While my favorite book genres are historical fiction and thrillers/suspense novels, I do read other types of books also. This blog post features my one-word book reviews and ratings each month as well as travel destination inspiration. Updated Jan. 6, 2024
Additionally, you’ll find a running list of recommended books sorted by their star ratings at the end of this post.
This post contains recommended links to products and services. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. While you will not accrue any additional costs to support my blog, I may receive compensation if you purchase these products and services. All images are taken by kmf and available for digital download.
Best books to read on your next vacation
Monthly wrap-up of 2023 book reviews
For 2023, I set a goal of 52 books – and made my reading challenge! How many books did you read in 2023? What book has inspired you to travel to that destination setting?
Here’s a list of book reviews, ratings, and recommendations I read sorted by month. Sign up for my newsletter to stay updated on new book reviews I add each month.
2022 one-word book reviews
January 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s a round-up of the books I read and reviewed in January 2023.
- 5 books
- 1,770 pages
- YTD: 5 books; 1,770 pages
One-word book review for Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
Book genre: Thriller
One-word book review and star rating: Forced | 2 stars
Number of pages: 352 pages
Travel inspiration: Cornish coast. England
One-word book review for Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Book genre: Classic literature / fiction
One-word book review and star rating: Endurance | 4 stars
Number of pages: 536
Travel inspiration: Northern England
One-word book review for To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (a reread of my all-time favorite book)
Book genre: Classic literature / historical fiction
One-word book review and star rating: Transformational | 5 stars
Number of pages: 336
Travel inspiration: Alabama, USA
One-word book review for We are the Light by Matthew Quick
We Are The Light by Matthew Quick
Book genre: Contemporary fiction
One-word book review and star rating: Restorative | 3 stars
Number of pages: 256
Travel inspiration: Pennsylvania, USA
One-word book review for The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (a modern retelling of Jane Eyre)
Book genre: Thriller/suspense
One-word book review and star rating: Engrossing | 3 stars
Number of pages: 290
Travel inspiration: Birmingham, Alabama
Best books to read right now
February 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up for February 2023.
- 5 books
- 1,733 pages
- YTD: 10 books; 3,543 pages
One-word book review: The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
Book genre: Contemporary fiction
One word book review and star rating: Slow | 3 stars
Number of pages: 388
Travel inspiration: The Cotswolds, England
One-word book review for The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Book genre: Psychological thriller
One word book review and star rating: Riveting| 4 stars
Number of pages: 336
Travel inspiration: Long Island, New York, USA
One-word book review for I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Book genre: Historical fiction
One-word book review and star rating: Page-turner | 4 stars
Number of pages: 321 pages
One-word book review for The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
Book genre: Historical fiction
One-word book review and star rating: Moving | 4 stars
Number of pages: 368
Travel destination: Georgia, USA
One-word book review for Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
Book genre: Light romance
One-word book review and star rating: Formulaic | 3 stars
Number of pages: 320
Travel inspiration: Texas and Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Buy your favorite Fredrik Backman books!
March 2023 one-word book reviews
I had a few life changes in March so only finished two books this month. Here’s my book wrap-up for March 2023.
- 2 books
- 945 pages
- YTD: 12 books; 4,488 pages
One word book review for Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Book genre: Light contemporary romance
One-word book review and star rating: Unremarkable | 2.5 stars (I liked Daisy Jones & The Six and Malibu Rising by this author much better.)
Number of pages: 321
Travel inspiration: Las Vegas and somewhere
One-word book review for The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Book genre: Historical fiction
One word book review and star rating: Gripping | 5 stars
Number of pages: 624 pages
Travel inspiration: Bletchley Park, Milton Keyes, England
The Rose Code is set during WWII at Bletchley Park in England – home of the codebreakers. Bletchley Park graciously hosted me last fall on a fascinating tour. So it was super cool to read about a place that I’ve visited. Read more in my full review: Best day trips from London: Visit the historic Bletchley Park.
April 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up for April 2023.
- 4 books
- 1,181 pages
- YTD: 16 books; 5,669 pages
One-word book review for Crying in H Mart
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Book genre: Autobiography / memoir
One word book review and star rating: Candid | 3 stars
Number of pages: 239 pages
One-word book review for The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Book genre: Historical fiction
One word book review and star rating: Enthralling | 4 stars
Number of pages: 376 pages
Travel inspiration: Oxford, England
I am a huge fan of the Oxford English Dictionary, which is the setting for this book. Read my review of my personal tour of The Oxford University Press – home of the Oxford English Dictionary.
