creating the perfect 2023 reading list

[@pendragon2012]

"Think not of the books you've bought as a 'to be read' pile. Instead, think of your bookcase as a wine cellar. You collect books to be read at the right time, the right place, and the right mood." --Luc van Donkersgoed. Great video as always, Leonie, have a wonderful week!

[@Frostything]

That is the perfect image for how I build both my book and game libraries. I normally keep at least one book for each "mood" in stock so that I can always pick the right book for that moment. After I finish something, I take a day or so to digest what I read and to reflect on what feels right to read next. The only time planning comes in is when I try to make the most of a school break or of a specific time (e.g. spooky books around Halloween).

[@anavidreader277]

I’ve never heard this quote before but it sums up my views on reading perfectly! I really think books are often meant to be read at certain times of year so I’ll buy a book in February but not read it till October :)

[@george743]

This quote just changed my life, thank you!

[@FeyreArcheron741]

Me justifying my spending habits on books 😅

[@CouCouPao]

This is so lovely and makes me feel less guilty of my current pile of books in my nightstand 😬

[@briannabythebooks]

Do I ever actually stick to my reading plans? Not really. Do I still love planning my reading in minute detail? Yes, so much.

[@phia8026]

So excited to start reading more this year! Who’s with me?

[@nesa549]

same

[@blissfulchild13]

Meeeeeeee

[@Talktoustoday]

Its about a month and a half into this year and Im already reading more than I did last year. I don't count the books I read as much as I want to add reading a bit on a daily basis. SO, I am reading more this year. I also review some of my favourite books on my channel.

[@lucyanderson7820]

i'm determined to get through most of my physical tbr this year - there's about 60 books on there (yikes) - but one thing i'm trying to focus on is still enjoying what i'm reading and not just reading things for the sake of reading them / saying i've read them. i definitely need to get better at unhauling, taking inspiration from these videos to think about my reading this year more for enjoyment rather than hitting numbers :) thanks for another amazing video, they really are my sunday comfort watches

[@PinAda92]

You and me both honestly. Best of luck

[@Zivilin]

i have 70+ books on my physical tbr i wish to try cut down a bit this year. But my more realistic goal is minimum two series. 😅

[@AbsurdExistentialist]

I'm playing Zelda: Breath of the Wild as I listen, and I recognized the Kakariko Village tune in the background, so pleased ✨💖

[@darkling_04]

i use notion for my reading organization as well! it has so many functions and i love using it. its so interesting to see how others use it for their reading organization!

[@cruelaz]

I started using notion because hers looks so nice but what you have at the start looks nothing like it. currently trying to get a picture existing next to a to do list this is word level pain of trying to embed a picture. haha I dont know if I have the patience left in me to learn this 😂

[@girlkaramazov]

every time i see people doing tbr lists and plan reading this thouroughly i am amazed-- i am neurodivergent and i literally just read and buy books as i go so i cannot fathom this but i love to see it!!!!!!!!!

[@emmakgill]

I'm so excited to see you prioritizing The Starless Sea and Strange the Dreamer! I hope you love them as much as I do; they're some of my all time favs❄️

[@jackiewheaton4199]

I agree must read The Starless Sea. I loved The Night Circus. Listened to TSS on audiobook and it was great. Eventually I'll read it in paperback.

[@Bluehoshiflower]

Yeey for Notion. I also use it for everything, as well as keeping records of library visits, notes, and logging books. I use the gallery view, because I upload the covers. It looks so cool

[@vorgebrauchschutteln3859]

Is Notion really free? Or do I have to pay at some point in the future to keep my lists? Sounds to good to be true haha.

[@mackenzireese9476]

not only an entertaining watch, but very helpful too! i will certainly look into using notion for reading lists and a school to-dos +what ever else i need to organize outside of my chaotic brain. Excited for this year of reading, thank you Leonie!

[@asoftwrongness]

I just finished Slewfoot and I really enjoyed it!! It starts a little slow but ends strong. I think it would be the perfect October read if you like to plan for ~seasonal~ vibes.

