2022 in Books
In 2016, I set a goal to read 100 books. I have no clue if I reached that goal because I didn’t keep a list of the books I read. In 2017, I started keeping an annual reading list, accompanied by short reviews, on my website. Thankfully, I’ve kept up that habit— and I have read more than 100 books each year.
Frankly, most times when I share how many books I read in a year, the response is often some version of “wow.” Some people say it in an impressed tone, while others clearly think I’m crazy. I know I read a lot of books, and it is something I’m incredibly proud of, but I’ve read this much for so long that it just feels natural to me. The year 2022, though, is the year even I say “wow” to. Now, thinking back on it as I spruce up this page at the end of 2023, I feel a little inferior to my 2022 self. But to, again, be frank, I spent a lot of 2022 lonely. And that’s not to say I didn’t want to be reading— of course I did— or only read as a last resort. But the truth is I spent quite a bit of time isolated from humans, which meant more time with books (and, thankfully, my cats). I read significantly fewer books in 2023, yes, but I also devoted much more time to cultivating a wonderful friend group and a loving relationship. I cannot and will not imagine my life without books, but I’m grateful books are only one fulfilling part of my life.
Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens
This book was fun but I was unsatisfied by the writing of the resolution.
finished January 1, 2022
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
This was the last in a trilogy; all three have been among my favorite romance novels recently.
finished January 2, 2022
The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
The plot of this novel wasn’t a new favorite, but it is making me consider how a narrator can tell a story in fiction.
finished January 6, 2022
Witch Please by Ann Aguirre
All the pieces were there— romance, modern-day witches— but this book didn’t quite add up for me. Still a fun read, though.
finished January 7, 2022
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
This was an incredibly fascinating novel— spooky and familial and fragmented.
finished January 9, 2022
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
I know many others are reading her work since she died; this is only the second book of hers I’ve read. I loved this book, and I feel a kinship with her style of writing because I think it’s similar to the style I’m trying to cultivate.
finished January 13, 2022
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King
Short story collections are not my favorite, but I adore just about every word Lily King writes.
finished January 14, 2022
The Writer’s Cats by Muriel Barbery and Maria Guitart
This is a darling picture book gifted to me by my friend Sarah Ladd. It makes me wonder if Leo and George have learned to read and are editing my writing while I sleep.
finished January 14, 2022
Whiteout Conditions by Tariq Shah
This short novel tackles a lot, the most interesting of which to me was death.
finished January 15, 2022
The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion
I think the plot of this novel went deeper than I understand, but I am fascinated by her writing style.
finished January 16, 2022
South and West by Joan Didion
Of course it’s well written, but I rarely like when non-southerners write about the south. Writing about her own home in California, she describes home in a way I like: “I am easy here in a way that I am not easy in other places.”
finished January 17, 2022
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
I had the itch to reread this series for the first time in many years.
finished January 17, 2022
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
It was a holiday, a snow day, and a COVID quarantine day for me, so I had a lot of time to read.
finished January 17, 2022
The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan
finished January 18, 2022
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
finished January 19, 2022
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
finished January 19, 2022
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I have a lot of thoughts. I listened to this as an audiobook— and the format did work well for an audiobook, because it was like a well-reported podcast. But listening to it as an audiobook dragged it out, and I didn’t find it interesting enough to be worth that much time. I just don’t think there was anything unique about the plot; it was a typical sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll story.
finished January 21, 2022
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
I kept the Greek mythology adaptations trend going. I really enjoyed this novel.
finished January 21, 2022
My Brother by Jamaica Kincaid
I loved this memoir. I feel like I’m swimming in her writing, in the best way.
finished January 23, 2022
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
The romance was fun, plus there were deeper elements to the book.
finished January 24, 2022
All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg
I loved this book. It reminded me a lot of Writers and Lovers by Lily King, one of my very favorite books.
finished January 29, 2022
The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg
I don’t often read several of a writer’s books back to back, but I am really enjoying Attenberg’s writing style.
finished January 29, 2022
Saint Mazie by Jami Attenberg
Same style, but make it historical fiction!
finished January 30, 2022
Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket
I don’t typically love a philosophy book, but I love Lemony Snicket’s style.
finished February 4, 2022
All This Could Be Yours by Jami Attenberg
Another one!
