Everyone does this. They look back at the books they read and make this whole list of books they read. I don’t have the energy for all of that, so I am going to make this quick.

First, my reading goal for 2022 was to read 60 books. In 2021 I read 57, 2019 I read 37, 2018 I read 13, 2017 I read 47. I fell off in 2017, it’s the year my dad passed away. 2018 just wasn’t it. There were a lot of things going on that year. As you can see, I have slowly worked myself back up to the awesome book queen that I have been in the past. Before 2017 I always hit my reading goal. I usually average about 60 books a year. I know, that sounds low compared to what others are reading. I have seen people in my Facebook book groups that have read hundreds of books a year. More power to them! Honestly, I wish I had the focus to do that. I am kind of a slow reader.

In 2022 I surpassed my reading goal! I consumed 84 books, which came as a huge surprise to me. Yes, I do include my audiobooks, because you would be silly not to. If I can consume the book, love the book, and give an honest review of the book, despite how I consumed it, I will count it. Also, I like to rate the books I read, to help authors out, and help other readers.

My favorite book of the year also came as a bit of a surprise. You see, most of the books I have read in my life are fantasy and supernatural books. This year I fell into a portal of Contemporary Romance and I didn’t want to dig myself out. I sat in it and I drown in it. I enjoyed every second of these Hallmark-type love stories that fed into every fantasy I could ever have about what love really looks like. I devoured these books and felt no shame! I came up for air and have found myself struggling to get back into them because they consumed my soul so completely for a few months.

Sorry, went on a bit of a rant there. My favorite book this year was also a bit of a hyped book, which I also do not normally read. The book was…

….*Drum Roll*….

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. Why is this my favorite? I don’t know. I loved it. I read this book so fast my head was spinning when I realized I forgot to breathe. I was enraptured by this. I don’t even know if the writing was good or not. I have heard good and bad things about it. It was the first book in Contemporary Romance that I read and I dove in head first to read more. I didn’t know I would love the genre so much. I have always needed some kind of supernatural element in my stories, but evidently, the real breadwinner is my love for romance.

That’s it. I will not give honorable mentions or favorites in different genres. It was just this book. It is the one that stands out the most in my mind. The one that came at the perfect moment in my year to really solidify its presence in my brain. It might even end up on the list of books that I read yearly, I have a few of those now. And yes, I count them in my reading challenge, because it is how many books I read, not how many new books.

My reading challenge is set for 60 books this year. As I am trying to get away from the screens and all the other things that distract me. I want to put down the phone and read or write more. I have a few other hobbies I would like to explore as well. Photography is the big one, so maybe you will all see a few really pretty book photos. I don’t know yet. I do know that my life revolves around books and stories.

Did you have a favorite book this year? What was your reading goal and did you make it? What is your reading goal in 2023?