It’s been a long time since I’ve done a Top Ten Tuesday post, but I’ve been dying to discuss my favorite reads of 2022 anyway, so this is the perfect opportunity! Below are the top 10 books I read in 2022, not counting rereads. The books weren’t necessarily published in 2022, but I read them all for the first time last year. The list isn’t ranked by my preference; I just listed the books in the order in which I read them, since I find it impossible to crown an absolute favorite.
Based on my recent reading habits, I’m not surpised to see many romances on the list — in fact, I think all the books contain a prominent romantic storyline! Nine of the ten were written by women. One author (T. Kingfisher) appears twice, which means I definitely need to read a lot more of her books! And as usual, I gravitated toward the light, fun, and warm-hearted rather than the bleak and depressing.
So, did you read any of these, and did you like them as much as I did? What trends have you noticed in your own reading recently? And of course, what were your favorite reads of 2022?
1. Mary Balogh, Only a Kiss — One of my favorite installments of the Survivors’ Club series, featuring an extremely charming hero whose charm deserts him in the presence of the heroine.
2. Kerry Winfrey, Waiting for Tom Hanks — A delightful ode to romantic comedies with a lot of great dialogue.
3. T. Kingfisher, Nettle and Bone — Immersive fantasy with excellent characters and strong Robin McKinley vibes. I definitely need to read a lot more by this author!
4. Craig Rice, Eight Faces at Three — A fun and fast-paced The Thin Man-esque mystery. Don’t think too hard about the plot; just enjoy watching the sleuths crack wise and down far too many drinks.
5. T. Kingfisher, Bryony and Roses — One of my favorite Beauty and the Beast retellings, and that’s really saying something!
6. Mhairi McFarlane, Mad about You — Compelling women’s fiction/romance about a woman with a history of bad relationships who falls for the guy she’s renting a room from. One of McFarlane’s best, I think.
7. Loretta Chase, Lord Perfect — A Regency romance with wonderful main characters, especially the hero; I loved watching the duty-bound, uptight, emotionally repressed Benedict slowly unravel as he falls in love!
8. Lois McMaster Bujold, Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance — Honestly, I could have populated this entire list with books from the Vorkosigan saga, but I decided to restrain myself and pick only my favorite. I just adore Ivan! Plus there’s a treasure hunt, multiple romances, and a few thrilling heroics, so what’s not to love?
9. Francis Spufford, Golden Hill — A romp of a historical novel set in 1746 Manhattan. It’s so much fun, and so perfect in style and tone, that I can forgive the somewhat heartbreaking ending.
10. Megan Bannen, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy — A mashup of romance, Western, and zombie novel that seems too weird to work, but it totally does! I loved the Shop around the Corner/You’ve Got Mail aspect of the plot.
You Book Me All Night Long 
Need to read those books by T. Kingfisher, I just read The Raven and the Reindeer and love it so much
Adding The Raven and the Reindeer to my TBR list as well!
#10 made my list today as well. Such a great read!
I’m really interested to see what Bannen will do next.
Welcome back to Top Ten Tuesday!
Nettle & Bone was on my list, too.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-favorite-books-of-2022/
Wasn’t it so good?! I can’t wait for Kingfisher’s 2023 release, Thornhedge!
I just bought Nettle & Bone! I love seeing it on several lists today!
Ooh, I hope you enjoy it! It was my first T. Kingfisher book, and now I’m hooked!
#10 sounds unique and fun! I might have to check it out.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Definitely unique, and I’m interested to see what the author will do next!
I’ve not read any of these (romance isn’t really my genre) but I’m glad to see you enjoyed them so much! Here’s to more great reads in 2023 🙂
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/03/top-ten-tuesday-401/
Cheers to that!
🙂
I loved Nettle and Bone too! It was my first T. Kingfisher book and won’t be my last.
I love Mhairi MacFarlane and T. Kingfisher! Nettle & Bone was great but I haven’t read the other one yet, and I haven’t read Mad About You but loved Just Last Night. I’m glad to hear you thought this was one of her best.
Ooh, I hope you enjoy Mad about You when you get to it!