Hiya, I’m back! I hope you are too!!!
I’m assuming you’ve already read my Favourite Books of 2023 Part 1 – if not, you can take a look at it HERE. Today, I’m posting my favourite books from July to December. Not only that, you’ll be able to find out what my overall favourite book was at the bottom ⬇️
So, without further ado, let me introduce to you…
JULY
Dr Miriam Price has been murdered. And she’s absolutely furious about it.
This was so fun and unique and quirky and I loved it from the start. From the characters to the plot points, to just about everything. It’s so moving, but equally, very uplifting. There isn’t anyone I can think of who wouldn’t fall in love with Miriam, Winnie and Maz Evans.
When Mabel’s husband Arthur dies, he leaves his last list, with just one item on it: “Find D”. But who is D?
My only Laura Pearson book so far but it won’t be my last. It was so sweet, Mable was adorable and I just wanted to keep her in a warm hug. There are some hard topics, but overall, it is light and uplifting and a beautiful, beautiful read.
A sudden appearance of a mountain in the middle of the Pacific Ocean leads a group of scientists to a series of jaw-dropping revelations.
This was unlike anything I had ever read before. It’s almost impossible to describe. It’s weird and sad and crazy and hard and surprising and thoughtful, and just completely mind-blowing.
AUGUST
A spellbinding fairy-tale that combines The Great Gatsby with Swan Like, and a bit of M.A. Kuzniar genius.
This is 384 pages of sheer deliciousness. Kuzniar just has this ability to merge fantasy and fairy tale with reality and struggles, and yet still make everything feel so magical and sparkly and I love her for it.
A story of women in war: a novel of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkest of circumstances.
Like her Auschwitz trilogy, Heather has found the perfect balance between sensitively depicting the atrocities of war, giving a name to those hidden victims, and also produces an interesting and entertaining read. It’s brutal but important.
Ellie loses her job, her flat, and her boyfriend all at once. After revenge on her ex, her thoughts go to finding a new job. Which she finds on a mysterious little Scottish island with more than meets the eye.
This had me in tears throughout. It is absolutely gorgeous. Not your average festive offering, it comes with bags of secrets and magic and fund and sadness, and above all, hope and joy.
Newlyweds face the unimaginable in this epic tale, when Lewis is diagnosed with Carcharodon carcharias mutation – he’s turning into a Great White Shark.
Strange, beautiful, joyful, powerful, life-affirming.
It sounds a bit corny to say it, but every single sentence is like art, like poetry, like silk.
Micheál Burns lives in Kerry Head in Ireland, near the cliffs that have become a notorious suicide spot. Micheál finds himself responsible for these lost souls. But how is this affecting him?
A hard book but a beautiful one. A hard book but a positive one. A hard book but a tender one. A hard book but a necessary one.
A hard book but an important one.
SEPTEMBER
The story of two men, 250 years apart, who find themselves on separate missions to see the transit of Venus across the Sun.
This book is stunningly beautiful, absolutely heartwarmingly gorgeous! It pulls at your heartstrings and has you sharing the emotions of the characters. A really powerful story.
A retelling of the legend of the Minotaur, fall of myth and magic and steeped in the grime of Victorian London.
Robert Dinsdale can do little wrong in my opinion. There’s sadness and poverty, wishes, hopes and dreams, there’s dancing and running, promises and lies, danger and death, love and madness, beauty and ugliness, heroes, villains and cowards.
An examination of what it is to be human. This novel about unrequited love and unearned power. Just because you can do something, does it mean you should?
The latest addition to my Sebastian Faulks shelf, and I think it’s his best one yet. He’s never been anything less than amazing, but this is absolutely sublime in every possible way. Such a powerful read.
OCTOBER
The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in 19th century Egypt, filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s enchanting and grabs you immediately right to the very end. It is simply unforgettable.
Nonagenarian Ruby Devereaux is a successful author, but hasn’t released a new book for sometime. Initially pressured into writing her memoirs, Ruby starts to reveal the secrets in her life.
This book is perfect. Absolutely, all-consuming, 100% perfection. Just everything about it. It was enticing and had me hooked from the very start to the very end.
Two men. Twenty years of friendship. One love. Danny has been in love with Guy since Uni. Now both single and at Pride, will their friendship finally become something more?
Matt’s character creation is second to none and I loved getting to know Danny and Guy over the years. It’s a heartwarming, cosy, intense, sad, nostalgic, comforting hug of a book.
NOVEMBER
Jane Austen turns sleuth when a woman’s body is found at a ball, and her brother is framed for the murder. Jane faces down danger and deceit and scandal in order to find out the truth.
It’s regency Agatha Christie! This is the perfect whodunnit with a mixture of classic literature. This felt like taking a walk with a friend, Jane Austen felt so real and familiar. It is fun and exciting, joyful and hopeful, morbid, entertaining and thoughtful. An outstanding debut.
On Xmas Eve, puzzle setter Edie receives a box containing 6 jigsaw pieces which, when completed, show part of a crime scene – including a body. As more bodies are found, and more puzzle pieces sent, it’s up to Edie to get to the bottom of who is targeting her.
