Hello dear bookish friends and welcome to Thursday on damppebbles. And it’s a very special Thursday indeed! Today marks the final day of this year’s #R3COMM3ND3D and what a dream this year’s feature has been. One of the best years we’ve had, even if I do say so myself. Since 1st November twenty-nine brilliant bookish folk – bloggers, authors, reviewers and bookstagrammers – have shouted about three of their favourite books. Three favourite books ALL published in 2023. As things stand, we currently have eighty-three stunners in the #R3COMM3ND3D2023 vault. Four of those books – The Good Liars by Anita Frank, None of This is True by Lisa Jewell, Killing Jericho by William Hussey and All of Us Are Broken by Fiona Cummins – have been chosen by our panel of distinguished, knowledgeable judges twice putting them in line for the #R3COMM3ND3D2023 crown 👑 Will that still be the case after today’s guest has revealed their three #R3COMM3ND3D2023 picks…?

I am absolutely delighted to welcome one of my favourite book bloggers to damppebbles today, it’s the utterly fabulous Jo of Jo’s Book Blog. Jo is one of a small group of people who I hold responsible for repeatedly adding to my groaning TBR! And I am forever grateful to her for that. I’ve purchased a number of books on the back of Jo’s recommendations over the years. So if you’re looking for a new read (or ten!) and you don’t already subscribe to Jo’s blog, then you know what to do!

So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2023? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors, book bloggers, reviewers and bookstagrammers to shout about three (yes, *only* three) books they love. They can be written by any author, in any genre and published in any way (traditionally, indie press or self-published). But there is a catch. All three books must have been published in 2023. To make things interesting there are a couple of teeny, tiny rules; 1) the book must have FIRST been published in 2023 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. See, it wasn’t too painful. I just like to keep you lovely people on your toes 😉

Here are the three books Jo recommends…

Weyward by Emilia Hart
Weyward alternates between the perspectives of three women who are separated by years but who have a lot in common. While there is a familial link between the three, I loved discovering the deeper connections between them as the similarities in their personalities became apparent. Each woman has their own battle to face, be it against the expectations of the time or the coercive control of those around them as they fight for control and autonomy. For each, nature becomes something of a sanctuary, and while Altha’s story best illustrates what it is to be a Weyward woman, all three experience it in their own way as the “gift” passed through their female line becomes apparent. Partly historical, partly contemporary, and with just a little dash of the supernatural, this is a superb novel and a brilliant debut.
Jo’s Review of Weyward

The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
Laura Shepherd-Robinson can do no wrong in my eyes and is now an auto-buy author me. Her latest offering features a young girl, Red, recently orphaned and now being raised as a lady in Bath. While being taught to be prim and proper, her less than salubrious start in life has given her some alternative skills, and Red is no stranger to lock-picking and spinning a yarn when needed, and I loved her morally grey nature. The Square of Sevens – the title refers to a method of cartomancy from the time – is a brilliantly complex and intricately plotted novel, and I got swept up in the mystery of Red’s parentage as she seeks answers as to the identity of the mother that she never knew.
Jo’s Review of The Square of Sevens

Our Hideous Progeny by C. E. McGill
I was initially drawn to this novel by the gorgeous cover and equally lovely endpapers. The main protagonist, Mary, is seen as a difficult woman by those around her – bold, outspoken, and quick to anger, she chafes at the restrictions placed upon her simply because of her gender. She is a fantastic character, and I loved her fearlessness and refusal to bow down to society’s norms. The great niece of Victor Frankenstein, she knows little of his experiments at the outset of the novel, although she and her husband do come to discover more about him as the novel progresses. I did have a minor concern that this might just be a rehash with a modern bent, but McGill has made the idea their own, extrapolating from Mary Shelley’s novel and combining it with the furore around dinosaurs in the mid-nineteenth century. A brilliant Gothic novel that I adored.
Jo’s Review of Our Hideous Progeny

Thank you so much, Jo! All three books are going straight on the wish list. And of course, this is the second time we’ve seen The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson which means we have a last minute bid for the crown. How exciting!

About Jo:
I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child, and have always been inclined towards darker stories – as a friend once pointed out, if I describe a book as “bleak” then I probably enjoyed it. This started with a fascination with fairy tales and myths when I was younger, and has developed into a love for post-apocalyptic / dystopian fiction now that I’m older. I also love retellings of the Greek myths, particularly where those tales are told from the perspectives of the women who have been voiceless and relegated to the side-lines for so long. Other hobbies include walking in the Peak District (particularly if there’s a pub on the route!), travel, and watching ice hockey.

Jo’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| Jo’s Book Blog | mastodon @tiny_ickle_jo@mastodon.martin-benson.com |

So sadly that’s it. #R3COMM3ND3D2023 has come to an end, with a fifth book squeaking in with only moments to spare! I will be revealing the final standings along with all of this year’s books as part of the After Show Party in the coming weeks so please keep an eye out for that. It will be the event of the year without a doubt, and as the party will taking place here on damppebbles, you can attend in your comfy slippers and PJs! Bonus.

Thanks to all of the bloggers, authors, bookstagrammers and reviewers who have taken part. Thank you to everyone who has liked, shared and commented on the posts across social media. I couldn’t run this feature without you and I am forever grateful for your support.

Oh, and do keep an eye out for the after show party as I’m planning on giving away one of the most #R3COMM3ND3D books of 2023. See you soon❤️