My Favorite Reads of 2022

With the start of a new year comes my favorite reads from the previous year. This has come to be one of my favorite annual post, where I get to gush about the books I loved. I read 57 books last year, which was so close to reaching my goal, but I didn’t quite make it. I’m listing my top 10 favorites, starting with ten and working my way to the book that gets the number one spot for the year.

#10: The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver

“Grief is a complicated, ugly, messy thing. And it makes you do complicated, ugly, messy things.”

I read this book as part of my TBR for Pride Month, after discovering through a blogger’s review. I’m so glad I did!

I love the way that Mason Deaver explored grief in this story. Liam, the main character, recently lost their older brother in a hit-and-run. While struggling with moving forward in life, their relationship with their two best friends has hit a rough patch. Liam doesn’t know how to deal with their emotions and they lash out at others. Grief is unpredictable and Deaver shows that that’s okay.

Another thing I liked is that there is minimal romance. In some books I’ve read, the main character meets some romantic interest and their life is suddenly better. But The Ghosts We Keep doesn’t do that. It shows Liam as a normal teenager who’s going through the grief of losing their brother and figuring out how to navigate toxic friendships.

#9: Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan

“I am a spark. I am a blaze. I am an inferno.”

I loved Tashie Bhuiyan’s debut! This book made me so happy.

If you like character-driven books, this is one for you. Karina and Ace’s relationship with each other was so sweet to read and both their character arcs were done so well. Karina went from a studious, obedient daughter who never stepped out of line, to someone who could stand up for herself and hold her own. And Ace is so sweet. He’s willing to learn and he accepts and apologizes when he crosses the line.

The romance was so sweet. It starts off as fake dating and a bit of annoyances-to-lovers, but soon morphs into something more. The pacing was well done and I love how Karine and Ace eventually began warming up to each other.

full review

#8: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

“‘Find the light that makes your lantern shine,’ she used to say. ‘Hold on to it, even when the dark surrounds you. Not even the strongest wind will blow out the flame.'”

I hadn’t heard of The Wild Swans before picking this up, but this definitely gave me those fairytale vibes.

Shiori was a brilliant protagonist, well written and well rounded. She comes of as childish at the beginning, stubborn in what she wants and impulsively running away from her betrothal ceremony. But I love her character arc and how she becomes a thoughtful, empathetic young woman. She’s resilient and resourceful and was a fantastic narrator.

The other characters were wonderful as well. I loved Kiki and her witty comments; all of Shiori’s brothers and their relationship with her; Takkan, who was so sweet and gentle; and Seryu, who I would’ve liked to get to know better.

#7: Lovely War by Julie Berry

“If music stops, and art ceases, and beauty fades, what have we then?”

I don’t read a lot of books about World War I so this was a first. A very great first, at that!

The incorporation of the Greek gods was fascinating and it was always fun to read their parts of the story. I loved reading about the four characters–Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette–and how their stories intertwined and crossed paths. The romance between the two couples was developed a bit quickly, but it was still sweet nonetheless.

I love how music was a big part of the book. I feel like music is a very universal thing and it can be understood across cultures. I’m considering doing a reread of this sometime this year. I think there’s a lot I’ve forgotten and I’d have no complaints against reading it again.

#6: Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

“Hoping,
I’m starting to think,
might be the bravest thing a person can do.”

This was the first poetry book I’d read in a long time and I loved the prose. I listened to it as an audiobook, so I didn’t get the visual of how the story was written on the page, but it was beautifully written nonetheless.

I loved reading about Jude’s journey from Syria to the United States and having to learn about the different way of life in America. Heavier topics were touched on and handled well, including discrimination that immigrants have to face.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Jude’s ESL (English as a second language) class. She got to connect with people who felt similarly about adjusting to life in the US; she’s comforted by the fact that she’s not alone in this. I loved Jude as a character. Her arc was done so well and I love how she grew to embrace her culture and take pride in it.

#5: The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

“It was true, he wasn’t a Hero. But it wasn’t like anyone had given him a chance to be.”

Let it be known that The Sunbearer Trials is my favorite book by Aiden Thomas and I don’t want to wait much longer for the sequel.

