the Birthday Party….i agree. What a breathless story! I do want to get to The Bee Sting. You’ve got so many bangers in this video. Something for everyone!
Wonderful video Gretchen. I have put The Bee Sting on my TBR. My favorite book that I read in 2023 is My Cousin Rachel/ DuMaurier. Happy holidays to you! ❤
I’ve been going through my books trying to pick some that I want to get to next year and My Cousin Rachel is in that pile. I loved Rebecca and I have high hopes her other books are just as good.
Glad to find your channel! Awesome reviews, thank you! You make me want to read the books I have been in the fence about. Please consider listing the books mentioned in your description box 🙂
I think the birthday party and the bee sting were two of my favorite reads of the year!! very excited to read how to build a boat soon :) love your videos so much! safe and happy holidays to you, Gretchen!
OMG. Thank you so much for your thoughtful synopses and favorites list! I was lucky enough to get a gift certificate for my local bookstore for Christmas and watching this video has definitely helped me zero in on some worthy contenders!!!
Such a fantastic list! A few at the pointy end will be in my top 10 too. Thank you for reminding me of Nives. That book sounds brilliant. Will be reading it soon.
This is such a great list, I love it! Elena Ferrante's The Lost Daughter is a top read for me this year. I'll definitely be checking out The Days of Abandonment. Literally everything else on your list is either already on my TBR or will be added. I'm looking forward to reading Whale, Foster and The Bee Sting early next year.
Thank you! I haven’t read The Lost Daughter yet but I’m sure I’ll love it. I watched the Netflix adaptation before I knew it was based on a book and thought it was great. I’m very curious to see if they stayed true to the book.
Oooh what a fun video! I guess I have to start thinking about best books of the yr. What a task! I’m not done watching this yet, but so far, I couldn’t agree more about The Days of Abandonment. Wow what a ride that was. A real stand out experience. And oh yes, The Birthday Party! I’ll watch the next 6 books tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it!
Thanks, Renee! It was incredibly hard to narrow down! I read so many amazing ones this year and I felt bad for having to leave some of those great reads off my list.
Nice! I am reading Dracula rn cuz of ur Fall list, and I'm shocked I never read it. It is amazing!! Some of my favorites from 23 were Crook Manifesto, The Graveyard Book and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.
So glad you are enjoying Dracula! I am reading The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store right now and it is fantastic. I’ve been taking my time with it because I’m enjoying it so much. Plus, I’m bracing myself for an ending that will probably have me in tears.
@ullagomez8054 Such a great classic! I think a lot of people don’t bother with it because they think they know the story, but I was really surprised how different it was from what I expected. Same with Frankenstein. If you haven’t read it, it’s another one that defied my imagined understanding of it.
Oh, yeah, Heaven and Earth made me cry like five times, but the ending will leave you crying happy tears for sure. Looking forward to your review.@@madeubook
absolutely it is different, I just started it and I absolutely love the carriage ride to the castle, I feel so bad for Jonathan Harker even though I know what happens, he seems like such a good guy but he just has a job to do hahah.@@madeubook
This was a very surprising year for me. Most of my anticipated reads didn’t even come close to making my list. The majority of my favorites were books I never heard about which is so much fun. I remember how disappointed I was when they announced the Booker Longlist and I am happy to admit I was wrong.
Fantastic list! Really excited to read several of these, and I’ll definitely check out The Bee Sting. What is your favorite book that you said you read each year? “May your hold times be short” - such a wonderful wish for the new year!
My favorite book of all time is Persuasion by Jane Austen. I know it’s not a very sexy favorite read but I love it with all my heart. My reading taste is all over the place and although I love a lot of modern reads, I have a special place in my heart for the classics I read growing up.
Wonderful video Gretchen ❤ Ah I felt exactly the same about The Bee Sting. I just adored it. It was so nice to see it as your top book of the year!! I still miss it and wish I could read it for the first time all over again. I really want to read Foster, Wandering Souls and The Birthday Party. Thank you for encouraging me to reread Study For Obedience, I'm so happy I did. It's one I'll never forget. I also really enjoyed Whale! It was bonkers but it was exciting and so different. I was hooked. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and get to have some lovely cozy reading time 🎄✨❤️❄️
Bonkers is the best word to describe Whale. 🤣😂🤣 Thanks so much for the Christmas wishes and I send the same sentiments to you and yours! Happy Holiday reading!!!!
What a great list!! I felt the same about the summary for How to Build a Boat, but your review video convinced me to add it to my TBR 😊 I haven't read anything from Claire Keegan yet, but she is high on my list of authors to read from. "Imagine an upper middle class PTA bake sale and all the moms laced the cupcakes with LSD" love that way to describe a book 😂
I’m so jealous that you get to experience Claire Keegan for the first time! I’m also glad you are going to a chance on How to Build a Boat. I was blown away by how much I loved it.
the Birthday Party….i agree. What a breathless story! I do want to get to The Bee Sting. You’ve got so many bangers in this video. Something for everyone!
It was a great reading year for sure!
Wonderful video Gretchen. I have put The Bee Sting on my TBR. My favorite book that I read in 2023 is My Cousin Rachel/ DuMaurier. Happy holidays to you! ❤
I’ve been going through my books trying to pick some that I want to get to next year and My Cousin Rachel is in that pile. I loved Rebecca and I have high hopes her other books are just as good.
I am glad I found your channel Gretchen, your literary tastes matches mine absolutely.
