2022 on Goodreads

Another year, gone.

I was able to just eke out my 2022 reading goal, hitting it on the button at 84 books and finishing up on Dec. 31, an increase of 11 books from my 2021 totals. I read more than 23,000 pages and averaged a 3.9-star rating. I read a lot of Stephen King and T.C. Boyle - no surprises there, but I also devoured a lot of Kevin Wilson and consumed three novels by T. Kingfisher that I couldn't put down. Anyway, without further ado, here are the 24 best books I read this year, (everything that earned 4.5 stars or above) along with some other notables and nuggets.

4.5-star reads:

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan
River of Gods by Candice Millard
Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
The War, Blackwater Book 4 by Michael McDowell
Talk to Me, T. C. Boyle
BadAsstronauts by Grady Hendrix
Sundial by Catriona Ward
Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

5-star reads:

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
Piranesi by Suzanne Clarke
The Grip of It by Jac Jemc
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Best Wishes, Warmest Regards by Daniel Levy
The Palestinian Table by Reem Kassis
The High House by Jessie Greengrass
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan
The House, Blackwater Book 3 by Michael McDowell
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

5-star Rereads in 2022:

Joyland by Stephen King (6th time - and, as was the case last year, no judgement!)
IT by Stephen King (3rd time)
Carrie by Stephen King (2nd time)
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (2nd read)

Biggest Disappointments:

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon
The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
Summerwater by Sarah Moss
The Cartographers by Peng Sheperd

Repeat Authors (those who are on my “Yep, I'll read that without any additional information besides the fact that said author wrote something”) who don't appear in the lists above but still brought joy to my reading in 2021 with a new-to-me read:

Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Perfect Little World, Kevin Wilson
Now is Not the Time to Panic, Kevin Wilson
If the River Was Whiskey, T.C. Boyle
The Relive Box and Other Stories, T.C. Boyle
Drop City, T.C. Boyle
Matrix by Lauren Groff

As always thanks to my wife for reading along with me and being ready to talk books every single day. Thank you all for your engagement on this platform and for your insights and perspectives.
I wish you a safe, happy and healthy 2023 filled with great books!