Better late than never! Here are my favorite books I read during 2022:
Thriller
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
This was unlike any thriller I’ve ever read. A woman learns shortly after turning 25 that she inherited a house from her birth parents – a house where terrible things happened when she was a baby. It’s definitely a dark read, but if you like thrillers this is definitely one of my favorites.
Girl A by Abigail Dean
I am just now realizing how similar this book is to The Family Upstairs! Lex helped her siblings escape the home their parents trapped them in, and when her mother dies they are left the family home. This one, however, focuses more on the aftermath of trauma and is less of a ‘mystery’ to solve.
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
Ani seems to have the perfect life, but when she is asked to be interviewed for a documentary surrounding a tragedy she experienced in her teens, she has to decide if it’s worth shattering her perfect facade. This book was way better than the movie, and Ani was such a fascinating main character to follow.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
I love a suburban/family type thriller, but it’s hard to find one that isn’t predictable. This one definitely wasn’t which is why I loved it so much. It takes place 11 years after two disappearances in a peaceful town, disappearances that may or may not be connected.
Romance/Contemporary Romance
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
I’m usually not a huge enemies to lovers fan, but Emily Henry can do no wrong! This was actually my favorite book of hers thus far. It follows a literary agent (Nora) and a book editor (Charlie) who got off on the wrong foot professionally, and coincidentally are spending the summer in the same small town. I love books that are about books/writers/etc. so this was such a fun read!
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
This is the absolute cutest romance novel and I would recommend it to everyone! Nora is a screenwriter for a romance channel (think Hallmark), but after her divorce she writes a very different, but very good, script. The movie will be filmed at Nora’s house (think Nancy Meyers type decor) and will star Leo Vance (former Sexiest Man Alive). This book was so fun, warm, and fresh – with just the right mix of Hallmark and reality.
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
This book is technically a romance, but I think it’s more about other kinds of love (friendship, self-love, familial love) than anything else. Katy’s mother and best friend dies before they can take the trip they’ve planned to Positano together. Katy decides to go solo, but somehow her mother is there, “healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old.” Over the course of her trip, Katy learns the things she never knew about her mother and herself.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
This is The Summer I Turned Pretty, but for grown-ups. Percy and her first love, Sam, find themselves back at the town they spent six summers together when they were younger. Once inseparable, they haven’t seen each other in years. I loved that it went back and forth between the summers they spent together and the present.
Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
Warning: this book is not a happy romance. It follows Lucy and Stephen, and the toxic relationship between them that starts Lucy’s freshman year of college. The book describes itself as “staggeringly resonant” – which it certainly is. Something about Lovering’s psychological insight really grabbed me. I think everyone would recognize a piece of themselves in Lucy and her coming of age journey. Hulu has turned this into a show, which in someways did the book justice and in others, not os much. I’d recommend both, but, as usual, the book was better.
Non-Fiction
Atomic Habits by James Clear
This is one of my favorite ‘self-help’ books I’ve ever read! I will definitely be rereading it this month as I work towards some 2023 goals. It’s all about how to form new habits and break bad ones. It was so insightful and I learned a lot behind the psychology of habits.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
As a huge iCarly fan, I knew I had to read Jennette’s memoir. It is really heartbreaking, but so well-written. It focuses on Jennette’s relationship with her abusive mother who pushed her into acting at a young age and how she recognized and overcame her trauma. I almost forgot I was reading a memoir at times because it felt like a fictional novel.
Fantasy
A Court of Thorns & Roses Series by Sarah J. Mass
I think this is the first fantasy book I have read in my life, let alone an entire series! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, even if you don’t love the first book, it’s worth pushing through and reading the second before you give up! I’ve even heard some people start with the second book, although my rule-following self would not advise that. I am not sure how I could even accurately and succinctly explain this series to you, but if you’re a big reader and long books don’t scare you, I’d recommend.
Young Adult
Rivals by Katharine McGee
Calling all royal lovers! If you haven’t read the American Royals series yet, you are seriously missing out. This is the third book in the series that came out this year, and I loved it just as much as the first two. I don’t want to spoil anything if you haven’t read any of the books yet, so I’ll just tell you the series is set in present day, but reimagines what it would be like if America had royals. It follows the three royal children, Bea, Jeff, and Sam as they navigate royal duties and teenage/young adulthood. I am desperate for this to be turned into a series! I’ve already cast the whole thing in my head.
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Here’s to more amazing books read in 2023! And share your favorite recent reads below, I’m always looking for new books to add to my TBR list!
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