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Top Ten Tuesday: Best New-to-Me Authors of 2023

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Top Ten Tuesday: Best New-to-Me Authors of 2023

Top Ten Tuesday: Best New-to-Me Authors of 2023

2023 was such a wild year for me, reading-wise. I feel like I spent all year struggling to throttle back my review commitments while simultaneously wildly self-sabotaging every time a publisher sent me a new catalog offering review copies of books I desperately wanted to read. Too many good books is one of my favorite problems to have– except when it adds real stress to my life. It is a wonderful problem to have because you’ve discovered new authors you love, which I absolutely did. In fact, today, I’m sharing a list of the best new-to-me authors of 2023.

Note: Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week, participants share a list of their top ten books in a particular topic. This week’s topic is the best books we read in 2023 by authors who were new to us.

Also note: This post contains affiliate links that don’t cost you anything to use but help to support my blog when you use them for your shopping.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best New-to-Me Authors of 2023

Ellen O’Clover – The Seven Percent of Ro Devereux

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: THE SEVEN PERCENT OF RO DEVEREUX is a debut novel, so Ellen O’Clover isn’t just new to me; she’s new to young adult readers everywhere. Ha. The tricky relationships and friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope hooked me from the first chapter and had me reading all the way to the end. It’s also got a STEM girl whose dating app goes viral and lands her a chance at her dream job. Waiting for the relationship to turn the corner from enemies to lovers was agony for me in this book. I think readers who like Emma Lord or Jenn Bennett will love this one.

Published January 17, 2023 | My Review

Tim Probert – The Girl and the Galdurian and Shadow of the Bird

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I’m pretty sure I saw another blogger raving about how great this series is, and I just had to check it out. The illustrations are so whimsical and fun– and the story is just the same! Bea (the girl) has anxiety, which the author represents in the panels as a cloud surrounding her and separating her from her allies. I loved that visual representation and the encouraging way that Bea’s partner, Cad, offers her his friendship and support. I’m a pretty hardcore fan of this series and already pre-ordered the third book, which should be out in April.

Published 2020 (Book 1) and 2022 (Book 2) | The Girl and the Galdurian Review | Shadow of the Bird Review

F. T. Lukens – Spell Bound

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I had completely missed out on this author’s work before the offer to review this book came my way via the publisher. Looking at the cover, it’s probably not the first book I’d grab off the shelf, but once I started reading… I knew Lukens was going to be an author I needed to add to my auto-buy list. Basically, this is about two apprentices who work for two rival sorcerers. They’re responsible for handling calls about hexes or cursed objects, and they decide to team up when one’s mentor goes missing. I loved the back-and-forth between these two characters and the weird/wild magical world Lukens created here. I think I already bought their other books, and I really want to read them.

Published April 4, 2023 | My Review

Hanna Alkaf – Hamra and the Jungle of Memories

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This is another book that I read based on another blogger’s recommendations. (I need to keep better track of where these recs come from.) The description of this Malaysian folklore-based reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood had me so curious. And once I got into the book– the writing and rich setting absolutely swept me away. This isn’t Hanna Alkaf’s first book, either, so she’s another author whose backlist is calling to me even as I watch for news of upcoming books.

Published March 28, 2023 | My Review

Claribel Ortega – Witchlings and The Golden Frog Games

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I bought a copy of GHOST SQUAD when it came out, but I still hadn’t managed to read it when I saw an invitation to a blog tour from Rockstar Book Tours for THE GOLDEN FROG GAMES. Tour participants also received a PDF version of the first book in the series, so I figured I’d start there and review both. I loved the village and all the pageantry surrounding becoming a witchling and part of a coven. It felt fresh and clever and reminded me a bit of CATTYWAMPUS by Ash Van Otterloo, which I also loved. I heard another book influencer talk about the way that Ortega writes middle grade without ever talking down to readers, and I totally agree. The books feel young, as they should, and yet bear a wisdom beyond the years of the characters that never interferes with the joy of reading them.

Published 2022 (Book 1) and 2023 (Book 2) | Witchlings Review | The Golden Frog Games Review

M. R. Fournet – Brick Dust and Bones

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I’m a pretty squeamish reader, so I don’t read a lot of horror, but there is something about this book. Maybe it’s the old New Orleans setting with its fog of ghostly, dangerous creatures. Maybe it’s the sweet, determined main character who is absolutely in over his head but can’t stop until he finds a way to save his mom. It could also be the poignant writing that I couldn’t stop thinking about, even when the book ended. This is another debut novel, and still one more author whose books I’m anxiously anticipating. Because the cover is a little extra creepy, I went into this book thinking I’d just sample a chapter or two, and before I knew it, I’d been carried away all the way to the last page. I’m super excited for the sequel, which should be out this summer.

