The Books I’ve Read In 2022 So Far
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Now you know I love a good book. I have a never-ending list of things I want to read and I’m constantly wandering through bookshops looking for recommendations… I’ve been on something of a reading kick at the moment, and I thought it was high time I shared some of what I’ve been reading with you. I’m not always great at reviews but I’ll share my honest thoughts with you! I’m pleased I can tick off so many books from my list, even if I still have a pile of books by my bedside! Once a bookworm, always a bookworm!
Funnily enough, since I started writing this post a few weeks ago, I’ve actually read a few more books! This list is long enough at the moment though so I won’t add them. Still, I regularly share on Instagram what I’m reading if you’re interested in following me there too!
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
The book I’m currently making my way through. I spied this one on Kate Spiers’ instagram… We very often are reading the same books and regularly swap recommendations! I’m enjoying what I’m reading so far and even though I’m only halfway through, it’s a captivating read! The characters are messy and feel so real, which I always love. I’ll have to report back once I actually finish the book as to whether it finishes as strong as it started but so far so good!
Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi
I sped through this book, really getting into the characters. Much of the communication takes place through text messages but it still felt really snappy and funny. The characters were intriguing and I was instantly curious about them. It was a pretty easy read and I read it in a manner of days! I enjoyed the book so much that I added another two titles from the same author to my TBR pile now!
The Bride Test and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
So I bought both of these books without actually realizing they were from the same author! I’d seen The Kiss Quotient all over Instagram and I wanted a nice easy read. Then I spied The Bride Test and popped it in my cart. Both were easy entertaining reads that I sped through. One thing I particularly enjoyed about both books was that they featured a protagonist who is autistic, just like the author. It was really refreshing to get some insight and understanding of the experience of being autistic without just leaning into tropes. Representation is important!
Consumed by Aja Barber
I’ve followed Aja for absolutely ages on Instagram and on Patreon; it was her that inspired me to rethink how I wear my wardrobe. So when I heard she was writing a book, I got very excited. It’s a difficult read in that the content can get a little heavy at times, but it’s important. I quite liked that she’s split the book into two sections, the first about learning and the second about unlearning. Overall, it was very easy to digest and there was a lot to think about. I’d absolutely recommend it.
The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent
I really enjoyed this book! It tells the story of someone essentially pretending to be someone they aren’t, which is a familiar story, but I liked the nuances of The Summer Job. It was funny and relatable to read, and while to some extent you know how it ends, I still found the story engaging and I was definitely routing for the characters! It’s a fairly light read too so if you’re looking for something you can just relax into, this one is definitely an option!
The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary
I grabbed this book after spotting it in a charity shop. I loved The Flatshare but I hadn’t read any of the author’s other works. This one was okay. I finished it in no time at all but I didn’t love it if that makes sense. It shows two characters pre- and post- breakup, and we go back and forth as we learn about their relationship and what went wrong. There were some amusing parts but I just didn’t connect with it the same way I did with The Flatshare.
How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
After spying this millennial pink cover all over the place, I decided to give it a go. It essentially describes a girl who has decided to go on something of a killing rampage. That sounds spoilery but there’s so much more to it then that! The story itself is in the how and the why, and I really enjoyed the writing. It was witty and dark and definitely took a turn I wasn’t quite expecting! A win for bookstagram!
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
I didn’t know anything about this book before I picked it up, other than being vaguely aware of what Black Cake is. Still I was intrigued by the tag line, so straight in my cart it went! Well, I sped right through it, completely enraptured! I took this one with me on my digital detox but I read the whole thing in… oh about a day? I loved the story and it really sucked me in. If you’re after a recommendation, this is it!
Welcome To Your Life by Bethany Rutter
If you want something that will leave you feeling empowered, this is definitely a fun read! Truthfully, reading a book with a plus sized heroine still feels kind of radical and I really could relate to lots of the things the main character shares. I’m new to Bethany’s work but I’m here for it, honestly!
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
My second time reading this particular book and I thoroughly enjoyed it just as much as the first. It’s a little unusual but I think that’s what makes it special. It’s essentially the story of a woman who knows she’s unusual and her attempts to be seen as normal even though she doesn’t really understand why. It’s a really interesting social commentary that often made me laugh and definitely made me think!
Tales From The Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
This is actually a sequel to the original Before the Coffee Gets Cold, which I loved. I found the stories to be so fascinating and the premise really interesting! The sequel I didn’t enjoy quite as much, which is a shame. It’s still an interesting premise but the stories didn’t captivate me the same way the first book did. I’d be interested to hear what you think if you’ve read them both!
There you have it! A selection of the books I’ve read so far in 2022! I have a running list I refer to, and the pile of books by my bed is ever growing. I really do love to read! How about you? What books have you read recently that you want to share? I’ll add them to my TBR list!