[@youless3]

whenever i look at my notion book reading list i get the feeling, that it looks like a journal from a game where my quests are listed. i love it. thanks for showing us notion.

[@charu2774]

This year, for the first time, I made a list of book from my unread pile that I wish to read. And for the first time ever I got right into it; so far I finished reading 2 from that list and third is ongoing. The happiness I felt after crossing those books from the list encouraged me like no other to read more

[@zofiabochenska1240]

I'm so bad with sticking to the TBRs. I'm very rarely buying physical books, instead I have a kindle list, a library, and a shelf on Storytel. With library and Storytel it is very easy to add stuff, but not so easy to actually prioritise, and remembering what I even wanted to read. I've a lot of mediocre books recently, so maybe it is my call to get the notion, cute frog thumbnails, and get down to planning!

[@thelivichronicles]

you are such a comfort creator

[@azulfernandez3703]

between the frog and toad pics and planning and notion and the sofa full of books + talk about books this video was perfect

[@honormd7669]

Left hand of darkness is soooo good in my opinion. I have read it as a teen, it really opened up my mind on the topic of gender and how it could not affect our lives as much as it does

[@karikirfman6381]

Downloaded Notion with your link. I had already planned my reading for the first few months. I had paper lists that I had to cross-reference with Goodreads. Within Notion, I set up a database with information about the book (name, author, genre), what platform I had it on (audible, print, kindle, library), and the planned reading month. I was then able to generate some dashboards that showed how many of my January books I have completed and how many are left. Cool tool!

[@LynseyGould]

The switch was a 5* for me, I really enjoyed it. I read it in 2 days and devoured it.

[@saskia5644]

I would love to see you try StoryGraph instead of Goodreads, I think it will help with focusing a bit too much on the rating. Also, the recommendation algorithm is superior and helps you filter your tbr to books that you're in the book for right at that time. Would also make a fun video?

[@wellenhelen]

YES! I love the filters and the trigger warnings and moods on Storygraph so much - and the GRAPHS! Exactly what my little reader hard needed to motivate me to read again! And it just keeps getting better, because they're still improving it day by day! :)

[@irenegrijalvotarres]

I apologise in advance for the length of this comment but I am very excited 🤣 My Notion 2023 TBR has 284 books on it and they're separated by month amongst many other things because of, you know, the neurodivergence. You are going to fall in love with the absolute ✨vibes✨ of The Starless Sea. It's a meta book about stories, so it's really ~no plot, no characters, just vibes~. A lot of people have beef with that but it's my favourite fiction book, so I can't wait to hear you talk about it. Also predicting you'll love The House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends & Lattes because they are so heartwarming they're like a hug in book form. Less intense atmospheric vibes than TSS but immersive nonetheless. Strange the Dreamer is FANTASTIC and very dreamy indeed. The sequel is just as good. I agree it's going to become a new favourite for you. I have the same issue with Le Guin: I love the premise but I am very bored by the execution. I really liked The Dispossessed but DNFd The Left Hand of Darkness. I would suggest you pick up her essay collection Dancing at the Edge of the World instead. You get her ideas without the boring sci-fi. A Dowry of blood was... fine, but it's a cheap imitation of Interview with the Vampire, so you may want to read it before Anne Rice. Rice is going to hurt all of your feelings, but like, in a good way. Rilke is as good as Marcus Aurelius, and you'll love it, but you seem to have very lighthearted expectations of this book and it's a lot more depressing than that. I tried to read The Wolf and the Huntsman and there was a surprising amount of mutilation in it, but the entire plot is there to serve an enemies to lovers romance, so you may actually like it. I thought it didn't have much else going for it and I DNFd it, but I don't usually enjoy YA romance, so take this with a grain of salt. Recommending literally everything T. Kingfisher has ever written to you, because her dark cottagecore vibes are off the chart.

[@avalaperriere3054]

Do you think you could do a video showing us how you set up your notion? I absolutely love how it's laid out and I can't quite figure it out.

