Not only did I reach my goal of 23 books in 2023, I crushed that goal with 27. Audio books helped me get through so many books this year. I love reviewing the books through the GoodReads app, and the app makes it so easy to look back at what I read.

I had four goals this year, and two didn’t happen. One of my unaccomplished goals was to find a local book club. If you have a book club in Lubbock, please invite me. I promise to not dominate conversation, and I bake!
These were my 2023 goals:

• Read 23 books ✅
• Find a local book club that meets in person. ❌
• Read one book that is considered a classic. ❌
• Read four books that are released this year. ✅
  • I’m giving myself leeway on this one, because I read several books that had been released in the last 12 months, but not necessarily 2023.

I’m dividing the books up into broad categories of fiction and non-fiction. I read more fiction than non this year, so I’ll start with that category. The books are listed in order of most favorite to least favorite. Just because one of these wasn’t a favorite doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. If I don’t like a book, I just won’t finish nor review it. The non-fiction category was filled with greatness. It was hard to rank them, they were all so good. 

Fiction

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Last year’s favorite fiction, and this year’s top two books are by Kate Quinn. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and she’s quickly becoming a favorite writer. Also see The Alice Network, a World War I story. I chose The Diamond Eye as my favorite because I just couldn’t quit talking about it and recommending it. I’m calling this a required book for fans of historical fiction, World War II stories, people interested in the Soviet Union, or basically any American. Excellent storytelling, research, description, and captivating writing. The book is about a Soviet sniper during the Second World War that just happened to be a woman. The story is true and it’s fascinating. It has great twists along the way, and although the author takes some liberties with embellishing the story, it’s very close to the truth.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
This book could almost go into the non-fiction category. Read the author’s notes at the end (and you have permission to skip ahead to do this, it won’t ruin the book) to see how she wove fictional elements with real characters to create a fascinating read. The research that went into this book was incredible. It follows three young women that worked as code breakers in England during World War II. The characters are strongly based on real people, and it’s so captivating. This was also the lengthiest book I read this year, so it took me a while. 

Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
Loved this! Such a great historical fiction novel about three fictional characters whose lives intersect as London prepared for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The book has endearing characters, a quickly-moving plot line, a nice twist, and a happy ending – all the things! Plus, the history of the queen was an added bonus for me as I love all things royal. Monarchists and lovers of English culture will like this book. This author has another book – The Gown – that I read several years ago and absolutely loved. Give this writer a try. 

Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly
Such a great tale of heroism and feminine grit. This is the second book I’ve read from this author, and I’ll read more. Set during World War I, this follows three women’s stories as they dealt with unimaginable hardship. WWII stories are very popular right now, and I love them, but this was an enlightening story of an era in history that doesn’t get as much press. This book is known as the second in the “Lilac Girls” series, but I was about three-quarters through the book before I realized the characters were related. You can read this without reading Lilac Girls and still understand what’s going on. 

The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman

Wow. My mind is blown simply because I cannot believe Willowbrook actually existed and the people living there were treated like animals. The story is set in the Willowbrook State School on Staten Island, New York. The author does an excellent job of detailing the conditions in this place, which were awful. It’s hard to read about this piece of history, but Wiseman’s writing and storytelling were so good that I couldn’t put it down. I would say this is history meets thriller. I will be reading more from this author.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley
This is a great whodunnit mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. I “read” the audio book, and I liked it because each chapter was told from the point of view of one character, so the head hopping is done in a very clear way. Each character has its own narrator, which made it even more interesting. The book starts at a private island wedding venue, and someone discovers a body. The entire book will keep you wrapped up wondering who the body is. Then when you find out, you gotta know who the killer is. All questions get answered in this excellent book.

The Reckoning by John Grisham

I read at least one John Grisham book each year, but this didn’t seem like a Grisham book. I think I would categorize this as a historical fiction with a thriller twist. True to Grisham, there is a lawyer in Mississippi (it’s Lucian Wilbanks’ dad for fans of A Time to Kill) and there is a murder, but then the book takes us through a man’s survival story in the World War II Pacific Theater, including the Bataan Death March. The historical aspect was well researched and tells the story of the horror some of our soldiers endured. This is not classic Grisham. It wasn’t my favorite Grisham. But it’s captivating. I listened to the audio book, and it was a great road trip story. 

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
Very imaginative writing! This book took me a while to get into, but the second half kept me captivated. I would classify this as a psychological thriller. The main character is targeted by a man that works at the library…and then it gets weird. There were a couple places where I got confused or wanted the story scenes to move better, but otherwise this was an intriguing read.

Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah
This was such a sweet book about two sisters that had been estranged for several years. But a family wedding brings something positive for them to focus on and work through their relationship. I truly enjoy Kristen Hannah’s writing. This is a quick read, surprising plot twist, and happy ending.

Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci
I started reading Baldacci last year, and I continued this year. This is my favorite novel of his so far. I think I was able to relate to the main character, Atlee Pine, better than in his other books. Pine is a lone FBI field agent, stationed in the rural Arizona. Baldacci weaves some Grand Canyon facts into this thriller, and I was hooked. Excellent writing, plot development and research. 

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
This book was a good story. It grabbed my attention early and held it. I kept comparing it to Ng’s very popular book, Little Fires Everywhere, and just didn’t like it as well. I’ll read more from this author, though. She writes beautifully.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master at character development. I got pretty invested in Carrie Soto, even though the story dragged in places. I simply had to find out if she truly was back. 
The audio book features several narrators, which don’t come in until later in the book, and they felt a little out of place. The multiple narrators worked better for Daisy Jones and the Six – which gets a fun shout out. There are also some characters that appear from two other TJR books, and I love that she does that in her writing. This wasn’t Reid’s best book, but it was a fun summer read and a nice break from some of the heavier stuff that I read (see the non-fiction section).

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
This book brought me through a one-month reading rut. This was a nice story about a young woman grieving her mother. She took the trip to Italy she and her mother had planned to take together. It’s a nice, relatable story, but with a huge, fun, completely unexpected plot twist. It was a good summer read.

A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci
This is the second book in the Atlee Pine series. I really like the characters, the book is suspenseful, and I stayed interested. But I liked the first book in this series better. 

Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes
It’s well written and a great story, but if you have seen Queen Charlotte on Netflix, you don’t need to read this book. The show follows the book really well, so it was very repetitive. It contains a lot more details of the characters’ thoughts, but otherwise it was a replay of the show.

Non-Fiction

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
I read this back in March. It had been on my wish list in the Libby app since it was published several months prior. It broke my heart to read his story, and my heart is even more broken knowing that the remaining effects of his illness eventually ended his life. For anyone that has known someone struggling with addiction, this book provides a look inside an addict’s mind. I understand addiction better now, and it’s so so sad. Matthew Perry was so funny, and at times the book is funny. In all, though, it was just so sad to learn how the drugs and alcohol took the funny away. Matthew Perry has been my favorite since his first episode of Friends. Going through, what he called, the Big Terrible Thing, was hard, writing this book took mountains of courage. Enlightening, heartbreaking, funny, sad. Rest peacefully, Matty. 

Spare by Prince Harry
I bought this book the day it was released, and I loved it. You should know – I’m a royal enthusiast and have been since I watched Princess Diana’s wedding with my grandma. I’m a monarchist, Diana devotee, Elizabeth enthusiast, Fergie fanatic, captivated by The Crown, and I’m proud of it. 
It doesn’t matter if I think or if you think that Harry needs to “just get over it,” or if this is what Meghan signed up for, or if you think they were done wrong by the Family. What matters is this is his story, and I wanted his point of view. Was this a compelling page turner that I had to finish in three days? No. I already knew the ending. It was the messy middle I wanted to know about. Finally, we get an idea of what royal life is like on the inside from an insider. And it’s weird. As Harry himself put it “one very large, very ancient, very dysfunctional family.”
At times he contradicted himself, especially when you think about how much he wrote about his hatred of the media…then he uses the media to promote his book. But I don’t care. It was a compelling story about a family who lives and governs in a way that’s so different from what Americans know – and that’s why I’m so fascinated. I’ll wrap up with this. Don’t criticize the book or the Sussexes until you read the book. And I’m still a royal enthusiast.

Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters
I cried watching the obituary coverage of Barbara Walters on December 30, 2022. She is my hero, THE example of a journalist, and a part of American history. In honor of her, I had to read this as soon as it was available from Libby. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know she had written a book until I saw the news coverage of her death. The book was released in 2008 – I was in grad school then, so between theoretical frameworks and research methods, I had zero time for good books. 
Warning: the audio book is 27 hours. You’re gonna need a few road trips for this one. But her life was so interesting that I couldn’t step away for long. Also, she didn’t narrate it, which was a little disappointing, but it was good, nonetheless. 