Published July 18, 2023 | My Review

Francesca Zappia – Katzenjammer and Greymist Fair

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I’ve been aware of Francesca Zappia’s books since 2015, but for some reason, I’d never read any until last year. KATZENJAMMER is a pretty surreal book, maybe somewhere in the vein of Nova Ren Suma or A. S. King? I loved the storytelling, though, and the way Zappia made me feel what the characters were experiencing and think about things in a different way. When I saw GREYMIST FAIR, I had just finished reading KATZ, so I was really curious how this author would do a more traditional fantasy story. I loved the way the story is split into parts, and each one reveals more about what’s happening in this small, isolated village. If you like darker fairytale stories, closer to the original Grimm Brothers tales, definitely grab GREYMIST FAIR.

Published 2022 (Katzenjammer) and 2023 (Greymist Fair) | Katzenjammer Review | Greymist Fair Review

S. Jae Jones – Zhara: Guardians of the Dawn

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This is another author I’ve been aware of for a long time, and yet somehow never managed to read until last year. (Insert facepalm.) I actually own a copy of WINTERSONG, which is the author’s debut and looks fabulous. Anyway. This year, I dove into this beautiful, intense series opener about a girl with forbidden magic that may be the key to saving her world. I am guessing, based on the title of this and the sequel, that each book will focus on a different character with a different kind of magic, and they’ll all have to work together somehow to save the world. I’m really excited to read the sequel, AMI, which will be out later this year.

Published August 1, 2023 | My Review

Aden Polydoros – Wrath Becomes Her

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I’ve now read at least four books that explore the Jewish folklore about the creation of a golem, and each one is SO different. It’s been really cool to see how different authors write about it. Aden Polydoros is another author that had been on my radar for a long time, but I just hadn’t managed to read it until last year. And, wow, I’m so glad I did! While this is probably the darkest version of the folklore stories that I mentioned, I loved the depth of heart and feeling that Polydoros brought to the page here. It’s got this terrible sadness– kind of the way FRANKENSTEIN does– and a strange kind of beauty emerges out of that sorrow. I don’t know. I’m not explaining it well, but it’s a story that will definitely stick with me.

Published October 10, 2023 | My Review

Abigail Johnson – Every Time You Go Away

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This is one of the last titles released by Inkyard Press, which was one of my favorite imprints, so it’s extra sad that I only just discovered one of their authors. Looking over my list so far, there’s so much fantasy on here that it’d be easy not to realize how much I love a good, solid contemporary romance. This one centers on an aspiring jewelry artist and wheelchair user who has long been in love with her best friend. The one who keeps disappearing whenever his mom shows up to rip him away from his grandparents’ house. It’s achingly sad and yet so sweet and hopeful. I loved it and would love to read more by Abigail Johnson.

Published December 5, 2023 | My Review

Darcy Little Badger – Elatsoe

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Thank you, Backlist Reading Challenge, for helping me finally get to read this book! I bought ELATSOE when it came out, and I heard so many amazing things about it. Before finally getting to read this novel, I read a short story by Darcy Little Badger in the anthology MERMAIDS NEVER DROWN, and I really enjoyed the writing and how much character development was packed into so few pages. I finally read ELATSOE, and though it wasn’t love at first page, I definitely got swept away in this reimagining of modern-day America with magic and magical creatures. I loved the back-and-forth between the past and present and how the tales of Elatsoe’s six-great grandmother connected to the dangers she and her family faced in the present.

Published August 25, 2020 | My Review

What are the best new-to-you authors you read in 2023?

Did you discover any new authors last year that have become favorites? How did you find out about them?

If you’ve read books by any of the authors on my list, please let me know. I’d love to hear what you thought about them.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Still on My TBR After 2023

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Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books Still on My TBR After 2023

Well, 2023 came to a much more chaotic end than I anticipated, which left me with kind of a disorganized mess at the start of this new year. I have been trying to sift through the rubble and make sense of what I left mid-process and what things still need to be done. One of the things this means is taking stock of the books I meant to read last year and did not get to, AKA books still on my TBR after 2023. Here’s my list.

Notes: Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl in which bloggers are invited to share a list of their top ten (or however many) books in line with the week’s theme. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost anything for you to use, but they help support this blog.