The closest to Agatha Christie I think we have today. This is so thrilling. Alexandra Benedict is always one step ahead of the reader, and it’s frustrating but magnificent in equal measure. You won’t want to put it down this festive season.
Every night, 72-year-old Carl hand-delivers books to his loyal customers. Accompanied by a mysterious 9-year-old, Carl learns that his job is under threat, and together they aim to restore the joy of reading to others.
Oh this is absolutely gorgeous. The characters are well-created, the simple plot beautiful, it is tender, heart-breaking and heartwarming, it is joyful and beautiful. It really shows how important books and reading can be, and I recommend this book to everyone.
DECEMBER
An Arctic expedition. A mysterious death. And the lengths to which one woman will go to avenge her sister
This was brilliant throughout. With fantastically created characters, intriguing plot, and full-on thrilling scenes, combined with a poetic writing style, makes Lizzie Pook’s fictional world one I didn’t want to leave.
Anna has been asleep for 4 years, ever since she was found having stabbed two people to death. Dr Benedict Prince, an expert in sleep-related homicides is brought in to wake her up. But neither of them will be safe if she does.
It seems a copout to just say this book is a good book. If you’re reading a review from someone who is obsessed with words and books and is trying to master her own writing, and who is trusted by publishers and authors with early copies of their work, you want more than “it’s a good book”. But, for now, I’ll leave you with this: this is a very good book.
Frank is a grumpy old man, his only friend the ghost of his late wife. A recluse, estranged from his family, and afraid of the outside world. And then Red moves in next door. 6 years old, a chatterbox, and determined to help Frank find happiness again.
I instantly loved Frank, he’s miserable and grumpy but so tender and endearing. Red is the complete opposite and I still loved him. They’re like the same soul at either end of the spectrum of life. It is gorgeous and heartwarming and life-affirming.
Bookseller Cassie is given a gift by a customer; a book in which any door is every door. Soon, Cassie and her friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can offer. But it is not the only magic book in the world, and more than one person is seeking it. But it isn’t the safe, fun thing they had initially thought, and with power, comes danger.
This is phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal, in every way. It’s a fantasy, a thriller, horror, slight comedy, a hint at romance – it’s got absolutely everything. It is intense and hard to read at times, but it is such a simply fantastically created story, and I was sad to finish it. I am jealous of everyone getting to read it for the first time.
DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock are back. Now on ‘live’ cases, police officer Kat must once again team up with AI officer Lock to hunt down a murderer, before more bodies are added to the pile.
I loved the first book in this series and this was just as good, if not better! It’s full-on, fast, thrilling, exciting, scary, sad, emotional, brave, wonderful, and just one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year, if not ever. If you’re a thriller fan, you must read Jo Callaghan’s books!
2023 OVERALL FAVOURITE
When I first did this roundup of my favourite books back in 2021, it was easy to pick just ONE book to name my top read. It was instantly my top read, and it stayed my top read all year. Last year was a little difficult, and I ended up picking my top three, as I couldn’t choose just one over the others.
And guess what….I’ve chosen three again this year!
Believe me, there could have been dozens and dozens that were named my overall favourite(s). I generally don’t give star ratings, but I’d say that a big proportion of books were 5 stars this year. Which is great. I am being spoilt for choice. But I wanted to narrow the list down. And, whilst there are others equally as well written, I have chosen the three that stayed with me, and continue to be with me.
In Memoriam by Alice Winn: I read this in April and I knew within the first few pages that it would be a special read. It is a book that appears to be universally loved and admired by all, and thoroughly deserved too. It is a beautiful love story at its heart, but set in a very sensitively depicted World War One. There isn’t a single negative thing I can say about this book. It’s definitely more of a book that has to be read and felt for oneself, but you won’t regret doing so. I think this will be the top of a lot of people’s favourites list this year.
This Child of Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson: Okay, there’s no beating around the bush here, this is a very difficult book to read. It’s a book about a woman who finally falls pregnant with the baby she has so longed for, but also receives a diagnosis of cancer at the same time. To treat the cancer risks losing the baby, to keep the baby means risking losing herself. It’s a decision no-one wants to ever be in. I thought it would be a morbid, upsetting, downer of a book at first, given the topic, but surprisingly it’s not. Okay yes, it’s upsetting, very upsetting at times, but somehow, Emma-Claire has managed to keep it uplifting and joyful and hopeful, and I think that’s what makes it such a stunning book to read.
One Moment by Becky Hunter: I’m about to put a lot of praise on this book for giving me more than the average book does. It is not hyperbole to say that this book helped save my life. I read it during a very dark time of my life, and contemplations of whether my life was worth living had entered my head. But I gave into the sadness, and curled up in bed to read this. To say it’s a lifesaver may be extreme, but I’ve no other way to give it the credit it deserves. To see death from the other side, to see how it can affect those left behind, was just a genius narrative. On the surface, it’s a very well written book, great characters, character development, interesting plot, entertaining etc etc. And I’m not taking away from all of that, it’s great. But for me, there’s a soul to it, something that speaks to me when I read it. It felt like MY book.
Books By Your Bedside 