This year, I read 164 books. Out of 164 books, I absolutely loved 13.

The Ikessar Falcon and The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng by K.S. Villoso – this is such an underrated fantasy series about a woman who is not afraid to go after what she wants and who is not afraid to avenge herself.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir – the best YA novel of 2022.

The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport – review withheld in support of the HCP Union.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta – I loved this one and related to it so much. I did MUN in high school, while the mc of this book did debate.

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li – I love reading about art museums in books, and I am glad that Li challenges the role that art museums play in the continuing negative impacts of colonization.

Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson – a book by a multiracial Filipino author!! With Filipino main characters! So happy to read more books with Filipino representation.

The Chosen and The Beautiful by Nghi Vo – the best Gatsby revisioning I have ever read.

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo – Nghi Vo is officially one of my favorite authors of all time.

Babel by R.F. Kuang – review withheld in support of the HCP Union.

Meet Me In Mumbai by Sabina Khan – I am adopted and I felt so seen by Khan’s novel.

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake – I am obsessed with this trilogy and Belen!! I would love a novel just about her.

Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments by Saidiya Hartman – a historical nonfiction novel I highly recommend.

Of 164 books, 48 were YA Fantasy, 49 were YA Contemporary, 4 were YA and multiple genres (including dystopian, time travel, etc) 24 were fantasy, 10 were fiction, and 5 were nonfiction. I did not finish 12 books; however, a majority of these are ones that I plan on going back to. This added up to about 120 books, so I may have miscounted as I was going through my Goodreads list.

Next year, I am not going to set a reading goal. This year, my goal was 75, which I met in June, but I want to focus on reading more nonfiction/analytical books this year, as well as re-reading these books.

I find myself reading less YA, but Young Adult (which is not a genre, it is a category) will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first place I saw myself represented as a Filipino and Asian woman and person. I am not quite sure how I would define my reading tastes, but I do know that I want to read more books about Marxist theory, precolonial society, specifically in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, and about women-led movements in the Global South by woman of the global majority.

What books did you read this year? I would love to know which ones you loved and which ones you want to read in 2023!