This might be an unusual post from what I typically write, but I wanted to share something I’m proud of. At the beginning of the year, I told myself I wanted to read more books. I’ve always had a huge passion for reading, but I slowly stopped once I got to college – I was too busy with school and work to really set aside any time to read for pleasure.

In 2020 I read 10 books (I can thank the pandemic for that), and last year I set my goal for 20 but didn’t get to that point. I set my initial reading goal at 22 books in 2022, and great news – I surpassed that goal! I read 50 books! I am extremely proud of myself for dedicating so much time to read this year.

I couldn’t have accomplished my goal without the help of Texas public libraries. In fact, I did the math and discovered that I saved over $550 this year by using public libraries! That’s just for 30 books! I have a few other tips I’d like to share that helped me:

• Listening to audiobooks: When I was younger, I didn’t have the patience for audiobooks. I would much rather have a physical copy in my hands. Now that I’m older, I listen to them while I work, and switch to the ebook or print copy of the same title when I’m not working. It’s been a great compromise for me and I’ve grown to really enjoy audiobooks!
• Reading one long series: One of my favorite TV shows is the latest BBC adaptation of Poldark. In every title sequence, there’s a reference to the novels by Winston Graham. I decided I would take on the challenge of reading a 14-book series throughout the year. It was extremely daunting at first, but the more I read, the more I got hooked! Listening to the audiobook version of the series was also a huge help; the narrator does fantastic voices for every character. You don’t necessarily need to tackle a 14-book series like I did, but you can choose a different series that’s maybe four or five books long. It’s up to you!
• Reading what makes you happy: I loved Kate DiCamillo’s The Tale of Despereaux and Because of Winn-Dixie when I was a child. When I was in high school and college, I thought I was too old to read children’s books. Now, I don’t care. Reading those books for the first time as an adult was very comforting. It’s amazing what you hold back from yourself when you think you’re “too old” for it. Read what you want! Nobody has to know if you don’t want them to! Who cares if the book is 100 pages, or it’s a children’s book? If you like it, don’t be ashamed of it.
• Don’t feel guilty for falling into a slump: I didn’t read during every month of 2022. Some months I read eight books and some months I read none. And that’s okay! It’s totally fine and normal to fall into a reading slump. Don’t make yourself feel guilty because you have a busy month and can’t read as much as you thought you could.

My 2022 reading list is shared below. My goal for 2023 is to read 52 books, which isn’t a huge increase, but I’m not reading for speed. I’m reading to learn and nurture a lifelong hobby. I hope this blog post inspires you to read a little more in 2023.

What’s your reading goal (if you have one) in 2023? Do you have any recommendations for me to read? Let me know in the reply box at the end of this post!

AMBER’S 2022 READING LIST

January

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
3. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
4. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
5. Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

February

1. Demelza by Winston Graham
2. Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham
3. Warleggan by Winston Graham
4. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
5. Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho
6. The Black Moon by Winston Graham
7. The Stranger by Albert Camus

March

1. The Four Swans by Winston Graham
2. The Angry Tide by Winston Graham

June

1. The Stranger from the Sea by Winston Graham
2. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
3. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
4. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

July

1. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
4. The Kissing Bug by Daisy Hernández
5. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
6. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
7. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
8. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

August

1. The Miller’s Dance by Winston Graham
2. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
3. Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs
4. Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 512 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell
5. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
6. The Loving Cup by Winston Graham
7. Me by Elton John
8. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
9. The Twisted Sword by Winston Graham
10. Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
11. Bella Poldark by Winston Graham
12. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
13. The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

September

1. Journey to the Heart of the Abyss by London Shah
2. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
3. The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

November

1. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
2. You by Caroline Kepnes
3. Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes
4. You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes

December

1. Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
2. What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon

If you want to check out my ratings for each book above or follow my 2023 reading journey, add me on Goodreads!