finished February 4, 2022
Verity by Colleen Hoover
I was hooked but it wasn’t fun.
finished February 5, 2022
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Same feeling.
finished February 6, 2022
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich
I read this for my Native American literature class. I really enjoyed it— it reminded me of multi-generational books about Kentucky families and communities.
finished February 7, 2022
I Came All This Way to Meet You by Jami Attenberg
I enjoyed this memoir, but I definitely think her fiction is stronger.
finished February 8, 2022
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
I liked the ghost story element of this book, but I was unsettled by how recently it’s set— I didn’t really want to read about the early days of the pandemic.
finished February 15, 2022
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
To read such SMART writing about love was delightful. And convicting.
finished February 16, 2022
Appalachian Elegy: Poetry and Place by bell hooks
I’m not that great at reading poetry, but hooks was incredible at writing it.
finished February 16, 2022
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
I enjoyed this novel but I didn’t love it. I think I liked Love Medicine the best of the three Erdrich novels I’ve read.
finished February 18, 2022
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
As promised by the title, this historical fiction/fantasy retelling of Romeo and Juliet was both violent and delightful.
finished February 20, 2022
Even as We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
I read this for a second time for my Native American literature class. There are elements of this book I really like, but as a whole it’s not my favorite.
finished February 21, 2022
Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
I stayed up very late to finish this book, which was very good and very sad but also hopeful.
finished February 21, 2022
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
I read this romance novel in a day.
finished February 26, 2022
Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren
And this one.
finished February 27, 2022
What If You & Me by Roni Loren
And this sequel, too.
finished February 28, 2022
Belonging by bell hooks
I loved this collection of essays, which is largely about being a Kentuckian.
finished March 2, 2022
There There by Tommy Orange
This novel was clearly inspired by Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine, which was really cool.
finished March 6, 2022
Where I Can’t Follow by Ashley Blooms
I really enjoyed this novel by a Kentucky writer; I liked her first novel, too, but I think this one was even better. It’s about living in Appalachia, with some fantasy mixed in.
finished March 8, 2022
A History of the World in 21 Women by Jenni Murray
I was expecting the author to use 21 women to tell a more comprehensive history of the world, but I did enjoy what this book was— a collection of short biographies of a lot of incredible women.
finished March 11, 2022
Better Off Wed by Susanna Craig
This was another fun historical romance.
finished March 14, 2022
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
I finally started this very popular series. They’re definitely engrossing.
finished March 16, 2022
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
This is one of my favorite fantasy novels I’ve read– even more impressive because the second book in a series is often the weakest. This book completely absorbed my brain (and heart) for two days.
finished March 17, 2022
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie
I read this memoir/poetry collection for school. I really liked parts of it, but overall it’s not a new favorite.
finished March 21, 2022
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
I read this a lot slower than the last one. I’m definitely still intrigued, but what I like the most about this series is the characters, not the plot.
finished March 23, 2022
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
This was a fun read— the characters were mostly just hanging out.
finished March 25, 2022
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
I went into this so skeptical because of the two characters it focuses on, but it’s now with Mist and Fury in my top two of the series.
finished April 1, 2022
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
I read this for my Native American literature class. It’s a YA novel about a dystopian future in which Native Americans are hunted for their bone marrow and ability to dream. I enjoyed it.
finished April 5, 2022
The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel
I downloaded these two romances when I was alone in public and needed something to read. I finished both of them while I was homebound with the flu a few days later. Both fun reads!
finished April 6, 2022
First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel
finished April 6, 2022
Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood by bell hooks
We read this for book club the last few months. It’s a collection of beautiful, often devastating vignettes of hooks’ girlhood.
finished April 7, 2022
Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by bell hooks
bell hooks writes about complex issues with such clarity. This was a really interesting history and critique of the feminist movement, written in 1984. hooks offers a path forward for a better society— and we haven’t really moved that far down that path in the almost 40 years since she wrote it.
finished April 12, 2022
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
I tried to resist reading the books and just enjoy the show Bridgerton, but I couldn’t resist any longer.
finished April 12, 2022
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
I told myself I would only read the books for the seasons that have already been released…
finished April 15, 2022
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
…but I did read the entirety of book three today, with season three nowhere in sight.
finished April 15, 2022
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
This was probably my favorite so far.
finished April 19, 2022
To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn
The show has introduced Eloise quite differently than her character in the books.
