2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2023
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Megan's 123 in 2023
116. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan - completed November 2023 - 4 stars117. Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola - completed November 2023 - 3.5 stars
118. The Difference a Dare Makes by Alyssa Clarke - completed November 2023 - 3.5 stars
119. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam - completed November 2023 - 5 stars
120. A Christmas to Remember by Beverly Jenkins - completed November 2023 - 4 stars
121. Snow Place Like LA by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone - completed November 2023 - 4 stars
122. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears - completed November 2023 - 4.5 stars
123. The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange - completed November 2023 - 4 stars
124. Black Hollywood: Reimagining Iconic Movie Moments by Carell Augustus - completed November 2023 - 5 stars
125. Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: Stories from the Harlem Renaissance by Zora Neale Hurston - completed December 2023 - 5 stars
126. Winds of the Storm by Beverly Jenkins - completed December 2023 - 4.5 stars
127. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree - completed December 2023 - 5 stars
128. Sacred Wounds: A Path to Healing from Spiritual Trauma by Teresa B. Pasquale - completed December 2023 - 3.5 stars
129. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher - completed December 2023 - 4.5 stars
130. A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas by Jackie Lau - completed December 2023 - 3.5 stars
131. The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff - completed December 2023 - 5 stars
132. The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict - completed December 2023 - 3.5 stars
133. A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone - completed December 2023 - 4.5 stars
134. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy - completed December 2023 - 4.5 stars
135. Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins - completed December 2023 - 4 stars
136. Yellowface by R. F. Kuang - completed December 2023 - 4 stars
136/123 - challenge completed!!!
Good luck, Megan! Looking forward to seeing what you read in 2023 :)
First book in 2023 - Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann. This is a really well-done debut! I truly appreciate the ace representation in the book! “There’s something powerful about making a grand entrance in a fantastic pair of red heels.” I also like how the author drew the characters. However, the plot was jumpy, and time passed between chapters without warning. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. Recommend! 4 starsChallenges: PopSugar, Piled high, United, I Spy, For all, This or That
YA Romance
Author - BIPOC, LGBTQIA+
Characters - BIPOC, LGBTQIA+
Second book in 2023 - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. I loved this book!!!! Writing was really good, plot was connected, and characters were created well (and I loved all of them)! Sigh, I want to be a member of this crew! “There are few things as unsettling as a lack of control in an unfamiliar situation.” This is a book about good people trying their best, being kind, and loving each other through difficult things. Definitely recommend! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy, For all
Personal challenges: previous group read, personal serial
Sci-Fi
Author - LGBTQIA+
Characters - LGBTQIA+, inclusive
Third book in 2023 - Man Called Horse: John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad by Glennette Tilley Turner. This is a lovely, easy history of the Black Seminoles and John Horse. Glossy pages and lots of pictures would make it accessible for young readers. Honestly, this history needs to be taught more! Highly recommend! 4 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy, For All, This or That
Children’s nonfiction
Author - BIPOC
Characters - BIPOC
Fourth book in 2023 - What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall. This is a creepy, thrilling book that slowly builds. I really liked the main character; she was flawed and while I didn’t always understand her choices, that made sense in the context of her backstory. The plot kept me guessing, and while I had theories that proved to be correct, they were not sure things as we went along. Writing is good too! I received this book as a free giveaway in exchange for my honest review. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy, For all
Personal challenges: 2023 GR Choice
Mystery/Thriller
Character - LGBTQIA+
Fifth book in 2023 - Ruin Me, If You Dare by Alyssa Clarke. Another fun, spicy entry in the Wallflowers series! The MCs were interesting, and I really liked the progression of their relationship. The exploration of love language was also refreshing in a historical romance. Worth reading! 4 stars Challenges: PopSugar, This or that
Personal challenges: Personal serial
Historical romance
