{"id":73025,"date":"2023-12-31T08:48:35","date_gmt":"2023-12-31T13:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=73025"},"modified":"2023-12-31T08:48:35","modified_gmt":"2023-12-31T13:48:35","slug":"best-of-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=73025","title":{"rendered":"Best of 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

How is 2023 over already? It’s been a busy year for both of us, and it’s gone by so fast! But as always, we’ve had some amazing reads along the way, and we’re so excited to share our favorites with you!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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It was so hard to narrow down our top favorites, and it almost seems wrong to leave some of our new fave books out, so be sure to check out our ‘Favorites of 2023<\/a>‘ page for more epic reads!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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One of the best reads (if not THE best) of 2023 for both of us was the incredible Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Like so many readers around the world, this book captivated us and had us both completely obsessed. So this one gets a special shout-out.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Fourth Wing (The Empyrean<\/a>, #1)<\/strong>\u00a0by Rebecca Yarros
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0B&N<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Apple Books<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Kobo<\/a><\/h4>\n

6 huge, huge stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

Holy wow. I\u2019ve been a fan of Rebecca Yarros for a long time, and now she has burst into the world of fantasy romance with an exhilarating, exciting, and heartstopping read that I could not put down. I had seen the reviews and high praise for this book, and I\u2019ve been eagerly waiting its release, and I\u2019m happy to say that it was everything I was hoping for and more, and it\u2019s an instant favourite!<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"After the Storm<\/strong>\u00a0(Cottonwood Cove<\/a>, #5)\u00a0<\/strong>by Laura Pavlov
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 beautiful, second-chance stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

Oh wow, this is the most beautiful second-chance-romance! A small-town, single parent romance that is sweet, fun and sexy with no unnecessary drama, this book had me all up in my feels, and I loved every moment of it!<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"Before Us\u00a0<\/strong>by Jewel E. Ann
\nBuy:\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 phenomenal stars!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jewel E. Ann has done it again. She has written an unconventional love story that makes you really think about life, love, and the people who forever find a place in your heart. I loved it and it easily joins my favorite list.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"Broken Dreams (Whitlock Family<\/a>, #2)<\/strong>\u00a0by Corinne Michaels
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

I loved this book! A fun, emotional, swoony and sexy friends-to-lovers, fake dating romance between two widowed single parents. I was so completely wrapped up in this story, and I loved every moment!<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"Cruel King (Cruel<\/a>, #7)\u00a0<\/strong>by K.A. Linde
\nBuy:\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 stars!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cruel King<\/i>\u00a0is the final book in the\u00a0Cruel<\/i><\/a>\u00a0series by K.A. Linde and features Whitley and Gavin. I love fake relationship romances so this one was right up my alley and it did not disappoint. Whitley was Gavin\u2019s wingman for years and then one night they crossed the line. Unable to handle the fallout, Whitley left New York for the L.A. with no intention of coming back. But three years later, she finds herself back in the city and back near the man she ran from.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"Hopeless (Chestnut Springs<\/a>, #5)\u00a0<\/strong>by Elsie Silver
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

Wow, I loved this book! A dramatic and emotional story for two isolated, tormented people, this is the final book in the\u00a0Chestnut Springs<\/i>\u00a0series, and the much-anticipated book for Beau Eaton, a fake engagement\/age gap romance that stole my heart from the very first chapter. I adored every moment of this story, and reveled in the absolutely epic build up and beautiful romance. It\u2019s fun, funny, sexy and heartfelt, and I freaking loved this book!<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City<\/a>, #2)\u00a0<\/strong>by Sarah J. Maas
\n<\/strong>Buy:\u00a0\u00a0Amazon\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Paperback\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Audio<\/a><\/h4>\n

