My Year of Reading (Almost) 200 Books

62 min readJan 1, 2023

Last year, I set a goal to read 50 books and read 185. This year, I decided to read 150 books and ended up reading 196. As the saying goes, you can never have too much of a good thing.

After publishing my reviews and thoughts on the books I read last year, I was surprised and thrilled that people began reaching out to me about wanting to read more. If you’re going to get into reading more in the new year, I hope you can find a book or two from this list that will set you on your reading path. Relatedly, if you would like to purchase any of the books for yourself (although, I recommend checking out the library first), you can click on the links I provided and I’ll get a little bit of a percentage and, also, you can feel good about not giving any more money to Amazon :)

If you want to skip past the intro riff-raff, please scroll until you see “Books Read in 2022” in bold below!

Since I get asked similar questions about my reading quest, I decided to answer them here:

How do you find the time to read so much? For the majority of this year, I lived in a state with weather that made you not want to go outside unless absolutely necessary, and on top of that, I only knew two people in the entire state. I also replaced “scrolling my phone” time with “reading” time — and if you use your phone as much as I did, you’ll quickly find a lot more time in the day than you expected. Lastly, my job is pretty numbers based, and I don’t have trouble listening to a book while doing math; this has made my reading go to the next level.
Where do you find books to read? I find a lot of what I read from BooksandLala; we have very similar taste in books, and she reads more than I do, so she always has something new that I know I will enjoy. I also am an avid user of Goodreads (here’s me), as they regularly put together great curated lists from authors or their staff based on release dates or specific topics. Lastly, the library is my best friend. I used their Libby/Overdrive app to get 95% of the books listed below, and I highly recommend getting a library card so you can also have many books at your disposal. The library also frequently puts lists together (such as Black History Month, AAPI Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and so on), so the library will introduce you to many authors and books you may have discovered on your own.
How many books do you own? Probably around 30. I have only purchased ~10 books or audiobooks this year; I get the vast majority from the library.

Last thing before we jump into reviews, here is a quick list of some recommendations from the year that I hope you will also enjoy:

A Book To Get You Back Into Reading: Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (fiction) or The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann (non-fiction)
A Book to Thrill You: Confessions by Kanae Minto
A Book to Unsettle You: Bunny by Mona Awad or This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno
A Book to Make You Laugh Then Cry: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
A Book That Makes You Question Everything: Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
Molly’s Most Read Author: None other than Neil Gaiman! Those Sandman comics made him far and away my most read author this year.
Molly’s Favorite Book of The Year: How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu (fiction) or You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone: The Biography of Nico by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike (non-fiction)

Now let’s get onto the reviews, shall we?

Books Read in 2022

January
16 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.5

Peril at the End House by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
Of course, I kicked off the year with another trip with Poirot. Fantastic, as always.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Bunny by Mona Awad
Fiction; Horror/Dark Comedy
WOW. This book is about a master’s degree student who is classmates with a cultish group of girls. I had planned to read this during the week, but I ended up binging it in one day because I was so disturbed that I couldn’t put it down. I loved this book and am looking forward to anything else that Mona Awad writes.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Near The Bone by Christina Henry
Fiction; Horror
Well, this was spooky. A woman and her husband live in a remote part of the woods…and things start getting weird. I enjoyed this.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
At Night All Blood Is Black by David Diop
Fiction; Historical Fiction
This book was on Obama’s best books of 2021 list, and my coworker Kayla and I decided that we should check it out based on the description; this book is about a Senegalese man who fought for France in WWI. Well, it is about that, but it is way weirder than I expected. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book and blew through it in the afternoon. Also, there is no way in hell that Obama read this.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Non-Fiction; Memoir
I read this book in high school when it came out (during the golden age of 30 Rock), and I decided I wanted to listen to something light and fun while I cleaned the house. Listening to this in 2022 was still enjoyable, but it is very “of the time”. However, I love Tina Fey, so, of course, I still enjoyed listening to it.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
Not one of my favorite Christie novels, but that said, it’s still Agatha Christie, so it’s great.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
The Twilight Zone by Nona Fernandez
Fiction; Literary Fiction/Historical Fiction
This was a wild ride of a book. The Twilight Zone takes place in 1982, during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile. I don’t have the vocabulary to explain this book in a way I’m happy with, so I’ll give you a quote from the Goodreads reviews that I agree with: “The prose is mesmerizing and sometimes suffocating; the book has to be put down so you can breathe and digest, but it’s also entirely compulsive reading.”
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird
Fiction; Science Fiction
In The End of Men, the world faces a virus that has killed almost all men. This book follows many women across the world (although primarily based in the UK) and, I thought, did a great job of showing the resilience, strength, and terrible nature of people across the globe. I felt fully immersed while reading this, and I think you will too.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Keep by Jennifer Egan
Fiction; Mystery
Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
Fiction; Thriller
Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman
Fiction; Mystery
Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
Fiction; Fantasy
What a fantastic fairytale. Orquidea Divina is the family’s matriarch but has recently been getting older and, eventually, calls her large family to her home to say goodbye. She departs magically and bestows her inheritance on the family in ways they were not expecting. Some take it as a blessing, others as a curse, and for the rest of the novel, we follow a few individual family members as they come to terms with their family, their magic, and themselves. I really enjoyed this.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Fiction; Literary Fiction/Historical Fiction
Amor Towles has written some enthralling and immersive books — A Gentleman in Moscow & Rules of Civility — with The Lincoln Highway being his third book published. I wanted to enjoy this book…but sadly, I didn’t enjoy my time reading it. I was expecting something different, which is more on me than the author. The book is still immersive and gives a slice of life of a group of boys in the 1950s (along with some ancillary characters), but I recommend reading his other books before this one.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
Sad Cyprus by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
If you read last year’s list of reviews, you’re probably going to skim all of the Agatha Christie books I read this year, but PLEASE read this one. This has to be my second favorite Christie novel ever — so many twists, so many turns and developed and interesting characters. Fantastic book!
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex
Fiction; Historical Fiction
The Lamplighters is based on a true story of three men who mysteriously disappeared off a lighthouse off the shore in Scotland. Emma Stonex took this mystery and breathed life into them through this story, along with the wives and girlfriends of the deceased. I found this book a little slow but was interested in the story enough to push through.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Fiction; Fantasy
Ariadne follows (can you guess?) Ariadne of Greek mythology fame not just through her life in Crete and helping Theseus kill the minotaur housed in the labyrinth but also after she was left on Naxos by Theseus. The book also gives the perspective of Phaedra, her younger sister, who ends up marrying Theseus. I enjoyed this retelling but preferred the chapters by Phaedra because she is much more of a realist than her sister. I highly recommend this book!
Enjoyment rating: 8/10

February
24 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.7

Keep in mind that I am a Californian living in a non-Californian climate for the first time…no way I was going out in 20 degrees. Also, many of the books I read in February were pretty short, as I had just discovered the joy of short horror books.

Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
Fiction; Thriller
Unfortunately, I’m falling out of love with thrillers which I never thought would happen…but here we are. Although this wasn’t my favorite thriller, I recommend it to fans of the genre because it has a ton of twists and turns and interesting characters.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
Sex Cult Nun: Breaking Away from the Children of God, a Wild, Radical Religious Cult by Faith Jones
Non-Fiction; Memoir
Faith Jones was born into the Children of God cult in the 1970s and grew up in an isolated village in Macau. This book made me feel physically ill when describing the leader’s interactions with children, but if you can stomach that, the rest of the book is an interesting look into a life of a cult member. Go into this knowing there is a good happy ending, but you’ll have to read about a lot of misery before you get there. A must-read for fans of Educated.
Enjoyment rating: 7.5/10
I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
Fiction; Horror
Um, wow. I’m not going to tell you anything about this story beyond saying that I enjoyed this and did not expect the ending. This book makes you feel tense throughout, and I highly enjoyed the audio experience (and would suggest you go that route as well).
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke
Fiction; Horror
Ahhh! I read the synopsis for this book and got goosebumps, so, obviously, I picked it up. This 70-page novella is about a middle-aged, single father who does everything for his son. He does so much for him that he’s starting to look sick…really sick. The only thing? He never had any children. So don’t read anything else about this, and enjoy!
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
Fiction; Horror
Ahhh x2! Beyond knowing that this book is in the format of emails and Instant Messages, I knew nothing about it before reading it. And I suggest that is how you go into reading this book as well since it just cracks 100 pages. When finishing this, I felt like I was going to throw up. If you like books that make you feel that way, pick this up immediately. I guess I got lucky reading this in February because they pulled selling this as a standalone story and have since put it into a collection with other short stories.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Salvador by Joan Didion
Non-Fiction; Travel
I had never read anything by Joan Didion before reading this book, and I’m not sure this book convinced me to pick up anything else (if you stop reading this list now, I understand your decision). Didion visited El Salvador for two weeks and refused to use “El” when referring to the country (which irrationally annoyed me). This book has no real story or narrative thread, but it contains interesting facts about the country. Since this book was published in the early 1980s, this is by no means a current representation of the country, but I thought it was interesting to see the country through this snapshot in time. I know this is a long review, but I wanted to share two excerpts because these will give you a better sense of what the book is like and most likely be the reason you do or don’t pick this up:
After describing eating outside and suddenly seeing two men watching them while holding guns: “Nothing came out of this, but I did not forget the sensation of having been in a single instant demoralized, undone, humiliated by fear, which is what I meant when I said that I came to understand in El Salvador the mechanism of terror.”
When describing the government and the many different armed revolutionary groups: “If it is taken for granted that the government kills, it is also taken for granted that the other side kills; that everyone has killed, everyone kills now, and if the history of the place suggests any pattern, everyone will continue to kill.”
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness by Claire Vaye Watkins
Fiction; Literary Fiction
This book was not for me, but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed My Year of Rest and Relaxation because it has similar themes.
Enjoyment rating: 3/10
Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space by Amanda Leduc
Non-Fiction; Fairy Tales
Disfigured is a non-fiction book about fairy tales and how characters are either meant to overcome their disfigurement or disability, how evil characters have some sort of disfigurement or disability, and how that relates to real life. The author herself has cerebral palsy, which has affected how she walks and how she is perceived by society. She had some fascinating points in this book; however, I feel the book lost the plot a bit when superheroes got brought up (are those ‘fairy tales’…?). However, I think this is still worth the read as it provides an interesting perspective on living with a disability and will make you think more critically while watching classic Disney movies.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Best in Travel 2022 by Lonely Planet
Non-Fiction; Travel
I like to read at least one of these sweeping travel books once a year to scratch the travel itch. I always enjoy what Lonely Planet puts together, and this was no different. One thing I like about their books is that they provide books to read from the country or location they are showcasing, which just gives me more and more books to add to the neverending TBR.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Mrs. Death Misses Death by Salena Godden
Fiction; Literary Fiction
This book is a beautiful combination of poetry and prose. While reading, I felt like I was in a fever dream in the best way. Mrs. Death Misses Death is about Mrs. Death (the personification of death which is an elderly Black woman) and her somewhat unwilling-turned-willing scribe, Wolf. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to compare this to, but if you are interested in poetry, I think you would enjoy this.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Come Closer by Sara Gran
Fiction; Horror
This is a book about a woman becoming possessed by a demon. It is short, spooky, and will make you think about it whenever you hear a noise in your house that you can’t identify. It was probably a mistake to read this at night, but it’s a great book.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Zorrie by Laird Hunt
Fiction; Literary Fiction
If you enjoyed The Lincoln Highway but thought it would have benefited from being much shorter, boy, do I have a story for you. Zorrie is a life-sweeping novella where we follow the titular Zorrie from adolescence to the end of her life through the 1930s — 1960s/70s and her life in a small town. I enjoyed this book, although if you’re looking for something uplifting, please pass on this.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
Fiction; Fantasy/Horror
This was great to listen to on audio — the narrator is fantastic. In this book, Klu Kluxes are (basically) demons, and Maryse Boudreaux and her Macon-based crew are here to destroy them from taking over the world.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Finlay Donovan Knocks’ Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
Fiction; Mystery
I loved the first book in this series, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, so I rushed to pick up the sequel once it came out in February. Like in the first book, Finlay Donovan is writing a book (a sequel, in fact), and I liked how this one got meta — there were scenes with her agent asking Finlay about the book, and it served as a way for the author to explain why she was doing things in Knocks’ Em Dead. The book’s synopsis is similar to the first; Finlay is yet again unwillingly brought into the criminal underbelly of her town while hilarity ensues. This was a great sequel, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
Fiction; Horror
If you think you know what is going on in this book, the author shows you that you were wrong about 20 pages later. Without spoiling anything, this is a story about an odd man, his daughter, his cat, and the new neighbor who thinks that the man is the person who killed her sister. A very engaging book and this could have easily been a Stephen King book (the highest of compliments).
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Non-Fiction; Memoir
I loved the storytelling in this book. I think a great way to describe it would be “creative non-fiction” because, although this is a memoir, it’s not a typical one. Instead, the author takes her life with an abuser and frames each chapter as an embodiment of the “dream house” or her memories. Although this is challenging content to read, I enjoy how the story was told and highly recommend this.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
Fiction; Hard Boiled Crime
This was a re-read because I originally read this book in high school, and it is still as good as it was then. I very much enjoy Dashiell Hammett’s writing; it makes you feel like you are in the room listening to the characters talking. This is a hard-boiled crime book about a retired sleuth (Nick) who gets sucked into a case while visiting New York City with his wife (Nora). Although he never officially signed onto the case, everyone in town thinks he’s involved, which brings him (and his wife) deeper and deeper into solving it. I love Nick and Nora and wish they were real.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Little Darlings by Melanie Golding
Fiction; Fantasy/Thriller/Mystery
I was not expecting this book to be this good. Little Darlings is a book that keeps you guessing what is happening throughout — is the main character suffering a psychotic break, or is there REALLY a woman who has stolen her children? The story begins with our main character, who has just given birth to twins. In the hospital, a creepy woman asks her if she will trade one of the main character’s babies for one of her babies, and from there, it just gets twistier and twistier. We get the story told to us, half by the new mother of twins and half by a police officer who thinks there is more to the case than anyone realizes. A very thrilling read that combines a lot of my book loves!
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
The Widow by K. L. Slater
Fiction; Thriller
I am writing this review 3–4 days after finishing the book and have forgotten the plot. So, I’ll leave my review at that.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Fiction; Mystery
I thought I would just say “not for me” as I have with some other books, but I have some things to say about this one. I have no idea how this got on my TBR list because this is quite clearly something that is not for me. It is a…crime? Mystery? Book with a “kooky” female lead who is an unlikely bounty hunter (and who likes to critique people’s weight — seriously, this came up way too many times for it just to be a passing thought). Why did I finish this since I hated every second? Because I wasn’t going to let this “kooky” book defeat me!
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Fiction; Science Fiction
We meet again, Ray Bradbury. His books are generally hit or miss with me, and I am happy to report that this one was a hit! This is a loosely-related series of short stories about the human colonization of Mars. My dad recommended this to me, and when asked, he said he would also recommend it to Elon Musk (I gotta say I agree with that one).
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Baho! by Roland Rugero
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I found this book while reading The Travel Book by Lonely Planet. This is the first book from Burundi translated into English and is about a mute man, Nyamuragi. One day, Nyamuragi is walking through the village and asks through gestures where he should go to the bathroom, but the teenage woman who he was asking, mistook his gestures as premeditation to raping her. This book is concise (less than 100 pages), so if you’re looking for something quick about a country that you don’t know much about, this book may be for you. Unfortunately, it was not a book for me as this 91-page book took me about three weeks to finish because I couldn’t get into the story.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Taylor Jenkins Reid does not miss. Read this.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Fiction; Young Adult
Someone needs to invent a website called isitYA.com, so I can go to it before I read anything to ensure I won’t be stuck reading something written for children. Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10

