Year In Reading

My cousin (a fellow book enthusiast and writer) had once informed me of her goal to read 100 books in one year. At the time she had not reached her goal, but she was able to accomplish over 60 books in one year. Kudos to my cousin for the effort and wonderful blog idea!

In 2012, I had decided to start small. Some might say that 25 books was a manageable number for their first year. However, I can read 25 books in my sleep (literally, I do not sleep on some nights), and I had decided that 50 books was a nice round number. I had not taken into account my busy lifestyle as a mother, writer, and secondary job enthusiast.

I was unaware of those circumstances that would hinder my efforts in reaching my goal. Thus, I have been unsuccessful. However, I am not one to give up so easily, and I am determined to continue this quest to read more books each year.

The joy I receive from reading allows me to share my views of a book with other’s who have read it. I also enjoy encouraging those who have not read it to pick it up for a new adventure. I will try not to be too harsh in my criticism (I am a writer, after all, and I know how it feels to be judged too harshly). However, in case I do, my sincerest apology to the author.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my selection. I am an avid reader and seem to have limitless boundaries as far as reading is concerned (even the toothpaste tube is within my reach). Hopefully, there will be something for everyone.

Click on the links below to read the book reviews. 

BOOKS READ

2023
So, I managed about 43 books total in 2022, probably more if I could remember ALL of the children’s books I did read to my kiddo. However, I only read 7 adult books. Seven!

I better start reading beyond the children’s section for once.


1. Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

2. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

3. A Quiet Retreat by Kiersten Modglin

4. So That Happened by Katie Bailey

5. What He Doesn’t Know by Kandi Steiner

6. The Personal Assistant by Kimberly Belle

7. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

8. Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea

9. The Hawthorne School by Sylvie Perry

10. The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand

11. August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones

12.

BOOKS READ ALONG THIS JOURNEY

Adult Books
The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones
Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen 
The Girl In The Woods by Gregg Olsen
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Heartbreak Cafe by Penelope J. Stokes
Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch
Someone Knows by Lisa Scotoline
In the Woods by Tana French
Ballad of Pinewood Lake by Jory Sherman
Save Me by Lisa Scottoline
The Girl Who Lived by Christopher Greyson
Dirty by Megan Hart
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
Tempting Fate by Jane Green
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
The Space Between Sisters by Mary McNear
What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman
From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz
Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan
What to Expect the Toddler Years
Toddler 411 by Ari Brown and Denise Fields
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult’s
What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff
Mayo Clinic Guide to Healthy Pregnancy
What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
The Oath by Frank Peretti
Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah
Good To Great by Jim Collins
Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Piece of Work by Laura Zigman
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson
Don’t Breathe A Word by Jennifer McMahon
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
Bufflehead Sisters by Patricia J. DeLois
For Her Pleasure by Maya Banks
The Island by Elin Hilderbrand
Under the Dome by Stephen King
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice
Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen
I Just Want My Pants Back by David J. Rosen
A Day in the Life of America
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun
The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah
Rabbit Heart by Colleen Hitchcock
Lisey’s Story by Stephen King
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
A Painted House by John Grisham
Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon
Encounter With Hell by Alexis McQuillan
Survivor by Robert Steele Gray
The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright
Young Adult Books
Drowning in Air by Sree Natesan (Beta Read)
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Too Young To Die by Lurlene McDaniel
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Seance by Joan Lowery Nixon
Heartsinger by Karlijn Stoffels
Children’s Books
Bluey – Bob Bilby
Llama Llama Loves Camping by Anna Dewdny
I Love You, Mommy by Igloo Books
If I Could Keep You Little by Marrianne Richmond
Noisy Things That Go by Libby Walden
Bluey – The Beach
Never Touch a Spider by Make Believe Ideas
Things That Go On Land
Happy Valentine’s Day Curious George by H. A. Rey and N. Di Angelo
Noisy Trucks by Tiger Tales
Watch Me Grow by Priddy Books
Halloween Jack
What Do People Do? by Fisher-Price
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Things That Go by Stephan Lomp
Baby Playtime! by DK Publishing
Noisy Farm by Tiger Tales
Never Touch a Shark by Rosie Greening
My Big Book of Colors by Britta Teckentrup
Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
The Big Book of Trains by DK Publishing
The Energy Bus for Kids by Jon Gordon
Trucker and Train by Hannah Stark
Hello Kitty My Home by Priddy Books
We Are In A Book by Mo Willems
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Freight Train by Donald Crews
How Trains Work by Lonely Planet Kids
Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party! by Kimberly Dean & James Dean
Pete the Cat Firefighter Pete by James Dean
Pete the Kitty Ready, Set, Go-Cart! by Kimberly & James Dean
Pete the Cat Trick or Pete by James Dean
Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss
Goodnight, Numbers by Danica McKellar
The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne
Sleepytime Tales: Little Golden Books Collection
No, David! by David Shannon
Imagine Me A Pirate! by Mark Marshall
Dog in the Fog by Sue Graves & Jan Smith
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney & Anita Jeram
Animal Songs by Fisher Price’s Little People
Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman
In A People House by Theo. LeSieg and Roy McKie
Just Like Dad by Gina and Mercer Mayer
There’s A Wocket In My Pocket by Dr. Seuss
The Jolly Barnyard by Little Golden Book
So Big! by Sesame Street Beginnings
Bubbles, Bubbles by Sesame Beginnings