6 incredible stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

Just damn. I can\u2019t wrap my head around all that I just read, let alone put it into words for a review. I\u2019m gobsmacked. Once again, I am blown away and stunningly impressed by Sarah J. Maas\u2019 storytelling, and love this urban fantasy world that she has created, and more importantly, the fabulously unforgettable characters that inhabit it.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"If this is Love\u00a0<\/strong>by Jewel E. Ann
\nBuy: \u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 \u201cyou have me\u201d stars!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wow! Jewel E. Ann has delivered another unforgettable read that has given me the biggest book hangover. You never know quite what you\u2019ll get when you pick up one of her books but you do know it will be packed full of all the feels. She throws curve balls and have a way of completely gutting you before finally making you whole. Her stories take you on an emotional rollercoaster and this one is one angsty ride.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"In the Likely Event<\/strong>\u00a0by Rebecca Yarros
\nBuy:\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 huge stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

Oh wow, what a read! An emotional, angsty, heartfelt second-chance military romance, this book completely swept me away with its emotion and intensity, and I adored every moment of Nate and Izzy\u2019s remarkable story.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"Someday (Landmark Mountain<\/a>, #2)<\/strong>\u00a0by Willow Aster
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 beautiful second-chance stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

Oh my heart, this is the most beautiful, swoony and emotional second-chance-romance! I was blissfully sucked into Theo and Sofie\u2019s book, and I absolutely loved their heartwrenching story.<\/p>\n

Theo and Sofie grew up together and were the best of friends. Their childhood friendship became teenaged sweethearts and they fell in mad, wild, all-consuming love. They were each other\u2019s whole worlds, planning a life together with marriage and kids, knowing that they\u2019d be together forever. And then suddenly it was over. Sofie left town, leaving just a note behind, and there\u2019s been no word from her since. Now, eight years later, the death of her father has brought her back to Landmark and back into Theo\u2019s orbit.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"The Coldest Winter<\/strong>\u00a0by Brittainy C. Cherry
\nBuy: \u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 stars!<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were the greatest mistake that felt so right.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When I pick up a Brittainy Cherry book, I know I am in for a ride, and\u00a0The Coldest Winter<\/i>\u00a0takes you on an emotional one . From grief that feels so real to healing that makes you whole, this book will pull at your heartstrings until you feel every emotion possible. The mixture of light and dark moments will make this story stay with you long after the last page is turned, and I loved it.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"The Muse (Angels and Demons<\/a>, #2)\u00a0<\/strong>by Emma Scott
\nBuy:\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 stars!<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Muse<\/i>\u00a0is the second book in the\u00a0Angels and Demons<\/i><\/a>\u00a0series and just like with the first book,\u00a0The Sinner<\/i><\/a>, it was unputdownable. As before, it shows us a different idea of Heaven and Hell and I loved being back in that world. I was completely invested in Cole and Ambri\u2019s love story and didn\u2019t want it to end. It\u2019s emotional, passionate, and so full of heart, and I loved every part of it, even the ones that broke my heart.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"The Problem with Dating (The Problem Series, #1)\u00a0<\/strong>by Brittainy Cherry
\nBuy:\u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/h4>\n

5 stars!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alex and Yara\u2019s story takes us to the small town of Honey Creek where everyone knows everyone and everyone is up in everyone\u2019s business. They tend to stand by their own and so, it\u2019s not surprising when newcomer Alex, isn\u2019t welcomed, especially because he has a permanent scowl and is opening a new restaurant that the townspeople think doesn\u2019t belong in their small town but rather in a big city. However, Alex has a promise to keep so nothing is going to stop him.<\/p>\n

Read more of our review<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanks for joining us for another fantastic year of reading.
\nHere’s hoping for big things in 2024!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How is 2023 over already? It’s been a busy year for both of us, and it’s gone by so fast! But as always, we’ve had some amazing reads along the way, and we’re so excited […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":73026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[290],"tags":[1348],"class_list":["post-73025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-book-news","tag-best-of"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Best-of-2023.png?fit=1012%2C767&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-iZP","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73025\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/73026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}