Welcome, listeners to the final episode of our podcast for 2023! As it’s common for people to share their top reads of the year at this time, we decided to wait until the very end to allow more time to finish reading books. What can we say? We needed all of the time to squeeze in as many great books as possible.
Shirin jokes that she has not read enough books this year to even provide five top reads; she has struggled to read much or stay focused on books in 2023. Meaghan acknowledges it is understandable to have difficult reading years due to factors like work stress or strong book hangovers, referring to Shirin’s experience after reading Sarah J. Maas’ series.
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We explain the episode will involve sharing our individual top 10 reads of 2023 in no particular order. Meaghan starts with The Evenfall Witches B&B Mysteries by Auralee Wallace, a highly rated cozy mystery series involving a witch named Brynn who runs a bed and breakfast and must solve a murder. We highlight enjoyable elements like the magical abilities of Brynn and her aunts as well as Brynn working through grief over her late husband.
Next, Shirin discusses If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin, about a teenage girl with a controlling first boyfriend who regrets losing touch with her childhood best friend Finn. Shirin then shares A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, beginning with a girl named Feyre who kills a wolf that turns out to be a faerie, prompting the faerie High Lord Tamlin to take her captive. This leads to a Beauty and the Beast-style romance as Feyre tries to break a curse on Tamlin’s court.
We agree the book is very popular, with the first feeling somewhat like a standalone story while the second book A Court of Mist and Fury takes the story in an unexpected new direction that develops an epic plot. Shirin also recommends the fifth book told from a different perspective.
Meaghan’s next book is the dark fiction anthology Never Whistle at Night featuring indigenous authors retelling monsters and folklore from various cultures. We discuss appreciating the range of tones, voices, and perspectives across the collection.
Shirin then explains her interest in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a Hunger Games prequel about a young President Snow, noting contrasts between the book’s constant scheming protagonist and the more conflicted movie version.
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Continuing the list, Meaghan brings up The September House by Carissa Orlando, a 2022 haunted house thriller about a determined woman, emotional trauma, and dangerous supernatural events that take an unpredictable turn plot-wise two-thirds through the book.
Shirin jokingly shares the latest Nicholas Sparks book The Wish, rolling her eyes at yet another sappy, traumatic romance. But she admits to enjoying his stories anyway.
Meaghan closes with Philip Fracassi’s Boys in the Valley about dark events at an early 1900s orphanage, which features relatable perspectives and an atmospheric setting that makes the story immersive.
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We provide some honorable mentions like Grady Hendrix’s works, two light mystery series we find funny, and other notable books from 2023 before reflecting on having shared our varied reading experiences this past year, from struggling to binge reading.
We hope 2024 brings positive changes for those having difficult times and that everyone finds some escape in reading. Finally, we wish listeners happy holidays and a great new year.
Enjoying this episode? Be sure to check out all of our coverage of the genre over at https://fully-booked.ca/. We’re a listener-supported podcast! Please consider pledging and helping Fully Booked to grow our library over at https://ko-fi.com/fullybooked, or by leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you’re listening. Thanks, bookworms, and don’t forget to keep on reading.
Meaghan’s Top Selections
Shirin’s Top Selections
*Disclosure: We only recommend books that we love and would read ourselves. This post contains affiliate links, as we are part of the Amazon Services LCC Associate Program and others, which may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
