I had a hard time with this post! It was hard to pick and choose. I am sure some of these were new in 2022 but not all of them are.
I seemed to read books this year that were mysterious, magical, with some animals and crazy thrown in there for good measure. I read eclectically and seasonally, and I am a huge mood reader. I will often start a book, not feel like reading it, put it down for a few months then pick it up again and love it. Anyway, and without any further preamble, here are my top favorite reads of the year!
Legends & Lattes: I just finished this yesterday so it is fresh in my mind. I absolutely loved this book about a retired orc who wants to open a coffee shop, and I devoured it in hours. It was delightfully cozy and warm, and it gave me all the comfy feels. It was perfect for this week of in between times. If you do read it, try to have a beverage and snack handy. You will need it. (Sci-fi Fantasy)
Greenglass House is such a fun read! So wintry and atmospheric, about travelers snowed in at the Greenglass House hotel during the holidays. It is very entertaining, and one of my very favorite things about it are the stories the different guests tell every night. There is a underlying mystery or two, and some other secrets as well but you will have to read to find out. (Review) (Middle Grade)
How to be a Good Creature: This book was a beautiful memoir about Sy Montgomery’s life in 13 animals that she shared her life with from childhood on. And what a menagerie it was. Each one represented her life and where that moment in her life placed her, and how that animal touched her soul. And in essence, in her words, taught her to be a good creature too. (Full Review) (Memoir)
Wildwood Whispers: I can’t think of this book without thinking of the lushness of summer. I literally wanted to move into this book, I just loved so much about it. This one was a romp through all the goodness of summer, blackberries and honey. (Full Review) (Magical Realism)
The Agathas: I stayed up way past my bed time while reading this one. I had to know what the heck happened. I needed the answer. It was so good. (YA, Mystery)
The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina: I don’t even know if I mentioned this one on my blog! I don’t know how I wouldn’t have but … it was amazing. It was so full of surprises and family and I loved it every second of it. (Magical Realism)
Gone-Away Lake: Another summery type book in my mind, full of adventure, quirky characters, cozy cottagecore feelings. I originally read it to preview as a read aloud for Wyatt and I but then fell in love with it myself! I don’t know how I missed this as a kid growing up but I am glad that I read it now. Very wholesome. I also read the second one immediately after I read this one, which if you know me and how weird I am about reading sequels, that is a very big deal. (Middle Grade)
My Best Friend’s Exorcism: Grady Hendrix almost always makes my list of favorites I feel like. This one gave me a Stranger Things vibe, with it being all retro and 80s. It was weird and creepy and gross at times, and there was a whole scene I just literally skipped over because I am a wuss, but it is also about loyalty and friendship. On some level as well, I believe there is an alternate way to interpret this book, a commentary under the surface not spoken, much like Hendrix’s book The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. (Horror)
A Haunted History of Invisible Women: I can’t express how interesting this book is honestly. It made me think about ghost stories in an entirely different way, and is a sad, informative, fascinating read. (Nonfiction)
Other Birds: My very favorite book of the year. Beautifully fantastic, full of whimsy and characters I wish I could meet in real life. In fact, I would move to Mallow Island in a heartbeat. I have loaned my copy to my dad, who loved it as well, and told me that he thinks I embody a few characteristics that Zoey does, which was a very nice compliment to me, in my opinion! My dad is the one who got me started loving southern fiction, I knew he would love it as much as I did but I wasn’t expecting the comparison. This book also inspired me to cook a whole meal, one that took me hours and hours to make. (Full Review) (Magical Realism)
I have been exploring other lists like this one on other blogs and YouTube channels and Instagram and jotting down titles; I have a good feeling about next year’s reads already!
Have you read any of these? What were your favorite reads this year?
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
I knew Elizabeth Enright’s name sounded familiar, and I bet that’s because she won the Newbery Medal in 1939. (Once upon a time, I wanted to try to read all the Newbery winners, but when I worked at the bookstore, it wasn’t even possible to get all of them in for the Newbery section!)
