I have always loved to read. When I was just starting, Junie B. Jones was my favorite. Next came my love for Nancy Drew and then of course Christy Miller.
At the beginning of 2022, I made a goal for myself to read 52 books within the year. I definitely had to pick up pace in December, but I made my goal at the end of the year! Between traditional books, audiobooks, and Bible studies, I read 52. I keep an Excel document with each title, the dates I read the book, a rating out of five, and a short summary.
Here are some of my favorite reads from 2022:
Ranking at the top are Every Summer After by Carley Fortune and Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. Both books have so much in common. They both have friends to lovers tropes and alternate between early teen years and the present day. I love coming-of-age romances and both books hit the mark for me!
Another favorite read was Without a Hitch by Mary Hollis Huddleston and Asher Price. This was a cute story about a girl, named Lottie, who gets into the event planning scene in upper-class Dallas. I had never read a book with a character named Lottie and while I had already known I wanted to name my daughter Lottie one day, it was fun to see it in the book. Their second book, Piece of Cake, just came out and I am so excited to read it soon.
I have really enjoyed all of Emily Henry’s books, but Book Lovers was my favorite (up until I read Happy Place this year). I actually listened to it via audio while on a road trip in North Carolina which was fun since that was the majority of the setting. This book has everything a good book needs: sisterhood, romance, and the love of books themselves.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan was the first book I read in 2022 and it was fantastic! The book is based on the life of Joy Davidman who ultimately marries C.S. Lewis. This is a powerful book. I learned so much about the man who has written some of the most profound books on the Christian faith.
I read two more books by a favorite author of mine, Beth O’Leary. I read The Switch and The Road Trip. I enjoyed both, but I preferred The Road Trip! I love reading her books via audio because then they are read to you in a British accent. Her books make you feel like you are drinking a warm cup of tea in a cozy English bookstore.
America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray was another great read. I would give this one 4/5 stars because it was very long and detailed, but I enjoyed the book about Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, Patsy. I have always loved American history, and while this book was a work of fiction, most events and characters were completely based on true stories. I found their circumstances and lives fascinating! This is a great read if you love Hamilton.
A few other honorable mentions are:
- Rivals by Katharine McGee
- Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
- Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
- The Layover by Lacie Waldon
- Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
- Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor
- The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
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