It's All Good

My Year in Books – 2023

The other day I asked my students what were three words they might use to describe me, and one of them said, “Book Worm.” I love it, because it means that they know how much I LOVE to read.  This year, getting in my reading was so much harder because I spent so much time studying for my certification. That said, I still read a LOT of books – 191, to be exact.  And so, like it has been my tradition for more years than I can count, here is the list of books I read this year.  And if you want to know my ratings and reviews, be sure to follow me on Goodreads.com. And if you want to know my favorites from this year, scroll to the bottom of the post.

  • * – a book I read with Arthur
  • ** – a book I read with Derek
  • ^ – a reread, which means I loved the book enough the first time to read it again
  • #– an audio book    
  1. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ by (Translator) (531)#^
  2. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ by (Translator) (531)#^
  3. The Holy Bible: King James Version by  (1590)
  4. New Testament (King James Version) by (406)
  5. The Screaming Staircase Jonathan Stroud (440)#
  6. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #1 Beth Brower (121)^
  7. Lovelight Farms B.K. Borison (332)#
  8. Kissing Christmas Goodbye M.C. Beaton (240)#
  9. Christmas Baggage Deborah M. Hathaway (304)
  10. Bright Lights, Big Christmas Mary Kay Andrews (288)#
  11. Redeemer David Butler (169)#
  12. Scrooge and the Girls Next Door Melanie Jacobson (292)
  13. The Paper Bag Christmas Kevin Alan Milne (160)*
  14. Christmas at the Ranch Anita Hughes (304)#
  15. Fire Strike Mike Maden, Clive Cussler (432)#
  16. In a Holidaze Christina Lauren (307)#
  17. Command and Control Marc Cameron (462)#
  18. Snowed In for Christmas Sarah Morgan (392)#
  19. Letters from Father Christmas J.R.R. Tolkien (163)
  20. Because of the Messiah in a Manger Brad Wilcox (160)#
  21. The Wishing Game Meg Shaffer (304)
  22. Once Upon A Royal Christmas Teri Wilson (258)#
  23. One Day in December Josie Silver (393)#
  24. Kiss the Girl Melanie Jacobson(277)#
  25. Shepherds Why This Jubilee Jeffrey R. Holland (80)#
  26. Home and Away: A World War II Christmas Story Dean Hughes (208)#
  27. The Beatryce Prophecy Kate DiCamillo (247)
  28. Where the Soul Hungers: One Doctor’s Journey from Atheism to Faith Samuel Morris Brown (94)#
  29. The Christmas Train David Baldacci (260)#
  30. The Afterlife of Holly Chase Cynthia Hand (400)#
  31. The Christmas Appeal Janice Hallett (208)#
  32. Mrs. McVinnie’s London Season Carla Kelly (224)
  33. Christmas Forevermore Sally Britton (400)#
  34. Hattie Big Sky Kirby Larson (289)#
  35. Heart of the Matter: What 100 Years of Living Have Taught Me Russell M. Nelson (240)#
  36. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail Bill Bryson (397)#
  37. Sprig Muslin Georgette Heyer (268)
  38. The Queen and the Knave Sarah M. Eden (368)#
  39. The Dread Penny Society: The Complete Penny Dreadful Collection Sarah M. Eden (400)#
  40. A Redbird Christmas Fannie Flagg (193)#^
  41. The Last Devil to Die Richard Osman (422)#
  42. The Last Beekeeper Pablo Cartaya (304)
  43. Take Me Home Beth Moran (370)#
  44. The Travelling Cat Chronicles Hiro Arikawa (281)#
  45. South of the Buttonwood Tree Heather Webber (336)#
  46. Prophets See around Corners Sheri Dew (112)#
  47. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI David Grann (416)#
  48. Christmas Every Day Beth Moran (408)
  49. Tom Clancy Weapons Grade Don Bentley (507)#
  50. Our Day Star Rising: Exploring the New Testament with Jeffrey R. Holland Jeffrey R. Holland (325)#
  51. How to Walk Away Katherine Center (368)#
  52. The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece Tom Hanks (448)#
  53. The Secret Book of Flora Lea Patti Callahan Henry (355)#
  54. Always On My Mind Beth Moran (383)#
  55. A Matchmaking Mismatch Martha Keyes (368)#
  56. The Thing About Georgie Lisa Graff (224)^
  57. Nightmares! Jason Segel (355)*
  58. My Wild Heart Martha Keyes (240)#
  59. The Only Woman in the Room Marie Benedict (320)
  60. P.S. I Still Love You Jenny Han (337)#
  61. Go Forward With Faith: The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley Sheri Dew (653)#
  62. The Pilgrim Hypothesis Timothy Ballard (272)#
  63. One Kiss Alone Nichole Van (409)
  64. A Foolish Heart Martha Keyes (247)#
  65. All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me Patrick Bringley (240)#
  66. Whirligig Paul Fleischman (144)#
  67. The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan Nancy Springer (183)#
  68. Dealing with Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (240)#^
  69. The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff (352)#
  70. When it doesn’t make sense John Bytheway (120)#
  71. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Jenny Han (355)#
  72. Wishtree Katherine Applegate (224)#
  73. A Day That Changed Everything Beth Moran (338)#
  74. Tom Clancy Flash Point Don Bentley (430)#
  75. Heartbeat Sharon Creech (208)#
  76. Paint the Wind Pam Muñoz Ryan (280)
  77. Dangerous Shannon Hale (400)
  78. The Whalebone Theatre Joanna Quinn (558)#
  79. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles Julie Andrews Edwards (209)*^
  80. Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk Liesl Shurtliff (304)#
  81. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America Ibram X. Kendi (592)#
  82. The Reluctant Widow Georgette Heyer (320)
  83. I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring Robert I. Eaton (560)#
  84. Hello Stranger Katherine Center (323)#
  85. Hazelhurst Martha Keyes (190)#
  86. We Are Family Beth Moran (410)#