March
11 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.6

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson
Fiction; Thriller
A woman wakes up without knowing where she is, how she got there, or who the man next to her is. Once he wakes up, he explains that she is his wife and she lost her memory in an accident years ago. Once she has settled in with this fact, her husband goes to work, and she gets a call from a man who tells her that he is her doctor and that she should find her journal in the closet…so she begins to read and discovers the true story about her situation.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The Jaunt by Stephen King
Fiction; Science Fiction/Horror
This short story is only 16 pages long, so all I will tell you is that my hands got clammy when I read the last page of this book. Disconcerting ending and a great short story from King!
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison
Fiction; Science Fiction/Horror
I have to be honest — I had a whole review written for this, but I hated this book so much that I’m not even dignifying it with a review. Pass.
Enjoyment rating: 1/10
All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M Morris
Fiction; Mystery/Thriller
Ellice Littlejohn, our main character, is from a small town in Georgia and has a very tumultuous home life. Luckily, she could get out of her small town because of a scholarship to a private school. This experience allowed her to attend law school, and now, Ellice is working as a lawyer at a large transportation company in Atlanta. Unfortunately, one day when she goes into the office, she finds her boss dead. I enjoyed this story; it was well written and always kept me guessing.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
Fiction; Thriller
I heard about this book from Goodreads last year, but the library wait was always too long. However, I kept this in my thoughts and finally was able to get it this month. It was worth the wait! In traditionally Molly fashion, all I knew about this book was that it was a thriller about two women who switch plane tickets. And while, yes, that is the first couple of chapters, I wasn’t expecting a look into two battered women’s lives (one by her husband and one by life in general). I enjoyed the storytelling and plot; there were many twists and turns to keep your attention. I recommend this!
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Violeta by Isabel Allende
Fiction; Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction
I judged this book by its cover and immediately requested it from the library once it was published. Again, knowing nothing about the book, I was blown away by Violeta’s life which spanned a century. The writing in this book is moving and keeps you interested. The author tells Violeta’s story from birth to death, spanning countries, husbands, and a century. If you enjoy Zorrie (earlier on this list), you will also enjoy this.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
The Maid by Nita Prose
Fiction; Mystery
Molly the Maid is our heroine in this cozy thriller in a Canadian hotel. Molly is a very particular person with secrets of her own and, within the first couple of chapters, stumbles upon a dead body in the hotel. The story follows Molly’s follies and sneaky business from suspect to accused. I enjoyed this and am looking forward to whatever Nita Prose writes next. However, did the fact that the protagonist is named Molly affect my rating? Perhaps…
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore
Fiction; Comic
Do comic books count as books? I hope so because I enjoyed this Batman comic. Since it is a comic and, therefore, by nature, very short, I won’t tell you about the plot, but it is a classic for a reason.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby
Fiction; Crime
This book was marketed as a thriller, but there isn’t much of a mystery or thrill in it — I’d classify this as a revenge story. Two fathers unite after their sons are murdered, desperate for answers and justice. The fathers, Ike and Buddy Lee, are unlikely friends as one is a Black ex-con, and one is a white hillbilly. Placed in the South, the author touches upon homophobia, trans rights, acceptance, and (of course) friendship. I enjoyed this quite a bit and recommend it to anyone who has read The Road but never wants to read something as sad as The Road ever again.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
Fiction; Mystery
So, the author had just seen a famous movie and was compelled to write their version of it in book form. That aside, I enjoyed this story about a missing woman, a private investigator, and a cult in the woods. It does get a bit slow in the middle, but it is overall enjoyable.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
Fiction; Crime/Literary Fiction
This book opens with Ansel Packer’s last day on Earth. Ansel is a killer, or so they claim. Kukafka brings us through his life and the people’s lives he affected in this very well-written and fast-paced novel. I thought this was a very interesting topic, giving it the Molly stamp of approval.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10

April
21 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.2

It by Stephen King
Fiction; Horror
It is a classic, extremely long, and just darn good. I tore through this in a week and, while reading, had to sleep with the light on — no shame. This book is excellent if you want to be scared, disgusted, and morally horrified! I have a lot of thoughts on this book (and how could I not, since it is over 1,000 pages), but I’ll try to be succinct. I enjoyed the writing (obviously, it’s Stephen King), the many Dark Tower references, and Mike — what a guy! This book is exceptionally unhinged; truly a masterclass in writing a deranged book with a highly readable and fully fleshed-out plot. But, I did have some problems with it — in the beginning, you don’t know why you’re reading what you’re reading (in hindsight, it all makes sense, but at the time, woof). Also, justice for Bev. Why is she always taking her shirt off or having her shirt taken off or having her shirt rip/fall open? I get it is so that King can say “bosom” for the billionth time, but c’mon, man. If you can get past that (which you should because this book is great), you’re in for a wild ride.
Enjoyment rating: 8.5/10
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
Fiction; Historical Fiction
The Diamond Eye is a fictionalized account of the real-life Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Russian soldier from Kyiv, who was a sniper during WWII. While Lyudmila was an actual person, there is not a wealth of information about her personal life, so the author took from this historical record and filled the cracks with fiction. This enjoyable listen hits all the things you could want from a female-focused WWII historical fiction book.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
For the Love of Europe by Rick Steves
Non-Fiction; Travel
Brett and I have been watching Rick Steves’ content for hours, so I wanted to listen to Rick list his favorite locations and experiences. The genius of Rick Steves is that he’s just some guy who likes traveling, and that pulls through in all of his stories; he’s not traveling to achieve some higher goal or to flex on anyone; he just genuinely likes it and wants other people to enjoy their trips as well. So this book wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was fun to see his favorite things to do in each western (and some eastern) European country.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I am obsessed with this book. It is a multi-generational story that spans decades and locations. We begin the story with estranged siblings who have finally both come back home to hear their dead mother’s last wish via audiotape. And then the family secrets start flowing! I loved this story and never got bored while reading it. Highly enjoyable.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Non-Fiction; History
This short, non-fiction book is about a woman-led militia fighting against ISIS in northern Syria. This book is written by a journalist who was on the ground in Syria while this militia was operating. The book combines interviews with the militia and other forces on the ground. Informative & interesting.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
Blue Sky Kingdom by Bruce Kirby
Non-Fiction; Travel
I was wandering through the non-fiction floor of the library until I found myself in the section about India. I started looking for a travel memoir and found it in Blue Sky Kingdom. In typically Molly fashion, I didn’t read the back cover or anything about it — I just checked it out and brought it home. This story follows the author, Bruce Kirby, and his family (wife & two young sons) from their small town in Canada to the remote Himalayan Zanskar Valley. While I was expecting this to be a straight travel story, a fourth or third of the book is about his son’s autism diagnosis. The stories were not interesting enough to warrant this being as long as the book was, but there are some gems here.
Enjoyment rating: 5.5/10
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe
Fiction; Gothic Horror
Man, that Edgar Allen Poe could WRITE. What a fantastically told tale. Hopefully you have already read this, but if you haven’t, please pick it up ASAP!
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I don’t know why I keep picking up Booker prize nominees’ books when I seem to hate them so much, but here we are. I didn’t hate this book; it was very well-written and had an interesting concept. But, unfortunately, this book never picked up because it seemed to have little plot. The book follows our main character from finding out that his grandmother’s caretaker has passed away and follows him through his memories and his physical trip to the caretaker’s funeral.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
Fiction; Mystery
Ah, yes. I needed this book after a string of serious reads. Arsenic and Adobo is a cozy mystery and romance book that follows our main character, Lila Macapagal, a Phillipina baker & chef. Within the first couple of pages, her ex-boyfriend drops dead in her family’s restaurant, and her family is accused of poisoning him. She bumbles her way through solving the case and, in the end, finds the killer and also love. This book is silly and fun.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood by Danny Trejo
Non-Fiction; Autobiography
In Danny Trejo’s autobiography, he tells the long and winding tale of his life from child to teenage gang member and drug addict to convict to actor. Trejo’s life is inspiring, and his dedication to keeping people clean should be lauded. I listened to the audiobook and was delighted to hear Trejo himself as the narrator. Be prepared for sad stories, funny stories, and much talk about addiction and God. Delightful read!
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Play
I read The Glass Menagerie in high school, and it immediately became my favorite play. Unfortunately, it took me so long to pick up more of his writing, and I was not disappointed with A Streetcar Named Desire. This play follows three main characters: Blanche (the sister who arrives after “losing” their family home), Stella (the sister who lives in New Orleans with her husband), and Stanley (the brother-in-law and husband). Blanche seemingly arrives out of the blue at Stella’s home and lives a life of luxury despite saying she “lost” their family home. Throughout the play (which seemingly takes place over many months), Stella’s grip on reality slips further and further until the regrettable conclusion of the play. I love how Williams writes and am currently adding the rest of his plays to my TBR.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The Tiger Came to the Mountain by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Fiction; Historical Fiction
This short story from Silvia Moreno-Garcia was written as a Kindle ~ original ~ so unfortunately, I can’t link to anything besides Amazon (apologies). This short tale follows a family trying to survive without being found by the military. Moreno-Garcia says that this story is based on her great-grandmother’s experiences during the Mexican War, which adds a bit of intrigue to the story. All in all, something quick and easy to read but not something you need to rush out to buy.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Same as above, this also seems to be an Amazon exclusive (apologies, part 2). This short story by Margaret Atwood is about a daughter and her mother, who, as it so happens, is a thousands-of-years-old witch. This is a nice coming-of-age story with a fantasy twist. I enjoyed it.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Confessions by Kanae Minto
Fiction; Literary Fiction
This has been my ‘plane’ book for a couple of trips, but I finally finished it on the way while flying to Virginia. Confessions centers around Moriguchi, a junior high teacher about to retire…but not before one last lecture where she reveals some dark secrets about two of her students. Each chapter is a different perspective of “the dark secrets” and everything that surrounds it and at the end of each chapter is a brand new “oh my god” moment. I enjoyed this book, even though it took me so long to read. I highly, highly recommend.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams
Play
First, since I read this instead of listening to it, the way it was written was extremely immersive. I know plays aren’t meant to be read and are meant to be watched, but Tennessee Williams not only gave the actors words to memorize but also pronunciation. This play takes place in the south (of course it does) and deals with a bizarre family dynamic between Big Daddy (really the character’s name), Big Mama (really the character’s name), and their sons and wives. The play revolves around Brick’s (really the character’s name) potentially gay romance with one of his friends that he never got over. If I tell you anything more, I will have given away the entire plot, so pick it up and enjoy.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Batman, Vol 1: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder
Comic
Again, I ask you, dear reader, do comics count as books? Since I enjoyed The Killing Joke so much, I decided to pick up The Court of Owls, which is the first in a (I think) trilogy. I really enjoyed this!
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Dinner Guest by B. P. Walter
Fiction; Thriller
The Dinner Guest is another twisty-turny book like Confessions, where at the end of each chapter, a new piece of information is given to you that makes you rethink your whole theory of who the killer was. The first chapter of this book is about the aftermath of the murder, and slowly but surely, the reader puts together the pieces (or doesn’t) to figure out who did it. I enjoyed reading this, but it got a little long in the middle.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
I’m Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya
Fiction; Memoir
This short memoir is a vulnerable yet impactful look at gender and all the structures and fluidities that come with it. The author talks about her experiences growing up as a ‘feminine’ boy, how people treated her differently, and how these things have impacted her life. This was written beautifully, and I enjoyed reading it.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The Art of the Occult by S. Elizabeth
Non-Fiction; Art
I have no idea how I found this book — I think it was recommended to me as something I would be interested in from the library. Why? No idea. However, I love art, so I enjoyed reading through this and discovering new (and enjoying old) art pieces about astrology, mythology, and other “occult” occurrences/beings. You’ll find this interesting if you like watching hours and hours of art history YouTube videos like me.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
Fiction; Satire
This may be my favorite book of the year. If you work in an office, you need to read this immediately.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10

