Somehow the end of the year is here. And we're all here. And I still feel like placing this post in this space. So I shall. With gratitude and a certain wistful hope. For us all. But especially for these books, the people that walk them, their words, and their creators.
(listed in the order in which I read them)
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian
You Were Made to Be Mine by Julie Anne Long
Impossible by Sarah Lotz
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary
Fire Season by K.D. Casey
Husband Material by Alexis Hall
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Lore Olympus, Vol. 3 by Rachel Smythe
Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 6 by Beth Brower
Daniel Cabot Puts Down Roots by Cat Sebastian
Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell
FYI, that's 10 contemporaries, 5 historicals, and 4 fantasies. Of those, 9 are romances, 2 are mysteries, 2 are fairy tales, 2 are retellings, 1 is a graphic novel, and 1 is a collection of short stories. I loved them all.
Best New Discovery of 2022
I mean, come on. Her tagline is "Fall in Love. Eat the rich." I didn't stand a chance. She also appeared twice on my best of the year list, which is quite a rarified place to land! I'm cheating a bit here, because I had actually read some of Cat Sebastian's books prior to 2022, but I feel like this was the year I really discovered what she could do, you know? Holy smokes, the woman can write the hell out of a book. But do you know what I love best about her words? She is so gentle. She is so dashed gentle with her characters and with their hearts.
Best Books I Read in 2022 That Were Published in a Different Year
Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews
No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole
I'm Only Wicked with You by Julie Anne Long
Repeat, Play, and Lick by Kylie Scott
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
Peter Cabot Gets Lost by Cat Sebastian
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
Happy New Year!
Thank you thank you! for publishing this post in this space. I look forward to it every year:)
ReplyDeleteThis makes my day. <3
DeleteSuch a good stack.
ReplyDeleteIt has a certain something, doesn't it?
DeleteThank you! I look forward to this list every year; it makes me so happy. I always find books I haven't read, congratulate myself on my good taste when I see books I've read on the list, and remember that, even when times are tough, there are always books to escape into.
ReplyDeleteThere are always books. Thank goodness. Congratulate yourself indeed! I love it.
DeleteThank you so much for posting this! I always mine it like a dwarf looking for precious things.
ReplyDelete<3 <3 <3
DeleteAgree about Cat Sebastian and her gentleness! Have you read HITHER, PAGE? Would recommend!
ReplyDeleteAgree about Cat Sebastian and her gentleness! Have you read HITHER, PAGE? Would recommend! You can find it second-hand (from Abebooks and such)
ReplyDeleteI have! Thoroughly enjoyed it.
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