In 2023, I somehow managed to read a whopping 115 books (so far) which is the most I’ve ever read in a single year. Considering I work full time and I spent the first half of the year working a second job I am completely surprised by this.
I put this amazing achievement to subscribing to Kindle Unlimited in Dec 2022. So you may find a lot of independent authors mentioned below or books that are included in KU. So if you have KU, get yourself comfortable and get downloading! (so far)
My reading habits have been varied this year including books from Middle Grade, Young Adult, to Dark Romance. I’m hoping there is something for everyone on this list.
Anyhow, enough rambling… Here we go ( In no particular order… ) here are my Top Reads Of 2o23
The Cat & Mouse Duet
The Cat & Mouse Duet comprises of two books; Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline. There is also a short Novella which is recommended to read before the duet to get a better understanding of the characters but not essential. Currently they are all available on Kindle Unlimited.
These books are incredibly dark and are not suitable for younger readers. I strongly recommend you do your research on the trigger warnings as these books cover some extremely difficult topics and issues.
Author: H.D. Carlton
Genre: Dark Romance
Click the image to view on Amazon
The Manipulator
I can manipulate the emotions of anyone who lets me.
I will make you hurt, make you cry, make you laugh and sigh.
But my words don’t affect him. Especially not when I plead for him to leave.
He’s always there, watching and waiting.
And I can never look away.
Not when I want him to come closer.
The Shadow
I didn’t mean to fall in love.
But now that I have, I can’t stay away.
I’m mesmerized by her smile, by her eyes, and the way she moves.
The way she undresses…
I’ll keep watching and waiting. Until I can make her mine.
And once she is, I’ll never let her go.
Not even when she begs me to.
My Thoughts:
I absolutely devoured The Cat & Mouse Duet and can not recommend it enough. It was my first Dark Romance read EVER and I have to say … I went in strong! I found it so dark, twisted and moreish. When I first began reading it I was questioning, at 28 years old, whether I was even old enough to read this type of content. As I’ve said it’s not an easy read but is so worth it if you can stomach the topics depicted in them. It’s full of unsettling characters, actions and VERY questionable behaviour.
I can’t express how much I adored this duet in this article. *Note to self – publish separate review*
The Golden Key
The Golden Key is a fairy tale retelling loosely based on Goldilocks and the three bears. This is the debut novel of Cass Gellar. An independent author with a bright future ahead with creating.
With magic, spice and atmospheric storytelling. This is beautiful!
Perfect for those that like a little spice but not overload.
Author: Cass Gellar
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance
Click the image to view on Amazon
Three cursed brothers. A golden haired saviour. The key to unlock the curse.
Once upon a time, there were three brothers of magic, who lived together in a house of their own, in a wood.
Upon first glance, one would assume the brothers were ordinary but they were, in fact, from another land most extraordinary.
For you see, a curse was brought upon these brothers, removing their magic and exiling them in the human realm, in a house of their own, in a wood.
Decades went by with no hope of finding a key to end the curse.
Until one day, when a golden-haired woman stumbled upon their house, in a wood, with the power to change their fate.
My Thoughts:
This is exactly how I imagined the book would be. When I found out Cass was writing a debut I knew I just had to read it and it did not disappoint. It was beautifully written and full of interesting characters with a happily ever after. Come on! Loved it!
If you’ve already read this, you will understand why it has made it into my Top Reads Of 2023!
The Ella Dark Series
The Ella Dark Series follows a FBI desk agent given the chance to prove herself in the field and hunt down a serial killer. Given her vast amount of knowledge on the subject due to her bizarre obsession and photo graphic memory – she’s practically an expert…
I love love love this series, I’m currently still working my way through them but I can’t get enough of them. Think Criminal Minds meets Silence Of The Lambs. They’re relatively short, fast paced and informative.