Sixth read in 2023 - Hell of a Book by Jason Mott. I wish this had been a book of essays or short stories. The author can write some harsh truths beautifully. “Reality as a whole-past or present-just isn’t a good place to hang out, in my opinion. There are better ways and places to spend your time.” “You see, the thing those fablers don’t get is that certain kids don’t get a fair chance to chase the dream. The world murders them first. Murders them, but fails to kill them. So these kids, they die young and grow a little more mad every day from then on out.” But written with the confines of a novel, it was too real to be satire and too abstract to be fiction, even lit fic. I will read any nonfiction he ever writes, but I’m not sure I would fiction by him again. For the truth he shared, I give this 4 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy
Personal challenges: WPB Womens Bookclub
Lit Fic
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Seventh read in 2023 - The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis. I really enjoyed this heart-warming book! Received as part of my authentic book subscription, the book and the box were both winners! It was a touch slow to get started, but after that I enjoyed it! Do not be misled by the illustrated cocer - it’s not a comedy. The explorations of grief are well done, and I appreciated the honesty of the feelings experienced by the characters. Ending felt a touch fast but that’s probably because I didn’t want it to end! Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, For all, This or that
Contemporary Romance
Eighth read in 2023 - Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson. The good things - audiobook with Dolly Parton and Kelsea Ballerini’s voice. But other than that, this book is incredibly repetitive. The idea of the armed carjacking of a semi was completely unrealistic - that would never happen nor would she get away with it. And that was just the first unbelievable scene in this book. It could have been edited down a lot too. The audio kept me company on my commute, so that bumped it up a bit. 3 starsChallenges: PopSugar, For all, This or That
Personal Challenges: 2023 book adaptations
Suspense Audiobook
Ninth read in 2023 - A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee. I enjoyed this book much more than the first time I read it! I really enjoyed the setup for the series. Nice characters too. I enjoyed learning about the lascars and their history in England. Worth reading! 4 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy, For all
Personal challenges: Personal serial
Re-read YA Historical Mystery
Author: BIPOC
Character: BIPOC
Tenth read in 2023 - A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. Love this series! The way the author weaves together the timelines, using the narrative to explain, and then enhancing the characters s brilliant! I love the discussions of autonomy, sentience, and being too. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy, For all, This or that
Personal challenges: Personal serial
SciFi
Eleventh read in 2023 - The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson. Wow, what a beautifully told, comprehensive look at a complicated topic! I really appreciate the nuances included in the history and the acknowledgement that the black panther party members were people who made good and bad decisions, just like all people. But any bad decisions did not ultimately define them either. Love the acknowledgements at the end! Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy
Graphic History
Authors: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Twelfth read in 2023 - The Edge of Midnight by Beverly Jenkins. I have a serious issue with the misogynistic attitude of the male MC, and he’s not really held accountable for this behavior. It made the chemistry between the MCs rather unrealistic, particularly at the start. The female MC even said how could she really fall for her kidnapper. I agree, how? And the breaches of personal autonomy against the woman in this book without being called out as such is not ok. As much as I love this author, this one was a miss for me. 2 starsChallenges: PopSugar, For all
Contemp Romance
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Thirteenth read in 2023 - North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. How a book can be so long and yet end so abruptly is beyond me. While I liked how the characters were portrayed and the progression of the characters, I wish more time had been spent on those changes. I’m glad I finally read it, but I’m not sure I would recommend it. 3 starsChallenges: January group read, PopSugar, I Spy
Personal challenges: 2023 book adaptations
Classic
Fourteenth read in 2023 - Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters by Laura Vanderkam. I found this to be one of the most helpful books I’ve read in a long time! I plan to implement most of her guidelines - what I’ve tried so far has been eye-opening! This book is geared toward the middle-class and discusses a lot of family concerns, and she acknowledges that a bit, but she probably could have gone a touch further with that. She’s a good writer, too, so this is an engaging nonfiction self-help book. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy
Self-help
Fifteenth read in 2023 - The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. This romance has the perfect recipe - interesting characters, a good measure of comedy, a healthy measure of reality and heart, all wrapped around a core of good. Kinda like a delish sea salt caramel! The MC could be considered Demi/graysexual., and I really appreciate the inclusivity. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, Piled, United
Personal challenges: 2023 Book adaptations
Contemporary romance
Character: LGBTQIA+
