I've already covered part of this best of 2023 in a special book article: https://ameliemarmo.wixsite.com/thedailylife/en/post/my-current-best-reads, but here's the rest, including my opinions on the books, films and series released and/or read in 2023.
Part 1: Books
Here are my top reads by month:
January: Just wanna be your brother by Nine Gorman & Mathieu Guibé
"- I think I'd rather we weren't of the same blood, after all, I began to explain.
- Why do you think that is?
I'm trying to put into words what I'm feeling. It's as bizarre and indescribable as it is beautiful and precious. It fills me from within, chasing away the emptiness that sometimes invades me.
A smile stretches my lips and I declare with emotion:
- Because it makes what we have even more special... stronger, Ash."
I loved learning (or relearning, since I read the Ashes falling for the sky books a long time ago) about Zach. He's such a touching, endearing character, you can't help but love him. His friendship with Ash is so beautiful.
And even though I partly knew how the book was going to end, it didn't get in the way of my reading. On the contrary, I fell in love with it.
It's a wonderful story right to the end, and you can't help but feel the emotions of the characters. And I must emphasize that I think the cover is sublime.
February: Kingdom of the damned by Kerri Maniscalco
"Love is the most powerful magic."
I was so looking forward to reading this book that I read it in a day as soon as I had it in my hand. And I must say, I was not disappointed.
The universe is well constructed, and contains everything I love: magic, mysteries, secrets and a romance that builds gradually. 🪄
I found the story very original and quite well done. And the characters! I loved Emilia and Wrath. Inventing a story with the seven deadly sins as princes of hell is a stroke of genius. Especially as they are mysterious and powerful. And clearly, Anger is my favorite. I can't wait to get to know them all in future volumes.
All in all, this book was a real pleasure to read. Especially as the end of this volume makes me want to dive into the sequel to get the answers to my questions and find out what's going to happen to Emilia (especially after the choice she's made)!
March: The bridge kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Wow! This book is a marvel. I fell in love with the story, the plot and, above all, the characters.
First of all, you get straight into the story. From the very first chapter, we're taken right to the heart of the matter with some unexpected action that sets the tone for the story. No time for nonsense, we're already down to business!
And the story is well-crafted. It's easy to guess how it's going to end for our heroes, but that didn't bother me too much.
Then there are the characters. I loved Lara. She's strong and courageous. Aren is just about the most generous man I've ever seen. And I love him. I loved the verbal jousting they did. It was incredible!
April: Lightlark by Alex Aster
This book is a pure marvel. From the very first pages, I was caught up in the story and knew I was going to love it right to the end.
We're caught up in an incredible, well-described universe. It's full of mysteries that we want to discover alongside our heroine Isla. A heroine I loved 100%. She's strong, courageous and willing to do anything to save her people. She makes mistakes, but that's precisely why I liked her so much.
I also really liked the other characters. Not least because they're so different from each other, but with a common goal: to break their curses.
Lightlark really has everything I love: a mysterious, magical world, strong, deep characters, lots of action, a little romance, lots of secrets and betrayals you never see coming.
I can't wait to read more of Isla's adventures.
May: The taste of our dreams (Le goût de nos rêves) by Emma Green
If you love food, humor, romance and Céline Dion, this is the book for you. This story is beautiful, touching and inspiring. I really fell in love with it.
We follow Olympe and Simon, two people with a heavy past that weighs on them and prevents them from moving forward. And I adored them. Especially Olympe, because I identified with her so much. And we share a common passion: Céline Dion.
This book takes us on a culinary journey. It made me want to wander around and taste all the things the characters talk about in this book.
Plus, it's so well written. Emma Green's writing is incredible. The description of the dishes, the words that Olympe and Simon exchange. It was magnificent.
And then, the messages in this story, especially that you have to believe in your dreams.
So go and read it, because I recommend it 100%.
& Absolu volume 1 - The mobilized by Margot Dessenne
This book is a real favorite. And for several reasons.
Firstly, because I love Margot Dessenne's writing. It's easy to read, but above all, it allowed me to clearly imagine the scenes in my head. It was as if I could see the characters in front of me, fighting and surviving.
