It’s time for my annual end-of-year tradition — all the books I meant to read! Here’s a look back at all the books I purchased in 2023, but just didn’t get around to reading for one reason or another.
When it comes to physical books, I seem to have improved my track record during this past year! I bought fewer hard copies overall, and many of the hardcovers and paperbacks I purchased were copies of books I’d already read, loved, and then decided to add to my bookshelves.
In terms of e-books, there are many, many more of those purchased in 2023 but not yet read. I tend to grab copies of ebooks when I see a good deal, not necessarily when I have an immediate intention of reading them right away. So, you’ll see lots and lots of new Kindle books added in 2023… and most of them still to be read.
Let’s get to it. Here’s a salute to my unread books of 2023!
First, the hardcovers and paperbacks. Several of these are illustrated/artsy versions of books I’ve already read (Tolkien-related and Harry Potter, among others)… but I’m including them here because I have yet to spend any time even looking through them.
As for the ebook added to my Kindle library in 2023:
Whew, that’s a lot! I’ll do my best to get through my already-owned books and cut back on adding to my library in 2024… but I seem to have said that at the start of each of the past several years, and we see how well that’s worked out for me. Still, on the bright side — I have a lot of great reading to look forward to!
Have you read (and loved) any of my 2023 “meant-to-read” books? Please let me know if you see any you’d consider best of the bunch!
Onward to 2024! Happy New Year!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
The Second Mrs Astor was great. I hope you enjoy your fabulous haul here when you get to it.
Thank you! I really was intrigued when I heard about The Second Mrs. Astor — I’ll definitely try to make it a priority in 2024!
I really enjoyed it. I hope you like it just as much.
Oh wow, look at all those Kindle books! I really enjoyed The Villa and What Never Happened, and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir!! I need to get a copy😁
The Villa sounded really good when I first heard about it, so I just to find time (for that one and all the rest!). I put The Ghost and Mrs. Muir on my classics-to-read list, so maybe I’ll get it next time there’s a Classics Spin (I hope!)
I really enjoyed Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice!
I’m looking forward to finally reading it!
That is a lot of ebooks! But hey, you’ll never be at a loss for a good book to read. And there’s always next year to try and get caught up. (Or to add to the list.) ;D
Sadly, I think I’m more likely to keep adding rather than getting caught up… but I just can’t resist when I see a good ebook for $1.99!
Wow, you better get busy, you have a new year ahead of you and that means a LOT more books.
Ha, I know… it’s just impossible to keep up! I think I need to take a year away from the world for a reading retreat (wouldn’t it be great if that actually existed?)
I’m definitely guilty of adding too many ebooks but you can’t beat a good deal lol! I hope you enjoy these!
I really do want to read all of these books… but I guess I need to get better at resisting when I see e-books listed for $1.99!
I read We Ride Upon Sticks this past year and from what I remember of it, it was an interesting concept, but I didn’t like it all the time. It was still a really cool book and I’d recommend it!
Good to know! I picked it up at a used bookstore and thought it looked good — I still intend to read it eventually!
I simply LOVE This idea of highlighting the books you wanted to read but didn’t get to… and so many good ones here! I loved Legendborn and enjoyed A Darker Shade of Magic (though I didn’t enjoy book 2 and have since decided that Schwab’s writing style isn’t for me haha).
Happy reading to you!
Thanks! Legendborn was highly recommended to me by someone whose reading tastes usually align with mine, so I’m definitely looking forward to reading it (when I get the time…)
I just got a copy of Just One Damned Thing After Another. Fingers crossed that I actually read it in the new year. And the MinaLima Prisoner of Azkaban was such fun to interact with.
I love the MinaLima HP books! I still have to spend time with Chamber of Secrets too. When I got the first book, I decided to read one chapter a day and really savor it, which was a great approach, so I hope to do the same with #2 and #3.
Same here. I attempted reading them aloud to take my time with them.
Wow. What a great year of reading. I have not read any of these books. In fact I read a lot more graphic novels in 2023.
My 2023 Year in Books
My 2023 Year in Movies
I didn’t end up reading a lot of graphic novels this year, probably less than usual for me in fact. I’ll check out your reading — thanks for sharing your links!
Let’s see… Hag-Seed was excellent. A Brilliant Night… heartbreaking, and amazing (one of my favorites). By the Rivers of Babylon – really good, but not my favorite of hers. And The Golden Girls Get Away was TONS of fun! I thought I had The Second Mrs. Astor on my Kindle, but I was mistaken. I have The First Mrs. Rothschild, which I started to read, but it didn’t grab me and I DNF it. This sounds much better!
So glad to know you enjoyed all of these! I skipped Hag-Seed when it came out, but since then, I’ve both seen and read The Tempest, so now I’m much more interested. I’m looking forward to all the ones you mentioned. (Judy Leigh books are always so enjoyable!)