Best and Worst Reads of 2023: Part 2- Best of 2023

 Hello, everybody. Here is now part 2 of my Best and Worst Reads of 2023. In the first part, I discussed the books that were disappointing for me. (Click on the link to read the previous post) 

But this time, I'm going to be talking about the books and various stories I enjoyed in 2023. This post will be on the short side because I'm busy with grad school. Without further ado, here are some of the books I enjoyed in 2023.

1) They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib

The first one I enjoyed is They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us. The book is a collection of essays revolving around themes of music and contemporary issues in the United States of America. The writing is unpretentious and deeply moving about the connections between popular music and American society. Each essay has a melancholic and yet hopeful tone. Some essays about community and alienation have now become more relevant since the pandemic. There is an updated version of the book that includes some additional commentary and new essays. The previous edition is similar to the newer edition, but it has an essay that is not in the current edition. The updated version is widely available, and I recommend getting that version rather than picking up the older edition, since you are more likely to find the newer version. The audiobook is read by the author, and his narration makes his essay come to life. If you listen to audiobooks, or you don’t usually listen to audiobooks, I recommend the audiobook. You can get the print edition. Either version is great. 

2) May I Ask for One Final Thing? by Sora Hoonoki and Nana Otori 

Another story I read I have enjoyed is May I Ask for One Final Thing? This manga, an adaptation of the light novel, is a villainess centered story. But unlike other manga with villainess type character, the main character is not an isekai character. The premise is one day, Scarlet is falsely accused of being a bully and evil by her fiancé Kyle. However, it’s Kyle who is the abusive jerk. Scarlet, fed up with his behavior, gives Kyle a piece of her mind by punching him in the face. Thus, begins her revenge against Kyle and his buddies. Scarlet is an entertaining character that is never boring. Just reading Scarlet enacting revenge is so satisfying. I would rather not give too much away. But the plot reminds me of Iron Widow in that both focus on female main characters with hot-blooded personalities, both viewed as villains in-universe, seeking revenge against a corrupt system. I’m still catching up on the series. But I’m hooked. If you want to check it out, it is available in chapters on the Alpha manga app, and the first volume is on the Kindle store. 

 So that concludes my short post for today. Do you have any 2023 favorite books? If so, feel free to comment below. Thank you for reading my blog : )

If you like reading my posts and watching my videos, you can support me on Kofi. And I also have a Patreon account if you prefer that.