The Best Books I Read in 2022
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Goodbye, 2022!
Hey, bookworms! I’ve been MIA but I am back to close out the year!
I know it’s not exactly the end quite yet but regardless, I wanted to share my top 5 favorite books of 2022 with you all.
In between work, traveling, and social engagements, I managed to read around 31 books. Needless to say, some were hits and some were misses.
So without further ado, let’s get into the books that tickled my fancy.
Summary:
When disturbing and bizarre crimes transpire in an exclusive Charleston neighborhood, Southern housewife Patricia Campbell takes action against a being that has lived for hundreds of years.
With the help of her fellow housewives, Patricia becomes empowered to protect her children and her best friends by any means.
Why I loved it:
In one word, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is camp. Although this is marketed as a horror story, the addition of the bored Christian housewives creates a comical atmosphere.
The only reason why I’m giving it a lower rating is my disdain for how all of the African American characters are portrayed as the help.
This might not come as a surprise when you learn that the author, Grady Hendrix, is a white man from the South. Sigh.
Rating: 3/5
Summary:
Cassandra is an impoverished English teenager living in a deteriorating castle with her quirky family.
However, her life and status change when two handsome Americans come to town.
Why I loved it:
I Capture the Castle is a cozy cottagecore-like read with romance, the English countryside, and a clever narrator who speaks her mind.
This novel is at times both heartbreaking and hilarious. All in all, this is a lovely coming-of-age story.
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary:
Tristran Thorn is in love with a girl who does not give one f*** about him.
To win her over, he goes on a treacherous journey to capture a fallen star.
Why I loved it:
Stardust is a classic fairytale that was written specifically for adults.
It has elements of fantasy including fictional creatures and an enchanted realm.
Like any good fairytale, the characters find true love in the end.
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary:
Richard Papen transfers to a small college in Vermont and encounters a mysterious friend group that studies ancient Greek.
They reluctantly welcome him in and Richard quickly becomes a part of their enigmatic lives and psychological games.
Why I loved it:
There is too much to say about The Secret History. This is a masterpiece that kept me on edge the entire time I was reading it.
Without giving too much away, I will say that it’s incredibly dark and delves into the lengths people will go to be accepted by their peers.
Rating: 5/5
Summary:
Dorian Gray is hot, young, and beautiful. Like any sensible fellow, he wants to remain this way forever.
To keep his youth, he unknowingly makes a deal with a portrait painted by an admirer.
Why I loved it:
The Picture of Dorian Gray was published in 1890 so you can only imagine my shock when I realized this book is blatantly gay.
Moreover, it has plenty of drama and murder. I will admit that prior to reading it, I did not have high hopes for this book because of the time period it was written in.
19th-century literature can be stuffy and hard to follow. The Picture of Dorian Gray, however, is gothic perfection.
