The Best Books I Read in 2022

Happy New Year! 2022 was kind of a lost cause in terms of blogging, but here I am now, fresh for 2023. We’ll see how long the resolve to do silly things like “blog,” and “cook” and “shower” lasts. For now, I’ve got a list of some of the best books I read lately. I read a LOT last year, smashing any semblance of a goal. I don’t like to set a hard number of books I want to read, since life has a way of, well, getting in the way. While I sort through the mental anguish of deciding if I should set a goal for 2023 and what that number should look like, here’s a list of what you might want to pick up next:

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

From Goodreads: “Two friends- often in love, but never lovers -come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and ultimately, a kind of immortality.” This book revolves around video games. The main characters play them, discuss them and design them throughout their lives. It’s a testament to Zevin’s writing that I devoured the story about a topic that I have no real interest in.

Tell Me How to Be by Neel Patel

Akash Amin is an Indian American who left his white, midwestern town to follow his dreams in LA. He is ashamed of being gay and how things ended with the first boy he ever loved. His mother, Renu, carries her own shame about a secret relationship, especially now at the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death. The book is told through the perspective of son and mother, each trying to figure out how to be in this world.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

A small town is shattered when a girl is found dead by her boyfriend, prompting everyone to think he did it. There are heavy topics discussed, but it never feels like it’s for the shock-value or just to have buzzwords. This is Picoult at her best: well-researched, thought-provoking and flawed, relatable characters.

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl

This wholly entertaining memoir takes us through Grohl’s childhood, as he comes of age in a tour van, and shows how he dealt with incredible loss by making something even more incredible. Grohl is insanely talented and his life story is one hell of a ride.

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

Rory Morris moves back home to help her pregnant twin sister. Coming back from the bar one night, she hits something with her car and is (quite literally) transformed. I love a book about dysfunctional families, especially one as fun as this.

In Love by Amy Bloom

From Goodreads: “In this heartbreaking and surprising memoir, Bloom sheds light on a part of life we so often shy away from discussing- its ending. In Love is an unforgettable portrait of a beautiful marriage, and a boundary-defying love.” When Amy’s husband Brian is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they find an organization based in Switzerland that empowers a person to end their own life with dignity and peace. You’ll likely sob the whole time, but it’s such an affirming read, especially if you know someone affected by the awful disease.

Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Daiyu, a young Chinese girl, endures loss after loss as she is forced to leave her home and make her way in a world that is quick to discard her . This book shines a light on The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and a shameful time in our country’s history.

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

Ray McMillian wants to be a professional violinist, ignoring anyone who thinks Black people don’t belong in the classical music scene – including most of his family. His grandmother believes in him and gives him a violin. The rare violin is stolen right before a big competition, leaving Ray scrambling for answers. There are so many good talking points from this book, but ultimately it’s a story about following your dreams and believing in yourself.

How to be Perfect by Michael Schur

From Goodreads: “A hilarious, thought-provoking guide to living an ethical life, drawing on 2,500 years of deep thinking from around the world.” If you liked The Good Place, this is a must read. Also, you’ll learn how to be perfect and make all your friends jealous. What more could you want?

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist trying to change the status-quo for women in the 60’s. Her story is laugh-out-loud funny at times, frustratingly cliched at others, and ultimately a heart-warming tale about the resiliency of women.

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka 

America has an obsession with serial killers, often times glorifying their stories. Kukafka writes in the Author’s Note: “Average men become interesting when they start hurting women. Notes on an Execution was born from a desire to dissect this exhausting narrative.” This is the story about the women affected by one serial killer. Such a fresh perspective and a riveting novel.

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hildebrand

Her books are hit or miss for me, but I loved the characters and how everyone came together to make this hotel a success. The ghost subplot was surprisingly fun without being too cheesy. I devoured this in about two days and urge you to do the same – it’ll bring a pop of summer to your winter.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus and Tova is the70-year-old woman that cleans the aquarium where he resides. This story about their connection will make you laugh, cry and wonder at the miracle of the natural world.

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

From Goodreads: “A psychologically suspenseful novel about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.” I love books about books, and this is the one to top them all.

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

After his father dies, 14-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices from inanimate objects. On his journey to discover why this happened and make it stop, he meets the narrator of his life, who teaches him to listen to the things that truly matter. The writing, the characters, the off-the-wall plot; this is such a good one.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

I knew nothing about Marjorie Post, the heiress to the Post Cereal Company, but her story gripped me from page one. She grew the company from its modest beginnings into a multi-billion dollar business, all while struggling to be taken seriously as a woman. This historical fiction piece about Marjorie’s childhood, marriages, children and everything in between, is truly inspiring.

Love and Saffron by Kim Fay

It’s the 60’s and Joan Bergstrom is writing to her favorite columnist Imogene Fortier, along with a sample of saffron that triggers memories for Fortier. She responds to the fan letter, prompting an unlikely but profound friendship. They talk primarily about food, but as their relationship expands, it’s a lovely journey for the reader.

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

In this dystopian novel, Frida Liu is caught leaving her daughter unsupervised for a few hours and sent to a rehab program for bad mothers. This was both tongue-in-cheek and terrifying; you see how this could absolutely happen in the not-so-distant future.

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

As a young woman in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. She begins forging identity documents for Jewish children to escape the war and save their lives. I love historical fiction, especially from WWII, and this is one of my favorites from this period.

These Silent Woods by Nilufer Ozmekik

A father and daughter live a secluded life off the grid the remote Appalachian mountains. When their yearly supply drop doesn’t go as planned, things begin to unravel and their whole way of life is threatened. This was such an interesting concept and beautifully written to boot.