This is my last newsletter of 2023.
It’s mad to think that this year is already almost over, it feels like it just started. My minor freak out about turning 30 in January felt like it just happened (I was more freaked out that I had no plans than the age thing itself. Shout out to Dirty Dancing for starting previews on the 21st so I could make a dirty thirty reference (and yes I know I could have had thirty, flirty and thriving; but I am not that middle one and the last one is hard to stand in truthfully sometimes)).
But, 2023 is drawing to a close and as such it seems like as good a time as any to do a little favourites of 2023 newsletter.
So this is just one big ol’ Jumpin Jumpin section that usually features in miniature on all my missives.
What I Read
This is going to be in subsections and is going to be the longest section because reading is the thing I do most (alongside writing fiction and writing about how much writing fiction makes me want to throw bricks through glass because that might be more satisfying). I’ve read close to 250 books this year so this is really just a fraction of the books I’ve read this year)
General
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E Schwab - I’m not going to say that is my favourite book of hers because I struggle to pick a favourite (that’s a lie, it Vicious) but this book came to me at a time when I really needed it. It was a time when I needed to be reminded that words can be beautiful and stringing them together is worth it. This book is also a perfect example of all good things in their time because I started it in 2021 but it wasn’t happening so I put it down and came back to it.
The Song of Achilles- Madeline Miller - I have heard things about this book. All of them were about how sad it was but also how beautiful. I am however the kind of person who will devour anything inspired by Greek mythology so reading this was always going to happen. Ummm, I still think about this book a lot and every time I think about it I feel incredibly emotional because this book is as stunning as everyone says it is. And more. Truly a stunning piece of literature.
Hell Bent (and Ninth House) - Leigh Bardugo - You have to read the first one to understand this one and both of them are worth it. This really just takes the whole story to another level and made me love Alex and Darlington even more. I am so excited for the next installment whenever that may be.
The Foxglove King - Hannah Whitten - I will always support women’s wrongs and I picked up this book because I saw someone say that this involved them. That didn’t become apparent until the last fifth or so of the book and I was very much here for it. Also all the threads that are there for the taking in the future books and I am so excited.
Seven Faceless Saints - M.K Lobb - This is the first of a duology and I loved it. A lot of people seem to not like Roz because she’s ‘unlikeable’ and I’ve gotta be honest, I did not get that. Roz was fine. Roz was doing what she needed to do and she was sometimes ruthless in doing it. Damian is too soft for the world that he inhabits, however he might need to tough it out a little bit more in book two (I’ve just remembered I was approved for an ARC of this so I could go find out now).
Starling House - Alix E. Harrow - This book is Beauty and the Beast but modern day. I am simplifying the hook of this massively. This book is stunning. The storyline is so quiet but so effective. The way the house lives and breathes and becomes its own character. It’s told in two different narratives (Opal is in first, Arthur is in 3rd) which I feel like I either haven’t ever read or haven’t read in a while and that kept it interesting.
Romance - (all of these are open door/spicy)
Salt Kiss - Sierra Simone - This book is so sexy. Mark is my favourite shade of morally grey. Tristan is up there as one of my favourite male characters of the year. Then the way that Tristan was with Isolde…I’m like fully obsessed. Also, wax play. Just, yeah, wax play.
The Idea of You - Robinne Lee - Look, I am reluctant to say this is a romance book because the ending of this still makes me rage. HOWEVER, this book does operate as a romance novel and it is a stunning book and I did really enjoy it and in my head there is a way back for these two and they are fine.
Love Redesigned - Lauren Asher - I haven’t met a Lauren Asher book that I haven’t loved, but this one is my favourite of them all. Julian and Dahlia’s entire relationship is such a fun time; their banter, the snark, the unending support? All of it, amazing. Also, I really like they are on the same wavelength of petty. It’s the little things.
Lovelight Farms - B.K Borison - Okay, look to really get the full vibe of this book I would recommend reading it in December (and I did read it in November, so the fact that it is in this list tells you everything) but it is everything. It’s friends to lovers and fake dating. The writing is beautiful and the whole book feels like a perfect hot chocolate in a warm house surrounded by blankets.
