It’s a wrap – 2022
Well, 2022 has been a mixed year for reading.
According to my Goodreads shelf, I have read 106 books this year.
My shortest read was Death in Paris by Kate Darroch. My longest was Her Heart for a Compass by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.
I gave the Popsugar Reading Challenge a good go, but only managed 37 out of 50 prompts.
A couple of months that were reading slumps and plenty of mood reading meant I just didn’t get around to some of the prompts. As usual, I made the mistake of leaving some of my least favourite prompts until the end, despite actually having books that would tick off most of them.
The end of December is a time when everyone chooses their books of the year. I scrolled back through my reviews for 2022 and picked one stand out, often five-star, read for each month.
January: The Maid by Nita Prose
I loved this murder mystery. Molly is a fantastic narrator with a distinctive voice. I was lucky enough to be part of a Tandem Collective Readalong and that added to the fun.
February: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
This is the first Collen Hoover book I have read and I really enjoyed it. This was so compelling and surprised me with the emotion.
March: Tall Bones by Anna Bailey
This is a beautifully written and atmospheric novel. Set in a dark town full of secrets with flawed and complex characters this kept me guessing.
April: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I had put off reading this book because music and band life isn’t really my thing, but I loved it. The interview style works so well, and I loved seeing the scenes from different perspectives.
May: The Blackbird by Tim Weaver
This is one of the best crime thrillers I have read in a long time. Really clever and careful plotting and a really satisfying ending.
June: Should I Tell You? By Jill Mansell
An absolute joy to read – I loved the characters. This is a warm-hearted hug of a book.
July: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Book Lovers was one of my summer holiday reads. It’s a huge best seller and a great romance.
August: We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin
This was such an engrossing read. I literally could not put it down and stayed up late into the night reading it.
This has the feeling of a true crime documentary series to some of it as it is framed with interviews adding to the realism. It’s also creepy and mysterious in a Twin Peaksy way as the mysteries and secrets of the town are all that defines it.
September: Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar
I loved being part of this festive blog tour – this is everything you need in a Christmas read.
October: The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
This series is so popular and it gets better with every book. I love the characters and their developing relationships and will definitely be reading the next instalment.
November: The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore
The Garnett Girls is not released until 2023 but I was lucky enough to read a digital arc from Netgalley. It is a wonderful book and probably my absolute favourite of the year.
December: The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict
My last read of 2022 made the list for December. What a clever and compelling read. Horrible characters, and the ending feels a bit rushed, but it’s certainly dark and twisty.
I’m looking forward to reading more fantastic books in 2023!
Happy New Year book worms!
Emma's Things to Read 