Sixteenth read in 2023 - When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole. This book was a wild ride! It started off slow, but then it got going and felt like an action movie. There are some scary things that seem a little far-fetched, but honestly after the last several years, not far-fetched at all really. And it contains a lot of important truths about our history that is too often white-washed. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsChallenges: United, Flying Purple
Mystery/thriller
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Seventeenth read in 2023 - Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. While this book is not comedic and contains real stories of trauma, it is told with a perspective that gives the reader a bit of space to process it all. Writing is good, and I truly appreciate the reality he shares. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, For all, Flying purple
Personal challenges: 2023 book adaptations
Memoir
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Eighteenth read in 2023 - Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire. How the author manages to fit so much heart and world into so few pages is nothing short of magic! This book tackles one of the hardest themes yet, but I so appreciate the author’s disclaimer. While I was left with lots of questions, I hope they will be answered in the next installment. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy, For all, Flying purple
Personal challenges: 2023 GR Choice, Personal serial
Author: LGBTQIA+
Nineteenth read in 2023 - The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan. Really interesting story about Niagara Falls at the turn of the last century. Loved the descriptions of the Falls and the history of humans impacts on it. Really like the characters and the story between all of them. My only critique is it seemed a bit stilted at the beginning. Definitely worth reading! 4 starsChallenges: PopSugar, Flying purple
Historical fiction
Twentieth read in 2023 - After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez. This book has three of my favorite things - ghosts, learning new stuff about history, and wonderful descriptions of drinks and food! I really liked the complexity of the characters and the town. I had a bit of trouble following things at the beginning and the various names for several of the characters was a touch confusing. I also read this during a very busy season, so perhaps longer durations of reading would have made a difference. Worth reading! 4 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy, Flying purple
Personal challenges: Personal serial
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Twenty-first read in 2023 - Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad. This book made me crave a trip to an Indian restaurant, farmers market, the Pacific Northwest, and the romance aisle at a bookstore - all at the same time! Writing is really good! Characters are delightful, well-constructed, and complex. Great representation! I really enjoyed how the author told each sister’s story within one larger arc. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars Challenges: Piled high, United, I spy, For all, Flying purple
Personal challenges: Personal serial
YA Fiction
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC, LGBTQIA+
Twenty-second read in 2023 - Yours 'Til Niagara Falls by Brenda Guiberson, illustrated by William Low. Nice children’s book about the creation of the falls. I especially liked the graphics showing the creation and erosion of the cliffs. The writing is a tad clunky, but I appreciated at least the mention of indigenous peoples. Worth reading! 3.5 starsChildren’s nonfiction
Twenty-third read in 2023 - Why We Cook : Women on Food, Identity, and Connection by Lindsay Gardner. Fantastic collection of essays, profiles, recipes, and quotes of amazing women! Especially loved the editor’s watercolor illustrations! Definitely worth reading and a must for any person who loves to cook and/or food! 5 starsChallenges: I Spy
Nonfiction
Contributors: BIPOC, LGBTQIA+
Twenty-fourth read in 2023 - Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement by Janet Dewart Bell. I truly appreciate this author’s purpose and the very considered, deliberate decisions she made with this book. I loved getting to know these trailblazing women! After watching an interview with the author, I understand her choice to not edit the interviews and leave them in the voices of the subjects. However, for me personally, it made each story a little clunky and repetitive. Still worth reading! 4 starsNonfiction
Author: BIPOC
Subjects: BIPOC
Twenty-fifth read in 2023 - The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell. I’m really glad I took this in small bites. If I had tried to read it all together, I would have gotten very frustrated. It also helped to hear an interview the author gave to not explaining her vision for the book. I don’t think she quite brought it together, but I understood it better after hearing from her. The writing is good and is the redeeming characteristic in my opinion. “During his time at University, Ronald had learned that history was the word the English used for the record of every time white man encountered something he had never seen, and promptly claimed it as his own, often renaming it for good measure. History, in short, was the annals of the bully on the playground.” However, the story is rather convoluted. I did get a sense of Zambian history through the story. Worth reading with all the above caveats. 3.5 starsChallenges: PopSugar