Ten Books Still on My TBR After 2023

The Fire Next Time
James Baldwin
Vintage (reprint)
Published December 1, 1992

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: Two letters written to Baldwin’s nephew about the state of race relations in America at the start of the Civil Rights movement and America’s history with racism.

Why I Want to Read This: I think I first heard about this book from Mara at BooksLikeWhoa a few years ago when she included it in a list of books she enjoyed. I’d been thinking about broadening my experience reading classics, especially classics by women and BIPOC, and Mara’s description of this book pretty much had me sold. I’ve actually read the first half of the book already. The writing is a little bit dense, with some longer sentences. It’s frank; it’s deep; it’s absolutely unapologetic, and I absolutely want to finish it this year. I can’t believe it’s still on my TBR after 2023.

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix (Remixed Classics #2)
Bethany C. Morrow
Feiwel & Friends
Published September 7, 2021

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What it’s about: This reimagining of LITTLE WOMEN follows the four daughters of a Black family living in the Freedpeople’s Colony of Roanoke during the Civil War.

Why I Want to Read This: Last year, I read LITTLE WOMEN for the first time and then read a book offering background on the author’s life, the journey the book has taken since publication, and why the story still resonates with us so deeply. With all of that fresh in my mind, I really wanted to read this reimagining of the original story. I love what this series is doing, and I’ve loved both the books I read in it so far. I love this idea, and I am so glad Bethany C. Morrow wrote it. I loved the writing in A SONG BELOW WATER.

What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix (Remixed Classics #4)
Tasha Suri
Feiwel & Friends
Published July 5, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: An abandoned son of an Indian sailor returns to England where he meets a girl being groomed for proper society whose mother was also Indian. Forbidden love, wild emotions, English moors, etc.

Why I Want to Read This: WUTHERING HEIGHTS is among the few classics I had to read in school that I really did not like. (The other is TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES.) When I saw that the Remixed Classics series was going to tackle this tale and reimagine the whole “outsider” component of Heathcliff’s character, I decided this might be one I want to revisit. I’ve got an audiobook version of the original story, and I might read that first– or try to, anyway– just as a refresher. But I think I’m hoping that a redo on this will be a pallet cleanser and offer me a fresh perspective both on the novel and the original work.

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
Zoulfa Katouh
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published September 13, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: A speculative novel set during the Syrian Revolution about a girl who helps the wounded at a hospital and the imagined companion who protects her until she realizes what she wants her role in the revolution to be.

Why I Want to Read This: This is one that I heard about from a friend on Twitter, who absolutely loved it. I think this one and HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE were her favorite books of 2022. I managed to read HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE last year, but this one is still on my list, despite the fact that my husband gave me a copy of it two Christmases ago. Of all the books on this list, this is the one still on my TBR after 2023 that I’m most excited about reading.

Bone Weaver
Aden Polydoros
Inkyard Press
Published September 22, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: A teen girl adopted by a family of benevolent undead, a boy branded as a witch, and a dethroned tsar team up to protect the empire from a revolutionary leader.

Why I Want to Read This: I remember hearing so much buzz about this book around the time it came out, and I just could NOT fit it in my review schedule. I’ve got a copy, and I read the sample pages available online when the book came out, so I already know I like the writing and at least one of the main characters. After reading another book by Aden Polydoros last year, I’m only more certain I need to read this one!

A Guide to the Dark
Meriam Metoui
Henry Holt & Co.
Published July 18, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: Described as The Haunting of House Hill meets Nina LaCour. Two girls in a rural hotel on a spring break college road trip. One’s nightmares of her dead brother spark some investigation, which reveals eight people have died in that hotel room, and the girls need to figure out the connections between them before one of them becomes the ninth.

Why I Want to Read This: For a long time, a book like this would have really been outside my interest, but lately, I’ve been enjoying more books with a bit of a scary edge. I like the sound of the mystery and the connection to a lost sibling, as well as the possibility of romance between the two friends. All in all, this sounds like a fun one to me.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Eagle Drums
Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
MacMillan Children’s Books
Published September 12, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: Described as “a magical realistic middle grade debut about the origin story of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a Native Alaskan tradition.” A boy must climb to the top of a mountain where two of his brothers died. There, a terrifying eagle god confronts him and demands that the boy follow him or face death.