May
18 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.75

The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers
Fiction; Historical Fiction
A poor woman spends time with the wealthy wives of tobacco barons when she is a teenager. I wouldn’t say I liked the main character, and overall, this book was not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
Fiction; Literary Fiction
What a cool story. This is a multi-generational story which begins in war-torn China, continues in a restless Taiwan, and finishes in the southern United States, spanning three generations. I really enjoyed this.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
All Day is a Long Time by David Sanchez
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I didn’t know much about this — in typical Molly fashion — but I had a great time listening to this story. It’s about a teen/young adult struggling with drug addiction and his trials and tribulations while trying to stay clean.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
Non-Fiction; History & Science
This is a non-fiction book about the Galvin family, who had 12 children, 6 of whom have or had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. This book takes a scientific view, so as you follow the family through the years, you also follow the advancements in medicine and understanding of the brain.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The Memory Theater by Karin Tidbeck
Fiction; Fantasy
Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
The Passenger: How a Travel Writer Learned to Love Cruises and Other Lies from a Sinking Ship by Chaney Kwak
Non-Fiction; Memoir & Travel
Chaney Kwak survived a shipwreck off the coast of Norway and wrote this book about his experience and how it affected his life. I went into this expecting it to be all about the cruise but was pleasantly surprised that he wove his real life off the ship into the narration. Enjoyable and short.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Batman, Vol 2: The City of Owls by Scott Snyder
Comic
Vol 2 of The City of Owls trilogy. Thank you to the Austin library for keeping my Batman comic needs met. Sadly, they do not have volume 3, meaning this may be the end of my reading this series…stay tuned.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Based in a brothel in ancient Pompeii, we follow the lives of the courtesans employed there. The story focuses on Amara, in particular. The characters in this book are not real, but the author did a great deal of research and tried to stay as close to what real life for enslaved people was like during this exciting time. Unfortunately, I found the book too long, but I am intrigued to check out the second book in the series, which came out the day after I read this. May it be fate?
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
Fiction; Fantasy
Once this book picks up, it PICKS UP. I am hooked and cannot read the other two books in this trilogy.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
Non-Fiction; History
Amazing! Grann, a journalist, goes on a hunt in the Amazon for the lost explorer, Percy Fawcett. This book has that “can’t-put-it-down” quality, and I loved every second of reading this.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
Fiction; Science Fiction
What happens when Big Brother turns their eye on parents? The School for Good Mothers answers that question. I enjoyed this dystopian nightmare.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight
Fiction; Thriller
This is a domestic & legal thriller centered around two women — one who is dead and one who is solving the case. While it isn’t a unique premise, this book is written very well and has twists and turns on every page. Enjoyable!
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Fiction; Fantasy
I was so excited about this book, and I’m sad to say I hated it. Much too long, and I’m convinced this is a YA romance book disguised as an adult fantasy book. Genuinely bummed about this one.
Enjoyment rating: 1/10
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chehkov
Play
This was Chekhov’s last play and he really went out with a bang. Great play about the passing of a former way of life in Russia.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird by Joshua Hammer
Non-Fiction; History
All I’m going to say is, beware of Jeffrey Lendrum.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Written in first person, which I usually hate, but not in this instance, The Buddha in the Attic tells a tale of women from Japan coming to America for a better future. It follows one ship which brought over brides for Japanese immigrant men and follows the collective “we” throughout their lives. The writing enamored me, and everyone should pick up this book.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Fiction; Science Fiction
I love everything this book did, and I could have read 1,000 more pages. I never re-read books, but this is one that I actually would re-read. The writing reminded me of my favorite book I read last year, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. The short premise is: a woman discovers an ancestor of humans and releases a horrific pandemic on the world. What will happen? This is written as loosely (or sometimes not so loosely) connected short stories about how people can endure and, eventually, thrive.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Fiction; Science Fiction
This is the first story in the Murderbot series and is about a somewhat-human-somewhat-robot on a mission that goes bad. Short and sweet but not something that I loved.
Enjoyment rating: 3/10

