Books I Read in 2022

I love books and I may even love the library more since most of the books I read are from our local library. I listen to most of the books in my car while I drive around Nashville en route to pick up kids or on my way to the grocery store. My hope is always that this post would inspire you to read more and find books you truly love.

To give you an idea of what type of books I read, mostly I would say I read many genres of books. To name a few, I like coming-of-age, historical fiction, suspense, memoirs, self-help, travel, simple living, cookbooks, and the list goes on and on.

I’m sensitive to sexual or violent content. I try my best to skip over those parts of books. I will stop reading a book if I feel it contains too much questionable content. Unfortunately, books aren’t rated like movies so I can’t give you the rating of each book. If I do read a book that is disturbing, has explicit or violent content, strong language, or whatever I’ll put an * by the title and put a note at the end of the write-up. I only list books that I think are worth the read despite portions that may contain questionable content.

Kate’s Style: Smart, Chic, Fashion from a Royal Role Model, Caroline Jones (non-fiction)

A bit outdated but I found some helpful tips. I relate to Kate’s style and find it transferable to my actual life except for the ball gowns and fascinator hats. This is too bad because I would feel so fancy getting to wear little hats on special occasions. I wish the fascinators were a part of the modern American style. Most of all, it probably inspired me to keep my outfits simple (not too many accessories) and to dress up more!

Grit – The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth (non-fiction)

Have you ever felt like you couldn’t obtain something because you weren’t smart enough? If so, this book will encourage you greatly. It’s a book of inspiration that shows hard work will get you way farther than you think. It opens your eyes to see that courage is more powerful than talent. Brains are not all that is needed for success. You’ll see through Duckworth’s research how it’s actually passion and perseverance that are key to your future. Be inspired by the high achievers that continue to get up despite their many defeats.

You Don’t Own Me, Mary Higgins Clark with Alafair Burke (suspense)

You guys I love a good mystery! This was my first Mary Higgins Clark novel. There’s a reason they call her the Queen of Suspense. Even though the book is not gory I can guarantee I was looking over my shoulder and a bit more on edge while reading this book. So much so that at one point Brent said, “No more mysteries for you!” It was a bit scary for me but I loved it! This book is #6 in a series and I found no issue with starting out of sequence.

The Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey (fiction)

This book was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize. A wonderful read in winter, especially if it’s snowing. I’m not usually a fan of any type of fantasy or magical realism but I was intrigued by the fact that the story was inspired by a fairy tale and the characters, a homesteading couple, piqued my interest. It’s beautiful, set in 1920’s wild Alaska, and I want all my friends to read it.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeown (non-fiction)

A book on how to figure out what you care about most and how to make that a priority.

Good Apple: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York, Elizabeth Passarella (non-fiction)

I found this book to be an authentic account of a girl from Memphis that grew up and eventually moved to New York. She took her faith and her southern charm with her and found all kinds of surprising things along the way. I found Elizabeth to be super relatable and funny. I appreciated the way she embraced differences and allowed herself to change while all along holding strong to her faith in God.

Whiskey in a Tea Cup, Reese Witherspoon (non-fiction)

This book is a mix of all kinds of things I love. It’s part cookbook, part memoir, and part textbook to southern living. I listened to the audio version read by Reese but I also have the book. It’s worth having the book because the cheerful photos and recipes are such a huge part of it. It was especially meaningful to me that she talks about Nashville (our home) in this book. She inspired me to have a Kentucky Derby party this year. Of course, I had to serve a Chocolate Derby Pecan Pie. Gardens, book clubs, home decor, entertaining, fashion, family, and fun how could I resist reading Whiskey in a Tea Cup?

Wish You Were Here, Jodi Picoult (fiction)*

A neighbor and fellow book lover gave this book to me. She said she found it especially good and wanted to share it. That is all she told me so I trusted her opinion and read it. I would agree and say it is an especially good book.

*Note: This book dives deep back into the early days of the pandemic. I would say it could be especially triggering for medical professionals. Also, contains a scene with sexual content.

At Home in Midford, Jan Karon (fiction)

This is book one in a series of books about small-town American life with Father Tim, a rector, at the heart of it all. It’s wholesome, funny, and entertaining. I read it many years ago and enjoyed it. I typically don’t read books more than once (life is short and there are so many great books) but this year I decided I needed a light warm-hearted read and it was just the ticket.

