Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I'm back with a yearly tradition, which is talking about my Favourite Books of the year!
Some of these might be completely expected, but a couple others you might be surprised!
There's a whole lot to get through, so without further ado, let's get into it.
I hope you enjoy this list.
1. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
I always knew this was a book I was going to like, because it tells the story of two video game developers reuniting again, after years apart. I knew I was going to like it because it gave me a feel for a culture and lifestyle completely different to my own.
I was not expecting to love it as much as I did- which was mostly due to the turmoil and heartache that I was feeling- due to two characters never being able to say what they were truly feeling.
I was not expecting to cry whilst reading a book about video game developers- but cry I did.
And now, several months later, to my delight, I see this book cropping up everywhere- because it's now available in paperback.
This book is so amazing, I wish everyone would go and read it.
2. Grown Ups, by Marian Keyes
Where do I find the words to describe this book? Where do I find the words to describe how I feel about this book?
It was so good... all the main characters were engaging and fleshed-out- I loved most of them, hated a couple, and honestly, in a story this good, that just means that the character must have been extremely well-written for me to hate them as much as I did.
So many nuances, so many plotlines, side-plots or main plots, they all felt equally as good. No chapter was boring, no relationship was badly written- this book was everything that I was looking for and more. I will definitely be picking up more of Marian Keyes in the future.
I have all my in-depth thoughts on this book linked into the title, but long story short- I can see why this was winning all the bookish categories on Goodreads and online. It's so beautiful, descriptive but not too much, and the story is mysterious and compelling but oh, so gorgeous at the same time. The language is stunning, Kyla's character is the only one I want to read about.
Just, an amazing story.
4. Get A Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1), by Talia Hibbert
I have always been about reading books that give minority groups representation, and when I heard about Get A Life, Chloe Brown, I knew this was a book for me. There are so few books about young people living with a chronic pain disorder, so that was an interest point, but the main thing for me was this: it's a book about challenging yourself, about trying new things, even when scared to do so.
Chloe Brown was the perfect protagonist: sensible, caring, but wanting to throw caution to the wind to try the things she wants, but also doesn't, want to do. I was gripped by her POV straight away, and all the way through as well. Thoroughly enjoyed this and so happy I managed to get to it (it had been on my Want to Read shelf for several years).
5. Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds
Basically, I bought this book in a "spur of a moment" moment.
I walked into a local bookshop, saw the book, read the blurb, picked it up and bought it.
Not even a few pages in, and I was bawling my eyes out.
Long Way Down tells the story of Will, on his way to kill the man that killed his brother.
Because where he's from, there are three rules:
No crying.
No snitching.
Revenge.
But as each floor of the lift he's on descends, Will learns a part of the story he never knew.
The only question at the end is: will this turmoil ever end if Will doesn't get off the elevator?
Bloody emotional, this book. Told in verse, perfectly written, absolutely heart-wrenching.
The most heart-breaking part is that this can and will still happen in parts of the UK, the US even.
Wonderful read.
6. A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman
I can't really tell you anything about this book other than it's about a man called Ove but honestly, it's probably better you go into this book blind if you haven't read it yet. And you should.
Okay, with these last two books, I want to say something first. It's not that I didn't like the other books, honestly I did. It's just that these are the stand-outs in my eyes, the books I still think about the most, even after finishing them a while back (especially with The Storm Sister, which I finished in August)!
7. The Storm Sister (The Seven Sisters #2), by Lucinda Riley
8. The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6), by Lucinda Riley
So, when you're reading a series on and off for four months, it's easy to merge each novel into one very long story, and forget what parts came from what book. Not with this series. Each book had a new protagonist, a new journey, and a new heritage to seek. I loved every single book in this series, but these two are serious standouts.
I chose The Storm Sister as a favourite because I just adore Ally as a character. She goes through so much, not only losing Pa Salt, but someone else close to her. But through the storm, she still manages to keep her head, even when everything she knows about herself is gone and make it through.
I love her passion, her loyalty, and her kindness- she never makes the selfish decision, no matter what she might be going through. If there was one story I wish I could read again, with fresh eyes, it would hands down be this one- I was desperate to read the next book after finishing this.
As for Electra, her story is so inspiring, I just had to include her. She's very much the modern sister, living with the same pressures that young people face on social media everyday- the need to be perfect, to not have imperfections- or they risk losing everything they've worked for.
We meet her at a very low point, dealing with everyday stresses with the abuse of drugs and alcohol- and in need of help. But she eventually faces up to her issues and even though it isn't an easy road, you start to see the character you always know she is capable of being- but couldn't before. I love her character arc, and I wish I could read about her forever.
Okay! Those are my Favourite Books of 2023!
I hope you enjoyed reading about them, and feel free to let me know in the comments what your favourite books of the year are!
I hope you have a wonderful evening, wherever in the world you are, and I'll see you all soon!
Byeeee!
-Abi xxxxx
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