25 Books in 2023!

I don't think I have ever read more than 10 books within a year. But with the help of GoodReads and keeping track of my goal, I have finally made it. I may have read 25 books, but I only rated my top 3 books for this year.

Lovely picture taken by Holly Clement

The 25 books I read this year, from January to December:

1. "Archer's Voice" by Mia Sheridan

2. "Regretting You" by Colleen Hoover

3. "Twisted Love" by Ana Huang

4. "The Way I Used to Be" by Amber Smith

5. "Twisted Games" by Ana Huang

6. "Reminders of Him" by Colleen Hoover

7. "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

8. "Twisted Lies" by Ana Huang

9. "Twisted Hate" by Ana Huang

10. "Meet Me at the Lake" by Carley Fortune

11. "Icebreaker" by Hannah Grace

12. "Travis" by Mia Sheridan

13. "The Deal" by Elle Kennedy

14. "The Mistake" by Elle Kennedy

15. "The Score" by Elle Kennedy

16. "The Legacy" by Elle Kennedy

17. "Court of the Vampire Queen" by Katee Robert

18. 'Call It What You Want" by Alissa DeRogatis

19. "The Chase" by Elle Kennedy

20. "The Risk" by Elle Kennedy

21. "The Play" by Elle Kennedy

22. "The Fine Print" by Lauren Asher

23. "Wildfire" by Hannah Grace

24. "The Summer I Turned Pretty" by Jenny Han

25. "Queen of Thieves" by Beezy Marsh

My top 3 books of 2023 are:

1. "Archer's Voice" by Mia Sheridan

This book kept me on my toes and tugged at my emotions. The backstory of young Archer is unfortunate and makes you want to know more about the man Bree Prescott was falling in love with.

I first saw this book on TikTok and saw people raving about the storyline of the two characters. Bree Prescott, a victim of rape and shooting where she lost her father, escapes her trauma and moves to Maine. She starts a new life with a new house, a new job, and new acquaintances, the Hale family. Archer Hale, a young man who had a traumatic childhood where he lost his voice, catches Bree's eye and interest.

The story follows these two young adults through their love story, where they help one another through the trauma they suffered. Mia Sheridan's writing is beautiful and full of emotion, it had me sobbing for the last few chapters- the love the two had together, the ways that they helped each other, and the ending/epilogue.

2. "The Way I Used to Be" by Amber Smith

Amber's book was on my want-to-read list for a while, as I heard that it was a very powerful and emotional book. Warning: This book follows a young girl's journey after being raped.

Eden, a young girl who had a good life with great friends and family, goes through a traumatic experience thanks to her brother's best friend. After that night, everything changed: her trust, her feelings, her friendships and her relationships.

This book is told in four parts: freshman through senior year. After that night, she freezes everyone out and turns to drugs and sex to cope with her trauma. Her friends and family are pushed out of her life, and new people are brought in for bad reasons. Can she ever get away from the trauma by getting him thrown in jail or does she have to suffer for the rest of her life?

Amber Smith writes this book to tell readers that they are not alone, even if they feel alone and push people out. The reader is challenged through the ways that Eden acts, but it all comes together in the end. This story is full of emotions and makes you feel all of what Eden feels. It took me a while to prepare to read this book, and it took me a while to finish it. It is a wonderful story, that is heartbreaking but worth the read.

3. "Meet Me at the Lake" by Carley Fortune

Another great book with a summertime love by Carley Fortune, author of "Every Summer After". I was so excited for this book to come out, that I kept checking Amazon to see when it would be released.

Fern Brookbanks, who runs her mother's lakeside resort after losing her to a terrible accident, needs to decide if she wants to keep her mother's resort or move on with her life. She meets with Will Baxter, a blast from her past, to help decide on what to do. But, her emotions for Will interfere.

Nine years before, Fern spent twenty-four hours with this stranger in Toronto. Twenty-four hours spent with this stranger created an amazing connection. They agreed to meet up a year later at the dock at the resort, but only one showed up. Will her feelings for Will standing her up interfere with the plans she needs to decide on about her mother's resort?

The typical summer romance and right person, wrong time type of love is well written in this book. Carley is an amazing writer who knows how to make readers hate someone and then love them in the end. Carley Fortune is the author to read if you are looking for the summer romance love type of book, she grips you into her stories.

25 books for 2023, 3 of my top-rated, and who knows what else is next? Any reading suggestions are welcomed! I am looking to explore more thrillers, mysteries, and other genre.