One of my favorite things about this novel was the acceptance and normalcy of gender identity and sexuality. The LGBTQ+ rep was amazing, spreading among the competitors and into the gods. The highest being, Sol, was genderless. Everyone was accepted, regardless of how they identified.

I loved the Mexican-inspired worldbuilding. It was detailed and and each city was unique, with distinct features associated with its dios or diosa. I feel like the world is exploding with color. Now that I think about it, this would make for a really cool movie.

full review

#4: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

“A home isn’t always the house we live in. It’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with.”

This book is so wholesome. Can it get any better?

The best thing about this book is the characters. All the children were so sweet, even Lucy, and I fell in love with every single one of them. The adults were wonderful as well, but I think Linus and the children were the stars of the show. The children just want to do the things they love and pursue their dreams, but they can’t because of the discrimination they face from the outside world.

The found family in this novel was top-notch. I loved seeing the children warm up to Linus and seeing Linus warm up to them in return. Each of the characters was unique and distinct in their own way and them forming family of their own was so wholesome to read.

#3: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Trilogy by Holly Jackson

“I’m not sure I’m the good girl I once thought I was. I’ve lost her along the way.”

My favorite mystery series! I love how much detail is put into each investigation. The twists and turns the stories take are fascinating and unexpected, keeping me on my toes for the whole time. I really enjoyed the mixed media format–the excerpts of the interviews and pictures Pip took for evidence were all fun to read and look at.

Each book had a different investigation and I like how different each of them were. As Good As Dead is definitely the darkest one; it gave me chills. And Pip’s personality took a bit of a turn in the third book; like what happened there?

The relationships in the stories were also a highlight. Pip and Ravi start off as strangers and slowly become something more. I love how their relationship with each other grows! That ending in As Good As Dead broke my heart, though. Another relationship is Pip and her stepfather. I loved seeing a stepparent who was portrayed in a good light, not the stereotypical trope of stepparents.

full review of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

#2: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

“Love can’t cure a mental illness. There are lots of ways to help him, you can just be there. To listen. To talk. To cheer him up if he’s having a bad day. And on the bad days you can ask what to could do to make things easier. Stand by his side, even when things are hard. But also knowing that sometimes people need more support than just one person can give. That’s love, darling.”

Heartstopper holds a special place in my heart and the reason for that, besides being absolutely amazing, is that it shows that there is still good in this world. Everything with COVID and the world these past few years have been a bit of a bummer. I know Heartstopper is a fictional story, but reading the graphic novel and seeing it portrayed on screen gives me a bit of hope.

I love the representation in the story and the messages it sends: it’s okay not to know how you feel about someone, it’s okay to be confused about your feelings. In the first two books, Charlie is there for Nick as he figures out his sexuality and feelings. Then in the next two books, the roles switch and Nick is there for Charlie as Charlie battles with his eating disorder. I can’t wait to see what the fifth volume brings for them.

#1: The Poppy War Trilogy by R.F. Kuang

“I have become something wonderful, she thought. I have become something terrible. Was she now a goddess or a monster? Perhaps neither. Perhaps both.”

Is this a surprise? I think not. I read The Poppy War trilogy at the beginning of 2022, after seeing it have so many positive reviews. Long story short, I was blown away by this series.

The Poppy War has some of the most complex characters and character arcs I’ve seen in young adult literature. Rin goes from a worthless peasant girl living in one of the poor provinces, to a headstrong soldier with immense fire powers who attends the empire’s greatest military school. She’s an extremely morally grey character, making decisions that morally questionable.

The worldbuilding is detailed and complex. R.F Kuang fully formed the Nikara Empire, with a long intricate history built on China’s own past. The events she uses in the books are based off real events in China’s history, and she does not back away from the brutality of war. She includes all the details of how gory and horrendous war is and I think that helps give so much emphasis to the book.

Did I mention that R.F. Kuang published The Poppy War when she was only 22 years old? Yeah, that’s how talented she is.

full review of The Poppy War

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Have you read any of the books I mentioned?
What were some of your favorite reads from 2022?