The power of her writing is that it takes us into a new world, which we discover at the same time as some of the characters. But at the same time, as we discover this world, we're asking ourselves a lot of questions and scrolling down the pages out of a thirst for answers (in fact, I'm still asking myself so many questions that I'd love to have the answers). I don't think I've ever had so many questions in my head when reading this book.
Secondly, the universe is just great. Some aspects remind me of the universe in James Dashner's The Ordeal (The Labyrinth) series, with people locked in a place where they have to survive, the tensions between the survivors, the Thing, the Memoriae. But it's also very different.
Thirdly, I loved the different points of view. Although my favorites are still those of Prym and Edward, who are my favorite characters. Ed really touched me in this tome.
Finally, you should know that the title is not chosen at random. It breaks down into two parts, and both parts have an explanation.
In any case, I can't wait to read the sequel, which I hope will answer my many unanswered questions.
June: These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
I was quite surprised by this read, in a good way. I'd been told that it was similar to ACOTAR, and I was afraid that there would be too many similarities, but on the contrary, the story is well-crafted and gradually detaches itself from the few similarities that can be found.
Obviously, we find ourselves in a Fae world, where Brie is a human who travels to their world to save her sister. I found the story to be well-paced. Along with Brie, we learn about the mysteries of this world and its people, who are full of secrets and betrayals.
I really liked Brie, because despite entering this world alone, she doesn't let it get her down. Throughout the book, she holds out hope of saving her sister, and I really appreciated her strength of character. On the other hand, there were times when I didn't quite understand her choices, especially when she's warned of the consequences of her actions.
I also really liked Finn. He's quite mysterious. He reminded me of Rhysand. Sebastien, on the other hand, irritated me.
And of course, the ending has a twist that makes me really want to read the sequel now.
July: Gilded by Marissa Meyer
This book was a pleasant surprise, because I didn't expect to like it so much. It was a real favorite.
I knew from the start that I was going to like the story, because I love all Marissa Meyer's books, and because I love stories based on fairy tales. But this one is incredible, it gives off something more.
Already, I really liked that the book was inspired by a tale that isn't the most well-known, Rumplestiltskin's.
Then, the story is well constructed so that we're intrigued both by the universe and by certain characters. Marissa Meyer has an incredible imagination, as there are links everywhere in her story, and I loved that.
I also really liked the characters. Gild is very mysterious and makes you wonder about his past. Serilda is very human and that's why I like her so much. And her stories are amazing and very important.
I can't wait to read the sequel and find out what Serilda will do next, knowing her condition.
August: Fourth Wing volume 1 by Rebecca Yarros
After hearing a lot about it, I decided to dive into this book to get my own opinion. And I have to say that this story is incredible, a nugget from start to finish.
You're straight into the plot and the action, and believe me, there's never a dull moment with this book. On the contrary, we follow Violet through trials, learning, lies, betrayals, friendship and love. In short, there's no time for boredom.
What's more, the writing is easy to read, and the story is well-paced and well-crafted, combining fantasy, politics and love. And what I loved about the author's writing were the details that made her story even more believable. Because Violet is drooling in this tome.
In fact, I adored Violet from start to finish. She's extremely strong despite all the prejudices others have about her, courageous and very human. I liked Xaden and Liam just as much.
And then the ending, I can't wait to find out what happens next. I had my suspicions about the ending, but I'm really glad it turned out this way.
September: An autumn to forgive you (Un automne pour te pardonner) by Morgane Moncomble
Wow, I really fell in love with this book. But I was kind of expecting it, because I love Morgane Moncomble's writing and I'd heard nothing but positive reviews of this story before I read it.
And now that I have, I have to say that I loved it, I loved EVERYTHING about it, from A to Z.
You get carried away by the story, by the mystery behind it. We try to find out who the murderer/murderess is along with the characters. You ask yourself lots of questions and come up with lots of far-fetched theories (because, yes, if you want to find THE plot twist, you've got to think big). Personally, I found it, but I think that's because I was told it was huge.
Otherwise, character-wise, my favorite is Lou. He's sensitive, arrogant and extremely touching all at the same time. In short, I loved him too much. I also loved Camelia and her strength of character. And I hated Rory. He's a terrible man.
The story is quite similar to Sara Shepard's literary saga Les Menteuses or the One of us is lying series. So if you like that vibe of mystery, romance, murder, lies and secrets, clearly this is the novel for you.
