Hello Book Lovers!
If you've been with me for a bit, you might remember last year's Top Books list, where I look back at my top reads for the year.
And since it's me, that look back means leaping as far away from the boring ol' standard categories of most reviewers' Best Books lists. You know, categories like Best Non-Fiction, Best Fantasy, Best Blah Blah Blah... SO boring.
Instead, I've invented my own categories such as Best (and Most) Exploding Priests, Best "Killing People Should Not Be This Funny" Mystery, and Best (and Most) Bovine Lady Parts in a Book that I hope will soon be adopted by the Booker or Pulitzer Prize people, because, come on, books are meant to be fun and entertaining, and so should the piles we lump them into. Right? Right!
Okay, if you're ready for possibly the wackiest Best Books of 2023 List, that button below will take you to my end-of-the-year awards ceremony!
Alright, onto my little end-of-the-year awards ceremony!
Note: If you're interested in grabbing any of these books for yourself, that title link will take you to the book's page on Amazon, and the "Full Review" link will take you to my Bookbub review where you can find links to more retailers.
Best Exploding Priests (also, Most Exploding Priests)
OverLondon by George Penney and Tony Johnson
This was a stupendous mix of steampunk fantasy, twisty mystery, and downright hilariousness that left me cursing the book rating system for not allowing more than five stars. Full Review HERE
Best (and Hungriest) Garbage Bins. Also, Highest Caffeine Consumption in a Novel.
What Happened in London by Kim M Watt
This is a must-read for anyone who loves a paranormal mystery with somewhat snarky detective, a cast of unforgettable characters, and a disturbing situation with cheese toasties. Warning: You must be able to bear watching the main character nearly poison herself with coffee. Seriously, so much coffee!!! Full review HERE
Best Demon Who Can't Seem to Demon
The Demon, The Hero, and the City of Seven by A.E. Kincaid
This book is laugh-out-loud funny it’s got two quirky characters who play off each other to perfection, it’s got a great sense of adventure as Reg (the hero) and Mal (the demon) go on a sometimes-slapstick quest to get themselves separated without destroying the world. Full review HERE
Best "Killing People Should Not Be This Funny" Dark Comedy Murder Mystery
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
The humor of this is spot on. It is wry and dark and, at times, very tongue-in-cheek, which suits my own sense of humor to a T. The mystery is a terrific guessing game with plenty of layers. Basically, this was one of those books I wanted to immediately read again once I was done. Full Review HERE
Best Author as the Painfully Inept Main Character Murder Mystery Series
The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
Clever, wryly humorous, and absolutely absorbing. I honestly can't say enough good things about this book that is definitely making it into my top ten books of the year! Overall, the book was so perfect, so engaging, so addictive, that the instant I finished reading (listening to) it, I grabbed the second book in the series and ended up racing through that one just as quickly as the first. Full Review HERE
Best Cannibalistic Oldsters
Holly by Stephen King
This is a straight up surprisingly terrific detective thriller and it was truly hard to put down. The whole story flows well, all the characters (good, bad, main, or side) are well done, and the tension in this one is maintained at a perfect level throughout. Full Review HERE
Best Fairy Tale That is Way Better Than the Movie
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
This was amazingly delightful. But really, it's hard to go wrong when Neil Gaiman is in fairy tale frame of mind. Full Review HERE
Best Hints of Sherlock While Remaining Wholly Original Series Starter
Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas
I'm up to the fourth book in this historical mystery series, and I have to say that, while this starter was great read, the subsequent books in the series have been even better. The characters are engaging, the tongue-in-cheek humor is terrific, and the mysteries are always perfectly twisty. Full Review HERE
Best (and MOST) Bovine Lady Parts in a Book
All Creatures Great & Small by James Herriot
Each story in this book about a newbie vet in 1930s rural England is an absolute delight, especially if you're an animal lover. I was surprised at the dark humor in some of the tales, but if you've got a weak stomach, some of them may not be for you -- this is real life vet work, after all. Full Review HERE
Best Regency Zombies
Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith
This book doesn't have a dull moment, and manages to pull that off without seeming frantic or rushed. I loved seeing all the "minor" characters from Pride & Prejudice playing a big part, and truly becoming the stars of the book. The action scenes are spot on with wonderful touches of humor, the tone is perfectly in line with Austen, and overall it's an absolute blast to read (and not a shotgun blast to blow a zombie's head off). Full Review HERE
Best "Oh my god, you idiot" Travel Memoir
Europe by Milk Run by Rory Moulton
Hilarious. Informative. And definitely worthy of an admonishing head shake at times. Full Review HERE
Best Heroine You Want to Slap Some Sense Into
The Kensington Kidnap by Katie Gayle
I can't believe how many times at the start of this book I said to myself, "Oh no, what have you gotten yourself into now, girl? Stop digging that hole!" Then laughing as she just kept digging herself deeper into trouble. A great read if you're looking for a light mystery that's easy to read, delightfully humorous, and loads of fun. Full Review HERE
Most Heartbreakingly Heroic Cat
Animal Castle by Xavier Dorison and Felex Delep
This was an amazing, and strikingly grim, tale of fighting for what's right with gorgeous illustrations that really drove home the intensity and the passion of the story. Seriously, this book stirs up all the feels! Full Review HERE
Most Heartwarming Gorilla
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
I had no idea what to expect with this book, but I was blown away with the warmth and heart of the tale. The story brings the occasional bittersweet tear to the eye, but overall it's a beautifully told tale of standing up for the little guy (or little elephant)...and yourself as well. Full Review HERE
Best Murderous Puppets in a Real Estate Setting
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
As if old dolls and puppets weren't creepy enough, along comes Grady Hendrix's terrific tale that had me flipping pages faster than you should run from a haunted house. For me, it ranks as "light" horror that shouldn't cause nightmares (unless you're already creeped out about antique dolls... and squirrels!). Full Review HERE
Best "But I Don't Even Like Memoirs" Memoir
Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming
This was an an intriguing, I-gotta-hear-more narrative, that, while it tells of tough times, Alan's quips and humor makes it a great book. If you can, get this one in audiobook. Alan reads it himself and, besides his wonderful Scottish accent, the way he adds verbal nuances to his own story makes it all the more difficult to hit the pause button. Full Review HERE
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