Why I Want to Read This: One of the things I try to consistently pursue as a reviewer is making sure I’m reading books with a broad range of representation. That doesn’t happen without a bit of research and deliberate choosing, and last year when I stopped to evaluate how many books by indigenous authors I reviewed, the number was pretty low. I spent the year trying to find new authors and books to check out and looking for books I’d missed in the past. This one showed up in the mail one day, and I was like, hey this is perfect. Now I just need to read it! This is another one that I can’t believe is still on my TBR after 2023.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Looking Up
Stephen Pastis
Simon & Schuster
Published October 10, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: A lonely girl sees her town changing for the worse and joins forces with a boy who lives across the street to save the places she loves.

Why I Want to Read This: While the illustration style isn’t one I usually find compelling, I think this story sounds really sweet. I love the description of the main character, Saint, as a lover of medieval knights and lost causes. She sounds exactly like the kind of friend I’d want in a middle grade book about saving a town.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

The Bigfoot Queen
Jennifer Weiner
Aladdin Books
Published October 24, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: A team of kids, including a girl from a Bigfoot tribe, face a threat to the tribe’s existence. They must work together with friends and frenemies to unearth secrets and build connections if they hope to save the tribe and their ways of life.

Why I Want to Read This: I can’t believe I totally missed this series until the last book came out. It sounds like such an interesting story of friendship and community– both things I love to read about in middle grade books. I kind of want to start the series from the beginning, which is one of the reasons I haven’t gotten to this book yet. I hope to listen to at least the first one as an audiobook and go from there.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Juniper’s Christmas
Eoin Colfer
Roaring Brook Press
Published October 31, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What It’s About: An eleven-year-old girl must save Christmas and stop a villain trying to steal Santa’s magic.

Why I Want to Read This: So… I’ve never actually read anything by Eoin Colfer before, but this story sounds like such a cool Christmas tale. I really wanted to try to fit this into a December evening with a cup of hot cocoa and some fluffy blankets, but my December kinda went sideways, and I just didn’t have time. Fortunately, the winter weather will last a few more months, so I might just have to have Christmas in February or whenever I am finally able to fit this book into my reading list.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

What’s still on your TBR?

So now you know some of the books left on my TBR after 2023. What books are sitting at the top of your TBR that you meant to read last year and never managed to get to? Tell me about them in the comments.

Also, if you shared a list, whether part of today’s Top Ten Tuesday meme or not, leave me a link to your post or video! I’d love to check it out.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Goals for 2024

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Bookish Goals for 2024

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is a really great one– bookish goals for 2024!

Last year I posted this extensive list of goals, some ambitious and some that were pretty reasonable considering my blogging life. At the end of December, I posted an update on my success in meeting those goals.

With all that in mind, I decided to take a slightly different approach to my goal-setting this year. Here are eight bookish goals I’ve set for myself in 2024.

Bookish Goals for 2024

1. Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge

Last year, for the first time, I participated in the Beat the Backlist 2023 Reading Challenge, hosted by Austine Decker, and it REALLY helped me tackle backlist titles. While my goal last year was to read 10-12 backlist fiction books and 3-5 nonfiction titles, I ended up reading more than 30 books from my backlist reading list. So I definitely want to do that again!

2. Book Riot’s Read Hard(er) 2024 Reading Challenge

Read Hard(er) is another challenge that I tracked last year and really enjoyed. I like that it helped me make more inclusive reading choices and think about the topics in the books I was reading. I’m excited about doing this challenge again this year, and some of the prompts for the Read Harder 2024 Challenge look awesome.

3. Read 200 Books

Last year, I set a goal of reading 150 titles, and I figured I would read well over that. I read a mix of mainly young adult, middle grade, and graphic novels, so often, I can read a whole book in a single sitting (if I’m engaged). This year, I’m upping the anty a teeny bit to set a goal of 200.

4. Read 3-5 more classics, especially ones by women or BIPOC.

Last year, I set out to read a few classics, and I actually really enjoyed that. Among the books I read for the first time were LITTLE WOMEN and ANIMAL FARM. This year, I definitely want to finish THE FIRE NEXT TIME by James Baldwin, and I’d love to read I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya Angelou.

5. Streamline My Accepted Reviews Process

I need a better process for predicting the books I will want to read in the upcoming publishing season. I can comfortably review about 13 new release books per month, but I feel like my choosing process is chaotic and overwhelming.

Do you use a particular app or website to track books being published in the next season or year? If you’ve got tips you want to share, I’m all ears!

