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The Best Books I’ve Read in 2023

If you know me, you know I love to read. Reading has been something I have loved since I was little. In fact, I will bring a book with me almost anywhere. One of my new year’s resolutions was to limit my screen time, and I have been reading a lot more in place of that. I’ve read quite few books this year – good and bad – and I thought I would share some of my favorite ones in case anyone else is looking for a good book to dive into!

3. Truly Devious

I absolutely love mystery books. Truly Devious is the first book in the Truly Devious trilogy written by Maureen Johnson. The story follows Stevie Bell, a student at the prestigious Ellingham Academy as she investigates a decades old murder, and a few mysteries in the present as she goes along.

I loved this book because it kept me guessing the entire time. Even the ending left me with more questions than it answered. The story goes back and forth from present day to the 1930’s, when the original murder was committed. This makes it fun to follow along, as things are revealed in both timelines.

While I do admit the book starts off a little slow, once you get into it you wont be able to put it down. I’m currently reading the second book in the series and I cannot wait to see how everything plays out.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

2. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

If you have seen the movie on Netflix and enjoyed it, you will not be disappointed by the book. I read the entire trilogy years ago and absolutely loved it, so I decided to reread the first book in January.

The book is about Lara Jean Covey, a Korean American teen who wrote love letters to all the boys she liked growing up and kept them in a box in her closet. The letters are  mysteriously sent out and as a result, she begins a fake relationship with one of the recipients, Peter Kavinsky, to prove to another that she doesn’t have feelings for him.

I loved this book just as much as the movie, which is one of my favorites. A rom-com lover at heart, the book also places an emphasis on the tight-knit relationship between Lara Jean and her sisters. Jenny Han, the author, also has a way of making Lara Jean feel extremely relatable which really adds depth to the character.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves a sweet, bubbly rom-com, even if you didn’t love the movie. The book might just have whatever you thought was missing.

Rating: 4/5 stars

1. Better Than the Movies

If you follow BookTok at all, chances are you’ve heard about this book. With all the right references to the best romance movies, this book has earned a spot on my favorites list. The story follows Lix Buxbaum, a senior, whose childhood crush moves back into town. She then enlists her next door neighbor to help her get a date to prom with her former crush.

This book does have all the classic boy next door and fake dating tropes, and it was effortlessly funny and extremely enjoyable to read. I even found myself giggling over Liz and Wes’s cute interactions. I definitely enjoyed this far more than I expected, and there is even an extra chapter online from Wes’s POV. There is also a sequel coming out in the fall of 2024!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I hope this list helps you find a new book to read! A few more honorable mentions that I also love are The Inheritance Games trilogy, The Cheat Sheet, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. I would strongly recommend all of these books even if you aren’t an avid reader. They draw you in and keep you wanting more and more!

 

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