Yesterday, I showed you a list of my top movies. Today, we’re here to discuss my top books of 2022! First things first, I need to point out that not all of these books were 2022 releases. For the first time since I’m making this list, I have not distinguished between fiction and non-fiction, although I will have a separate list for poetry collections.

Below you will find my top books out of the 45 I read. If you look at their content, you will find a very clear pattern throughout the themes of the majority of these reads. Enjoy!

10. The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

I love Ashley Poston’s style of writing. It often feels effortless and relatable, she somehow manages to always hit all the right marks with me. As many books in this list will do, it dealt with grief, but somehow never felt too heavy.
This was my first time reading an adult novel by her (I was introduced to Poston’s writing through Geekerella) and I can confidently say that I enjoy it even more. Maybe it’s because I’ve personally outgrown YA, but I love the track she is on. Her next book supposedly has hints of The Lake House and I’m READY!

My review | Goodreads | StoryGraph

9. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Seven Days in June was one of the first books I read in 2022 and I felt so lucky, because I enjoyed myself immensely. It starts out with so much humor (I was genuinely giggling) and then continues to absolutely break your heart. I always thought that I wasn’t too much of a romance-heavy book reader, but this year proved me wrong.

My review | Goodreads | StoryGraph

8. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

We have our first non-fiction book and the only audiobook in my list! Jennette McCurdy narrated her own memoir and there’s something especially badass about it. The title obviously caught many people’s attention and I’m glad that the book really focused on the relationship with her mother rather than make it an industry tell-all book. I hear rumors of her writing a novel now, which I would love to check out.

My review | Goodreads | StoryGraph

7. The Murderbot Diaries (#1-3) by Martha Wells

I still haven’t started reviewing the Murderbot Diaries, because I’m not fully done with them yet, but I LOVE them. I needed novellas this year, direly, because otherwise I would have never made my reading goal. These stories are short, but pack a punch and there’s nothing I enjoy more than laughing and emotional devastation through a sentient robot.

Goodreads | StoryGraph

6. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Is the theme of these books emerging? The amount of parental death in this list is … staggering (and it’s not even the last one). Crying in H Mart is another memoir and one I devoured on the last days of 2022. I wasn’t able to read it earlier in the year, as my dad was going through cancer treatments and I just couldn’t read books where the outcome hadn’t been favorable. That’s why I carried Crying in H Mart with me for 233 days last year until I could finally find the headspace and dive into it. I cried anyway. Lots.

Goodreads | StoryGraph

5. Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

I have this weird love-hate-relationship with Sally Rooney’s writing. None of her characters are likable. A lot of their choices just make me angry, but somehow they just stay with me? I keep coming back to them, thinking about their story and wanting to know where they are now. It’s honestly unfair and the fact that her books get adapted into really pretty shows doesn’t help either.

My review | Goodreads | StoryGraph

4. This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

What would you do in order to spend just a little bit more time with the people you love? What would you be willing to sacrifice? I was absolutely smitten with this book, even though it once again destroyed my heart. I was really putting that thing through the ringer in 2022. I know This Time Tomorrow was nominated for a Goodreads Award, but somehow it still felt like it absolutely flew under the radar.

My review | Goodreads | StoryGraph

3. The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton

The final non-fiction book in the list and quite a surprise to myself. There were somewhat repetitive parts in the book, but I thought it was such an excellent examination of the industrial prison complex in the US, racial prejudice and the judicial system. I read it as part of the Lupita Nyong’o reading experiment and I’m glad I went out of my comfort zone. It so paid off!

My review | Goodreads | StoryGraph

2. The Atlas Six/The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake

Alright, alright, alright. I cheated a little bit with this one. The Atlas Six was actually my #1 book in 2021, although I hadn’t read the edited and traditionally published version yet. I have to say, I liked it even better on my second read and was still entranced with the sequel. I get that it’s not for everyone, but it is certainly for me. I *NEED* the final part of the trilogy like … right now!

My Atlas Six Guide | My Atlas Paradox Review | Goodreads | StoryGraph

1. Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

We all love Taylor Jenkins Reid and her bookish interconnected universe, but Carrie Soto was truly IT for me. I will concede to still not having read Evelyn Hugo, but I 100% will before the movie releases (Why are they making it into a movie again? It should be a limited series with 8 episodes, we all know it … and I literally say that as someone who hasn’t read it yet). I was so engaged, I couldn’t put down the book. This deserves the #1 spot for me!!

My review | Goodreads | StoryGraph

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My favorite poetry books:

• For Every One by Jason Reynolds
• Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
• Walking Gentry Home by Alora Young

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Did you spot the common thread through the books? (Hint: 5 out of 10 books in large part were about a parent dying … I’m sorry) What were some of your favorite reads of 2022? Let’s discuss!