finished April 20, 2022
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
finished April 22, 2022
It’s In His Kiss by Julia Quinn
finished April 24, 2022
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
All eight siblings, all eight books!
finished April 25, 2022
A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt
I read this collection of essays for my Native American literature class. The writer is clearly very smart, but I don’t think he wrote in a very accessible way.
finished April 26, 2022
New Women in the Old West: From Settlers to Suffragists, an Untold American Story by Winifred Gallagher
I’ve always enjoyed reading books like this, and they’re also useful because I’m working on writing a book somewhat similar to this— about forgotten history.
finished April 30, 2022
Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre
Like with the first book in this series (my fourth read of this year), I couldn't fully enjoy it— I think because the dialogue felt unnatural. But I did like the plot of this one pretty well.
finished May 1, 2022
The Date from Hell by Gwenda Bond
I liked the first book in this duology; I loved this one. The primary settings are Lexington and Hell.
finished May 2, 2022
Crazy Brave by Joy Harjo
I didn’t realize until the end that this account of her adolescence was taking us to the moment she became a poet.
finished May 10, 2022
Whip Smart by Melissa Febos
Because I have love Melissa Febos’ writing style so much, I’m going back and reading all her books. This is an interesting memoir for sure.
finished May 11, 2022
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
My friend Sally dropped this off after my COVID diagnosis, and I devoured it. Such a good romance novel, with love of books, small town charm, and family relationships mixed in.
finished May 11, 2022
One Day by Gene Weingarten
This was an extraordinary book of journalism, and it read like a novel.
finished May 12, 2022
Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy
This romance novel had a slow start so I didn’t love it overall, but it was a fun read.
finished May 13, 2022
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
I like reading about the entertainment industry so I enjoyed this memoir, but it wasn’t anything groundbreaking.
finished May 14, 2022
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Another drop-off from Sally, another romance novel devoured in one sitting.
finished May 14, 2022
True Biz by Sara Novic
Absolutely loved this novel. I think it will be on my top 10 list. It’s about a school for deaf students. Related: Watch the movie CODA if you haven’t.
finished May 16, 2022
Great or Nothing by Caroline Tung Richmond, Joy McCullough, Jessica Spotswood, and Tess Sharpe
This was a retelling of Little Women, set in World War II. I’ll never say no to more of the Marches and Laurie.
finished May 17, 2022
Whiskey Women by Fred Minnick
This book was mentioned in one of Ashtyn’s fermentation and distillation classes, so we both wanted to read it.
finished May 19, 2022
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This was nothing like I expected, and it was a delight. I devoured it…
finished May 20, 2022
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
…and its sequel. Unfortunately, the third book doesn’t come out till August.
finished May 20, 2022
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
This book had promising mysteries and twists, but the resolution wasn’t quite satisfying enough for me.
finished May 23, 2022
Lease on Love by Falon Ballard
A fun romance! I totally would’ve been into the male lead— cute, nerdy, glasses.
finished May 24, 2022
The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice by Scott Ellsworth
I enjoyed this book, and it was very valuable as a model for the book I am writing. I plan to read more of Ellsworth’s work.
finished May 27, 2022
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed
Though I typically prefer romance novels about protagonists older than high school, I really enjoyed how sweet this story was and the backdrop of a local political campaign.
finished May 28, 2022
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
I really enjoyed this romance— with delightfully nerdy fanfiction writers, a fantasy TV show, and a plus-size woman as the romantic lead.
finished May 29, 2022
The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson
This novel is a love letter to Kentucky, to books, and to celebrating people’s differences.
finished May 31, 2022
All the Feels by Olivia Dade
This was the sequel to Spoiler Alert and was also very enjoyable.
finished May 31, 2022
Miss Chloe: A Memoir of Literary Friendship with Toni Morrison by A.J. Verdelle
The structure of this memoir was not my favorite, but I really enjoyed reading about Toni Morrison and the author’s literary insights.
finished June 2, 2022
Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond
Since I spent the whole week thinking about Stranger Things, I reread one of the prequels— written by a Lexington writer!
finished June 4, 2022
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
Satire is not my favorite genre, but this is an excellent book. And it has maybe the coolest book cover I’ve ever seen.
finished June 4, 2022
Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City by Angela Elliott
This is a book of incredible reporting. It’s also pretty devastating.
