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2023 was an outstanding year for me enjoying some awesome books. In 2023, I read or listened to 115 books. There were some I loved and others that I think about and cringe. I thought what better way to start 2024 than sharing 10 books that you NEED to check out in 2024? All of these books were given a 5-star rating from me.

If you want to stay updated on my reading journey, check out my bookstagram page: https://www.instagram.com/kels.reading/

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you)

What Makes a Book a 5-Star Read for me?

I don’t give out 5-star ratings very easily. What makes me give a book 5 stars is that I would recommend the book to everyone. Not just people who I know would enjoy the genre it’s in. It has to make me feel something, whether it’s fear, anger, or if it makes me cry. Most times I’ll give a book a 5-star rating if I didn’t see the ending coming or if there’s a BIG plot twist. So all of these books have given me some feelings or surprised me, and I would recommend them to everyone.

My Number one 5-star read: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

I put this one at the top of my list because Love and Other Words was my top book in 2023! This one became a 5-star read when I stayed up until 1 am trying to finish it and bawling my eyes out! Macy is a pediatric resident about to be married when she bumps into the first love of her life, Elliot. This throws Macy’s life in a tailspin because she hasn’t spoken to Elliot in over a decade. This novel tells a beautiful story of then and now with the readers learning about Elliot and Macy’s relationship while slowly understanding Macy’s choices throughout the year. If you aren’t crying at the end of this book then there’s something wrong with you! This is one for anyone who loves books that make you feel deeply.

Get your copy of Love and Other Words here: https://amzn.to/3tL0sdo

The Housemaid (and The Housemaid’s Secret) By Freida McFadden

I read this book (and the sequel) in early 2023 and still think about it today. It is a thrilling novel about a woman with a dark past who agrees to be a housemaid for a wealthy family. She can’t seem to understand the family’s mother, Nina, because she is so unreasonable. She starts to feel sorry for Nina’s husband and wonders what life would be like if she were Nina. With enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a novel I would highly recommend to everyone!

Here’s where you can get yourself a copy: https://amzn.to/3tVOYDQ

Every Summer After By Carley Fortune

Persephone (Percy) and Sam had six perfect summers together growing up and falling in love. Then one horrible mistake changes everything! Ten years go by and Percy gets a call that sends her rushing back to the place she swore she’d never return. Throughout a weekend Percy and Sam must confront their past and hopefully find a way back to each other. Check this book out if you are looking for a 5-star read that fills you with young summer love, nostalgia, and a little flair of drama.

Here’s where you can get a copy for yourself: https://amzn.to/3RPHzxT

For the Record, I Hate You By Amanda Gambill

Apparently, I’m a sucker for a second chance at romance books. For the Record, I Hate You includes many tropes that I love; friends to lovers to enemies, second chance roamce, childhood friends, revenge plot, and slow burn. If any of these speak to you then you NEED to check out this book. Filled to the brim with songs from my teenage years and artists I loved it tells the story of Derek and Eliza who go from friends to lovers and then a week after making a life-changing decision Derek leaves Eliza vowing to never speak to her again. Four years later Derek is back in town but Eliza sees this as her chance at revenge. Will she realize what forgiveness really means or will she get the revenge she wants?

Find out by grabbing your copy: https://amzn.to/3vu1ESY

Weyward By Emilia Hart

Weyward tells the stories of three women from three completely different time periods. Altha from 1619 awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer, Violet from 1942 who wants nothing more than to break societal norms and go to university, and Kate from 2019 who is running from an abusive partner to the Weyward cottage she inherited from a great-aunt she never knew. All of these women have Weyward blood running through their veins and they will meet any challenge they face. I found this novel enthralling and filled with beautiful magical realism. It was my first time enjoying a magic realism book and it’s made me want to read more of them. Emilia Hart captures your attention from the first page and doesn’t let go until the novel is finished. I recommend this book if you love anything with a witchy vibe.

You can order a copy of Weyward here: https://amzn.to/48rf2Ga

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The Heiress By Rachel Hawkins

I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachel Hawkins. The Heiress is to be published on January 9th. Here is my official review:

Don’t walk, RUN to your nearest bookstore and get this book! I absolutely adored this book. I couldn’t put it down. Honestly, I can say I DEVOURED The Heiress in two days (insane for me as a SAHM of 4).

Did I see the twists coming? No!
Would I recommend this to any thriller-loving friend? Yes!

This book is fast-paced, filled to the brim with drama, and makes you thankful for the very normal family you have.

Grab your copy of The Heiress here: https://amzn.to/4aLHSCx

One True Loves By Taylor Jenkins Reid

This novel tells the story of Emma who marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They live a beautiful life together travelling all over the world. One day, Jesse is on a helicopter that goes missing over the Pacific. Emma uproots her whole life and moves back home to be with her family. Slowly she puts her life back together. Then Emma meets Sam, an old friend from school, and finds herself falling in love again. Suddenly, Jesse is found but Emma has to choose between the life and husband she had or the future she grew to love and her fiance, Sam. This book will have you questioning your life and if you believe that everyone has only one true love.

Grab yourself a copy here: https://amzn.to/48OfPAS

Look Closer By David Ellis

This was a book club choice and at first, I was very intimidated by how long it is. This book is about 496 pages long but I flew right through it! Simon and Vicky are a typical married couple in Chicago but when a murder of a socialite happens a town over their whole world is turned upside down. Please believe me when I say nothing is as it seems. You will think you know what will happen and this book will slap you in the face. There are more plot twists than you can believe and you won’t know what truly happened until the last chapter. This book is perfect if you like thrillers that involve married couples. This was one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a while.

Here’s the link to getting yourself a copy of Look Closer: https://amzn.to/41Oj5d7

The Wife Upstairs By Rachel Hawkins

This is the second book on my list by Rachel Hawkins; both are absolutely incredible. The Wife Upstairs is about a dogwalker, Jane, who meets the newly widowed and rich Eddie. His wife was lost and assumed drowned in a boating accident with her best friend. Jane is increasingly haunted by the thought of Eddie’s first wife, Bea. She wonders how a plain Jane can measure up to the beautifully well-adjusted Bea. This novel takes a classic tale and spins it on its head. You will find each page thrilling and wondering what really happened to Bea.

Check out this copy of The Wife Upstairs here: https://amzn.to/41SuOHB

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Final Thoughts

I can’t believe that out of the 113 books I read last year I only gave 9 books a 5-star rating. I am a little bit of a stickler for giving out 5 stars, just because I think 5 stars should go to books that anyone will enjoy even if it isn’t their preferred genre. If you have a chance, I hope you check out some of these books and let me know what you think if you do.

Now that I shared my 5-star reads of 2023, why don’t you tell me some of yours? Let me know in the comments what books you read last year that you gave 5 stars to. If you don’t rate or review books with stars, let me know what books you would recommend I read in 2024! I love hearing from you and appreciate all the support.

Thanks for reading,

Kel

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