2023 in Review

 
Shelf Reflection's Year in Review 2023
 
 

2023 in Review: 95 Book Breakdown
By: Brittany Shields

2023 is in the books!

I didn’t read as many books as last year but I made it into the nineties which I still feel is a pretty big accomplishment for me!

This year I read 95 books and 29,200+ pages.

19 books were part of a series, 8 of which were first books of the series— surprisingly the same number of first books of series I read last year!

I’ve listed every book I read below, conveniently divided by genre! Plus I added some ‘superlatives’ to some of them.

Comment below your favorite books of 2023!

Also Check Out:

The Best Books of 2023

The Most Anticipated Books of 2024

Shelf Reflection’s 2024 Reading Challenge

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

If you don’t already, make sure you follow my Facebook page to stay up-to-date with all my latest reads, reviews, recommendations, and any giveaways I do in 2024!

You can also find me on Storygraph, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

I’ll also continue to add new and fun designs to my SHOP where you’ll find unique bookish shirts, hats, blankets, etc perfect for book lovers. Many designs are even hand drawn!

Shelf Reflection Update

Thanks to all your support, my website traffic continues to grow! I’m reaching over 124,000 people in over 100 countries with my book reviews and bookish content. It’s awesome to share my love of reading with you all and hopefully help you find your next read!

My hope for the new year is to continue to be faithful in what I’m already doing and provide honest feedback on a large variety of books and reach more people to inspire them to pick up a book or try something new!

Thanks for being part of Shelf Reflection and I wish you all the best in the year 2024!

AND NOW….

2023: Books by Genre

[To see all of these books in chronological order and see images of their book covers, browse this link: 2023 Books]

Cultural

Do Not Be True to Yourself: Countercultural Advice for the Rest of Your Life by Kevin DeYoung

The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies Are Harming Our Young Men by Christina Hoff Sommers

Reclaiming Masculinity: Seven Biblical Principles for Being the Man God Wants You to Be by Matt Fuller

Most Polarizing/Controversial:
Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield

Historical Fiction

Best Book Club Book:
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

The Longest Book:
The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva

Most Popular Book Review:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

An Affair of Spies by Ronald H. Balson

Saddest:
The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel

The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham

Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn

The Long March Home by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

Suspense/Thriller

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Funeral for a Friend (Jonathan Stride #10) by Brian Freeman

Behind Her Lives by Briana Cole

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

Broker of Lies by Steven James

Not So Perfect Strangers by L.S. Stratton

Best New Series:
A Killer’s Game by Isabella Maldonado

The Zero Night (Jonathan Stride #11) by Brian Freeman

Judas 62 (Box 88 #2) by Charles Cumming

The Syndicate Spy by Brittany Butler

The Family Bones by Elle Marr

Dark Corners (Rachel Krall #2) by Megan Goldin

One Last Kill (Tracy Crosswhite #10) by Robert Dugoni

Most Likely to Keep You Up at Night:
The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

Please Tell Me by Mike Omer

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

Non-Fiction

The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem by Colin R. Nicholl (Science/Theology)

The Shortest Book:
Is Easter Unbelievable?: Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Resurrection Story by Rebecca McLaughlin

On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble

Most Surprisingly Good:
Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park by Conor Knighton

Rembrandt Is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art Through the Eyes of Faith by Russ Ramsey

The Lexicologist’s Handbook: A Dictionary of Unusual Words by Dane Cobain

Amazing Grace: The Life of John Newton and the Surprising Story Behind His Song by Bruce Hindmarsh & Craig Borlase

Wise Gals: The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage by Nathalia Holt

The Expectation Gap: Change Your Expectations to Transform Your Relationships by Jamie Hallman

Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds: 100 New Ways to See the World by Ian Wright

Memoir

The Office BFFs by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

Our Hope for Isabelle: Grieving with Joy and Hope for Eternity Through Infant Loss by Elizabeth & Taylor Bloomquist

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Spare by Prince Harry

Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes by Stephen A. Smith

YA

Stars and Smoke (Stars and Smoke #1) by Marie Lu

Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

The Librarian’s Ruse by Thirzah

The Rosewood Hunt by Mackenzie Reed

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

Psychological Thriller

The Lucky One by Jessica Payne

Not By Blood by Chris Narozny

The Good Doctor by Jessica Payne

The Therapist by B.A. Paris

Fiction

The Madness of the Faithful by R.H. Williams

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Romance

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Most Popular on Goodreads:
Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Least Recommended:
Take the Long Way Home by Rochelle Alers

Mystery

The Maid by Nita Prose

Most Popular Book at My Local Library:
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

I Didn’t Do It by Jaime Lynn Hendricks

Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

Most Atmospheric:
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

The September Society (Charles Lenox #2) by Charles Finch

Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1) by Louise Penny

Humor

Excuse Me While I Disappear: Tales of Mid-Life-Mayhem by Laurie Notaro

The Happy Rant: Wandering To and Fro Through Some Things That Don’t Matter All That Much (and a Few That Really Do) by Ted Kluck, Ronnie Martin, and Barnabas Piper

What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

Fantasy

The Most Disappointing:
The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance #3) by Naomi Novik

This Woven Kingdom (This Woven Kingdom #1) by Tahereh Mafi

The Search for Synergy (The Talisman Series Vol. 1) by Brett Salter (middle grade)

These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom #2) by Tahereh Mafi

Time’s Orphan (Odriel’s Heirs #3) by Hayley Reese Chow

Science Fiction

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Most Boring:
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Christian Living

God Is Still Good: Gospel Hope & Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood by Katie Faris

Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God: Sweet and Bitter Providence in the Book of Ruth by John Piper

Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ is Essential by Collin Hansen & Jonathan Leeman (Study Guide with Megan Hill)

Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler

Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World: A Parent’s Guide to Grounding Identity in Christ by Ed Drew

We Go On: Finding Purpose in All of Life’s Sorrows and Joys by John Onwuchekwa

Theology

Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels by Rebecca McLaughlin

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Hardest to Read:
Christianity and Science by Herman Bavinck (Translated by N. Gray Sutanto, James Eglinton, and Cory C. Brock)

Devotional

Most Encouraging:
Held: 31 Biblical Reflections on God’s Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage by Abbey Wedgeworth

Gifts of Grace: 25 Advent Devotions by Jared C. Wilson

 
2023 Year in Review

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