My Ten Best Reads of 2022
With 2022 in the past, I am so excited to share with you guys my ten best reads of 2022. Ranging from mysteries, contemporary, romance, and plenty of YA, my top reads really made 2022 one of the best years for reading yet.
Honorable Mentions:
I know, I know, this novel isn’t technically released yet, but I had to add it to this list because of how much I loved it! Mindy McGinnis’ A Long Stretch of Bad Days was absolutely thrilling and everything I want in a teen crime novel. Since it isn’t released yet, I don’t have a review up for it, but it’ll be coming soon, so be on the lookout! Definitely a five-star read and totally worth it for any Mindy McGinnis fans.
I think Love & Gelato ended up as an honorable mention because the Netflix movie put such a bad taste in my mouth…. But, I really can’t lie, this book was such a wonderful and wholesome read that I just couldn’t not include it here (I know, that sentence is a double negative, but it still makes sense to me). If you’re looking for a book to put you in the summer mood, this one will do it. Just don’t watch the Netflix movie 😉
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
If I’m being honest, this is probably my number one most favorite read of 2022. The absolute heartbreak, emotion, and forgiveness packed into this novel gave me everything I’ve ever wanted in a book (it also helps that I really like emotional books).
So, yeah, most definitely in my top ten list. Colleen Hoover rarely ever disappoints and you can read my review for Reminders of Him here.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Where the Crawdads Sing was a little different for me in terms of genre. It did have the mystery aspect and plenty of romance, but it felt different from the other books on this list. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t like this book because it wouldn’t be included in this list if I didn’t.
I absolutely adored this novel and loved the movie as well. You can check out my post for the book vs. the movie review of Where the Crawdads Sing if you want to know more about it.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Another book that went out of my comfort zone was A Man Called Ove. No romance. No mysteries. Just straight up contemporary featuring a cat and a grumpy old man. Was this novel moving and beautiful? One hundred percent and it completely deserves its spot on my list.
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Following The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy, The Final Gambit was the last in this series (although Jennifer Lynn Barnes has another book coming out that’s also in this universe, sooo I’m super excited about that).
I literally loved the conclusion to this series. I thought it wrapped up so well and everything was so thought out. I rave about The Final Gambit in my review and video. When I’m telling you it barely took me a day to finish this, I mean it. That’s with a full time job (I may or may not have listened to the audiobook at work…).
Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
Another book that I’ve been (not so) patiently waiting for. Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson follows Stevie Bell as she solves another mystery. Even though the followups haven’t been nearly as good as the Truly Devious series, I still love all the characters and Johnson’s artful way of weaving together a mystery.
You can read my review for Nine Liars here, or just watch the video review I made 🙂
If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin
I’ve seen so much about this book all over social media. I actually had bought the paperback long before people had gone crazy over it, I just never got the chance to take it off my TBR shelf (so many other books, ya know?).
Once I did finally pick this up to read it, though, I could see what all the fuss was about. Filled with so many emotions and so many “what ifs” that your heart is sure to feel the burn in the best possible way. You can read my review for If He Had Been with Me here.
A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole
I don’t cry for books. Sure, books make me sad, but there are only two books on this list that brought me close to tears (Reminders of Him is the other one). A Thousand Boy Kisses, filled with tropes as it may be, made me full out sob on the way to work while I was listening to the audiobook.
Here’s my review for it, but I wholeheartedly believe that this novel should be on your TBR list.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
I don’t usually read fantasy (if this is even what category this novel can be placed in), but this was another one of those reads that I felt compelled to get through because people could not stop talking about it.
While I did find this book a little on the longer side of what I like, I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it. Especially the spitfire main character Addie. You can check out my full review for this novel here.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Technicallyyyy this is a reread, but it had to be added because I genuinely forgot how good this novel is. Colleen Hoover truly outdid herself with this novel, but you can see why. She related it to her own experiences and, in my opinion, that always makes a novel feel more real and more raw.
This one, it broke my heart. It was beautiful. It was everything you want to see in a story and more. It gives you hope, tears you down, and builds you back up again. Check out my review for It Ends with Us here.
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Out of all the novels on this list, this is by far the most lighthearted and fun. With romance, teenage drama, and finding yourself within your culture and within your own personality, When Dimple Met Rishi was so much fun to read and review.
If you like books more on the light side without all the emotional mess that’s mentioned above, this is probably the novel for you!
