End of the Year Reading Wrap-Up | Favorite Books of 2023
Another year has gone by, so it’s time for a reading wrap-up! I read 48 books in 2023, which totaled 19,900 pages. I read just two books short of my reading goal. I’m seeing a trend online of people setting smaller or even no reading goals in 2024, and I kind of feel the same way. I set a goal to make reading a priority, but the number has become less and less important. For 2024, I’m still setting a reading goal of 50 books, but who knows, maybe I’ll lower it in a few months. Before we deep dive into my 2023 reading stats and my favorite books, let’s take a look at the reading goals I set at the beginning of the year.
My 2023 reading goals:
- Read 50 books ❌
- Read 12 nonfiction books ❌
- Read 4 different nonfiction genres ✔️
- Read 1 book in French ✔️
I didn’t reach my reading goal. I’m just two books short, but I did read more books with 300 or more pages than I did in 2022. I read only 7 nonfiction books instead of 12. In 2022, I read 9 nonfiction books, and I thought 12 would be easy to do, but I just wasn’t in the mood to read a lot of nonfiction. I did reach the other two goals I set and read 4 different nonfiction genres, and I even read two books in French instead of my initial goal of 1 book.
I also participated in two reading challenges this year. I didn’t finish either of them, but it was a close call. I’m still reading the last book of the 2023 Diversify Your Reading Challenge, so I will finish the challenge just a bit later than planned.
Want to see where I was 6 months ago reading-wise? Read all about it in my mid-year reading check-in.
Reading Stats
If you’ve read any of my previous yearly or mid-year reading recaps, you know I use both The StoryGraph and my Notion reading journal to keep track of my reading habits. I love the book data The StoryGraph provides; if you haven’t checked them out, you’re missing out. They have a lot of fun book stats to explore and have a yearly reading wrap-up. Let’s take a look at my 2023 reading stats.
Moods & Genres
I always rotate between the same moods; it just depends on the year which I read the most. In 2023, my top 3 reading moods were: emotional – adventures – mysterious. Each year, I try to read different genres; this is also one of the reasons why I like to take part in the Diversify Your Reading challenge. But even with a challenge like that, the same genres end up on top. My top 3 genres in 2023 were: romance – historical – contempopary.
Format & Languages
I mostly read on my Kobo e-reader, the best purchase I ever made btw, but occasionally I read a physical copy too. This year, my grandmother lent me a few of her favorite books, and I also reread a few books I loved as a teenager, like The Hunger Games series.
I mostly read books in English and Dutch, depending on the language that’s available in my Kobo plus subscription. This year, I also set the goal to read at least one book in French to try and become better at the language. The Harry Potter books became a part of the Kobo plus subscription, so I’m rereading the series in French. I read 2 books in French in 2023, and I’m going to try to read the rest in 2024.
Ratings
Last but definitely not least, my The StoryGraph star ratings! I ended the year with an average star rating of 3.58 and no books with a rating less than 2.5 stars. So, I definitely had another good reading year.
Monthly Stats
For my monthly stats I use my own Notion reading journal template. I created a monthly overview section, which shows per month a few stats about the books I read. This overview makes it easy to see which month I read the most books or read the most physical copies.
My favorite Books of 2023
I read 48 books this year, and with an average rating of 3.58 I read a lot of good books. I narrowed it down to my 5 favorite fiction books plus a bonus nonfiction favorite, which ended up being my number one favorite book of 2023.
Want to discover all the books I’ve read this year and my ratings? You can find them on my The Storygraph-account.
Fiction Favorites
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Fantasy – historical – literary
My second 5-star book of 2023 (the first was a nonfiction book), and I recommend picking this one up if you haven’t yet. It’s a unique story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. With 511 pages, it’s a big book, but it’s a quick read. I finished it in a week, and if I had more time to read, I would have finished it sooner. I loved every second of reading it, and I’ll definitely pick it up again. It’s a story I can’t wait to relive.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Contemporary – romance – lgbtqia+
Why is it always the book I had doubts about that ends up being amazing? A cute, lighthearted and funny story with characters you’ll fall in love with. It’s an easy and fast read. I read half of it in one sitting, because I just couldn’t put it down. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good book, then this is the book for you!
People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
Contemporary – romance
Summer is calling with this book! It’s a lighthearted and funny story with a friends-to-lovers storyline, which is one of my faves btw. This year, I also read Beach Read, which I loved as well. I just liked People We Meet On Vacation more. I really like Emily Henry’s writing style and the way she builds characters. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Dystopian – young adult
The Hunger Games had a comeback in 2023, and I was, and still am, here for it! I loved the original series when I was a teen, so I had to pick up the newest addition. And it didn’t disappoint me! I liked the backstory of President Snow and of one of the earlier Hunger Games. And of course, the little nods to the original books were very fun to read, and they were well integrated into the story without being too obvious.
The Bookseller of Dachau by Shari J. Ryan
historical
A book I picked up without knowing much about it, but ended up being one of my favorite books of 2023. It’s an emotional book with a dual storyline, switching between the present and the 1940s. The book focuses on the lives of those outside the camps instead of inside the camps. It’s a heart-wrenching story about love and family. The love story between Hans and Mathilda in the 1940s and Grace learning about her grandmother Mathilda in the present POV.
Bonus favorite
But You Didn’t Come Back by Marceline Loridan-Ivens
Nonfiction – history – memoir
My first five-star book of 2023 and my favorite book of the year. It’s a short but emotional book. I read it in one go, because the story just absorbed me and I couldn’t put it down. It’s an emotional rollercoaster; I don’t know how to start explaining this book. I think you can only understand how good this memoir is if you read it yourself.
What’s the best book you’ve read in 2023?
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