Best book you read in 2022

[Anonymouseposter]

What was the best book you read last year? I’m looking for ideas for what to read next. My favourite was American Dirt, I learned a lot and found it very gripping.

Does anyone else have reading targets? I challenged myself to read 35 last year and I reached it but found myself choosing books because they were thin and rushing through them. I’m going to try a more targeted approach this year and really think about what kinds of books I want to invest my time in.

Light Perpetual was fab.

Yes I do the Goodreads challenge every year but I only set it to about 20. Sometimes I manage and sometimes I don't.

I set a good reads challenge if 25 every year and I’ve yet to hit it. I always start good but then like last year, finished my last book in May and didn’t pick up another until January this year. So I didn’t read many (16 I believe) but my favourite was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I was signed off work with depression when I read it too so it was the prefect read

Hearts invisible furies John boyne

Although American dirt was also excellent as was a terrible kindness as mentioned

An oldie but I absolutely loved The Green Mile by Stephen King. Also The Instant by Amy Liptrot. If you haven’t read The Outrun I really recommend reading g that first.

DD (25) says I have to mention the Starless Sea as that was her favourite last year.

same here

Cloud Cuckooland by Anthony Doerr. I read it in the summer and I still think about it most days.

I could read that annually and it would always be the best.

I do targets too @Divebar2021 although my target is much less than yours, think I managed 23 last year.

So sorry that you've been struggling @DuchessOfDisco.

I really enjoyed American Dirt too but made the mistake of reading some reviews on Goodreads while I was reading it. The whole controversy around the author and her “right” to centre her story in Mexico was illuminating. Apparently you shouldn’t be writing it if you haven’t lived it.

Oh definitely lessons in chemistry

Following as I need to get back into reading.

All the light you cannot see.
or, for a ‘lighter’ read- ‘Last one at the Party’

I think Blood Orange and Lessons In Chemistry are the ones that really stood out for me last year.

Life changing for me. It made me completely re-evaluate everything I see.

This year, Project Hail Mary, very different but joyful.

Hamnet by Maggie O Farell. Bought Cloud Cuckoo Land at the weekend so that’s going straight to the top of my to read list. This thread is going to cost me a lot of money!

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Lucy by the sea by Elizabeth strout
small things like these

Place marketing because I'd love to get back into reading, I don't think I read a non-work/study book in 2022
Also off to buy American Dirt 🐑

All my mothers by Joanna Glen

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

I loved both of these. I also enjoyed Hamnet but it wasn't an easy read.

Thank you for all the recommendations here!

Piranesi was very good too

The Signature Of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert - a memorable period epic

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson and the sequel A God in Ruins

Hammet by Maggie O'Farrell - I just love her writing. I don't think there's a single book of hers I haven't enjoyed

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - Read this in Christmas week and found it devastating but so beautifully written and characterised

Definitely putting Cloud Cuckoo land, Trespasses and Lessons in Chemistry on my to read list for the coming months

You've just reminded me of Sorrow and Bliss - loved it v much