Lit Fic
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Twenty-sixth read in 2023 - The Edge of Dawn by Beverly Jenkins. Enjoyable, fluffy read. I liked the characters more in this book than the previous in the series. The setup is far-fetched, but as always, the author weaves in a bit of African-American history that was delightful. 3.5 starsChallenges: Infinity
Contemp romance
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Twenty-seventh read in 2023 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I really didn’t expect this book to wrap me in a warm hug and refuse to let me go until my heart melted! But that’s exactly what it did. I loved her writing and her characters! Tova reminds me of my taciturn great-grandparents from Norway. Cameron reminds me of my brother before he grew up. And it all has this lovely veneer of people/creature just doing their best. Is it far-fetched and did I figure it all out? Yup, but it was delightful and perfect in its way. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, United, Infinty
Personal challenges: WPB Womens book club
Lit Fic
Twenty-eighth read in 2023 - No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib. This book is well-written and heartbreaking! An important exposure of America’s hypocritical stance on immigration by using the relationship of one couple. I loved the descriptions - incredibly evocative. The audiobook has multiple narrators, but I had to switch to kindle as the content was affecting my experience. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, United, I spy
Lit Fic
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Twenty-ninth read in 2023 - The Book of Stolen Time: Second Book in the Feylawn Chronicles by Dashka Slater. while I still enjoyed the world and characters in this book, it was much slower to get going. I was also confused at the beginning trying to figure out where the story pocked up after the first book. But once it got going, I appreciated the character development and subtle commentary woven into everything. Nice wrap up! 3.5 starsChallenges: PopSugar
Personal challenges: Personal serial
Middle-grade fantasy
Thirtieth read in 2023 - Kiss Me, If You Dare by Alyssa Clarke. I enjoyed the setup with this installment. However, the plot points seemed disjointed to me. A little too much extreme hot cold hot cold. I do like how this one leads into the next book. Worth reading. 3 starsPersonal challenges: Personal serial
Historical romance
Thirty-first read in 2023 - Hopeless Romantic: The Untold History of Ethiopia by Dawit Muluneh. I learned quite a lot about the background of Ethiopic studies and how colonization has seeped into the current work in ethiopia. The writing is good in those sections, and I appreciated the undercurrent of snark based on solid facts. However, the history related was not presented chronologically, so it was difficult to place. There were also some odd choices that distracted from the solid core, like relating everything to marriage and the mouse story at the end. This desperately needed a good editor. I appreciated the effort, but it didn’t come together for me. 2.5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, To Infinity
Nonfiction
Author: BIPOC
Subject: BIPOC
Thirty-second read in 2023 - Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. This was fantastic! Good, clear writing, characters that are complex and can be understood, and good solid plot. It definitely helps to have a working knowledge of the original trilogy. I loved how the author uses the conflict to show how good people continued to fight for the Empire, showed the grooming and fear that undergirded everything. And why so many saw the empire as hope, at least at the beginning. Truly wonderful! Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, To Infinity
Personal challenges: Personal serial
Sci-Fi
Characters: BIPOC
Thirty-third read in 2023 - Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan MacNeal. Really enjoyed this second installment! The research that goes into these books is very good! I appreciate that there is a sympathetic character collaborator - it shows that there were many (wrong) reasons with great nuance. Definitely worth reading! 4 starsChallenges: For All
Personal challenges: Personal serial
Historical mystery
Thirty-fourth read in 2023 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. This book was not written for me. I enjoyed some of the satire but the absurdist humor is just not something I personally find funny. I will not be continuing with the series. 2.5 starsChallenges: Group read, To Infinity
Personal challenges: 2023 book adaptations, Personal serial
Sci-fi
Thirty-fifth read in 2023 - Muted by Tami Charles. Amazing! The narrative poem format is stellar, the characters are well-drawn and complex, and the plot is face-paced. I did not see that ending coming - wow, it knocked me for a loop - true talent! Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: To Infinity
YA Fic
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Thirty-sixth read in 2023 - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. This book reminded me so much of college and brought up some old stuff I needed to deal with. I liked the world created, the exploration of fanfic, and the characters with their unique struggles. But the author didn’t land the plane with the ending. 4 starsChallenges: PopSugar
YA fiction
