This is a tag I’ve seen on booktube and book blogs alike. Here is the original tag for anyone interested.

So far this year, I’ve read 27 books, which means I’m a tiny bit ahead of my 52-book goal. In the past, I’ve set really high yearly reading goals, but I figured this year I would keep it manageable so reading doesn’t add more stress to my life. I’ve already had about three reading slumps this year, so setting a lower goal seems to have been the right decision.

According to The StoryGraph, I’ve been reading mostly “reflective”, “emotional”, and “hopeful” fiction books of a medium pace. Unsurprisingly, my top genres are LGBTQ+, YA, fantasy, and contemporary. My average rating for this year is 3.74 stars, which is a pretty high average. Even though I haven’t read a ton and have been in a couple slumps, the books I actually have read were great!

Best book you’ve read so far: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This is a new favorite book for sure. I can’t stop thinking about it and how I want to reread it and parse out the layers I probably missed the first time around.

This book is about video games, creativity, different forms of love, chronic illness, grief, traveling, collective storytelling, and so many other things. Amazing!

Best sequel you’ve read so far: Deathless Divide (Dread Nation sequel) by Justina Ireland

This book won by default because it’s the only sequel I’ve read this year. To be honest, I thought it was only okay. The pacing was off and the first book was much better than the second one, but it certainly was the best sequel I’ve read so far.

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: Darkhearts by James L. Sutter

I’ve become lax about keeping up on new releases, mostly because I don’t buy a lot of new releases, which is why I only have one on this list. This book was compared to Red, White, & Royal Blue and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, both of which I enjoy immensely. There’s music, queer romance, and parasocial relationships. I can’t wait!

Most anticipated release for second half of the year: Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong

When I read These Violent Delights, I knew Chloe Gong was going to be an auto-buy author. Since this is the sequel to the Rosalind spinoff of that duology, I can’t wait to get my hands on it. I just have to be ready for the inevitable emotional whiplash and heartbreak.

Biggest disappointment: Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore

This wasn’t a huge disappointment, but I’ve come to expect beautiful writing from Anna-Marie McLemore. Wild Beauty has some of the best imagery I’ve ever read, and their writing has been praised by many booktubers in the past. But Lakelore was just kind of lackluster. It’s told in two POVs, but they’re so similar that it’s hard to tell who is narrating. The imagery was nice every now and then, especially when describing the alebrijes, but there was too much info-dumping and not enough of the friend group.

Biggest surprise: The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

Going in, I really didn’t know a lot about this book except that Jesse the Reader had recommended it at one point and grief was a big aspect of the story. When I finished the book, I thought to myself that this is the type of YA story I want to write one day. A lot of the novel-length stories I write are kind of dark. And though this book deals with a lot of dark topics—alcohol misuse, suicide and depression, difficult family dynamics, etc.—the overall tone is not as negative as you might expect. In fact, though there a lot of moments of hopelessness, the tone is generally hopeful. The thing I like the most, however, is that this is a story that deals with deeper themes through the lens of something very specific—searching for a mythologized shipwreck. (Plus, I almost always love a quirky small town setting. It’s why I’m currently watching Gilmore Girls again… gotta love the Stars Hollow townies.)

New favorite author: Gabrielle Zevin

I would have also added Julia Drake here, but as far as I know, The Last True Poets of the Sea is the only book she has published. Gabrielle Zevin, on the other hand, has quite a few books I’m even more interested in reading now, especially The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. Her writing is absolutely astonishing, and it would be interesting to read the stories that got her writing to where it is now.

Newest fictional crush: Spider-Punk/Hobie from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

I know this character isn’t from a book, but I haven’t come across any literary characters that are crush-worthy yet. Plus, the Spider-Verse characters are all based on comics, so it sort of works! Hobie is anarchist, punk rock, British, alternative, kind in his own way, bold, and a version of Spider-Man—how could I not have a crush on him?

Newest favorite character: Marx Watanabe from Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Marx Watanabe is that rich and charismatic character you want to hate because he seems to have no cares in the world. But you can’t hate him. It’s literally impossible. He’s selfless in the way that only a rich, charming person can be; he’s happy to facilitate his friends’ dreams and see his friends succeed without recognition. He is a wonderful friend and amazing partner. He’s kind to everyone, so much so that it’s a running joke in the book that he’s still friends with all of his exes. Marx wants to experience as much as he can in his life, and he’s one of those truly rare people who are completely present in the moment.

Marx is part of one of my favorite scenes in the book (no spoilers). Marx and his current partner are in Japan at the torii gates, which are supposed to symbolize a border between the secular and sacred worlds. Marx’s partner walks slowly through the red gates while Marx saunters through in his carefree manner. As she nears the end of the walkway, she sees Marx framed in the last red gate holding his hand out to her.

