2023 Reading Challenges

I set my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal at 150 books for 2023. That’s lower than my goals over the last few years, but I plan to spend more time writing this year, so I will have less time for reading.

As of July 30, I have read 108 books, and I am 22 books ahead of schedule.

(Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get the Goodreads Reading Challenge widget to work on this page, probably because my blog’s security software is blocking JavaScript. You can see where I am in the challenge by clicking the challenge title.)

The Backlist Reader Challenge 2023

Host: The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Progress: 8/16 (50%)
1 January, 2023 — 4 January, 2024
Failed

I host The Backlist Reader Challenge 2023, so of course I’m participating again this year. My goal is to read and review 16 books from my TBR lists that were published in 2021 or earlier. I hope to focus on books I have been given as well as older ARCs. I also hope to read more than 16 books, but reviewing has been a problem for me recently, so I lowered my count but added the goal of actually reviewing them.

Below are the books I have read but not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read before, but not for at least 10 years, and I had largely forgotten them.

Spinning Silver (Naomi Novik)
Murder on Black Swan Lane (Andrea Penrose)
Murder at Half Moon Gate (Andrea Penrose)
Murder at Kensington Palace (Andrea Penrose)
Without a Summer (Mary Robinette Kowal)
An Enchantment of Ravens (Margaret Rogerson)
Murder at Queen’s Landing (Andrea Penrose)
Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens (Andrea Penrose)
A Short History of the World According to Sheep (Sally Coulthard)
Murder at the Serpentine Bridge (Andrea Penrose)
Lost Hearts (Robin D. Owens)
The Lord of Stariel (A.J. Lancaster) – paused
The Matrimonial Advertisement (Mimi Matthews) – paused
The Empty House (Rosamunde Pilcher) * – paused (read over 15 years ago and completely forgotten)

Audiobook Challenge 2023

Host: Caffeinated Reviewer and That's What I'm Talking About
Progress: 6/6 (100%)
1 January, 2023 — 31 December, 2023
Completed!

100

I’m participating in the Audiobook Challenge 2023, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. My goal for the year is to listen to and review 6 books, putting me in the Weekend Warrior category (5-10 books.)

Below are the books I have listened to but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

The Two Towers (J. R. R. Tolkien, read by Andy Serkis) *
The Return of the King (J. R. R. Tolkien, read by Andy Serkis) *
The Moving Finger (Agatha Christie, read by Richard Grant) *
Airs Above the Ground (Mary Stewart; read by Antonia Whillans) *
A Short History of the World According to Sheep (Sally Coulthard)
Hunted (Kevin Hearne) – listening
The Empty House (Rosamunde Pilcher) * – paused

Library Love Challenge 2023

Host: Books of My Heart and Angel's Guilty Pleasures
Progress: 2/12 (17%)
1 January, 2023 — 31 December, 2023
Failed

I’m participating in the Library Love Challenge 2023 , hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart. My goal is to read and review 12 books, which is the Dewey Decimal level (and the lowest possible option.) I’m hesitant to try for more, because I have so many books on my Kindle and on my physical shelves that I also want to read.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater (Peggy Orenstein)

NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2023

Host: Socrates' Book Reviews
Progress: 9/15 (60%)
1 January, 2023 — 31 December, 2023
Failed

The NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2023 is hosted by Yvonne at Socrates’ Book Reviews. Hopefully, it will help me get through my backlog of ARCs! My goal is to read (or reread) and review at least 15 ARCs this year (the Bronze level.) I will count them whether they are new ARCs or ones from a previous year; the important thing is to get them reviewed.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

Of Manners and Murder (Anastasia Hastings) – read; need to review
The Bride Wore White (Amanda Quick) – read; need to review
Artfully Yours (Joanna Lowell) – read; need to review
Three Can Keep a Secret (M. E. Hilliard) – read; need to review
The Raven Thief (Gigi Pandian) – read; need to review
Remember Me (Mary Balogh) – read; need to review
The Sweetheart List (Jill Shalvis) – read; need to review
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath (Garth Nix) – read; need to review
The Very Secret Society of Witches (Sangu Mandanna) * – read; need to review
Gryphon in Light (Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon) – read; need to review
Silver Lady (Mary Jo Putney) – read; need to review
A Fatal Illusion (Anna Lee Huber) – read; need to review

#23in2023

Progress: 2/23 (9%)
1 January, 2023 — 5 January, 2024
Failed

#23in2023 is a reading challenge that has been trending on the Instagram book community (or “bookstagram.”) Essentially, you pick 23 books you want to read in 2023, preferably books you already own but haven’t read yet. I own all the books on my list in at least one format. However, if it would make reading easier, I may buy or borrow any of these titles in a different format. (KEY: HC = hardcover; PB = trade paperback; MM = mass market paperback; K = Kindle; A = audiobook)

Below is the full list. Titles in bold are the ones I have finished reading (whether I have reviewed them or not.) Title links go to Goodreads (if not yet reviewed) or to my review post.

