My Favorite Reads of 2022
2022 was the year I realized I hadn’t been making books a high enough priority. To be fair, 2020 propelled me into banter-heavy podcasts as a way to simulate in-person conversations, which took up a chunk of my free time. That needed to change in 2022. At the beginning of the year, I created a goal to read 40 books. As the year wraps up, I’ve read 70 and I want to share some of my favorites.
Just for clarity, this is not a list of books that have been released in 2022. This is merely my attempt, as a mom who often feels too busy, to share what I enjoyed reading. This list is also in no particular order. You’ll notice I go into detail on non-fiction but don’t as much on fiction. This is mainly because I don’t want to copy/paste from other sites that include plot summaries. Also, non-fiction allows for more interpretations than fiction, so I feel able to expand on those titles more.
If you’re interested in keeping up with all of my reading throughout the year, follow along on Goodreads.
NON - FICTION
Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy
I loved this book. Rachel Ricketts gave a gut punch at times, which is appropriate since she specifies that this book is for white, cisgendered women. This is a book I would recommend having on your shelf. There are stories associated with race and the evangelical world that could easily be traumatic for many indigenous people, minorities, and Black people, so exercise caution and consider protecting your peace before diving in.
So You Want to Talk About Race
The title feels pretty explanatory. Ijeoma Oluo does an excellent job of giving practical applications for how to have conversations and to dive deeper into the topic of systemic racism. This title is also free on Audible!
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
Brené Brown did it again. This is a beautiful addition to your bookshelf and one to reread. Brené lays out a framework for meaningful connection and walks us through the emotions along the way.
My Body Is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church
Easily one of my favorite books of the year. Amy Kenny hits with a gut punch as I realize how little I’ve been trained on, learned about, been exposed to, or even thought about disability within the church. This is a book that I wish was mandatory reading to be involved in a pastoral role or church staff. It’s that important.
The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth
Baylor University historian Beth Allison Barr looks at the societal definition of “Biblical womanhood” (the belief that God designed women to be submissive wives, virtuous mothers, and joyful homemakers) and how it shaped the everyday lives of women. Beth lays out the clearly definable historical moments that dispels biblical womanhood as biblical. The belief and expectations of women in the church are not divinely ordained. Because Beth is in academia, prepare for this book to read as such. While she includes pieces of her personal story as a Baptist pastor’s wife, it reads more along the lines of a textbook on church history and the inclusion of women.
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
We already know it, but the lack of data around women have an effect on almost everything. From urban development, medical care, work environments, clothing, pay - you name it and the gender data gap plays a part in systemic inequality. This is an excellent book for small business owners, or anyone looking to create a more inclusive space for women, because as Caroline Criado Perez reminds us, women make up half of the population, it’s not “niche” to focus on them.
Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close
This was a reread from 2020 and let me tell you, it’s still fantastic. Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman tell the story of their friendship and breakdown how to maintain what they call “big friendships.” These are the inner-most circle of friendships. While this book is conversational (which makes sense from former podcast hosts), it gives some great, practical ideas for keeping your friendships close and making them a priority as intimate relationships in your life.
MEMOIRS
I'm Glad My Mom Died
Admittedly, I wasn’t too familiar with Jennette McCurdy and jumped into this hearing great things but without researching it. I 100% thought the title was satire and was not emotionally prepped for how difficult this book was. Trigger warnings all over the place with eating disorders, addiction, and a bizarrely unhealthy (and at times abusive) relationship with mother. It’s a powerful book but go into it prepped for the content. Ultimately Jennette takes control of her life, but I had to take breaks during some of the stories. It’s a hard one but an important one.
All about Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business
Oh what a lovely book this was! I’m a huge Mel Brooks fan but this book offered a perspective of the film/tv/comedy industry in a different time. This had so many fun facts about each film, his relationship with other actors/directors, and an unexpected amount of sandwich details from lunches with people. It’s refreshing, funny, and a glimpse into old Hollywood.
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
I know, I know. This one isn’t new. I finally sat down to read this and was so moved. It was both inspirational and heartbreaking to put myself in the shoes of Malala as she told the story of the rise of the Taliban and events leading up to her shooting. Admittedly, I have done little research or education on the Taliban and how the extremist group gained power. It’s impossible to ignore the similarities between the Taliban beliefs and those of today’s far-right.
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body
Roxanne Gay (author of Bad Feminist) brings us intimately into her own emotional struggles as a way to explore our shared anxieties over pleasure, consumption, appearance, and health. This is a powerful read and I had to set it down multiple times to wipe tears.
FICTION
The Cabin at the End of the World
This novel is being made into an M. Night Shyamalan film in 2023 and rightfully so. Paul Tremblay does a fantastic job at making us question our own sanity and grounding in this story. Not knowing who to believe in this story is the horror.
The Long Walk
Stephen King writes as Richard Bachman and gives us a Hunger Games-esc nightmare. Although not new, this was new to me and it was undoubtedly one of my favorites. Thought provoking and ghoulish.
Black Cake
There’s a reason it’s on everyone’s list of best 2022 reads. It’s fantastic! I honestly don’t even want to tell you much about it because it’s an excellent book to go in blind to. Really beautiful.
Lessons in Chemistry
Another great one. I’m still new to booktok language but I do believe this falls into the “beach read” category.
Normal People
A fan of the 2020 Hulu series, I finally jumped into this book. It’s everything I expected and more. If you liked the series, you’ll love the book!
Pearl
This falls within the horror genre and I think this was my favorite horror book I read (which I read more than a few). It’s spine-chilling in the best way and made me side eye anything pig related for a solid 6 months.
The Outlander Series
Look, judge away but Outlander is such a fun series to dive into it. I read A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, & Written in My Own Heart's Blood (book 6,7,&8) this year. I absolutely love it, even if I only have a couple friends I can discuss it with.
MY LEAST FAVORITES
I wont even link to these, but here are the honorable mentions for the biggest waste of my time in 2022.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. By a landslide this was the worst book I read in 2022. I heard the Colleen Hoover hype and wanted to see for myself, but it couldn’t have fallen flatter. I’ll still give her Verity a try but I’m prepping myself for the same level of garbage. It Ends with Us is just plain bad, let alone the messaging behind so much of the book.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson. It didn’t take long to feel like a book of mansplaining and an average dude’s superiority complex. It’s filled with ignorant suggestions on how to live life without taking much consideration for gender, class, etc. Lots of people enjoyed this book but to me it felt like some good branding around a very underwhelming person.
