Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Meant to Read in 2023 But Didn’t Get To

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Ah, so many. So many! Honestly, I never read all the books in a given year that I try to read – it would be impossible! For this, though, I’ve gone back to my previous Top Ten Tuesday TBR lists, to see which books specifically from those lists I missed.

Top Ten Books I Meant to Read in 2023
But Didn’t Get To

TBR: Winter 2022 – 2023

The Once and Future Sex by Eleanor Janega

Genre: Non-Fiction – History
Age: Adult
Published: January 17th, 2023

I specifically noted this and the next book as ones I wanted to read ‘in the New Year’, back in 2022. This was before I decided to try Reading Challenges, however, which is how I think these two books slipped – though they are both ones I really do want to read.

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A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

Genre: Horror – Gothic
Age: Adult
Published: January 31st, 2021

I’ve heard such great things about this book and have put it off for way too long! I really need to link this to a challenge prompt to get to it asap.

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TBR: Spring 2023

One Flew Through the Dragon Heart by C.S. Johnson

Genre: Fantasy – Romance
Age: Adult
Published: April 30th, 2020

This was the only one on my spring TBR I didn’t get to, and the only one not linked to a challenge prompt, which at the least shows the challenges are working to help me actually clear TBRs! This is one I keep meaning to pick up then finding myself not in the mood for, but definitely one I need to try and get to.

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TBR: Summer 2023

The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu

Genre: Sci-Fi – Thriller
Age: Adult
Published: September 12th, 2023

I’m actually kind of annoyed I still haven’t read this one – it sounds right up my street, and I’ve heard good things! Again, it wasn’t linked to a reading challenge, and I think towards the end of summer I changed my focus to only reading challenge books to try and complete as many prompts as I could. Need to read this this year definitely.

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In Mind of the Vampire by John Vance

Genre: Horror
Age: Adult
Published: September 29th, 2016

Every time I’ve gone to open this on my Kindle, I’ve hesitated. I’m not sure why. I keep making attempts to read it then I’ll get distracted and yeah, still not picked it up. I will eventually.

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So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Genre: Non-Fiction – Sociology
Age: Adult
Published: January 16th, 2018

I’ll hold my hands up and admit I should have got to this way before now. It was on one of my challenges, but I got to it around the time I decided to concentrate on the non-year specific challenges, and I think with some stuff going on around then I was looking for more lighter, escapist reads. I’m going to make an effort to get to this in 2024.

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TBR: Autumn 2023

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age: Adult
Published: March 28th, 2006

I really wanted to read this one last year (along with the other three from the same series I picked up at the same time…). Unfortunately I didn’t quite get to it, but it’s one I think of as top priority!

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A Light Most Hateful by Hailey Piper

Genre: Horror
Age: Adult
Published: October 10th, 2023

Again, I really wanted to read this one, but there’s only so many hours in the day! Hailey is a really good writer though, and I feel like I’m almost constantly aware of this one just sitting there, waiting for me…hopefully won’t be much longer!

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Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin, Marissa Stapley

Genre: Romance
Age: Adult
Published: September 23rd, 2023

I regret not reading this, as I think I would have much preferred it over one or two of the festive books I read. Will have to make an extra effort to get to this in the autumn.

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TBR: Winter ’23 – ’24

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Genre: Historical Fantasy
Age: Adult
Published: July 20th, 2021

I think it was a bit ambitious to think I’d get to this last year, but there were two paperbacks I was looking at and I did read the other one. This sounds so good but the book itself is a little daunting, but I’m hoping to dig in this year at least.

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I think next time I sit down to try and match some books with prompts on my challenges, I’m going to try and use as many of these as I can. There’s some books here I really wish I’d gotten to last year, so maybe now is my chance instead!