Books to Read in 2023: My TBR List

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 Godin

If 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. Cohen

I 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 Manson

I 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 Golden

I’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 Lowe

I 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 Maher

Yasmine 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 Christie

Last 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 Christie

Another 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 Jackson

This 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 Andersen

I 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 Gaiman

I 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. ☹

 

Nadaness In Motion's Top Books of 2019

The end of 2019 is almost here, which means it's time for another post on the top books I've read.

In 2019, I had planned to read around 12 to 15 books but ended up reading over 30 of various lengths. I started the year fearing self-help and non-fiction books but now I'm addicted to reading more and learning more.

I have several non-fiction books on my to-read list and many novels as well.

Check out the list, let me know if you've read any of these books or if you plan to read them.

Nadaness In Motion's Top Books of 2019

Clarissa's Warning by Isobel Blackthorn 

Clarissa's Warning by Isobel Blackthorn is a brilliant novel set on the Spanish Canary Island of Fuerteventura! Simply WOW!

The book begins with a strong opening both in terms of story and tone. The idea of the warning is delivered in the first chapter, keeping the reader on edge throughout the book. There were many beautiful descriptions and quotes in Clarissa's Warning.

"Despite the wind, there were pockets of stillness and the ruin exuded a timeless quality. Embedded in its dilapidated stated remained faint echoes of its history, overlaid with sorrow, as though the very stones and ancient timbers mourned their former selves, when they were united as one, strong and proud and true."

Leg Up by Annabelle Hunter

"There was a severed leg on my porch."

That's how cozy mystery novel Leg Up by Annabelle Hunter opens. From the first lines, the reader notices that Larklyn "Lark" Davis is one of the most sarcastic characters ever. And a hilarious one too.

Leg Up, the first book in the Lark Davis Mystery Series, is narrated from Lark's first person perspective, giving the reader a ton of humor and sarcasm, along with her inner thoughts. Can't wait to read more in this series.

One of the many things I enjoyed about Leg Up was the pace, which was quite fast, along with the characters. 

The Financial Diet by Chelsea Fagan

The Financial Diet by Chelsea Fagan is an interesting and fun book about the basics of personal finance. Fagan learnt the hard way what it means to have a credit card, why you can just spend, spend, spend, and why you should have a credit score.

"Did I have any other plans for retirement besides "die before my bad money choice catch up to me?" Of course not."

"Giving a shit about money doesn't seem fun, but ultimately it's the most liberating thing you can do with your otherwise chaotic young adult life."

Lost in a Quatrain by Adiela Akoo 

Lost in a Quatrain by South African author and poet Adiela Akoo is apoetry collection I'm glad to have across in 2019. I could easily enjoy and relate to many of the poems in the collection. Akoo even writes about a woman's period in "Hormonal" which is something, experienced by billions, few ever talk about.

I related to "Empty Chairs" and was moved by "Cape Town 1990" and "New Apartheid." There were many deep pieces like "Not Enough," "Broken Winged Bird," "Are YOU Ready?" "As the Rain Pitter-Pattered," "Wrapped Up," and I must mention the hilarious story-conversation-power "What's Up?"

Designs on Murder by Gayle Leeson/ Gayle Trent 

The first book in a new paranormal cozy mystery series, Designs on Murder by Gayle Leeson is about Amanda who, on a hunch, starts a fashion business in Shops on Main, a building housing several other small businesses.

"Gee, that was awkward," she said. "I was sure you knew."

"Knew?"

"That I'm a ghost."

There, Amanda discovers her ability to see the place's resident ghost, Maxine "Max" Englebright. I loved the characters. Max is smart and hilarious; she constantly lightens the mood and puts Amanda in embarrassing situations. I would definitely love to read more of this series.

Designs on Murder has also helped me with a few points I'd like to edit and fix in personal work-in-progress paranormal cozy mystery.

Love, Pride, Virtue, Fate by Bharat Krishnan

While I gave this book a 4-star rating, I feel it deserves a mention in my top books of 2019. Why? Because of the effort undertaken by author Bharat Krishnan in trying to bring Indian and Hindu mythology to readers. We've all heard of Shiva and Rishnu but what are their stories? What are the Hindu gods likes? What are their stories?

Love, Pride, Virtue, Fate tackles all of that and more. Krishnan even includes comments and why he has included each story in book.

Love, Pride, Virtue, Fate is a middle-grade and children's book of short stories, although there is one that's a bit bloody. Highly recommended read though.

