Friends & Family Recommend 11 Books for 2023

I saw this post on my sister’s Facebook page. She, of course, saw it somewhere else as these things on FB go.

“To my friends and family, recommend your favorite books! I will read the first 12 which allows me one month to get through each by the end of 2023. Rules: If I have read it before, I will pass. You can only suggest one book. It has to be a book you truly love.”

I am such a bibliophile! This challenge was embraced with all of my P. G. Wodehouse, Jane Austen, Erin Morgenstern, Stephen King, and Fredrik Backman love and excitement. I transferred her request to my page as well. I held my breath while I waited for suggestions to show up in my comments. What follows is my unexpected reading list for 2023.

Photo taken by Daughter

1. MonkeeWrench by P. J. Tracy

· Audio Narrated by Buck Schirner

· Crime fiction

· First in a series of 10

· Awards: Barry Award for Best First Novel 2004, Anthony Award for Best First Novel 2004, Dilys Award nominee 2004, Minnesota Book Award for Popular Fiction 2004

· Recommended by a remote working accountant

• Thoughts before reading: P. J. Tracy actually represents 2 people — mother P. J. and daughter Tracy Lambrecht. I enjoy true crime and crime fiction so this book should be right up my alley. The audio sample left me intrigued. Buck Schirner has a voice that, so far, seems perfect for the atmosphere of the read.

2. The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx

· Narrated by Nikki Sixx, Sophie Kargman, and Ross Marquand

· Music and Celebrities

· Standalone

· Recommended by same remote working accountant

• Thoughts before reading: I know the rules say one suggestion per person, but I didn’t receive 12 suggestions. So I am listing all I received. I love Motley Crue. One of my forever theme songs is Home Sweet Home. On the other hand, I don’t gravitate toward memoirs, biographies, or the like so it will be interesting to see how this book holds my interest.

3. Belgariad series by David Eddings

· Audio narrated by Cameron Beierle

· Literary fiction/Science fiction

· 5 books in series

· Recommended by an IT guy and his office manager wife

• Thoughts before reading: This couple completely threw the one book per person rule aside and gave me a 5 book series. The first book in the series and the book I will base any forward movement on is called Pawn of Prophecy. Men versus kings versus gods over strange lands and with magic — I wonder if here there be dragons as well? Cameron Beierle, the narrator, has one of those movie announcer voices. It will do well for this story.

4. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette MMccurdy

· Audio narrated by Jennette Mccurdy

· Celebrity Biography

· Standalone

· Recommended by psychology grad student

• Thoughts before reading: My kids grew up loving iCarly so I am aware of Jennette Mccurdy. I always liked her as Sam. I find her voice pleasant so am glad she is narrating her own memoir. I have seen this book advertised on audible.com since it came out just a bit ago. I had no interest in reading it, however. The title puts me off. I have kids. I would not want my kids to title their book like this. However, I am now stuck. I Am Glad My Mom Died is on my list.

5. The Martian by Andy Weir

· Audio narrated by Will Wheaton

· Science fiction

· Standalone

· Recommended by retail warehouse stocker

• Thoughts before reading: When I posted my request for books out into the FB void, I knew this book would show up on my list. I am aware of The Martian by Andy Weir. I know Matt Damon was in the movie. Space science fiction just doesn’t really hold my interest. Unfortunately, my friend thinks science fiction is amazing and is always talking about how I need to read more of it. He is probably beyond ecstatic as my January book club read with the town library is Project Hail Mary also by Andy Weir. And now, since it is on the list, I have to read The Martian which he has been trying to get me to read for quite a while. The one saving grace is The Martian is narrated by Will Wheaton to whom I thoroughly enjoy listening.

6. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

· Audio narrated by Clare Corbett, Daphne Kouma, Julia Winwood, Sope Dirisu, Sofia Zervudachi, and Charlie Anson

· Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense

· Standalone

· Recommended by a botanist

• Thoughts before reading: I am excited about this one as the summary on audible.com states “while waiting for the second season of Only Murders in the Building” read this. I love OMITB! Will this be the literary equivalent? Will I listen to this book a hundred times? I am hoping so. There are too many narrators for me to know if all of their voices will do well, but I am hopeful.

7. A Fortunate Life by A. B. Facey

· Audio narrated by Roger Cardwell

· Autobiography

· Standalone

· Recommended by middle school gifted program teacher

• Thoughts before reading: I have been sifting through a lot of books which talk about growing up in the dust bowl and living through America’s Great Depression lately. This book covers the same time frame, but it will be a nice change of pace to read about Australia instead of the U.S. Accents are always a source of listening wonder for me.

8. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

· Audio narrated by Marin Ireland

· Literary fiction

· Standalone

· Recommended by a retired friend

• Thoughts before reading: I have such a love/hate relationship with Picoult and her books. I will curiously listen to a sample. I then get sucked in. I spend hours crying, celebrating, reflecting, and empathizing with her characters…just to run into that infamous Picoult twist at the end of her book. That’s when I find myself on the floor with my heart ripped from my body with no idea of how I got there. This is the point at which I vow to never read another Picoult book. Then I become curious again. Wish You Were Here has 3 factors in its favor to make me a little less hesitant. 1. It is read by my all-time favorite narrator, Marin Ireland. She has the no-nonsense, this –is- how- it- is bedside manner I want to see in any doctor I visit. 2. The summary seems pretty average. I’m not sure where the dreaded twist could be lying in wait to spring. Although, honestly, I never saw the other twists either, but let’s not think about that. 3. Wish You Were Here was recommended by someone with whom I talk books all of the time. And she loved it.

9. Drama: An Actor’s Education by Jon Lithgow

· Audio narrated by Jon Lithgow

· Celebrity Biography

· Standalone

· Recommended by a CSI

• Thoughts before reading: This is the book I am most excited to find on my list. I didn’t know it existed. I enjoy Jon Lithgow. He is such a goofy, wacky, actor whom I’ve seen play all sorts of roles. I have high hopes for this book.

10. A Tale of Magic by Chris Colfer

· Audio narrated by Chris Colfer

· Children’s fiction

· First in a series of 3

· Recommended by a 14-year old high school freshman

• Thoughts before reading: I read the Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer. I have to admit, I did not make it all the way through. I am told this is the prequel to that series. Also read by Chris Colfer, I am interested in giving this adventure a go. Especially since it is only a trilogy. There is an end in sight to help me stay focused. I read a lot of children and YA literature, so I am looking forward to this read.

11. The Beach House by Rachel Hanna

· Audio narrated by Becky Brabham

· Literary fiction

· First in a series of 11

· Recommended by a different retired friend

• Thoughts before reading: I have never read this author. The narrator, Becky Brabham, is also new to me. She has a pleasant clear voice which will help this book along. Coming in at a little over 4 hours, this audio will go quickly. I’m curious to see where the protagonist ends up.

Photo taken by Daughter

Final Thoughts

So there you go. My unexpected but now planned out reading list for 2023. Amid the monthly book club reads and the plethora of upcoming random books that catch my easily distracted eye, I am still confident I will get through all of these. Maybe I will even be a better person. Here’s to 2023!