The Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag: 2023

Shockingly, the best book I’ve read so far this year is The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre. It’s shocking because I just started expanding my reading to include historical fiction (i.e., not just historical romance) just this year. Lo and behold, a book in this genre might be my favourite of 2023!

I loved how The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre incorporated feminism in a way that felt authentic to the 1940s and explored classism through Alix’s friendships and romance. The espionage plot set during WWII was compelling – with so much heartache and angst – and set up a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase during Alix’s present-day narrative. I’ll definitely be checking out the author’s backlist this year.

The best sequel I’ve read so far this year has to be Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson. While this sequel is technically a novella, it still counts as a sequel since it continues Elizabeth and Nathaniel’s story from Sorcery of Thorns. I was so happy when the author announced she was publishing this continuation; the previous book ended on a “happy for now” note, but I wanted a more solidified “happily ever after” for these beloved characters. Mysteries of Thorn Manor continues the magic of sentient grimoires, including a magic house with an agenda of its own and magical familiars.

Since so many of my reading challenges are centred on reading books from my backlist (i.e., books I already own), my 23 Books to Read in 2023 list is actually a list of anticipated releases. Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao was the first book I put on this list! I love fantasy novels inspired by mythology, but I’m most excited by the two main characters’ journey to discover their equally world-saving and world-ending magic. Plus, I’m always a sucker for a good romance 🙃.

My most anticipated release going into the year’s second half (i.e., July onward) is Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig. I read the first book in The Shepherd King series in December 2022 and loved it! After its cliffhanger, I cannot wait to see how the story progresses. This series has a perfect blend of a gothic atmosphere, a unique magic system, the fake engagement trope and slow-burn romance. There are also a few nods to the classic fairytales.

I picked up Brutal Prince by Sophie Lark because I was in the mood for a fun mafia romance where I didn’t have to think too hard. I fully went into this book expecting no higher than a 3-star read. But I was shocked by the nonsensical plot, casual sexism and caricature-like characters. For a mafia romance, I expected the Hero to act like he was in the mafia, but instead, he came across as petulant and powerless. And then he took his powerlessness out on his wife – the Heroine – by dictating who she could see and how she dressed (classic abusive behaviour brushed aside by everyone as adorably possessive). Also, I couldn’t get over how the Heroine went through life thinking consequences weren’t a thing (e.g., someone can die from an allergic reaction, maybe don’t antagonize men with toxic masculinity problems).

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the biggest surprise of 2023 so far because it was my favourite read in January despite being YA and includes a love triangle (one of my least favourite tropes). I have nothing against YA novels, but I’ve been moving away from reading them over the past few years. And the few YA novels I love tend to cover more serious topics (i.e., Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley). However, what worked for me in Daughter of the Moon Goddess was the writing and high-intensity plot. Sue Lynn Tan is an incredible writer who perfectly captured the mesmerizing atmosphere of a celestial world. I also enjoyed how realistic the love triangle felt instead of the protagonist coming across as indecisive.

I’ve only read one book by most of the authors new to me in 2023. Of the few I’ve read more than one book, there’s only one author whose work has consistently been averaging 4 stars: Vela Roth. I adore her romance fantasy series, Blood Grace. I started this series in January, and I’m already caught up – I’m currently reading the most recent release in the series, book 9: Blood Gift.

My favourite Hero from the books I’ve read this year is Daniel from Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez. I loved how sweet and conscientious he was. Also, he has a goat as a pet! I really appreciated that Daniel was so supportive of the Heroine’s medical career and aspirations. This is a reverse age gap romance where the Hero falls first.

My favourite character is Vera in Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. She is hilarious partly because she’s being serious when making outlandish comments. Even better, though, was how heartfelt and genuine Vera was; ultimately, she just wanted a family that she could take care of and who cared for her.

“Nothing personal, Tilly,” Vera says, “is just that you a very ugly baby.” “Yep, nothing personal about that, Ma.”

― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

A book that made me cry was a recent read: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. At first, I was put off by the premise of this book, where longtime fans of a childhood mystery series – think The Hardy Boys blended with Willa Wonka – compete for the author’s unpublished manuscript. I wasn’t interested in the competitive angst of this kind of plot. However, I immediately added it to my Book of the Month subscription box once I found out that the protagonist decided to compete in the challenge, hoping to sell the book to have the money to adopt a child in foster care. The Wishing Game was so heartfelt! I loved the found family tropes and healing from past heartbreak.

I’ve already read Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston twice this year! I randomly came across the book after someone on Goodreads, who I follow, reviewed it. This historical romance follows Cora and Nathaniel, who enter into a fake engagement in the hopes of securing Cora’s custody of her children. I loved how sweet the romance between Cora and Nate is, but Nate’s blossoming relationships with Cora’s kids make this book a winner. This is another romance with a found family trope (I’m sensing a trend) that was done so well and had me grinning ear to ear while reading.

The most beautiful book I’ve bought this year is Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. I love books that have art and detailing directly on the hardback. However, this is yet another book I still haven’t read! The book follows grumpy anthropologist Emily Wilde who studies faeries to create the world’s first-ever encyclopaedia on them. Of course, her field research would go better if the perpetual sunshine Wendell Bambleby – her academic rival – wasn’t getting in her way and winning the townsfolk over. I’m excited about this rivals-to-lovers romance, but even more excited for this new academic world Heather Fawcett has created!

There are a lot of books I want to read by the end of 2023 (like all the books I’ve purchased and haven’t yet read, or in other words, my Up Next Shelf).

However, my distilled list includes five books!

1. I want to read Spare by Prince Harry before 2024 as it’s one of the first books I bought this year, and it’s one of the books of 2023.
2. The premise of Yellowface by R.F. Kuang sounds incredibly thought-provoking; after finishing it, I’ll have read all of R.F. Kuang’s books!