The Wedding Menu - Letizia Lorini - One word; butter. One sentence; “are you single right now?” This is a dual timeline story, which I don’t usually read mostly because I tend to not care about one of the timelines. This book changed my mind. Maybe. Another thing going for this book, it’s funny. Like I literally laughed out loud (this was related to the butter) and I don’t usually react in such a way to these things. Ian is one of my favourite book boyfriends this year and Amelie is lucky to have him (although not as lucky as Ian is to have Amelie).
The Dare/Losers - Harley Laroux - This year I very firmly entered my ‘why choose’ era and I have read a lot of them now this year, but this duet (and novella) takes the top spot for me. The dynamics between all five (yes, five) of these characters are just incredible and all so individual but they also work as a whole. I loved the storyline and how it played out across the 1,000 or so pages that make it up. Laroux is my favourite new author of the year.
The Fake Mate - Lana Ferguson - Look, I talked about this in my last missive; I loved this book. I am a big Omegaverse fan when done right and this one was done right.
Sports Romance
Let me caveat this because when I say ‘sports’ what you will learn is that ALL of these books are actually just ice hockey. Because I am an ice hockey romance girlie (I do read other sports romances, but no word of a lie, my Kindle was purchased with the sole intention of feeding this obsession).
Collide - Bal Khabra - Ugh, this book. I read it because I was in a mood and it instantly made my mood better. I love Aiden and Summer and the way they interacted with each other. So much sass, snark and banter. So much communication. So much love. A boy obsessed with his girl. Fun characters. Great storyline. Depth, depth and more depth.
Let’s Do This - Loren Leigh - I love reading about hockey players falling in love with each other. Let’s Do This was maybe my favourite of the year (Iced Out - CE Ricci is a close second) I think because it was relatively low angst and the chemistry between Burk and Shaw was great because they were friends morphing into something more and recently friends to lovers is just hitting a bit different (might have something to do with the fact that I have written two books rooted in that). I just really enjoyed this book and the vibes are truly immaculate.
The Graham Effect - Elle Kennedy - The Deal (and Garrett and Wellsy) is responsible for my descent into the ice hockey romance world and I have been grateful for it ever since. So I was very excited when I learned that we were going back to Briar U. Luke and Gigi were the perfect return to that world. I loved the banter between them and then the friends with benefits aspects of it and the way that it morphed into something else. It was a great start to this new series.
Pucking Around - Emily Rath - This is my other favourite ‘why choose’ of the year. And it came with bonus hockey. I learned some stuff about myself reading this book, a couple of them I knew, a few of them I didn’t. The dynamics in this one were also great and the best part about them was the way it was evident that sometimes relationships need a chance to breathe a bit before they become something else. Something more.
Watch Your Mouth - Kandi Steiner - I’ve read three Steiner works this year and it was hard to only pick one but in the end the keychain scene swung it in Watch Your Mouth’s favour. Jax and Grace had such sizzling chemistry and the road trip element of it was just so fun. Also, no one writes tension and angst quite like Steiner. There is a lot going for this book. I will follow Kandi Steiner’s writing to the end of the earth
The Risk - Elle Kennedy - So yes, there are two Kennedy books on here and both take place at Briar U, but I couldn’t not give a shoutout to this one as well because Jake Connelly is also one of my favourite book boyfriends of the year (his cameos with Garrett in The Graham Effect made me so happy). The chemistry between Jake and Brenna is just so good. I love anything with fake dating especially when the lines start to blur and that was definitely the case here. There is so much depth to this book and now that I’m talking about it I want to go and re-read it…
(Bookshop links are affiliate links)
What I’ve Watched
Red, White and Royal Blue (Amazon Prime) - Look I’m not saying that I watched this every weekend for a month but I’m also not not saying that…
Pressure Cooker (Netflix) - I love a cooking show, it’s hilarious when you take into account that I don’t cook. This one had all the ingredients that I love for a cooking show and it did not disappoint.
The Last of Us (Sky/HBO) - Daddy Pedro Pascal is all I want in life. But also I loved the way that this just felt like a video game when I was watching it, even though I have never once played this video game.
