23 Favorite Books of 2023

I had another amazing reading year with 225 books under my book belt - woo-hoo! I can't believe I've been doing the Goodreads Challenge for 10 years 😱 

Here are the (23) 5🌟 books that brought me the most joy last year 🥰

VINTAGE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

🌟Albert’s Christmas by Alison Jezard (Absolutely LOVE this series! Albert is soo lovable!)
🌟Albert by Alison Jezard (Just as adorable as the Christmas book and I can't wait to read more!)
🌟Mrs. McFinney and Her Friends by Mary T. Schoonover (Nostalgic, heartwarming and cozy)
🌟Apple Tree Cottage by Virginia Frances Voight (So lovely with tons of cozy details—red floral book)
🌟Clematis by Bertha Browning Cobb (Vintage and sweet)
🌟Pennie by Bertha Browning Cobb (Vintage and charming)
🌟Becky’s Christmas by Tasha Tudor (Classic vintage children's Christmas story with the most beautiful illustrations)
🌟The Happiest Christmas Day by May Greenwood (Vintage and joyful)
🌟Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer (Started off slow, but ended up so interesting!)

Bonus!: A Pint of Judgement by Elizabeth Morrow (Heartwarming and delightful illustrations—not pictured) 

 

VINTAGE BOOKS

🌟All the Dogs of My Life by Elizabeth von Arnim (Might have been my #1 favorite book of the year and a fantastic buddy read with Caro @carosbookcase on IG.)
🌟Pleasures and Palaces by Juliet Wilbor Tompkins (Sparkling, amusing and a wonderful!)
🌟Mrs. Appleyard’s Year by Louise Andrews Kent (Hilarious, clever and full of lovely domestic details.)
🌟Buttered Toast by Marjorie Stewart (Epitome of cozy and firmly middlebrow in the best way—many thanks to Virigina @oldbookdreamer on IG for recommending this book to me!)

 

CONTEMPORARY/REPUBLISHED BOOKS

🌟The Nutmeg Tree by Margery Sharp (So clever, sparkling and full of interesting relationships. Loved!)
🌟The Seeing Garden by Ginny Kubitz Moyer (A gorgeously written debut novel by my friend Ginny @moyerginny on IG)
🌟A Place Like Home by Rosamunde Pilcher (One of my top favorite RP short story collections—not pictured, but I'm hoping to get a copy soon.)
🌟The Agency of Scandal by Laura Wood (A dazzling and super fun buddy read with Marjorie @marjoriepaper on IG.)
🌟Apricot Sky by Ruby Ferguson (A superb Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow book set in Scotland and full of family, love and sense of place.)
🌟The Armorour’s House by Rosemary Sutcliff (A truly delightful vintage middle grade book that is exquisitely printed and produced by Manderley Press.)
🌟The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin (A stunning and touching book about books, especially if you love books set during war time—not pictured.)

 

NON-FICTION BOOKS

🌟Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts by Tovah Martin (Stunning full-color photographs and so interesting to read. The more I learn about Tasha Tudor's life, the more intrigued I become!)
🌟The Stillmeadow Road by Gladys Taber (This might be my new favorite Gladys Taber book. All of the Stillmeadow books I've read have been wonderful, inspiring and hopeful so far, but this one I enjoyed more than the other so far.)
🌟Stillmeadow Album by Gladys Taber (Small, but lovely black and white photographs of Gladys Taber's Stillmeadow along with quotes and information. I loved seeing more of the inside and outside of Stillmeadow. Many thanks to Christine @felines_and_flowers on IG for this book!)
 

Please share your favorite books from 2023 in the comments!

Many January hugs to you! 💞🌸🤗🌸💞