I’ve had a really strong start to 2023 when it comes to my reading. At the time of writing this post, I’ve read 7 books so far in 2023! In true new year, not so me new fashion, I’m behind on sharing my thoughts on some of those books, so here’s some mini thoughts on some books I’ve read this year. I’m feeling a little inspired by 2022 rounds-ups from people like Abby of Write On With Miss G, who shared their thoughts on ALL the books they read in 1 sentence per book. 

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walthers – The Summer of Broken Rules is the kind of book I would save for a summer day, following a girl staying at her family’s Martha Vineyard’s estate for her cousin’s weekend & whose swept in a family-wide game of assassin. I totally understand the hype for this book for its cute romance, summer setting, and focus on family & loss, as the main character has recently lost her older sister. I’m looking forward to reading K.L.Walther’s debut and her 2023 release, What Happens After Midnight. My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins – I admit that I likely would’ve passed on Rachel Hawkins’s latest release if it hadn’t been picked as Bad on Paper’s January Book Club pick. This book has been hyped as The White Lotus meets Daisy Jones & the Six meets thriller. I see the comparisons based on the book’s setting (Italian villa) and premise, since the story alternates between two kind’ve best friends’ vacation and the villa’s past when a famous rockstar stayed there and someone was murdered, but wouldn’t necessarily recommend the book based on those comparisons alone. The book also has the addictive quality everyone has talked about (I gobbled it up in one afternoon spent sitting on the couch), but I don’t think it will be particularly memorable and there’s a plot hole or two that’s still bothering me (being as non-spoiler as possible, but if you’ve read it, the thing that was hidden and where it was found..). My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng – I really enjoy Celeste Ng’s books, but I was waiting for the right mood right time to read Our Missing Hearts.It was a good book, but I agree with reviews saying that it didn’t bring anything too new the dystopian meets contemporary America genre, other than shedding more light on how Asian Americans have been treated throughout history & more recently in the US. My Rating: 4/5 Stars 

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes – I read and LOVED two YA novels that received national award attention last year, All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (THE National Book Award Winner) and The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum. Sonora Reyes’s The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School has received similar acclaim and attention. I think readers of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston’s novels would really enjoy this book, following a Mexican-American girl’s transition to attending a Catholic high school with her brother & having to hide her sexuality from her family and classmates. My Rating: 4/5 Stars

What you have read so far in 2023? Have you read any of the books that I shared? Share in the comments!