2023 is wrapping up as we slowly approach the end of December. Though it can be difficult to accept another year is drawing its curtains, I love to look back at the year’s progression. What did I love doing? What did I hate? Did I finish my New Year’s resolutions, or will I add them to my 2024 to-do list? There is one thing I always look forward to…my Spotify Wrapped! Who doesn’t love seeing your top songs of the year? I especially love hearing my friend’s top songs and comparing my list to theirs. So, why not hear ours? Here are the Bookstr Teams 2023 top albums and books. Let us know if you see any of your top choices! Maybe you will see some of our music taste sounds like some of our top book choices…
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Sonder by The Wrecks
My favorite book of the year was Carrie Soto Is Back. I enjoyed Carrie Soto Is Back because of the way I was able to connect with the main character, Carrie. This book took me through the whole spectrum of emotions, from happiness to devastation to anger, which is a sign of how immersed I was in the story. My favorite album of the year was Sonder. I loved this album because its punchy, angst-filled lyrics are perfect to belt out in the shower or on a long drive with your friends.
There are quite a few thematic parallels between Carrie Soto Is Back and Sonder. For example, the tenth track on the album, entitled Normal, captures Carrie’s feeling of disconnect from the people around her. She doesn’t feel understood by others, and she finds it difficult to conform to society’s expectations of how she should behave and present herself. Likewise, the tracks Dystopia and Ugly Side are reminiscent of Carrie and Bowe’s rocky romance, and the track Unholy expresses Carrie’s vengeful energy as she fights to get her title back and prove the people who doubt her wrong. I didn’t expect these two to pair so well together, but listening to Sonder really enhanced my reading experience of Carrie Soto Is Back!
- Lauren Nee, Editorial
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai and Kiss of Life by Kiss of Life
My favorite book this year was No Longer Human. I have read it once before but decided to reread it so I could refresh my memory and remember what happened in the book. It is a really powerful yet dark book that explores the author’s life and all the hardships he encountered from an early age. This book really keeps you rooting for the main character and hoping that something will finally go right in his life. Once you finish the book it keeps you wondering what happened to the author and his family, and makes you think about culture and social norms in Japan.
My favorite album this year was Kiss of Life by the kpop group Kiss of Life. It is their debut album, but is quite impressive. There are so many different vibes with each song, and gives two group songs as well as four different solo songs that offer a chance for each member to display their skills.
There are almost similarities between the two, unfortunately. No Longer Human displays the dark side of life and struggles with mental illness, while Kiss of Life is more of a celebration of life and just being yourself. I really do like the two different tones these pieces provide so I can jump between being sad and happy. Overall, both of these pieces are perfect if you need something serious to read with provocative feelings or if you want something fun and upbeat to listen to with different genres in one album.
- Alya Giavis, Graphics
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and Black Anima by Lacuna Coil
The thing about Six of Crows as a book is that it is quite dark and has somewhat of a gothic feel to it. Reading it for the first time this year, I got into it fairly quickly and easily. It has pretty much everything I love in a book, especially scenery and characterization. These are what grabbed me the most, along with the elements of magic, deceit, scheming, and misdirection. The aesthetics also really capture the mood of the book perfectly.
This brings me to Black Anima by Lacuna Coil, which was released in 2019, but I still play the hell out of it currently. As a gothic metal band that has been around since the 90’s, they’re music is quite atmospheric in tone, and it’s darkly beautiful, especially in this album. The singers are a woman with clean vocals and a male with both clean and growling vocals. The tone of their music is somber and heartbreaking, and this, I think, makes both book and album seem similar. For all of the dark, mystical, weird metal lovers, Six of Crows is an amazing read, and Black Anima is an amazing album to get into.
- Quiarah B/Vphan, Editorial
Golden by JungKook and Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
One of my favorite artists, JungKook, released his debut album a few months ago. It’s upbeat, classy, and has many great dance breaks. I’ve always been a huge fan of JungKook, so when he released his solo album, I flipped and listened to it the moment it came out (which was at midnight). It definitely doesn’t disappoint, and people who enjoy upbeat pop music will probably enjoy this album!
As for Chalice of the Gods, I had been waiting for years for a new Percy Jackson and the Olympians title. The original trio, Annabeth, Percy, and Grover, were always my favorites out of all of Riordan’s series. It’s funny, witty, full of Greek mythology, and gives that taste of nostalgia I had been missing since I read the first series so long ago.
Other than touching on relationships, the two don’t have much in terms of similarities. They’re both upbeat, but honestly, outside of that, they aren’t all that close. They’re both great, though, and I would recommend them to anyone.
- Alexandra Mellott, Editorial
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, and No Thank You by Lil Simz
Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died was a big part of my 2023 reading list. Jennette was my child star icon growing up, so I was super excited when it was released. I never got around to reading it until January of this year, and it has stuck with me since. It was a very tear-jerking read. I rarely cry from books anymore, but hearing Jennette’s past struggles, all while she was my idol growing up, just broke me. It can be difficult to hear about people’s past troubles, but something about Jennette’s story has made a change in my everyday life.
Lil Simz has been my favorite artist for years now, so when she released NO THANK YOU, I was beyond excited to obsess. Though I loved this album last year, it was especially important to me this year because I was lucky enough to see the NO THANK YOU tour in September! Lil Simz smashed her performance as always, and after the concert, I couldn’t stop listening to the album. I will never get enough of Lil Simz and her talent. If you haven’t given her music a listen, DO IT! She will change your life like she did mine!
- Erin Ewald, Editorial
Want to see more of our favorite albums? Click Here for more music content!
Check out more of our favorite books at our bookshop store!