June
13 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.8

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Fiction; Science Fiction
I did not want this book to end! This has the same vibes as How High We Go in the Dark and similarly takes place over a vast amount of time through somewhat interconnected characters. A beautiful and tenderly written sci-fi book.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin
Fiction; Fantasy
Another great read from N. K. Jemisin. We continue our story with Essun and learn of a problem of astrological proportions. I’m really excited to read the third and final book in this series.
Enjoyment rating: 7.5/10
Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Fiction; Historical Fiction
This multi-generational tale takes place in China and the United States. I am a sucker for multi-generational stories, so it is no surprise that I also enjoyed this one. I recommend this to fans of Black Cake.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Hide by Kiersten White
Fiction; Thriller (??)
I read this because it was a part of the Literally Dead Bookclub, of which I am a part, but I cannot in good conscious recommend this book to you.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin
Fiction; Fantasy
The third and final book in The Broken Earth series was so fantastic that I don’t have anything to say about it. I 100% recommend this series and think that N. K. Jemisin is a tremendous author. If you like sci-fi at all, this series is a must-read.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
Fiction; Science Fiction
What is there to say? I love Dune, and I love Dune Messiah. Truly one of the best (if not the best?) sci-fi series of all time. Paul Atreides, I tip my hat and say thank you. Or do I (iykyk)? There is so much I want to say about this, but I would much rather you read Dune & Dune Messiah so you can discover this fantastic journey for yourself.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I feel duped because I thought this book was a heist story, but it is a coming-of-age tale. The book was fine, but I was looking for something else. Also, in this book, the author writes that the student attending UCLA will graduate in May…what program is he in that he gets to graduate a month early? I don’t know. I just really disliked this.
Enjoyment rating: 3/10
This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno
Fiction; Horror
Amazing. 10/10. I wish I could wipe my mind and reread this. This Thing Between Us is a horror story that begins right after the main character’s wife dies in a freak accident. Blending grief with the terror of the unknown (real? or imagined?) was a brilliant move, and I highly recommend this book to any horror fan.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Shockingly, this book, with little to no plot, was so enjoyable. The Memory Police takes place on a Japanese island where people are forced/programmed to forget things once “the memory police” deem them immoral, unjust, or for any reason. However, the book’s primary focus is the relationship and development of the main character, a young writer, who I don’t believe is ever named (or I just forgot). It’s a very poignant book at this point in time, and I very much enjoyed the experience.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I’m so happy that this year I have found Vivek’s writing. This book follows two women in the music industry and examines the “fakeness” of social media, forced friendships, and the entertainment industry. The basic plot is that an indie artist has her song covered by a pop group, and the cover becomes a big hit, while the original never was. The author brings us through the characters involved and how they react to this somewhat awkward event. As an active Twitter user, I thought this book was very realistic, and I enjoyed reading it.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Malice by Keigo Higashino
Fiction; Mystery
Malice follows two characters: a children’s book author who discovers his friend dead and the detective solving the case. Pretty standard as far as detective novels go, but I did enjoy listening to this one and felt like it flew by.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
The Gun by Fuminori Nakamura
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Respectfully, not for me, but I can see why this is a monumental book and #art.
Enjoyment rating: 3/10
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Sorry, Conrad, but it’s a no from me, dog. I suppose this is a case of it was great “for its time”.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10

July
20 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.2

This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay
Non-Fiction; Memoir
This memoir follows Adam Kay’s daily diaries while he was a doctor in the NHS, and, my god, this book will have you laughing and crying, sometimes even during the same chapter. This book is fantastic, and a realistic (I mean, what do I know) look at what it is like to be working in health care. The bit at the end where he blasts politicians for making the system so strained brought me to tears. Great book & a quick read.
Enjoyment rating: 8.5/10
You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone: The Biography of Nico by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike
Non-Fiction; Biography
Before reading this book, I knew next to nothing about Nico. So you may wonder, why did you pick up a 500-page book about her? No idea. However, I am thrilled I did because this is in contention for one of my favorite books of the year. Nico lived a fascinating yet horrifying life. Here is the extreme Sparknotes version: Her journey began in Germany, where she lived through WWII, where nazis killed her father, and then after the war, she began a modeling career to support her mother. After a time, her modeling career took her to New York, where she met Andy Warhol, where things began kicking off, and she began to date or befriend every rocker you can name from the 1960s/70s who visited New York. Man, I really loved this book and all of the bits and pieces from interviews about her life as told by musicians, artists, and her son.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Comic
Watchmen is about a retired group of crime fighters during the 1980s. Nixon has won his third election, Russia and the USA are still in a cold war, and superheroes have been banned. When one of the former crimefighters is murdered in his home, it kicks off a case led by one of the other, which takes more twists and turns than most crime novels. Did I enjoy reading this? Yes and no. At times it dragged, but it was a very interesting story with great characters. If you are a comic fan and have yet to read this, please do. Anyone else can probably skip.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Every once in a while (editor’s note: more like weekly), I pick up a book I know nothing about purely based on one review or the cover. Winter in Sokcho was one of those. Usually, when I do this, it is a book that I end up not caring much for because, surprise, surprise, I am not the target audience, and/or it is not a genre I care about. However, I am glad that Sokcho was a lovely, atmospheric, and slightly unsettling novel about a woman in Sokcho who works at an inn. One of the inn’s customers is visiting from France and is currently writing/drawing a comic book. Since the book is only 160 pages, I’ll leave the plot at that. This book would be great for anyone who liked The Twilight Zone purely based on the vibes (not the plot).
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Non-Fiction; Memoir
While reading this, I had to keep reminding myself that it was not a novel. While I cannot imagine growing up like that author had to, she tells the reader about her experiences masterfully. This book follows the author through her childhood to adulthood, dealing with an alcoholic, tax-dodging father, her free-spirited and willfully-clueless mother, and her two siblings. I recommend this to fans of Educated.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Survivor Type by Stephen King
Short Story
This was recommended in r/horrorlit and was a user’s favorite King short story, so I picked it up. Since this is so short, all you need to know is that this story is about a disgraced surgeon who finds himself alone on a deserted island. He’ll surely go hungry…won’t he?
Enjoyment rating: 7.5/10
Graveyard Shift by Stephen King
Short Story
This is another short story by King that Matthew sent to me because we were talking about the above-mentioned, Survivor Type. I didn’t enjoy this much, but it was written during the 60s/70s when King was in college, so I don’t hold it against him. Beware the rats.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
The Martian by Andy Weir
Fiction; Science Fiction
A man stranded on Mars needs to learn to survive. It should be no surprise since Andy Weir wrote this, but this book is very well written, has relatable characters, and is extremely fun to read. If you’re a sci-fi fan, this would be a great one to check out.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose
Fiction; Thriller
In total transparency, I am writing my recap about a week after I read this, and I don’t remember anything about this book beyond that it is a domestic thriller. So, therefore, probably not one I would recommend.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Fiction; Science Fiction
Fantastic, beautiful, unique, I love it. I’m happy I found Emily St. John Mandel’s writing this year! If you enjoy sci-fi, read this immediately.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
We Had To Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets
Fiction; Literary Fiction
My low rating on this one is on me — I found this book from TikTok, which was presented as “really scary and atmospheric.” It was not that. It is about a content moderator at Facebo — sorry, I mean Hexa. If this had been presented to me as a novella about how content moderation is a terrible job and can impact people in various ways, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
Enjoyment rating: 1/10
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Fiction; Science Fiction
Do you enjoy reading about time travel? Do you enjoy pondering quantum mechanics and Schrödinger’s Cat? Well, do I have a book for you. But, unfortunately, this was not a book for me!
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
Far From the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
Fiction; Science Fiction
I had some credits on Audible I had forgotten about, so I got a couple of books that they recommended to me, and this was one of them. Sadly, I should know by now that I shouldn’t trust Audible’s recommendations since I only listen to a few books a year there, and they only know a little about what I enjoy. However, this might be a cool one to check out if you’re entering a sci-fi phase!
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
We Carry Their Bones: The Search of Justice at the Dozier School for Boys by Erin Kimmerle
Non-Fiction; History
Overall, I enjoyed this book but thought it should have either focused on the history or the archeology aspect. This is a book about the Arthur G. Dozier Boys School in Florida and literally uncovering the truth of the horrors that the boys who lived there experienced.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
Fiction; Dystopian
This book is a debut novel by Koushyn Takami about a class of 42 Japanese students brought to a remote island and forced to fight until one student remains. This book came out in 1999, and although publishers initially rejected it based on the content, it was a best seller. Something that surprised me about this book is that, similar to Stephen King’s It; this book is more of a coming-of-age story with spurts of horrific murder. Since it is such a sweeping tale, it does drag at times, but that made the ending that much more satisfying. For non-Japanese speakers, there are (obviously) 42+ characters in this book with similar-sounding-to-me names and therefore was difficult to keep characters straight until closer to the end when there were fewer characters. Overall, I did enjoy this book, but the length did not seem justified to me, which brought down my enjoyment rating. (Sorry for linking to Amazon, I couldn’t find this on Bookshop)
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
1922 by Stephen King
Fiction; Horror
Every time I read something by Stephen King, it’s like a warm, scary hug. In a dramatic change of events, this novella is set in Nebraska rather than Maine. It follows a father and him living with very serious consequences for a very serious decision. I enjoyed this book, and the movie adaptation on Netflix was terrifying. I recommend!
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Big Driver by Stephen King
Short Story
I can handle a lot when it comes to horror/crime/thriller books, but this is a brutal novella, even for King. This is a story about a woman (very terribly) wronged, who is now on the hunt for revenge, and won’t stop even if she loses her mind in the process. I love how King writes and doesn’t clarify if what we’re being told is happening or if what is being described is all in someone’s head. Am I glad I read this? Yes. Did I enjoy it? No, not really. However, if you are a King fan, this is a very “Stephen King” story — take that as you will!
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
A Good Marriage by Stephen King
Short Story
This is another excellent story from King about a woman who discovers a very dark secret about her husband and is faced with a decision she has to make. Very interesting premise and (obviously) very well written!
Enjoyment rating: 7.5/10
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
Fiction; Fantasy
I read this for Kayla and my book club and enjoyed this book. It had a bit of a slow start, as it covered the main character’s childhood and was written like a YA fantasy book (my least favorite genre). However, once I got to part two, I realized that this was something the writer intentionally did — the writing style evolves along with the main character (so cool!). This grand and sweeping novel follows Kaikeyi throughout her life and retells the even more grand and sweeping Hindu epic of Ramayana. I have not read the Ramayana, so I’m sure I missed some incredible moments in the story, but overall I liked the story and the characters in this book. My only critique is that it dragged at points and could have been edited down.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10

