I wasn’t sure if I should create a
list a to-be-read (TBR) list for 2023, because I didn’t hold myself accountable
for my TBR list for 2020. But then again, 2020 was an overall unpredictable
year.
Like 2020, my list of books to read
in 2023 will include fiction and non-fiction. I’ll leave the poetry books to
chance.
On a positive note, I just realized
that I read 2 books from the 2020-to-read list in 2022! Yay! (Or how embarrassing!)
Those books were Bound by Kirsten Weiss and Uncommon Service: How to Win by Putting
Customers at the Core of Your Business by Frances Frei & Anne
Morriss. I’ve not reviewed Uncommon Service yet, but I’ve shared a few quotes
from the book on Instagram
and LinkedIn.
I figured I’d give the TBR-list-blog-post another
go. Especially since I’d like to read more non-fiction books. And maybe I’ll be
able to hold myself a bit more accountable this time. At least to complete 50%
to 60% of this list.
If you’ve read any of these books, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Or if you’re planning to read any of them,
let me know and let’s share each other’s reviews.
Note: I’ll
be updating this list with reviews of the books I read.
Further reading: Here are my best books of 2022
Books to
Read in 2023: My TBR Non-Fiction List
So, what am I planning
to read in 2023?
Let’s look at the non-fiction books
first. Then, I’ll try to list a few of my upcoming fiction reads.
Published:
The Proven Path From Blank Page to Published Author by Chandler Bolt One of my books to read in 2023 is Published:
The Proven Path From Blank Page to Published Author by Chandler Bolt from
Self-Publishing School, now Selfpublishing.com.
I don’t remember what I signed up to on SPS but I got a free copy of this book
and I can’t wait to start reading it!
Plus, I want to start my publishing
journey, so this should be a good start to getting published.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Bringing this book back from 2020,
I’d like to try again and read Atomic Habits by James Clear.
I've heard many good things about
this book. And I desperately need to create a few positive habits –
specifically time-management-related habits – in 2023.
So, what better way to start?
Reading Atomic Habits sounds like a pretty good idea.
Red Flags:
How to Spot Frenemies, Underminers, and Toxic People in Your Life by
Wendy L. Patrick
I picked up
this hardcover book a few years ago. It’s been collecting dust on my shelves
for a while. This year, I’d like to read. I’ve been diving into human psychology
for various reasons.
So, Red Flags should jump on my books to read in
2023.
I also want to read more physical books instead of just having them sit on my
shelves. Red Flags is one of them.
This Is
Marketing by Seth
GodinIf you work in marketing, then Seth
Godin’s This Is Marketing is one of the highly-recommended books in the
field. When I’m not a book blogger, I’m a freelance B2B copywriter. So, I live
and breathe marketing – or specifically content marketing.
I’ll let you know how helpful This
Is Marketing really is when I get to it.
Writing
the Cozy Mystery by
Nancy J. CohenI request this book a while back
from its author Nancy J. Cohen. Every time I say I want to start it, I pull
back because I want to time the read it when I can also work on my cozy
mystery.
Since I’ve not been able to do much
creative writing in the past 2 years, I decided I’ll read Writing the Cozy Mystery
in 2023 regardless of my writing schedule or plans.
I’m really looking forward to reading
this one. Plus, it’s one of those self-help books on writing that’s short.
Everything
Is F-cked by Mark
MansonI read the first book in this
series, The
Subtle Art of Not Giving a F-ck, about 2 years ago (how time flies!). Now,
I want to start this one.
Mark Manson’s are books are those
easy-looking but effective books. They’re light, with a decent amount of
storytelling.
Read my review, featuring book quotes,
of The
Subtle Art of Not Giving a F-ck.
 |
Here are my books to read in 2023. The print books at least. |
Books to
Read in 2023: My TBR Fiction List
Now, on to the fun books. If you’ve
been following this blog, you’ll know my two favorite genres are Fantasy and
Mystery. The latter includes thriller, cozy mystery, and paranormal cozy
mystery.
As I sat down to write this list, I
tried to add a few other genres but it seems I was unsuccessful. We’ll just
have to wait and see what other books pop up during the year that I add here.
The Case
of the Uncommon Witness by Alison GoldenI’ve been in love with this series
since I discovered it during the pandemic. The Case of the Uncommon Witness
is the nineth book in the Detective Inspector David Graham Series. It’s also my sixth (?) book in the series.
As part of Alison Golden’s book
review street team, I should read and review this book in January. So, fingers
crossed that I do so.
Dead
Letters by Sheila
LoweI received a free copy of Dead
Letters from its author Sheila Lowe in exchange for an honest review that’s
LOOOONG overdue!
So, I’m bumping up this book to my 2023 to-read list as much
as I can.
It's a mystery, thriller with a stint in Egypt. So, I'm super curious and excited to start reading Dead Letters.
Echo: The Curse
of the Blackwood Witches by Yasmine MaherYasmine is a friend and former work
colleague. And in 2022, she published Echo: The Curse of the Blackwood
Witches and I started it but haven’t finished it. I look forward to
finishing it around February.
It's an urban fantasy novel with magic, witches, and monsters. Plus, it's written by a friend. :)
Murder in
Mesopotamia by Agatha
ChristieLast year, I bought a set of Agatha
Christie books. I had planned to read Murder in Mesopotamia last year
but I had fewer reading months and hours in 2022 than I did in previous years.
I’m planning to read Murder in
Mesopotamia during the summer when I’ll, hopefully, have more time and will
need paperbacks for reading on the beach.
The Murder
of Roger Ackroyd by
Agatha ChristieAnother book by Dame Agatha
Christie. My friend and work colleague Mai recommended this book to me. And as
a lover of all things mystery, I’m adding it to my list of books to read in
2023. Possibly another summer read.
Yes, I
know. My summer reading looks like it’s going to full of murder! Can’t complain
:D
A Good
Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly JacksonThis book has been getting lots of
positive reviews. In fact, it currently has 484,000 ratings, with over 250,700 5-star
reviews on Goodreads. So, it must be good, right?
It’s a paperback and on my books to
read list for 2023. So, I’ll let you know how it turns out.
It’s likely going to be a summer
read so you may have to wait a bit though.
Andersen’s
Fairytales by Hans Christian AndersenI bought this paperback copy of
Andersen’s Fairytales years ago! I found another fairytales book in my car recently and figured it’s time to pick this one up again. I had read a few
stories, but don’t remember any of them.
So, here’s another paperback book
added to my 2023 to-read list.
The City
of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
“Step into The City of Brass, the spellbinding
debut from S. A. Chakraborty, an imaginative alchemy of The Golem and the
Jinni, The Grace of Kings, and Uprooted, in which the future of a magical
Middle Eastern kingdom rests in the hands of a clever and defiant young con
artist with miraculous healing gifts.” This is the opening of the blurb for
The City of Brass via Goodreads. I received a free copy in an
international giveaway by the author several years ago and I’ve no idea why I
didn’t start this book.
2023 is going to be the year I read
it. *fingers crossed*
The Ocean
at the End of the Lane by Neil GaimanI bought this book based on a
recommendation from a friend – I think! It’s one of the shorter books on my
2023 to-read list so I hope it’ll be a quick and good read.
Besides, I haven't read anything for Neil Gaiman yet. So, 2023 is a good time to start.
Final Words
Based on this list, I have 14 books.
My to-read reading target for 2023 is 24 books. I’ve realized that there are
months when I can read more often, and months when I can’t read at all.
December 2022 was one of those months. And so far January is proving to be
problematic too. ☹