favorite books in 2022 pt 3
I know I've taken longer than anticipated to finish this series. It's been a busy few weeks, and there were a lot of books I loved last year! We're back today to talk about my favorite books in 2022. So let's hop to it!
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
“I'd always written how grief was hollow. How it was a vast cavern of nothing.
- Ashley Poston, The Dead Romantics
But I was wrong.
Grief was the exact opposite. It was full and heavy and drowning because it wasn't the absence of everything you lost - it was the combination of it all, your love, your happiness, your bittersweets, wound tight like a knotted ball of yarn."
Genre: contemporary romance, paranormal romance
My Rating: ★★★★
This book was all over bookstagram, and I thought Ashley Poston was a new author. When I go onto Goodreads, I found out that I had read one of her books before (Bookish & the Beast). Not only that, but I had a few of her books on my TBR!
The first book I read of hers was cute, but didn't hit me in a way to make it easy to stand out against other books I have read. In comparison, this one was leaps and bounds better. The story follows Florence who was a ghostwriter for a very famous romance author. After a bad breakup, she no longer believes in love, and can't seem to start writing the next book she's supposed to write.
After asking for multiple extensions, she has to go to her new editor, and request another one. Only to get denied. Knowing that it was impossible to crank out a first draft within the time period, she's ready to kiss her job goodbye.
What she didn't expect was to get a phone call from her family, telling her that her father has passed. It's been 10 years since she's been in town, and while there are some things she missed, she definitely did not miss some of the people. They didn't understand her.
Even with the passing of her dad, if feels like nothing from the town has changed. Except a particular ghost she finds in her family's parlor, her editor. Why is he there? While they are both confused, she's determined to help him with whatever unfinished business he left behind.
The story was fun, had so much depth, and just really enjoyable to read through. I finished the book so quickly! To tell you the truth, I didn't even know what the book was going to be about before I started it, aha. I saw how popular it was online, and liked the look of the cover. It was one of my favorite romances of the year 100%. For sure recommend.
Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi
“Idiots are highly flammable, love. Let them all burn in hell.”
-Tahereh Mafi, Restore Me
Genre: dystopian fiction, YA, fantasy fiction
My Overall Rating:★★★★1/2
Shatter Me: ★★★1/2 | Destroy Me: ★★★★ | Unravel Me: ★★★★ | Fracture Me: ★★★
Ignite Me: ★★★★ | Restore Me: ★★★★1/2 | Restore Me: ★★★★1/2
Shadow Me: ★★★★ | Defy Me: ★★★★1/2 | Reveal Me: ★★★
Imagine Me: ★★★★ | Believe Me:★★★★1/2
I have to start by saying that when I started the Shatter Me series, it took me a while to get into the first book. It wasn't written the best, and so it felt awkward to read. It wasn't a smooth read, at least initially. I think the worst part, was that no one spoke about it when people talked about the series.
This series is so hyped up, and with good reason, but people should be warned that the first book is a little difficult to get through. The plot is good and interesting. There are so many amazing characters that you fall in love with. It's a super diverse group of people. And the writing gets better after the first book! While it is a long series, it's a really good series, and I highly recommend it.
The series follows a girl Juliette who can't touch people (think Rogue from the X-Men). If she does she kills them, so they put her in prison. While she's in prison, the rest of the world is going to hell. The animals are dying, food is scarce, the weather has been erratic. Dictators have taken over the world, controlling everything, all in the name of trying to save the planet.
And then she's taken out of the prison, because the Reestablishment think she could be useful.
I don't want to give too much away, because this series goes through a whole bunch of plot, but trust me when I say it's good! Please give it a chance. Really great series.
The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas
“Rosalyn Graham,
Elena Armas, The American Roommate Experiment
Will you be my best friend?
My roommate.
My Dancing Queen.
My experiment life partner.
My heart.
Will you be mine, just like I'm completely, hopelessly yours?”
Genre: contemporary fiction, rom-com
My Rating: ★★★★
Now I read this book before reading the Spanish Love Deception (which is completely loved online), and I have to say that maybe I should have read it in the order it came out. I really enjoyed The American Roommate Experiment, and while I liked the Spanish Love Deception, it wasn't even close to being as good as the American Roommate Experiment. I liked that TARE was dual-POV, which is one of my favorite things for books to have. Another thing, is the fact that these characters had more depth compared to the first one.