A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter 
I want it known that I read this book months before Rosalynn Carter died. I listened to it this summer; the audiobook is read by Mr. Carter. And oh, if politicians today were as gentlemanly, humble, kind, and faithful as Jimmy Carter. Although he wrote a book about his presidency shortly after he left office, I liked this because it was a reflection of his whole life. I so appreciate his honesty. He admitted his mistakes but explains them in hindsight. He also shares candid comments about the state of affairs at certain points of history since his presidency. 

Jimmy Carter is a world leader and national treasure. Instead of bellyaching about not being re-elected and calling his successor names, he established the Carter Center and found ways to contribute to our country and world. Mr. Carter was elected the year I was born, so it was enlightening to learn about the things that happened when I was too young to know better.

Cilka’s Journey (The Tattooist of Auschwitz #2) by Heather Morris
This was my first book of 2023, and it tore my heart out. If you read and liked The Tattooist of Auschwitz, you need to read this. It’s the story of one of the characters in that book, written by the same author. Cilka was a prisoner at Auschwitz, then she is imprisoned in Siberia. Her story is just awful, but a testament to the human spirit. I had to know what happened to her, and I got through the book very quickly. 

Finding Me by Viola Davis
A heartbreaking tale of triumph. Viola Davis clawed her way through extreme poverty and a raging alcoholic father to become one of the most renowned actresses of our time. Read this book. It provides great lessons about poverty, the impacts alcoholism has on an addict’s kids, the grind of being an aspiring actor in New York and the poverty associated with it, and the impacts of racism. I feel so enlightened after reading this. I have always liked Viola Davis’s work on screen. Her writing is just as good. She reads the audiobook.

The Ritchie Boys: The Untold Story of the Jews Who Escaped the Nazis and Returned with the US Army to Fight Hitler by Bruce Henderson
Excellent! The subtitle says it all: the Jews who escaped the Nazis and returned to fight Hitler. The book tells the story of several young men that got out of Germany, mostly in a heartbreaking manner, gained US citizenship, then fought the Nazis. This book took me a while to read, not because it wasn’t good, it was just so sad. I had to take breaks because I needed to read something happy. This should be required reading for every American. God bless those who fought for our country.

Hello Molly!: A Memoir by Molly Shannon

This book, written by the wonderfully hilarious Molly Shannon was so full of heart. I have loved Molly since her SNL days of Mary Kathryn Gallagher, Sally O’Mally, and scores of other characters, so I fully expected this book to make me belly laugh like Amy Pohler’s book. And it did. It also made me cry. Shannon lost her mother, sister, and cousin in a car accident when Molly was only four. Learning her story of how she processed her mom’s death as a little girl just broke my heart. It really helped me understand kids’ grief. 

The book was read by the author, which made it delightfully funny, especially when she did her characters’ voices. It also added a nice depth of emotion when her voice broke when she was telling a sad story.

Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships by Nina Totenberg
This was the sweetest book about NPR’s Nina Totenberg’s friendship with one of America’s most powerful women. This isn’t a biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg; rather, it’s Totenberg’s story of her career and her friendships. It’s an easy read, a testament of good journalism, and it teaches you how to be a better friend. The audio book is read by the author. 

My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy by Clint Hill
I love stories of the United States Secret Service, and I read this very close to the 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s murder. Clint Hill is the Secret Service agent Mrs. Kennedy reached for when the president was shot in Dallas. They had a great respect and kinship for one other, and it was a pleasure to hear their stories, in his voice. The book is quick and holds attention. I’m looking for more books about the Secret Service, so please recommend!

Camera Girl: The Coming of Age of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy by Carl Sferrazza Anthony
I love all things about the Kennedy family (as evidenced by reading two books about them). Like other First Families, they’re the closest thing we have to royalty in the United States, but the Kennedys are elevated a bit. If you want the history of John F., there are dozens of other sources. I liked this book because it focused on Jackie – her youth, adolescence, and her career. Yes -career. She was a newspaper columnist, and a very good one. The book kept me interested, but if you have an interest in this family, I liked the audiobook Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy much better. It was an oral history and Jackie tells it. However, Camera Girl focuses on HER, and I liked that. I learned so much.

Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John Maxwell
The overarching message was clear: lead to help others succeed. The book was succinct. I listened to jt in one day. I think the written book would have been more effective. That way I could have taken it in smaller nuggets and processed it better.

There wasn’t a whole lot this year that I just couldn’t put down, so I would love to find something all-consuming in 2024. I have two goals for the coming year:

• Read 24 books = 24 in 2024
• Find a local book club

Please send me recommendations. I have a long list of books I want to read in Good Reads, but I like hearing suggestions from friends. Also, follow me on Good Reads.