As I had skipped out on you all for a year-ish, I realized that I missed my annual dissection of what I had read the previous year, which I usually post in January. OOPS 🤷♀️. Well better late than never.
So 2023 was a decent year for me book wise (I say this because I am way off my count going into the second half of 2024 😬). I got through 22 books totaling 8129 pages. I read some of my favorite author new works, actually got through a Stephen King’s Holly (for those who aren’t familiar, I bailed halfway through Fairy Tale by him in 2022 and I haven’t gone back to finish it…) and I tried some authors I hadn’t read before. And I can honestly say I enjoyed every book this year.
Now onto the breakdown 😁. For new authors I read Riley Sager’s The Last One Left and the Last Time I Lied(dark and slightly twisty, but if you’ve read a lot of mysteries you’ll probably figure most of the story out), Alex Finlay’s The Night Shift (unexpected mystery but thoroughly enjoyed), the first two books of Gigi Pandian’s Secret Staircase Series (an updated Nancy Drew/Trixied Belden type mysteries), Gretchen Anthony’s Book Haters Book Club (nice palate cleanser) and Poppy Alexander The Littlest Library (a lovely story).
Authors on my list making a return include Grady Hendrix, Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell, Karen White, T.L. Huchu, Lana Harper, Cassandra Clare, Preston and Child, Chuck Wendig, Justin Cronin and my eternally favorite Kim Harrison with a new novel in her Hollows Series.
First let me start with Grady Hendrix as I have become a HUGE fan of his (even had the pleasure of meeting him) and I cannot recommend his How to Sell a Haunted House and Horrorstör enough. There is a subtle dark humor amongst the horror in his stories. And there was a scene that scared the beegezus out of me in Horrorstör and I still loved it. I won’t go into detail about the authors whose books were part of a series so check them out if you’re looking for to start a new series, you might find a favorite amongst them 😁.
That just leaves Chuck Wendig’s Dust and Grim which is in the juvenile section of my library and that I read because I like his novel Book of Accidents, however I put down his latest The Black Orchard because it just wasn’t hitting for me. Yes I’m at that point in my life that I won’t waste time forcing myself to read things I’m not enjoying 🤷♀️ 😁.
Next up is a new novel from Justin Cronin who had previously written The Passage Trilogy. This was a completely different story and I was actually surprised by the twist in the telling. Didn’t guess it at all, which doesn’t happen very often (meaning I can usually figure out parts of the story as I go along). But fair warning it was 538 pages long in hardback.
And saving the best (well most favorite author) for last is Stephen King’s Holly. This is the first novel where the character Holly took center stage in a full-length novel. She debuted in the Mr. Mercedes Trilogy and has made appearances in other novels and short stories. She became a fan favorite and I think Mr. King found the story he wanted her to tell. While not my favorite book of the year, it was definitely a solid story.
So that’s my (albeit brief) take on my 2023 reading list. As you can see I also posted it below for you to peruse at your leisure. And if you find something you liked on the list, please let me know. I always enjoy hearing about other people’s experiences with books I’ve read.
Until later ✌️✌️
| Novel | Author |
| Back in a Spell | Lana Harper |
| How to Sell a Haunted House | Grady Hendrix |
| The Cabinet of Dr. Leng | Preston and Child |
| Chain of Thorns | Cassandra Clare |
| The Last Time I Lied | Riley Sager |
| The Ferryman | Justin Cronin |
| The House on Prytania | Karen White |
| Dust & Grim | Chuck Wendig |
| The Night Shift | Alex Finlay |
| Demons of Good and Evil | Kim Harrison |
| The Last One Left | Riley Sager |
| The Littlest Library | Poppy Alexander |
| Under Lock and Skeleton Key | Gigi Pandian |
| The Raven Thief | Gigi Pandian |
| Dead Mountain | Preston and Child |
| In Charms Way | Lana Harper |
| Holly | Stephen King |
| The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle | TL Huchu |
| The Book Haters’ Book Club | Gretchen Anthony |
| Horrorstör | Grady Hendrix |
| Unnatural Death | Patricia Cornwell |
My Lemons My Lemonade 