For the last five years or so, I’ve been averaging around 50 books a year, down from the few years before that when I was reading about 70-75 a year, down from the horrific early days of blogging when I was gorging on 150-225 books yearly and feeling sick all the time from it. So far, 2023 is shaping up to be mid-level when it comes to reads – not quite as low as the past few years, but not quite as high as the years before that. I’ve finished 32 books at the six month mark, abandoned one, and culled another 34 from my potential list of reads. This is actually the first year I’ve ever tracked culled books (because sometimes they go off my list in less than a page of reading), so I have no idea how this compares to normal. I just thought it was an interesting thing to look at. Likely I’ll never do it again in later years, heh.

Anyway, my year in reading has been dominated by dark books – mysteries, thrillers, dark supernatural, horror, etc. It’s almost like I’ve been RIP reading all year. Just what I’ve been in the mood for I suppose. My favorite by far in these last six months has been Hide by Kiersten White, with a few others rounding out other standouts: The Books Eaters, Good for a Girl, The Spare Man (all from January!); and two runner-ups: Nettle & Bone, The Last Remains. Until June, I was actually reading about 50/50 physical and audio books, but I’ve struggled to get into any audiobooks I’ve had since early May. My strained relationship with Audible hasn’t helped.

As for my Priorities list for the year, I’ve done pretty well with it. I’ve been able to cross off 23 titles (15 read, 7 culled, 1 with a new publishing date in 2024). Of the remaining 11, 6 have release dates after June, 3 are sitting on my shelf waiting for me, 1 isn’t available through my library, and 1 I’m still on the hold list waiting my turn. Not too shabby. Of course, I’m not a huge fan of having so many physical books on my TBR (5, plus a 6th on Audible). I usually don’t like to buy books before I’ve read them except in special circumstances, and I’ve let myself go overboard a lot over the last year. It’s unfortunately lead to several culled books that I paid for and then didn’t read. Sigh. My virtual TBR has grown quite significantly as well, sitting at an extra 20-25 books beyond my Priorities list.

A lot of the TBR growth, both physical and virtual, is because of Nowhere Bookshop, which is probably my favorite new book-related find of 2023. I adore the shop, and yes, I buy too much when I go there! It’s also gotten me out of my comfort zone with my first ever “blind date with a book” purchase, as well as a “no pressure” book club (just a chat hangout deal). Other fun stuff for the year include switching over from GoodReads to StoryGraph, and the kinda-monthly book-based subscription box from the Year of Sanderson kickstarter. (I say kinda-monthly because several of the boxes have been delayed due to manufacturing timing.) I’m really enjoying these boxes and look forward to the rest of the packages. The two remaining books coming as part of the kickstarter are the two I was most anxious to read, too.

Speaking of most anxious, the books I’m most looking forward to reading in the second half of the year are:

• Defiant, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man (Brandon Sanderson)
• System Collapse (Martha Wells – the next Murderbot!!)
• Mister Magic (Kiersten White, seems to be in the same style as Hide!)
• The Running Grave (Robert Galbraith)

I’m sure more will be added to that list eventually. I’m still watching out for some of my favorite authors/series for when their next releases will be!