One-word book review for Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Book genre: Classic literature / young adult fiction
One word book review and star rating: Affecting| 4 stars
Number of pages: 182 pages
Travel inspiration: Deserted Pacific island
One-word book review for Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson
Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson
Book genre: Historical fiction
One word book review and star rating: Ok | 3 stars
Number of pages: 384 pages
Travel inspiration: Venice, Italy
May 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up for May 2023.
- 5 books
- 1,667 pages
- YTD: 21 books; 7,336 pages
One-word book review for The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
Book genre: Thriller / suspense / paranormal
One word book review and star rating: Average | 3 stars
Number of pages: 341 pages
Travel inspiration: Oregon, USA
One-word book review for Dracula by Bram Stoker
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Book genre: Classic literature / Gothic horror
One word book review and star rating: Suspenseful (although I found the ending a bit of a letdown and anticlimatic) | 4 stars
Number of pages: 400 pages
Travel inspiration: Transylvania/ Romania
One-word book review for Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Lucy by the Sea* by Elizabeth Strout
Book genre: Contemporary fiction (although I’ve seen some classify it as pandemic fiction)
One word book review and star rating: Hopeful | 4 stars
Number of pages: 288 pages
Travel inspiration: Maine, USA
* Pulitzer Prize winner
One-word book review for Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Book genre: Contemporary fiction / mystery
One word book review and star rating: Delightful | 4 stars
Number of pages: 355 pages
Travel inspiration: Northern Washington state, USA
One-word book review for The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner
The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner
Book genre: Historical fiction
One word book review and star rating: Ok | 3 stars
Number of pages: 283 pages
Travel inspiration: Poland
June 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up and one-word book reviews for June 2023.
- 4 books
- 1,501 pages
- YTD: 25 books; 8,837 pages
One-word book review for Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Book genre: Contemporary fiction / Coming-of-age
One word book review and star rating: Humdrum | 3 stars (Goodreads rating: 4.12)
Number of pages: 385 pages
Travel inspiration: Jamaica and California, USA
One-word book review for The It Girl by Ruth Ware
The It Girl by Ruth Ware
Book genre: Thriller
One word book review and star rating: Page-turner – for a beach read | 3.5 / 4 stars (Goodreads rating: 3.88)
Number of pages: 423 pages
Travel inspiration: Oxford, England and Edinburgh, Scotland
One-word book review for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Book genre: Light romance
One word book review and star rating: Honest | 4 stars (Goodreads rating: 4.45)
Number of pages: 389 pages
Travel inspiration: Hollywood, California, USA
One-word book review for The Wishing Book by Meg Shaffer
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Book genre: I don’t even know how to classify this book. It reads like a young adult / light romance. All I know is that I was not a fan of the writing style or the main character. And I love a lot of young adult books.
One word book review and star rating: Cringy | 2* (Goodreads rating: 4.33 – apparently I’m an unpopular opinion as this was nominated as one of the best books in 2023 by Goodreads readers)
Number of pages: 304 pages
Travel inspiration: North Carolina, USA
Watch each month in 2023 for new one-word book reviews. Follow my bookstagram account on Instagram @kmfisreading.
July 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up and one-word book reviews for July 2023.
- 2 books
- 722 pages
- YTD: 27 books; 9,559 pages
The Last Word by Taylor Adams
Book genre: Thriller
One word book review and star rating: Twisty | 3 stars
Number of pages: 340 pages
Travel inspiration: Washington state, USA
Red Rising (Red Rising Saga #1) by Pierce Brown
Book genre: Dystopian science fiction
One word book review and star rating: Riveting | 5 stars
Number of pages: 382 pages
Travel inspiration: Mars
August 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up and one-word book reviews for August 2023.
- 3 books
- 900 pages
- YTD: 30 books; 10,459 pages
Butt or Face? by Kari Lavelle
Book genre: Children’s book / Nature (great for adults also!)