The Mabinogion (various anon.; translated by Sioned Davies) – PB, K, A
Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) – PB, K
The Last Unicorn (Peter S. Beagle) – HC, K
Silverwolf (Jacey Bedford) – MM
The Raven Heir (Stephanie Burgis) – HC
The October Witches (Jennifer Claessen) – PB
A Master of Djinn (P. Djèlí Clark) – K, A
Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller (Oliver Darkshire) – HC
Well Met (Jen DeLuca) – K – reviewed
A Short History of the World According to Sheep (Sally Coulthard; American HC published as Follow the Flock: How Sheep Shaped Human Civilization – A – listened; need to review
Valour and Vanity (Mary Robinette Kowal) – HC
Babel: An Arcane History (R. F. Kuang) – HC
The Lord of Stariel (A. J. Lancaster) – K – reading
Spin the Dawn (Elizabeth Lim) – HC, K
A Marvell ous Light (Freya Marske) – K, A
The Starless Sea (Erin Morgenstern) – HC, K
A Deadly Education (Naomi Novik) – HC, K
Spinning Silver (Naomi Novik) – HC, K – read; need to review
Murder on Black Swan Lane (Andrea Penrose) – K – read; need to review
The Choice (Nora Roberts) – HC, K – read; need to review
An Enchantment of Ravens (Margaret Rogerson) – HC, K – read; need to review
A Darker Shade of Magic (V. E. Schwab) – PB, K
The Cartographers (Peng Shepherd) – A

Iron Druid Read-Along 2023

Host: Books of My Heart
Progress: 5/10 (50%)
1 January, 2023 — 31 December, 2023
Failed

The Iron Druid Read-Along is hosted by my friend Anne at Books of My Heart We will be reading all 10 of the books in the series, in any format, and discussing them in Facebook chats.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

Tricked (Kevin Hearne, read by Luke Daniels) – listening

Read Christie 2023

Host: Agatha Christie website
Progress: 0/12 (0%)
1 January, 2023 — 31 December, 2023
Failed

None yet!

I’m also doing Read Christie 2023, hosted by the authorized Agatha Christie website. They pick a theme and a specific book each month. You can either read the official book, or choose another that fits the theme. My goal is 12 books: one per month.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed for Read Christie 2023. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before – which will be most of them, because I have read almost all of Christie’s works at some point in my life.

JANUARY: Sad Cypress * – read; need to review
FEBRUARY: Partners in Crime * – read; need to review
MARCH: The Moving Finger * – listened; need to review
APRIL: Sparkling Cyanide * – read; need to review
MAY: Unfinished Portrait (as Mary Westmacott)
JUNE: They Do It With Mirrors *
JULY: Evil Under the Sun *
AUGUST: Death Comes as the End
SEPTEMBER: Appointment with Death *
OCTOBER: [to be revealed]
NOVEMBER: Endless Night *
DECEMBER: Sleeping Murder *

COYER Upside-Down 2023: Chapter 1

Host: Michelle and Berls @ Because Reading is More Fun
Progress: 13/10 (130%)
1 January, 2023 — 31 December, 2023
Completed!

130

COYER Upside-Down 2023: Chapter 1 has the loosest rules of any of the COYER season (or “chapters”) this year. Basically, any book counts, regardless of format, price, or source. Chapter 1 runs from January 1 through April 30. My goal is to read and review 10 books during that time period. The books can also count for any of my other challenges. I MET MY GOAL!

NOTE: Chapter 1 ends on April 30, but I am leaving the challenge widget open through December 2023 because I may post some reviews later in the year.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed for COYER Upside-Down 2023: Chapter 1. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

The Two Towers (J. R. R. Tolkien, read by Andy Serkis) * – audio
The Awakening (Nora Roberts) *
The Becoming (Nora Roberts) *
The Choice (Nora Roberts)
Spinning Silver (Naomi Novik)
Murder on Black Swan Lane (Andrea Penrose)
A New Kind of Country (Dorothy Gilman)
Sad Cypress (Agatha Christie) *
Of Manners and Murder (Anastasia Hastings) – ARC
The Bride Wore White (Amanda Quick) – ARC
Artfully Yours (Joanna Lowell) – ARC
Murder at Half Moon Gate (Andrea Penrose)
Three Can Keep a Secret (M. E. Hilliard) – ARC
Bound for Perdition (Celia Lake)
Eclipse (Celia Lake) *
Tea & Meetings (Celia Lake) *
Magician’s Hoard (Celia Lake) *
Wards of the Roses (Celia Lake) *
Pastiche (Celia Lake) *
Carry On (Celia Lake) *
The Fossil Door (Celia Lake) *
Winter’s Charms (Celia Lake) *
Forged in Combat (Celia Lake) *
The Return of the King (J. R. R. Tolkien, read by Andy Serkis) * – audio
The Raven Thief (Gigi Pandian) – ARC
Sailor’s Jewel (Celia Lake) *
The Hare and the Oak (Celia Lake) *
Point by Point (Celia Lake) *
Remember Me (Mary Balogh) – ARC
Vision in White (Nora Roberts) *
Murder at Kensington Palace (Andrea Penrose)
Two Tales from the Iron Druid Chronicles (Kevin Hearne)
Without a Summer (Mary Robinette Kowal)
The Moving Finger (Agatha Christie) * – audio
Bound for Perdition (Celia Lake) *
An Enchantment of Ravens (Margaret Rogerson)
Nocturnal Quarry (Celia Lake)
Airs Above the Ground (Mary Stewart) * – audio – book reviewed 3/06/2013
Whiskey Beach (Nora Roberts) * – reviewed 2/26/2016
The Next Always (Nora Roberts) *
The Last Boyfriend (Nora Roberts) *
The Perfect Hope (Nora Roberts) *
The Liar (Nora Roberts) * – reviewed 9/26/2019
The Collector (Nora Roberts) * – reviewed 10/27/2014
Key of Light (Nora Roberts) *
Key of Knowledge (Nora Roberts) *
Key of Valor (Nora Roberts) *
Sparkling Cyanide (Agatha Christie) *
Murder at Queen’s Landing (Andrea Penrose)
Tribute (Nora Roberts) * – reviewed 10/25/2017
Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater (Peggy Orenstein)

