As 2023 approaches, countless people are creating goals and resolutions for the new year. A returning objective of many, myself included, is to read more. Nonetheless, no matter how much I read, deciding what to pick up next can be, at times, intimidating. So, I figured I’d share some books that I’ve read this past year, all of which have left remarkable impressions and continue to linger in the back of my mind, that you should read in the new year.
If you want something entertaining…
Daisy Jones and the Six follows Daisy Jones, as she tours and merges with a 70s rock band called The Six. It follows the group as they rise in popularity and the many incidents that lead to their splitting up.
I not only loved the plot and setting of this book, but the format was also extremely unique, as the story is told as an interview. It lets you see all the different perspectives, and how the characters have grown and evolved since their music careers.
Not to mention, now is a perfect time to read the book as the screen adaptation is in the works to be released soon…
If you like Sally Rooney…
If you’re looking for something that talks about topics such as relationships, power dynamics, class and ambition, A Very Nice Girl by Imogen Crimp is a great option. I actually picked this novel up because I had heard that it somewhat resembled Sally Rooney’s work, and I was not disappointed.
A Very Nice Girl follows Anna at the London Conservatory as she pursues her ambitions of opera singing. Later on, she meets a man named Max. An older and wealthier man, Max quickly captures Anna’s attention; The two progressively evolve into quite a toxic pairing.
The protagonist often finds herself in a state of conflict with her many desires (human connection, to follow her career aspirations, to be financially secure, etc.) as she tries to find both her identity and place in society.
If you want to read for a fun atmosphere…
Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados has been one of my favourite reads by far; it was an incredibly fun book and I am already planning on returning to it in the summer.
The story follows Isa and her friend Gala as they spend their summer in New York, with very little funds. They find jobs that offer them some cash, like selling clothes at the market, and in the later hours they charm and integrate their ways into the lives of different socialites, entrepreneurs, etc.
Granados is incredibly witty and charming in her writing, and although there isn’t much of a plot, the general atmosphere she creates throughout the story is captivating.
If you want a classic…
I know this is far from a recent piece of literature, but I decided to try and read Play it as it Lays in early 2022, and have been enthralled by Joan Didion’s work since. This book is far from a joyful read, and it deals with some very heavy topics, however once I picked it up I could not put it down.
Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion is about Maria, a former actress in the late 60s. The book opens with the protagonist in an institution of some sort, and as it progresses we see as she reflects on her life, and the many events that ultimately led to her break down.
Covering themes like loss, nihilism, identity and gender inequality, this is a story that I continue to think about nearly a year later.
*Content warnings: Abortion, suicide, drug-use, mental illness, physical abuse, death, institutionalization*
If you like reading YA…
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a fun young adult mystery trilogy, which has been fully released as of this year.
Avery Grambs’ life is completely changed when she receives nearly the entire inheritance of Tobias Hawthorne. However, she has no idea who Tobias Hawthorne is. As she moves into the Hawthorne House and meets Tobias’ four grandsons, Avery is met with a multitude of puzzles and riddles that she hopes will ultimately lead her to her biggest mystery: How is she tied to the Hawthornes?
These books are such easy reads, and I typically got through each one within 24 hours. It brought me to a whole other world, and I loved trying to decode everything at the same time as the characters were.
All in all, 2022 was a great year of reading for me, full of amusing and intriguing reads that leave me wishing I could read them for the first time once more. I came across a wide range of novels, and whether they made me laugh, cry, reflect, or just escape, I’ve been appreciative of each literary journey that I’ve taken this year. That being said, I simply cannot wait to see what 2023 has in store, and what I’ll be reading next.