August
19 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.4

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Fiction; Science Fiction
Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 3/10
Wahala by Nikki May
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Wahala is an entertaining domestic thriller. It follows three friends of Nigerian descent living in England who are living their lives as they please until an old friend shows up: Isobel. The three friends, Ronke, Boo, and Simi, have their lives slowly but surely turned upside down thanks to Isobel, and it all comes to a head with a satisfying ending.
Enjoyment rating: 8.5/10
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I don’t know why I stuck with this one until the end.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce
Short Story
This is yet another short story I found on Reddit; this short story follows a man in the Civil War. Since it is only 26 pages, I’ll leave it at that and highly recommend you read this one.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Inseparable by Simone de Beauvoir
Fiction; Historical Fiction
It’s “Women in Translation” month at the library, so I picked up an insane amount of translated works. This is the first one I decided to tackle because I already have read Beauvoir before, and it was one of the shorter ones. Reading this transported me back to high school and college, where I almost exclusively read French philosophers, so that nostalgia may have impacted my score. Still, all in all, I very much enjoyed this story and the way Beauvoir told it. This was a story that she never published during her lifetime, and it’s always a toss-up reading books like this since there generally is a reason why it wasn’t published. However, this book she held close to her as it is an autobiography about her dear friend during childhood. If you’ve never read Beauvoir before, perhaps check out The Second Sex before this one, but if you are already familiar with her oeuvre, this is a great addition.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
The Emissary by Yoko Tawada
Fiction; Science Fiction
Another book I picked up for Women in Translation month, The Emissary, is a short book about a time gone by and an older man’s ruminations on the past and present. Set in a futuristic, alternative timeline in Japan, Tawada explores what life would be like in an entirely isolationist society pummeled by nuclear war. I’ve never read Tawada before but was, what we call in marketing, “surprised and delighted” by this story.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Although I got this book because of Women in Translation month, I first heard about it from watching the movie version with Olivia Colman. Without a better word, I was stunned by the movie and was intrigued to see how they differed from the source material. This story follows a woman on her beach holiday in Italy and slowly pulls back the curtain on her life and the decisions she has made for herself and her family. I enjoyed how the author made everything blunt. There are very few (if any) times that the author brings any emotional writing into the story, allowing the reader to decide for themselves what they think about the characters and their choices.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
I Was Never The First Lady by Wendy Guerra
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Yet another Women in Translation month title, I Was Never The First Lady, is set in Cuba during and after the Cuban Revolution. This book is haunting and examines what life in Cuba was like before and after Castro’s reign. By looking at both Albis (the mother) and Nadia (the daughter) and their lives in Cuba during very different political times, the author spins a tale that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow
Fiction; Literary/Historical Fiction
I was excited about this book because I am constantly chasing the dragon (aka the feeling I had after reading Pachinko). Sometimes a multi-generational novel fulfills that itch, and others leave me wanting. Unfortunately, I felt the latter after finishing this one.
Enjoyment rating: 3/10
Preludes & Nocturnes (The Sandman #1) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
Matthew recommended I check out The Sandman comics since a Netflix show based on them was coming out. But I couldn’t find them at the library, so I read something else. However, after watching the fantastic show that is The Sandman, I instantly rushed back to the library to find that they had acquired some copies! So, I began my journey with Preludes & Nocturnes, the first volume of The Sandman series, and I am very excited to continue reading. It is pretty wild how they were able to adapt many of the images and dialogue into the show, and I hope I can read all of these before the year is finished.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
The Doll’s House (The Sandman #2) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
Luckily for me, the second volume of The Sandman comics came in just as I returned the first book so that I could read these volumes back to back. I enjoyed this part of the series even more than the first one, and I look forward to reading more. So hurry it up, library!
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Lean Your Loneliness Against Mine by Klara Hveberg
Fiction; Literary Fiction
As we are nearing the end of Women in Translation month, I picked up yet another translated novel, Lean Your Loneliness Against Mine. This book follows our main character, Rakel, through her life of numbers and her relationship with her professor, Jakob. I only enjoyed this book a little as it felt like a dollar-bin Lolita. However, I appreciate how it was written, and the author has great talent. Perhaps I will enjoy her next book.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
The Woman of a Thousand Names by Alexandra LaPierre
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Rounding out Women in Translation month, I picked up the historical fiction novel, The Woman of a Thousand Names. This is a lengthy tome, and, at times, I forgot that it was fiction. The book follows the many lives of Moura Budberg, a presumed spy for Russia, and what she had to do to survive the various regimes and governments she lived through, both in Russia and England. I enjoyed this book, but I wish it had been a pure non-fiction book; however, I am guessing that there is not much on record about her spy activities, and thus the choice was made to fill in some gaps.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
Fiction; Science Fiction
Picture this: Blue and Red — time-traveling agents in an eternal struggle to take the other down. This short book read to me more like a poem than a novel which won the Booker Prize in 2019. It was not exactly my cup of tea, but I can see why other people rave about it.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
Joyland by Stephen King
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Rating a Stephen King book is much more complicated than any other book because I have such high expectations when I go into a King book that I don’t have when reading from another author. Therefore, my enjoyment score on this one is lower than it would be if I had never read from him. I enjoyed this book, but you should go in knowing that it is much more a “slice of life” book rather than a mystery, thriller, or horror. I would recommend this to someone who is just getting into King’s oeuvre!
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larson
Fiction; Crime
Stieg Larson knows how to spin a tale. The Girl Who Played With Fire picks up about a year after The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo finishes and reintroduces us to Lisbeth and Mikael, along with a massive group of old and new faces and names. This book shows Stieg’s range, as this is much more of a character study with a crime happening in the background rather than being at the forefront of the novel. I was never not thrilled reading this, and even by the second to last page, I had no idea how it was going to end. I love this series and am excited to read the last of the trilogy soon.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Dream Country (The Sandman #3) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
This volume of The Sandman has all stand-alone stories with The Endless scattered throughout. So, while not my favorite, there are still some great moments and quotes from this book. I enjoyed the Shakespeare chapter the most and look forward to him (hopefully) showing up again.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Lipstick Jihad by Azadeh Moaveni
Non-Fiction; Memoir
I took a very long time to read this book, so once I finally finished it while on vacation, I felt highly accomplished (despite it being only ~270 pages). This book follows Moaveni’s two years in Iran, where she worked as a journalist. She examines the lives and conditions that Iranians were living in during the late 90s-early 00s (when she was there) and is a very talented writer. However, this is not a book I should have picked up because it was difficult for me to be motivated to read it. But, as I mentioned, I did finally finish it, and I was happy to have done so.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Fiction; Children’s
I mean, how do you give this anything less than a 10?! This book, I am assuming, is for children since it is illustrated, but it is surprisingly heartfelt and felt like a warm hug (very unlike the hug-like feeling I felt reading Joyland if you look above, hahaha). This was a pleasant surprise, and I, of course, loved it. However, I do agree with one review I saw on Goodreads that says, “This is less of a novel and more of an extended greeting card” lol
Enjoyment rating: 10/10

