As I write this blog post my girls are watching Matilda the musical and I hear, “What I really like is reading. It’s like a holiday in your head.” That’s exactly how I feel. I read obsessively for a few months and then nothing. Getting lost in a good book is something I really enjoy so I decided that in 2022 I would carve out more time, prioritize and read 50 books! That’s roughly one book a week which is very ambitious considering I read 3 books in 2021. With one day left in 2022 I’m currently reading book number 35. While I’ve come up short, reading consistently has brought me a lot of joy and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. It was hard to narrow down my top 9 books of 2022 but I did. They’re all mostly easy readers and highly entertaining.
My top 9 Books of 2022
It was hard to narrow down my top 9 books of 2022 but I did. They are mostly easy readers and highly entertaining. Happy reading!
The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave – Hannah thinks she’s found the love of her life until he mysteriously disappears. All that’s left is a note that says “protect her”. Hannah knows exactly who to protect, Bailey, her step daughter. Hannah and Bailey set out to find the truth. This is a fast paced mystery that kept me engaged until the very last chapter.
The Whalebone Theatre, Joanna Quinn – This story spans the lifetime of three English children from a theatre in a cavity of a bleached whale to undercover operations during World War II. While I found it difficult to get into this book once I did I couldn’t put it down. At almost 600 pages it can feel daunting but it’s well worth it!
The Paper Palace, Miranda Cowley Heller – A happily married mother of three, Elle, visits “The Paper Palace” the family summer place she’s visited every summer of her life. Over the next 24 hours Elle will decide between the life she’s made and the life she’s imagined. This was the first book I read in 2022 and it was the perfect starter.
Verity, Colleen Hoover – Lowen, a writer, is offered to write the last three novels of a best selling book series because Verity, the author, is unable to do so. When Lowen moves into the family house to go over her notes she discovers Verity’s semi autobiographical manuscript with dark secrets. This was the first Colleen Hoover book I read and it was so good that I’ve read everything of hers since.
The Things We Never Got Over, Lucy Score – Naomi’s twin sister, Tina, has always been terrible. After stealing Naomi’s car and money, she is stranded in a town with a niece she didn’t know existed. With no car, money or plan they must rely on the people in town to help. This books is an easy read, and highly entertaining. Dare I say steamy at times.
Lucky, Marissa Stapley – Lucky has a lottery ticket in hand that could change her life but she can’t cash it in. Raised by a father always onto the next con Lucky followed the same path. After a con goes terribly wrong for the first time Lucky finds herself on her own. A redemption story that moves quickly and super easy read.
The Keeper of Happy Endings, Barbara Davis – For generations Soline’s family has been in the business of happy endings. They own an exclusive bridal salon in Paris. The devastating losses of World War II has left Soline heart broken and she packs up her memories determined to be forgotten. Decades later her box of memories are found and an unlikely friendship develops. One of my favorites of the year.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid – A reclusive Hollywood legend picks an unknown reporter to write her life story. Evelyn recounts the golden age of Hollywood and her seven husbands. A twist at the end that I didn’t expect the book was a fun read.
Beneath A Scarlet Sky, Mark Sullivan – A true story based on Pino Lella, a forgotten war hero. This story is about one young man’s incredible courage during World War II.
Here’s to reading 50 books in 2023! I’d love to hear your favorite book from 2022.
