The Best Books of 2022
The Best Books of 2022: My Top 20 Favorites
By: Brittany Shields
I read 101 books in 2022!
You can browse the whole list HERE.
I hate picking favorites especially when there are so many to choose from. But I’ve tried really hard to narrow down to books I would recommend the most across a variety of genres.
[Disclaimer: in case this title was misleading, most of these were published in 2022, but not all of them]
I’ve got 20 books. Plus a few honorable mentions because I have no shelf control. (Also if you want a shirt that says that, visit my shop because I created one)
There is a brief description next to the book cover, but click my review links to get more details and my thoughts on each book!
ALSO……….
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And comment below what your favorite reads of last year were.
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[Also check out my list of Most Anticipated Books of 2023]
Without further ado, here’s the best books I read in 2022 in absolutely no particular order.
The Prisoner by B.A. Paris
“I should be more afraid. But I’m not scared of dying, not anymore. Not after everything.”
There is nothing necessarily unique or particularly shocking about this book but it’s a good suspenseful thriller.
An ill-fated decision throws Amelie into the worst month of her life— full of isolation, lies, murder, and of course, being kidnapped. The prisoner.
Her life has unraveled and she is slave to her nightmares and questions.
Can she survive long enough to get answers?
If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller.
[This was a 2022 release]
A Deadly Education (The Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik
“You don’t ever get anything in here without paying for it. Ever.”
I’ve enjoyed every Naomi Novik book I’ve read thus far.
This is a story of a wizarding school and the creatures who want to eat wizards.
It’s like a more cutthroat version of Harry Potter and instead of a naive, eager, friendly male protagonist, we have a female protagonist (Galadriel) who is one part Captain Marvel two parts April from Parks and Rec.
Novik is a great world-builder and character developer.
If you’re looking for a fun, creative, yet harrowing fantasy series, this is it! (As of now, I’ve read/reviewed the first two books)
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
“I love being the one who makes him weird.”
I’ve seen Emily Henry’s books popping up everywhere so I figured I should probably read one.
This one lived up to the hype!
It’s a funny, feel-good rom-com about two best friends who clearly love each other, but it takes them decades of vacationing together to finally figure it out.
I tend to stay away from romance novels because I don’t like to read about people having sex, but this was fairly clean considering the genre.
Henry created two really likable and weird characters that will make you laugh.
If all Henry’s books are like this, I’ll probably read more!
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Weir is known for his book The Martian, which apparently I live under a rock because I’d never heard of nor read it.
But I will now because I really liked this book!
Here we have a science teacher and his BFF alien buddy science and engineer the crap out of space stuff to save their planets from a star-eating microbe.
It’s a bit more complicated than that, but that’s the main gist!
Weir fashions a brilliant, humorous, and endearing story filled with complicated science that he generally dumbs down for us, giving us a very pleasant book.
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction of 2021 and I think it definitely deserves its title.
(Also I think a movie adaptation might be in the works if you want to read the book before the movie comes out)
Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer
“On the following pages, you will gain wisdom to help you listen well to your children— to discern their thoughts and questions, and then guide them in thinking critically and biblically about the postmodern culture they face.”
I’ve recommended these books so many times this year! They are both books I think every parent should read/own because they are invaluable in helping our kids discern and live out truth. More details in the reviews!
[The left book was released in 2022]
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
“There are scars on my heart, just as thick, as disfiguring as those on my face. I know they’re there. I hope some undamaged tissue remains, a patch through which love can come in and flow out. I hope.”
Eleanor Oliphant is fine. She has her job and her routine and she needs no one else.
She has convinced herself that she is content with her life.
And then she has an unexpected encounter with an IT guy from her office who comes to fix her computer. It’s a turning point. Little by little she starts to break her routine. She makes changes and concessions.
It’s a little chip in the dam that’s going to break and change Eleanor’s life for the better.
We’re currently in a world where people are literally dying of loneliness and I love how this book captures our need for community and relationship.
Sis, Take a Breath: Encouragement for the Woman Who’s Trying to Live and Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to Take a Nap) by Kirsten Watson
“God’s own breath—animates our lives… Our need for truth is as deep as our need for oxygen.”
I was worried this was going to be another rendition of Rachel Hollis’ Girl Wash Your Face, but thankfully twas not!
Watson, mother of 7 and wife to NFL player and author Benjamin Watson, clearly articulates the gospel and our need of a Savior and the Holy Spirit to work in us.
It’s a very relatable and encouraging book because she acknowledges the struggles of being a mom and a wife in all its chaos but then points us to Christ and the gospel of his sufficiency and redemption.