On a Moonlit Night in the Antilles by Sophie Schiller

One of the books I read for National Poetry Month 2019 was Sophie Schiller's On a Moonlit Night in the Antilles, a collection inspired by the poet's visit to the Caribbean.

Comprising 30 mostly-rhyming poems, On a Moonlit Night in the Antilles is a must-read picturesque selection of poems, that paint pictures or tell the history of some of the Caribbean's historical figures.

Each poem is followed by a colourful illustration by Skaidra Zayas. I hope Schiller visits more places and writes about them.

The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace

"this is not/ a fairy tale/ there is no/ princess/ there is no/ damsel/ there is no queen/ there is no/ tower/ there are no/dragons/ there is simply/ a girl/ faced with the/difficult task/of learning to/ believe in/ herself."

This is how Amanda Lovelace begins her collection of untitled poems The Princess Saves Herself in this One, which is an interesting and emotional read. Though the writing style takes a while to get used to – if you write or read poetry regularly.

The Princess Saves Herself in this One is divided into 4 parts or stages: The Princess, The Damsel, The Queen, and You, and involves a lot of experimentation, with some poems being in bullet-points.

Bellamy by Darcy Coates

Bellamy is a creepy short story by author Darcy Coates. The story opens with Leanne who has returned to the orphanage where she and her brother were placed nearly 30 years prior. We later learn that her brother disappeared from the orphanage and was never found.

"Thirty years should have been long enough to forget the home. Thirty years should have been long enough for the dreams to stop."

Bellamy scared me and I loved it! There were lots of twists that kept me on edge and that had me read the book/story in one sitting. I can probably read this novella over and over.

WriteYour Book in a Flash by Dan Janal

In Write Your Book in a Flash, Dan Janal takes the reader through all the stages of writing a book.

While Write Your Book in a Flash primarily deals with writing non-fiction books. Some of the advice can be applicable to fiction; like starting where you feel comfortable and how to edit your book.

Update: I've published the review and there are lots of quotes and interesting tips in there. It's 5-star book and reference for anyone planning to write a non-fiction book.

"No one cares how many words your book contains. They care about reading the right content."

Did you enjoy this post? If you did, please let me know in the comments below.

And check out the Previous editions of this post:

Nadaness In Motion's Top Books of 2018

Nadaness In Motion's Top Books of 2017

Nadaness In Motion's Top Books of 2016

Nadaness In Motion's Top Books of 2015

Nadaness In Motion's Top Books of 2014

The Steps by Iveta Redliha – Book Review

Book Name: The Steps

Author: Iveta Redliha

(Available in Latvian and English)

"The empty window frames like dark forest lakes conveyed chilling secrets. It seemed as if the massive wooden doors were nailed shut in order to keep them from spilling too much information."

The Steps by Latvian author Iveta Redliha is a gripping but heartbreaking story centered around people who lived or were connected to a property called The Bradbury.

Leonora, a fresh-out-of-school greedy graduate is secretly hired to become a surrogate mother. She views the opportunity as easy money and posh living and lies her way through to get the job. She thinks she will have the time of her life partying, but soon realises that her dreams will not come true as the family she's being a surrogate for insist that she live on their premises, the Bradbury, for the duration of the pregnancy and under their rules and supervision.

Kurt and Nelly are a married couple who have been unable to conceive. They hire Leonora through a surrogacy programme to carry their baby. The moment the three of them arrive at the Bradbury, the reader meets Greta, their maid and helper, whom Leonora immediately despises and mistreats.

Meanwhile, Reyna receives a phone call, telling her that her mother has died. The investigation soon dries up after it is discovered that her mother died of a heart attack and not murdered. However, things don't add up to Reyna. Her mother had left their shared tea shop without closing down and had been meeting with an unknown man.

When Reyna receives the will, she discovers that her mother had been keeping secrets, including recently purchasing the Bradbury mansion. When she visits the run-down house, she encounters Lucas, a secretive but handsome man, who entices her from the first moment.

"Shivers ran down Reyna's spine. For a moment, she thought his last words were meant as a threat. The stranger's look had been so sharp and penetrating, horrifying and exciting at the same time."

Lucas, on the other hand, appears to despise Reyna, even though he has never met her before. However, bit by bit, he too begins to develop feelings for her. Lucas is a little reminiscent of Heathcliff from Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, except that The Steps is a much better and more exciting book.