COYER Upside-Down 2023: Chapter 2

Host: Michelle and Berls @ Because Reading is More Fun
Progress: 12/10 (120%)
1 May, 2023 — 31 December, 2023
Completed!

120

COYER Upside-Down 2023: Chapter 2 is designed like a board game. Each book read lets you advance along the path, with the number of spaces dependent on the source and price point of the book, as follows:

6 spaces: free books (any format, but must be owned by you… no library, subscriptions, etc)
5 spaces: nearly free books. This is less than $1 print/eBook, or $3 audiobooks (still any format, but still must be owned by you… no library, subscriptions, etc)
4 spaces: sale books. This is less than $5 print/eBook, or $7.50 audiobooks (still any format, but still must be owned by you… no library, subscriptions, etc)
3 spaces: library books, ARCs, borrowed books (still any format)
2 spaces: subscription books — KU, Prime, Scribd, Audible+, etc (still any format)
1 space: any book, any format, any LEGAL means of obtaining, any price

Chapter 2 runs from May 1 through August 31. My goal is to read and review 10 books during that time period. The books can also count for any of my other challenges. I have no ambitions to win; I know some of the other participants read more books than I do, and/or they collect and read more freebies than I do, and that’s just fine! I do best if I’m challenging myself rather than competing against others.

NOTE: Chapter 2 ends on August 31, but I am leaving the challenge widget open through December 2023 because I may post some reviews later in the year.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed for COYER Upside-Down 2023: Chapter 2. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

Stars of Fortune (Nora Roberts) * – (reviewed in 2017)
Bay of Sighs (Nora Roberts) * – 1
Island of Glass (Nora Roberts) * – 1
Old as the Hills (Celia Lake) – 4
The Sweetheart List (Jill Shalvis) – ARC; 3
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath (Garth Nix) – ARC; 3
Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens (Andrea Penrose) – 4
The Very Secret Society of Witches (Sangu Mandanna) * – ARC; 3
Gryphon in Light (Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon) – ARC; 3
Silver Lady (Mary Jo Putney) – ARC; 3
The Marriage Spell (Mary Jo Putney) * – 4
A Fatal Illusion (Anna Lee Huber) – ARC; 3
Gentian Hill (Elizabeth Goudge) – 1
The Edge (Dick Francis) * – 4
The Danger (Dick Francis) * – 4
Break In (Dick Francis) * – 1 – (reviewed in 2019)
Bolt (Dick Francis) * – 1
Upon a Summer’s Day (Celia Lake) – 4
The Ship Who Sang (Mercedes Lackey) * – 1
Murder at the Serpentine Bridge (Andrea Penrose) * – 4
Midsummer Mysteries (Agatha Christie) – ARC; 3
A Short History of the World According to Sheep (Sally Coulthard) – Audio; 1
Heart Mate (Robin D. Owens) * – 3 (reviewed in 2015)
Heart Thief (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Duel (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Choice (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Quest (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Dance (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Fate (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Change (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Journey (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Search (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Secret (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Fortune (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Fire (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Heart Sight (Robin D. Owens)* – 1
Hearts and Swords (Robin D. Owens) * – 1
Lost Hearts (Robin D. Owens) – 1
Hunted (Kevin Hearne) * – listening; 1
The Lord of Stariel (A.J. Lancaster) – paused; 6
The Matrimonial Advertisement (Mimi Matthews) – paused; 4
The Empty House (Rosamunde Pilcher) * – paused; 4

Additional Reading Goals

I want to be better about reviewing generally. I had the same goal last year, and didn’t actually do much better about reviewing, but hopefully this year will be different.

I want to read more diversely. That means choosing more books by and about BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) people; LGBTQIA+ people; people of non-Christian religious faiths; and people with disabilities or mental illness.

I want to read more of the books I already own.

I want to buy only the books I really want to read and own. I have a bad tendency to see a Kindlebook on sale and think, “Oh, I’d like to read that sometime.” This year, I plan to pay more attention to whether my library has a copy before I buy a book, unless it’s one I know I will enjoy and reread, or it’s by an author I want to support.