books ive read so far in 2023 + reviews

i'm trying to do this with as little spoilers as i can. here's most of the books i've read so far in 2023! 

forgotten country (catherine chung): ✦✦✦✦✧

Jesus christ. I swear to god, EVERY page someone died. It was insane. I understand its a book about death, but my lord. Otherwise a great book, I just thought that was funny. 

the sun & her flowers (rupi kaur): ✦✦✦✦✦

Gorgeous. The entire book is about Kaur's acceptance of her heritage/being an immigrant POC. Absolutely stunning.

homebody (rupi kaur): ✦✦✦✦✧

Good book, but personally, I don't think it had the effect that Kaur's other books had. Kaur has a way of writing poems that hit you in the gut, and this book just didn't have that effect on me. 

to kill a mockingbird (harper lee): ✦✦✦✦✦

I know, I JUST NOW read this book. I've been making it a goal of mine to read more classics. Anyway, this book is wonderful. 

no longer human (osamu dazai): ✦✦✦✦✦

One of those books that leaves you wondering, "what did I just read?". So insanely sad, so relatable yet unique, just a gorgeous read in general.

the way i used to be (amber smith): ✦✦✦✧✧

This book…i don't know how to feel.Smith does an AMAZING job of writing self sabotage and hypersexuality after assault. This book was heartbreaking; I couldn't tell you how many times Eden would do something and I'd think of myself. HOWEVER. THE CHARACTERS. This book sounds like fanfiction. I feel like I could find this book on wattpad.

my absolute darling (gabriel tallent): ✦✦✦✦✦

Breathtaking. Perfectly writes stockholm syndrome; Tallent does a great job of writing a character you can pity, but never feel bad for. The MC, Turtle, is so insanely strong. Martin, her father, is a somewhat loveable villain; by the end of this book I was so insanely attached to these characters. Stunning. I can’t say enough about this book. The prose!! The nature!! Perfection. If you enjoy bawling over books, give this one a read.