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Probably! I tried that once too. I started with the newest and was working my way back but it started to get harder and harder to find the books.
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There’s a woman who is a librarian in Montana who actually did read all the Newbery award winners and blogged a little bit about each one in decade by decade posts. Her blog posts about it are here: https://bld-in-mt.blogspot.com/search/label/NewberyChallenge .
Happy New Year!
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Wow that so cool!! Thank you for sharing that with me!
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The Agathas looks really good! Enjoy all of your books in the New Year.
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I really liked it. 🙂 I feel like I want to start a girl gang of sleuths and call ourselves The Agathas.
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Great choices! I really enjoyed Legends & Lattes too, it was such a warm hug of a book. I have quite a few of these on my TBR – I must try and get around to them soon!
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It was!! I actually used those words on my Instagram for it too. Must be true.
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I haven’t read any of your fav books. I wouldn’t know where to start if I wanted to list mine! Happy new year of reading.
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Thank you!! Happy new year of reading to you as well!
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I’m pulling together my year end book post. I think Other Birds has to get on my 2023 list!
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Yes!!!!!
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I haven’t read any of these but both those middle grade fiction books sound like something I’d enjoy; I kind of miss having to read so much middle grade and even picture books now that my boys are not interested in listening to read alouds anymore. Thankfully my middle son is a huge reader and often requests books for me to try.
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I discovered after I left my job at the elementary library that I really missed middle grade books too. I decided I was going to read them no matter what. Lol. They just make me happy. I don’t read them often but if one catches my eye I will read it, even if I don’t have plans for it with Wyatt. I am glad that you do too!
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Everyone seems to love Legends and Lattes! The Agathas was a fun one.
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I went into Legends and Lattes a little skeptical but then I absolutely could not put it down. Lol.
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Gone Away Lake is one of my absolute favorite books. The only thing I don’t like about it is that I didn’t discover it when I was a kid! Have you read the sequel? I want to read Greenglass House with Will and I really want to read the Sarah Addison Allen.
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I read it over the summer and I loved it so much! I did read the sequel, almost immediately. Lol. I agree, I wish I would have discovered it as a child too. Greenglass House is such a fun read! And I definitely recommend Other Birds.
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Grateful for your post. I am not familiar with any of these books other than Greenglass which was on my book club’s consideration list for this month but not chosen for our January read. I have pinned several of these titles. Love that your father sees many of the characteristics of Zoey in his daughter – YOU!! I tend to read mostly historic fiction when left to my own devices but need my book club and blogging friends to inspire me to try other genres.
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I really loved Greenglass House. 🙂 I was actually surprised at how much, considering it was a children’s book and I thought I would like it, but not as much as I did. 🙂 It had lots of layers.
I was tickled over that. 🙂
I have been trying to branch out a bit too. I watch a lot of book tubers on youtube and get some good recommendations from there. I really like Alexandra Roselyn. I almost always love her choices and suggestions.
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I loved Legends & Lattes too! I wish there were some more cozy fantasies out there I could read. Hope the trend catches on.
How to be a Good Creature made me cry! The pig’s story got to me. Why can’t pets live longer?
Wow, The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina has a good rating on Goodreads. I think I heard some negative reviews and dismissed it but I might give it a shot.
Some of my favorites were Legends & Lattes, A Curious Beginning, and She Gets the Girl. I hope you have a wonderful reading year in 2023!
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I agree!! We need more like this!
Oh my gosh me too! I cried so many times.
It was a bit of a slow start for me but once I got rolling with it I loved it.
I will have to check out the other books in your list! And thank you, you too!
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Pingback: My Sunday- Monday Post – Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs..
I really really want to read Legends and Lattes but it’s only available in v expensive hardback and spendy ebook here at the moment. I’m hoping it will pop up some time. And I keep flirting with the idea of Sarah Addison Allen so, again, I need to see if she manifests in a charity shop! I did my best of at the end of the year but I’m way behind with my blog reading … Happy New Year and happy reading in 2023!
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