Top Ten Books I Read in 2022

Hello and welcome to my second annual top books list. Last year I read 37 books, and selected my top five. This year, thanks to audiobooks and novellas, I almost doubled that amount, ending the year with 60 completed books, so I’ve decided to upgrade to a top ten this year.

Like last year, these books were chosen based on my personal taste/feelings and are not in any specific order. I read a variety of genres, but especially enjoy mythological retellings, horror, and mystery.

1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I know I said these books weren’t in order, but this was easily the most enjoyable book I read this year. I’d heard of it last year because it was trending everywhere. I snagged the audiobook and I *fully* recommend it. I found myself manufacturing places to listen to Evelyn’s captivating story. Romance, intrigue, drama - not my typical style, but so good.

2. Fight Like a Girl by Aiki Flinthart

This one is more valuable than enjoyable. Flinthart is a long time martial artist and she used that expertise and knowledge to help us write better, more believable fight scenes. I can see myself returning to this book throughout my writing career.

3. The Girl in the Well by Rin Chupeco

I first read Rin Chupeco’s work in their Bone Witch series. This story is a creepy little horror story about a ghost from a well and the boy who can see her. The sequel, The Suffering, is excellent as well.

4. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

I may have said that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was the best book I read this year, but this is the one that is deepest in my heart. I grew up with this movie, but didn’t find the book until I was an adult. A beautiful, heartbreaking classic.

5. The Cold is in her Bones by Peternelle Van Arsdale

A unique and fascinating adaptation of the Medusa myth. A young girl faces a trauma, but instead of compassion, everyone blames her and she retreats to live alone, but not before cursing the villagers who shunned her. A powerful story about women, friendship, and strength.

6. January Fifteenth by Rachel Swirsky

An interesting thought experiment about what a world with Universal Basic Income could look like. It reads more like an anthology than a novel, which allows for a variety of characters and viewpoints.

7. The Guest List by Lucy Foley

I love a good mystery. Despite the fact that I guessed most of the twists, this book still kept me guessing for a long time. By keeping the victim and the killer secret, Foley is able to layer on the mystery and misdirection while building tension.

8. The Bone Orchard by Sarah A. Mueller

One of the first books I read this year, and one of the strangest. It’s about a woman who runs a brothel full of clones of aspects of herself. Read my full review on Horror Tree

9. The Picture Bride by Lee Geum-yi

A novel about women who travelled to a new world for a new husband based only on a photograph from a shady matchmaker. I quickly became invested in their lives and friendships. Read my full review on Horror Tree

10. Hooked by A. C. Wise

A.C. Wise’s sequel to Wendy, Darling, a book that made my top five last year (my review), does not disappoint. I was hesitantly excited about this sequel and at first I wasn’t sure how I felt, but was soon drawn back into this dark Neverland. While I think the first book is stronger, the exploration of Captain Hook and Wendy’s complicated relationship with her daughter expands the world and the characters well.