If you’re looking to add to your 2024 reading or watchlist, here are my spoiler-free recommendations based on everything I consumed for the first time in 2023!
Books
2023 was my second year keeping track of books I read and I’m proud to say I beat last year’s total by just a few, finishing the year with 51 new books under my belt. Here are my 5 favorite books of the year, in no particular order:
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (fiction)
This book has been on several “must read” lists lately and I have to admit, it’s worth the hype. The storytelling was well-paced, the characters were engaging, and the plot is still living in my head, almost a year after reading it. It really does live up to expectations and I highly recommend it to anyone.
The Guest by Emma Cline (fiction)
To be fair, I love Emma Cline, so I was pretty biased in favor of this book. Once again, her morose prose lays on a thick layer of female angst that’s exactly up my alley.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (fiction)
Probably the least well-written of this list, but I had a ton of fun reading this book. The main character is essentially Liz Lemon and since 30 Rock is one of my very favorite shows, I was highly inclined to buy into this rom-com story. If you’re looking for a fun beach read, this is the book for you.
Body Language: Writers on Identity, Physicality, and Making Space for Ourselves edited by Nicole Chung and Matt Ortile (nonfiction)
Moving to nonfiction, I read this book for a local book club and really enjoyed exploring a diverse range of essays about body image, health, and ableism. I was forced to consider perspectives I’ve never once thought of and walked away more empathetic for others and my own body.
They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib (nonfiction)
Calling a book powerfully written has become a cliche but there truly is no other way to describe my second nonfiction pick of the year. Abdurraqib is undeniably the most talented author on this list in the way he weaves music into raw essays on race, class, religion, and humanity. If this book doesn’t make you stop and think, nothing will.
Honorable mentions:
Our Numbered Days by Neil Hilborn (poetry)
Fishbowl by Bradley Somer (fiction)
In the Middle Are the Horsemen by Tik Maynard (nonfiction)
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (fiction)
TV and Movies
This year I watched 29 seasons of shows for the first time and 12 new (to me) movies. I’m glad I also read all those books or I would worry I’m spending too much time in front of the television haha. In my typical fashion, all of my favorite watches this year were comedies, though the extent of the humor varies a ton. Even looking at the honorable mentions, I really stuck with what made me smile. In this economy, who can afford to feel bad at the movies?
White Lotus, S2
I listed season 1 as an honorable mention and season 2 tidies up everything missing from the first season. The writing is snappy, the characters are compelling, and I had a great time wondering what would happen next. It’s worth noting that each season is a standalone story, so you don’t need to watch S1 if you want to jump right into the best.
Party Down S1 and S2
I’ve had Party Down on my watchlist for years and I’m so mad at myself that it took me this long to watch it. This show was consistently smart and hilarious and it’s a shame the third season didn’t quite measure up.
Succession, S4
Not to be that person but I’ve been watching Succession since Day 1 since it was marketed as a show for media nerds. It ended perfectly, with the characters right where I’d like them to be. This show had me on the edge of my seat but always with room to pause for laughs. It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely for me.
Barbie
The only movie on my list, and well-deserved. Among my circles, Barbie’s chief criticism is that it’s Feminism 101 and not diving much deeper than that. To which I say, that’s fine, I’ve never had so much fun in Feminism 101. I laughed, I cried, I felt seen and respected. That’s pretty much all I can ask for from a summer movie. Plus, it’s the first female-directed movie to make a billion dollars and I can’t be mad about that!
Honorable mentions
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Our Flag Means Death S2
Killing It S2
True Blood S6 (fight me; the whole show was amazing)
White Lotus S1
Party Down S3
That’s all from 2023! Thanks for caring about my opinion and see ya next year