[@natalyab5251]

Can't wait for your review of The Starless Sea! I read it twice (and I NEVER re-read) and it still feels like there's enough undiscovered beauty and unnoticed connections to read the third time. Be ready to get your mind blown though.

[@jmsl910]

i think you'll whiz through VW. it is short & it's non-fiction. love your frog and toad aesthetic!! no planning at all for me. i just keep track of what i read on storygraph

[@paulahiru]

Please do a video on your bookish trend predictions for 2023! I'm very curious now☺

[@mushu1168]

Thank you for introducing me to Notion! I can finally feel organized lol. It's a good feeling!

[@em._.345]

that was so inspiring, creative and helpful🫶🏼 i just absolutely love ur videos!

[@NellyVilla09]

Never been this early to your videos omg! Happy new year, Leonie ☺️✨

[@CarlosSilva-oc8fd]

i love thisssss! congrats on the sponser Leonie! Also, how did you do that up and down arrow to track how many books you've read this year? It looks so cool!

[@eli_drottningu]

I keep a list called "next", which I review each January and remove or add books that I want to read that year, try to limit it to 15 or so. Usually includes what I didn't get the change of reading during the "Guadalupe-Reinas" reading marathon, but I do want to read in the near future.

[@kthereader]

Annihilation was sooo good i liked the book more than the movie!! + the book was creepier which makes it ten times better ^^

[@Arawn505]

I've only seen the movie and was a little disappointed. It was quite good, but I was expecting it to be a bit stranger. And inside of the Shimmer it looked so... glossy and blurred, the cinematography there could've been better. They could've gone for a better look. I did like the whole last part at the lighthouse and how freaky the movie gets, would've liked more of that vibe. Pretty good movie, but I can imagine that the book is better

[@millieb3823]

Ahh love this! I literally just finished organising my books so this is so fun to watch! Also i brought the stolen heir the other day as it was on sale and i still need to read the queen of nothing so definately want to start that! Xx

[@aaronmccrea8112]

Strange The Dreamer is such a good book and I hope you get to it this year!

[@random23287]

I'm really happy to see house of leaves on your tbr, even though it's likely you won't get to it for a while, because it's one of my favorite books ever. I will say it is a tiring book to read, not because of the slowness (although sometimes) the suspense can keep you going, but the format makes it a little difficult at times. Definitely read something else that is more lighthearted at the same time.

[@Natalieanyaa]

I have 200 unread books on my physical tbr.... I'm trying to bring it down to 180 this year but we'll see. Ofc I'll want to buy new books as well and then that'll make it even harder to achieve but a girl can dream!

[@dreenyan]

This year I just shopped in my own physical/audio books! I set a goal of 26 (in the hopes I would average out a book every 2 weeks, which is quite realistic for me) - but I loved your process :D

[@hypermaniya]

I enjoy your videos so much that I can't seem to get any work done!!! >:( All jokes aside though, you are my comfort content creator.

[@fzeulft]

I started using Notion last year mostly for keeping track of my expenses and planning my daily routine, and some time ago, I thought it would be great to use it for organizing reading lists, too. Your video really inspired me to do so and helped me to come up with an image of how it can be done. Thank you ❤️

[@banaa9463]

I'm happy to be here! I think I'll copy you with the 20 books to really prioritize because looking at my general TBR can get a little overwhelming. I saw Rebecca in your general TBR. I think that would be up your alley too.

[@Lumors]

I use google sheets for organizing my reading plans. It is great because I can set up functions to calculate for me how many pages I "should" read per day / per week in order to "be on track". For it to work I need to increment the week number, and when I finish a book I change its page number to 0, so the function recalculates the recommended weekly and daily reading dosage. It makes me so happy!

[@peculiarlyreading]

ahhhhh i love notion so much

[@emilyisreading_]

I love Notion too, but just a note for people who want to use it to organize your life: I'm pretty sure they still don't have end-to-end encryption. So I would not store sensitive information like passwords or finance data on my Notion.