  87. The House on Prytania Karen White (400)#
  88. Anastasia’s Secret Susanne Dunlap (352)
  89. Black Cake Charmaine Wilkerson (385)#
  90. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Angela Duckworth (277)#^
  91. The Black Moth Georgette Heyer (274)#^
  92. Kenny & the Dragon Tony DiTerlizzi (151)#
  93. Spaced Out Stuart Gibbs (352)#
  94. Space Case Stuart Gibbs (352)#
  95. The Windeby Puzzle Lois Lowry (224)
  96. Wives and Daughters Elizabeth Gaskell (679)#
  97. The Toll-Gate Georgette Heyer (288)
  98. Crenshaw Katherine Applegate (256)#
  99. Twenties Girl Sophie Kinsella (435)#
  100. Cecilia Martha Keyes (196)#
  101. We Belong Together Beth Moran (363)#
  102. The First-Year Teacher’s Survival Guide: Ready-to-Use Strategies, Tools & Activities for Meeting the Challenges of Each School Day Julia G. Thompson (527)
  103. The Teachers: A Year Inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession Alexandra Robbins (372)
  104. Fangirl Rainbow Rowell (483)#
  105. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy: A Newbery Honor Award Winner Gary D. Schmidt (226)
  106. A Girl Called Samson Amy Harmon (405)#
  107. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets Nancy Springer (170)#
  108. Isabel Martha Keyes (258)#
  109. A Lady’s Heart of Gold Sally Britton (264)
  110. The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War Malcolm Gladwell (256)#
  111. Grave Reservations Cherie Priest (304)#
  112. The Rosie Project Graeme Simsion (292)#
  113. A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting Sophie Irwin (352)#
  114. The Earl’s Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed Esther Hatch (294)
  115. A Proper Scoundrel Esther Hatch (256)#
  116. The Moonlight School Suzanne Woods Fisher (320)#
  117. Because You Loved Me Beth Moran (345)#
  118. Rock Paper Scissors Alice Feeney (294)#
  119. Copper for the Countess Sally Britton (362)
  120. Some Nerve: Lessons Learned While Becoming Brave Patty Chang Anker (368)#
  121. Defy the Night Brigid Kemmerer (448)
  122. Roommaid Sariah Wilson (301)
  123. Carnegie’s Maid Marie Benedict (342)#
  124. Wyndcross Martha Keyes (250)#
  125. The Bullet That Missed Richard Osman (413)#
  126. Courting Carrie in Wonderland Carla Kelly (302)
  127. Lessons in Chemistry Bonnie Garmus (400)#
  128. The Starless Sea Erin Morgenstern (498)#
  129. More Than a Body: Your Body Is an Instrument, Not an Ornament Lexie Kite, Lindsay Kite (352)#
  130. The Bodyguard Katherine Center (309)#
  131. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer Fredrik Backman (97)#
  132. The Sea Wolves Clive Cussler, Jack Du Brul (400)#
  133. Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt (360)#
  134. There’s Something about Scarlett Hannah Ellis (474)
  135. Servant of a Dark God John D. Brown (624)#
  136. Covenant Keepers Wendy Watson Nelson (74)#
  137. A Lasting Impression Tamera Alexander (432)
  138. Sold on a Monday Kristina McMorris (344)#
  139. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun Elle Cosimano (304)#
  140. From Grace to Charity Emily Belle Freeman (144)#
  141. The Robe Lloyd C. Douglas (528)#
  142. Hana’s Suitcase: A True Story Karen Levine (120)
  143. Holes Louis Sachar (272)*^
  144. The Law Of Love Steve Young (208)#
  145. Wyoming Wild Sarah M. Eden (256)#
  146. Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand Carla Kelly (365)
  147. Take a Chance on Me Beth Moran (356)#
  148. People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry (364)#
  149. The Cottage at Hope Cove Hannah Ellis (337)
  150. A Confirmed Rake Martha Keyes (320)#
  151. The Racketty-Packetty House Frances Hodgson Burnett (90)#
  152. The Golden Enclaves Naomi Novik (407)#
  153. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle Jennifer Ryan (411)#
  154. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 6 Beth Brower (245)
  155. Me and My Little Brain John D. Fitzgerald (141)
  156. The Art of Victory Martha Keyes (292)#
  157. No Place for Monsters Kory Merritt (384)
  158. Skulduggery Pleasant Derek Landy (392)#
  159. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 5 Beth Brower (263)
  160. Spare Prince Harry (410)#
  161. One by One David A. Bednar (176)#
  162. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 4 Beth Brower (207)
  163. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3 Beth Brower (229)#
  164. You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington Alexis Coe (261)#
  165. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 2 Beth Brower (162)
  166. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #1 Beth Brower (121)
  167. Just the Way You Are Beth Moran (378)#
  168. Willodeen Katherine Applegate (272)
  169. Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty Anderson Cooper (317)#
  170. The Man Who Died Twice Richard Osman (422)#
  171. Tending Roses Lisa Wingate (336)#
  172. All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque (296)#
  173. The Q Beth Brower (612)
  174. The Last Graduate Naomi Novik (388)#
  175. The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate Jacqueline Kelly (315)
  176. Whole in Christ Robert L Millet (92)#
  177. The Book Woman’s Daughter Kim Michele Richardson (336)#
  178. The Hungry Place Jessie Haas (190)
  179. Reminders of Him Colleen Hoover (335)#
  180. The Best Intentions Sarah M. Eden (264)#
  181. A Deadly Education Naomi Novik (336)#
  182. One of Us Is Lying Karen M. McManus (360)#
  183. The Truth about Miss Ashbourne Joanna Barker (252)#
  184. Truly Madly Guilty Liane Moriarty (517)#
  185. Faking Christmas by  (340)#
  186. A Bountiful Kitchen by  (365)
  187. Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms by  (308)
  188. Good Night, Mr. Tom by  (320)^**

