Karen’s Year in Books

What did you read this year?

Go to previous year

2023

22,541

pages read

books read

Karen

Don't Be Grumpy, Monkey! by Snezana Danilovic

Shortest Book

pages

Longest Book

544

pages

Average book length in 2023

326

pages

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

Most Shelved

82,863

people also shelved

Awakening the Power of Self Publishing by Rudo Muchoko

Least Shelved

people also shelved

Karen’s average rating for 2023

4.8

Highest Rated on Goodreads

4.78 average

Karen’s first review of the year

really liked it

The Mystery of Four by Sam Blake
31-year-old Tess Morgan has bought Kilfenora House and Gardens in Ireland, restoring the beautiful Tudor manor and after 2 ½ years of hard work, it will soon be open to the public again.
We meet many of her friends and the people who live in the community. These include Tess’s best friend, Genevieve Fortune, who owns an Irish country antique shop called Fortune Finds. Her mother Clarissa Westmacott (a former actor) ...more

KAREN’S 2023 BOOKS

it was amazing

Healing Hearts at Bumblebee Barn by Jessica Redland

it was amazing

Finding Refuge in Bellbird Bay by Maggie Christensen

it was amazing

Murder at Waldenmere Lake by Michelle Salter

Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash

Summer Nights at the Starfish Café by Jessica Redland

The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency by Lydia Travers

it was amazing

One Puzzling Afternoon by Emily Critchley

A Stepney Girl's Secret by Jean Fullerton

The Lost Daughters of Ukraine by Erin Litteken

The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler

Murder in the Scottish Hills by Lydia Travers

The Wagging Tails Dogs' Home by Sarah Hope

it was amazing

An Italian Island Summer by Sue Moorcroft

The Couple Across the Street by Anita Waller

Summer at Forget-Me-Not Cottage by Helen Rolfe

it was amazing

The French Chateau Dream by Julie Caplin

The Start of Something Wonderful by Jessica Redland

Networking for Writers by Lizzie Chantree

it was amazing

The Gingerbread Christmas Village by Kiley Dunbar

it was amazing

A Village Called Christmas by Jodie Homer

The Vintage Village Bake Off by Judy Leigh

Christmas at the Cat Café by Jessica Redland

Karen’s last review of the year

it was amazing

Jessica Redland is one of my favourite authors, I always pre-order her books. I also love cats and Christmas, so what a great combination to have in this book. I loved the cast of cat and kitten characters at the start of the book too.
This story is set in Whitsborough Bay on Castle Street (which will be familiar to those who have read Jessica’s other books) and features the Castle Street Cat Café owned by 34-year-old Tabitha Walsh, aptly known as Jessica Redland is one of my favourite authors, I always pre-order her books. I also love cats and Christmas, so what a great combination to have in this book. I loved the cast of cat and kitten characters at the start of the book too.
This story is set in Whitsborough Bay on Castle Street (which will be familiar to those who have read Jessica’s other books) and features the Castle Street Cat Café owned by 34-year-old Tabitha Walsh, aptly known as Tabby. We first meet her two and a half weeks before the café is due to open. She lives with her boyfriend Leon (who has been away for five months) and sixteen gorgeous cats.
The book is written in first person, so we hear Tabby’s voice and get to know her quickly. Her two passions are baking and cats and opening a cat café is her dream, especially as she is using her beloved late Nanna’s inheritance to do so.
However, Loser Leon lets her down at the last minute, which means Tabby now has to cope on her own with setting up her new business, all the while dealing with health issues she hasn’t really told anyone about. (This seems really well-researched too! Very authentic.)
First off, the cat café itself sounds fabulous! All of the décor sounds great and I loved the sound of it. The themed areas are inspired – Cat Castle, Feline Forest and Kitty Cove (seaside) – just adorable. Jessica has thought of everything, it’s beautifully designed, every little detail has been thought out so well and perfectly described. I want to go!!! (insert toddler tantrum here)
I don’t want to say too much about the story, because 1) I recommend you read it yourself and 2) I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment by telling you too much of what happens. It is one of those books where you should find out everything for yourself by reading the book.
Tabby is lovely and so are her friends and her very supportive family – and not forgetting those gorgeous cats, who all have their own individual personalities. (I think Jupiter is my favourite, but don’t tell the others!) This is a real story of success over adversity, of keeping going, of striving to achieve a dream – things we can all relate to. It has lots of ups and downs, of course, sad and emotional parts, but overall, it has such a message of positivity that it is truly uplifting.
Jessica Redland has a beautiful way of writing. She achieves that difficult feat of having her easily identifiable voice throughout all her books, but the novels never feel samey. I have read several authors where I’ve enjoyed the first few of their books, then realised they all seem a bit formulaic or repetitive after a while and have stopped reading them. I’m pretty sure I’ve read ten or more of Jessica’s books and each one has been distinct and completely different to any others, yet still showcasing her beautiful characters and communities that are her strengths. Christmas at the Cat Café is another triumph and I whole-heartedly recommend it.

...more

2023 READING
CHALLENGE

Karen read 69 out of 100 books.

69%

What did you read this year?