finished June 9, 2022
The Liar’s Dictionary by Eley Williams
To me, this book was a mix of occasional brilliant moments and occasional slow moments. Overall, it was an enjoyable novel.
finished June 11, 2022
The Hidden Wound by Wendell Berry
This was a great, short read about race relations in Berry’s experience, particularly during his childhood in Kentucky. bell hooks recommends this book in one of her books.
finished June 12, 2022
Skyhunter by Marie Lu
I love Lu’s Legend series, so I finally read this. I enjoyed it a lot; once the action really got started, I didn’t want to put it down.
finished June 14, 2022
Steelstriker by Marie Lu
I liked this sequel, though the pacing and resolution were perhaps a little off. It reminded me in certain ways of both The Hunger Games and Divergent.
finished June 15, 2022
Stranger Things: Rebel Robin by Amy Rose Capetta
This was a fun backstory for Robin— back when she really, really hated Steve Harrington. I appreciate this because I couldn't stand Steve in season 1 and didn’t anticipate his redemption.
finished June 16, 2022
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
I liked how the author told this story— switching between two weekends, a decade apart. It was a good romance novel.
finished June 18, 2022
The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón
I adore Ada Limón’s poetry.
finished June 20, 2022
The Magnetic Girl by Jessica Handler
I wasn’t as interested as I expected to be in the scientific/mesmerist subject matter at the heart of this novel, but the characters were still very compelling.
finished June 22, 2022
More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez
This novel had a lot of good twists. And its structure actually reminded me of how I’m writing my own nonfiction book.
finished June 22, 2022
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
I really like the way Emma Straub writes about rather ordinary adults.
finished June 24, 2022
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
One of my least favorite stylistic choices is to present dialogue without quotation marks. But otherwise, I enjoyed this novel about the 1918 flu in Dublin.
finished June 26, 2022
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Rooney is a constant writer of dialogue without quotation marks, which, again, I hate. But I liked this book a lot, actually. Now I need to watch the show, starring Joe Alwyn (Mr. Taylor Swift).
finished June 29, 2022
A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
Fairy tales meet the multiverse in this novella.
finished June 30, 2022
Stranger Things: Runaway Max by Brenna Yovanoff
The companion novels to Stranger Things are fun. I always compare them to the show for contradictions; I only noticed one.
finished July 1, 2022
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
I reread this novel since the movie is coming out in a few weeks. It’s pretty controversial— people love it or they hate it. Other than an excruciatingly slow beginning, I like it pretty well.
finished July 4, 2022
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
I didn’t always love the writing style of this book, but overall I really really liked it. A ghost love story is super cool— and there were two subtle Princess Bride references!
finished July 5, 2022
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
This was a crazy— but ultimately not that unrealistic— premise for a book. I think the pacing was slow at times, but the writing was so clean and crisp, something I really appreciate.
finished July 8, 2022
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
I was not expecting a time traveling novel, since Emma Straub’s work is normally notable (at least to me) because it’s about such ordinary people and circumstances. But really, this book is about time traveling within ordinary circumstances, which is unique, I think. I liked it a lot.
finished July 10, 2022
Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood by Cheryl Diamond
I don’t know— this memoir was interesting but didn’t feel cohesive. The point was moving around a lot, but I think it could have been limited to fewer years of the author’s life.
finished July 12, 2022
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
This was a really cute romance novel. It had some Grey’s Anatomy elements.
finished July 13, 2022
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
I’m continuing to enjoy Jasmine Guillory’s romance novels. These are my current reading-on-my-phone-when-I-have-a-few-free-minutes books.
finished July 14, 2022
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
This is a very novel-like nonfiction account of the Chicago World Fair and some of the murder and madness that surrounded it. It was interesting, but I couldn't get lost in it— I was too busy wanting to know more about the author’s research process.
finished July 17, 2022
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
finished July 18, 2022
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
finished July 21, 2022
Californium by R. Dean Johnson
This book is by the director of my MFA program. It’s a really great novel that you should read if you’re interested in punk rock, baseball, families, or adolescent love.
finished July 22, 2022
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
finished July 24, 2022
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
finished July 26, 2022
Body Work by Melissa Febos
I’ve now read all of Melissa Febos’s books, and my favorite is still the first I read, Girlhood. But this was a good collection of essays for any nonfiction writer to read.
