I had two reading goals in 2022.
-Read 27 books (27 is my lucky number)
-Read 5 specific books (I now know this is called a TBR or to be read list)
I accomplished neither 100% but, despite that, I actually read more than I did in 2021. Having discovered the worlds of BookTube, BookTok and InstaBook, I have added more books to my Amazon book list than ever before. I also signed back into Goodreads for the first time in forever and logged my 2022 reads. Dare I say, I am on a roll?
I have made reading goals for 2023 (and created a TBR) and I plan to share those in a separate post. But first, I wanted to talk a bit about the books I read last year and what I thought of them. I rated all of the books below on a scale of 1-5. I wanted to note that my ratings are not comparing these books to each other necessarily, but to other books in their same genres or to similar books I've read.
I didn't do terribly on my first goal. I actually read 21 books last year. But of the five I said I would read, I only actually read one.
On my TBR for 2022 were the following:
- Confessions of a Shopaholic- Sophie Kinsella
- Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore- Robin Sloan
- Ready Player One- Ernest Cline
- The Green Mile- Stephen King
- The Secret Adversary- Agatha Christie
As previously stated, I only read one of these books. I'll start with that one.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My Rating: 3/5
Synopsis: This story follows a man working the night shift at a 24-hour bookstore. While working here, he uncovers mysterious information about his eccentric boss as well as a very old secret society.
Review: I actually started reading this book back in 2015. And, I'm going to be honest, I bought this book because I thought it was about a magic bookstore. It is not. In fact, there is no magic to be found in this book. Not in the supernatural sense anyway. There is some adventuring and secrets to be uncovered but, overall, it wasn't my favorite. It took me 7 years to finish it, if that tells you anything. It wasn't a bad book, perse, and I didn't hate it, but it was a little slow for me and just didn't keep me invested until right at the end. I really had to make myself finish this one.
Verity- Colleen Hoover
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: This book is about a woman who accepts a job as a ghost writer for a popular author named Verity, who has had a mysterious accident and can no longer write. While going through Vertiy's office to find notes on the books she is writing, the woman finds an unpublished manuscript Verity wrote. As she reads the manuscript, lines between fiction and reality start to blur.
Review: This book was insane. And I loved it. It was bizarre and sometimes I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. This book may not be for everyone, and it does come with a lot of trigger warnings, but I was intrigued, disturbed and a little freaked out reading this book. I thought it was great.
It Ends With Us- Colleen Hoover
My Rating: 3/5
Synopsis: It Ends With Us follows a woman in past and present as she deals with domestic abuse, both as a witness and then as a victim herself.
Review: This book was fine. I can appreciate what she was trying to do, which was to give one perspective on domestic abuse (as she witnessed growing up). As you might suspect, the book was not a happy one. I didn't really like the way the past portion was written (though it was unique I will admit) and I couldn't root for the the romance (not the abusive one obviously, but there was another). I realize you are not supposed to be happy reading a book like this, but I just didn't enjoy reading it. As of now I don't plan to read the sequel and I fear Colleen's other books are more like this one than Verity.
The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, The Final Gambit- Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: After losing her mother, teenager Avery Graham is struggling through high school. Until, that is, she receives an invitation to the reading of a billionaire's will. Much to the surprise and dismay of his family, the old man has left everything to Avery. But why?
Review: I am grouping these books together because that is how I think of them. Growing up, one of my dreams was to be in a mansion with secret passages. (Anyone remember that episode of Saved by the Bell where Lisa was hiding behind the fireplace?) I also love puzzles and riddles and mysteries. Basically, this series was right up my alley. I really enjoyed these books and loved the characters (I was especially partial to Jameson Hawthorne). This is honestly one of my favorite young adult series I've ever read.
Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair, The Hand on the Wall & The Box in the Woods - Maureen Johnson
My Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis: This series follows Stevie Bell, a new student at the elite Ellingham Academy. Stevie wants to be a detective and is determined to solve the mystery of what happened at the academy years before. But as she investigates this old mystery, a new one arises a little too close to home.
Review: This series was actually recommended to me by someone at work after I mentioned to them I loved the Inheritance Games series. The first three books were part of the initial series and the Box in the Woods was more of a standalone. But, once again, I felt the need to group them all together. I do really like these books (though not quite as much as IG). I enjoyed the mystery elements and the twists along the way. Stevie reminds me a bit of Charlotte Holmes, if you've read that series. Very enjoyable young adult mysteries.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder- Holly Jackson
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Pip has to do a project for school and decides to pick a local murder mystery. As she digs into this cold case, she discovers more than she bargained for.
