Mid Year Reading Roundup & Recommendations

For the past few years I like to set a reading goal at the beginning of each year. For 2023 my goal was to read a total of 30 books!

Last year I read 24 books (two a month give or take) which is the most I have EVER read in one year, so I wanted to up the number of books and challenge myself. It’s now July which means we have made it over halfway to my reading finish line!

So far I have totaled 14 books (I am two behind schedule!!). It’s always good to have a mid year check-in on your goals to see where you need to make changes and adjust things to reach them come December.

With that said, let’s get into the reads. I’ll be sharing:

1. 5 Star Books
2. 4 Star Books
3. 3 Star Books
4. Favorite Book So Far
5. Books on my TBR for the rest of the year

5 STAR BOOKS

*in no particular order

1. BOUNDARIES by Henry Cloud (A self-help read that would benefit everyone that shows readers how to set healthy boundaries in all relationships and areas of our lives.)
2. LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus (A unique and vibrant story following an quirky chemist/single-mom in the 1960s who begins to pave the way for women to do anything they set their minds to.)
3. MEANT TO BE by Emily Giffin (An incredibly binge-worthy, charming, swoon-worthy romance novel loosely based on the relationship between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.)
4. THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett (A must-read novel set in 1962 Mississippi following the POV of two black maids and one young white woman. The three of them team up together to tell their stories and change the status quo.)

4 STAR BOOKS

*in no particular order

1. DREAMLAND by Nicholas Sparks
2. A FLICKER IN THE DARK by Stacy Willingham
3. A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman
4. IT STARTS WITH US by Colleen Hoover
5. WINTER IN PARADISE by Elin Hilderbrand
6. MEET ME AT THE LAKE by Carley Fortune
7. THE HOUSEMAID by Freida Stockett (recommend the audiobook)
8. THE FIVE STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand

3 STAR BOOKS

*in no particular order

1. THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank
2. FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by Matthew Perry (recommend the audiobook)

FAVORITE BOOK SO FAR:

My favorite book so far of 2023 is… *drumroll* MEANT TO BE by Emily Giffin! I absolutely fell in love with this story, the characters, and Giffin’s writing style. I wouldn’t call myself a fast reader by any means, but I finished this book in 24 hours! I was captivated from the start and addicted to the thrill of what would happen next. That doesn’t happen often in a romance story for me! Definitely one to read this year!!

10 BOOKS ON MY TO BE READ LIST:

1. REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt (currently reading this one)
2. HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry
3. THE MEASURE by Nikki Erlick
4. SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES by Jojo Moyes
5. THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY (series) by Jenny Han
6. AGE OF VICE by Deepti Kapoor
7. DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver
8. ZERO DAYS by Ruth Ware
9. THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware (new release)
10. ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS by Stacy Willingham

I’D LOVE TO KNOW ↓

What has been your favorite book of 2023 so far?? Let me know in the comments below!