All The Books I Read in 2022 - With My Top Ten Favourites
At the beginning of the year I promised myself I would read (or listen) to more books for escapism from the trials of real life.
I actually ended up consuming nearly 31 books in the space of the year (‘nearly’ because I didn’t finish one as I just couldn’t get along with it). I’ve listed everything I read below but first I’ve narrowed a shortlist of my ten favourites from the year.
My top ten reads from 2022 - in no particular order…
Find Your Unicorn Space - Eve Rodsky
All about reclaiming your creative life in a too-busy world, rediscovering your interests and cultivating creativity. I interpreted it as the ultimate in self - care and it’s one of the factors which made me invest the time in my new found creative hobby of ceramics! On my list to read for this year is ‘Fair Play’ by the same author.
Our Missing Hearts - Celeste Ng
From the author of Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You (both of which are utterly brilliant). A somewhat scary dystopian novel with the strength of a Mother’s love at it’s core. Couldn’t put this down - the characters of Bird and Margaret are so endearing.
Counterfeit - Kirsten Chen
An easy read about two Chinese American women who create a global business from a counterfeit handbag scheme. Fast paced with a great storyline, heaps of glamour and a darker undertone about women demanding more from life.
Embrace Your Almost - Jordan Lee Dooley
This book spoke to me really deeply - for when life, and business doesn’t quite go to plan or if you’d hoped to be in a different place at this time in your life - the ‘almost’ moments - this book will help you to navigate, redefine what success is to you and clarify what you really want in a world that says you should want to have it all.
How to Kill Your Family - Bella Mackie
Thankfully not a ‘how-to’ manual as the title might lead you to believe, this (fiction) book is funny, cleverly written and unputdownable with a brilliant plot twist. Quite dark in places.
Everything is Figureoutable - Marie Forleo
If you’ve not come across Marie Forleo before - run, don’t walk to this book, her podcasts, her Instagram feed and Marie TV! They are my go-to for when I feel a bit lost and need motivation and inspiration. Her zest, outlook, wisdom and experience are addictive and this book will leave you feeling like you can do anything.
Magpie - Elizabeth Day
This is a tense psychological drama on the theme of all-consuming infertility. The character of Marisa is complex and emotional and I can’t say much more without spoiling the clever storyline! A great read.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid
A mesmerising and un-put-down-able story of the love and life of Hollywood star, Evelyn Hugo. Full of love, glamour, fame and classic Hollywood. A really easy read and I just loved Evelyn.
Sorrow and Bliss - Meg Mason
A mental illness curbs one woman's stab at a happy marriage in a devastating and sharply funny love story. I laughed out loud one moment and felt close to tears the next.
The Last Thing He Told Me - Laura Dave
This book wasn’t fast paced but a slow burner - a psychological roller coaster I couldn’t put down. It’s really gripping and cleverly written. Pure escapism. UPDATE: this is now a series on Apple TV+ which is brilliant!
Again, Rachel - Marian Keyes
I’ve read every single book written by Marian Keyes and this has to be the one that touched me deepest. A beautiful and tender account of heartbreaking baby loss and how this spreads to every corner of your life. Despite the distressing subject this still had me in floods of laughter because Marian Keyes is so bloody funny.
The longlist - everything I read (or listened to) in 2022:
L.A. Weather - María Amparo Escandón (7/10)
Vince and Joy - Lisa Jewell (6/10)
Counterfeit - Kirsten Chen (9/10)
The Last Thing He Told Me - Laura Dave (9/10)
Our Missing Hearts - Celeste Ng (1o/10)
Everything is Figureoutable - Marie Forleo (9/10)
Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid (9/10)
Embrace your Almost - Jordan Lee Dooley (9/10)
Find Your Unicorn Space - Eve Rodsky (9/10)
Apples Never Fall - Liane Moriaty (8/10)
Sorrow and Bliss - Meg Mason (9/10)
Both of You - Adele Parks (8/10)
The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell (8/10)
The Pull of The Stars - Emma Donoghue (8/10)
The Club - Ellery Lloyd (7/10)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid (9/10)
Unsettled Ground - Claire Fuller (7/10)
Fault Lines - Emily Itami (8/10)
The Paris Apartment - Lucy Foley (6/10)
One Last Secret - Adele Parks (7/10)
Magpie - Elizabeth Day (9/10)
The Maid - Nita Prose (8/10)
Lucky - Marissa Stapley (6/10)
Crying in H Mart - Michelle Zauner (8/10)
How Are You, Really - Jenna Kutcher (8/10)
How to Kill Your Family - Bella Mackie (9/10)
Again, Rachel - Marian Keyes (10/10)
Radically Content: Being Satisfied in an Endlessly Dissatisfied World - Jamie Varon (9/10)
Designing Your Life - Bill Burnett (8/10)
The High 5 Habit - Mel Robbins (6/10)
No One Is Talking About This - Patricia Lockwood (2/10 - this is the one I couldn’t get on with!)
