I see folks all over social media giving their list of the best books they read in 2023. I decided to do mine here. If you read this and are inclined to post your own list, please tag or repost me so I can add your recs to my TBR. Because what good is a TBR unless it's so huge that you will literally never be able to read all of them? And if we're all reposting and adding to the list.... imagine how many recommendations that will be. *cackles with glee*
Secret Service by Tal Bauer. Listen. Just pack up all your belief and suspend the hell out of it. Then sit back and let this happen to you. It's a fun, sexy ride, and we will need to talk about that airplane scene afterward.
The Rest of the Story by Tal Bauer. If you are a fan of found family and hockey boyfriends, get on this book ASAP. I literally finished it and went back to page 1 to read it again.
Never Stay Gone by Tal Bauer. Look, I promise it's not all Tal Bauer books, but I can't not put this one on here too, ya'll. It's cowboys. And a murder mystery. And a second-chance romance. AND COWBOYS.
Melting by Sean Ashcroft. See? Not all Tal Bauer books. This is a low-angst, fluffy, hug of a novel. If you're looking for a comfort read, this is a great contender.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. This was a reread. We're not going to discuss the number of times I've reread it. If you haven't had the pleasure, you need to make it a priority. Enemies to lovers, hockey boyfriends, a hot Russian, and epic love story. Get reading.
Until I Saw You by Dianna Roman. A man who's recently lost his sight falls for his new caretaker, who has secrets of his own. Angsty hurt-comforty goodness of the first order.
The Seven of Spades series by Cordelia Kingsbridge. A detective and a bounty hunter chase a serial killer and each other. My reading group had a TIME as we tore these up, reading as fast as we could.
Like Real People Do by E.L. Massey. There are three books in this series so far and you are going to eat them up and ask for more. Cute. Sweet. Adorable. Funny. Heartfelt. Great banter. These are going to become your new comfort hyperfixation.
Please feel free to come yell at me here or in my DMs if you read any of these. I love when people love things I love. And I hope your 2024 is full of love and light.
Set in 1872 New Orleans, the main character Celine has run away from Paris with a dark secret, now hiding in convert, yet the bustle and charm of New Orleans could be hiding something much more sinister.
The immortal rules by Julie Kagawa
A YA dystopian set in a walled city, and there is not only Vampires but Zombie Vampires as well. The main character Allison struggles to survive with her crew and only thing keeping her going is her hatred for the vampires that keep them like cattle.
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
Is an adult book that is a dystopian written like a high fantasy novel, it starts of with a man Gabriel being interviewed by a vampire from there it bounces between past and present as the vampire tries to piece together the knowledge for it’s mistress.
Certain dark things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Set in Mexico, this book has many different kinds of vampires in it, the main characters are a jaded vampire on the run and a young man who collects garbage.
The coldest girl in cold town by Holly Black
A YA novel, that starts with the main character waking up in a bathtub after a night of partying only find everyone killed but a beautiful boy and her Ex, which leads to a road trip with the two that starts a chain of events that can’t be undone.
shadowhunters is one of the best series ever bc where else do u get characters like alistair, magnus, kit, anna, jace, and matthew?? and then chewy eatable DIGESTIBLE (dont aks me what that means or HOW i thought of it its just a,,, FEELING) villians like,,, fucking shinyun???
esp bc MAGNUS the magnum-isque magnifient being is in ALL the series like HOW can u resist ????
I FINISHED THE BROTHERS HAWTHORNE!!! And let me tell you that was the best spent week. This book was amazing. I loved every single page. Jen didn’t disappoint. Now, there’s one year to go for The Grandest Game and I can’t wait!!! ALSO, ALICE HAWTHORNE IS ALIVE?!?!?! I’m excited for July 2024 rn 😩
The Brothers Hawthorne is the best book I read this year❤️❤️❤️❤️
“your father or mine, should have told us that not many people have ever died of love. But multitudes have perished, and are perishing every hour - and in the oddest places! - for the lack of it.”
I've always found love to be terrifying even though, all my life, it's all I've secretly desired.
It's hard to believe someone will love you when you can't love all of yourself. When you're standing in front of the mirror and only hoping for change. When the ones closest to you spent most of your life picking every unlovable part and showing you. How do you have faith that if you reveal to someone every piece of you - every despicable, irritating, and repulsive part, that they'll still want to love you when you can't?
In Giovonni's Room you see David whose life is driven by fear and constant shame - a caged heart.
And you want to know what I learned once again? That love sets you free.