Thank you so much! Welcome and I’m looking forward to hearing some of your recommendations in the future.
Agree 💯. The 🐝 Sting was my #1 too. Also liked The Frozen River and Capital. Good choice!
I’ll have to check those ones out. I don’t think I’ve heard of either of them.
@@madeubook Capital by John Lanchester
Cool! I’ve heard of him. Added to my list! Thanks!
Glad to find your channel! Awesome reviews, thank you! You make me want to read the books I have been in the fence about. Please consider listing the books mentioned in your description box 🙂
I think the birthday party and the bee sting were two of my favorite reads of the year!! very excited to read how to build a boat soon :) love your videos so much! safe and happy holidays to you, Gretchen!
So glad to hear from another fan of The Birthday Party. Totally underrated in my opinion. Happy Holidays to you as well!
OMG. Thank you so much for your thoughtful synopses and favorites list! I was lucky enough to get a gift certificate for my local bookstore for Christmas and watching this video has definitely helped me zero in on some worthy contenders!!!
Hope you pick some good ones. I’m debating whether to use my gift cards now or wait. My anticipated releases list is getting bigger and bigger 😊
Fun list, and thanks for sharing. I’m happy to have found your channel, your tastes mirror mine so I appreciate the recommendations! 😊
Thank you so much and thanks for watching!
Such a fantastic list! A few at the pointy end will be in my top 10 too.
Thank you for reminding me of Nives. That book sounds brilliant. Will be reading it soon.
Thank you! Can’t wait to see your list!
This is such a great list, I love it! Elena Ferrante's The Lost Daughter is a top read for me this year. I'll definitely be checking out The Days of Abandonment. Literally everything else on your list is either already on my TBR or will be added. I'm looking forward to reading Whale, Foster and The Bee Sting early next year.
Thank you! I haven’t read The Lost Daughter yet but I’m sure I’ll love it. I watched the Netflix adaptation before I knew it was based on a book and thought it was great. I’m very curious to see if they stayed true to the book.
Oooh what a fun video! I guess I have to start thinking about best books of the yr. What a task! I’m not done watching this yet, but so far, I couldn’t agree more about The Days of Abandonment. Wow what a ride that was. A real stand out experience.
And oh yes, The Birthday Party!
I’ll watch the next 6 books tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it!
Thanks, Renee! It was incredibly hard to narrow down! I read so many amazing ones this year and I felt bad for having to leave some of those great reads off my list.
@@madeubook , oh yes. It really is hard to narrow it down!
Nice! I am reading Dracula rn cuz of ur Fall list, and I'm shocked I never read it. It is amazing!! Some of my favorites from 23 were Crook Manifesto, The Graveyard Book and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.
So glad you are enjoying Dracula! I am reading The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store right now and it is fantastic. I’ve been taking my time with it because I’m enjoying it so much. Plus, I’m bracing myself for an ending that will probably have me in tears.
I also read Dracula this year for the first time and really enjoyed it!
@ullagomez8054 Such a great classic! I think a lot of people don’t bother with it because they think they know the story, but I was really surprised how different it was from what I expected. Same with Frankenstein. If you haven’t read it, it’s another one that defied my imagined understanding of it.
Oh, yeah, Heaven and Earth made me cry like five times, but the ending will leave you crying happy tears for sure. Looking forward to your review.@@madeubook
absolutely it is different, I just started it and I absolutely love the carriage ride to the castle, I feel so bad for Jonathan Harker even though I know what happens, he seems like such a good guy but he just has a job to do hahah.@@madeubook
A bold top two! Plus The Whale! I need to read some Keegan next year.
This was a very surprising year for me. Most of my anticipated reads didn’t even come close to making my list. The majority of my favorites were books I never heard about which is so much fun. I remember how disappointed I was when they announced the Booker Longlist and I am happy to admit I was wrong.
Fantastic list! Really excited to read several of these, and I’ll definitely check out The Bee Sting. What is your favorite book that you said you read each year?
“May your hold times be short” - such a wonderful wish for the new year!
My favorite book of all time is Persuasion by Jane Austen. I know it’s not a very sexy favorite read but I love it with all my heart. My reading taste is all over the place and although I love a lot of modern reads, I have a special place in my heart for the classics I read growing up.
Great picks!! I keep seeing The Bee Sting on peoples' lists, I gotta check it out!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it if you do end up reading it.
Wonderful video Gretchen ❤ Ah I felt exactly the same about The Bee Sting. I just adored it. It was so nice to see it as your top book of the year!! I still miss it and wish I could read it for the first time all over again. I really want to read Foster, Wandering Souls and The Birthday Party. Thank you for encouraging me to reread Study For Obedience, I'm so happy I did. It's one I'll never forget. I also really enjoyed Whale! It was bonkers but it was exciting and so different. I was hooked. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and get to have some lovely cozy reading time 🎄✨❤️❄️
Bonkers is the best word to describe Whale. 🤣😂🤣 Thanks so much for the Christmas wishes and I send the same sentiments to you and yours! Happy Holiday reading!!!!
What a great list!! I felt the same about the summary for How to Build a Boat, but your review video convinced me to add it to my TBR 😊
I haven't read anything from Claire Keegan yet, but she is high on my list of authors to read from.
"Imagine an upper middle class PTA bake sale and all the moms laced the cupcakes with LSD" love that way to describe a book 😂
I’m so jealous that you get to experience Claire Keegan for the first time! I’m also glad you are going to a chance on How to Build a Boat. I was blown away by how much I loved it.