BEST BOOKS OF 2023

[@KySpice]

I just finished Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute literally yesterday and it was EVERYTHING! so sweet, fun and romantic, and Bradley was an amazingggg hero! I’ve been reading a lot of talia hibbert this year and some of her recent adult books felt very…. Wattpad adjacent but HSUF had a fresh and fun energy and I think the lack of smut helped her focus in on the character writing a lot more. (Also ik Talia is a swirl queen but having two black leads was SO refreshing and she writes black ppl with so much care and depth, i’d love to see another book with a black love interest for once) And i’ve been obsessed with Recitatif since undergrad, I bought the bound copy the min it came out 🙌🏾 toni was a literal genius!!! This review inspired me to try more thrillers and mystery books. Can’t wait for the worst of the year 😭

[@Peighter]

The red nails look so good!!!😢❤

[@ChemicalPenguinn]

Chlorine was so delusional and I loved it. Recitatif made my favourites list too.

[@MysticDivinerLJ]

I love how the books you read are diverse and have depth! ❤️

[@rubyanddelilahandnani]

Unlike channels that only review rom-coms? 🫢

[@DezmondZ]

The Rachel Incident was SO GOOD! One of my favorites of the year.

[@CL-jw4ei]

I have to admit I normally watch your videos for you personality more than the books since we have different tastes but I put almost all of these in my tbr list, they sound so good!!

[@HeatherB81]

Recitatif was really brilliant. It made my head explode 🤯

[@HeyItsShey]

I've been reading more short story collections lately and have been itching to visit New Orleans! I'm definitely going to pick that one up.

[@KJ-yy9ob]

Kenya !! I follow your patreon and KZbin … but the genuine passion and excitement that’s shines on your face in this channel is so beautiful ! Love love love lily reads & love how happy it makes you ❤️❤️❤️

[@lg9680k]

I read when we were bright and beautiful off your recommendation when you first talked about it and now it’s one of my fav reads of the year too!

[@booksandbags]

Recitatif was so good! She packed so much into a short story. Zadie Smith's intro is also so good.

[@SharnettASL]

I enjoyed listening to "When We Were Bright and Beautiful", I was shocked to see it as your number one book.

[@autumnaldusk8032]

I was just going through your videos so this came right on time Soooo glad to see The Secret Lives of Church Ladies made the list but I’m also shocked My Week with Him was an Honorable Mention 😮😮

[@itsloloheaux]

I loved The Secret Lives of Church Ladies I would actually love to see a limited series come out for this.

[@LeannGrabski]

Love seeing everyone's favorite books. Adding so many of these to by TBR!

[@asunnybooknook]

I read Confessions a couple years ago and it was brilliant! Recitatif is a classic and very good, you should check out Passing by Nella Larsen if you haven’t already since you enjoyed Recitatif. I really want to read The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You! I adored adored adored Secret Lives of Church Ladies when I read it last year, so so excellent.

[@ucheaus]

Wonderful list! I ordered the ones who don’t say they love you.

[@LittleL1001]

I read when they were bright and beautiful off your recommendation. I think I only bought two books this year bc I primarily use my library. I bought this one bc I needed a physical copy I enjoyed it so much. Also my number 1 book of the year.

[@Tiffany__B]

I was looking forward to your final recaps of the year 💖 Your favorite books list is so unique among the end of the year lists that i see that are all mentioning the same few book titles over and over, i appreciate that

[@Doloresntheforest]

I LOVE the sweater you’re wearing. ❤!!!

[@MysticDivinerLJ]

I got my snacks ready 🍿❤️

[@cranberry0151]

Been WAITING for this video!!

[@reyhaninwonderland]

most of these books i own now because of you & i haven’t gotten to reading them yet, but hopefully 2024!!! much to look forward too i read Highly Suspicious for the book club. i gave it a 3, but i had a blast with book club meetings. discussions have been so much fun. can’t wait for a good year of reading & meetings this 2024! happy new year Kenya 🖤

[@V8Dau]

I read Recitatif because of you and loved it!!

[@mariama12]

I love your sweater! Can’t wait to hear your faves🥰

[@GamerRisingGR]

I also read Finding Me because of hearing you praise the book and I loved loved the audiobook. Thanks for that recommendation

[@SharayaMW]

Kenya OMG! Yes! Finally 🙏🏽 only 11 minutes in and this list is absolutely giving ✨️🏆 I've added 3 books to my 2024 TBR HONEY!!! When you grabbed The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, I got my entire life. I also wanted more. Loved the story where one sister is writing to her distant sister about their father. I loved the story about How to Make Love to a Physicist, but my favorite was Jael 😊 I've had my eyes on No Filter. . . ALL year. This just helped seal the deal on that. Thank you for another great Best of for the Year!