Thirty-seventh read in 2023 - The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou. This book was fascinating! I knew Maya Angelou was brilliant and wise, but she lived a life full of risk and fight! I wish I had started with her first memoir, but this was a great reading experience. The prose is clear and beautifully written. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar
Personal challenges: Personal serial
Memoir
Author: BIPOC
Subjects: BIPOC
Thirty-eighth read in 2023 - The Hatak Witches by Devon Mihesuah. I really appreciated the conversations within the story about respecting Native culture and people. I loved learning more about the Choctaw. There were definitely horror elements in this book, but the ending fell a bit flat. Will definitely be checking out more of the author’s work! Worth reading! 4 starsChallenges: PopSugar, All feels
Personal challenges: Personal serial
Paranormal horror
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Thirty-ninth read in 2023 - Climb On! by Baptiste Paul. Gorgeous illustrations! Lovely story with a wonderful incorporation of teaching words within the story. The images and story flowed so well together! I wish the location of the story was included, but a lovely picture book. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 starsChallenges: Spell
Children’s picture
Authors: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Fortieth read in 2023 - Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg. I was surprised that the black and white images captured the majesty of the falls and the emotions of the characters. Good narrative flow, though this is a bit wordy for a children’s picture book. Still, good information included and told in an engaging way. 4 starsChildren’s picture
Forty-first read in 2023 - Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi. The writing in this book is very good, descriptive and with lovely phrasing. “Food and art are very capable peacekeepers.” There were a couple times where the writing obscured a plot point a bit. I really liked the complex characters. The story dragged a touch around the halfway point, but it picked back up towards the end. Worth reading! 4 starsChallenges: United, All Feels
Personal challenges: WPB Women's Bookclub
Historical fiction
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Forty-second read in 2023 - The Body at the Tower by Y. S. Lee. Overall, I liked this second book in the series. The main character development is well done. The plot dragged in the middle and then the ending was rather abrupt. Interested to see where the series goes next. Worth reading! 3.5 starsPersonal challenges: Personal serial
Historical mystery
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Forty-third read in 2023 - Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart. This book is amazing! I loved the writing, the dual perspectives intermingled, the characters, everything! “Sometimes our hearts see things our eyes can’t.” So many truths contained in this book. I particularly liked the nugget that each main character thought the other had it all together - good reminder that we rarely know what is really going on with others. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, United, I Spy, All Feels
Middle-grade contemp fic
Characters: LGBTQIA+
Forty-fourth read in 2023 - Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings by Francie LaTour, illustrations by Ken Daley. Love this book! And I would have loved it as a kid - the colors are so vibrant and the pictures contain lovely detail! The story is so sweet, and I love the descriptions of colors and origins in the book! And I appreciate the author’s note and glossary with pronunciations at the end. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, I Spy, All Feels, Spell
Children’s picture
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Forty-fifth read in 2023 - Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman. Beautifully written and full of heart, this story exposes many of the uncomfortable truths in our world. So often, the poor, unhoused, and marginalized are mistreated and/or ignored. This book shows the importance of paying attention and not giving up. “I didn’t actually save her life, not like heroes in the movies or anything. She only says that because she believes you sort of die inside if you stop hoping, even if your body keeps on going. “. I loved these characters! “Never blame yourself for someone else’s cruelty.“. Definitely worth reading! 5 starsChallenges: All feels
Middle-grade contemp Fic
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Forty-sixth read in 2023 - Something Like Love by Beverly Jenkins. I really enjoyed this book! The characters were fascinating, and I loved that it was set within the wider cast of characters of the town and from other books. Lots of fun! Worth reading! 4 starsChallenges: Piled high, All Feels
Historical romance
Author: BIPOC
Characters: BIPOC
Forty-seventh read in 2023 - Homecoming by Kate Morton. Overall, this book was enjoyable. I liked learning about the hills region of Australia. I particularly liked the author’s words around reading. “This was the magic of books, the curious alchemy that allowed a human mind to turn black ink on white pages into a whole other world.“. “Reading shapes a person. The landscape of books is more real, in some ways, than the one outside the window.“. However, this book needed to be edited down a lot. The same story could have been provided with 200 fewer pages. The extra weight, literally and figuratively, made it slightly tiring. The last 100 pages went by in a flash. I received this book as a free giveaway in exchange for my honest review. Worth reading. 3.5 starsChallenges: PopSugar, All feels