One word book review and star rating: Cheeky | 5 stars
Number of pages: 40 pages
Travel inspiration: Nature worldwide
She Started It by Sian Gilbert
Book genre: Thriller
One word book review and star rating: Predictable | 3 stars
Number of pages: 352 pages
Travel inspiration: Bahamas
The Story Teller by Jodi Picoult
Book genre: Holocaust / WWII Fiction
One word book review and star rating: Jarring | 3 stars
Number of pages: 508 pages
Travel inspiration: Poland, Eastern Europe, and New Hampshire, USA
September 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up and one-word book reviews for September 2023.
- 2 books
- 340 pages
- YTD: 32 books; 10,799 pages
Fascinating Facts About Famous Musicians by Mark J. Asher
Book genre: Non-fiction / Trivia
One word book review and star rating: Fun | 4 stars
Number of pages: 61 pages
Travel inspiration: Not applicable
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Book genre: Classic Literature
One word book review and star rating: Dense | 3 stars
Number of pages: 279 pages
Travel inspiration: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
October and November 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up and one-word book reviews for October and November 2023. Combining the two months since I didn’t complete an entire book in October. But made up for it in November!
- 8 books*
- 2,073 pages*
- YTD: 40 books; 14,445 pages*
*Note: I actually read a self-published book by a first-time author/blogger. It was not well-written so did not rate it. However, did count the book and number of pages toward my 2023 reading challenge. I also read an advance reader’s copy of a paranormal book, which was really good. However, it is not yet published so did not include in my reading challenge for the year.
All the Lies by Nicola Sanders
Book genre: Psychological thriller
One word book review and star rating: Suspenseful | 3 stars
Number of pages: 215 pages
Travel inspiration: Unknown (already returned this book on Kindle and can’t locate the setting online)
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (one of my favorite authors)
Book genre: Historical fiction
One word book review and star rating: Masterful | 5 stars
Number of pages: 512 pages
Travel inspiration: Madrid, Spain
Golden Son (Red Rising Saga, #2) by Pierce Brown
Book genre: Dystopian science fiction
One word book review and star rating: Riveting (same word for #1 in this series) | 5 stars
Number of pages: 215 pages
Travel inspiration: Mars
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Book genre: Psychological thriller
One word book review and star rating: Twisty | 4 stars
Number of pages: 352 pages
Travel inspiration: Chicago, Illinois, USA
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Pulitzer Prize winner)
Book genre: Dystopian fiction
One word book review and star rating: Moving | 5 stars
Number of pages: 241 pages
Travel inspiration: USA (mainly western/west coast)
Sweet Tea Tuesdays by Nicola Sanders
Book genre: Chick lit / domestic fiction
One word book review and star rating: Shallow | 2 stars
Number of pages: 308 pages
Travel inspiration: Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Together is Better by Simon Sinek
Book genre: Inspirational / non-fiction
One word book review and star rating: Inspiring | 5 stars
Number of pages: 160 pages
Travel inspiration: Not applicable
December 2023 one-word book reviews
Here’s my book wrap-up and one-word book reviews for December 2023
- 12 books*
- 2,768 pages*
- YTD: 52 books; 17,213 pages*
*My page number is a little different from my Goodreads total – not sure if that’s because I may have read a different medium. Or most likely because I’m an English major and I can’t do math. But the total number of books align!
Am I Overthinking This?: Over-answering Life’s Questions in 101 Charts by Michelle Rial
Book genre: Non-fiction / self-care
One word book review and star rating: Witty | 3 stars
Number of pages: 136 pages
Travel inspiration: Not applicable
The Coworker by Frieda McFadden
Book genre: Psychological thriller
One word book review and star rating: Page-turner | 3 stars
Number of pages: 362 pages
Travel inspiration: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
Book genre: Domestic fiction
One word book review and star rating: Middling | 3 stars
Number of pages: 150 pages
Travel inspiration: Tokyo, Japan
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
Book genre: Contemporary fiction
One word book review and star rating: Heartwarming | 5 stars (favorite book of 2023)
Number of pages: 239 pages
Travel inspiration: Germany
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Book genre: Domestic fiction / Family saga
One word book review and star rating: Poignant | 5 stars
Number of pages: 337 pages
Travel inspiration: Pennsylvania and Manhattan, New York USA
Friends to Keep in Life and Art by Nicole Tersigni
Book genre: Nonfiction / Humour
One word book review and star rating: Juvenile| 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3)
Number of pages: 96 pages
Travel inspiration: Not applicable
In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
Book genre: Domestic fiction
One word book review and star rating: Poignant | 4 stars
Number of pages: 326 pages
Travel inspiration: California USA
The Last Tree: A Seed of Hope by Luke Adam Hawker
Book genre: Illustration / Art / Inspirational (not sure how to label this one)
One word book review and star rating: Touching | 4 stars (I bought it based on its cover and I’m fascinated with trees…beautiful illustrations throughout.)