September
14 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.7

Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi
Fiction; Literary Fiction
To round out Women in Translation month, I picked up Celestial Bodies by Omani author Jokha Alharthi. Unfortunately, I did not connect with this story and found the non-linear aspect confusing. However, I was very interested in the parts about Oman in general as I found it interesting to learn more about the country.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Fiction; Literary Fiction
My grandma recommended this to me, and I mistakenly thought it was a true story. Once I started reading, it was obvious that it was fiction, but I still enjoyed the story. There is some controversy on whether this author should have been the one to write this story (which I was somewhat confused by when, after finishing chapter 3, I did some research on the author). Still, I can’t deny that the storytelling was very engaging, and the story’s pace was very quick, making it even easier to read. This would be a great book to choose for a book club or to get a very surface-level and fictionalized idea of what is happening at the US-Mexico border.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson
Fiction; Science Fiction
I will read almost any book with the main character named Molly, so I picked this up based on BooksandLala’s recommendation. This is a short book that follows Molly and her affliction. Whenever Molly bleeds, the blood turns into “mollys” who are out to kill her. I enjoyed this very much!
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Fiction; Fantasy
This is quite a hefty book, and I enjoyed it more in hindsight than when I was reading. This book follows a man on his travels throughout the United States while under the service of a mysterious, one-eyed man. I do love mythology stories, and Neil always introduces me to new deities through his stories. If you stick with it, I think you’ll enjoy reading it.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Where We Go When All We Were Is Gone by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Fiction; Science Fiction
I read a short story collection, and I actually liked it…? Shocking. This collection is by Sequoia Nagamatsu, who also wrote one of my favorite books of the year — How High We Go in the Dark. This collection is definitely in the same vein as that book, so if you like that, you’ll like this.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Non-Fiction; Memoir
I heard about this book from Twitter in 2021 and put it on my list of books to watch out for. Well, the day it went on sale, it sold out everywhere, and the library had a 50-week wait, lol! Thankfully, the Austin library added 50ish copies to their collection, so I finally got it in September. This book is absolutely fantastic, and I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as McCurdy reads it. Truly a wild life that I could not stop talking about to anyone who was near me. Read this!
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
Fiction; Historical Fiction
I got this at the Planned Parenthood booksale last year and finally found time to read it while on vacation. This is a great beach book as there aren’t any real stakes and its about nice people being nice. I enjoyed this light read!
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
You’ve Lost a Lot of Blood by Eric LaRocca
Fiction; Horror
I really enjoyed Eric LaRocca’s Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke when I read it earlier in the year, and boy, does this book fit nicely into the same genre. Although this was not (imo) as fun to read as THGWSWLS (writing that feels just as long as writing the actual title), I really liked the mind-f*ckery of it all. But I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll end it there.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
And Then I Woke Up by Malcolm Devlin
Fiction; Science Fiction
I wasn’t a huge fan of this.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Totally changing gears from the previous two reads; I got this book from the used bookstore when I was on vacation because I had seen it before on various best-seller lists when it came out, and wowie! What a book! It is an effortless read (I mean that as a compliment) that follows the fictional life of the girl in the very real painting Girl with a Pearl Earring. Although fictional, the author makes her surroundings seem very real. I was pleasantly surprised by this and recommend it if you’re in a reading slump since you’ll get through it QUICK.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Seasons of Mist (The Sandman #4) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
MY FAVORITE OF THE SERIES (so far)!!
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Fiction; Thriller
Utterly forgettable.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
The Girl from the Metropol Hotel: Growing Up in Communist Russia by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
Non-Fiction; Memoir
I think this was another Women in Translation month pick that I requested in August but finally came to me in September. Sadly, this book sent me into a reading slump. Not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 3/10
Happy People are Annoying by Josh Peck
Non-Fiction; Memoir
Riding the high of reading, I’m Glad My Mom Died, I tried out Happy People are Annoying by a fellow Nickelodeon child star, Josh Peck. Growing up, I thought Josh was HILARIOUS, especially in The Amanda Show (peak comedy). This book looks at his life as a child star and how that affected him in various ways. I’m delighted that Josh is now happy :)
Enjoyment rating: 8/10

October
15 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.4

A note on October: This is the month where I finally told myself that it is ok to DNF a book, so going forward the total number of books read may be smaller, but, in general, the enjoyment ratings should be higher. Onward!

The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-Mo
Fiction; Thriller // Literary Fiction
This book has a lot of praise and maybe if I was smarter I would understand why.
Enjoyment rating: 3/10
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Fiction; Mystery
I returned to Dashiell to bring me out of a reading slump, but alas…this book is not as good as I remember it being. However, I will always welcome a Dashiell story, so I did have a good time reading.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age by Annalee Newitz
Non-Fiction; History
Every so often, I’ll find a non-fiction book that I cannot stop thinking about. This year, it is Four Lost Cities. Annalee Newitz traveled to four “lost” cities for this book — the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in Turkey, the Roman vacation town of Pompeii, the medieval Angkor in Cambodia, and the indigenous metropolis Cahokia, where East St. Louis is today. This book explores what makes a city a city, why cities fall, and more. This book transported me along with the author, and I highly recommend it.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
Fiction; Thriller
To kick off spooky season, I picked up The Silence of the Lambs because the library recommended it to me and Matthew has read the entire series and enjoyed it. Hard to not like this book — well written and great characters!
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
A Game of You (The Sandman #5) by Neil Gaiman (Get ready for a lot of these!)
Comic
Barbie returns! There are quite a few scenes in here that I’m not sure are going to be possible in the show but I am looking forward to when the show finally gets to this book in ten years :)
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Fables & Reflections (The Sandman #6) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
This one is another grab bag of tales, but does bring you across the globe which is fun.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Brief Lives (The Sandman #7) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
This is the first in the series that spends any time on Delirium, and I had so much fun reading with her at the center. Additionally, this is an excellent story about change (physical, mental, emotional) that made me feel many emotions while reading. Well done, Neil!
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Worlds’ End (The Sandman #8) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
This is probably my least favorite of the series as it focuses on the World’s End Inn and involves a group of travelers telling stories. It feels a bit out of place.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Fiction; Literary Fiction
When I read Serle’s first book, I had to put it down at points because I was crying so hard that I couldn’t read the words in front of me. Now, with that as an introduction to Serle’s work, I expected to be destroyed again. However, while One Italian Summer has moments of sadness, this story is more of an uplifting tale overall. I would have enjoyed this more if I wasn’t expecting to be emotionally destroyed by it.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
The Kindly Ones (The Sandman #9) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
This one is BEEFY! You definitely get your money’s worth out of this volume in terms of length and storytelling. This is a fantastic “episode,” and I really look forward to this book having a series arc on the TV show. I won’t lie: the end made me tear up a bit.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
The Wake (The Sandman #10) by Neil Gaiman
Comic
We finally get to the end (well, of the original series — there is an eleventh volume that was written later). I loved this series and recommend it to any fantasy or mythology fan; truly a great work.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Fiction; Horror
Okay, let’s get back into Spooky Season. I would pay money to have a movie adaptation follow the exact story in the book. A short but spooky tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. He is legend, indeed.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Fiction; Horror
I loved the way this story was told. Shirley Jackson is one of those authors that can write vaguely about something happening and make you feel shivers down your spine. I (obviously) read this for the spooky season, and although not as spooky as I was expecting, her writing is so beautiful and finely crafted that I have to rate this book higher than I would if it was just based on the story itself. The ending was great, and regardless of the scare factor, if you like horror, you must read this.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Now, this is a nice little story. I liked it, but it felt more basic than the other books I’ve read from her (or maybe I’m more critical than I was earlier in the year/last year). I was exhausted by the titular Carrie Soto but was invested enough in the comeback story to see if she does maintain her record. But it was fun to listen to, and I am now strangely interested in tennis.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Wow, if you want a book about bad people doing bad things, have I got a book for you! This book went much faster than expected, considering it is almost 500 pages. There was more sexual content than expected, but I enjoyed the revolutionary aspect and the characters of Marie and Mary. I want more books like this! If you have recommendations, please send them to me!
Enjoyment rating: 9/10

