my TOP TEN favourite books of 2023 📚✨ BEST BOOKS OF 2023

What an amazing year of reading-tell me your top 10 books of the year down below!
🤍 timestamps
↳ 0:00 intro
↳ 1:15 honourable mentions
↳ 7:07 top 10 books
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faqs
🤍 how do you pronounce your name?
- my name is Jananie-pronounced JEN-nuh-nee (like a knee!)
🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc?
- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!
🤍 what is your job?
- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…booktubers talking about book that brought them joy because Mama needs to add to the TBR.

[@bananadnugget]

The flag 🍉🥹 thank youuu! You're such a blessing to this community ♡

[@thisstoryaintover]

🥺❤️❤️

[@lizpierre5858]

The first thing I noticed too ❤❤❤

[@zinebbz5805]

We see and appreciate the flag 🍉 you are a blessing to the booktube community ❤

[@thisstoryaintover]

❤️❤️❤️

[@abookishlesbian]

As a fellow bipolar, thank you for being so open about your experience and also thank you for these recommendations, as I've never heard of these! I really hope 2024 brings you so much joy! Also I LOVE a dowry of blood and in the dream house!

[@thisstoryaintover]

Sending love to you 💖 I hope 2024 is incredible for you 🫶🏾

[@abookishlesbian]

@@thisstoryaintover you too💜💜💜

[@rosebud7233]

My Top 10 from this year: 10. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldrie 9. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch 8.Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 7.Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez 6. Homes: A Refugee Story by Winnie Yeung and Abu Bakar al Rabeeah 5. Beach Read by Emily Henry 4. Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang 3. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender 2. True Biz by Sara Novic 1. The GIver of Stars by Jo Jo Moyes

[@_ashleylh]

I read the Giver of Stars a couple of years ago and adored it. It was so unexpected!

[@rosebud7233]

@@_ashleylh I just loved the female friendships in this book!

[@lizziepeach2380]

so real for legends and lattes. have u read the prequel: bookshops & bonedust? it's so good!

[@rosebud7233]

@@lizziepeach2380 not yet, but I’m excited too!! only just read legends and lattes at the end of November.

[@naghamhossam556]

Omg THE FLAG

[@thisstoryaintover]

❤️❤️

[@Tearearly]

I‘m really happy to get to see you post this year’s wrap up! Keep pushing forward, Jenanie; Next year will be better! Can’t wait to see what your next reads will bring.

[@marabookstagram]

You speak about books so beautifully! Adding all of these to my TBR! ❤

[@MsJuice1990]

I generally don’t comment on youtube. But i just want to say that you are such a lovely person and i absolutely love to watch your videos. You are easily one of my favourite booktuber. I also greatly appreciate your strong stance on the Palestinian genocide. Wish you a new year of peace and health.

[@thisstoryaintover]

🥺❤️❤️

[@destinylo_]

Literally just want to give you a big hug through the screen! Thanks for always showing up as your authentic self. Def going to check out some of your top picks! 📚❤

[@tammyripp998]

Cleopatra & Frankenstein is a great book and overlooked by many, I loved it too!

[@nilulal545]

Thank you for bringing awareness through your experience and books. Its helpful and relatable, and fun. Best wishes for 2024!!🎉

[@manonvo8615]

I love all the "favorite books of 2023" videos to finf new book tubers with the same kind of town. And this started amazingly with Wmily Wilde. I just finished this one and I looooved ittttt!

[@aamnahere6250]

Finlay Donovan series is such an incredibly funny, cosy and enjoyable one. Love knowing that you loved it as well. By the way, the Palestinian flag is a beautiful touch and I really appreciate it.

[@lizpierre5858]

Omg‼️ I loveee the flag in your background! Tysm!!

[@ampslr]

Gotta check some of these out. Great video girl!

[@Lara_Ameen]

I read WHAT MY BONES KNOW earlier this year because of your recommendation! What a wonderful memoir! I read IN THE DREAM HOUSE in 2022 and it was one of my favorite books that year, so I’m glad to see it on your list! I also loved EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAIRIES and I’m so excited for the sequel in January! 😍🥰

[@jamilatranslated513]

The past 3 years I have LOVEDDD your reading recap. Love the your short synopsis of each book!

[@thisstoryaintover]

💖💖💖

[@kaesinfinitelibrary]

I'm so excited to get to The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and seeing it on your favorites list has renewed that excitement!!!

[@victoriazeccola]

Omg I felt the same way about The Encyclopedia of Faeries! I can't wait for the next one in Jan.

