Top Reads of 2022

In 2022 I read a total of seventy books. Some books I didn’t care for and others I thought were just okay, but there were some that really stood out to me. It was difficult to narrow my picks down to just four and choose the best of the best, but after looking over what I read, I believe these books are most deserving of being called my top reads.

 

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy Jones & The Six is the story of a fictional, legendary band from the 1970s. It tells the story of the band The Six from their early days to the addition of Daisy Jones to their abrupt and mysterious ending. This book was one of the first books I read in 2022 and immediately became one of my favorites. I already loved the idea of a book about a fictional band, but the band reminded me of Fleetwood Mac—one of my favorite artists—and that made me love it even more. The story itself is incredible and will keep you hooked from the very first page. While some may not like the interview format of the book, I personally found it to be a great way to tell the story.

 

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Science fiction is one of my favorite genres and when I saw Project Hail Mary, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed by this book. It features a gripping storyline that leaves you wanting to continue reading and needing to know what happens next, but this is not the only excellent part of the novel. Weir is able to combine difficult science with comedy, something that made me immediately fall in love with his writing. And of course, there is the addition of Rocky, the loveable—though odd—alien who helps our protagonist Ryland work to complete his mission. This book could have easily been a boring, science fiction novel that works to lecture its readers about the complex science behind a life-or-death space mission, but instead Weir made it into a space-comedy with elements that show the best and worst of humanity.

 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

I usually do not pick up fantasy novels, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Some thought that this novel moved too slow, but I enjoyed watching Addie LaRue’s life unfold throughout the centuries. After her initial wish to be immortal and her becoming invisible to the world around her, readers get to watch as Addie LaRue learns to navigate this new life and the changing world around her. Different topics are explored like society changing the rules it has created for itself through events like the French Revolution to the immortality of art as explored by the mark Addie has left in the art world. And readers get to see Addie LaRue being seen for the first time in centuries and how that changes her thoughts on her immortality.

 

The Push by Ashley Audrain

I read The Push in one sitting because it had me so captivated. While the story is a thriller about a mother not knowing if she truly understands her child and if her fears are true, this book is so much more than just a page-turner. It is an exploration on the topic of motherhood and the doubts a lot of women face when they first become mothers. It also explores a mother’s worse fear: what if, after everything I’ve done, I don’t feel any love for my child? Readers will find themselves questioning everything alongside Blythe Connor. And no matter what perspective you believe to be true, these themes will appear and make you wonder what it truly means to be a mother.

 

While it was hard to pick my favorite reads from 2022, I believe that these books are most deserving of the title. All of these books featured stories that kept me engaged from beginning to end and left me wanting more after they were done. In 2023 I hope to find more books as incredible as these.