An Irish Country Doctor, Patrick Taylor (fiction)*

Since reading At Home in Mitford I wanted another small-town life book but I wanted it set in another country. I can’t even explain how much happiness this book brought me. I listened to the audio version which set the mood with all the Irish accents. I get excited when books teach me new things. This author was always throwing in an expression or food item that I had never heard of. The characters will win your heart. The book’s relatable, hilarious, and makes you feel like you’re part of the village, Ballybucklebo. I even made a blueberry buckle cake but renamed it Ballybucklebo blueberry buckle cake in honor of this beloved place.

*Note: Contains a scene with sexual content.

The Skinny Rules: The Simple, Nonnegotiable Principles for Getting to Thin, Bob Harper (Non-fiction)

Honestly, I can’t remember if I read this whole book or just skimmed it but I know I was inspired and encouraged to continue to work on my health. The tips are straightforward and doable. It’s nice to be reminded of how to get back on track with healthy eating. In the back of the book, I liked that there’s a one-page sheet where all 20 rules are listed, easy to hang on your fridge for quick reference. I would say one of the biggest things I learned was from Rule 7: No Carbs After Lunch. I’ve been more mindful to plan for pasta at lunch rather than dinner. Also, it says to eat lean and green at night. For a bedtime snack, I tend to reach for a bowl of cereal or a bag of popcorn but once I put the “lean and green” rule into place it has made a difference.

Well Behaved Indian Women, Saumya Dave (fiction)*

I saw this book on the shelf at the library and liked the cover. I had no idea how much I would love the book. It’s about a modern Indian-American family. Through family banter, you find out about the conflicts and triumphs that arise. The author, Saumya Dave, is also a psychiatrist. I felt like this book had some important things to say and it unfolded in a really enjoyable heartfelt way.

*Note: Mental health topics and a scene with sexual content.

New Testament of the Bible

It was so encouraging to read through the New Testament. I believe I followed a 6-month reading plan. It took extra time and commitment but was well worth it. If you have never read through the New Testament I would encourage you to start. The book of John is a good place to begin.

The Grief Tower: A Practical Guide to Processing Grief with Third Culture Kids, Lauren Wells (non-fiction)

Helpful tips and examples of how to help children process grief specifically for children who grow up in another country besides their parents’ home country, Third Culture Kid (TCK). The author Lauren Wells comes with first-hand experience as a TCK and provides insight on how to help children prevent their grief tower from getting too tall and toppling over.

On Writing, A Memoir on the Craft, Stephen King (non-fiction)*

Even though I have never read another Stephen King book this was the book for me. I found it to be greatly entertaining as well as a reference to writing wisdom. His stories were interesting and his love for books is palpable. Shout out to Ramblings of a Revenant Alien Podcast Episode #10 for recommending the book.

*Note: Contains profanity.

A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet: Southern Stories of Faith, Family, and Fifteen Pounds of Bacon, Sophie Hudson (non-fiction)

I’ve been reading one chapter aloud to Brent every Sunday night. So many laughs, so many tears. Stories of family, gatherings, and hilarious missteps, these stories are relatable and heartwarming plus you will laugh out loud. Sophie makes the world a better place. I’m also a fan of her podcast.

HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style, Elizabeth Holmes (non-fiction)

If you are familiar with the Instagram account “So Many Thoughts” this book is written by the author, Elizabeth Homes. Whenever I see a royal wearing an outfit and have so many questions and thoughts about it Elizabeth’s Instagram account and this book help answer those questions. Elizabeth is honestly curious about royal life and it’s fascinating to read about it, especially fashion. I learned about the different tiaras, gained style tips, and saw how clothes can speak. So many connections and statements are made with the clothing that the royal ladies wear. The book is divided into four sections, Elizabeth II, Diana, Catherine, and Meghan each diving deep into that particular woman’s style.

Christmas By The Book, Anne Marie Ryan (fiction)

This is exactly the book I want to read leading up to Christmas and finished during the lazy week before New Year’s. It was smart, relatable, and clean plus it’s British! Although I like romantic love story novels this was not that and I appreciated it so much. Real-life characters in real-world dilemmas. A huge bonus to this book was all the mentions of other books scattered throughout. The author is also an editor so she has a thorough list of book suggestions. I had to keep my notes app open while reading so I could add to my Books I Want to Read list. I highly recommend reading this during the holiday season.

Still want more book ideas? You can find my other book lists here: 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Please let me know any books you’ve read this past year. I’m always looking to add to my “to-read” list.

*Contains scenes with strong language, sexual and/or violent content. I try to skip over those passages. Besides the few passages that contain this content, I think these are great books.

If you purchase from a link on this blog a small percentage of the sale may come back to me. You are never charged more for the product. It’s a way to keep this site going. I’m very selective about the things I list. It’s mostly things we already own and love or things I think you would enjoy. Thank you for reading!