Yesterday we talked about our favorite 2023 releases we read last year, so today it’s time to talk about our 2023 favorite backlist books. Keep on reading to find out what books we loved last year that released before 2023.

Candyce

If you read our post yesterday, you know I had a really hard time choosing my top ten of the 2023 releases that I read. So let’s see how hard it’s going to be for backlist books. In 2023 I read 149 backlist books. Out of these 149 books, I gave 61 of them 5 stars. This is going to be another challenging post, haha. Let’s give it a try!

10. Legends & Lattes – Travis Baldree

Legends & Lattes is a book I’ll describe as a warm hug. This cozy fantasy was so much fun and I came to love the characters. The prequel Bookshops & Bonedust came out in November 2023 and I’ll be reading it soon.

9. Love and Other Words – Christina Lauren

I’ve read a few Christina Lauren books, but Love and Other Words has become one of my favorites. There’s a dual timeline and we slowly start learning why these two best friends ended up not talking anymore. I have to say I wasn’t expecting the twist, but it had me in tears. I want to reread this one this year.

8. The Gilded Wolves – Roshani Chokshi

The Gilded Wolves is actually a title I’m surprised ended up in my top reads of 2023. At the beginning of the year I actually donated my copy of this book. I had to purchase it again when my series slayers group decided to tackle this one. The characters, the setting, the magic, and the twists are great. I highly recommend this trilogy.

7. One Dark Window – Rachel Gillig

Fantasy wasn’t a genre I read a lot of last year, but what I did read was pretty good. One Dark Window is a gothic fantasy and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the magic system and the characters.

6. Things We Never Got Over – Lucy Score

I’m sure most of you have heard of Things We Never Got Over. I finally picked it up last year and was upset I hadn’t read it sooner. This book had me laughing out loud and even in tears a few times. Lucy Score is an amazing author and I’m glad I have quite the backlist to catch up on.

5. The Confidence of Wildflowers – Micalea Smeltzer

The Confidence of Wildflowers was a bit of a cover buy, but also because quite a few people I know loved this book. It’s an age gap romance and it’s quite emotional. When I started reading it, I just couldn’t put it down. After reading this duology, I’ve decided I want to read more by this author in 2024.

4. Flawless – Elsie Silver

Before Flawless I’ve never read a cowboy romance, but I’m glad I tried one out. Flawless definitely deserves the hype and then some. I was smiling most of the time I was reading this book. I received the rest of the series for Christmas, so I’m expecting at least one of them to be on my favorite list for 2024.

3. The Serpent and the Wings of Night – Carissa Broadbent

The Serpent and the Wings of Night was a fantasy book that I loved. Isabelle and I did a buddy read for this one and I loved the world and politics. The ending was quite a twist, so I need to pick up the sequel soon.

2. Beartown – Fredrik Backman

Beartown is the start of a trilogy I hear nothing but amazing things about. This book is about a small town (Beartown) in Sweden where something tragic happens. As you read you learn more about the tragedy and you get quite a few POVs from different people who love there. This was so well written and had me in tears. It took me a second to get used to this author’s writing, but it’s still a book I think about.

1. Before I Let Go – Kennedy Ryan

Before I Let Go was a book I saw everywhere and I was very curious. I’m so glad I picked this one up. This story was so emotional and I loved how the author slowly started revealing everything. I can say I’ve never read a second chance romance like this. The second book in this series comes out this year and I can’t wait to read it.

Isabelle

I’ve read 15 backlist books that were either a 4, a 4.5 or a 5 star reads. So for this one I had to narrow it down a little bit more than for the 2023 releases post. Like with that post I went with both enjoyment and how much I still think about the book for my final ranking. This one was even harder, maybe because there are such different types of books on this list. But I came up with a ranking so let’s take a look!

10. Saga vol. 10 – Brian K.  Vaughan & Fiona Staples

I have to start the list with the first post hiatus volume of Saga. This is such an enjoyable graphic novel series and I’m really glad that we’re getting more volumes after the creators took a hiatus. This isn’t my favorite volume and I still have to get over a certain event but I did really enjoy it.

9. Five Dark Fates – Kendare Blake

I have finally finished this series! This started off as one of my favorite series but I was so scared to finish it. I wasn’t sure how I wanted it to end and I know not everyone liked the ending. Overall I did really like this conclusion to the series and I’m okay with where everyone ended up.

8. My Sister, the Serial Killer – Oyinkan Braithwaite

This book had been on my wishlist for years and I finally got a copy when I was in Chicago. I’m happy to say I read it pretty soon after getting it and I liked it a lot. It’s not super fast paced but it’s so fascinating to follow the character’s thoughts. I would highly recommend this one!

7. The King of Crows – Libba Bray

Another series I finished! I love Libba Bray and I love this series. The setting is amazing and I adore all the characters. I was pretty scared for everyone’s fate and wasn’t sure how Libba Bray would end it. It did not disappoint!

6. The Silent Wife – Karin Slaughter

I’ve read a lot of Karin Slaughter this past year and I loved all of the books. But for this list I challenged myself to only pick one book. And I went with the (at that time) latest installment in the Will Trent series. This was such a good book! A gripping story and a dual timeline where we got to see Jeffrey in the past. I absolutely loved it!

5. Godsgrave- Jay Kristoff

I have finished the Nevernight series this year but decided to go with the second book for this list. Godsgrave reminded me of my love for this series and was a great middle book.

4. The Burning God – R.F. Kuang

Another series I finished this year! Can you believe it? This was an incredible ending to the series, I was listening to it while walking around in New York and I had trouble holding in my tears. I love what the author did but was also heartbroken.

3. The Serpent and the Wings of Night – Carissa Broadbent

This may not be the best book on this list but it was so much fun! And I loved buddyreading it with Candyce. This was one of the books I flew through without needing an audiobook. And that is saying something haha. I can’t wait to read the sequel, the ending had some great twists! Overall this was just really enjoyable and I will be reading more Carissa Broadbent books for sure.

2. Fence vol. 5 – C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad

Possibly my favorite graphic novel series! I was so scared there wouldn’t be another volume and all of a sudden I saw this fifth volume. It was such a great surprise! And I also loved this volume a lot. I can’t wait to get the next volume next week!

1. Haikyu – Haruichi Furudate

I’m not even going to try and pick a favorite volume for Haikyu, I read 12 of them and they were all 5 star reads. Being recommended this manga in New York was such a blessing and one of my favorite memories of that trip to be honest. I love this story and these characters so much and will be reading more of it in 2024 for sure.

 

So these were are favorite backlist books we read last year. We both read some amazing books! Have you read any of these? Or what were some of your favorite backlist books last year? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!