As always, I have never read a book during the academic semester. It feels like it is truly impossible to read a book amid assignments, club meetings, and job applications. Thankfully, after the insanity that is finals week, we will all have some downtime during winter break. My To Be Read list is way more than five books. But I think this list encapsulated some extremely anticipated releases in 2023, as well as some of the books I have put off for far too long. I seriously doubt even I will read all five but picking two or three off of this list seems possible. Without further ado, here are the five books you need to add to your TBR list after finals.
Note: This is in no particular order besides what came to my mind first.
1. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
I have been a Britney Spears fan my whole life. It is crazy to hear about her journey from childhood to stardom. This is a story that many people have speculated about and now that she has given us the chance to be a part of that story, I think it’s important that we should support it. I don’t support parasocial relationships in any way but I think it’s really important to read and acknowledge how the media mistreated Britney Spears. The Woman in Me has reached five weeks on the bestseller list for Hardcover NonFiction and surpassed 1.1 million copies sold. There is speculation that the book was written by ghostwriter Sam Lansky but Britney Spears has not released confirmation. Despite that, this book is still a message that Britney Spears approved and should be listened to.
2. I Didn’t Know I Needed This: The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself by Eli Rallo
My most anticipated release of the year will hit shelves on Dec. 12. Eli Rallo has encapsulated the wisdom of the older sister into 320 pages. This journey started through TikTok where Eli Rallo gained her stardom which eventually led to a book deal with HarperCollins Publishers. Her TikTok, originally @thejarr and now @elirallo, began with food content and evolved into lists for every occasion and advice on how to make the most of a modern dating experience. Now, I think of Eli Rallo’s page as the place to go when you need advice for any occasion. Words cannot describe how curious I am to hear her personal stories in this book and how it is going to change my life. If you are looking for a modern book and want advice that will last you a lifetime, check out this release.
3. Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
I think everyone was shocked by Matthew Perry’s death. Friends was quite literally my entire childhood with references that went over my head and my constant quoting of Chandler Bing. I’ve seen snippets of the book and hearing that Matthew Perry wanted to be remembered for more than Friends is understandable. I feel like to honor his memory and understand his struggles, I kinda owe it to him to read this book. I don’t want to remember him as my favorite sitcom character if I have an opportunity to listen to his side of that journey. I think it’ll be a sad read but well worth it.
4. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
I have been recommended this book too many times and I feel like winter 2023 is the perfect time to read it. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow follows two friends in a world of video game design and the twists and turns that it brings. I put this on my ‘To read’ list this summer from a recommendation. I feel like it’s a great fiction novel to zone out with and read for a whole day. Although this is a whole year later from its original release, I don’t know many people who have read it. Definitely time to change that.
5. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Okay, I know I am not the first person to recommend reading Atomic Habits. However, I still have not read it, so maybe this is finally the time. I heard it is life-changing and all those amazing things. But still, I have never had the motivation. I think that classic New Year’s Eve energy would force me to read it and maybe take that advice. I hope this is my last read of 2023 to start the new year off right!
Conclusion
If I only had to read one book from this list, I would say I Didn’t Know I Needed This: The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself would be my first pick. As a college student, Eli has voiced pretty much every thought in my head circulating post-grad, dating in my twenties, and how to motivate myself. I have high expectations for this book and I am expecting Eli to meet every single one of them. I cannot wait for Dec. 12!