Favorite Books of 2022
Top Ten reads of 2022
I had such a hard time narrowing down this list, as 2022 was filled with so many incredible new releases and new-to-me backlist titles. Of the 102 books I read in 2022, these were my top ten favorites! In no particular order…
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel: This speculative fiction story hops around in time and between Earth and moon colonies as time travelers seek to discover the nature of our reality. From the author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel, this transcendent novel explores the question of ‘are we living in a simulation?’.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah: In this hilarious and educational memoir, comedian Trevor Noah recounts the defining moments of his life growing up in apartheid South Africa while shedding light on the culture and history of his home country. I listened to this one on audio (which is narrated by Trevor Noah) and I can’t recommend the audiobook enough!
The Girl With Seven Names by David John and Lee Hyeon-seo: An incredible true story of one asylum seeker’s escape from the oppressive authoritarian state of North Korea. Despite being a nonfiction memoir, this book reads like a thriller.
The Awoken by Katelyn Monroe Howe: This epic sci-fi adventure takes place in a dystopian America where cryogenics have made it possible to preserve and revive the dead. With humanity’s newfound ability to “play God,” a war between conflicting ideologies inevitably ensues.
These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany: A stunning debut novel that takes place between England and Egypt and perfectly captures the fierceness of female friendships. The book follows three twenty-something Muslim woman navigating romantic relationships, family conflict and their faith. This book made me laugh and made me cry. Despite being selected as a Read with Jenna pick, this beautiful book deserved far more hype than it received!
Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City by Andrea Elliott: A powerful work of nonfiction by a New York Times journalist that chronicles a Black family’s experience with homelessness and poverty over a seven year period in New York City. This masterpiece of investigative jounalism won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction.
The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland: An impactful contemporary fiction novel that explores the lives of modern-day princesses through the perspective of a fictional athlete-turned princess. In writing this novel, the author drew on real-life account from Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more.
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb: A character-driven mystery about a world-renowned classical violinist whose priceless violin is stolen… while the mystery serves as the framework for the novel, the deep dive into the protagonist’s past is the real treat, as we see a young Black boy struggle to step into his power and ultimately rise to great success despite having the odds stacked against him.
Babel by R. F. Kuang: Part fantasy, part historical fiction, this spectacularly smart and engrossing novel explores etymology, colonialism and power as it follows the education and awakening of a Chinese Oxford student in the late 1800s.
Honorable Mentions
While the following books didn’t quite make my top ten list, they were all close runner-ups that deserve recognition and high praise:
No Light to Land On by Yara Zgheib: This beautiful contemporary fiction book explores the impact of the Trump administration’s 2018 travel ban from the perspective of a young Syrian family torn apart.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt: This sweet and uplifting debut novel stars a curmudgeon octopus and his unlikely friendship with the grieving widow who cleans his aquarium tank. As the two develop a special bond, Marcellus (the octopus) helps his new friend discover the truth about her son decades after his mysterious disappearance.
Fake: A Novel by Erica Katz: From the author of The Boys Club, this mystery/thriller stars a painter who finds herself swept up in the world of high-end art, lavish parties and private jets…. all thanks to a Russian billionaire who may or may not be involved in nefarious activity. I highly recommend this one to those who enjoy con-artists stories and/or rags-to-riches stories!
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty: This debut novel - which won the 2022 National Book Award for Fiction - is strange, unique and beguiling. The book follows a group of strangers living in a run-down apartment building in a dying Midwestern town. I'm still wrapping my head around this one, but I certainly enjoyed it, as it's one of the most unique books I've read in recent years.
Yonder by Jabari Asim: This beautiful and heartbreaking historical fiction book includes a hint of magical realism as it tells the story of enslaved Americans, or “the stolen,” and their “thieves.” A story of strength in the face of injustice, perseverance and redemption, I highly recommend this one to historical fiction fans.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: This beautiful and heartbreaking historical fiction novel is set in Germany during World War II and is narrated by Death. This book came out in 2006, so I was way late to the party on this one, but SO glad I finally read it. Easy 5 stars.
Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder: I highly recommend this nonfiction book to history buffs and/or those interested in business as it follows the author's complicated journey to become the largest foreign investor in post-Soviet Russia. While the book is a bit heavy on the financial/business details, it's packed with interesting tidbits and the overall story reads more like a thriller than a memoir.
The Man Who Could Move Clouds by Ingrid Rojas Contreras: This memoir took me a couple tries to get into, but I ended up loving it. I highly recommend this one to those who are fascinated by spirituality and/or culture as the book details the author's Colombian upbringing in a family of powerful curanderos - healers who have otherworldly powers to see the future, heal the sick and commune with the dead.
Which of these have you read? What were some of your favorite books of 2022?The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson: Another epic sci-fi adventure story, this book stars a bi-racial “world walker” whose job is to travel between different worlds in the multiverse and collect data on other Earths. As the protagonist hops between worlds, she stumbles upon some unsettling discoveries about her company’s world-traveling technology.