I hope we'll see Camelia and Lou again in the next books in the saga, which I'll be rushing out to buy as soon as they come out. In any case, I can't wait to read Lily and Orion's story, which comes out in January.
October: What makes us alive (Ce qui nous rend vivants) by Emma Green
I can't tell you how much I loved this book. It's a huge crush. The story is incredibly beautiful, a balm to the heart.
Already, I loved that it takes place in a hospital, a la Grey's Anatomy. But what made me fall in love with this story was the characters.
I recognized so much of myself in Cleo. And as luck would have it, the important date for this character is also very important to me.
I also really liked Carter. A little less so at first, but by the end, he'd won my heart. Although Cleo remains my favorite character.
And Emma Green's writing, their words, the messages they convey, are just pure wonder. Clearly, I cried at times (with joy or sadness).
And of course, I loved the references to characters from other books.
In short, I loved this book with all my soul, and I know I'll be reading it again and again. So I recommend it 2000%. Go for it!
& The Runway by Nokdu et Hirachell (Webtoon)
Oh my god but this webtoon is so addictive that I turn page after page and am surprised when I get to the end. I love the story and the characters so much. It's funny, touching and romantic. I especially like the fact that the story doesn't just focus on the two main characters. No, on the contrary, we get to follow several characters and each of their stories is interesting. And Sol is so cute. The characters are so endearing and cute. That's really the strong point of this webtoon.
November: Endless Fall by Louise Langlois
This book is so beautiful. The story is just magnificent and conveys sublime messages. It really is a balm to the heart and naturally, I loved every page of this book, even the difficult parts.
This story tackles different subjects such as harassment, anxiety, fear, but also forgiveness, reconstruction, trust and, above all, the people around you. Having family and friends who are there for you, who support you no matter what.
So be warned, this book is extremely touching. Not least because of Eden's character, for it's her story and her thoughts that we read. But I also adored Cole, Roseline and Ashton, who made me laugh out loud and is the best big brother in the world.
The relationship between Cole and Eden is super natural, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it.
And Roseline, how could I not love her? She has such nice words, and she's so loyal to her friends. I just adore her.
In short, read this book because it's a real masterpiece. It conveys such beautiful and hopeful messages.
& Marry My Husband by Studio Lico et Sung Sojak (Webtoon)
I was very surprised by this webtoon. I didn't expect to be so captivated by the story. It grabbed me from the first chapter or two. I had the same hatred for Minwhan and Soomin as Jiwon, and clearly this shared hatred is addictive. I really like the story, which I find quite original and a tad funny. Jiwon's character is clearly my favorite. I like the way she gradually gains confidence in herself. I also really like the character of the chief, who is quite mysterious. I have a feeling he's going to be more and more important to the story. On the other hand, I have an extreme hatred for Soomin. She's detestable.
In short, read this marvel because it's totally addictive.
December: Porcelain under the ruins (Porcelaine sous les ruines) by Ada Vivalda
Thanks to Booknode and the "read before everyone else" operation, I was able to discover and read this little gem.
I was pleasantly surprised by the story. It's a romance, mixed with politics and a bit of magic. Everything I love about it.
But what really made me love this book were the characters. Right from the start, you wonder about Alba's character. She's quite mysterious: both genius and human. It's through her that we discover the political aspect of the story, with the archipelagos that remind me of Le pont des tempêtes (but the book is very different from that saga).
Then we discover the character of Lethan, who is also very mysterious.
They both have secrets we're trying to uncover. Some are easier to guess than others. But I really liked the atmosphere.
And then there's the romance. An ennemy-to-lovers, slow-burn, with crazy tension between them and incredible spikes in a slightly old-fashioned language, I loved it.
The world created here is one that takes place after us, but is still medieval. It's peculiar, but it works.
So there you have it, if you like romance, mysteries and political stakes, with a little action but a lot of secrets, this is the book for you.
Part 2 : Movies
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1
I saw the new Mission Impossible in preview and it's incredible. Once again, we're plunged into a plot that will make your heart skip a beat. It's gripping, with action right from the start, and a crazy cast. I recommend you watch it in VO if you want to hear Tom Cruz speak in French. In short, I loved it from start to finish, and I can't wait to see Part 2 to find out how the whole story will end. However, there's no scene at the end.