[@anniexsanghar]

it’s been great watching you! happy new year 🩷

[@thisstoryaintover]

Happy new year!! 🥳

[@stardust2882]

Omg I was shocked by how much I loved the Finley Donovan series- I got it as a gift for Christmas last year and quickly read through the other two books!!! Really excited to check out your other recs!!

[@danafrancis3658]

Wow, great selection. Thank you, thank you for not just having a whole bunch of Romantasy and Fantasy Series books like I see with a lot of these lists (which is fine, but doesn't provide much variation). Great selection here.

[@shelliesallas-leveratt169]

Loved this list and your connections to each book.

[@daniellemarics]

Great video! I am still working on my rankings for 2023. Natural Beauty is on my must read list for 2024.

[@_ashleylh]

Cleopatra and Frankenstein was definitely in my top reads for the year, too. I borrowed it on Libby but I want to own my own copy one day for my personal library (in the UK cover, the same as you!). Babel and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow were my two absolute favorites from this year!

[@Myms365]

Another amazing reading year watching your channel, enjoy next year and the following ones and keep making great videos !! 🫶🇵🇸

[@jadeddiamonds9983]

Unquiet mind is on my shelves, glad to see it here, can't wait to read it.

[@whatnataliereadss]

Loved this!! Adding so many to my TBR ❤❤

[@readiculousreads4164]

I don't see people talking about An Unquiet Mind, but it was so good! I don't struggle with Manic Depression, but I have family members that do/did, and this book gave me so much more insight into their brains, how they work, and how I can understand and support them better. It has also ignited my interest in psychology. I think it's absolutely worth the read, even if you can't directly relate!

[@thisstoryaintover]

Agreed!! 💯

[@hadriankun]

I'm glad I find your channel this year! Love your reviews and taste but most importantly love how you're not afraid standing up for palestine, it means so much to me. ❤

[@thisstoryaintover]

Glad to have you here!! Thank you for watching 🫶🏾

[@katiediaz9952]

I freaking love your content and how how describe book summaries amazinggggg❤

[@ArlinTreaty]

Can I just say that your profile picture is the MOST BEAUTIFUL THING THAT I’VE EVER SEEN 💕

[@thisstoryaintover]

THANK YOU 😭💖

[@jadeddiamonds9983]

I really enjoyed Finley Donovan this year as well. It was so good. It was outside of my comfort zone. I highly recommend the audiobook.

[@marabookstagram]

It's amazing when you see yourself reflected in memoirs or novels. But I also love reading books like that because it helps me better understand different perspectives. My top memoir this year was Strong Female Character by Fern Brady. She's an Irish comedian on the autism spectrum who was finally diagnosed in her 30s. Her memoir is so vulnerable, heartbreaking, and funny.

[@JacquelineR1]

Before I Let Go is one of my favorites. I just took Yellowface off the bookshelf yesterday and started reading it today.

[@thisstoryaintover]

I hope you enjoy it! Happy reading ☺️

[@rahnumarimi3238]

It's the 🇵🇸 for me 🍉🍉🍉 Was already planning to read Cleopatra & Frankenstein, now definitely will ❤️

[@louisity]

I 💟 the soft music in the background. I wanna read Yellowface. I will be reading Babel first because I already have a hardcover copy of it. I am so glad that I bought it. 🛒💵

[@heyitsdaliiii]

Jananie your new profile picture is BEAUTIFUL❤️

[@thisstoryaintover]

THANK YOU 🥺🫶🏾

[@badfaith4u]

I loved Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries and Yellowface.

[@marvin5624]

i trust your taste in books so much i‘m putting all the ones i haven’t read on the top of my TBR

[@thisstoryaintover]

🥺🫶🏾

[@Italianamuneca]

My top ten from the beginning of 2023: 1.The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Kahn 2.The Weight of Blood by Tiffany Jackson 3.Five Survive by Holly Jackson 4.The Obsession by Jesse Sutanto 5.Cursed by Marissa Meyer 6.Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Kahn 7.The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope 8.The Change by Kirsten Miller 9.What Lies in the Woods by Kate Marshall 10.Friends Like These by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

[@cbadat2010]

♥ Im glad you got your diagnosis. Im glad you are taking it proactively. I don't know you personally but I know your heart is not your mental illness. I was told that when I was diagnosed. I hope you keep learning about your new normal and live happy and healthy because you deserve it!

[@thisstoryaintover]

Thank you 🫶🏾 sending love!! 💖

[@chocolateoreo6489]

I adore your book taste! ❤

[@leighgm]

Happy to have found you!