As I’ve said before, I don’t see a lot in my mind when I read, but this scene was vividly clear to me. It’s beautiful, even more so in the context of the story.

Book that made you cry: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

I know I keep mentioning this book, but I wasn’t lying when I said I couldn’t stop thinking about it! Not only did this book make me cry, it made me cry several times, and at a couple points, I had to set the book down because I was feeling so many emotions.

Book that made you happy: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

And this is the book that almost made me cry happy tears, which is rare unless I’m laughing too hard. The back cover says this book is “high fantasy, low stakes,” which is a great summary of the book’s atmosphere.

It meanders at the perfect pace, like going for a walk to and from the library—your feet might hurt a little, but there’s a purpose to the outing and an overall sense of calm. Sunny with a couple of clouds shading the world every now and then. Basically, this book is any metaphor that conveys comfort.

Favorite book-to-movie adaptation you’ve seen so far: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Again, comics count, right? I’m gonna love any Spidey movie by default, but the Spider-Verse movies are so good even someone who’s not a Spidey fan would love them.

Favorite post you’ve written this year: “25 Quotes for 25 Years” (February 28) and “Less Than Before” (March 15)

I picked a regular post and a short story for this one!

The “25 Quotes” post was really fun, because I got to revisit some of my favorite movies, songs, and books. I got to share some of the quotes that have informed the way I live my life.

“Less Than Before” gave me an excuse to get my internal obsession with Pluto out in the open. I’m not sure why I like Pluto; it’s just a planet, right? But there are so many metaphorical opportunities what with Pluto being demoted to dwarf planet and named after a god of the underworld. This is the story I’m the proudest of from this year. Let’s see if I can top it.

Most beautiful book you bought this year: Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore

The cover of Lakelore is gorgeous, which is unfortunate, because I didn’t love the book and will probably give it away.

Underrated gems you’ve read recently: Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo; Red Flowers by Yoshiharu Tsuge & translated by Ryan Holmberg; The Appendix by Liam Konemann, Violet Ghosts by Leah Thomas; Crema by Johnnie Christmas, Dante Luiz, Ruan Ferrier, & Atla Hrafney

Okay, this is a long-ish list, so I’ll give quick recommendations for each.

Over My Dead Body: stunning illustrations, smooth world-building, witchy found family

Red Flowers: traveling through rural post-war Japan, glimpses into the lives of a wide array of characters

The Appendix: a short study of transphobia, transmasculinity, and the possibility of a future full of trans joy

Violet Ghosts: trans teenager who can see ghosts of murdered women, finding friendship in unlikely places, uncovering unhealthy relationships

Crema: sapphic love story, evil ghost, haunted coffee

Books to read by the end of the year: Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong, Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me by Ralph Macchio, The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe, 5 Hardy Boys Casefiles books, These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

Save for the last one, these are all books I own that I want to get to. The first three I’ve been putting off for different reasons. Foul Lady Fortune because I know it’ll be amazing and emotional; Waxing On because I want to finish watching Cobra Kai first; and The Memory Librarian because I’ll have to refamiliarize myself with the world created in Janelle Monáe’s album Dirty Computer. I want to read the Hardy Boys Casefiles books while I rewatch Only Murders in the Building before the new season comes out.

The last book is one that I accidentally led one of my new coworkers to believe I read. It has the same title as one of my favorite books by Chloe Gong, so I reacted excitedly to the title, but she quickly segued into talking about characters I didn’t know. It’s one of her favorite books, so I figure that’s a good enough recommendation, and I want to be able to not feel guilty when she brings it up.

Here’s to no more reading slumps for the rest of the year! And if there are more, here’s to finding amazing books to pull me out when needed.

-Ryn Baginski

Bonus Favorites of 2023 (So Far)

Booktuber: How to Train Your Gavin

Book Title: Live and Let Chai by Bree Baker (I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries, but they’ve got the best titles!)

Music Album: So Much (for) Stardust by Fall Out Boy

Music Video: “해금(Haegeum)” by Agust D & directed by Yong Seok Choi

Concert: The Mountain Goats w/ Adeem the Artist opening (April 11)

Song I Can’t Stop Listening To: “Alaska” by Little Hurt

Thing I Heard at Work: “Dipped, tapped, and slip-slapped” (referring to the different ways you can charge a credit card)

Alcoholic Drink: green grape-flavored soju

Cold Drink: iced coffee, with or without oat milk

Hot Drink: Genmaicha (green tea & roasted brown rice)