Last year, I really enjoyed setting aside dedicated reading time, so I set an even bigger goal this year to read at least 3 books a month. You can see everything I read last year here. So far, I’ve read 10 books this year and have enjoyed all of them! I’ve definitely been reading quite a bit of historical fiction to start out this year plus a mystery, a thriller, a political thriller, and a non-fiction mystery based in Savannah. At this point, this political thriller is my favorite book of 2022!
You may find all of my book recommendations, check out this page that lives under my “Lifestyle” tab. My running list of everything I’ve read in 2022 is available here on my Bookshop page. Purchases from Bookshop go to support local bookstores. You can find 10 of my favorite Indie bookshops here.
Top 10 best Books of Winter 2022
Everything I Read in January
The Wedding Veil, Kristy Woodson Harvey
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- This historical fiction novel is based on four women and a family heirloom. I appreciated that it was based in North Carolina, with two of the characters being Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt. It’s a great story of family connection, historical fiction of the Vanderbilt story, and love and trying new things and forging a new path. I really loved this story and I think Kristy Woodson Harvey did a great job with the genre. This book is a pre-order and is available on March 29!
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Flicker in the Dark, Stacy Willingham
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- This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat! The theme: When a serial killer emerges with an eerily familiar pattern, Chloe Davis wonders if she’s really escaped her past. It’s a twisty read that ends in way that wasn’t quite as predictable as I originally thought. It was one that I couldn’t put down before ogoing to bed because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles
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- While I had never read an Amor Towles novel before this one, I understand why people love his work. This book is a fantastic underdog story about 2 brothers and 2 friends who end up on an epic roadtrip. The story takes 10 days and, if you’ve never read Towles’ work, you should know it’s an interesting writing style, that flows well despite its length. An important note is that there is a trigger warning for suicide in this novel.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Magnolia Palace, Fiona Davis
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- Another historical fiction novel that was quite fun to read! It’s a rich tale suffused with intrigue, mystery, and betrayal that swirls around the history of the infamous Frick family. It’s written with multi-viewpoints across two different perspectives. With this book, and The Wedding Veil, I found myself looking up several of the places or events that were mentioned in historical relevance to the story line, which made it quite enjoyable for me.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Maid, Nita Prose
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- This mystery was one of the more interesting books I’ve read in a while. Molly Grey is the underdog and finds help from friends who are looking out for her. It’s a quirky, twisty book and I appreciated the unexpected outcome!
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Everything I Read in February
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, Allison Pataki
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- I had never heard of Marjorie Merriweather Post before this novel–but what a life she lived! This historical fiction was another book where I spent quite a bit of time researching to learn more and her influence has been spectacular.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Greenwich Park, Katherine Faulkner
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- WHEWWWWW… This book. It’s my second favorite book of this year. If you liked The Girl on the Train, then I’d recommend this one. It’s… twisty. It’s… intriguing. It’s… got a lot going on. But the ending sent me, y’all. Sent me. Put it on your list.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
State of Terror, Hillary Rodham Clinton & Louise Penny
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- This was my first Louise Penny novel and I don’t know what took me so long. I loved this political thriller–I couldn’t put it down. It’s a story of a Secretary of State in a new administration dealing with a series of carefully constructed terrorists attacks that an unconventional group ends up solving. It was a page. turner.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Midnight Library, Matt Haig
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- This book came highly recommended to me by both IRL friends and internet friends, and I can see why. It’s important to note that it has a trigger warning of suicide. I compared the story line to one of the movie It’s a Wonderful Life or even A Christmas Carol. I quite enjoyed the read and found it affirming to my feelings around regret.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
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- No, I’ve never seen the movie. This non-fiction, true crime novel is incredible. It took me a little bit to get into it because I needed to understand just how the true crime was going to be written. Now, that I’ve gotten the hang of it–it’s been a page turner and I’m almost done with it. John Berendt does an excellent job telling this story and I do intend on watching the movie once I finish the book.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
What about you? Which are your best books of Winter 2022? Did any of the above make your list? I love your recommendations, so feel free to drop in the comments below!
THANKS FOR YOUR REVIEWS. I HAVE SEVERAL YOU MENTIONED ON MY TBR AND I JUST ADDED GREENWICH PARK.
(I DON’T KNOW WHY THIS IS ALL IN CAPS, I FEEL LIKE I AM YELLING AT YOU BUT I AM not:-)