Can you believe it’s already the end of the first quarter of 2023? These last three months have been a whirlwind that felt like it went on forever while also feeling like it didn’t go by fast enough! If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know how much of a mess the first two months of 2023 were for me but March definitely got better. There’s a lot of uncertainty this year but I’m keen to see where it takes me!
But I digress—I was recently tagged by the awesome Caro @BookCheshireCat to do The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag and it was perfect timing! This original tag was created by Roisin @Roisin’s Reading over on BookTube. Check out her announcement video below!
On that note, let’s jump straight into the tag!
How many books have you read so far?
I’ve read 30 books so far this year. My goal is the same as last year (150 books) but this puts me six books behind schedule… The reading year has started off weirdly and a bit of that weirdness has lingered and has me occasionally falling in and out of a slumpish mood. Hopefully, I can shake it off as the year goes on.
Have you already found a book you think might be a 2023 favourite? If not, what was your favourite book you read that wasn’t quite five stars?
There are only two books that have really stood out to me: The Six Deaths of the Saint and Seven Percent of Ro Devereux. I’m honestly kinda surprised and sad that there haven’t been more!
Any 1-star books / least favourite book of the year?
Sadly, this goes to Fake Dates and Mooncakes one of my most anticipated YA contemporary releases. I was so looking forward to this but sadly, too much about it didn’t work for me. Check out MY REVIEW.
Most read genre so far?
I think my reading has been pretty spread out so far. I’ve been reading a lot more YA contemporary/romance than I expected but romance is generally winning out (as usual, lol).
A book that surprised you?
I think this goes to I Will Find You Again by Sarah Lyu. I don’t read a lot of mysteries but this took a turn that I didn’t expect, and it definitely was darker than I expected but I think that’s what made me “enjoy” it more. Check out MY REVIEW.
A book that’s come out in 2023 already that you want to read but haven’t yet?
Ooh, is there really only one? Of course not. 😂 Here are five (but of course, the list extends beyond a mere FIVE, lol)!
One goal you made that you’re succeeding at
Ooh, this is tough because I feel like I’m falling behind on pretty much all of my goals? That said, I think I’m doing pretty alright with making a dent on my backlist. I think! Now I need to focus on my ARC backlist. Welp! 😂
One goal you made that you need to focus on
I have a goal to complete the 12 Book Challenge this year and I was really excited to be participating in this challenge for the first time this year. Three months in and I’m just about to finish my first recommended book so I guess that’s a clear indication of how it’s going… 😂
New to you Bloggers/Booktubers/ Bookstagrammers/Booktokers for 2023 you recommend?
I’m not often on bookstagram or booktube and usually by this time I’d have a good list of new-to-me bloggers but sadly, the list is short because I haven’t on much since the start of the new year. Let’s hope that changes in the next quarter! That said, here are three bloggers I discovered in 2023 so far—at least, I hope it was this year cos my memory is shot.
I’m tagging:
- Leslie @Books Are the New Black
- Julie @One Book More
- Joanna @The Geekish Brunette
- Chris @Biblio Nerd Reflections
- Kerri @Kerri McBookNerd
And that’s a wrap on my first quarter of reading in 2023! Not the start of the year that I thought it’d be but, it is what it is. Here’s to hoping that the rest of the year will be better! How was your first quarter of reading/blogging? Any new favourites books/bloggers?
dinipandareads 
Fake dating a demon was a super cute and fun read with a little spice, so if that’s what you’re in need of definitely pick it up. Love seeing the storygraph stats! 🎉🥰
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I had read a few reviews for it and then I read yours and saw the book at the store and thought it was meant to be, so I scooped it up 😂 I can’t wait to read it! I definitely need to get better at updating my Storygraph but I really love the stats too! 😍
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Yay!!! Okay now step two: actually read it now that you have it 😉 Sometimes that’s the harder block hahahaha. Put it somewhere you’ll see it a bunch! Or just read the first chapter and see if you’re hooked into it 😀
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Thanks for the tag! I hope you continue to climb out of your slump. You’ve still made great progress despite all the work stress and reading slump. I’m still so sad Mooncakes was so bad. 😦 Good luck with achieving all your goals!
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Thanks, Chris! I know it’s still early days and there’s time to catch up. And yeah, Mooncakes. SUCH A BUMMER! But I still feel like my views on it are in the minority because a lot of others seem to love it. 😂
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Thanks for the tag! I feel like even though I have read quite a bit this year I am still behind. 😂 I need to buckle down on the arcs but I just want to mood read whats on my KU tbr.
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Haha, I know what you mean, although I haven’t read a lot this year 😂 But girl, you’re always slaying those reading goals! I admire it! 😍 And as a fellow mood reader, I totally get that mood cos same~! LOL!
