2022 in 31 books
And the biggest lesson I learned during my quest to read 40 books this year is...
You don’t have to finish every book you start.
I’ll come back to this. (Also, if you only stopped by for the book reccos, scroll down just a bit.)
I was rather disappointed in myself for coming up short of my annual reading goal of 40 books. I’ll barely squeak by with 31 — probably, I hope — because at the time of this writing I am 80% of the way through Lily King’s Writers and Lovers and about to tear through Brazen by Julia Haart during our nine-hour drive to Asheville, NC this weekend.
I decided to give myself grace because there were somewhere between 8 – 10 books I started and stopped this year. Some after two pages, others after two chapters, and one after about 38%. (My Kindle tells me percentages.)
**Side note, I do not count audiobooks toward my book reading goals. I understand this is a hot topic. As a writer, I’m all about seeing words on pages, but as a human I know we’re all unique so I could care less how you devour your content — it’s all better than wasting hours scrolling Instagram!
Here are the books I read in 2022, and my brief thoughts:
First We Make the Beast Beautiful | Sarah Wilson – This is the most physically beautiful book and has a permanent place on my console table. It is also a powerful memoir that turns the idea of anxiety on its head while offering realistic advice straight from one person who suffers so greatly.
Anti-Anxiety Diet | Sarah Wilson – I’m tired of non-registered dieticians prescribing nutritional direction, so…pass.
Pretty Girls | Karen Slaughter – With a name like that I guess you have to become an author who writes thrillers, but this one was so disturbingly gruesome I just couldn’t connect.
A Slow Fire Burning | Paula Hawkins – I have multiple stars drawn by this title on the list in my planner, so take that as “highly recommended”. It’s a cleverly-spun murder mystery with an intriguing cast of characters.
Everything is F*cked | Mark Manson – As a companion book to my favorite self-development read of all time, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, I expected more. I wasn’t a fan of this one and that’s all I remember.
Four Winds | Kristin Hannah – Tragic. Just tragic. This Dust Bowl/Gold Rush-era story made me realize there is so much of a twisted horrible history in our country that school conveniently “forgets” to teach us.
Early Morning Riser | Katherine Heiny – I admit I don’t much remember this one besides my extreme annoyance with the main character. Alas, I am rarely a fan of “beach read”-style novels with brightly colored covers and block letter titles.
The Girls | Emma Cline – This is maybe the fourth time I have read this. Emma has a beautiful way with words and brings complex characters to life. I especially love the 60s San Francisco setting and the Manson-murder-adjacent storyline.
Greenlights | Matthew McConaughey – After listening to Matthew’s silky voice over the audiobook version, I knew I needed to read this and highlight the ish out of every page. Life lessons galore! And his stories are simply unbelievable.
Calypso | David Sedaris – My favorite author. I re-read his collections of short autobiographical stories constantly (including Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and Me Talk Pretty One Day), especially when I am seeking inspiration for my own writing. I simultaneously laugh and cry, then pray for a drop of his storytelling talent.
Pure | Linda Kay Klein – Interesting memoir, particularly for any woman who also has grown up in the Evangelical church. It’s a riveting commentary on women’s sexuality and place in the world, as taught by the church. It fanned the flame for my spiritual rediscovery era.
Weekend Away | Sarah Alderson – Interesting thriller, but I’m neutral on this one. The movie wasn’t terrible, but not rewatch-worthy.
The Club | Ellery Llyod – Lots of writers flocked to thrillers after witnessing the success of Gone Girl, but so many have failed to deliver in the genre. This book comes close. Neat concept, decent writing, fun characters, and a gripping story.
Midnight Library | Matt Haig – One of my favorite books of all time. I love the concept of pondering how one moment can change the entire outcome of a life, and in this story, the character lives multiple “could-have-beens” during a near-death experience. Must-read!
The Maid | Nita Prose – Quirky character, and does involve a murder mystery and warm and fuzzy ending (sorry for the spoiler?).
The Sanatorium | Sarah Pearse – Riveting thriller, but alas I was disappointed by the ending and yet another woman character who can’t get her sh*t together. I tried reading the follow-up, The Retreat, which quickly became one of eight or so books I did not finish this year.
