Well hello! It’s been awhile since I wrote a blog post that wasn’t a book review, but I want to get back into the swing of things. So, I am going to slowly start some of my series back up and see where it goes from there! While I do a lot of blog writing and list making for work, I miss doing it for my own personal blog. Stay tuned for more of that coming up in the next couple of months!
Anyway, I thought I’d do a little mid year check-in for what I’ve been liking so far this year. And what a year of reading it has been! Let me know what you’ve been reading and loving so far this year down in the comments.
2023 So Far
Without further ado, we’ll go through my favorite books each month so far this year (minus July, because we still have a little bit of it left yet!).
January: Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa. This YA graphic novel is the first one in a while that really gave me Heartstopper vibes. But with lesbians! It’s an adorable little story about tutoring and accidentally falling in love with the wrong person.
February: 6 Times We Almost Kissed by Tess Sharpe. This book looks like a rom-com from the cover, but let me warn you, it is not. This book gets very emotionally heavy, even with the kind of cute romance that happens throughout. It took me by surprise and read almost the entire thing in one sitting!
March: Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli. Becky Albertalli does it again in this one! It honestly might be my favorite of hers so far. It felt so personal and hit on a lot of great points about the queer community overall. I still need to buy a copy!
April: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. Re-listened to this duology when the new season of the show came out, and I’m so glad I did! It will forever be one of my favorites, I think. Bardugo is just so good at weaving a story with great characters that keep you guessing!
May: The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa. Loved this pirate/magic debut from Novoa, who definitely is going to be one to watch in the YA fantasy genre! Not only did it have great characters, but the world building was interesting and very well done. And the magic system felt unique as well!
June: They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody. One of the rare books that claims to be a Red, White, & Royal Blue read-a-like but actually feels like it. Maybe not in the situation the teens are in, but in feeling. The whole “hate is covering up affection” sort of thing. I loved it. And I need to own it!
We’re a little over halfway through 2023, so I still expect a lot of great books to come in the second half of the year! And hopefully with that, some more blog content. Until then, happy reading!