When I set out to ready 36 books again this year, I had no idea that I would blow through that goal. With a new job, three kids and who knows what else going on, I just assumed that I would barely make it to where I had been the year before (see here for my list of books I read in 2021).

Well, I ended up reading 40+ books in 2022, trying some new genres (YA and fantasy), new authors, and found some new favorites. Here is a look at every book I read this year: (Note – when I say “read” I do about half audiobook half actual reading typically – I like to read on my kindle or phone, and then pick up the audio when I’m driving or running)

1. Golden Girl – Elin Hilderbrand
2. The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah
3. Evvie Drake Starts Over – Linda Holmes
4. A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara
5. Three Sisters – Heather Morris
6. The Overstory – Richard Powers
7. Circling the Sun – Paula McLain
8. Intimations – Zadie Smith
9. The Anomaly – Herve Le Tellier
10. The Sixth Wedding – Elin Hilderbrand
11. Fool Me Once – Ashley Winstead
12. 28 Summers – Elin Hilderbrand
13. The Book of Two Ways – Jodi Picoult
14. Book Lovers – Emily Henry
15. The Rose Code – Kate Quinn
16. Later – Stephen King
17. Verity – Colleen Hoover
18. The Lincoln Highway – Amor Towles
19. The Monsters of Templeton – Lauren Groff
20. Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
21. Meant to Be – Emily Giffin
22. After I Do – Taylor Jenkins Reid
23. Maybe in Another Life – Taylor Jenkins Reid
24. A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles
25. Sea of Tranquility – Emily St John Mandel
26. One True Loves – Taylor Jenkins Reid
27. The Memory Police – Yoko Ogawa
28. Upgrade – Blake Crouch
29. Chilean Poet – Alejandro Zambra
30. Forever, Interrupted – Taylor Jenkins Reid
31. The Last Housewife – Ashley Winstead
32. This Time Tomorrow – Emma Straub
33. The Book of Lost Names – Kristin Harmel
34. Carrie Soto is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid
35. The German Midwife – Mandy Robotham
36. Nora Goes Off Script – Annabel Monaghan
37. All Adults Here – Emma Straub
38. Our Missing Hearts – Celeste Ng
39. The Guncle – Steven Rowley
40. Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of Life Interrupted – Suleika Jaouad
41. A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J Maas
42. A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J Maas
43. Horse – Geraldine Brooks

Looking for new reads for 2023? Here are some of my thoughts on the books:

Most surprising books I read:

A Court of Thorns and Roses (the series, especially book #2) – Sarah J Maas: One of my best friends suggested I read this, and when I read the description of the book and series, I was skeptical. I don’t typically do YA books or fantasy/mythology type of reads (Sorry to say, but I never got into Harry Potter, LOTR, etc.). But then two more friends separately recommended these and I decided to give it a try. And now I’m hooked! I’m on book 3 of the series and can’t wait to keep reading.

Horse – Geraldine Brooks: My mom suggested this book, and when I looked up what it was about (a horse), I wasn’t realllly interested. But if you like stories that go from generation to generation or through different timelines of people whose stories are all connected, you’ll like this one. I found the horse part interesting and education since I know nothing about riding or racing horses, and the fact that it’s based on a few true stories woven together made it one of my favorites this year.

Books I want to be made into movies stat:

The Guncle – Steven Rowley: You know those books that you just smile while reading because there’s something just so fun about the characters? This was that book. I loved this! I would love this to be made into a movie, because it would be one where I’d laugh and cry and laugh again.

Nora Goes Off Script – Annabel Monaghan: I need to see this come to the big screen or at least to Netflix. It would make for a great rom com and I have some clear pictures in my mind of the characters, so I need to see how they would portray it.

Best beach reads I read this year:

Golden Girl – Elin Hildebrand: This book takes place on Nantucket, so naturally it would make for a great beach read. It made me want to get back to Nantucket – or really anywhere on the Cape – asap!

Carrie Soto is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid: This isn’t a true beach read, but it was a fun, fast read, and would have ben a perfect rad for any vacation. I read quite a few TJR books this year and this was hands down my favorite that I read this year.

My top 3 of 2022 (in no order)

These books are all so different from one another. One is a bazillion pages and emotional and even though I read it in the first part of the year, I still think about it. One is a history fiction/female empowerment story. One is a time travel-esque/pandemic story. Another is a story of friends and the trials that shape them throughout the years. If you only read a few books from my list, these are the ones I recommend.

A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara

Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus

Sea of Tranquility – Emily St John Mandel

Some questions for you:

• What are you reading? Anything I should add to my next-read list?
• How do you consume books – reading on an e-reader? Listening to an audio book? Real hard copy?