My Favourite Books of 2023
My bookshelf has always been a mishmash of genres and 2023 was no exception. 2023 was the year I finally got around to deep diving into my TBR pile of classics such as Of Mice and Men, Alice in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was also the year for several re-reads of books I loved as a teenager: An Abundance of Katherines (reaffirming that it’s my favourite John Green novel) and the first 3 books of the Iron Fey series in anticipation of the 10th and final book, which is on this year’s TBR pile. Sprinkled in between were a lot of poetry collections, the 3rd Flavia de Luce mystery novel and Daphne du Maurier’s fictional account of her great-great-grandmother’s truly scandalous life. But without further ado, here are my top five books of 2023.
5. You Are Only Just Beginning: Lessons for the Journey Ahead by Morgan Harper Nichols
The only book on this list to be released in 2023, this is a visually stunning collection of colourful art and free verse poetry. MHN has a unique style that encourages me to slow down when I’m reading. I take deep breaths between every line and let the words sink in. This book is one I can return to time after time, flip to any page and be inspired anew. My favourite section is the Lessons from Elephants. You can find her on Instagram @morganharpernichols.
4. The Cottage Fairy Companion by Paola Merrill
The only non-fiction book on the list, The Cottage Fairy Companion is an uplifting, gentle reminder to be kind and patient with yourself. It’s a compellation of beautiful prose, poetry, crafts and recipes, and stunning photography. I discovered Paola's YouTube channel, TheCottageFairy, at a very low point in my life in 2022. While watching these soft, picturesque scenes of a young woman exploring her pacific northwest valley with calming narration, I felt like I had found a kindred spirit. I’ve come to cherish her weekly videos. This book is essentially an extension of her YouTube content that I can cozy up to when I need a quiet recharge.
3. Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
The best of the re-reads I did in 2023, this YA novel about fifteen-year-old Colie spending the summer in a small beach town on the East Coast is the ultimate comfort read. Originally published in 1999, it is highly refreshing to revisit a time without cellphones and streaming. Dessen’s ability to depict well-rounded and genuine characters makes the fictional town of Colby come to life. It’s honest and relatable and fun. Perhaps my favourite line of all time: “You should never be surprised when someone treats you with respect. You should expect it.”
2. Bluebird by Genevieve Grahams
This book reminded me that I need to read more historical fiction! Set in a Canadian hospital camp in Belgium during WWI and later in post-war Windsor, Ontario, Bluebird weaves an old-fashion romance and an intriguing tale of rum-runners during the prohibition era. The story is based on real local history of how Windsor became a hub for gang violence and alcohol smuggling across the U.S. boarder in the early 1920s. It is a delightful page turner that does not shy away from the brutality of war and the struggles veterans faced when they came home, but also sweet and heartwarming.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The reason Dracula is my number 1 read of the year is because of the manner in which I read it. Dracula Daily is an email subscription that sends you the chapters of Stoker’s gothic classic directly to your inbox in real time as the original novel was written in a journal entry format. The chapters are released in accordance to the dates of the entries. For that reason, the reading experience began in May and ended in November. Even when there were breaks in between (sometimes weeks), I was still engaged with the text until the end. It’s quite a fun story. Easy to read, multi-POVs, spooky, mysterious, and gave me chills on more than one occasion. Editor Matt’s cheeky subtitles and occasional commentary at the start of a chapter made me feel like I was part of a community. I highly recommend giving it a try in 2024. You can find the link here to subscribe.