Review: Along the same lines as the previously mentioned young adult mysteries, I read the first book in the Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. I haven't read the others yet, but this was actually the last book I read in 2022. I did like this series, but I don't love it so far. I probably will read the next book because I'm curious about some details. I liked the way the story was told, but I wasn't crazy about the ending of the book.
The Cruel Price, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories - Holly Black
My Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis: This series follows Jude, a human girl living in the magical world of Elfhame. Jude's goal in life is to prove herself to the supernatural world, but prince Carden's seems to be to make her life miserable.
Review: This was one of the first (If not the first? I can't remember another at this moment.) young adult fantasy series I've read and I really liked it. It was strange at first, getting past the tails and fur and caps soaked with blood, but you get used to it. Jude made a lot of questionable decisions throughout, but that was to be expected. The Wicked King was probably my favorite of the series but I liked them all. Overall I really enjoyed it and do plan to read Holly Black's newest book coming out in 2023.
The Ballad of Never After- Stephanie Garber
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: The 2nd book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series follows Evangeline and Jacks as they encounter another, more murderous, curse. And try to ignore the feelings that are creeping in.
Review: I love this series so far. There is one more book coming out in 2023 and I can't wait to read it. Jacks is a great anti-hero and I just can't help but love him despite his treacherous ways. If you haven't read the first book, definitely start there. In fact, if you haven't read Stephanie Garber's other series Caraval, give it a read first. It is not strictly necessary, but helpful. Also that series is amazing and one of my favorites.
The Night Circus- Erin Morgenstern
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: The circus comes at night. Two magicians have been training their whole lives for an ultimate showdown. But the problem is, they don't know who their opponent is. They only know where their battle will take place. At the Night Circus.
Review: This was a book I saw recommended by a BookTuber. It sounded like something I would be interested in and it pretty much was. It was a bit of a slow build for my taste, and parts were confusing, but overall I enjoyed the book. It wasn't what I expected but I like how everything came together in the end.
The Ex Hex- Erin Sterling
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: When Vivienne's boyfriend broke her heart, she decided to put a hex on him. A fake hex of course. But nine years later, when Ryhs comes back to town, he finds himself dealing with strange happenings. It's almost like...he's cursed.
Review: Moving into the realm of chicklit, this was a fun, easy, magical read. If you like chicklit and a little witchery, you will enjoy this book.
Escort Girl- Stephanie Bond
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: This serial novel focuses on Ester, the daughter of two formerly rich parents. Ester, desperate for a job, finds employment at a PR firm as an escort. No, not that kind of escort. She picks up clients and accompanies them to meetings and events, making sure they arrive on time and put their best face forward. But what happens when one of her clients is murdered?
Review: I enjoy Stephanie Bond's serial novels. She has been releasing them since 2016. If you are not familiar with a serial, it just means the story is released in parts. In this case, a new chapter is released every day from July 1 - December 31 on her website. Or, you can purchase one month at a time from the Kindle store at the first of each month. This wasn't my favorite of the serials she has done, but I did enjoy it.
The Club- Ellery Lloyd
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Island Home is the latest opening for the Home Company, which specializes in privacy and finery for the most elite celebrities. Told from four perspectives, this book spans the opening weekend of Island Home and some mysterious deaths that take place. No one is who they seem to be.
Review: This book started really slow for me. In fact, it was slow up until the last quarter of the book. It was hard to get into this book and I kept getting two of the characters mixed up almost the entire time. I did like the eventual reveals and there were many plot twists. It just took way too long to get there. I thought the book was well written and I understand why all of the details were put in, it was just very slow for me personally.
The Guest List- Lucy Foley
My Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis: The story, told from 5 perspectives, follows characters over a wedding weekend on a secluded island. Along the way, someone is murdered, and everyone has a secret that could make them the prime suspect.
Review: Being a Reese's book club book might make you think I would rate it higher. But I just can't do it. I did enjoy the mystery, though the present day parts were a bit drawn out, and there were good twists. But what I didn't like were the characters. Honestly, by the end of the book, I wished almost all of them would be murdered. There were only two characters I liked and everyone else sucked big time. I was so annoyed by the time I finished the book, I couldn't even focus on the actual murder.
So there you have it. All of the books I read in 2022. Overall, I had a decent reading year and didn't totally despise anything I read. Hopefully, I can keep reading more in 2023.
