Sam's 5 Star Reads of 2023

Over the past few years my love of reading has grown and grown! This year I set a goal to read 100 books for the first time, and I am so ecstatic that I completed this goal! If you know me you know I love leaving a review (whether for a book on Goodreads or a restaurant on yelp) and giving a recommendation to others. Here are some of my top books (5 star ratings) that I read throughout the year - I hope you enjoy! (These are in no particular order)

Fourth Wing- Rebecca Yarros

If you are on social media at all, you have probably seen everyone raving about this book... And it lived up the hype! Even if you’re not into fantasy, I recommend giving it a try! It is the story of Violet, who attends war college with the goal of being a dragon rider. If she survives through training, she will be picked by a dragon to form a special bond and be given her dragons powers. Rebecca paints the world of Basagath beautifully, and I really felt like I was in the story too.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow- Gabrielle Zevin

This book has mixed reviews, but I loved it! A fiction story of

two friends who come together as creative partners designing a video game where they meet success and experience fame, joy, wealth, and testing their friendship. Fast forward to present day and they run into each other - what has changed? Are they still the same as they once were? Such a moving story about friendship that isn't focused on love/romance.

The Nightingale- Kristin Hannah

I know I’m late to the game on this one but it was SO beautifully written. Historical fiction with themes of triumph, family, redemption, selflessness and love. The story of two sisters in their attempt to survive WWII and figure out a woman’s role in the war. I don't often cry in books and I WEPT reading this one. Highly recommend if you havn't read it yet.

Maame- Jessica George

Fiction book that reads like a memoir. Maddie is the primary caretaker of her father who has advanced Parkinson’s. When her mom comes from Ghana to London, she sees the opportunity to start living as a young adult for once: getting a flat of her own, goes to happy hours, asks for advancements at work, etc. the story of being torn between two cultures and homes- and how she found belonging. themes of familial duty, complexity of love, and friendship.

Before We Were Yours- Lisa Wingate

This was a surprising 5 star read for me. This is a historical fiction where the story goes back and forth between present day Avery- a lawyer with an influential political father who is engaged and visiting her grandmother who is in a nursing home with Dementia - and back in the day Rill Foss - the oldest daughter to Queenie and Biry and sister to 4 siblings who live on a River Boat Home on the Mississippi River. Avery finds out that a woman at the nursing home is connected to her grandmother and she spends the entire book searching for the truth of her family. She discovers there is some sort of connection to the Tennessee children’s home society - who are secretly taking children from their homes and sell them to wealthy families for profit. (TW: child abuse, trauma) Some of the dialogue can feel slow or drawn out.

Remarkably Bright Creatures- Shelby Van Pelt

Wholesome. Charming. Great book club book. I loved the authors style of writing. The chapters go between three main characters perspective. The first is Tova- an older grieving woman (recent loss of husband and loss of son 30 years ago) who begins working at the aquarium doing maintenance. The second is Cameron - a 30 year old who can’t hold a job and is on an unexpected journey to find his father. The third is Marcellus - the octopus who has an incredible mind that can discern way more than anyone gives him credit for. I loved the back and forth between characters (and Marcellus chapters have a fun print of an octopus on the corner which I loved that touch!!) I also loved the deep connection with Tova and Marcellus and how they brought one another company in their own loneliness. 

All My Knotted-Up Life- Beth Moore

So so so good. I have recommended this to multiple friends because I was such a fan. Beth speaks of the difficult parts of her family growing up with such grace, compassion, and care. She covers topics including being one of the first woman in christian ministry speaking on stage, her decision to leave the SBC, and walking with her husband through his mental health struggles. (highly recommend listening to the audiobook so you can hear Beth read it herself!)

Yours Truly- Abby Jimenez

My favorite of Abby’s books! Fiction romance where the chapters go back and forth between two main characters (Briana and Jacob). Jacob is a quiet reserved man who struggles with social anxiety (I loved how she wrote about the thoughts of someone with anxiety) whose ex girlfriend is marrying his younger brother and everyone wonders “is he okay?!?” and Brianna a strong independent woman whose divorce is being finalized after she found her husband and friend together, who also is trying to support her brother who is in kidney failure in desperate need of a transplant. The story line of them pretending to date to appease his family and Bennys path towards getting a match for his kidney is just truly all the heart eyes. I think she did a great job depicting being in a healthy relationship after experiencing trauma and how those fears resurface even though the person you are with is trustable.

(Tw: Stories of adultery, miscarriage, abandonment, one graphic sex scene that you can skip past)

Together- Vivek H Murthy MD

Non Fiction book that is written by a doctor on the social epidemic of loneliness and what happens when we don’t have social connection. He tells patient stories, shares studies researchers have done, and in both you see small examples that you can implement. I loved the mix of both stories and research. His main point - human connectivity is key and a lot of what the world is experiencing today is because we are lacking deep connection to others. (includes discussions about the impact that isolation during the pandemic had on our society)

Strong Like Water- Aundi Kolber

I loved Aundis first book (Try Softer) and I loved this one too! Aundi is a licensed counselor who encourages readers that "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" may not be the west way to walk through life. Culture tells us what “being strong” is, but what if true strength was more soft, bold, fierce, and gentle. Aundi's therapist background makes you feel like you’re in a counseling session and shows a different path towards healing, freedom, and wholeness. 

Falling - T.J. Newman

A thriller where a pilot is told to crash the plane by the man who is keeping his family held hostage. What will he choose- save his wife and 2 kids or save the plane of 148 souls? The chapters go back and forth between the plane and the captor with his family. I thought it was a great suspense and I just couldn’t put it down before I found out what was going to happen.

Good For a Girl- Lauren Fleshman

I loved listening to this one on audio - Lauren is a professional runner who shares her experience of being a woman in a male-dominated sport. She talks about her story in a real and honest way, but speaks of everyone with respect. She shares about how she didn't feel supported, empowered, paid as she should be because she is a female. She shares the struggles of female athletes (body image, ED, injury, fighting for equal pay). She also talks about her upbringing and family - navigating her relationship with her manipulative and abusive father then processing his death as an adult.

Praying Like Monks Living Like Fools- Tyler Stanton

Colson and I both LOVED this one and think that every believer should read it. We think it is a great book for a new believer or anyone who wants to grow in their prayer life. Tyler shares his experience with growing in prayer and gives tangible easy ways for us to do the same.

The Wishing Game - Meg Shaffer

I finished this one in one sitting because I loved it so much! It is wholesome, fun, imaginative, and magical. This book alternates between Lucy - a teachers assistant in LA whose deepest wish is to adopt a former student whose parents passed away but she isn't financially stable enough to do so - and Hugo - an artist for a childrens book series. Lucy ran away from her traumatic home experience to meet the author of her favorite childrens book series on Clock Island- in present day she gets a chance to return to clock island when the author gives 4 adults a chance to win the only copy of his newest book- the first one he has written in over six years. Who will win? What challenges will they face along the way? what will they do if they win?

Made for People- Justin Whitmel Earley

I read a lot of books on friendship this year and his was one of my favorites. Justin gives the background of why friendship is important and a few rhythms to implement to grow in friendship. Justin shares from his own experience in friendship, what we see about friendship in scripture, and stories from others. Wish I would have read it with a few friends in my city that I wanted to go deeper with in friendship.