Personal challenges: 2023 GR Choice
Historical mystery
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Yellowface (other topics)Yellowface (other topics)
Now That You Mention It (other topics)
Now That You Mention It (other topics)
I'm Glad My Mom Died (other topics)
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2. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - completed January 2023 - 5 stars
3. Man Called Horse: John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad by Glennette Tilley Turner - completed January 2022 - 4 stars
4. What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall - completed January 2022 - 4.5 stars
5. Ruin Me, If You Dare by Alyssa Clarke - completed January 2023 - 4 stars
6. Hell of a Book by Jason Mott - completed January 2023 - 4 stars
7. The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis - completed January 2023 - 4.5 stars
8. Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson - completed January 2023 - 3 stars
9. A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee - completed January 2023 - 4 stars
10. A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers - completed January 2023 - 5 stars
11. The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson - completed January 2023 - 5 stars
12. The Edge of Midnight by Beverly Jenkins - completed January 2023 - 2 stars
13. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - completed January 2023 - 3 stars
14. Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters by Lauren Vanderkam - completed January 2023 - 5 stars
15. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - completed February 2023 - 5 stars
16. When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole - completed February 2023 - 4.5 stars
17. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - completed February 2023 - 5 stars
18. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire - completed February 2023 - 5 stars
19. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan - completed February 2023 - 4 stars
20. After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez - completed February 2023 - 4 stars
21. Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad - completed February 2023 - 4.5 stars
22. Yours 'Til Niagara Falls by Brenda Guiberson, illustrated by William Low - completed February 2023 - 3.5 stars
23. Why We Cook : Women on Food, Identity, and Connection by Lindsay Gardner - completed February 2023 - 5 stars
24. Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement by Janet Dewart Bell - completed February 2023 - 4 stars
25. The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell - completed February 2023 - 3.5 stars
26. The Edge of Dawn by Beverly Jenkins - completed March 2023 - 3.5 stars
27. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - completed March 2023 - 5 stars
28. No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib - completed March 2023 - 4.5 stars
29. The Book of Stolen Time: Second Book in the Feylawn Chronicles by Dashka Slater - completed March 2023 - 3.5 stars
30. Kiss Me, If You Dare by Alyssa Clarke - completed March 2023 - 3 stars
31. Hopeless Romantic: The Untold History of Ethiopia by Dawit Muluneh - completed March 2023 - 2.5 stars
32. Lost Stars by Claudia Gray - completed March 2023 - 5 stars
33. Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan MacNeal - completed March 2023 - 4 stars
34. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - completed March 2023 - 2.5 stars
35. Muted by Tami Charles - completed March 2023 - 5 stars
36. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - completed March 2023 - 4 stars
37. The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou - completed April 2023 - 5 stars
38. The Hatak Witches by Devon Mihesuah - completed April 2023 - 4 stars
39. Climb On! by Baptiste Paul - completed April 2023 - 4.5 stars
40. Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg - completed April 2023 - 4 stars
41. Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi - completed April 2023 - 4 stars
42. The Body at the Tower by Y. S. Lee - completed April 2023 - 3.5 stars
43. Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart - completed April 2023 - 5 stars
44. Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings by Francie LaTour, illustrations by Ken Daley - completed April 2023 - 5 stars
45. Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman - completed April 2023 - 5 stars
46. Something Like Love by Beverly Jenkins - completed April 2023 - 4 stars
47. Homecoming by Kate Morton - completed April 2023 - 3.5 stars
48. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers - completed April 2023 - 5 stars
49. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers - completed April 2023 - 5 stars
50. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie - completed May 2023 - 5 stars
51. The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y. S. Lee - completed May 2023 - 3.5 stars
52. Rivals in the City by Y. S. Lee - completed May 2023 - 3.5 stars
53. Violeta by Isabel Allende, translated by Frances Riddle - completed May 2023 - 4 stars
54. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - completed May 2023 - 5 stars
