Last year, I ambitiously decided to call my mid-year reading challenge post “Part I,” entirely overestimating my motivation to write a Part II once the year ended. This year, I’ve learned from my mistakes. This is simply my mid-year round-up of favourite books of 2023, with no promised sequels.

Almost two years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would increase the number of books I read per year. I’ve always considered myself a reader, but during university, I found my will to read books slipping away. Reading many musicological articles for class sapped any desire to read for fun, and hours in a practice room often left me feeling too exhausted to contemplate losing myself in something as long as a book. I found myself turning mostly to one-shot fanfics, which were enjoyable, but as someone who spent a great deal of time writing books, I came to the realization that if I wanted to write books, I should probably spend more time reading them.

When I put it that way, it sounds as if going back to reading books was a chore, but it’s been quite the opposite. Making the time to read again has actually been such a relief. I fell in love with books all over again. It’s like rekindling an old friendship, like meeting up and realizing yes, we still have so much in common, and yes, we still fit together.

I’ve read 104 out of the 150 books I’d like to read this year. Without further ado, here are my favourites of the year so far! (This list excludes rereads, and while it is numbered, it’s in the order that I read them rather than in order of preference.)

1. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Before this year, I hadn’t read much romance, but I decided to give it a try, and my conclusion is that I’ve been missing out! Emily Henry does such a good job building a believable romance, and this book really hooked me. I appreciated the complexities of the characters’ lives; although the central relationship was well done, it wasn’t just about the romance. It featured a sweet relationship between sisters, for example, as well as a career crossroads for the main character. I loved watching the relationship develop and seeing the characters’ lives evolve. It was also fun to see a relationship between an editor and an agent!

2. The Gilded Page: The Secret Lives of Medieval Manuscripts by Mary Wellesley

I’m definitely a bit of a sucker for anything medieval, and I’m also fascinated by old manuscripts, so when I found this audiobook through my library, I had to give it a try! This was one of my favourite nonfiction reads of the year so far. I found the stories behind the manuscripts so fascinating, and I thought the book was well-organized and well-written. If you’re looking for a nonfiction book, I recommend this one!

3. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

I’m not always super motivated to pick up books about disasters and tragic events, but this book is definitely worth reading. The writing was fantastic. I’m amazed that Krakauer was able to write so candidly and eloquently about such a traumatic event, but it was just an incredibly crafted piece, as well as an emotional gut-punch. I think he did a very good job of describing how this disaster occurred without pointing fingers at who to blame; it struck me as a very balanced account that lets the reader draw their own conclusions based on the facts he lays out. It was a truly amazing book, and I highly recommend it.

4. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

I listened to this on audiobook as well, and because this is a book written as a long, spoken-word poem, I would definitely recommend this one on audiobook. This book sent me down a rabbit hole of reading books by this author, and I enjoyed Clap When You Land and With the Fire on High as well, although The Poet X was my personal favourite. I’ve never read a book quite like this before. I loved the format of poetry serving a longer form narrative, and both the poems and the overall narrative were so strong. I also thought the book tackled some serious issues very well. The protagonist, Xiomara, deals with issues of religion, family, and identity, and she really comes into her own through poetry. The audiobook narrator was fantastic, too!

5. Dream Work by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver is my favourite poet by far, and I think this may be my favourite collection of her poetry, maybe partially because it shows such a range. Mary Oliver is typically known for her nature poetry, I think, and there are definitely plenty of nature-focused poems in this book if that’s something you enjoy. However, it also features poems like “Rage,” which is about sexual abuse, and I think it’s the contrast between lighter themes and darker themes in this poetry book that make it so stunning. It also features some of my favourite lines of poetry (from her poem “Dogfish”): “I wanted the past to go away, I wanted / to leave it, like another country.” This is a book I could read over and over.

6. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid is turning into a must-read author for me; I haven’t read a book by her that I haven’t enjoyed. This year, I also read Carrie Soto Is Back and Malibu Rising, and those were also excellent. However, I think Daisy Jones & The Six may have been my favourite of the three. I read this on audiobook, which was a really good format to read this one in because it’s written as a series of interviews, and each character gets their own narrator. The book follows a fictional band loosely inspired by Fleetwood Mac, from their formation to their dissolution. Because of the various narrators, the book keeps you guessing at the truth; the stories told by each character can conflict. I appreciate how Taylor Jenkins Reid’s characters are all so different but all feel so real and fleshed out. As a bonus, there’s a TV version of this book, and the songs from the show are great!

7. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

The premise: a badass pirate comes out of retirement for one last adventure on the high seas. What’s not to like? I can be very picky about my fantasy, but this book impressed me. I loved that the book starred a character you don’t often see in fantasy: a mother (of an age where she has knee troubles) with a young daughter. I’m very excited to see where this series goes!

8. The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman

This was a really useful book about building a career as a writer. I thought that it included a lot of practical advice, and it definitely provided some food for thought! For anyone who aspires to make writing a part of their career, this is a must-read.

9. Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

I would describe this book as part novel, part graphic novel, and part autobiography. Some chapters in this book had me laughing out loud, and I loved the style of the illustrations. Brosh makes the mundane extremely humorous, while also tackling some heavy topics. (I also read Brosh’s Hyperbole and a Half, and I thought that one of the chapters in that book included the best description of depression I’ve ever seen in a book.) 

10. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

For her high school final project, Pippa is solving a murder. Some years ago, a girl was allegedly murdered by Sal Singh. With Sal’s brother’s help, Pippa attempts to prove Sal’s innocence, but with the murderer still on the loose, Pippa soon finds herself entangled in a dangerous situation. This was a gripping read (parts of it made me gasp out loud), and I recommend it for mystery lovers! 

It was hard to narrow down my favourites. I’ve read some amazing books this year!