Number of pages: 64 pages
Travel inspiration: Not applicable
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Book genre: Psychological thriller
One word book review and star rating: Problematic | 3 stars (I loved The Silent Patient, but this one fell short for me.)
Number of pages: 337 pages
Travel inspiration: Cambridge, England
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Book genre: Spiritual / Inspirational / Philosophy / Religious
One word book review and star rating: Uplifting | 5 stars
Number of pages: 104 pages
Travel inspiration: Not applicable
The Ringmaster’s Daughter by Carly Schabowski
Book genre: Historical fiction
One word book review and star rating: Understated | 3 stars
Number of pages: 361 pages
Travel inspiration: France
Tombsweeping by Alexandra Chang
Book genre: Short stories / fiction
One word book review and star rating: Incohesive | 3 stars
Number of pages: 256 pages
Travel inspiration: China
See below for a running list of the best books to read in 2023 sorted by ratings.
5-star book reviews
Here’s a list of my favorite books with five stars in 2023. Please sign up for my newsletter for updates in 2024.
- Butt or Face? by Kari Lavelle
- Golden Son (Red Rising Saga #2)
- The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
- The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
- The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
- The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
- Red Rising (Red Rising Saga #1)
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (my favorite book I read in 2023)
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (my all-time favorite book ever; I’ve read this one a few times)
4-star book reviews
I rated the following books with four stars in 2023 (in alpha order).
- The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- Fascinating Facts About Famous Musicians by Mark J. Asher
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
- In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
- The It Girl by Ruth Ware (3.5 / 4 for a beach read)
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
- The Last Tree by Luke Adam Hawker
- Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
- The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
- The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner
3-star book reviews
Here are some other good reads rated with 3 stars in 2023 (alpha order).
- All the Lies by Nicola Sanders
- Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial
- Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
- The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
- The Coworker by Frieda McFadden
- Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
- Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
- The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
- The Last Word by Taylor Adams
- The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
- The Ringmaster’s Daughter by Carly Schabowski
- Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- She Started It by Sian Gilbert
- The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
- Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
- Tomb Sweeping by Alexandra Chang
- We are the Light by Matthew Quick
- The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
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This was an interesting list of books. And I was interested to see the one word reviews for the books. A book with engrossing, riveting or page turner would likely be one I would be reading.
Thank you so much! I’m enjoying my book challenge of reading 52 books this year. And love sharing my one-word book reviews.
I love this! I am always in need of a good read and I agree with your ratings! I especially love Fredrik Backman! Have read several of his and am excited to read more! Keep up the good work!
Awesome! Thank you so much! Love all Fredrik Backman books…he’s such a gifted writer.
I like that you have included the travel destinations with your book reviews. and recommendations. I remember reading Jane Eyre. And, I remember seeing a To Kill a Mocking Bird book on a bookshelf at home.
Thank you so much! I was surprised I hadn’t read Jane Eyre since I was an English major in college.
I like how you rate the books! Time to start reading!
Thank you so much! Love to share my list of the best books to read right now.
Great list! When I taught English, I taught both Lord of the Flies and To Kill a Mockingbird. There are a few titles on here that I’ve been thinking I would read–like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I’ll get to it soon!
Thank you! I’m a huge fan of To Kill A Mockingbird. Hope you enjoy Seven Husbands. It was interesting.
As a book nerd, I love this! Saving it to add a few of your 4 and 5 stars to my TBR for this year.
Awesome! So happy to hear you found some reading inspiration from my reading challenge list.
How cool! I enjoyed looking through these one-word book reviews. I have found a few books to add to my to be read list!
Awesome! I hope you enjoy reading these books.