Jury Duty (Freevee) - Let me not use this as an opportunity to talk about how criminally underused James Marseden is and instead just say that this is a great show and manages to stay so full of heart.
EastEnders (BBC) - I have half watched this for the last couple of years but at some point this year it’s become a commitment. Like will record it to watch it later if for whatever reason it can’t be watched live kind of commitment. I am currently ridiculously excited for this lead up to the Christmas episode.
What I’ve listened to
This section is going to be real long which is wild given that I binned this section off because I just kept listening to the same thing, but we move I guess.
Let me just present you with these two photos which are pretty self explanatory:
However, oddly my Top 5 songs of 2023 are actually all from So (Much) For Stardust (which I alluded to in my missive). I can’t say this is inaccurate.
Here are some other highlights from the year beyond Taylor Swift, Fall Out Boy and Beyoncé (which yes is also a very heavy feature in my Top 100 songs of the year, along with some songs from the Cinderella (2021) soundtrack and Comfort - Nicholas Galitzine)
Hozier - Unreal Earth - Randomly on St Patrick’s Day this year I was like ‘where is Hozier?’ then he released Eat Your Young that very day and announced an album which I have loved since it came out in August (all three of his albums are great writing music for me). I always feel like I am ascending when the back end of All Things End kicks in.
Reneé Rapp - Snow Angel - There are songs from her first EP in my Top 100 (Too Well is still a banger) but this whole album is just incredible. Talk Too Much and Poison Poison are particular highlights.
Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS - Vampire is such a solid pop song and was a perfect lead into what is a solid pop album. Also love is embarrassing is such a great song title and I stay obsessed with it.
Paramore - This is Why - it shouldn’t be a surprise given the state of my Top 5 songs but I am somewhere in my core an indie girlie and so when Paramore released a new album I almost cried with excitement. You First is maybe my favourite from the album but honestly, I will just bump the whole thing from start to finish and have a grand ol’ time with it.
Kelly Clarkson - chemistry - American Idol really did get it right straight out the gate with Kelly Clarkson. The tone that mine set was really solid and I knew this album was going to be a banger and it was. And still is. I can’t actually pick a favourite because a new one reveals itself to me every time I listen to it.
Special shout out to the rock version of Sorry Not Sorry - Demi Lovato, Never Gonna Not Dance Again - Pink, new Broadway Cast Recordings of Sweeny Todd and Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim Forever) and Same Risk - Madi Diaz
Miscellaneous Faves
Natural Cycles - I’ve tracked my cycle for years however Natural Cycles integrated with the Apple watch this year and well I already wore that to bed so it just made sense to just get on the Natural Cycles train. There is something quite satisfying about the data to be honest. Also, I track my cycle one, because it’s very helpful to know and two, because writing sex scenes is substantially easier when you’re ovulating and so I like to know when I need to clear my writing schedule and skip ahead to the sexy stuff (here is a referral link if you want to give it a go yourself!)
Paper + Word - Are book sleeves a necessity? No, not really. However they are a joy to have and now I feel less worried about my book getting messed up in my bag as I stuff other things in alongside it.
TodayTix - This is a forever fave of mine. The number of shows I have seen because Rush tickets are a thing is incredible. And the seats are always incredible at a fraction of the price! Show highlights this year have been: Sondheim’s Old Friends, Ain’t Too Proud, Oklahoma! and Sylvia.
Probably Smut and Taylor & Lucas - For all my oversized jumper needs. And there have been a lot of oversized jumper needs.
ARC opportunities - I revived my Netgalley account this year and I have been approved for some great books (The Graham Effect and Starling House were two of them). I have also been fortunate to read some ARCs for indie authors (The Wedding Menu and Watch Your Mouth to name a couple). I just love supporting authors and their amazing books.
And with that, I bring 2023 to a close on Substack. Let me know your favourites of the year in the comments (please, make my TBR list even longer if you can).
See you in 2024 and have a a great end of the year however you choose to spend it.
(For those that don’t know, the Jumpin’ Jumpin’ section is named after what may be the best Destiny’s Child song - Jumpin’ Jumpin’)