6. Use a Reading Tracker Spreadsheet

I started using a reading tracker spreadsheet last year and liked it a lot. This year, I’m editing it a bit more and making it suit my needs a little better. I’m hoping to use some of the tabs I ignored last year and maybe find ways to use them to help me be better organized without making a lot of extra work recording data.

7. Donate More Books Through Sentences Book Donations

I want to get better at unhauling books I’m finished with. I wrote a post about this a few months ago, right after posting an interview with the founder of a group called Sentences that helps facilitate book donations to prisons, detention centers, and similar facilities.

8. Refill my creative energy more consistently.

I’ll admit I’m not totally sure what this process looks like for me, but I know it’s important. Reading burnout really scares me. Every time I’ve faced it, I’ve been completely blindsided, and I panic because, in those moments, I can’t imagine ever enjoying reading again.

Afterward, I can’t believe I thought something so silly, but then the next time I burn out, I panic again, so there ya go. Brains are weird.

I’m hoping that a combination of some breaks from reading to practice guitar or ukulele or play a video game or something might help me rest my reading muscles and feel more energized when I pick up the next book.

9. Keep up the Community Posts!

List posts can be time-consuming, but they’re one of the most fun ways to talk about books on a blog, I think. This year, I would like to try again to do about one Top Ten Tuesday post and at least one Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post per month.

If you do regular community posts like these, let me know where you heard about them and what they are! I’d love to see what other community posts/memes are out there.

10. Manage the book hoard.

I’m long overdue for a book reorganization. Times have changed. My reading preferences have changed. My kids are older. I would like to go back through my collection of books and decide what it truly makes sense to keep at this season of my life and what it’s time to pass along to new readers.

What are your bookish goals for 2024?

If you’re a goal-oriented person, let me know if we have any similar bookish goals for this year. If goals are too anxiety-inducing, let me know what bookish event (book release, conference, author event, book you really want to read, etc.) you’re most looking forward to this year.

2023 End-of-Year Reading Goals Check-In

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2023 End-of-Year Reading Goals Check-In

I had some super ambitious goals last year, and while I didn’t meet every single one, I did manage to keep track of them throughout the year. I’m giving myself a hefty sum of bonus points for being on top of things. Ha!

In keeping with my organizational streak, I wanted to post this recap of where I ended up by the end of the year. Here is my 2023 end-of-year reading goals check-in.

Goal: Read 150 Books

Books Read: 235

I knew when I set this goal that it was very likely I’d read well over it. At the time, I was reading a little more than three books per week, plus maybe an audiobook or two each month. At my peak, I was reading 5-6 books per week, but that was really not a sustainable pace for me. Keep in mind that I read a lot of middle-grade books and graphic novels. So these aren’t always 400 pages of dense text. This stat looks a lot more impressive than it actually is. Haha!

Goal: Read 3-5 Classics

Classics Read: 5

At my last check-in, I’d read four books I’m calling classics, and since then, I read Anne Frank’s Diary of a Girl and the graphic adaptation.

One of the classics at the top of my list to read was The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. I’ve read half of it, but still need to finish it.

Goal: Read 3-5 Backlist Nonfiction Titles

Backlist nonfiction titles read: 10

Thank you, reading tracker spreadsheet, for proving to me that I read a lot more backlist nonfiction than I thought! A few highlights: CASTE by Isabel Wilkerson, DISFIGURED by Amanda Leduc, MEG, JO, BETH, AND AMY by Amy Boyd Rioux, and HUNT, GATHER, PARENT by Michaeleen Doucleff.

Goal: Read 10-12 Backlist Titles

Backlist Titles Read: 66

Initially, when I made this goal, I envisioned myself picking books off my shelf that have been on my reading list for a super long time and counting those books toward a goal. What ended up working really well for me was to take on a challenge (or two) to help inspire my backlist reading choices.

So, I participated in the 2023 Beat the Backlist Challenge and the 2023 Book Riot Read Hard(er) Challenge, which helped me read 66 books that came out before 2023. Pretty much knocked that one out of the park. (Special thanks to audiobooks and graphic novels.)

Reading Challenges

Read Harder: 19 of 24

Beat the Backlist: 36 of 52

I mentioned already that I belatedly joined a couple of reading challenges. Though I didn’t fully complete either one, I am happy with my progress. I ended up reading a lot more backlist titles than my original backlist reading plans, so I’m calling it a goal met.

Both challenges proved to be great experiences for me this time. I will definitely try them again in 2024.