Elemental
I loved this film immensely. The story is so beautiful and moving. I shed tears at the end because it's so moving. I was surprised by the beginning of the film. I didn't think the story between Wade and Ember would start out like that. In any case, this film is a must-see. It's funny, touching and has a great message. Personally, my favorite character is Wade.
Shazam 2
This film was very good, but I still preferred the first part. It still has the essence of Shazam, i.e. the saga's unique sense of humor and, above all, its sense of family. I liked the new characters, especially Hespera and Anne. However, there were two things that bothered me. One concerns Billy (or rather, Asher), but I don't want to spoil anything, so I hope you'll understand when you watch the film. The other is the fact that we're talking about mythological creatures and the scriptwriters chose to put in a creature that has nothing to do with them, which I thought was a shame. Beware, there are two post-credits scenes!
Red white and royal blue
I loved it. Having read the book, I knew what to expect, and I really appreciated the fact that the screenplay was so faithful to the book's story. But what really won me over were the characters and the acting. I adored Alex and Henry, even if it was the latter who touched me the most. Frankly, it's beautiful, touching and extremely well done. And the romance is super cute!
Nimona
I really enjoyed this story of mystery, justice and truth. This film is both funny, thanks to the character of Nimona, whom I adored, and poignant in the messages it conveys. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised by this animated film. The only downside is that it's easy to guess what's going to happen.
Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
First of all, I'd like to say that I hadn't read the book when I went to see the film, and I think I did the right thing, because I was completely immersed in it. And I discovered an incredible story. It surprised me and I loved it. The choice of actors was superbly made. We're treated to a charismatic Snow and a valiant Lucy. We discover a rather unbalanced Panem, where people are afraid of a new war breaking out. This adds to the tension and may explain certain choices. On the other hand, it's easy to guess Snow's actions at the end, because after all, we know what he'll be like sixty years later. But I still loved seeing how he got there. Especially as the set design is incredible, the special effects are superbly done, and the sets and costumes are sublime.
Part 3: Series
Daisy Jones and the six (1 season)
The series is very well done. It respects the book quite well (in fact, as I was advised and I approve 100%, it's better to read the book before watching the series). The actors are top-notch, playing their characters to perfection. And I thought it was great that the series kept the interview format. It really adds to the charm of the series. And the ending is so moving, even more so than the one in the book.
Heartstopper season 2
I love this series so much, and this new season is incredible. I find it tackles so many more themes/issues than the previous season, really focusing on each of the characters. I really enjoyed Isaac's journey and the challenges Darcy faces. Of course, my favorite character is still Nick. In short, this series continues to be a balm to the heart and the characters are just too cute.
Percy Jackson - beginning of season 1
I simply adored these first two episodes. I was impressed by how much it resembled the book. It just thrilled me. Especially since I was treated to my favorite scene. But, otherwise, the acting is good. I liked the acting of Percy, Luke and even Clarisse. I can't wait to see how this story unfolds on screen. I'm also looking forward to seeing more of Annabeth's acting (because I've got high expectations). But, hey, it's already shaping up to be a big one.
Part 4: The best k-dramas I've seen this year
Crash landing on you
This is my first k-drama and I still can't get over it. This series is incredible. I loved it from A to Z. The characters are so touching, close-knit (for the most important characters), and endearing. Of course, my preference is for Captain Ri and Yoon Seri, but the secondary characters are important too, and you can't help but love them. On the other hand, there are also characters that I hated with all my heart. In short, this series will remain engraved in my memory and my heart, so much it touched me. And the romance is just magnificent. It takes you through so many emotions. I think I'll be watching this series again and again.
True Beauty
I had a hard time at first with the Korean mentality, which judges only on beauty, but as it's crucial to the story, I gradually got used to it. And apart from that, I absolutely loved it. I watched all 16 episodes so fast, I was so immersed in the story. Joo-Kyung is so endearing and cute. And the romance is just wonderful. The characters are all super-affectionate, especially Soo-Ho and Seo-Jun. In short, I can only recommend that you watch this series if you haven't already.
Photo credits: Pinterest, Amelie Marmonier
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