My 2022 reading felt high quality compared to the previous few years with a 40% increase in 5 star books (a huge barometer of how I’m feeling about my reading). And, 2022 might be the single year during which my reading taste went through the most change. I gravitated towards more commercial books, books that felt fresh and unique, heart-warming and dryly funny fiction, and tried some newish-to-me genres with great success (Slightly Sci-Fi, Romances with Substance).
Highlights of my Best Books of 2022 (not including honorable mentions)
- 90% Fiction / 10% Nonfiction (my Nonfiction is down from last year’s 20% and WAY down from 2020’s 55%)
- 4 debuts (40%)
- 50% of these authors were podcast guests (I never really plan this or know in advance how the numbers will shake out, but I’m thrilled that, for the third year in a row, a good portion of my Best Books of the Year were by podcast guests. Incidentally, 50% seems to be a consistent number for me here.)
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Best Books of 2022
My #1 Book of 2022
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Best Debut of 2022 (tie)
Most Thought-Provoking
Best Introduction to a New Micro Genre (Slightly Sci-Fi)
Best Book Club Pick
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
The Rest of the Best Books of 2022
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Most Deserving of the Hype (tie)
Best Sports Fiction
Most Badass Female Protagonist
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (not pictured)
The Book I Read AFTER I Published My Best Books of 2022 List
Most Memorable Protagonist (tie)
Best Retelling of a Classic
Book I Didn’t Think I’d Love
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Finding Me by Viola Davis
Best Nonfiction of 2022
Most Raw
Best Audio Narration
Best Memoir
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Honor by Thrity Umrigar
Most Emotionally Difficult to Read
Best “Window” Book
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Best Debut of 2022 (tie)
Most Recommended Book of 2022
Most Memorable Protagonist (tie)
Best Historical Fiction
Best Unintentional Humor
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez
Best Character Study
Most Eyebrow-Raising Premise
Most Mis-Marketed
Best Book Club Pick
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
Most Grounded in Heart
Best Depiction of Teenage Intensity
Best 1990’s Nostalgia
Most Personal Novel
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Best Novel Based on a True Story
Best Book About Social Justice Issues
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Most Deserving of the Hype (tie)
Book I’m Most Surprised I Loved
Best Book About Group Dynamics
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
Most “Robbed” by the Goodreads Choice Awards
Best Voice
Most Unique
Best Book About Serious Issues Told in a Light-Hearted Way
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Best Thriller
Best Structure
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Honorable Mentions
Dilettanteby Dana Brown
Juiciest
Most Fun Reading Experience
Best New York City Book
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
Never Simple by Liz Scheier
Best Dysfunctional Childhood Story
Best Gallows Humor
Buy from: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm (Audio)
More Best Books of 2022…
Most Underrated Gems of 2022
Best Debuts of 2022
What were your favorite books of 2022?
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I thought Now Is Not the Time to Panic was disappointing–especially the ending. If you want Most Grounded in Heart,
Best Depiction of Teenage Intensity,
Best 1990’s Nostalgia,
Most Personal Novel,
you will like Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach (2022). Maybe my problem was reading Wilson’s book right after Espach’s. It paled in comparision.