My Favorite Books of 2022
In case your 2023 TBR list needs a little love.
Since 2014, I’ve set an annual Goodreads reading goal. With the exception of 2019, when I was buried under postpartum depression for many months, and 2021, when I thought it sounded fun to try for 100 books (indeed, it still sounds fun, but there are two small dictators in this house) I’ve been able to reach those goals.
(Please note: One book, ten books, or two hundred books a year…all reading, with the exception of harmful or abusive material, is good reading.)
In 2022, I decided to bump it up a bit from previous years and go for 70, and thanks to the copious number of children’s books I read with my son this year, it looks like I’ll meet that goal, too.
(Children’s books absolutely count, do not even try me.)
So—as one does—I’m here to offer my favorites, and I made this post free so you can share it with others. To be clear, this list does not include books that were only published in 2022; it’s merely a collection of the books I loved most over the last twelve months and thought you might enjoy, as well. There’s a good variety here, but I cannot deny I have a soft-spot for historical fiction, YA, cozy reads, and memoir, so be forewarned: if you’re looking for leadership development or something like that, you might want to check my husband’s office instead.
This list does include affiliate links, which is just one small way you can support my work here, and I thank you for understanding ❤️.
To the books!
We begin with my top five reads of the entire year, regardless of genre:
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner (Historical Fiction/Speculative Fiction)
Oh, gosh, what a stunner. I read it in January and it’s still number one out of everything else I read. In 19th century London, a woman named Nella brews poisons for other women to use on the abusive, destructive men in their lives…until one day when she makes a terrible error. In the present day, Caroline Parcewell, on a trip to London grieving her husband’s infidelity, happens upon an old apothecary jar on the banks of the Thames that leads to a series of extraordinary discoveries.
It’s got British history, mystery, herbal medicine, feminism, a stunning cover, and an utterly satisfying end. The whole book is a delight. All the heart eyes.
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk (Nonfiction/Parenting)
I’m still always in a love/hate relationship with Instagram, and this fall I was feeling some type of way about how my phone was impacting my parenting. This book, with its firm but encouraging insight into how connection with the outdoors benefits our children (and ourselves!), was just the reset I needed. It’s anecdotal with lots of stories from the author’s experience as a Scandinavian raising children in America, but also chock full of helpful research. I highly recommend for any parent or teacher!
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (Nonfiction/Social Justice/Racial Reconciliation)
This is such a powerful read, and it was quite emotional. It’s the story of a Black lawyer and his decades-long efforts to free an innocent Black man from death row, alongside many others serving unjust sentences, largely as a result of systemic racism and poverty. The insight into the failings of our criminal justice system alone are worth the read, but more important is the story of how far we still have to go in our pursuit of true justice and equality.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Fiction/Classic Children’s Literature)
I finally, finally read this book. (cowers in shame) I’ve loved the 1980s television series with Megan Follows for all of my adult life, and Anne with an “E” was lovely, as well, but I had never actually read the book. Such delicious humor! Such wonder! It’s a true escape into an idyllic world where friendships and family are treasured, nature is its own character, and community is celebrated. I feel such a kindred spirit with Anne, with her verbose and grandiose way of expressing herself, and my only regret is that I wish I would have read this sooner.
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom (Nonfiction/Christian Memoir/WWII)
Many of us have heard, at least topically, of the Christian woman who, alongside her family, hid and helped save the lives of hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust. In The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells the story in her own words. She was a beautiful storyteller, and I fell as much in love with every person in this book—from her wise, gentle father and her gracious, humble sister to her cranky aunt upstairs and the Beje (house) itself—as I did with Corrie. She never held back about her own faults and did nothing to celebrate herself here. She simply told of God’s magnificent grace and everyday miracles which made her community’s work in the Dutch Underground so effective. An absolute must-read.
Fantasy/Magical Realism/Speculative Fiction
I’m much more a fan of A Court of Thorns & Roses than I am of this latest series (even with Book 2’s insane reveal at the end!) but there is no denying Maas’ ability to write a page-turner. She has become an auto-buy for me every single time. This first book in the Crescent City series is action-packed, funny, and full of anticipatory spice. (Still, if you’re gonna go Maas, pick up ACOTAR first. You’ll see why once you get into this series later. Trust me.)
YA/Middle Grade
The 80s setting. The spot-on cultural references to my childhood. The realistic boy-meets-troubled-girl without the savior complex bs? It’s a yes for me.
Whew, this one was a journey. It’s a dystopian novel about young women in a village who, on their 16th year, must all leave the relative safety of their homes and isolate together in the wilderness. While being hunted the entire time by a bunch of dudes with spears and arrows. It’s very damn-the-patriarchy in the best way, but did I mention the gore? Yeah. Prep thyself. It gets gross.
McQuiston is such a joyful storyteller, and they always write LGBTQ novels with fun, flirtatious quirk. (Also 🔥🔥 but since this book is YA it’s pretty tame this time around.) The story of a cheerleader who disappears just before graduation, sending her arch nemesis on a glorified scavenger hunt to find out where she is, is unique and a bit silly, but I had a good time with it. It’s a solid option if you’re a fan of YA. (Which, IMO, you should be.)
