The beginning of a new year means a Top Ten Tuesday prompt to look back on the books I’ve read in 2023 – with a focus on my favourites of course.
About Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
My 8 Favourite Queer Books in 2023
Just when I was ready to start deciding which books to recommend Goodreads crashed. Really? Luckily I didn’t have to wait too long until I could reaccess my bookshelf. But you might find “unexpected mistake” pages following the linked titles.
Anyway, the following books aren’t in any specific order – but I’m sensing a theme of queer crime novels and queer hockey novels. Who can blame me, though?
How To Love A Dragon
by Lila Mina
I adore Lila Mina’s paranormal novels that always treat me to a gripping story, great queer and older characters, and a nice smattering of certain scenes. I was already in love with the first book of the Dragon Tamer series and the same is true for the second one. For more details head on over to my review of How To Love A Dragon.
Like Real People Do
by E.L. Massey
The Breakaway series was recommended by a trusted fellow queer blogger and I quickly fell in love with it. If you’re planning to read Like Real People Do, do yourself a favour and buy the whole series at the same time. Trust me. For my details head on over to my review of Like Real People Do.
Rookie Mistake
by Anna Zabo and L.A. Witt
A queer Hockey Romance by those two can’t be a disappointment it seems. So obviously I devoured the On The Board series so far, but I’m not sure if I love this one or the second novel more. Both are just so good!
Under the Whispering Door
by T.J. Klune
I didn’t know what to expect when going into this novel by T.J. Klune but I was excited and not even once disappointed. There is a certain comfort in knowing how a book will end – I need my happy endings, okay? – and that comfort wasn’t offered even once. So I devoured Under the Whispering Door with a nice touch of anxiety that fit this one perfectly.
Gravity
by Tal Bauer
If I come across a book by Tal Bauer, I’m gonna buy it. No questions asked. But if I come across a queer hockey book by Tal Bauer I don’t even hesitate a second. And I can say, luckily I didn’t. I had so much fun reading Gravity and I’m already missing its characters.
The Face in the Water
by Gregory Ashe
I was part of Gregory Ashe’s Kickstarter for the Iron on Iron series and boy am I glad I was! Before picking up The Face in the Water I was in a serious reading slump. Then I started reading it and I couldn’t stop myself. So I read all available novels of that one – I NEED the last one right this instant!
They Told me I Was Everything
by Gregory Ashe
After Iron on Iron, I basically inhaled The First Quarto series, which I still had on my TBR.
The Same Breath
by Gregory Ashe
Iron on Iron introduced me to Tean and Jem, so after The First Quarto I had to buy the whole The Lamb and The Lion series and also inhaled that one. I’m really sad there are just three novels so far though. I need more of those two!
To help myself endure the waiting time until Iron on Iron’s last book is published, I picked up the Hazard and Somerset novels by Gregory Ashe. Don’t ask me how often I’ve re-read those. I would have named Pretty Pretty Boys for this list, too, but I made myself wait until January 1st to grant myself a good start with my Book Blogger’s BuJo.
With some of these books, I really had to make sure I’ve read them in 2023. My sense of time has been warped this year.
Which books did you fall in love with in 2023? Let me know in the comments!
Categories: Memes
The Queer Bookish 
Someday I’ll read a T.J. Klune book. I hope 2024 is a great reading year for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I highly recommend The House in the Cerulean Sea, too. And likewise! May you only encounter books you end up enjoying!
LikeLike
I’m glad you found so many great books to love in 2023. Here’s to many more in 2024!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! May your year be filled with awesome reads as well!
LikeLike
UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR and TJ Klune’s other novels have been on my TBR for a few years now. I need to just need to read them already, lol. I’m glad you enjoyed all of these so much! Happy 2024!
https://jennielyse.com/top-ten-tuesday-43/
LikeLiked by 1 person
My first Klune book was How To Be A Normal Person which I’ve re-read (and re-listened) way too many times already.
Hopefully, you’ll enjoy Klune’s work as well!
LikeLike
Klune’s book was great. Glad you loved it so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really did love it and I can see a re-read happening this year already.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, I love this list. Very cool.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your comments always put a smile on my face, thank you!
LikeLike