If you are looking for a new read this year, then look no further because I have complied a list of my favorite reads of 2023! This past year I read just over 90 books, but these were the best of the best. I will preface this list by saying I prefer dual pov, 1st person writing, happily ever after romances, and just the right amount of spice.
And now...the list.
All Sports Romance
Windy City series - Mile High (Hockey), The Right Move (Basketball), Caught Up (Baseball) by Liz Tomforde (The 4th book, Play Along (Baseball) is scheduled to release on July 11th). If you swoon for hot, funny, dirty, athletic MMC's (Main Male Character), then you will love all the athletes in this series.
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Closed Door Romance
Hockey: DC Eagles Series - Desire or Defense, Flirtation or Face off by Leah Brunner (The 3rd, Betrothal or Breakaway is scheduled to release September 1) If you are looking for heated romance story with no spice, funny and handsome hockey players, and a relatable MFC (Main Female Character) this is the series for you.
Small Town: Getting Shipped Sereis - Friendshipped, Battleshipped, Townshipped, Censorshipped, Doctorshipped, Cruiseshipped, Ripped & Shipped By Savanah Scott. This closed door romance series follows a group of friends with so many different tropes. From best friends to lovers, 2nd chance, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and so much more, there is a book for everyone in the Getting Shipped sereis.
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Cowboy Romance
Chestnut Springs Series - Flawless, Heartless, Powerless, Reckless, and Hopeless by Elsie Silver. This sereis has it all, bull riders, sassy MFC, single dads, doctors, cowboys, hockey players, military men, and of course, spice.
Rebel Blue Ranch Series - Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage (The 2nd book, Swift and Saddled is scheduled to release on March 5th) This cowboy series is the perfect mix of enemies to lovers, second chances, and it has phenomenal character building. I cannot wait to read the second book this spring!
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Fantasy/Romantasy
Empyrean Series - Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. If you have not read these, do it now. Seriously. I am not one to jump into fantasy books often, but I LOVED this series. The world building is not too complex, the dragons are funny and fierce, the Shadow Daddy obsession (that started with ACOTAR) is reignited with our MMC, the side character building is fantastic, and the MFC is the perfect mix of head strong, independent, and head over heels gone for the MMC. I am absolutely DYING for the next book, but we unfortunately do not have a date for its release yet.
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Hockey Romance
Off Campus Series - The Deal, The Mistake, The Score, The Goal, The Legacy by Elle Kennedy. I love Hockey Romance books, and Elle Kennedy delivered one of the best Hockey series I have ever read. Graham (from book one) is the BEST and all of the other MMC's in the rest of the series are equally as amazing in their own ways. Once again this is filled with plenty of different tropes. I will say the Legacy (a novella about each couple years later) is not a must read, but it was fun to see where my favorite characters were a few years after the books end.
Spin off of the Off Campus Series - Campus Diaries Series - The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy (The 2nd, The Dixon Rule is scheduled to release May 14). The first book follows Graham's daughter (from the Off Campus series above) in her very own Hockey romance book back at Briar U. Obviously Elle Kennedy Hockey Romances are a must read for me.
Rules of the Game Series - Offside and Shutout by Avery Keelan. The MMC's are perfect book boyfriend material. With fun tropes like my brothers enemy and brothers best friend, these books have just the right amount of jealousy, fake dating, possessiveness, and protectiveness.
Maple Hills Sereis - Icebreaker & Wildfire by Hannah Grace (3rd book coming Daydream June 4th). This series took TikTok by storm and for good reason. Icebreaker is spicy, fun, and fast paced while Wildfire is sweet, funny, and a slow burn. Both books feature a Hockey star that is head over heels for the MFC.
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Other Romance
Dreamland Billionaire Series - The Fine Print, Terms and Conditions, and Final Offer by Lauren Asher. Disney Adults, grab this book. If you want to read about rich men, amusement parks, unique story lines, and a series that builds to a great finale (even though they can also be read as standalone novels) then this series is for you.
Contractual Obligation by Elle Rivers. This standalone novel features a MFC that agrees to an arranged marriage to escape the life her parents had planned for her. The MMC agrees because he wants to be promoted in his fathers company. Forced to live together under the assumption that they are who their masks make them appear to be the main characters are in for a wild ride filled with jealousy, misunderstandings, secrets, and a -maybe- happily ever after.
The Cane Brothers Series - A Not So Meet Cute, So Not Meant to Be, and A Long Time Coming by Meghan Quinn. Just yes. Meghan Quinn is one of my FAVORITE indie authors and her stories are fantastic. The Cane Brothers tropes are some of my favorites, fake dating, forced proximity (workplace romance), and best friends to lovers.
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Oh, and did I mention 90% of these are on Kindle Unlimited? Happy reading my friends!