Book List Post Goals: 12-16 Top Ten Tuesday Posts

Top Ten Tuesday Lists Posted: 8

My original goal was to participate in three to four Top Ten Tuesday posts per quarter. I posted eight Top Ten lists, four shy of my goal but better than the year before. I think I posted only two in 2022.

I’ll reroll this one for 2024 and see if I can hit my goal this time around.

Book List Post Goals: Seasonal Lists

Another list goal I set for myself was to post seasonal lists of the most-anticipated and best books I read for middle-grade and young adult fiction. I also wanted to post more holiday lists.

One thing I stumbled onto that I LOVE is the idea of doing a seasonal backlist reading update. I love this because it means I can talk about the backlist titles that I read every three months rather than waiting to ever speak about them until I can squeeze them into my calendar.

I didn’t manage to hit every single list I wanted to, but I am proud of the ones I did post this year.

Retail and Goodreads Reviews

I’m not even going to try to check this one out. I already know this was a miserable failure for me this year. I work best when I have a system, and I simply don’t have that for this part of the process. If you have a good system for sharing retail and Goodreads reviews, please let me know in the comments!

This is another goal that I’ll put back on my list for 2024.

Work on My Own Projects

Ugh. I didn’t really make any measurable progress here, either. Frankly, I agreed to review too many books to begin with. Then I also tried to review all the unsolicited books I received from publishers since I usually don’t get many. I think they’re onto me, though, because I got a lot more than I expected this year.

Additionally, I started a new job in September, and it took up a lot more time than I anticipated. I love the work, and I’m learning a lot, though, so I really can’t complain. It’s basically writing plus spreadsheets. I mean… that is one hundred percent my wheelhouse!

PLUS I was basically sick from September to early November and again right at Christmas. That threw me off a bit, too.

But yeah… all that combined meant that I tabled my projects. Here I am a year later, wondering what on earth to do about that. To be continued, I guess.

Did you meet your 2023 Reading Goals?

Now that you’ve seen the very mixed results of my 2023 end-of-year reading goals check-in, maybe you feel brave enough to tell me about your reading goals? Leave me a comment about the reading achievement you’re most proud of from last year or something you’ve set as a reading goal this year.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2023 Reading Goals Check-In

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Top Ten Tuesday: 2023 Reading Goals Check-In

With the fall weather hopefully settling in around us, it’s starting to feel like the year is nearing its end. We still have three more months, though, to get all the things our past, starry-eyed, January selves imagined would be so easy to do this year.

Back at the beginning of the year, I posted a list of Top Ten Tuesday Bookish Goals for 2023. I also decided to do the BookRiot Read Harder 2023 and the Beat the Backlist 2023 reading challenge.

I posted some challenge pages to track my progress as the year has progressed. I was definitely much more focused on those goals for the first quarter of the year than I was this last quarter. Still, I’ve gotten a lot done, and I’m hopeful that with some careful (reasonable) planning, I can still get a few more things done before the end of the year.

Note: Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Anyone can join in by posting about the weekly prompt. This week, we’re posting about reading goals we still want to accomplish before the end of the year.

Another note: My goals for this year are really ambitious, but that’s because I spend a LOT of time reading these days. I listen to audiobooks while waiting in the car. I read for a couple hours most evenings. I can’t get enough, but that’s a me problem. Haha!

2023 Reading Goals (Top Ten Tuesday Post Check-in)

Reading Goals: 150 Books

So far this year, I’ve read 192 books, so this one I’ve more than met. Yay for starting off strong. I’ve been breaking my TBR down into four categories: middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, graphic novels (all ages), and nonfiction (all ages). Here’s how that looks for what I’ve read this year.

Middle Grade Fiction: 54 Titles Read So Far

So far this year, I’ve read 54 middle grade titles. This is the first year I’ve really tracked things based on when I read them (versus when the review posts or when I bother to update my Goodreads account), so I’m not sure how that compares to last year. I suspect it’s probably a little bit more than the number I’d read by the beginning of October last year. Seems like I read a little bit more middle grade each year. It’s filled with such hopeful stories. I really can’t get enough.

Young Adult Fiction: 100 Titles Read So Far

Young adult fiction is always the biggest category of books I read. When I started my blog, I reviewed YA exclusively, so I guess it makes sense. It’s also what I write, so I think that’s another reason it feels comfortable.

Nonfiction (all ages): 20 Titles Read So Far

Nonfiction has been a love I’ve come to later in my reading life. I think I depended on reading to be an escape for a long time and reading nonfiction felt too much like homework to me. There are some really incredible nonfiction titles about lots of different types of things, though, and some of them are so entertaining I hardly notice I’m learning as I read. At any rate, my goal in the past was to read one nonfiction title per month, so twenty is already well above that for the year. Yay!