[@mac8697]

extremely late to this, but I read A Room of One's Own in one single sitting when I was in college and it really made me think a lot about life in general. defo recommend, very accessible with very universal ideas.

[@alieneater3328]

i have a huge physical TBR (80ish books. yikes) that i bought years ago and i am just starting to get back into reading again after a long time of not reading. the way i encourage myself is not buying books until i remove a decent amount of books off my shelf. the only "planning" i do is take 1-3 books and out it on my side table and rotate through those. i hope one day i have a bookshelf full of books i truly enjoy only.

[@dee1661]

LOVE your videos! Can’t wait to see more reading vlogs!

[@MegaLilly96]

I usually make a plan of the books that I want to prioritise every month, though I don’t always get to all of them because it’s nice to have a list of books you’re already hyped about ready for every time you finish a book (or when you want to start a new one 😂). For this year I have made a custom reading challenge with prompts that fit with books that I had on my list for a while and want to prioritise and this way I will hopefully get to them. It’s not really necessary for it to be a reading challenge but I love the accomplishment I feel when I see the overall percentage raise 😅 It’s going to be hard not having my list of books that I want to read reach unrealistic numbers though with all the great recommendations that I’m finding on book tube (and your channel is especially good at predicting books that I will like)

[@dee1661]

can you please please please share all your notion templates you showed here??? Please!!

[@sailoreuropa3878]

Can you do a video that goes deeper into how you created your notion pages? I am trying to make a Board like you have for your TBR, Reading, and Completed and I can't change any of the titles and it's super frustrating. They updated it and there are NO videos explaining how to use the new boards. It's absolutely maddening that you can't just easily change the info.

[@ReadingNymph]

I just read A Dowry of Blood, its fantastic 👌🏻 Such a perfect relaxing video I use a bullet journal to plan oht what I want to read. I have a list of 23 high priority reads

[@kurtcobain8311]

I love you leonie❤

[@incandescent.glow.]

i have a book rec for you! stalking jack the ripper, it’s really good and very atmospheric. with a perfect for a rainy dark autumn day in london vibe

[@joanafreitas7263]

I did something similar last year. I made a list of around 20 books that I really wanted to read. I only got to half of them, but I liked most of them and even found some favourites! and bc I was enjoying my reading I ended up reading more than previous years! I plan to do this this year again, I think prioritising your reading is a great idea and it really works lol

[@AdrianasWonderland]

woah i didn't know i needed this to live, now i know, i do

[@psychicsocial]

Thank you for the motivation to make a reading goals notion page ❤Personally, A Dowry of Blood was one of my top reads of 2022, and is my favorite vampire book (and that's saying something believe me). As for Annihilation, it is not like the movie in a lot of ways so beware when you read it, they have pretty different vibes.

[@Scarletfoxcos]

I really enjoy looking at physical/virtual planners like notion, bullet journals etc. but I feel like designing it would take so much time that I wouldn’t have time to actually do the things I plan.

[@juliablanks5712]

Legends and Lattes was very cute and can be read in an afternoon. So cozy and fun.

[@annamd422]

wow this was so helpful, i’ve been trying to figure out notion and have been overwhelmed

[@avaguavastudies]

I had similar goals - to read books I already own, and if not to read books I can get from the library. I use Notion to track my physical TBR and prioritized 12 books I want to read I also looked through my library list tag on goodreads and picked 9 books I'd like to read from there. Of course, plans change with book clubs and new releases but I'm happy with my list (and yours!) so far! :)

[@Rachelw]

Nettle and Bone is so good. It was one of my favourites from last year. I think you would like it.

[@fallisdying2077]

your reaction when gothikana came up on that tiktok was so funny😂😂

[@stephaniem2743]

I've just been going to the library. I take a screenshot of the book on the library's website so I have the call number ready. I have a priority folder for the ones I want to read the most.

[@katiedorn5552]

That cover of Legends & Lattes is gorgeous I've never seen that version before!