The Next New Syrian Girl by Ream Shukairy (Releases March 2023)
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advanced reader copy of this novel, and it’s a heartbreaker. It’s the tale of two Syrian teenage girls, one who grew up wealthy in America, constantly trying to break away from her mother’s expectations, and the other a refugee, who looks and acts the part of a traditional Syrian woman but carries the weight of incredible trauma. It’s a coming-of-age story that blends friendship and first impressions with deeper issues of identity, politics, war, and survival. I couldn’t put it down.
Children’s Books
Oh, this is the loveliest tale of a big ol’ rock if there ever was one. The illustrations are gorgeous and, in the end, it’s actually a story about how one thing can be so many different things in a lifetime. A lesson for us all, I think.
Wenzel makes the list twice because, well, he just writes the best stories. This one is about how differently one cat appears to all the animals it comes across, and like A Stone Sat Still there are funny, beautiful illustrations and a message much bigger than its word count. My son Theo couldn’t get enough of this one.
A fun, quick read about all the different—and similar—names that tiny creatures are given, and how things we’d never expect to have something in common sometimes do. (Also, did you know a hedgehog baby is called a hoglette? Now you do.)
The sweetest book about a cat who learns to be brave, and the funny way fear often masquerades in our lives.
Nonfiction/Memoir
Buckle up, friends. The desire for control: we all have it, we all crave the appearance of it, and sometimes it destroys us. This book came right in the middle of a very hard season for me when I was absolutely riddled with anxiety because I was desperate for control and—surprise, surprise—had none of it. But like all theologically rich books should, Miller doesn’t just leave us convicted. She offers hope and practical wisdom for how we can be free of the idol of control. I cannot recommend this one enough, especially for the recovering perfectionists among us.
I have a fascination with the parenting techniques of other cultures, particularly those that approach motherhood with a “less is more” approach that flies in the face of competitive American parenting. (Ugh.) This memoir of an American mom raising her child in France is a study on that very thing, and while it has some obvious privilege on display, it still carries a lot of wisdom that I found fun and useful. (Also a delicious yogurt cake recipe my kids and I have made a dozen times now.)
I already told y’all about this one here, but suffice it to say I agree with the other 30k+ reviewers on Amazon who gave this book a huge thumbs up. It’s a snarky, sad, and brutally honest portrayal of McCurdy’s life as a Nickelodeon teen star who was being abused by her mother behind-the-scenes, but it’s more than a simple tell-all. It’s a peek into the things we endure for the sake of family, even when they’re harmful, and a brave example of what it looks like to forgive anyway.
Historical Fiction
As a Scot who loves British history and everything Jane Austen-y, this fun historical rom com has all the tropes: grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and a morally grey dude who is, naturally, the hottest bachelor in town. It’s giving Bridgerton vibes and—bonus!—it’s a standalone in a series of three, the rest of which are already on my TBR for 2023.
No one, with the exception of Daphne du Maurier or Charlotte Bronte, does gothic historical fiction like Kate Morton. She is my favorite fiction author (next to J.K. Rowling) and this was a re-read for me. I first read The Forgotten Garden in 2011, and it’s a story that sweeps across continents and decades, unraveling the mystery of a little girl left behind on a ship from England to Australia in the early 20th century. Morton is a genius at layering her narratives in such a way that the twists are always unbelievable but never overdone. Grab this one and The Secret Keeper while you’re at it.
Another historical novel with multiple timelines and viewpoints, this one travels back and forth between the story of an enslaved woman on an accidental journey with her enslaver’s daughter and the woman who lives near the run-down plantation in the 21st century. It’s a novel about lost history, rediscovered identity, and redemption (also, books and libraries!) and it’s dense but very well-paced.
Set in Scotland during World War I, this novel follows a woman and her egotistical husband who is determined to clear his family name by proving the existence of the Loch Ness monster. Silly as it may sound, this book has a lot of depth, plus all the charm of a forbidden romance, a quaint Scottish village, and a woman who finally finds what matters most in life.
Contemporary Fiction/Genre Fiction
This was a Bookstagram/BookTok sensation, and for good reason. It’s a quirky, nerdy rom com that takes fake romance with the grumpy/sunshine trope to a new level. It’s well-written and fun and the perfect read for a weekend away.
I loved the idea for this sweet LGBTQ romance: the producer for a ridiculous reality TV show modeled on The Bachelor falls in love with the bachelor himself. It gives all kinds of well-researched (or well-lived?) insight into what a sham those shows actually are, with lots of behind-the-scenes stuff, and keeps you wondering: “Will they or won’t they?” A super fun read!
Taking a hard left here with a novel that takes on themes of motherhood, shame, trauma, and Christianity within the Black church. It’s the kind of novel that takes on questions of morality—abortion, infidelity, forgiveness—and never gives pat answers. I was left thinking about this book long after I finished.
It’s always a joy for me to share what I’m reading. As Stephen King said, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” I hope this list gave you some ideas for your own bookshelf this coming year!