Graphic Novels (all ages): 18 Titles Read So Far

I think I started reading and reviewing graphic novels on purpose last year. My nephews and niece really enjoy them, so it started as a way to connect with them and hopefully find new books they would enjoy. I’m pretty picky about my graphic novel reading, but I’ve ended up with some huge favorites and even a few auto-buy authors.

Goal: Read 3-5 Classics

It’s only as I’ve done some reading this year that I realize the edges of what constitutes a “classic” to me are a little fuzzy. Like, I read THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE by Louise M. Erdrich. It’s certainly stood the test of time. It’s noteworthy. Is it a classic? I’m gonna say yes. I’ve also read ANIMAL FARM and LITTLE WOMEN for the first time this year, and I reread THE GIVER.

I would like to read THE FIRE NEXT TIME by James Baldwin and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK before the end of the year. I’ve got copies of both, so I think this is achievable.

Goal: Read 3-5 backlist Nonfiction Titles

 So far, I’ve read CASTE by Isabel Wilkerson, ALL BOYS AREN’T BLUE by George M. Johnson, and MEG, JO, BETH, AMY by Amy Boyd Rioux.

My backlist nonfiction TBR is miles long. I would still like to read DISFIGURED: ON FAIRYTALES, DISABILITY AND MAKING SPACE by Amanda Leduc. I own several more backlist nonfiction titles I really want to get to, so we’ll see if I’m able to fit more in beyond that.

Goal: 10-12 Backlist Titles

I seriously over-achieved on this one, too. I’ve read about 54 backlist titles so far this year. I loosened my criteria for this a little bit, though. Initially, I imagined it would be backlist books that I own physical copies of, but I tend to be a really serious mood reader when it comes to my backlist. Those are books I’m squeezing in between the frontlist titles I’ve agreed to review. 17 of these books were also titles that I agreed to review or received from a publisher as part of agreeing to review book two in the series, so I’m not sure they should totally count. But since I’m the one making up the rules, I’ve decided THEY DO.

Even if I left out the ones I agreed to review, that’s still 37 backlist titles read. Yay!

Reading Challenges

I also signed up for the Bookiot Read Hard(er) 2023 and the Beat the Backlist reading challenges. You can check out my progress on that by clicking the challenge name in this paragraph.

How are you doing on your 2023 Reading Goals?

Did you set reading goals for yourself this year? What would you like to get finished before the end of 2023? If you posted about your reading goals for the year, whether it’s the Top Ten Tuesday post, something you wrote up back in January, or a Goodreads goal, leave me a link in the comments. I’d love to check it out.

Top Ten Tuesday: Super-Fun Summer Camp Books

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Top Ten Tuesday: Super-Fun Summer Camp Books

It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! This week’s theme is best books for summer, which is a perfect chance to talk about beach reads… but I’m not much of a beach girl? I burn way too easily. So, instead, let’s talk about another favorite summer activity: summer camp!

Whether it’s the story of a first-time camp experience or simply the tale of camp attendance as a means to an end, excellent summer camp books capture the immersive experience of being away from home. They spin stories of unexpected friendships and wacky inside jokes. They remind us to celebrate being in nature and being part of a team or group.

I’ve included six middle-grade books and twelve young adult books in this list, so technically it’s my top eighteen, but I couldn’t help it. They’re all great books that made me feel big summer camp vibes.

Note: Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl in which bloggers share their top ten favorites in the week’s theme. Check out this week’s list of posts about summer reading!

Also: This post contains affiliate links that don’t cost anything for you to use but help support this blog. Thank you for shopping with them!

Super-Fun Summer Camp Books: Middle Grade

Here are six middle-grade books featuring summer camp adventures. From LARPing to twins swapping places to discovering a hidden world of magic, all these books immersed me in summer camp feelings and celebrated the unexpected friendships and adventures that a few weeks away from home inevitably bring.

Monster Camp by Sarah Henning

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: A girl signs up for what she thinks is a LARPing (live-action roleplaying) camp only to discover the other campers are actually monsters. Totally fun. The camp setting makes this a perfect summer read, but the monster elements would make this a good fall/Halloween season read, too.

Release Date: May 9, 2023

Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: A richly written novel in verse about twin girls who’ve grown apart and dare one another to switch places at summer camp. One twin has undiagnosed anxiety. I loved the relationship between the sisters in this one.

