My favorite, the best of the best, my top picks from my reading year. I read a total of 56 books in 2022, which is not bad given my erratic work schedule but how I miss the days of more books, more pages in a year. And today, am unveiling the ones you need to get a hold of — and pronto. As always, I’m not focusing on the plot (or any spoilers), which a blurb can also communicate, but rather on why I would recommend picking it up.
My Top Picks from 2022
PARANORMAL PICK: The Shining by Stephen King
Totally worth the legacy; not horror per say but definitely psychological horror and one of the best atmospheric reads ever. And yes Joey was right! Indulge in some extreme cabin fever this winter and experience the gripping writing style of the King.
MYSTERY PICK: Detective Kosuke Kindaichi Series by Seishi Yokomizo, Yumiko Yamakazi
I read the 2nd, 4th and 6th installment in the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series, newly-translated/printed by Pushkin Press. Apt for fans of Agatha Christie, and Golden Age Crime Fiction, especially if you are looking into reading more translated fiction. If for nothing else, pick-up this for the scruffy Detective from the 40s, who just might be as brilliant as Poirot (don’t quote me on that).
THRILLER PICK: The Master Key by Masako Togawa
Another stellar by Pushkin Press, this one is short but punchy, and boy was a I glued or what! Impressive construction, clever plot and questionable characters. A thriller ideal for a cold, cold weekend night, come for the eerie vibes, stay for a moving end.
NONFICTION PICK: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Everyone on the planet read this book in 2022, and everyone who did, raved about it, and rightly so! I do not have a new way to saying how amazing this memoir is but I can tell you this, are you a daughter? Yes? Then do yourself a favor and pick this one up, and I hope you do not find a single moment you can relate to.
HISTORICAL FICTION PICK: The Fortnight in September by R.C. Sherriff
Probably the most comforting book on Earth, it’s like a hug in a book! The entirety of the novel is set in a fortnight, and you will come across many poignant moments that are equally entertaining. A lot of it reminded me of my family vacations, and at times, I found myself with a lump in my throat because I could see Pa and Anas throughout the book. Do not expect a lot to happen but please, please pick this one up for its simplicity and quaintness.
SCIENCE FICTION PICK: You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Amor Towles
Towles’ writing continues to knock the socks off of me and this taste of Dystopia by him was just WOW. This is short, intriguing and thought-provoking — get ready to question everything we do in the name of Science and Progress!
ROMANCE PICK: Booked for Christmas by Lily Menon
Get ready to swoon under a 100 pages, good balance between sweet and smut, an enemies to lovers trope — need I say more?
I’ve a bonus entry for you guys, Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth, the reason this sits between my favorites and honorable mentions is that I’m a little conflicted about some of the scenes in the book. Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoyed it, definitely for fans of Elle Woods, but I just couldn’t digest the male lead. Who doesn’t love a good boy who is utterly dirty in bed but the 360 degree change this guy goes between the sheets and the lounge was just not believable enough for me. Nonetheless, perfect for this time of the year.
Honorable Mentions
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
This is a prequel to one of my all-time favorite Young Adult (YA) books, ‘We Were Liars’, and I loved every but of it. It is surely a thriller, and will keep you hooked but has a melancholy undertone running through and through. A specific sibling relationship subplot kept tugging onto my heart strings. I miss you Anas, and I’m just going to leave it here.
A Will to Kill by R.V. Raman
A murder mystery set in the misty, northwestern Tamil Nadu and perfect for fans of ‘locked room mysteries’, and you will find yourself hooked from the very first chapter. It is a clean, knotty mystery, a nod to British crime fiction but set close to home — if you know what I mean.
Amazing book reviews 👍
Thrilled to hear that, hope you found some good recommendations!
That’s a nice review there!
I’ll like to recommend a book to read here, very informative and lots of life lessons there about the importance of old friends in life – it’s called “Whiskey & Mates” by Adil (new author but quite brilliant in story telling).
It’s a must read!
We love getting recommendations here! Thanks!