2023 in book reviews

I read 102 books in 2023 and published my 5th novel, When Does Life Begin? on September 23. Here are my top 10 best reads in traditionally published novels.

Top 10 best reads for 2023 (traditional)

These are in order starting from favorite read of the year.

1. Shutter by Ramona Emerson. I got to meet Ramona and have her autograph a copy of the novel during a reading at Arkansas Tech University.
2. The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
3. The Long March Home: A World War II Novel of the Pacific by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee. I met Tosca when she and I participated in a Brenda Novak tour stop at Dog Ear Books
4. The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwartz
5. The Sight of You by Holly Miller
6. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
7. Insomnia by Stephen King
8. The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey
9. Defending Jacob by William Landay
10. The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak. I met Brenda when I participated as a featured author at an event at Dog Ear Books.

Notable independently published novels

These are in alphabetical order by the book titles, and I rated each of them 4 stars.

1. A Rocky Point Wedding Series by Vania Rheault
2. Finding Wendy by Ron Kempton
3. Shattered Yesterdays by Sarah Louise Dale

Best nonfiction reads

These are also in alphabetical order by the book titles, and I rated each of them 4 stars.

1. Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar Dillard
2. Pageboy: A Memoir by Elliot Page
3. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Goals for 2024

I think I’ll stick with a reading goal of 100 books for the year since I also plan to work on some hobbies like art and start working on my 6th novel. I also want to continue to focus on my mental and physical health while spending time with my family. What are your goals for 2024? Let me know in the comments if you’d like!

Thanks for reading,
-Brandi Easterling Collins