I have the hardest time narrowing down my favorites, and so I listed my five star reviews of the year.  

Here are my top 16 favorite fiction reads – some are from the same series or from the same author:

  • One Kiss Alone by Nichole Van
  • Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
  • Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
  • The Q by Beth Brower
  • A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
  • The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
  • The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
  • The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
  • Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
  • The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
  • Just the Way You Are by Beth Moran
  • We Are Family by Beth Moran
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Books 2, 3, 4, and 5) by Beth Brower

These are my top 8 favorite nonfiction reads of the year:

  • I Will Lead You Along by Henry B. Eyring
  • The Teachers: A Year Inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession by Alexandra Robbins
  • Our Day Star Rising by Jeffrey R. Holland
  • Heart of the Matter by Russell M. Nelson
  • Gordon B. Hinckley: Forward With Faith by Sheri Dew
  • From Grace to Charity by Emily Belle Freeman
  • Prophets See Around Corners by Sheri Dew
  • Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein

Top six Christmas reads (I read quite a few Christmas books this year – both inspirational nonfiction and novels:

  • Shepherd, Why This Jubilee? by Jeffrey R. Holland
  • The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
  • Take Me Home by Beth Moran
  • Snowed In for Christmas by Sarah Morgan
  • Redeemer by David Butler
  • The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne

And these were my top 6 rereads of the year, a few of which I read with my kids:

  • Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian
  • Holes by Louis Sachar
  • The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
  • Grit: The Power of Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
  • The New Testament
  • The Book of Mormon
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