Lately, I’ve been creating seasonal TBR’s and reflecting on them at the end of said season. I’m having fun doing this every time, so I thought I would extend it a little and look back on the same season last year. Since winter 2024 is upon us and I will be creating my seasonal TBR in just 2 weeks time, I thought it would be interesting to reflect on winter 2023. Did I read the TBR I’ve set for this season? And how did I do on my bookhauls of October, November and December of that year? Time to find out! If there’s a review of said book on my blog, the hyperlink in the title will direct you to it.

Did I read my winter 2023 TBR?

1. House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas – yes, I definitely read this book. In fact, it was my most anticipated read of the season, and probably of 2024 in its entirety. I had to wait till the end of January before I could put this book on my ears, but I did so immediately after I got my copy and listened to this story every single second possible.
2. Glow by Raven Kennedy – I tried, but had to put it aside. The pacing is my biggest issue with the “Plated Prisoner” series, it’s dragging only for it to pick up at the final quarter or so. I just couldn’t be bothered anymore and I’m done.
3. Flawless by Elsie Silver – This was my final book of 2023 and my first book of 2024. I just had a small portion to go on January 1, so I ticked off my first book for my reading challenge when we were not even 24 hours into this year.
4. Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood – I also read this one in winter already and this was actually the only book by this author I love.
5. Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare – I had to take this book with me from 2023 into 2024 and this was… not it. Unfortunately.
6. Twisted hate by Ana Huang – And yet another book I read this year! Unfortunately, this was my least favourite of the series so far.
7. Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu – I finally read it this summer and didn’t regret it one bit.
8. A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair – No, I haven’t read this one yet. I read the first book in the “Hades saga” however, so needed a bit more time between them.
9. Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros – I finished this book in just one day.
10. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath – This was a not so friendly reminder why I avoid classics like the plague. I had to DNF it, because I didn’t understand a thing.

Did I read my winter 2023 bookhauls?

1. Edwards keuze by Marijke Vos – Yes, I already read this book in October 2023.
2. Daniels belofte by Marijke Vos – Yes, I read this book in summer 2024 and really enjoyed it.
3. James’ Geheim by Marijke Vos – No, I still have to pick this one up, but I hardly read series back to back.
4. The Dead of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi – I meant to read it, but didn’t.
5. Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong (Dutch edition) – Yes and I loved it!
6. A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair – No, see above.
7. A Fire in the Flesh by Jennifer L. Armentrout (pre-order) – Yes and I also read the final book in this series. However, it was incredibly slow already.
8. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears – No, I still haven’t read this one either.
9. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros – Oh I definitely read this! I can’t wait for the third book coming this January.
10. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (I just couldn’t help myself and bought the Dutch ebook with a huge discount) – I tried, but the translation was done so poorly that I couldn’t push through at the moment. I will definitely retry though.
11. The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon – Yes and it was quite enjoyable.
12. Gloriedagen by Corina Bomann – no, I still haven’t read it.
13. Lichtpunt by Corina Bomann – Idem dito.
14. Avondrood by Corina Bomann – Of course not, it’s book 3 in the same series.
15. De zus van de chocolatier by Rebekka Eder – No, I had to read the second book in this series and I did so in May this year.
16. Het zwarte boek van de uren by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi – No, this is a fourth book in a series and I still have to read the third.
17. De engel van de stad by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi – No, book 5.
18. Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score – Yes and I was so, so disappointed.
19. Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare – Yes, see above.
20. Someone to stay by Laura Kneidl (not available in English) – No, I read other books by this author though.
21. Vergeet ons. Niet. by Laura Kneidl (neither available in English) – Yes, I read this one instead.
22. Betting On You by Lynn Painter – Yes and I don’t understand the hype for this author.
23. Powerless by Lauren Roberts – Yes, but this book needed a second try.
24. Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood – See above.
25. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross – Yes, and the sequel too.
26. The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent – Yes, I read this one as well.
27. Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent – Yes, I finally read this book last month.
28. Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings – This was the first DNF of 2024.

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Verdict:

• Read 9 books from my winter 2023 TBR and had 2 DNFs. Thankfully, most of these books were good. However, some of these weren’t as enjoyable as I’d hoped.
• Read 17 books of my winter 2023 bookhauls, 1 was a soft DNF and 1 was a hard DNF.

Winter 2023 was the season I had finally beaten my fall 2023 slump and was able to read some books again. I had a flying start of my reading year and that’s visible when looking into my statistics for these months. The balance was good, most books I enjoyed and some I didn’t. I wonder what winter 2024 will bring!

Do you look back on your past reading seasons?