55. Tempt Me, If You Dare by Alyssa Clarke - completed May 2023 - 4 stars
56. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson - completed May 2023 - 5 stars
57. The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson - completed May 2023 - 3 stars
58. Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia - completed May 2023 - 4.5 stars
59. His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal - completed May 2023 - 4.5 stars
60. The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore - completed May 2023 - 5 stars
61. Just My Type by Falon Ballard - completed June 2023 - 4 stars
62. Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Y. Davis - completed June 2023 - 4 stars
63. Belle and the Beau by Beverly Jenkins - completed June 2023 - 4.5 stars
64. Always the Almost by Edward Underhill - completed June 2023 - 4.5 stars
65. Wrong Earl, Right Dare by Alyssa Clarke - completed June 2023 - 4 stars
66. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel - completed June 2023 - 4 stars
67. Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse - completed June 2023 - 5 stars
68. Rules of Engagement by Stacey Abrams, as Selena Montgomery - completed June 2023 - 2 stars
69. Love Report by Shellee Marie - completed June 2023 - 3.5 stars
70. City of Light by Lauren Belfer - completed June 2023 - 4 stars
71. The Prime Minister's Secret Agent by Susan Elia MacNeal - completed June 2023 - 4 stars
72. Somewhere Only We Know by Maureen Goo - completed June 2023 - 5 stars
73. A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine - completed July 2023 - 4 stars
74. Josephine and the Soldier by Beverly Jenkins - completed July 2023 - 4 stars
75. Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares by Tehlor Kay Mejia - completed July 2023 - 4 stars
76. The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family by Kerri K. Greenidge - completed July 2023 - 3.5 stars
77. The Perfect Find by Tia Williams - completed July 2023 - 4 stars
78. Caraval by Stephanie Garber - completed July 2023 - 3.5 stars
79. Daring with the Rogue by Alyssa Clarke - completed July 2023 - 4 stars
80. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Laydon - completed July 2023 - 4.5 stars
81. Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana - completed July 2023 - 5 stars
82. Legendary by Stephanie Garber - completed July 2023 - 4 stars
83. Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez - completed July 2023 - 5 stars
84. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - re-read completed August 2023 - 5 stars
85. Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See - completed August 2023 - 5 stars
86. The Measure by Nikki Erlick - completed August 2023 - 5 stars
87. Black Lace by Beverly Jenkins - completed August 2023 - 2.5 stars
88. Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez - completed August 2023 - 5 stars
89. Finale by Stephanie Garber - completed August 2023 - 3.5 stars
90. Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey - completed August 2023 - 4.5 stars
91. Something More by Jackie Khalilieh - completed August 2023 - 4.5 stars
92. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall - completed August 2023 - 5 stars
93. Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl - completed September 2023 - 4 stars
94. Husband Material by Alexis Hall - completed September 2023 - 3.5 stars
95. The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War by Malcolm Gladwell - completed September 2023 - 4.5 stars
96. A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith (re-read) - completed September 2023 - 4.5 stars
97. Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows by Tehlor Kay Mejia - completed September 2023 - 5 stars
98. Goodbye Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith - completed September 2023 - 3 stars
99. A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau - completed September 2023 - 4 stars
100. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich - completed September 2023 - 5 stars
101. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie - completed September 2023 - 2 stars
102. The Black Hand: The Epic War Between a Brilliant Detective and the Deadliest Secret Society in American History by Stephen Talty - completed October 2023 - 4.5 stars
103. Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata, translated by Ginny Tapley Takimura - completed October 2023 - 4.5 stars
104. The Black God's Drums by P. Djeli Clark - completed October 2023 - 5 stars
105. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree - completed October 2023 - 4.5 stars
106. We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman - completed October 2023 - 3 stars
107. The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei - completed October 2023 - 5 stars
108. Sexy/Dangerous by Beverly Jenkins - completed October 2023 - 3.5 stars
109. Mrs. Roosevelt’s Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal - completed October 2023 - 4 stars
110. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - completed October 2023 - 4 stars
111. Hide With Me by Sorboni Banerjee - completed October 2023 - 4 stars
112. Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez - completed October 2023 - 5 stars
113. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - completed October 2023 - DNF
114. A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone - completed November 2023 - 4.5 stars
115. Maame by Jessica George - completed November 2023 - 5 stars
(Cont msg 2)