December is here! In between decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, addressing, hosting, churching, and savoring the season without losing my mind, I am also reflecting on the year that’s about to make its grand exit.

As I prepare for 2024, I also ponder three routines that begin January with anticipation and inspiration. Here they are:

I choose one word that will guide me through the year. 2023’s word was ABUNDANCE. I have no idea what my 2024 word will be, but I can’t wait to discover it. I’m a firm believer that the right word finds me when I need it.
I write a haiku (called HopeKU or 2024KU) that also sets me on a path of intention for the year.
Finally, I review two lists of books. The first is my TBR. I want to start the year with great books that didn’t get read in 2023. (I already know the first two books of 2024 will be Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese and Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwan. Both of these are for book clubs. ) Then, I review all the books I read in 2023. I make a list of my favorites and share them with you.

Reminding myself of the books I loved reading during the year is like gathering a bunch of old friends in a cozy living room with a roaring fire and a hot cup of tea.

So get comfortable. Let’s take a look at my list of favorite books for 2023. Many were written in 2023, but many were not. No matter. They are still friends to me. Do we share some of the same friends? Will some of these titles make it to your TBR list for 2024? Let’s get to it!

Adult Fiction:

Properties of Thirst by Marianne Wiggins. What a wonderful family saga, with richly developed characters. The main setting is Lone Pine, CA, which is one of my favorite spots on the planet. WWII content.
Go As A River by Shelley Read. This is exactly the kind of book I love. Great characters and landscape is a significant part of the story.
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. This is like no other book I’ve read. I can’t stop talking about it. And it’s a debut novel! What will she write next? I can’t wait to find out. I am still shocked that I was so moved by a story that includes a human turning into a great white shark.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I finally read this after everyone else on the planet, but it was so much fun.

Cookbook:

Tenderheart by Hetty McKinnon. Mostly cookbook, but also a taste of memoir. Vegetarian. Each veggie gets its own chapter. Gorgeous photography.

Adult Mystery:

I Found You by Lisa Jewell. Takes place in England. Not gruesome.
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. This book breaks the fourth wall a lot and I loved that it read like something new and clever, but the author also respects the rules of great mystery writing.

Adult Health and Wellness:

Built to Move by Kelly and Julliet Starrett. Daily, functional movement tips that keep our bodies working well.

Adult Writing:

Smart Brevity by Roy Schwartz, Jim VandeHei, and Mike Allen. This is helpful for business writing and online publications.

Adult Fluff:

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan. This is the perfect cozy book for holiday reading when our time and bandwidth might be limited. Read with a blanket and cup of tea.
The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller. This is another comfy book that’s just right for reading in between heavier literary fiction.

Adult Poetry:

Musical Tables by Billy Collins. Very short poems that made me think a lot. Different than his other works of poetry, but the same in that he ends his poems with amazing turns of thought and his signature dry humor.
How to Love the World (Poems of Gratitude and Hope) by James Crews. Who doesn’t need a collection of beautiful words that give us hope? Here for it.

Adult Faith-Based:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. This is a very Christian and very convicting book. I’m in a hurry more than I like to admit so this book speaks to me.

Middle Grade Fiction:

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. This is a book in verse with a touching family story of loss.
A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga. I fell hard for a robot. That’s some good writing.
The War That Saved Me by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. This takes place during WWII when kids were evacuated to the countryside from London. Moving story of resiliance and overcoming hardship. I can’t wait to read the sequel which I’ve heard is amazing, too.

Middle Grade Poetry:

Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander and Marjory Wentworth. Oh, Kwame has a way with words!

Picture Book:

The World and Everything In It by Kevin Henkes. This is so spare and so thoughtful. I can’t stop reading it and looking at the pictures.

Read it a Second Time:

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist. She knows how to gather people with food, hospitality, and great writing. Recipes included between her essays.
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. The writer in me had to see how she pulled off this unique plot. Still enjoyed it the second time around and that’s saying a lot since I rarely reread books.

Honorable Mention:

I loved all of these books. All five-star reads, but just not my absolute favorites. I imagine several of these books will be on many best of 2023 lists.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. When Kingsolver writes a book, I read it. Tough subject, but ends with hope.
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. Wow. She writes unlikeable characters so well. A great look into the underbelly of the publishing world.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. A delightful read with great characters and one of them has eight legs! I can’t believe I’ve loved a book about a shark (Shark Heart) and an octopus this year.
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. This is such a great book about the power of books. It’s definietly the best COVER of the year.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. I read this very early in the year. Gave it five stars. Can’t remember what it’s about, but that title is fabulous. (So pathetic right? I had to be honest…I will look it up again to remind my sixty-year old brain what it was about…and then I’m sure I’ll remember why I loved it so much!)

Opposite of Best:

I mention these because what people don’t like can often be more helpful than what they like. Reading is such a personal experience, but my book recommendations might be more meaningful if you also know the books that just weren’t my cup of tea. Almost all of these books are massive bestsellers, and I bet some of them made your best books lists. To me, that’s not a problem, but a place to begin a great conversation about reading.

Thursday Murder Club Mysteries by Richard Osman (Did Not Finish). So many people love this series and I tried reading it several times, but just couldn’t stay with it.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry. (Finished, but meh. I really liked another of her books, Beach Read.)
The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (DNF). The YA of it all was too cringy for me.
Unbearable Likeness of Being by Milan Kundera (DNF). I just couldn’t stand the characters.
The Late Bloomers’ Club by Louise Miller (DNF). This is a cozy book I really wanted to enjoy. I’ve head the audio version is great so I might try that.

Currently at the TOP of my 2024 TBR List:

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
The Which Way Tree by Elizabeth Crook
Babel by R. F. Kuang
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
Deacon King Kong by James Mc Bride
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James Mc Bride

Late December Update: Here are the books that were just announced for two of my book clubs so these are getting added to my 2024 TBR list as well.

Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwan
The Change by Kirsten Miller
Family Family by Laurie Frankel
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
You Like It Darker by Stephen King
11/22/63 by Stephen King

And that closes the book on my 2023 reading favorites!

Let me know if we loved some of the same books this year,

and what’s at the top of your TBR list!

It’s fun turning pages with reading kindred spirits.

2023 Best Books