Inspiration
The best books of 2022 – as voted by you
Jan 17The start of the year has us looking back at our reading goal for 2022 and reflecting on the brilliant (and not so brilliant) books we digested and wow, what a year it was! If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know we love talking all things fiction so we were desperate to know what your best books of 2022 were. So, whether you have a target for a book a week or a book a month, these are must-haves for this year’s TBR list…
Your best books of 2022
1. Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
We’re pretty certain you’ll have at least heard of Delia Owen’s stunning debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing. A global phenomenon, the hype is best to be believed in this coming-of-age story featuring our protagonist, Kya (a.k.a the marsh girl). The prime suspect in a murder trial and weaved with themes of isolation, alienation, and nature, this beautifully moving story will rock you to your core. It didn’t surprise Martha, our Founder and CEO and Christie, our Marketing Manager, that this one made it to the top of your best books for 2022. Both big lovers who raced to finish this book, they also recommend giving the film a watch too!
2. Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
Martha’s favourite book of 2022 which many of you also recommended, is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. This book comes with every accolade you can imagine; New York Times Bestseller, Goodreads Choice Award Winner, it’s got ‘em! Another stellar debut, Bonnie Garmus takes us on a journey following the life of Elizabeth Zott, a unique scientist in the 60s (we have a theme here?!) who becomes the unlikely star of a TV cooking show. Focusing on themes of misogyny, feminisim and family, this feel-good read will have you longing for more well after you’ve logged it in your Book Journal.
3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Next up on our list of your best books of 2022 is of course The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Retired and reclusive Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo picks Monique Grant, a small time journalist to tell her life story. Recalling her history, including her seven marriages, Monique discovers a wealth of secrets and lies that she’s been entrusted to tell. Hollywood meets heartbreak, this tale of loyalty, betrayal, loss and sacrifice is one you must, MUST, must read this year if you haven’t yet.
4. It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover
If you’re going to read one novel this year It has to be It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. Whilst looking at your answers for your best books of 2022, we predicted Colleen Hoover would make an appearance or two. Described by Hoover as “the hardest book I’ve ever written” there’s truth behind this tale being based on her mother’s relationship with her father. The main character, Lily Bloom, falls for Ryle whilst her first love Atlas reappears to challenge their relationship. With themes of jealousy, emotional abuse and heartache, It Ends With Us is a hard, but insightful read.
5. The Seven Sisters – Lucinda Riley
One of your best books of 2022 was The Seven Sisters, and we just LOVE the sound of this series. The tale is centered around six young women, all adopted by a charismatic billionaire for reasons unknown. After he dies suddenly and is buried at sea, the sisters gather in their castle of a childhood home, discovering a clue each he leaves for them that reveals a little bit of their true heritage. The first in the series, Maia D’Apliese is the first to fulfil her legacy and discover where her life truly began…
6. The Dead Romantics – Ashley Poston
Oh boy, do we love a book about…books! The Dead Romantics is a paranormal romance novel about Florence, a romance ghostwriter who believes love is dead after a bad break-up. Intro her handsome new editor who refuses to give her an extension on her book deadline but family calls as Florence heads home for a family emergency. We don’t want to give too much away here, but The Dead Romantics is a poignant story filled with loveable characters. One to add to the list!
7. The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune
We’ve seen The House in the Cerulean Sea doing the rounds on BookTok so we weren’t surprised to hear this nominated by many of you as one of your best books of 2022. Linus Baker works for the government who manage orphaned kids with magical powers. Living a lonely life, Linus keeps himself busy following the draconian rules but after he is tasked with assessing a special orphanage, Linus discovers the secrets of the orphanage, and unveils secrets of his own. Coined as 1984 meets Umbrella Academy, The House in the Cerulean Sea is firmly on our TBR’s for the year!
8. The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
We fell in love with Nora Seed, the lead protagonist in Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library. Having read Matt Haig’s non-fiction novels, we were thrilled to get stuck in to some of his fiction too! So back to Nor Seed, a 30-something year old who feels unloved and undeed in this world. In the depths of her depression, she comes across the Midnight Library. Each book she comes across leads to another version of what her life could have been, had she made other choices. Beautifully moving, the Midnight Library is a tear-jerker, life-affirming read that makes us realise the grass is greener, right where we are.
9. Book Lovers – Emily Henry
One of our all-time favourite authors is the brilliant Emily Henry. With her growing list of published novels, Book Lovers was one of the best things to happen last year with this enemies-to-lovers trope. Swayed by her sister to spend the summer in Sunshine Falls, Nora, a literary agent, doesn’t expect to bump into her cranky editor she’s been avoiding. The book’s tagline is: “One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…” If that isn’t enough to get you reading some Emily Henry, we don’t know what is!
Love Emily Henry? Keep your eyes peeled over on our Instagram for something VERY exciting coming around Valentine’s Day…
10. The Marlow Murder Club – Robert Thorogood
Last but most certainly not least on our list of your best books of 2022 is Robert Thorogood’s, The Marlow Murder Club. Whilst out minding her own business swimming in the Thames, Judith, 77, is witness to a brutal murder. With the police not believing her frankly unbelievable story, Judith takes matters into her own hands and is joined by loveable characters in solving this murder mystery. Entertaining, often funny and beautifully written, Martha is desperate to get stuck into The Marlow Murder Club!
We hope you’ve found something new to read in 2023 with this list of your best books of 2022. Have you read any from this list? Let us know how many in the comments!
P.S. Need a place to list down all of your reads? Designed to inspire readers of all ages, discover our bestselling Personalised Book Journal here!
I loved Where the Crawdads Sing, It Ends With Us and the Midnight Library too. Looks like I’ve got 7 more books to add to my ‘to read’ book list!
Have you read Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo? That was one of my faves from my 2022 reading list x
Oh brilliant, glad you’ve got some ideas from this! No, I have not read that! I will add it to my list for 2023 thank you 🙂 Martha x