my (2023) updated list of novels that live rent free in my head! 

As I was looking back and rereading my fave novels from the past 2 years, I realized how my taste in novels has evolved and matured. I've always been a picky reader, and most of the novels I've liked enough to put on my lists are still classics that I will live and die for (hence why they are on this list as well), but some left me wondering how they made it into my ultimate tier of quality literature. In the same vein, novels I dropped back then have made their way into the ranks. 

Speaking of "quality literature", I also reflected on how reading on NU has changed the way I filter and appreciate writing. Rarely do I just read a blurb and jump in; I vet the book by reading literally all the reviews, because finding out halfway that the MC keeps being s*upid, or that the hyped-up twist is not twisting, is traumatic- and a waste of time. I do feel regretful that I've become so wary of Chinese literature in a way that I have never been with American novels, but I do feel like it is a necessary thing to do to maximize my reading enjoyment. Imma save the ranting for my other list, but some novels on this site are so tr*sh that I feel like shaking the author and asking what they were thinking...

But I've also found so many gems that have surpassed the "gosh that was a great read" to having the characters living rent-free in my head... so let's get on with the list!