While 2023 may have had some ups and downs, it was a great reading year for me. Along with beta reading, reading ARC’s (Advanced Reader Copies) and indulging in the occasional romance or adult sci-fi, I also read some fantastic middle grade and young adult books. Since the book I drafted this year is a middle grade on the spooky side of things, this list is heavily comprised of spooky and/or horror in middle grade (and several in young adult.)

However, there are some great low fantasy and contemporary books on this list as well. Unlike other years, I didn’t read as much high fantasy. While I love those second world adventures, I’ve been writing in contemporary worlds in my last two books so that’s where I’ve mostly been reading.

I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading. Feel free to share in the comments!

In no particular order, middle grade books I read in 2023:

• Guest by Mary Downing Hahn
• On Air with Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
• Upside Down Magic series by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins
• Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson
• The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto by Adrianna Cuevas
• Flip Turns by Catherine Arguelles
• Cece Rios and the King of Fears by Kaela Rivera
• The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten by Krista Van Dolzer
• Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui
• Shine On, Luz Véliz by Rebecca Balcárcel
• Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London by S. P. O’Farrell
• Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter by Melissa Savage
• Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
• Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson
• Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
• The Clackity by Lora Senf
• The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• This Appearing House by Ally Malinenko
• The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
• The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand
• There Flies the Witch by Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev
• Starfish by Lisa Fipps
• The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill

And a smaller list of young adult books I read in 2023:

• The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes
• A Forest of Grimm Desires by E.P. Stavs
• When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
• The Talismans of Teregrin by Katy Metzger
• Finding Your Way by Eve Koguce
• One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
• Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
• The Second Death of Edie and Violet Bond by Amanda Glaze
• Unwind by Neal Shusterman
• The Firebreather’s Curse by Katy Metzger
• Face the Night by Lani Forbes
• Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
• Dead Girl by Kerrie Faye

Wow, I look over these lists, and I’m sincerely delighted I read these rich, fascinating books. If you see something you haven’t read yet, I encourage you to dive into any of these. You won’t be disappointed. Happy reading!

Thanks for checking out what I read in 2023. Wishing you an amazing 2024!