I read 200 books during 2022, which meant I had a lot of books to sort through when picking my favorites of the year.
I ended up with a list of 22 books that were the best of the best. They’re ordered by date of how I read them, not due to a star or number system (this time). You can read Part One, where I highlight the first 11 books, here.
Let’s move to the last 11 books I recommend from the 200 I read during 2022, shall we?
Part Two: My Top 22 Books of 2022
12. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This book became a viral sensation in 2022, partially because of the phenomenally done movie by Hello Sunshine and partially because of the book itself (we’re really not going to mention the scandal the author found herself in after publishing).
In a spirit of total honesty, I will admit that I had to start this book twice because the beginning was slow and somewhat confusing (tbh I thought the movie timeline did better at explaining everything). I also binge-read the entire book the night before I had tickets to see the movie 🙈.
But I really loved the book; to me, it’s a modern-day To Kill A Mockingbird mixed in with a little Hillbilly Elegy (to be clear, not with how it’s written but in how it addresses classism and prejudice). It had romance, mystery, and suspense, all within the comforting embrace of the southern marsh. I highly recommend the book, if only so the reader can reflect on what prejudices they carry about certain types of people. Also, like most people, I hated the ending.
13. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Book Lovers was one of my top favorite romance books of the year. I. Loved. It. So. Much. 😍
Like a lot of people in 2022, I was quick to jump on the Emily Henry bandwagon. I read The People We Meet on Vacation and was amazed at the writing style, character development, and overall plot. I anxiously read Beach Read next and was… well I didn’t fall in love. So with a 50% approval rating from yours truly, I was a little hesitant to pick up Book Lovers (but man am I glad I did). With a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers trope, this book has almost everything to satisfy any picky reader.
14. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
This year I diversified my reading list (as evidenced by some of the books on my part one list) and added some fantasy (and biographies) to my usual rom-com romance books. The Atlas Six was one of those books (though to be honest, I don’t remember where I even found this book, since it was before I got TikTok). It has a unique plot, a magic-themed premise, and an interesting book layout.
Some quick pet peeves to mention about this book. First, each chapter is written from a different character’s perspective (there are 6 main characters) which lends itself to some confusion and slight inconsistency with the story-telling. Second, there is a threesome in the middle of the book, which is not my jam. Third, it’s advertised as a ‘dark academia’ book, but it honestly could’ve done a lot better.
Now that I see all this… I’m wondering why I included this in my recap 😂. However, despite the many negatives and semi-bad reviews, I did think the book was interesting and fascinating; there’s not really another book like The Atlas Six and I am excited about the second book release — and hopefully, it’ll answer some of the plot holes from book one.
15. Anne of Green Gables by L.M.
I know, I know — I’m late to the Anne of Green Gables game. Watching this series is a core childhood memory, so I figured it was past time I read the book, and boy am I glad I got to it. It’s adorable and cute and just total 😍. Anne (make sure to include the ‘e’) is a lovable character, and it’s so fun to see her grow up throughout the series. To me, it invoked the same sort of nostalgic feeling I get whenever I go back and read the Harry Potter or Percy Jackson series. If you haven’t seen the movies or read the books, you’re missing out! Plus, I think you’ll be able to mark it off your classic book list too.
16. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I would describe The Inheritance Games as Knives Out meets written literature. It was a fun and light read with a clever and ingenious plot that occasionally made you think (I would fail at half the puzzles if it were real life) without making you think too hard.
Basically, Avery is left a massive fortune (we’re talking billions of dollars) from a guy she’s never met before — and his family is NOT happy about it. In order to claim the inheritance, she has to move into this sprawling mansion (along with the unhappy family) and live there for a year. Hoping to uncover some secrets and leave with her heart intact (two very rich and very handsome brothers are the contenders for that), Avery and the rest of the Hawthorne boys discover that not everything is what it seems.
Quick list of pet peeves. Love triangles are annoying (so Hunger Games/Twilight era – let’s please move on) and I can’t stand main characters who “love” two people at once. The writing is very debut-novel-esque with some obvious plot twists and drama that happens. Overall I’d say it was a fantastic idea with a book that fell slightly short of the mark (though I still recommend it for the plot and concept alone — just take it with a grain of salt).
17. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
I think it was back in like 2016 when both my parents told me to read Scythe (and the fact that my dad alone recommended it should’ve forced me to read it sooner; he’s not really a reader). But I didn’t. Instead, I put it on my to-read pile, which gets longer and longer as the years go by. And there it stayed, until last year when I was craving a science fiction book to break up my usual stack of romantic comedies.
Scythe takes place in a world where humans have learned to overcome everything: hunger, war, pain, and even death. To keep the population balanced, Scythes (think grim reapers) are ordered to select and kill (though they call it gleaning) a certain amount of people every year. Scythes are, in a way, above the law which, as you can imagine, can cause some trouble. When two teenagers are chosen to become apprentice Scythes, their choices and methods cause tension in the scythedom (which already is fracturing due to politic).
I thought this book was artfully done. It’s full of excellently put moral issues, political commentary, characters who have to learn to live in the grey area, matters of integrity (what will you do when no one is watching — though technically the Thunderhead is always watching — and what you’ll do when everyone is watching), and shows how both nature and nurture play a part in who we become. Though it took me forever to get around to reading, I applaud this book and truly recommend it to anyone. I’m excited to read the next couple of books in the series.
18. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Man, this book is how The Summer I Turned Pretty should’ve gone, though perhaps the adult version of the story. Last summer, Jenny Han blew up when Amazon turned her hit series (The Summer I Turned Pretty) into a tv show. I knew I’d read that book back when it first came out (and hated it) but I thought, “I’m older, more mature, and everyone seems to like this book, so I should try it again.” Yeah, big mistake (though I did like the show).
Then I saw Every Summer After and was intrigued. Persephone hasn’t returned home in nearly 12 years, not after one bad decision she made ruined a six-year friendship and the beginning of something more. But, after an unexpected phone call and funeral invitation, Persephone is back in town for one weekend only; but she doesn’t expect to run into Sam again, even if it is his mom’s funeral that called her back. Suddenly Persephone is forced to confront everything that happened and decide if the love she treasured so much all those years ago is worth fighting for.
I 1000% loved this and read it within a couple of hours. I even recommended it to my coworker the next day (who went out, bought it, and loved it). So, do yourself a favor and add this to your tbr list. Also, can I just say how happy I was that no moves were made by either character until both weren’t in a relationship (even if the plot twist (that’s totally not a plot twist) at the end is only loosely defined as “not in a relationship”). I’ve just realized how often media and literature actually promote cheating “when it’s with your soulmate”. Just because your significant other is a cold-hearted b-word, doesn’t mean you have the license to cheat on them. No one deserves to be cheated on. Period, the end, caput. So, I appreciate literature that reinforces that belief instead of promoting the “well if it’s good for me it’s the right thing” type of relationship. Okay, 2 am rant over.
19. Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn
I totally need to write “a guide to Meghan Quinn” blog. She is one of my favorite authors to read because her books are just adorable. Though, full disclosure, my friend Amber actually acts as a buffer for me because there are some books by Quinn that I WILL NOT READ because I hate possessive male characters and idiotic female heroine smut books. So Amber kindly filters out which books I should read and which I should avoid like the plague.
Runaway Groomsman is one of the “Amber approved and Chantelle authorized” Meghan Quinn books. How would you feel if you were forced to be a groomsman (thank you, movie producers) at the wedding of your best friend and ex-girlfriend? Yeah, Sawyer didn’t stick around for the “I do’s” either. The only problem? He walked out (and flipped off) on the Hollywood wedding of the year. So now he needs to hide out for a bit, work on his next screenplay, and avoid the press. Where better to do that than in a tiny town in northern California. ? And, if he happens to help out a struggling business and fall in love while writing that elusive screenplay, well, that wouldn’t be too bad, right?
If it sounds like I just described the plot to nearly every Hallmark movie you’ve ever seen, it’s because I basically have. But, I found this slow-burn romance book to be both adorable and incredible. The characters are amazing, the dialogue funny, and the plot is beautiful (I might have cried multiple times). While it wasn’t as amazing, to me, as The Reunion, it was pretty close to perfect.
20. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Awarded Goodread’s “best debut novel of 2022” (and, I heard, Barnes & Noble’s favorite of the year), Lessons in Chemistry might be one of the best female girl boss books I’ve ever read. To sum it up in three words, it was eye-opening, refreshing, and magical.
It’s 1960 and Elizabeth Zott is a female chemist though, despite working at the prestigious Hastings Research Institute, no one seems to be able to wrap their heads around that simple fact. No one, that is, except for brilliant scientist Calvin Evans, who doesn’t really see people and genders but their potential and minds. The two fall in love (and the way it’s described is beautiful) but life is very unpredictable, which is why Zott soon finds herself a single mother doing whatever it takes to make ends meet — even if that means being the reluctant star of a new cooking show (cooking is chemistry, after all). But, she insists that the show isn’t actually a cooking show; instead, it’s a way to show the forgotten and underappreciated female population that they can do anything. They can even change the status quo.
Garmus managed to write a book that is completely different to anything else on the book market — and she totally nailed it. Lessons in Chemistry made me better appreciate everything women have sacrificed throughout the centuries to get us to the place and opportunities we have now. My favorite quote from the book? “Courage is the root of change – and change is what we’re chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others’ opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yourself what YOU will change. And then get started.”
21. The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Holy freaking crap. This book is absolute perfection packaged in a psychological suspense thriller. Though, I wouldn’t recommend falling asleep to it because of the plot twist at the end… I literally sat up gasping in bed with all signs of sleepiness disappearing. 🤯 I wholeheartedly recommend it.
The Golden Couple focuses on Marissa and Matthew Bishop, known as the it family in the wealthy neighborhood where they live (complete with a perfectly curated social media, two successful companies, and a darling baseball-playing eight-year-old child), might appear perfect, but they aren’t; in fact, they’re about to start marriage therapy with Avery (a therapist who technically just lost her license and has some slightly unconventional methods). But Marissa’s infidelity isn’t the only thing revealed in their sessions, nor is the most dangerous secret exposed. When the past comes back to haunt this couple, they need to decide what they’re willing to risk to learn the truth.
22. Atomic Habits by James Clear
This was the perfect book to end (and start) the year on, though I warn you that you should probably listen to or read this book with a notebook nearby and a pen in hand. Categorized as a self-help book, Atomic Habits is shelved right alongside other well-known and powerful books like How to Win Friends and Influence People, Rich Dad Poor Dad, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Filled with super helpful tips on how to make and keep good habits, how to analyze where you’re spending and wasting time, and ways to implement little things that’ll make long-term differences, Atomic Habits is a great book to read over and over again.