[@CouCouPao]

I discovered Notion from your old videos and I love it so much!! I use it more for goals and my online shop stuff. Don't know if I'll do it for books but is definitely a game changer. Thank you!

[@elfridamema2599]

I love your channel so much 😭❤

[@hayleyemma7953]

Please read the Left Hand of Darkness! I adore it. I fortunately got to study it way back in highschool. It's on my re-read list!

[@victoriabarrett9017]

Also apart of folk of the air is How the King of Elfhame learned to hate stories. It’s a short story

[@farida.a]

This was delightful to watch! I might have to start using Notion, your pages looked adorable. I found that I got through more books on my TBR in the months where I made a reading list, so I made one for this year

[@dianagovea7878]

I like your way of organizing in Notion. I wish I can make a tbr but I'm more of a mood reader so what I do is a list of prompts that I want to read this year and try to mach my books with those prompts.

[@lex7176]

I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO GET TO THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA!!! it was my favorite read of 2022 :) I also highly recommend 'under the whispering door' by the same author!

[@denisperez9263]

Love it, I'm a recently Notion user, this is a new option for me, thank you for the tour.

[@elrilyu6878]

Hi, Leonie. I am also a fan of Le Guin’s books. I think that maybe you can try her short story collections, the Wind’s Twelve Quarters and Compass Rose. The Wind is more beautiful and Compass is more thought-provoking. SF Masterwork has a bind-up of the two. I also like the Annihilation film very much and went to read the book. I can tell you that the film is not really a loyal adaptation to the original story. The original story may not be what you think it to be, but you should still try it. Both the book and the film are very good. They are just not the same story.

[@blondiephantasia995]

The House in the Cerulean Sea is my favorite book! I hope you enjoy it

[@joannaz.1272]

Ok, looks I'm off to make some cute lists and plans for 2023. I definitely need to tackle down my physical tbr.

[@tragic_comic2189]

I plan my entire TBR for the next year months in advanced lol. I update it periodically until I am finally happy with what I decided. I also plan what order I will read the books 3 months ahead. I just made a list from March-May. Sometimes things do not go as planned though haha

[@iguehiosunbor8580]

Hello, I couldn't help but notice that you had a few books on your tbr that kind of show a bookish taste of yours that you don't talk about much on here...at least to my knowledge...except of course, if you're only just trying them out for the first time. SVSSS and the witch's heart and I really look forward to hearing how you feel about those books. I really like your takes on things even though they are a bit hard to hear sometimes(when they concern a book I'm partial to) and look forward to this bookish year with you. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[@mahritty]

The house of the cerulean sea

[@futoijosei]

I don't make reading lists. I'm more of a fly by the seat of my pants type reader. I read what sounds interesting or what I'm obsessing over. Everything else is TBR even if I haven't heard of it and don't own it.

[@beasthenshin]

I actually just finished listening to the audiobook of The House in the Cerulean Sea and teared up multiple times at work because of how sweet and lovely it was. Can only recommend it to anyone who might be on the fence about it.

[@beasthenshin]

The audiobook is also very fun because the dialogue has this British tinge to it but is read with the most neutral American accent.

[@brookblackwell9529]

The Starless Sea is one of my all time favorite books. I just reread it at the beginning of the year and annotated a copy of it for my bff

[@karybooks]

I plan my reading, but not once a year, I do so at the beginning of each month :) I choose 9 books to read for the following month and I try to put in my list books that I already own as much as possible :) I rarely read 9 books a month, I think it happened once, I'm mostly around 4-5 books a month.