This story follows Rosie, Lina's best friend, who's staying at Lina's flat after some unfortunate circumstances at her apartment. What she didn't expect was for Lina's cousin, Lucas to show up. He had asked Lina for permission to stay at her apartment while Lina was on her honeymoon.
Not only was Rosie staying at Lina's apartment, but she was freaking out because she quit her well paid job to focus on her secret career as a romance writer. She hasn't told anyone, and has been struggling with terrible writer's block. That is until Lucas proposes to take her on some experimental dates, so she can get some inspiration. She has nothing to lose, so she agrees.
And the story continues from there. I think this plotline flows a lot better. I love stories where there is a build up to their relationship, and this is exactly that. It's not a slow-burn per-se, but it has a friends to lovers feel to it. This was a super fun read that I recommend you check out!
The Inheritance Games (Books 1-3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
“Everything’s a game, Avery Grambs. The only thing we get to decide in this life is if we play to win.”
-Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Inheritance Games
Genre: YA, Mystery, Romance side plot
My Rating:★★★★ 1/2
I want to start by saying everything Jennifer Lynn Barnes touches is gold. I have read almost all of her books, and just love her writing style. She has a way of creating characters with so much depth and personality, and this trilogy is no different.
The story follows, Avery Gramb’s whose only goals were to get through high school, win a scholarship, and get out of the little town she grew up in. Her luck instantly changes when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves her his fortune. The only catch was that she had to move into his mansion, which is also occupied with his family. One of his grandsons is convinced that Avery somehow conned his grandfather, while another one of them thinks that she’s all apart of a puzzle that needs to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, she has to learn how to play the game herself in order to survive.
The story is currently a trilogy, even though a spin-off is being released this summer. All three of the books are fast paced, short chapters, and full of twists and turns. There is also a mild love triangle, but I wouldn’t focus on that too much. Because there’s much more to the books than the romance it includes. I 100% recommend you read this series!
When in Rome by Sarah Adams
“I think we'll get hurt a lot in this life, but maybe it's worth it because sometimes we will experience really amazing things, too. Maybe not everything will end in hurt. But we'll never know if we don't try.”
-Sarah Adams, When in Rome
Genre: contemporary romance, small town romance, celebrity romance
My Rating: ★★★★
At the time this was my 2nd Sarah Adams book. I had read The Cheat Sheet, which was cute, but super fluffy and didn’t feel too special in my book.
This one was still super fluffy, but for some reason came across as more? It follows Amelia who is a really popular singer, and after watching the movie Roman Holiday decides she’s going to drive to the closest city named Rome. Rome just so happened to be a small town in the middle of Kentucky.
Of course her car breaks down in front of Noah’s house, and it all goes on from there. Amelia not only finds herself again, but falls in love with the people and the overall city of Rome.
Not only that but she’s slowly falling for Noah, and Noah feels the same way, but there’s no way he’s going to uproot his life for someone ever again. So how could their relationship ever work out?
I really liked both of the characters so much, and I also really fell in love with all the side characters in Rome. I like Sarah Adam’s books, because they lack some of the unnecessary heavy drama that some romance books like to add into their plots. And while there’s conflict, it’s written in a really refreshing way. I have just purchased her latest book, Practice Makes Perfect. It’s the second book from this universe, and it follows Noah’s sister, so I’m super excited to give it a read. I definitely recommend giving this one a read if you want a cute romance!
Other books I loved in 2022:
Well this is another round of favorites for 2022. There's only one more post left in this series! At the moment, I'm about 34 books into 2023, and I have 8 favorites for this year so far. What were your favorite books in 2022? What are some of your current favorites? As always, sending you love and good vibes. Chat soon xx
I haven’t read any of these before. But I always like to be nosy to see what other people are reading. Thank you for sharing your favourites of 2022.
Lauren.
Same! Even if I have never heard of the books someone is talking about, I like know what people are enjoying. Thanks so much for reading and commenting 🙂 x