Best Books of 2022
I surprised myself this year! After losing my grandmother and uncle, I had the toughest time finishing a book. Reading is so important to me and I love it almost as much as I love traveling - so being unable to finish a book was very upsetting.
However, I have finished 41 books this year - which is 12 more than in 2021.There were some great ones, some funny ones, some outside of my typical genres, but overall a good year of reading :)
Here are some of my favorites:
In The Weeds by Tom Vitale
In The Weeds: Around the World and Behind the Scenes with Anthony Bourdain is a biography of Anthony Bourdain written by friend and one of the producers of Parts Unknown. It gave you a deeper look into the Anthony Bourdain behind the scenes, which wasn’t always nice. It showed a different side to Anthony, both good and bad, encouraging people on his crew to be respectful of new cultures while also trying to scare the shit out of them.
I loved this book and it really inspired me to travel even more than I currently do and to more off-the-beaten-path destinations. I love Anthony’s ethos of digging in deep within the culture you’re visiting - respecting, trying, and being open-minded towards all new things and experiencing them fully and deeply.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Oooh boy, I love a good sci-fi drama series. I have now read every Blake Crouch book out there because of this one. I read it in 2 days and it consumed me.
After picking up dinner one evening for his wife and son, he is knocked unconscious by a masked man and wakes up to a life he doesn’t know. He isn’t married, doesn’t have his son, but remembers this life. The rest of the story is a mind-bending adventure through science, technology, all while being approachable and mostly understandable. This is my favorite of his series, though Recursion and Upgrade are both great, as well.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
TW: sexual abuse, child abuse.
I wouldn’t say I necessarily enjoyed this novel, but it left me feeling LOTS of feelings. I thought about it constantly for weeks after finishing it. It follows this girl, who had a relationship with her male teacher as a student, and bounces timelines between her relationship with him and current day when he is being arrested for sexual abuse of multiple students.
It walks a line that makes you really question what you think. None of the characters are likeable, and the main character is having a crisis of wanting to feel “special” by believing she had a genuine relationship with her teacher, refusing to believe it was abusive or grooming, and also walking the gray line of “I consented to this,” even though she was a teenager.
I’m not sure if I recommend this book to everyone, as it is obviously VERY HEAVY. Though if you want a thought-provoking, interesting book, this is it.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
This was the first book I finished after my grandmother passed and it was perfect. There are three points-of-view in this novel, one of them being an octopus at an aquarium in a small, beach town in Washington.
I don’t want to give you any more information except if you want a fun, whimsical, and happy novel - this is the perfect pick. I loved it.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Wow. It was a slow start, but I absolutely loved this novel. It is about sisterhood, race, class and wealth, and even regional differences.
2 light-skinned black twin sisters run away from their small Louisiana town to New Orleans. One sister starts passing as white to work in a big company, then runs away from there with her boss.
The rest of the story follows the runaway sister, the sister who was left behind, and their daughters. It kept me guessing the entire time, begging for a reunion, and I loved every single second of it.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
I read this book, but have also heard it is phenomenal on audio. I grew up watching iCarly, and distinctly remember Jennette McCurdy. This book is TOUGH. It is vivid and raw and describes child abuse, eating disorders, substance abuse, and overall negative mental health.
It is one of the most impactful books I’ve read in a long, long time. The title can be a turn-off for some, but don’t let it deter you from reading a beautifully written and genuine story.
Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton
I really thought this book would be cheesy, and it probably was. However, listening to it on audiobook being read by Tom Felton (who played Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter) was such a treat!
I know a LOT about Harry Potter, but I learned even more in this book. It’s a quick read/listen, but so enjoyable for any fans out there.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Similar to The Vanishing Half, this was a slow burn, but once it started going I could not put it down. I read this 550 page book in 2 sittings because it was so rich.
The book starts with a group of college students murdering one of their friends. The rest of the novel is a reverse-mystery of trying to figure out what their relationship to the murdered student was, why they murdered him, what the repercussions are…
The scenery is so rich and cozy - set in a small Vermont college and the group being a small “secret society” of six students studying Greek.
If you like White Lotus or books about secret societies or set in the Northeast, this book is for you.
Other books I’ve read this year:
The Atlas Six
The Maid
Reckless Girls
The Last Thing He Told Me
Other People’s Clothes
Recursion
The Nineties
Where the Crawdads Sing
Cultish
The 2000s Made Me Gay
Crying in H Mart
The Wreckage of My Presence
Everything I Know About Love
Funny You Should Ask
Ready Player Two
Project Hail Mary (again)
Upgrade
A Grief Observed
Hide
Harry Potter 1-7
Hidden Pictures
Convenience Store Woman
Now Is Not the Time to Panic
Wayward Pines trilogy
I will finish my book list by encouraging you all to buy your books locally if you can. In Memphis, my favorite book shop is Novel. in Laurelwood. They have a great restaurant and bar, along with an amazing selection of books, gifts, and home decor. Their staff is full of amazing recommendations - with each staff member specializing in different genres :)
They also have an online store with delivery and can order books for you if they don’t have it in stock!