Author: Blake Pierce
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Click the image to view on Amazon
FBI Agent Ella Dark has studied serial killers from the time she could read, devastated by the murder of her own father. With her photographic memory, she has obtained an encyclopedic knowledge of every serial killer, every victim and every case.
But when a serial killer strikes in the swamps of Louisiana, Ella soon comes to learn that the real thing is like nothing she ever expected.
My Thoughts:
Whilst still working my way through them, I can tell they will be one of my favourites for a long time. I love serial killer type things along with profiling them (not that I’m an expert, I just love a documentary or seven … heck, give me them all.
They’re perfect for quick easy reads but I do recommend they are read in their correct order as they do follow on from each other.
Maeve Fly
As you can probably tell, this one was for Halloween. This was one of the most messed up reads I have ever read but it was brilliant.
This is a fun, laugh-out-loud, twisted horror novel following Maeve, our young woman living in Hollywood.
I was kindly sent this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Author: C J Leede
Genre: Horror
Click the image to view on Amazon
By day, Maeve Fly works at the happiest place in the world as every child’s favorite ice princess.
By the neon night glow of the Sunset Strip, Maeve haunts the dive bars with a drink in one hand and a book in the other, imitating her misanthropic literary heroes.
But when Gideon Green – her best friend’s brother – moves to town, he awakens something dangerous within her, and the world she knows suddenly shifts beneath her feet.
Untethered, Maeve ditches her discontented act and tries on a new persona. A bolder, bloodier one, inspired by the pages of American Psycho. Step aside Patrick Bateman, it’s Maeve’s turn with the knife.
My Thoughts:
This was completely twisted and I lived for it. So weirdly addictive and funny! I laughed at the strangest things, and I don’t think I will ever look at an egg the same way again… If you know you know …
A Good Girls Guide To Murder
This series completely took me by surprise. I was not expecting to love it as much as I do! I was worried in case it was over-hyped.
However, I am obsessed with it. I’m yet to read the final instalment but I just know I’m going to devour it just like I have with the first two…
Author: Holly Jackson
Genre: YA Mystery Thriller
Click the image to view on Amazon
The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.
But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the crime, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth … ?
My Thoughts:
Pip is a delight. I adore her as a character. I recently found out this is getting a TV adaption and this makes me so happy.
I really enjoyed the mixed media aspect of the writing – especially in book two where we get to see more of Pip’s notes on cases, thoughts, interviews. Such a fun fast read that keeps you guessing.
The Nothing Man
This was one of the first books I read in 2023, and it has stuck with me. I thought it was brilliantly written with a very unique premise. A book within a book.
With a cat & mouse style game between victim and serial killer, it truly gripped me and I have since recommended it to everyone I know!
Full of twists, suspense and intrigue, I was on the edge of my seat and that ending just blew my mind!
Author: Catherine Ryan Howard
Genre: Psychological Thriller
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I was the girl who survived the Nothing Man.
Now I am the woman who is going to catch him…
You’ve just read the opening pages of The Nothing Man, the true crime memoir Eve Black has written about her obsessive search for the man who killed her family nearly two decades ago.
Supermarket security guard Jim Doyle is reading it too, and with each turn of the page his rage grows. Because Jim was – is – the Nothing Man.
The more Jim reads, the more he realises how dangerously close Eve is getting to the truth. He knows she won’t give up until she finds him. He has no choice but to stop her first…
My Thoughts:
I cannot express how much I truly loved this book. If you are a fan of Psychological Thrillers I highly recommend you pick this one up. Just trust me on this.
I could go on, as there’s been so many wonderful reads in 2023. But sadly, this comes to the end of my top reads of 2023.
I’m hoping in 2024, I have an equally amazing reading year. Full of new authors, indie authors and 5-star reads.
Whilst some of these may not appeal to you, I hope there is at least one on this list that has got you intrigued.
What's been a top read for you?
I’d love to know what you all have been reading and loving! Let me know your top reads of 2023!
I’m always on the hunt for reads to add to my never ending TBR
