If you were here on Wednesday, you saw the first half of my list of favorite reads from 2023. Here’s the top five!
5. The Enneagram Development Guide – This is the second non-fiction book on this year’s list, and it’s another book I loved but apparently didn’t review on the blog. The things I love about this book are probably the same things that kept me from posting about it. This is a working book, not a reading book. I have tons of Enneagram books that I can read from cover to cover. Then they go on a shelf and don’t get picked up again. But like a few of my other favorites, this is a WORKING book. Each number has a section that digs into practices that you can work on to bring you to the healthier aspects of your number. But the practices are a DEEP dive – each one could be a focus for weeks at a time. So while I have been working with this for months now, I am still hardly into my number’s section in the book. And I love that. I told a friend reading this is like discovering the Enneagram for the first time. If you are burned out on reading the same old thing and you long to go deeper, this is the resource you should check out. ♥♥♥♥♥
4. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway – Looking to see where this should fall on my top ten list for 2023 made me want to drop everything else and read this again. It’s the second book by Ashley Schumacher to make a top ten list for me, and both are long overdue for re-reading. This is the second of the three books for teens and young adults on this year’s list. You can read my full review of this delight here.
3. Every Duke Has His Day – The dog-swapping premise of this book was a winner for me. This delivered on everything I had hoped for when I picked it up, and it’s definitely one I would read again. You can read my full review here.
2. Teen Titans: Robin – The second graphic novel – and the third YA novel – on the list is the most recent addition to this DC property that is one of my must-buy series right now (I have already pre-ordered the next book which doesn’t even release until November 2024.). You can read my full review here.
1. Assistant to the Villain – This was my most anticipated novel of the year, and it delivered on all accounts. I still remember digging into this the minute it arrived, and not putting it down until I was done. I even did a re-read as part of my low-key Christmas reading, and it was as delightful as I remembered. The only other pre-order I have right now, in addition to the new Teen Titans book, is the sequel to this, Apprentice to the Villain, which won’t be out until August. You can read the full review for this book here.
10. A Letter to My Congregation – I didn’t post a full review of this on the blog in 2023, but this was a hugely influential read for the year. I rated this “5+++” when I initially read it. My Goodreads review reads: “This was exceptionally good and a perfectly timed read for me. I loved the tone of it which made it easy to plow through over a couple of days. I was underlining something on almost every page. While I thought the chapters on the author’s journey to acceptance and alliance were excellent, my favorites were the two chapters (4 & 5) on how the Church can disagree on this issue – and other issues as they arise over time – without splitting or tearing each other apart. I hope to get some people together to talk about those chapters in particular.” ♥♥♥♥♥+++
9. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (Graphic Novel) – This is the one middle grade book on the list this year. I loved this adaptation of a “classic” middle grade novel. You can read my full review 
8. Manslaughter Park – This is the third book in the 
7. Summer Reading – I discovered 
6. Starter Villain – My husband and I both enjoyed this stand alone book from 
5. The Bodyguard – This book got a lot of buzz in 2022 – and it was well worth the attention! I loved this one. You can read my full review 
4. The Final Gambit – The final book in the 
3. Buried in a Good Book – This series kick off was outstanding! I have book 2 on my TBR to read soon. You can read my full review 
2. Tear Down the Throne – Books 2 and 3 on my list were actually tied in my tally, but I had to give the edge to this one. I adored the first series – 
1. Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies – This was one of the most memorable books of 2022 for me. It had a perfect mix of mystery and sass, with a satisfying dark side. I never posted a full review for this one, but you can read a bit about it 
10. The Wedding Plot – This has been my favorite book in this whole, fantastic 
9. The Joy of Reading – This is the only nonfiction title to make my top 10 – and it’s not about the 
8. Not the Witch You Wed – I didn’t blog a full review of this one in 2022, but I loved it. The paranormal elements were right up my alley, and I loved the characters and the world building. I am eager to read more in this series. (♥♥♥♥½)
7. The Nova Incident – I have enjoyed this 
6. The Agathas – There are only two YA novels on this year’s Top 10, and this is the first. I still have my fingers crossed that this will be a series – I loved these characters! You can read my full review 