[@leo785587]

I’m going to start reading next year

[@lethok4084]

the rachel incident is really that girl, it's the most i laughed while reading a book this year. i'm surprised more of the book girlies aren't speaking about it

[@Latisha]

Hearing you explain Eight Perfect Murders reminded me of how much I loved this book! So good and underrated!

[@kkuudandere]

i have GOT to get to reading Recitatif one day EDIT: i bought the ebook before i even finished the video lol

[@leftoverpotato2023]

added all these to my cart..

[@Kembee55]

Great recs as always. I just saw a tiktok reccommending the Confessions movie and thought it sounded interesting had no idea it was a book too!

[@alyssacascos8665]

I love Recitatif! Toni Morrison is a literal genius! ❤️📚

[@Mickell.O]

Highly suspicious and unfairly cute was so mid to me like it did not do what it did for others what it did for me 😂

[@lilacfields]

same but i’m glad everyone else had a good time 😭

[@LifeasAlon]

You sold me on The bread the devil knead!! I’m excited to read that

[@ChikenMuffinz]

kenya, you should definitely watch confessions too!! it was a really great adaption and i would love to hear your thoughts on movie adaptions on books like for a book vlog theme

[@startingace]

I looove Acevedo but couldn’t get into family lore😢. Will try again another time.

[@GabrielTheMagolorMain]

35:07 agree so much with what you said about reviewing endings. If it’s a bad ending fine, but so many people rate down cause the book didn’t end the way they wanted and I don’t agree with that. You make me want to read so many of these books!

[@fijisodaa9787]

confessions is literally my favorite book ever, it was a trippppp!!

[@pauieeepau]

I watched the Confessions movie years ago, and it's wild. I didn't know it was based on a book, so i want it! That teacher was wild, those kids as well. I recommend the movie for anyone who likes Japanese horror movies and haven't watched it yet. I haven't seen the movie again in years, so that book will be fun. I love the energy with which you talk about these books. Keep it up!💕

[@autumn975]

I LOVED the secret lives of church ladies soooooo much! So juicy that I had to buy a copy to reread in the future 😂

[@anna_reads862]

I loveddddd Chlorine...ended up being one of my all time favorites. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is on my list and I added The Bread The Devil Knead 💖

[@naomiblenkinsop4259]

Such a great list of books; i want to read all of these books

[@emileigh6524]

Would you be able to write down the list in the description box if possible.

[@dkg0220]

Very surprised My Week with Him was not in the top 10, it’s my number 1 of the year. Gave Family Lore 2 stars

[@angelagordillo1806]

Loved Confessions……..and it’s not the type of book I would normally reach for.

[@jadeddiamonds9983]

peach cobbler left me thinking about incest lol. i was still trying to figure out if the paster was the daddy and if the boy was her brother, so did you sleep with your daddy's son? I loved Secret Lives of Church Ladies. also, you're the reason i picked up Viola's s memoir.

[@ananda2white]

No it was just a man her mother was having an affair with

[@mrlately]

CONFESSIONS ❤

[@DanielleP0314]

I'm not the biggest Talia Hibbert fan (I didn't like the Brown sisters trilogy very much) but Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute was SOOOOO GOOD!!!! I hope Talia stays in this lane (Black YA romance) for awhile longer.

[@temiyoyo5799]

💚💚💚💚

[@pwetty4r4]

I always thought your name was Kenya

[@kierinymorris2064]

How do we join your book club

[@leftoverpotato2023]

you need to read Alex Michaelides the silent patient. All I'm saying.

[@larissaschunck]

Oi LILY, prazer em conhecê-la, algumas das indicações como: A teoria da conspiração de nós dois, oito assassinatos perfeitos e confissões encontrei a versão traduzida para português, vou ler e depois te conto o que achei. Obrigada

[@TSfan217]

If I’ve never read Recitatif before, should I read Zadie Smith’s forward at the beginning, or should I go into the book blind? 🤔

[@TSfan217]

Also, thank you for the recs, these books all sound amazing 😩❤

[@brookesmith6998]

I'd say go in blind and come back and listen to the intro once you've had time to digest the story on your own.

[@TSfan217]

@@brookesmith6998 thanks! I’ll do that 😊

[@brookesmith6998]

@TSfan217 You're welcome! I really enjoyed Recitatif. Happy reading!

[@TSfan217]

@@brookesmith6998 Happy reading! 😊😊

[@zcapari]

the sound in your videos is always so quiet! Great video tho, I just wouldn't know what you'd said if I didn't have subtitles on

[@user-qu8zs7vs1x]

Your audio may be the issue, she's literally yelling for me, I had to turn the volume down to 1 😂 but I agree that the audio is generally off in her videos, a professional mic may solve the issue

[@GamerRisingGR]

Yeah if you walked down the street with a tshirt that said I read 180 books this year you would turn heads

[@user-qu8zs7vs1x]

I really recommend investing in a better mic! Ive never seen a bootuber yell so much while reviewing books, it was making me anxious 😢