finished July 26, 2022
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I didn’t think the writing was nearly as good as in her other books, but I was definitely hooked by the telenovela/Jane the Virgin-esque plot.
finished July 27, 2022
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
This was a really fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
finished July 31, 2022
How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper
This book was recommended by my friend Abigail, and I really loved it. Sort of a romance, but also about friendship and grief.
finished August 2, 2022
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith knows everything about everything.
finished August 10, 2022 (an estimate because I originally forgot this on my list)
The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
For about 50 pages, I wasn’t happy with how the exposition was unfolding, but I ended up really liking this. I read it an one sitting.
finished August 11, 2022
For You & No One Else by Roni Loren
I really liked this romance novel. A good break from a long week.
finished August 19, 2022
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
I enjoy a book with an unconventional happy ending.
finished August 24, 2022
What Happens in Scotland by Jennifer McQuiston
This romance novel had a bit of a slow start for me, but I enjoyed it once it picked up.
finished August 24, 2022
Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi
This was a very interesting premise for a novel and had such cleanly written (translated!) prose.
finished August 30, 2022
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan
I really, really loved this novel… and yet I still forgot to put it on my list.
finished… I really have no idea
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
I was not expecting murder and treachery in this romance novel, but it was a fun read.
finished September 1, 2022
Dream On by Angie Hockman
I think the resolution was a little rushed at the end, but I enjoyed this pretty well.
finished September 1, 2022
Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology by Jess Zimmerman
I really loved this collection of essays, reinterpreting the way women are portrayed in myths.
finished September 4, 2022
My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
This is the kind of romance novel I love to devour in one sitting, which is what I did on Labor Day Eve with this book.
finished September 4, 2022
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
I really enjoyed this book. It’s the second book this year that feels like a quiet science fiction novel— real life but with time travel. This was a very smart book.
finished September 9, 2022
Ma and Me by Putsata Reang
This memoir was good, though probably a little too long.
finished September 15, 2022
Love from Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill
Loved this romance novel by a fellow Lexingtonian!
finished September 16, 2022
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
This was a pretty slow read for me. I enjoyed parts of it and the resolution, but it’s not a favorite.
finished September 25, 2022
If You Knew Then What I Know Now by Ryan Van Meter
This collection of essays had several really bright spots, but I didn’t love it overall.
finished September 26, 2022
Modern Love, edited by Daniel Jones
I really enjoyed this collection of essays originally published in the New York Times, all about the myriad forms of love.
finished October 4, 2022
South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry
I did not like this book as much as I hoped to— the style of writing was not my favorite, but I did like the way Perry transitioned from topic to topic. It will hopefully help me improve my own transitions.
finished October 9, 2022
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
This fascinating fantasy novella theorizes that enslaved people who jumped or were thrown overboard while crossing the Atlantic survived and have been living as mermaids at the bottom of the ocean. Super cool premise— and very collaborative, as it was inspired by a song by the band clipping.
finished October 10, 2022
The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
I have been in quite a reading slump, and typically reading an entire romance novel in one sitting is an effective way to get out of it. Here’s hoping it worked with this Taylor Swift-inspired novel.
finished October 10, 2022
The Electric Woman: A Memoir in Death-Defying Acts by Tessa Fontaine
I liked the way it ended, but up until then I sometimes wondered what was the point.
finished October 15, 2022
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
I read this because I like Jenny Han’s books and I heard about the TV show. Not bad but I definitely like her other rom-com novels more.
finished October 18, 2022
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
I wasn’t allowed to watch iCarly so I don’t actually know that much about Jennette McCurdy, but I love entertainment industry memoirs and I heard this one was excellent. And it was! I’m excited to read whatever she writes next.
finished October 23, 2022
Long Division by Kiese Laymon
I did not love this novel but I think it was very good. This is the third book I’ve read this year that is quietly sci-fi— time travel not in a completely alternate universe but in contemporary daily life. Super fascinating.
finished October 25, 2022
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Once again, Taylor Jenkins Reid displayed why she deserves all the hype she gets. An excellent novel.
finished October 27, 2022
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
I kept seeing this book highly recommended, so I was really excited to read it for a book club at work. It’s a great novel about family and even reads like a mystery in a lot of ways.