Release Date:

Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1) B. B. Alston

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: Men In Black meets Percy Jackson, but better. Amari learns her missing brother was part of a supernatural organization (think FBI plus magic) which she joins after learning it can help her discover what happened to him.

Release Date: January 19, 2021

The Girls of Firefly Cabin by Cynthia Ellingsen

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Four girls meet for the first time when they’re assigned to Firefly Cabin. Will secrets, competition, and other classic summer camp adventures bind them together as friends or tear their cabin apart? Perfectly captures and celebrates summer camp experiences.

Release Date: May 28, 2019

Chirp by Kate Messner

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Not all summer camps are sleep-away– here’s one celebrating day camp for a girl whose family has just moved to a new town. Discusses grooming and consent in a clear, age-appropriate way. Great family elements.

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Ways to Grow Love (A Ryan Hart Story) by Renée Watson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: The second book in the Ryan Hart series. Ryan braves her nerves about summer camp and changing friendships. A perfect blend of the power of resilience, friendship, and summertime fun.

Release Date: April 27, 2021

Super-Fun Summer Camp Books: Young Adult

Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: An elite writing summer intensive challenges Julieta to post her writing publicly. A mysterious collaborator begins contributing to the story. She’s determined to figure out which of the three boys she’s maybe interested in could be her online partner. Perfect for fans of Kasie West or Jennifer E. Smith.

Release Date: May 16, 2023

You Don’t Have a Shot by Racquel Marie

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Soccer camp! Rivals to lovers! A layered story exploring romance, pride, and perfectionism. I loved the relationships between characters, and the descriptions of the soccer practices and games made me feel like I was right there on the sidelines.

Release Date: May 9, 2023

Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: First love and Deaf pride… at summer camp. A book about embracing identity and finding the friends you didn’t know you needed. This one is at the top of my summer reading list.

Release Date: July 11, 2023

It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Summer camp… horror! A research trip to Antarctica turns deadly when an unidentified something tries to kill the retreat members. One of the best books I read last year, and I’m not a big horror girl. Check my review for content warnings.

Release Date: September 13, 2022

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: A homeschooled girl whose parents decide she needs more experience with peers attends the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy in exchange for their permission for her early admission to Oxford. Competitive antics and rivals-to-lovers romance ensue. Great for fans of Lily Anderson.

Release Date: July 26, 2022

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: An intense summer program for aspiring web developers. A suitor in a potential arranged marriage. A girl who couldn’t be less interested in romance. All the fun of Sandhya Menon’s fluffy romance… at summer camp!

Release Date: May 30, 2017

You Have a Match by Emma Lord

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: When a DNA service reveals a younger sister, Abby signs up for summer camp to meet her unknown sibling. Packed with secrets about to burst and an adorable friends-to-lovers romance. My favorite of Emma Lord’s books so far.

Release Date: January 12, 2021

Have a Little Faith in Me by Sonia Hartl

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Jesus camp… but not from a religious perspective. This one tackles issues concerning consent, celebrates girl friendships, and delivers a simmering summer romance.

Release Date: September 3, 2019

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: Ballet camp! In Paris! Plus, a sweet romance and a quest to prove family lore that says her relative sat for a painting by Edgar Degas. Perfect for fans of Jenna Evans Welch.

Release Date: April 6, 2021

No Place Like Here by Christina June

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: A girl desperate to escape from under her controlling father’s thumb. A rustic team-building retreat center in the middle of nowhere. Awkward, cute, and fun.

Release Date: May 21, 2019

Last Summer at Eden by Christina Hergenrader

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review

What you need to know: It’s been a while since I’ve read this one, but I remember it being a fun read packed with references to camp songs and the emotional highs and lows of being in close quarters with strangers for weeks. It’s a Christian book and has a faith-positive message.

Release Date: March 1, 2017

The Honeys by Ryan LaSala

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: This is one from my current summer reading list! When his twin sister dies after running all the way home from her summer camp experience, he vows to go to the camp himself and find out what happened to her. Looks creepy and intense. I’m excited about it.

Release Date: August 2, 2022

The Honeys by Ryan LaSala

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: Another one that just came out! A bookish girl forced into summer leadership camp. Girl friendships and an unexpected summer romance that may demand she learn to stand up for herself and, well, lead.

Release Date: May 16, 2023

What are your favorite summer camp stories?

Do you have favorite stories about summer camp? What books feel like summertime to you? Leave a comment and let me know! I would love to chat about them.