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Haha, the goals are getting crushed but the lack of 5 star reads this year is quite disappointing. 😂
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I read (and loved) your two favorites because you recommended them on your blog. I think you’re off to a great start this year.
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AAH, THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY, DEANNA!!! I’m so glad you loved both books 💜 Thank you, thank you! 🥰
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You’re doing amazing! 😊💖
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Aah, thank you so much! 💜💜💜
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Wow, it is crazy to think we’ve already reached the end of the first quarter of the year. Just doesn’t seem possible. I’m really, really looking forward to picking up The Foxglove King. Hope we both enjoy it!
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Omg, I know! How is it already the end of the first quarter!? Where have the months gone? It’s all blending into one big start-of-the-year blur and I don’t know how to feel about it! 😂 I hope you love Foxglove King, Ali! If you want to do a buddy read of it at some point this year, let me know! 😃
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I was just reading another blog post about how great Seven Percent of Ro Devereux is! I might need to check it out!
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Yes! I think it deserves more love 🙂 I really enjoyed it and if you pick it up, I hope you do too!
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I’m so sad about Fake Dates and Mooncakes, though sometimes the hyped books can definitely fail for me. I love anything by Alix E.Harrow, but Six Deaths of the Saint was truly special, especially for how short it was. I can’t wait to see your thoughts on Godkiller and Foxglove King, I loved both and think you would enjoy them too. Hope you manage to catch up to you GR goal and keep enjoying your reading, Dini 😀
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Girl, same. I was so sad when it didn’t work for me but yeah, we can’t love them all, I suppose! I still haven’t read anything by Harrow and Six Deaths was my first read by her. Truly amazing and I can’t wait to read 10K Doors of January, which has been on my TBR for yonks now. Really should get on it 😂 I did see you loved both Godkiller and Foxglove and I’m really keen to pick both up soon. I hope I love them as much cos the hype is definitely big for those two, lol. Thanks, Becky! Happy reading to you as well!
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It’s early in the year, you have plenty of time to meet your goals. I love seeing Ro as a fave. Definitely high on my list as well
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Yes, you’re so right! Sometimes it feels like I’ll never catch up just cos of how busy it has all been but it’s still early days! And Ro is wonderful—likely going to be on my top tier YA list this year! 😍
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Thanks for the tag, Dini! I can’t believe we’re already at the end of the first quarter.
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Omg, I know. Where the heck did these months go?!
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Oooo I may snag this tag to do soon! Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I have an “OMG 5 star read that sticks out to me” book yet. Of course, I loved my re-read of A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN by Sarah J. Maas. And I really liked THE FOXGLOVE KING. I must be forgetting something…or the best is yet to come!
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Ooh, yes, please do! I’d love to see what your reading year has looked like so far 😃 I also struggle with the read that sticks out to me tbh. I think these two were some of the best titles that I’ve read so far this year but will they make it to the top tier by the end of the year? Who knows 😂 Honestly, at the rate I’m reading “mid” books, maybe, haha. I read your review for Foxglove King and really enjoyed it—it got me more excited to pick it up soon! Hopefully, the best is still to come for both of us, Celeste!
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The Foxglove King, Song of Silver Flame like Night, and A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon are also on my 2023 releases list and I still haven’t read them.
I finished reading Godkiller 2 days ago and enjoyed it a lot!
I’m so intrigued about The Six Deaths of the Saint! Tempted to add it to my never-ending TBR. 🙂
Great post, Dini!
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Godkiller sounds SO good and I can’t wait to get to it. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it! 😃 Six Deaths of the Saint was amazing! Like, the fact that it was only 30 pages and I was SO INVESTED had me shook, haha! I hope we both enjoy Foxglove King, Song of Silver Flame and Witch’s Guide! 😍
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[…] The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag: March 2023 […]
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[…] everyone! I cannot believe the year is already a quarter of the way over. Dini @ dinipandareads tagged me in this fun book tag that wraps up how things have gone during the first three months of […]
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Considering how your year started, you are doing okay. I am surprised that I have already read 4 of my 12 Friends books. You will get on track soon.
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Loved reading your answers for the Tag 🥰 I also loved Seven Percent of Ro Devereux, such a good contemporary! I’m also eager to read A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon & Godkiller 😊
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[…] seen this on a couple of blogs like Dini Panda Reads and Biblio Nerd Reflections, and it seemed pretty fun. Also, I hadn’t done a tag in ages, and […]
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[…] this would be a great time to do The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag! I was tagged by the wonderful Dini @ dinipandareads and it looked like too much fun to skip! Also, if you haven’t checked out Dini’s […]
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[…] saw Dini from Dinipandareads do this tag and it looked really fun so decided to give it ago. This tag was created by Roisin […]
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