finished October 27, 2022
She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson
I’ve really been enjoying Abott Elementary and, as I just wrote the other day, I love entertainment members. I really enjoyed this one— I read it in one sitting on a day off, with my cats cuddled in my lap, making it kind of hard to turn the pages.
finished October 28, 2022
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
When it’s midnight and I decide to start a romance novel… yeah, I’m not sleeping till the book is done.
finished October 29, 2022
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I read this for an English class in high school and read it again for an MFA class. It’s really a remarkable and well-researched story.
finished October 31, 2022
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
I liked the last third of this book a lot. I just wish we had gotten there way faster.
finished November 5, 2022
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
I really liked this whole series of romance novels.
finished November 11, 2022
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
finished November 12, 2022
Act Your Age, Dani Brown
finished November 12, 2022
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
This romance novel was okay, but I don’t think I’ll finish the series.
finished November 16, 2022
My People: Five Decades of Writing about Black Lives by Charlayne Hunter-Gault
This was a collection of articles written by a longtime Black presswoman and one of the first Black students to attend the previously all-white University of Georgia. I learned a lot of history from these articles. I was excited to read articles by a Black presswoman whose career partially overlapped with Alice Dunnigan’s.
finished November 22, 2022
Babel by R.F. Kuang
This is an excellent standalone fantasy novel. It’s an alternate history set at Oxford University, and it’s just incredibly smart.
finished November 28, 2022
Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne
This was so weird and fun. A Frankenstein-inspired romance!
finished December 5, 2022
Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley
This was definitely an interesting novel, about a sort of romance cult. It’s in the top two for coolest book covers of the year.
finished December 7, 2022
Nerd by Maya Phillips
I really like reading analysis of pop culture, and this was a collection of essays about fandom. Not a new favorite, but a cool read.
finished December 10, 2022
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
The end of this book is what justifies everything you read to get there— it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t revelatory at all until the end. Now to watch the movie starring Florence Pugh.
finished December 11, 2022
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
This romance novel included some tropes that I don't care for, so part of me says I didn’t love it— but the other part of me says I devoured it in a matter of hours. So it was definitely a good read.
finished December 12, 2022
Goldenrod by Maggie Smith
I’m not smart about reading poetry, but Maggie Smith is smart about writing it. This is a beautiful collection.
finished December 13, 2022
Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron
This was a fun friends-to-lovers romance novel.
finished December 14, 2022
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
I really enjoyed this romance novel. I saw myself quite a bit in the female lead.
finished December 18, 2022
Looking for Lorraine by Imani Perry
This is the second book I read ,by Imani Perry, and again there’s just something I don’t love about her writing style. But I still enjoyed learning about Lorraine Hansberry and learned more about writing my book, which is similar in many ways to this one.
finished December 18, 2022
Antipodes: Stories by Holly Goddard Jones
I often don’t like reading stories, but this collection by a Kentuckian was highly recommended— and it delivered. I enjoyed these surprising, sometimes unsettling stories a lot.
finished December 22, 2022
Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon
I’ve mostly been avoiding high school romances, and honestly the academic rivals plot hit a little close to home— but once I got into the book, I really enjoyed it and read it quickly, early in the morning after my cat had woken me up.
finished December 23, 2022
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
I love Matthew Perry, so I enjoyed reading about his life— but celebrity memoirs are not typically the most well-written.
not sure when I finished it, but I know it was before Christmas, because I wrapped it and gave it to my dad
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
I had seen this memoir highly recommended, and it exceeded those expectations. A really fascinating and well-written memoir about an abusive relationship.
finished December 24, 2022
Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey
There were things I liked about this romance novel with two bookworm leads, but one thing I didn’t like is that the romance didn’t actually feel like the central part of the book.
finished December 25, 2022
A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch
This novel reminded me of a less-intense Gone Girl. It was a little uncomfortable to read because of the tension— which was the point.
finished December 27, 2022
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
I bought this book because the cover is beautiful and because books about reading appeal to me as a reader. It was a sweet novel about community and love of books.
finished December 29, 2022
Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra
Well, this was just delightful. Little Women meets a modern-day romance novel.
finished December 29, 2022
A Black Woman’s Experience - From Schoolhouse to White House by Alice Allison Dunnigan
This was my second read of the full autobiography of the wonderful Alice Dunnigan. A good way to end the reading year!
finished December 31, 2022