Top 10 Reads in 2022

Every year, this is one of my favorite posts. I love sharing books I’ve read and truly enjoyed, in the hopes that someone will take up a read and adore it just as much. I don’t keep up with the newest and best-selling novels. I choose based on whatever mood I’m in that day and, be forewarned, it was all over the place last year.

Here are my top 10 reads in 2022.

10. ”The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things” by Paula Byrne

Non-fiction. Byrne picks up key objects from Jane Austen’s life in this biography and explores different aspects of the adored author’s experiences. These objects ranged from letters to her siblings to a bathing machine. Byrne offered so much insight into Austen’s life, and for that reason I think this is a great book to read as a basis for her novels. For instance, I did not know Austen was basically a globe-trotter - she was constantly travelling. #travellikeAusten

9. “The Talented Mr. Ripley” by Patricia Highsmith

Fiction. (Thank goodness). Ok, so I’m sure you’ve seen the movie, so you already know what this book is about. But turns out you don’t. Yes, same storyline. But unlike the movie, the novel places you right in the mind of Ripley and it’s extremely creepy. I don’t tend to pick out thrillers or mystery novels like this, and it’s the same with movies. But as soon as someone sits me down to watch, or gifts me a book (as this one was) - I always end up loving it. The psyche of Mr. Ripley is scary, yet mesmerizing.

8. “Cursebreakers Trilogy” by Brigid Kemmerer

Fiction/Fantasy. This was my guilty pleasure of the year. But I have to admit, I think I had 3 other young adult fantasy novels I read last year (they were all good). At some point, they all melded together in my brain and I couldn’t distinguish one from the other. But after rereading the summaries of each - this story was definitely the winner. It is an interesting take on Beauty and the Beast but also includes love triangles, murder, evil enchantresses, saving villages, strong heroine lead, and a romantic (and scaly) Prince Charming. The trilogy is a quick and very entertaining read that I highly recommend if you’re wanting to deep dive into romance and fantasy.

7. “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy

Fiction. Beautifully written, as would be expected of Tolstoy, and I am not surprised many critics have voted this the best novel of all time. It is a contemporary story of a Russian society woman who had married young to a man she did not love and decides to have a passionate affair later in her life. Scandal ensues. It is a train wreck (see what I did there?) seeing a forceful, beautiful, and respected woman be beat down into an insecure, depressed, and suicidal state. The almost 1000 pages is not just about Anna’s love triangle with Vronsky and Karenin - and that is the reason to read this book. The lives of the other characters is where the book truly shines.

6. “Sin City Vol. 5: Family Values” by Frank Miller

Fiction/Graphic Novel. I mean, all of Sin City is magnificent. But I chose this one because of the artwork. No surprise it had won “Best Graphic Album of Original Work”. Also, who doesn’t love deadly little Miho?

5. “In the Bones” by Eric Anderson

Fiction/Horror. Ooooooh. I had been craving a good horror book for some time, but I just couldn’t find anything. Coincidentally I came across this book at work and bought it on Amazon. It’s a compilation of short horror stories and I was into every single one of them. What I loved most about this compilation is that it offered a range of horror- Anderson had ghosts, monsters, bad guys. I think everyone would be able to find a story to love (if not all of them).

4. “Saga Vol. 10” by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (Illustrator)

Non-fiction/Graphic Novel. 3 years later, and it’s finally here! The epic also picks up 3 years later in the storyline, and we see what Hazel and her pieced-together family have been up to. The artwork in these novels are beautiful - I mean, just look at the first volume’s cover. The writing is broad - it can be humorous and crude, but also heart-breaking. As you may understand, this volume dealt mostly with coping behaviors amongst different characters and within family. I’m actually glad I had 3 years to cope after what happened in the last volume. :(

3. “Fairy Tale” by Stephen King

Fiction. I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked this up at a book fair. All I knew is that it had been awhile since I read a Stephen King book and the title intrigued me - I didn’t even read the inside flap. But I’m glad I didn’t because the surprise of where this story went is what I enjoyed the most (so I’m not even going to explain what this is about). I really don’t know how King is so good at story-telling, but given the chance, I am reading this book aloud to my niece one day. Not that it’s really for children, but I’m sure her Dad won’t mind.

2. "Bitch: On the Female of the Species” by Lucy Cooke

Non-fiction. I try not to judge a book by it’s cover, but it’s honestly what made me purchase it in the first place - just look at how bad-ass it is! I was a little worried I’d be let down after being swindled by such a fun cover, but it turned out being #2 on my list. Lucy Cooke is a zoologist, and through evolutionary biology she explains incredibly interesting and enlightening facts of the female species in all types of animals. Turns out females pretty much determine most things, but that idea was pushed down by male scientists because they couldn’t deal with the fact that females had power over males. I was pulling my hair out throughout this book in frustration. But Cooke made up for that with her humor throughout the book. This was an incredible read, and not one I plan to donate soon because I really want to read this again.

1. “Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen

Fiction. You shouldn’t be surprised by this. I swear, every year I read an Austen novel, I have a completely different experience than before (especially after reading my number 10 pick). Characters I despised last time are suddenly ones I admire, or I’ll notice very annoying qualities of someone I had once revered. This might be my 5th time reading “Sense and Sensibility”…maybe more? I fell in love with Marianne this time around. Her relentless desire to find her one romantic love felt honorable. It’s obviously not realistic in most cases, but I admired her perseverance and belief that a woman should not settle until she finds exactly what she deserves. #teammarianne

So there you have it! I hope you have the chance to read one of these books, or any book for that matter this year. I’ve gotten into the habit of donating my books after I read them to the little libraries in my neighborhood - which I encourage you to do! For one, it gives someone a chance to read something they can’t afford to buy. Second, it helps with clutter and frees up space for more books!

Yours truly,

A happy reader.