Happy Tuesday! This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl) is books I meant to read in 2023 but didn’t get to. I’ve already dragged myself over the coals for only reading 18 books last year, which means there are sooo many books I could put on this list! That’s okay, because we’re in a new year, and I’ve already read almost half of what I did last year 🙂
A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES BY SARAH J. MAAS
SO I had originally gotten halfway through book three of this series when my family and I moved houses! The book got lost in the move which was absolutely tragic. I bought the set in paperback last year, so now they’re just sitting on my shelf waiting to be read!
MEN WHO HATE WOMEN BY LAURA BATES
I recently saw a study that looked at ideology/political leanings among different generations and genders within them. Gen Z (my generation) had the most difference between genders, women were majority left-leaning while the men were right-leaning. I’m so intrigued by this dynamic that is popping up and why it is happening, and I think this book will tackle it.
It’s actually criminal that I haven’t read this book yet. I have not read NEARLY enough bisexual fiction, and I don’t think I’ve read any coming-of-age bi fiction yet. I’m glad I’m doing this list, because I’m going to go request this from the library ASAP!
THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW BY ADRIENNE YOUNG
I have yet to read anything by Adrienne Young which is actually criminal. Everyone seems to love all her books, and when I read the description for this one last year I immediately added it to my TBR. I’m not typically super into time travel stories, but this one seems different and a little mysterious.
YOU MADE A FOOL OF DEATH WITH YOUR BEAUTY BY AKWAEKE EMEZI
I’ve actually been meaning to read this one for a few years now since it came out. The initial reviews I saw were rave ones, but now I’m seeing not so good ratings on Goodreads. I still want to give this a try because it seems like a gorgeous queer story about grief.
SCARLET IN BLUE BY JENNIFER MURPHY
I think I put this one on a couple TBRs over the past few years. Oops! I don’t typically read thrillers, but this one stood out to me because it focuses on the daughter as well as her mother in a new beach town. Maybe avid thriller readers will say, “that sounds just like every other thriller!” but it really piqued my interest when I saw it at my local bookstore!
CRYING IN H MART BY MICHELLE ZAUNER
I saw this one everywhere last year, and I’m pretty sure Michelle Zauner even came to speak at the college I work at recently. I didn’t get to see her, but this autobiography sounds so interesting. I think I may make it my next audiobook read!
I read A Long Petal of the Sea by Allende a few years back, and was just in awe of how gorgeous her voice is. This one came out in 2022, and I honestly couldn’t tell you what it’s about, only that I would love to read anything this legendary woman has written.
FINDING GENE KELLY BY TORIE JEAN
This romance looks so cute! And I’ve been slowly starting to love second-chance romances. Something about them just gives me hope for past lost love–whether between friends or lovers. It also has fake dating, which is an automatic buy for me (not really, but you know what I mean).
HOW THE GARCÍA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS BY JULIA ALVAREZ
I read Alvarez’s In The Time of Butterflies a few years ago and was awestruck by the story and her writing. I bought this one last year and have been meaning to read it since. This is one of those books where I, again, know nothing about the premise. I just need more of Julia Alvarez’s writing!
I didn’t expect to have so much literary fiction on here, but it seems appropriate since these always seem more daunting to me! What kinds of books do you want to read but tend to avoid?