I’ll be the first to admit, I have not been consistent with posting and following through with all of the blog features I’ve started. The two things I have stuck with from the beginning is posting my favorite book I read each month and my most anticipated book releases of the month. I thought it would be fun to go back and update you on how many of the anticipated book releases I’ve since read. I was surprised to see how many ended up being a favorite book of the month. I’ve included lots of links for book descriptions and previous posts that talk about these books.
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty was part of my very first list of anticipated books in September 21. I’ve had strong feelings both ways with Moriarty’s books, but this one fell in the middle. It was a good read, but as memorable as her others.
Under the Whispering Door was also on that first list and went on to be my favorite read of the entire year for 2022.
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon was on my November 2021 anticipated reads list. I finished it earlier this year. I put it off because I thought the ending of Echo in the Bone would’ve been a perfect ending to the series, and was nervous I would be disappointed. While it was not my favorite book in the series, I was overall happy with the course of the book.
Reminders of Himby: Colleen Hoover was on my January 2022 list. Readers tend to have strong feelings about Hoover. You love her books or hate them. I am a fan. Again, this isn’t my favorite of her books, but I liked the theme of redemption.
With Love From London by Sarah Jio was on my February 2022 list . You’ll notice that I am drawn to a lot of books about family secrets and duel timelines. This one also had a bookshop, so it was a big win for me.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry was on my May 2022 list. This was my first Emily Henry book and my favorite read of September 2022. This was a perfect romance for me. It was a twist on a Halmark Movie and gave a behind the scenes look at the writing industry.
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid was on my September 2022 list. It ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2023. I like that Taylor Jenkins Reid ties in stories from her other books, but they also work as stand alones.
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult was on my October 2022 list. It was also a favorite read of 2023. I am always amazed at Picoult’s ability to explore issues from so many different perspectives.
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover was also on my October 2022 list. It was a great sequel to It Ends With Us and told the love story readers wanted in book one.
Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes was on my February 2023 list . I was my favorite read of March 2024.
Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon was on my March 2023 list. I am about half way through reading this book. I’m loving it so far. It will most likely be my favorite read for June.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jess Q. Sutanto was on my March 2023 list. It was my favorite read of August 2023. It is one of the funniest mystery I’ve ever read.
March of 2023 was a great month for book releases. Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls was also another my favorite books of the month for December 2023.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann was on my April 2023 list. This was an amazing story and the amount of research that went into it was mindblowing.
Happy Place by Emily Henry was also on my April 2023 list. Another great romance, but I did not like it as much as Book Lovers.
In the Lives of Puppets was also on my April 2023 list and was my favorite read of January 2024. I just love his sense of humor so much, I think he could write about anything and I would love it.
One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate was on my May 2023 list. This is such a great middle grade series. I loved reading about Ruby’s story.
Yellowface by B. F. Kuang was also on my May 2023 list. I’m glad I got to write about this one. It probably would’ve been my favorite book of the month if I had read it at a different time, but I happened to have a very strong reading month. This was a great book that tackled controversial topics and made you think.
The Second Chance Store by Lauren Bravo was on my July 2023 list. I loved the concept of telling the story through the items that show up at a second hand shop. I didn’t love the execution of the story though. There were too many stories going for me, so they didn’t feel fully developed.
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko was on my September list. I was lucky enough to get a copy from NetGalley to review. The One and Only Ivan and Al Capone Does My Shirts are two of my favorite middle grade books, and this collaboration was everything I dreamed it would be.