Now that we’re nearing the end of the year it’s fun to think back to the bookish “firsts” of 2023. I found this tag over at Metaphors and Moonlight but it originated at girlxoxo. (The categories have been switched up a bit over time, so I decided to pick and choose which ones I wanted to include and added some of my own.)
FIRST BOOK READ THIS YEAR
Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller: I really loved this book. It’s a fantastic contemporary with just a hint of paranormal flair, and I recommend it often at Barnes & Noble!
FIRST BOOK THAT SLAYED ME
Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca: I looked back at all the books that I read and found the first one that got my highest rating and really stuck with me. I adored the concept of this one – there’s something about twins that’s always fascinating for middle grade readers, and this one deals with mental health issues in a really great way. Plus, you know I love verse novels!
FIRST BOOK REVIEWED
One Girl in All the World by Kendare Blake: I am a HUGE Buffy fan. so I was so excited to read and review this one. It lived up to all my hopes and expectations. (I’m actually currently listening to an Audible Original called Slayers that features voice work by many of the original actors from the show – Buffy fans shouldn’t miss it!)
FIRST BOOK BY AN AUTHOR I’VE READ BEFORE
The Girl in White by Lindsay Currie (This is actually the third book that fits this category because Jennifer Chan was the first and One Girl was the second, and I don’t like to repeat answers.): I absolutely loved Scritch Scratch, so I was eager to read another Lindsay Currie. I’ve read another one since (and I’m reading one right now!), so you can obviously tell I’m a fan of Currie’s books!
FIRST BOOK BY A DEBUT AUTHOR
Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt: Another verse novel! Kuyatt’s debut is fabulous, and it gives a great perspective on a person on the autism spectrum. Highly recommend!
FIRST BOOK BY A NEW-TO-ME AUTHOR
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen: I’d had this book on my TBR for way too long, and I’m so glad I finally read it (well, technically, I listened to it) because I loved it! Now I just have to continue the series.
FIRST AUDIOBOOK
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat (Technically the second audiobook, as Little Thieves was the first): I love Soontornvat’s books, and this one was no exception. I especially loved the morally gray characters and the dilemmas that the MC faced.
FIRST GRAPHIC NOVEL
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott, illustrated by Harmony Becker: My son read this book at school and then brought it home for me to read. I was very glad he did because it’s a fantastic graphic novel that portrays the complexities of war and a horrific piece of American History. (Apparently I never reviewed this one, though, so I can’t give you a link to read my review).
FIRST 2023 RELEASE
Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat: This book is perfect for those younger middle grade readers who love fantasy but aren’t ready to graduate to the lengthy tomes that dominate the fantasy space.
FIRST WRITING CRAFT BOOK
Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell: This tiny little book is a true gem and really inspired me when outlining my current WIP. (I didn’t review this one either, but trust me when I say it’s definitely worth reading.)
Let me know one of your firsts of 2023 in the comments – or write your own post and give me a link!
Great job with this one. I would have to really dig to figure out the answers to these prompts. I loved Buffy too, but I have not read any books based on the character.
I keep a spreadsheet with all the books I’ve read, so it was relatively easy for me to look at it and find the answers to these firsts. Otherwise it would have been way too much trouble!
OOh nice list of firsts! Definitely going to have to do this post this weekend! Hopefully! Lol. Just learned of an author event on Friday night and I have to dive into my storage unit to find my book by the author! Not sure how I missed this announcement as I usually know these things in advance! Lol. But this looks like fun! Great post!
Oh, cool! Who are you seeing and where?
It was Gina Chen and another author I’m not familiar with. Gina wrote Violet Made of Thorns. I remember liking it and had hoped for a sequel but I’m not sure where it stands now.
Pretty much every book in this post is on my TBR list. I’m especially looking forward to the Tae Keller one.
Yay you did the tag too! How fun that we both had great books as our first books of the year. And it sounds like you’ve been finding a lot of great books this year in general! (I also didn’t want to repeat answers lol.)
Ooh, this is a fun tag! I’ll have to save this and do my own post! One Girl in All the World is the only one I’ve read from the list.