The Steps is gripping from the start. Its pace is fast, especially as the author jumps between scenes and characters without being all over the place.

I felt that Reyna was too gullible and very trusting, particularly of strangers. She was also a bit slow, and while I realise that the purpose of her slowness is to confirm the reader's suspicions or unveil new information for the reader, I still felt she could have been a little smarter, especially since she's not a child.

I like that there are no superfluous characters in The Steps. Each character has a role to play, including the quirky, helpful and ever-giggling Lucy. Sometimes the reader wonders if she's crazy, but she is definitely the main source of comic relief in the novel.

Another character in the novel is Greta, the Bradbury's maidservant. What I liked about her is that she has her moments. In addition to always keeping tabs on Leonora, she sometimes even makes Leonora think and wake up from her attempts at seducing Kurt.

Lucas strikes the reader as a calculating character from the start. I like how Iveta Redliha give the reader bits from Lucas' thoughts, making excellent opportunity for suspense, especially since he does not mean Reyna well and the reader has no idea why he feel such animosity to someone Lucas has never met.

I liked how Iveta Redliha kept me guessing, connecting the dots, then guessing all over again.

The Steps handles a variety of themes like family, marital relationships, greed and growing up. I like how the author made the characters progress differently. Not all of them move forward, but all the main ones had some sort of character development, particularly Leonora.

One of the few things that bothered me about The Steps was the speech. There was no use of quotation marks. Instead every line begun with a dash, and there were intermittent dashes in between, making it hard to follow on who is speaking and what is part of the characters' thoughts.

Some chapters were rather long, particularly at the beginning. I don't like stopping mid-chapter.

I liked the use of imagery, both metaphors and similes throughout the novel. The description of the setting is quite picturesque and nicely done as well.

"Once their eyes locked, they couldn't look away, the gaze of their blue and grey waters merging into one whirlpool."

The Steps is full of irony, role reversals and all the literary elements a reader can dream of. Simply brilliant.

I couldn't put the The Steps down, and when I wasn't reading, I kept thinking of the characters. When I finished reading, I couldn't stop thinking about them.

"A quiet noise, like a moan or a sigh broke the silence thus startling the visitors. Lucas took it as a sign that the old building was weeping with him. If only he were alone and could let loose his suppressed grief about the house, once a beautiful home, turned into an abandoned shack, just like his soul, like his whole life…"

I liked how Iveta Redliha tied up all the loose ends at the end and I was glad I was able to correctly guess many if not all of them.

Overall, The Steps is a suspenseful, heart-breaking, gripping dark tale of a house and its inhabitants. A 10-star must-read.

Purchase The Steps by Iveta Redliha via Amazon

About the Author:

Iveta Redliha is a 39-year-old author from Latvia. She is a married mother of three wonderful children.

We have two pets, chocolate Lab named Horton and Birman cat named Smurfette. As you can see we like animated movies. :-)

I have degree in Psychology, and two professional diplomas in Stress Management Coaching and Consultancy, and Neuro Psychological Immunology. I am looking forward to work in my sphere one day.

Writing is my true passion! I have been writing since I was 8 years old, and besides prose, I love to write poetry, too.

I write fiction in the thriller/suspense/crime and mystery genres.

The Steps is my first book, not just the first translated in English, but my actual first book. It was published in Latvian in October 2013 in my country and you can still buy Soļi (The Steps) in book stores.

When I was 17, I found the poem “The Steps” by Paul Valery in my school library. The poem touched my soul so deeply, so I wrote it out on the small piece of paper. As time passed, I read the poem again and again, and knew that it has and will have some impact in my life.

When I was writing my book, I knew that the poem “The Steps” will be one of the most important things in it, and will play the major role at some point. So, when I came to choosing the title for my book, there were no doubts for me about that – The Steps was the only choice of my soul.

As for my inspiration, surprisingly for myself, mostly I find my inspiration in music, and particularly in some songs. For example, when I wrote the chapters with Lucas in them, I listened K.D Lang’s version of song “Hallelujah”, and Latvian band’s Instrumenti song “Pieturi mani sev klāt” (Hold me tight). When I wrote my new book, I mostly listened kora musicians and singers Toumani Diabaté and Sona Jobarteh (Western Africa).    

One month ago I finished my second book, and now working on it with publishers in Latvia. It is thriller/suspense as well.

Follow Iveta Redliha on Facebook.