth is busy trying to find hidden treasure at the end of a rainbow. But an encounter with Isaac Newton will shatter the young lord’s antiquated beliefs. Sent to the southwest of France as a spy, Hayden continues his research on rainbows in secret. That is until he meets a strange young girl who seemingly has the power to bring rain with her wherever she goes…”
Like I said, please take my opinion with a grain of salt. Everyone likes what they like and we all have different opinions!
So tell me, have you ever read any of these books? Let me know in the comments! I hope you enjoyed this post and I will see you in my next post!
This is my first official post of 2024 (yay)! I hope you had an enjoyable New Year’s Eve, and I wish you all the best for the new year! I’m so excited and ready to start my new reading year but first, we need to do a wrap-up and talk about all the books that were part of my reading year. So let’s talk business!
You know me, I have to tell you all about my favorite reads of 2023! I’ve read amazing books last year that I want to share with you, so today’s post is exactly about that! And who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself a few new books to read.
I ended up reading 78 books in 2023 and there were plenty 4 and 5-star ratings, but today you’ll only find the crème de la crème! You’ll find books from different genres including romance, self-development, memoirs, science, literary fiction, science-fiction, fantasy – except thriller, apparently I don’t have favorite thrillers from 2023?
Just a small disclaimer: these are not necessarily books that came out last year! This list is focused on my personal reading year and the books that were part of it. Meaning: you’ll find a few oldies here!
Ok so now that we got that out of the way, let’s get into it! Below each book you’ll find the respective synopsis in case you’re curious. Here are my favorite 12 books I read in 2023:
1. Forbiddenby Tabitha Suzuma
This is still a tough book for me to talk about, but I’ll do my best. I’ve never read a book that broke me like this one did. If I had to pick a book that made the biggest impact on me this year, this is the book I would tell you about. I don’t want to share much about it because I think it’s best to go into it without knowing too much. I left the synopsis below in case you’re curious! If you decide to read it, keep a few tissues at hand.
Synopsis
“Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives–and the way they understand each other so completely–has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is a love this devastating has no happy ending.”
2. Ready Player One (Ready Player One #1) by Ernest Cline
This story blew me away! It’s funny to think I’m not a huge fan of science fiction, but I absolutely loved this book in a way I never thought was possible. The world-building is unreal, the games and challenges are super fun and creative, the dozens of 80’s references… it was a true pleasure to read this book. I just know I will read this in the future again – and trust me, that rarely happens! Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing for the second book of the duology “Ready Player Two” – this was a very unnecessary sequel in my humble opinion. I highly recommend this book. If you saw the movie and don’t want to read the book because of it: forget the movie, it’s very different and the story was changed radically for the movie version. You won’t regret it! Just… stick to the first book, that would be my only advice.
Synopsis
“In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.”
3. Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen
I read this randomly near the end of the year… and I just can’t stop thinking about this book. I’m not sure if this was popular or not when it first came out, but I don’t think I heard a lot of people talking about it. It was a very heartbreaking read, but there was something very special about this book that stuck with me. Also, a few weeks after finishing the book, the movie version was on TV and I ended up watching it. If you saw the movie, I would say that you don’t necessarily need to read the book because I thought they did a good job adapting the story to the big screen. But of course, there’s always something that is lost so if you like the story, I would say to read the book anyway!
Synopsis
“When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her. Beautifully written, Water for Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.”
4. Best Self by Coach Mike Bayer
Hands down, the best non-fiction/self-development book I read in 2023! There are plenty of things I love about this book, but what I like the most is how practical this book is and the intention behind it. This book has a lot of exercises so you have no option but to reflect on your life. It is an amazing book and unfortunately is super underrated. It’s a great way of looking at all areas of your life and getting some inspiration to start making changes. I highly recommend this one, and it’s the perfect book to read during this time of the year!
Synopsis
“Ask yourself…are you truly who you want to be? Is this the life you really want? Are you living each day as your best self? What can you change, today? How would you answer those questions? Think about your daily life. Are you thriving, or going through the motions? Are your days full of work, relationships and activities that are true to your authentic self, or do you feel trapped on a treadmill of responsibility? If you dream of a better life, now is the time to turn your dream into reality. And the tools you need are within your grasp, to design a life that is fulfilling on the deepest levels. Best Self will show you how. Mike Bayer, known to the thousands of clients whose lives he has changed as Coach Mike, has helped everyone from pop stars to business executives to people just like you discover the freedom to be their best selves. By asking them and leading them to ask themselves a series of important but tough questions—such as “What are your core values?” “Do you go to bed each day more knowledgeable than when you woke up?” and “Am I neglecting some aspect of my physical health out of fear or denial?”—he helps them see what their Best Selves and Anti-Selves really look like. As a mental health specialist, a personal development coach, and an all-around change agent, Mike has seen the amazing ways in which lives can improve with honesty and clarity. He understands our struggles intimately, because he’s faced—and overcome—his own. And he knows that change is possible. By working through each of the Seven SPHERES of life—Social, Personal, Health, Education, Relationships, Employment and Spiritual Development—Best Self is an accessible and interactive book that distills all of Coach Mike’s wisdom into a compact, focused guide that will ignite anyone’s desire for change. Chock full of revealing quizzes, and full of provocative questionnaires, Best Self will empower you to embrace your authenticity, acknowledge what is holding you back, and break through to live a passionate life to the fullest, forever.”
5. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
This was probably one of the most interesting books I’ve read in 2023. It was far from being a perfect book, but I thought I would mention it because I ended up learning a lot from it and I found it very interesting. This is a non-fiction book about – you guessed it – trees! It talks about how they are social creatures and how they are more extraordinary than most people think. If you like Nature books, botanicals, or even just like to acquire new random knowledge like myself, this is a great book for you to pick!
Synopsis
“In The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben shares his deep love of woods and forests and explains the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration he has observed in the woodland and the amazing scientific processes behind the wonders of which we are blissfully unaware. Much like human families, tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, and support them as they grow, sharing nutrients with those who are sick or struggling and creating an ecosystem that mitigates the impact of extremes of heat and cold for the whole group. As a result of such interactions, trees in a family or community are protected and can live to be very old. In contrast, solitary trees, like street kids, have a tough time of it and in most cases die much earlier than those in a group. Drawing on groundbreaking new discoveries, Wohlleben presents the science behind the secret and previously unknown life of trees and their communication abilities; he describes how these discoveries have informed his own practices in the forest around him. As he says, a happy forest is a healthy forest, and he believes that eco-friendly practices not only are economically sustainable but also benefit the health of our planet and the mental and physical health of all who live on Earth.”
6. How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur
A very interesting book that got my attention just by looking at the cover – I just love that misplaced title ahah! It turns out this was a deeper book than what I initially thought. It’s a philosophical book that talks about how to live a good life as a good person and how to always make the right choices. And the conclusion? Well, it’s impossible, of course. There are many interesting perspectives here that could change your way of thinking. I ended up learning a lot and for that reason, I highly recommend this book. I wish more people would talk about it because it’s super underrated!
Synopsis
“From the creator of The Good Place and the cocreator of Parks and Recreation, a hilarious, thought-provoking guide to living an ethical life, drawing on 2,500 years of deep thinking from around the world. Most people think of themselves as “good,” but it’s not always easy to determine what’s “good” or “bad”—especially in a world filled with complicated choices and pitfalls and booby traps and bad advice. Fortunately, many smart philosophers have been pondering this conundrum for millennia and they have guidance for us. With bright wit and deep insight, How to Be Perfect explains concepts like deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, ubuntu, and more so we can sound cool at parties and become better people. Schur starts off with easy ethical questions like “Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?” (No.) and works his way up to the most complex moral issues we all face. Such as: Can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people? How much money should I give to charity? Why bother being good at all when there are no consequences for being bad? And much more. By the time the book is done, we’ll know exactly how to act in every conceivable situation, so as to produce a verifiably maximal amount of moral good. We will be perfect, and all our friends will be jealous. OK, not quite. Instead, we’ll gain fresh, funny, inspiring wisdom on the toughest issues we face every day.”
7. A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
I can’t even describe the immense joy this book gave me. Everyone has a comfort zone, a place where they can feel cozy, warm, and happy… and to me, that’s “The Selection” series by Kiera Cass. That’s my happy place when it comes to reading! So when she released this book, I hoped this would be as good as the series I love. Even though it wasn’t at the same level, it was definitely close and it took me back in time to the first time I read “The Selection” series. I love the kingdoms and princesses Kiera Cass creates; this book is the perfect example. Reading this was just… relaxing and fun – as reading should be! What more can you ask from a book? My only complaint is that it was over too fast – next time give us a series girl!
Synopsis
“#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Selection series Kiera Cass is back with her most epic novel yet—a sweeping enemies-to-lovers standalone romance. “Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.” Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort—but no amount of luxuries can change the fact that her life isn’t her own to control. The king, once her loving father, has gone cold, and Annika will soon be forced into a loveless marriage for political gain. Miles away, small comforts are few and far between for Lennox. He has devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day help them reclaim the throne that was stolen from them. For Lennox, the idea of love is merely a distraction—nothing will stand in the way of fighting for his people. But when love, against all odds, finds them both, they are bound by its call. They can’t possibly be together—but the irresistible thrum of a thousand heartbeats won’t let them stay apart. Kiera Cass brings her signature sparkling romance to this beautiful story of star-crossed lovers and long-held secrets.”
8. Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
This is a book that surprised me a lot! I picked this randomly now thinking much about it, but I ended up falling in love with this story. I admit it was a difficult read at times and I was heartbroken at the end, but it was completely worth it. It’s a story about second chances, empathy, and kindness… oh, and sweet bean paste, of course! Also, I know this was a movie adaptation but I never watched it, so if you did and you think it’s worth it, let me know.
Synopsis
“Sentaro has failed. He has a criminal record, drinks too much, and his dream of becoming a writer is just a distant memory. With only the blossoming of the cherry trees to mark the passing of time, he spends his days in a tiny confectionery shop selling dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with sweet bean paste. But everything is about to change. Into his life comes Tokue, an elderly woman with disfigured hands and a troubled past. Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste Sentaro has ever tasted. She begins to teach him her craft, but as their friendship flourishes, social pressures become impossible to escape and Tokue’s dark secret is revealed, with devastating consequences. Sweet Bean Paste is a moving novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship. Translated into English for the first time, Durian Sukegawa’s beautiful prose is capturing hearts all over the world.”
9. Spare by Prince Harry
I thought I would mention this memoir here as well because I enjoyed it for what it was and I learned a lot about the British Royal Family from it. It’s a sad memoir knowing what Prince Harry went through, especially when it comes to his mother and difficult family bonds, but I think it’s important to read this with a grain of salt because we’re only hearing Harry’s side. Still, it’s definitely a very interesting book that makes you reflect on the role of the British Royal Family and their family dynamics. Definitely worth checking out.
Synopsis
“It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last. Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight. At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love. Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother… For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.”
10. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
I read this book during my flight back from Japan and I couldn’t put it down! The only reason why I didn’t finish it in one sitting was because the plane landed and we had to leave. This was probably the best romance that I read this year! It’s a romance between Jack, a Hollywood superstar, and his tiny bodyguard, a small woman named Hannah. I thought this was a very unique and funny story, and I had an amazing time reading it. I can’t recommend it enough, I had a lot of fun!
Synopsis
“She’s got his back. He’s got her heart. They’ve got a secret. What could possibly go wrong? Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with her bare hands. But the truth is, she’s an elite bodyguard and she’s just been hired to protect a superstar actor from his stalker. Jack Stapleton’s a Hollywood heartthrob – captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, rising out of the waves in clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah – against her will and her better judgment – finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Protecting Jack should be easy. But protecting her own heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done…”
11. Scandalized by Ivy Owens
This is also a romance worth mentioning because it was also one of my favorites from the year. I personally think the cover doesn’t make this story justice because it’s a little tacky, but I love the romance in this. This is a best friend’s brother romance, with a mysterious sub-plot. I liked it a lot and I wish more people knew about this book. Also very underrated!
Synopsis
“A one-night stand between two old childhood friends turns into something more, but when a scandal threatens to tear them apart, they must decide how hard to fight for love—a steamy romance written under the pseudonym Ivy Owens by Christina Lauren coauthor Lauren Billings. Exhausted and on deadline with a story that could make or break her career, investigative journalist Georgia Ross is on the verge of a meltdown when a cancelled flight leaves her stuck in the airport overnight. But when a familiar face appears—the older brother of her childhood friend—and offers help, Gigi seems to have caught a break. Alec Kim is handsome, humble, and kind—exactly the sort of man that Gigi has forgotten existed after her own painful heartbreaks. An evening of reconnection followed by a night of no-strings-attached passion with Alec feels like a gift—that is, until Gigi finally realizes that their childhood connection isn’t the only reason he seems so familiar to her. Alec is determined to prove to Gigi that he is truly the man she thinks he is, even if it means coming clean about his fame—and his family’s connection to the story Gigi’s been working so hard to break. But as their feelings for each other grow deeper, Gigi and Alec must navigate a new reality…one where both of their hard-won careers are put directly in the path of an international scandal.”
12. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
I’ve read a LOT of memoirs this year, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be this one. Maybe I’m biased because I grew up looking up at Britney Spears and listening to her music, but I really liked this. Even though I wasn’t very aware of what she’s been doing in the last few years, I knew she was under a conservatorship. It made me very happy to know she is free now and she is getting her life back, slowly but steadily. Maybe I have an emotional attachment, but even if you’re not a fan, who wouldn’t feel bad for what she went through? She had a very interesting upbringing and adult life, so I would still recommend it if you’re not a fan.
Synopsis
“The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope. In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.”
Great books huh? Well, but not everything is sunshine and roses… I also read a few “bad” books! So – you guessed it – that’s exactly what I’m bringing you in my next post: “The Worst Books I’ve Read in 2023”! So stay tuned for that. 🙂
What about you? What were the best books you read last year? Did you read any of the books I included in the list? Let me know in the comments!