[@sanssmithy8246]

23:50 every time I listen to you review a book I wipe out my current next up reads and add your top recs 😂 but also some of the books I already had on my list came from you 😂 I’m def going to read big Swiss and the Cleo book! Both sample audios for those books on audible seem very interesting 🙏🏿🎧

[@sanssmithy8246]

My top 10 🎧 📖💕🤌🏿 10. Brother & the shuddering by ania ahlborn (tied) 9. Skin of the sea by Natasha bowen 8. We have always lived in the castle by Jackson & just like home by gailey (tied) 7. The good house & the wishing pool by due (tied) 6. The house of eve by sadeqa Johnson 5. The neighbors by ania ahlborn 4. The Paris apartment by foley 3. Never lie by Freida 2. The daughter of dr Moreau by Silvia 1. Mexican gothic by Silvia & divine rivals by Ross (yes tied 😂)

[@angelaholmes8888]

Here's my best books of 2023 Spare by prince harry Delilah green doesn't care The mind series by s.t abby Reminders of him by colleen hoover Tell me everything by minka Kelly memoir What my bones know by Stephenie foo memoir Someday maybe Any man by amber tamblyn The woman in me by britney spears memoir The fiancee farce Honorable mentions The bodyguard by katherine center Crazy is my superpower by aj mendez memoir Blood sugar by sacha Rothschild Pageboy by elliot page memoir Heart bones by colleen hoover Lucky me by sachi parker memoir

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I just bought a copy of Finlay Donovan so I’m so excited to read it since everyone seems to love it!

[@thisstoryaintover]

I hope you love it!!

[@Beach652]

Thanks for this video! I need to pick up Finlay Donovan, I need a fun book iny queue. My top reads for 2023: Adrift by Brideau (Canadian speculative fic, climate fiction) and I Who Have Never Known Men (speculative, very short novella that sticks with you for ages after)! ❤❤

[@autumn975]

I definitely want to read cleopatra and Frankenstein. Side note: thank you for your message. hope you’re doing okay and yes, I see you and send you love as well ❤

[@solairreadssometimes]

after seeing so many people talk about cleopatra and frankenstein, this is the first review that’s actually made me put it on my tbr! always looking for good mental illness rep :)

[@zeni6450]

Is this such an important, vulnerable, and beautiful video, thank you so much 🫶🏽🇵🇸💞

[@constancehsiaaa]

Always my fav youtuber ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kiandrarodgers3436]

I'm really looking forward to reading "The Night Parade" by Jami Nakamura Lin and based on some of your favourites this year, I think you'd really enjoy it too! Described as 'in the tradition of "In the Dream House"', and drawing on Japanese myth to discuss mental illness and grief, this is a memoir of a woman reflecting on her time living with undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

[@gabbyreads]

I also loved Natural Beauty, A Dowry of Blood, and Finlay Donovan! I haven’t read Big Swiss but you have me curious 👀

[@thisstoryaintover]

yes!! 🫶🏾 and omg I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up! It's definitely a weird one haha

[@lizardlady69]

I’m curious which SMG book you didn’t like? She’s also one of my faves! Currently reading Silver Nitrate.

[@kirstenhamann4930]

Love hearing everyone’s favorite books of the year!! (I love your beautiful background in the video, too).❤

[@xradiantstarx]

My top 3: Chaos Theory by Nic Stone, The Art Of Insanity by Christine Webb and Every Star That Falls by Michael Thomas Ford. Totally recommend.

[@Aartie1010]

But where is your top/ dress from? Super cute!

[@kristenchumley1421]

I am so so happy to see Natural Beauty on your list. That book was such a pleasant surprise to me earlier this year and I'm glad it is finally getting the recognition it deserves. I still think about that book and it's been like 9 months so that's a testament to its content. I gave Cleopatra and Frankenstein 4 stars and I really enjoyed Coco Mellors' writing so I'm excited she's blessing us with another book in 2024. Big Swiss wasn't it for me. I guess I just couldn't get invested in the relationship between Greta and Big Swiss so it took me out of the story. But there were some comical elements. The Ricola daydream scene made me laugh out loud.

[@thisstoryaintover]

Natural Beauty is definitely underrated! 🫶🏾

[@BAjocelynKED]

I loved Dowry of Blood so much. I actually read it aloud to myself because the ✨ words✨

[@karenmgagne8792]

"this story ain't over"... damn straight! I am so excited for your awareness and work on your mental health. It is brave to share your experience, and it is so necessary that we do so. It is dangerous and hurtful NOT to talk about mental health issues. Thank you so much for being candid! Big hugs from one bipolar chick to another... 😊❤

[@kmt4676]

I had to DEVOUR the Daughter of Dr Moreau in one day. Montgomery is a well written and worthy book crush 😙👌 chef's kiss !

[@FiFiReadsBooks]

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 2 at 33. I’m now 38 and it changed my life getting my diagnosis. It felt like I could finally breath. I’ll need to check out those two books on the subject.