[@fujismoke]

All your reading planning videos are my favorite 💙

[@thoopsy]

I started really seriously reading again in March, which means I didn't do any of that traditional Late December Early January planning. I AM keeping track of what I've read so I can make graphs about it at the end of the year, though

[@litera_queen]

I love Notion and u inspired me to use it and transform it into something very cute, I love it :)

[@Indyvdg]

Hi Leonie! I saw Legendborn on your list and I’m exactly really excited to hear your thoughts about it, because I loved that book! It was one of my favorites of 2021 and I reread it last year to read the sequel right after. I really hope you read it soon! (It’s dark academia vibes with a strong female mc 👀)

[@Indyvdg]

It is ya and has a love triangle, but with a twist👀

[@ilfak4986]

I've already seen a bunch of people rave about the starless sea but im gonna add my thoughts to the mix as well because why the hell not- it is absolutely EXQUISITE imo but i do get why it's a hit or miss for most people. for instance I've recommended it to a few people but they all weren't fans of it (much to my despair and delight). i think you need to like a very SPECIFIC genre to actually adore this book. it's the only hardcopy i own and no regrets because can we talk about the absolutely gorgeous cover-

[@victoriabarrett9017]

Me dropping everything when I saw you hold up Killing November 😱😱😍😍 such an amazing book/duology.

[@LovelyLiz337]

How do you use Notion boards?? You should do a full tutorial on Notion if you can get it sponsored again because Notion is extremely confusing and online tutorials I have found do not work on my board pages.....

[@wesleyriley7963]

I use notion like this for my video games! haha its cool to see other people using it in my algorithm

[@enolagaiman8502]

I read the Southern Reach trilogy (annihilation is the first book) when I was in a really bad place. These are not "good vibes" books. At all. But it's a literary miracle. It's powerful. The movie was good. There is so much more in the books. SO MUCH MORE. I read the three books twice. It helped me a lot. Made me think differently. It crawled under my skin. I was thinking about a tattoo of one specific quote.

[@sineadcarty7256]

Sneaky stardew valley lofi there

[@chriscze6153]

Gotta join the Ava Reid stan club here, Wolf and the Woodsman was my favorite book of last year and Juniper and Thorn was my favorite book published in 2022. She's an incredible writer, hope you read her books too! She has a YA dark academia romance coming out this year which will be a little different for her...

[@willow.e6201]

saw 'the lies of locke lamora' on the digital tbr list, whoever recommended that has quality taste

[@esthersucksatlife]

tbh I have the opposite issue, I just rarely ever find books that speak to me so idk if anyone has any recs, they’d be very much appreciated (I really enjoyed books such as: we were liars, the secret history, the perks of being a wallflower and I really enjoy thrillers too)

[@cafeaulivre]

I plan, but not an entire year ahead, because I know I'll run into some new books that I will want to read, there will be ARCs that I need to read that I don't know about, etc. I mostly plan one season ahead (3-4 months) and I simply use my Goodreads shelves to plan and organize. loved the frogs though, they gave me Wind in the Willow-vibes .

[@hannahnova749]

I love the ideas you have and how you present them. There is some super quiet music in the background but the tune is high and distracting for me this time. You are still doing a great job! I hope you don't mind me saying something.💚

[@Shht445]

I love your channel, it always makes me happy when you upload a new video! Its definitely my favourite book channel on youtube! I looooove the Mirror Visitor series (La Passe-Miroir) from Christelle Dabos. Its fantasy and I have never in my life read a better series and it got me back to love reading! Sadly nobody talks about the series on youtube so I always hope that you discover the series someday :) . If you start to read it you might think that some characters are really toxic so don't let that put you off!! I promise everything gets clear in the end.

[@hannahfay4950]

Loved the vibe of this video! Thanks for the great book recommendations!

[@adelak.8054]

When you said in the video: Am I living the way these frogs are? If no, I have to change something." Me on my sofa: OH YEAH! SO TRUE! GO GIRL! 😀💛

[@jamesduggan7200]

Yes, that one is so good. Tom and Dave each took a quarter, but Wendy got a half!

[@m87020]

The only way I plan my reading (or more specifically, the books I buy) is to have a 10 book wishlist. I try to leave them here for at least two weeks before buying so that way I don't impulse buy. If I hear about a book that I want to be on the list I just replace it for one of the pre-existing ones. I did this last year and it was such a good reading year for me, I only read books that really tapped into concepts or ideas that really interested me and I had almost no DNFs. You can also do this with clothes, videogames, etc So, yeah. That's my advice. Good day, everyone