The Midnight Circus | Jane Yolen – I accidentally read this when I meant to check out The Night Circus. I actually loved it. It’s a quaint collection of charming short stories.
The Haunting of Hill House | Shirley Jackson – I cannot handle horror at all, but this book is not like the show (I’ve been told, since I refuse to watch it). The gothic horror tale is brilliantly written with witty banter — I could not get enough of the dialogue.
The Grownup | Gillian Flynn – This captivating and hilarious coming-of-age short story by one of my favorite authors contains some of the best lines ever written.
Verity | Colleen Hoover – I admit I am not a Colleen Hoover fanatic — I’ve picked up and put down a few of her books this year — but this story was intriguing and made the perfect beach read while I was in Hawaii. It also prompted conversations with other beachgoers, which is how I discovered Hoover has quite the obsessed fan club. Alas, I will not be joining.
The Paris Apartment | Lucy Foley – Another day, another thriller involving another 20-something girl who is lost in the world…meh.
Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern - As my friend Janine says, this novel is enchanting. It truly is. It took me a loooong time to get through, though, so buckle up. But definitely add it to your list. It’s so unique!
The Last Mrs. Parrish | Liv Constantine – Twisted tale, I read it quickly — vacation read for sure.
The Storyteller | Dave Grohl - Amazing autobiography of Nirvana/Foo Fighter musician. I devoured this in two days. My coworker and I agree it would make a great gift.
The [I’m blanking here] Year | I don’t remember the author - I read this Handmaid’s Tale-style book right after brain surgery, so I don’t recall the title nor author. Oops.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue | V. E. Schwab – Interesting story about a girl who is forgettable to everyone she meets. Hops through history a lot. I liked this one!
Eat, Pray, Love | Elizabeth Gilbert - I’ve read this several times but in my new era of spiritual discovery, it still gets me. It’s so rich in detail and heartache and recovery.
I’m Glad My Mom Died | Jeanette McCurdy – This tragic yet comedic memoir is a fascinating story, but beware of triggers as it discusses her battle with eating disorders and mental health issues in great detail. Otherwise, I recommend it for a fast read.
Atomic Habits | James Clear – Everything you need to know and take away from this book is in the bullet point chapter summaries. Save your time, and still learn the lessons. Skip the fluff.
Writers and Lovers | Lily King – She may be my new favorite writer, next to Joan Didion and David Sedaris. She captures emotions and scenes so honestly and brilliantly without fluffy adjectives, and I loved rooting for this character as she grapples with tragedy, panic attacks, love interests, and writing a novel. Finally, a book about a struggling young woman I don’t want to chuck at the wall!
Brazen | Julia Haart – I haven’t watched My Unorthodox Life on Netflix yet, but I love a good story about women breaking free from fundamentalist ideologies/religions. I listened to Julia on The Skinny Confidential podcast and fell instantly in love with her gumption. I technically haven’t finished this at the time of posting, but am committed to it.
So back to my realization: you don’t have to finish every book you start.
This is a difficult concept for many, including my former self. I’ve suffered my way through so many pages over the years, and what for? A gold star? The clout of reading the classics or the latest trendy novel?
Nah.
The mentality I adopted this year — after some super draining relationships and a previous going nowhere job — was:
If it is not a fuck yes, it’s a fuck no.
This deserves a post all in itself, so that’ll be coming soon. Basically, why waste time and energy on those who suck us dry? On books, TV shows, and movies we don’t like? On people we don’t click with? Sure there are exceptions we can’t (easily) turn away from, but we definitely have the choice to say yes or no to certain situations — and the best place to practice this is with the books I read (and come to think of it, TV shows too — I’ve started and stopped a lot of those as well).
Simply put, if I’m not 100% in or excited, it’s going to be a fuck no from me. (Of course, this would be more politely said if I were to decline a person’s invitation or a plan or obligation).
In 2023, I challenge you to slam closed the books you don’t connect with,
that you aren’t excited to pick up. To gently close chapters on friendships no longer serving you. To search for alternatives to jobs lacking the trajectory or fulfillment you’re looking for. If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s this:
Life is too damn short to sit around reading shitty books
(and shitty is up to you to define!) because we aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow. I hope you can find inspiration in some fuck yes novels above, and drop your must-read in the comments below if you’re so inclined. Happy new year!