[@thisstoryaintover]

💖💖💖 sending you all my love, we got this

[@saylars8938]

AGHHHH I HAVENT READ HELL BENT YET BECAUSE IVE BEEN PROCRASTINATING ON REREADING NINTH HOUSE BUT YOU TALKING ABOUT DARLINGTON AND ALEX JUST UNLEASHED ALL THE FEELINFS I HAD TOWARDS THEM AND NOW I WILL IMMEDIATELY STOP PROCRASTINATING THANK YOU

[@aprendeingles2day]

⭐Your Top 10 is great⭐

[@LongstoryshortIsurvived44]

Could I read a memoir on bipolar like An Unquiet Mind, when I have borderline personality disorder and many many other diagnosis but not bipolar.

[@ladydi7003]

I appreciate the flag. 🍉❤️❤️

[@alyssacascos8665]

My top 8 books of the year: 1. Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson 2. I am glad my mom died by Jennette McCurdy 3. Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield 4. Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward 5. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern 6. Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow 7. We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds 8. The Stars and the Blackness Between them by Junauda Petrus

[@BiteSizedBeet]

We Deserve Monuments is in my top 5 - loved it! :)

[@alyssacascos8665]

@@BiteSizedBeet Right! So good! ❤️

[@soda_fairy]

You probably won’t see this comment but I’m seeing this video at an interesting time. I have bi polar type 2 and I’ve tried many mood stabilizers but I’ve reacted poorly to them, and now my current psychiatrist is saying I don’t have bipolar And it’s just logic I don’t get, she is saying I’m not having manic episodes, I just “don’t have friends to burn social energy” which is not true 🙄 I feel like I’m stuck ugh. The diagnosis added so much clearity to my behaviors

[@amandagard284]

i have bipolar disorder too. I appreciate you sharing those two books,

[@hadeel_K]

You’re amazing 🤩 Happy new year wishing you love and peace always 💛🥰🍉🇵🇸

[@BiteSizedBeet]

What My Bones Know was one of my favorite books from last year, no question. I feel like it's probably on your radar, but you might enjoy They Called Us Exceptional by Prachi Gupta. From Goodreads: "An Indian American daughter reveals how the dangerous model minority myth fractured her family in this searing, brave memoir."

[@thisstoryaintover]

Ooo I'm definitely adding it to my list!!

[@dieorwrite9460]

Just a correction, A Dowry of Blood was not originally self-published, instead it is traditionally published, albeit by an indie publishing press called nyxpublishing (which focused on publishing gothic queer horror books). a Dowry of Blood won the nyxpublishing competition for novella and was first published there. However, nyxpublishing merged with another publishing company which is why A Dowry of Blood is re-released.

[@frostydapingu1404]

yesss im loving the flag!!

[@iheartwalle]

In the Dream House is such a fantastic book

[@zahrafatima954]

Where do I find the list of authors/publishers to boycott?

[@Yvette1954]

Have you checked out the book: One Pale Summer by debra phillips yet?🙂

[@eimajhteb8288]

Sold on big Swiss!

[@thisstoryaintover]

YES 🫶🏾

[@eimajhteb8288]

@@thisstoryaintover I’m actually reading it now! More than half way through … super quirky and I love the relationship between Greta and big Swiss!!

[@fatimej4286]

I love the Palestinian flag in the background ❤️ 🇵🇸

[@TheMassacreOfTheBanuQurayzahQu]

I don't.

[@christinawilliams4468]

Read “Semicolon” by Mie Readers.

[@aysel4543]

🍉❤️!

[@CM-qj2lp]

❤📚

[@aytenlusi2741]

I’m following you not only because you talk about books but because of the flag in the background!! ❤what an amazing person to use her platform for good x

[@mrsvictoriacoburn8486]

A dowry of blood >>>

[@sausana2501]

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉

[@hibaath3395]

The flag though😍 thank you for showing your support to Palestine❤️❤️ you're one of the best booktubers and i've been enjoying your videos for years.

[@sany_read]

You are so beautiful lets be honest

[@OnMeds1]

What's up with the bic lighter flicking Sound it was distracting and annoying

[@BethsAL]

I love your humanity ❤free Palestine 🇵🇸

[@TheMassacreOfTheBanuQurayzahQu]

No, free Israel of trouble makers.

[@hruzunibasena8370]

yah palestine!

[@TheMassacreOfTheBanuQurayzahQu]

😂

[@Do-U-Know-me00]

I can NOT stand this asinine end of year favorite type videos.

[@donnawilliams-ormond9666]

Okay 🤷🏽‍♀️, bye Felicia😂