Her writing is genuine and transparent and always lands on hope.
[This was released in 2022]
A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson
“Everything is a calculated move in this house. Nothing is as it seems. Ever.”
Olson’s first book, Sing Me Forgotten made it onto my list of Best Books of 2021. That book was themed around music and was a great fantasy/love story.
A Forgery of Roses is themed around a different art— painting.And while it does have a love story, it’s secondary to the mystery of the book.
This is a fantasy book set in a creative world where people who use magic (to make portraits come to life) are considered dangerous.
The protagonist is black-mailed into using her magic to help a wealthy family only to discover something sinister is afoot.
This book was interesting, clever, mysterious, and suspenseful.
It has a profound title and a lot of layers. Definitely worth reading! I hope Olson has a new book coming out in 2023…
[This was released in 2022]
Live Your Truth (and Other Lies) by Alisa Childers
“Will you choose to stand on the unchanging truth of the God-breathed Scriptures, or will you choose whatever trendy catchphrase people are currently obsessed with?”
Alisa Childers was part of the Christian band ZOEGirl back in the 90s. She had her own deconstruction journey and questioned her faith and Christianity. In her study and questioning, she reconstructed in truth and is now an apologist.
‘Living your truth’ is a popular phrase today. In fact there are a lot of phrases out there that sound good but are actually rooted in lies.
It’s concerning how many Christians espouse these lies, whether intentionally or not.
This easy to read book is bold truth and wherever you stand on these phrases, it’s worth pondering whether the underlying principles of these phrases align with the gospel message.
[This was released in 2022]
Breathless by Amy McCulloch
“There were even more ways to die on the mountain than she had imagined.”
How would you like to be a vulnerable mountain climber on a precarious peak with not only natural dangers to worry about, but a murderer?!
That’s where Cecily finds herself in Breathless.
But who is it and why won’t anyone take her seriously? Is it just altitude sickness affecting her judgment?
Let’s just say… you’ll want to take a peak at this book…
What I liked most about this book was that McCulloch wrote from personal experience climbing the 8th highest mountain.
Plus part of the premise of this book is based on a true story of a man who summited all 14 mountains over 8000 meters in 7 months. And you can watch it on the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.
This book was both suspenseful and interesting!
[This was released in 2022]
Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
“What do I have against sleep?”
”You’re afraid of what you do in your sleep.”
The ‘what if’ of this book is this: What if someone experienced a traumatic event that created insomnia and paranoia and whenever she went to sleep she wakes up and forgets everything that happened since the traumatic event? And what if she’s either dangerous or in danger?
Liv wakes up on a park bench with no memory of why she is there. And she has written notes all over her hands that say things like: STAY AWAKE, DON’T SLEEP, TRUST NO ONE, DON’T TALK TO THE POLICE, EVER!
Oh, and there’s a bloody knife in her pocket.
A very fast-paced clean thriller that you’ll probably read in one sitting.
[This was released in 2022]
Humble Moms: How the Work of Christ Sustains the Work of Motherhood by Kristen Wetherell
“We are moms who love our children and know the privilege of our high calling, but see its demands, along with our struggles and shortcomings, and know, without a doubt, how much we need encouragement and help along the way.”
This is somewhat similar to Sis, Take a Breath mentioned above, but it’s still worth reading both. At least if you’re a weary mom like me!
Kristen Wetherell gets me!
Motherhood is hard. So how do we do it?
How do we endure? How do we love our kids when we don’t like them? Where do we get the strength and joy to not just survive each day, but do it with less sinful behavior? (my words, not hers)
There was a lot of encouragement in this book and I think all moms, almost moms, or hopefully moms should read it!
[This was released in 2022]
Discrimination and Disparities by Thomas Sowell
“Contrary to much that has been said, disparities in socioeconomic outcomes are neither improbable from a theoretical standpoint nor uncommon from an empirical standpoint.”
Ibram X. Kendi, famous anti-racist activist, has famously said, “When I see racial disparities, I see racism.”
But is it true? Do disparities equal discrimination?
That is the question Thomas Sowell, influential African-American economist and social theorist, sets out to consider in this book.
This book should be required reading.
If you even have an inkling of interest in social justice, economics, or what creates disparities in the world, you will find this book very enlightening.
Even if you don’t expect to agree with everything he says or how he says it, this would still be a valuable read. He gives so much to consider, think about, discuss, and learn and at the very least, it will jump start your critical thinking muscles!
Suffering Wisely and Well: The Grief of Job and the Grace of God by Eric Ortlund
“The world is both far worse and far better than we ever suspected… But God’s assurance of victory over that [chaos and evil] is far calmer and happier than we ever suspected.”