November
9 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.2

Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel
Fiction; Horror
Oh god. Oh god. I finished this book while I was home alone, and I’ll be honest, I was scared! But, despite the legitimately scary ending, I’m not sure this was my type of book; the pacing felt off because we didn’t get any actual drama until the end. I’d recommend other thrillers before reading this, but, dear god, that ending…
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
Elektra: A Novel of the House of Atreus by Jennifer Saint
Fiction; Fantasy
Meh. This story didn’t give any background that isn’t already in the original tales, so I’d call this one a skip.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Fiction; Historical Fiction
This book was pitched to me as: “After a shipwreck, two women have to survive (also, it’s in the 1600s).” I thought this was much more “historical” than “fiction” until I got to the historical note and found out that it is very much not based on a true story and is much more “inspired by true events” (aka the location and maybe one guy was real). For some reason, that made me look back on the book in a negative light. However, while reading, I did enjoy the journey.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings by Chrysta Bilton
Non-Fiction; Memoir
I have no idea how I found this book (this seems to be a common theme), but I am glad I did! This memoir follows Chrysta Bilton’s insane life as a child with her lesbian mother, who does everything she can to keep the family from going broke, and her sperm donor/father, a homeless man living on Venice Beach. I genuinely do not know what compelled her mother to do any of the things she does in this memoir, but I enjoyed the journey and am so happy for the author that she’s been able to live a (relatively) normal life in her adulthood.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Non-Fiction; History
I was looking for interesting non-fiction books, and this looked intriguing. How could it not? The author spoke with numerous North Korean defectors to write this book, which weaves between different people’s lives and experiences across the border in North Korea. It also spans quite a bit of time — from the Korean war to “the present” (this book was written in 2010) day. I absolutely loved this book, and anyone curious about what North Korea is like should check it out.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon
Fiction; “Horror”
I feel duped by this book! I was promised a horror book, not this! Pass.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Fiction; Fantasy
We meet again, Stephen King. Fairy Tale is his newest (but at the time you’re reading this, probably not his newest anymore since this man can write three books in one sitting) novel about a boy who travels to another world. As always, I loved the Dark Tower references in this story, and the character development is unmatched. However, as is my complaint about any King book, I’m unsure if the story justified the book’s length and could have probably done with a good editor going through it before publishing. Although, I do love it when King writes fantasy, so I can’t complain too much!
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard
Non-Fiction; History
This is a fantastic book about how Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke traveled to Egypt to discover the source of the Nile in the mid-19th century. This book is interspliced with their own writings and stories, making it feel like the reader was along for the ride as they traverse Egypt. Although this is an adventure book, it is also somewhat of a revenge story as Burton and Speke became enemies while on their travels. I was rooting for Burton (as any reader would). I enjoyed this story and bet it will become a movie quite soon.
Enjoyment rating: 7.5/10
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
Non-Fiction; Memoir
Wow! I had to remind myself at multiple points that this is not a novel and is indeed a memoir. It should be no surprise that this book is well written and has perfect pacing, as it is written by Jon Krakauer (one of my favorites!). This memoir follows his journey up and down Everest, where disaster after disaster strikes. If you have ever wanted to climb Everest, read this book first and decide if it is worth risking your life.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10

December
16 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.2

White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
Fiction; Literary Horror
White Horse is a gritty, literary horror book that shows a side of Denver that many people will probably never see. While there is undoubtedly a mystery at the heart of the book, the ghostiness of it all puts it into the horror category. I have never read Wurth before, and after reading this book, I will keep an eye on her other works once they become available at the library!
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Winter Counts by David Heska Wabli Weiden
Fiction; Mystery
This character-driven crime story is set on a Lakota reservation in South Dakota; our main character, Virgil Wounded Horse, is an enforcer — basically, he does that the reservation police cannot (aka serve out justice). I enjoyed the character-driven narrative, but sometimes we got too deep in the weeds on certain characters’ relationships that we ended up somewhat losing the plot of the crime. However, I enjoyed the book and based on the ending, this may become a series, so I will be back for more if/when the next novel is published.
Enjoyment rating: 5/10
Witches by Brenda Lozano
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Hoo boy, I wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t get past how Feliciana’s chapters were written. I understand why they were written that way, but my brain could not pay attention. So, unfortunately, this one was not for me.
Enjoyment rating: 2/10
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Fiction; Thriller
This has the Stephen King stamp of approval, so I picked it up. This book is about a “failed” author who has ended up teaching and meets an arrogant student who claims he has the idea for the next great American novel. After divulging the plot, the teacher is flabbergasted — how did this man come up with such a great story? Years later, the teacher looks up the student since he wonders what happened to that great novel idea and finds that the student has died. I’ll let you guess what happens from there. This book has many, many twists and turns, and I very much enjoyed the story. Great book!
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Fiction; Thriller
A father and his daughter are living out in the woods after the father committed a grave crime…what will happen when a crime occurs near their remote cabin? I very much enjoyed this thriller!
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Now, THIS is a literary fiction masterpiece. I loved this story about a girl who escaped from a school for bad girls and her journey back to her father and then her mother. Set in Colombia and the United States, this book made me feel like I was really there, and the characters felt like real people. I loved this story, and if you enjoy stories about families, this one is for you.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby
Non-Fiction; Essays
I read Samantha Irby’s other book last year and enjoyed it, so I decided to pick up her second book once I heard she’s releasing a third in 2023. This collection of essays is very similar to the first in tone and subject matter, so if you like one, you’ll enjoy the other.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
The Children of Húrin by J. R. R. Tolkien
Fiction; Fantasy
My dad was reading some of J. R. R. Tolkien’s early works, so I decided that I would as well. He recommended The Children of Hurin as the one to dive into, and I’m glad he did. This book was unexpectedly tragic and felt very “epic” (in the Greek sense). However, I liked this and will also read his other earlier books.
Enjoyment rating: 8/10
Forbidden City by Vanessa Hua
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Hmmm. I never thought I’d read some Mao fan fiction, haha. Just kidding, this book is more than just that. This book follows a 15-year-old girl taken from her family’s village to the capital to “serve” the chairman. Mei (the main character) goes through many transformations in this book, from young revolutionary to courtesan to hardened veteran (of sorts). I liked that the main character felt she was from that period rather than a 21st-century woman. What I didn’t like was the length. However, if you are interested in Chinese history, specifically in the 1960s — 1970s, this could be interesting.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
Fiction; Literary Fiction
A 17-year-old wrote this book, and although the subject matter is very dark and authentic, it shows. I did not enjoy this book as much as many others did because it felt like the writing needed to be more polished. However, the plot is very interesting and kept me going. I am interested in reading her future work.
Enjoyment rating: 4/10
My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newson
Fiction; Historical Fiction
All I knew about this book was its title, which certainly makes you prick your ears up. This book takes place in the 1980s in New York City, and our main character is a gay, black man from Indiana. Arriving in the city at 17, Trey makes his way through bathhouses, centers for AIDS activism, and MOMA. Although this book is fictional, it did feel real, and I enjoyed the story. Content warning for lots of death by AIDS as well as some pretty intense sexual content.
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson
Non-Fiction; Travel
I listened to this on the way back from France, and what a book to listen to! Bill Bryson’s books are always very funny, and I enjoyed listening to his stories through Europe in the 1990s. Fun!
Enjoyment rating: 7/10
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I heard about this book from Reddit (which is happening with surprising frequency). It is about a group of people who terrorists effectively kidnap, but about a third of the way through, it turns into much more than that. I loved the writing and will be looking for other Patchett books asap.
Enjoyment rating: 9/10
The Shining by Stephen King
Fiction; Horror
This is an absolutely magnificent book. I laughed, I was terrified, and I loved this book.
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I DNF’d Patricia Lockwood’s previous book, so I was dubious about picking this book up. However, I am so glad I did. I knew nothing about this before reading, and I think that’s the way to do it, as there is a major twist halfway through. Anyone who grew up on the internet will really enjoy this book (also, you may cry).
Enjoyment rating: 10/10
Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases by Paul Holes
Non-Fiction; Crime
After so many great reads at the end of the year, it is kind of a bummer that I didn’t absolutely love this book as well. This is a non-fiction book about Paul Holes’ work on the Golden State Killer case and how he and the assembled taskforce took down the killer. It was interesting to hear the story from the law enforcement perspective but I think if you’re interested in this case at all, you’re safe sticking with Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.
Enjoyment rating: 6/10

And there you have it, all 196 books that I read in 2022! Thank you for reading this collection of book reviews & coming along on the journey with me.

Have any recommendations for 2023? Please drop them in the comments below!

My Year of Reading (Almost) 200 Books

Books Read in 2022

January16 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 6.5

February24 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 6.7

March11 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 7.6

April21 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 7.2

May18 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 6.75

June13 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 6.8

July20 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 6.2

August19 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 6.4

September14 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 6.7

October15 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 7.4

November9 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 6.2

December16 Books ReadAverage Enjoyment Rating: 7.2

Written by Molly Greathouse