Sometimes we experience pain, suffering, and grief that is inexplicable.
Ortlund has written a very insightful book on a seemingly well-known story.
Job is famous for his suffering and is often referenced that reason. But reading this book taught me so much more about Job-like suffering and put what I already knew into the correct context.
If you’ve experienced your own suffering, this book will be a comfort and a hope. If you haven’t had a Job-like experience, it’s still worth reading to prepare yourself for what may come or to understand loved ones who are going through it now.
This is now one of my go-to recommendations on the topic of suffering.
[This was released in 2022]
The Lady’s Mine by Francine Rivers
“Courage could be reckless, and recklessness brought consequences.”
This aptly and cleverly titled historical fiction/romance novel follows Kathryn Walsh, sent away from her wealthy stepfather and mother to make a living in California with the inheritance she received from her uncle.
She’s adamant that she’ll never get married, but meets Matthias Beck who quickly becomes determined to marry her… same as every other mining bachelor in the town.
Kathryn, fighter for women’s rights, sets to work reviving the town newspaper, investigating the gold mine she inherited, and navigating the waters of a possible romance.
There are a lot of threads in this story woven together to make a pretty enjoyable read. I thought it would make a pretty good TV series!
[This was released in 2022]
The It Girl by Ruth Ware
“She has never felt more haunted— by what happened to April, and by what she, Hannah, may have done to an innocent man. And now haunted too by what she’s doing to her old friends.”
Hannah is haunted by the fact that her eyewitness testimony may have sent an innocent man to prison for the murder of her roommate (the ‘it’ girl) back when she was at Oxford.
Does that mean a murderer is still out there?
She won’t rest until she gets to the bottom of it.
Although there was a bit of a slow burn to this one, and a lot of swearing, the ending was really good. I’m not sure if I’m a fan of Ruth Ware and most likely won’t continue to read her books, but if swearing doesn’t bother you too much, this is a great thriller that even if you think you have it figured out, will make you second guess.
[This was released in 2022]
Death and the Conjuror (Joseph Spector #1) by Tom Mead
“I’ve gone from clueless to completely hornswoggled.”
Sometimes you just want an Agatha Christie type classic locked-room mystery set in London during the 1930s.
And this is a great direction to go down.
The main character is a magician-turned-sleuth which personally is my favorite kind of detective.
This book is not an intense thriller but a clever and complex mystery. I didn’t solve it but the clues were there for those who had the time and wherewithal to dissect them.
Since it’s a series, I’m looking forward to getting to know the characters better and seeing what other cases he cracks.
I think this book is great for when you need a break from intensity.
[This was released in 2022]
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
“With a glimmer of willingness, language can do so much to squash independent thinking, obscure truths, encourage confirmation bias, and emotionally charge experiences such that no other way of life seems possible.”
I found this book to be thought-provoking and interesting.
Montell’s dad was in a cult when he was younger so she has a unique background and source to write this book from.
She does a compelling job of exposing the dangers of loaded language, reinvention of words, thought terminating phrases, and us vs them rhetoric. She reveals it in actual cults and also, less seriously, in places like MLMs and fitness groups.
She makes some comments or observations that I don’t agree with or have to roll my eyes a bit, but the overall message of her book is one I agree with and think is super important to think about!
The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker
“You’re a hopeless romantic and an incurable optimist. Uh, usually.”
The Rom-Com Agenda is pretty much exactly what you’d expect it to be— light, funny, no twists or turns, happy ending.
It’s the classic: Girl witnesses Guy getting dumped. Guy becomes depressed and goes on a makeover mission to get his lover back. Girl becomes involved in the makeover process. There’s a cat, a fireplace, and a long wait for Guy to realize Girl is the love of his life. A moment of uncertainty to prove himself. And Boom. Guy and Girl are in love.
When you read a rom-com, you’re not looking for everything to be realistic or deep and profound. You just want to be entertained and to relive the excitement of new love.
For the genre it’s in, I think it’s a really good read. Plus bonus points to the author for the Kirk reference.
[This one releases in 2023]
Honorable Mentions
These books are all part of a series and they’re not the first books so I thought I would add them at the end because they were really good but you would probably want to start the series from the beginning! (Except the Jonathan Stride series you probably want to start on like book 4 or 5…)
Tracy Crosswhite Series by Robert Dugoni
Nina Guerrera Series
by Isabella Maldonado
Jonathan Stride Series
by Brian Freeman
Abby Mullen Thrillers
by Mike Omer
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