My 2022 Reading List: 109 Books

2022 Reading Challenge

2022 Reading Challenge
Mila has completed their goal of reading 100 books in 2022!
hide

Hi everyone,

It’s the last day of the year, which means it’s time for an annual book recap! I’ve decided to pull these reviews directly from Goodreads to make this a little easier for everyone.

First of all, I’m so happy you’re here! If you are a reader, consider joining Goodreads and sharing your reviews with others. I enjoy reading the reviews from friends on Goodreads, so if you are part of the community, please come find me! Let me know if you have any questions.

The quarantine hobby

One of the benefits of 2020 was that I picked up reading as a “serious” hobby again. In 2020 I read 30 or so books, in 2021 it was 55, and this year I capped it all at 109 books, essentially doubling my reads from last year!

While one can’t really quantify the enjoyment one gets from a hobby such as this, it’s given me great pleasure to get back into a hobby that has been a huge part of my life since I was very young.

I never pictured myself sharing my reads but found that whenever I did, I felt more connected to all of you that do love to read, and additionally found (though others!) some of the best and most interesting books I have ever encountered. I highly recommend that you surround yourself with people (virtually or otherwise) that have different reading tastes than you. You might just find yourself becoming an accidentally well-rounded reader and learning something that you might never have imagined you would be interested in.

Recommended ways to use this recap

There are two sections to this reading list:

  • Mila’s 2022 Reads is a visual of all 109 books I’ve read this year in order from most recently read.

    • LIFE HACK: You can click on each photo to open up the individual book review in Goodreads.

  • 2022 Book Reviews is all my book reviews from this year, starting with the most recently read.

    • LIFE HACK: If you know the book or author you are looking for, I recommend clicking “CTRL +F” or “Command + F” on Macs, then type in the specific book title, author, or phrase. That should bring you directly to the review you want and help you avoid scrolling through the entire reviews section if that is not your plan.

Mila's 2022 reads

The Identity Code: The 8 Essential Questions for Finding Your Purpose and Place in the World
The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story
An Aura of Utopia
Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
Supernormal: The Untold Story of Adversity and Resilience
Cursed
The Uncommon Reader
We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
Rhapsodic
Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul
Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives
Verity
As the Wicked Watch
Kingdom of the Feared
Kingdom of the Wicked
Kingdom of the Cursed
People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present
The Thief of Memory
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know


Mila's favorite books »

2022 Book Reviews

Below are all my book reviews for the books I read in 2023. Remember the hack - if you know what you’re looking for, click “CTRL + F” or “Command +F” on Macs and search the title. But also feel free to scroll ;)

2022 Book Reviews

The Identity Code: The 8 Essential Questions for Finding Your Purpose and Place in the World
really liked it
At the beginning I wasn’t too sure about this one, but Larry is really onto something here. After the first few chapters, I was hooked. This is going back on my bookshelf to keep for reference.
tagged: 2022-reads
The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story
really liked it
Cute! Nothing that the books don’t already share, but I found the pictures of the Marie Kondo organization techniques to be worth the read!
tagged: 2022-reads
An Aura of Utopia
it was amazing
I’m biased for sure because I know the author, but Rob Smiljcic is a true artist and his first poetry book, An Aura of [U]topia is nothing less than a truly one of a kind piece of art. Scattered throughout with copies of Rob’s own art, h...
tagged: 2022-reads
Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
really liked it
Always love Marie Kondo’s books and this one is no exception! Konmari’s books are especially timely around the end of the year when I find myself getting into the organize/discard/donate phase. Nothing feels better to me then a fresh sta...
tagged: 2022-reads
Cursed
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
The Uncommon Reader
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
really liked it
I was definitely expecting another typical time management book. But this one delightfully surprised me. Written during the pandemic (published in August 2021), I found Oliver Burkeman’s insights on time to be fresh and freeing.
tagged: 2022-reads
Rhapsodic
really liked it
Similar to the fantastical world of ACOTR, with one particular key difference: the protagonist is a siren
tagged: 2022-reads
Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul
really liked it
Another beautiful book of meditations. I will keep this one close by to reread for years to come
tagged: 2022-reads
Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives
liked it
I am incredibly interested in the topic of longevity - how best to care for our bodies, our minds, our health, our social lives and our world as we continue to evolve and get older. This book was a solid 3 star read because while it wa...
tagged: 2022-reads
Verity
really liked it
I read this in one day. ONE EVENING to be precise. This was a completely messed up story and I still have so many questions…. 4 stars because I read it in one sitting. Definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for a TWISTED suspense...
tagged: 2022-reads
As the Wicked Watch
it was ok
*NOVEMBER BOOKCLUB READ* 2.5 stars - my rating primarily reflects the writing style of the book. As the Wicked Watch follows crime reporter Jordan Manning as she interviews and connects the dots in a race against time to figure out who ...
tagged: 2022-reads
Kingdom of the Feared
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Kingdom of the Wicked
it was amazing
The perfect witchy October/Halloween read
tagged: 2022-reads
Kingdom of the Cursed
it was amazing
Rarely is a sequel just as good as the first one, and wow this delivered! So happy this is a trilogy - I can’t wait to read the conclusion
tagged: 2022-reads
The Thief of Memory
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
really liked it
So many interesting things. I love that I can keep my highlights on goodreads forever because I will definitely come back to them. 2 ideas that stuck with me: - Connectors, Mavens, and Salespeople - they are key to the tipping point - ...
tagged: 2022-reads
The Foundling
really liked it
If you want to give yourself nightmares, go read about the Eugenics movement in the United States. Or don’t - just read this historical fiction piece instead. It’s 1927 and Mary Engle is sent to work at Nettleton State Village for Feeb...
tagged: 2022-reads
The Book Eaters
really liked it
A completely unique read. It’s very hard to pin the vibe of this book, but if I had to try…. It’s “Handmaids Tale” x “The House in the Cerulean Sea” x a Scottish and Gothic fantasy version of “Downton Abbey” where surprise, they’re al...
tagged: 2022-reads
Caraval
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Finding Me
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Man's Search for Meaning
it was amazing
There is a marked “before” and “after” when you read this book. It’s impossible not to be changed by an account like this.
tagged: 2022-reads
How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question
really liked it
If you’ve ever watched and loved “The Good Place”, then you know the vibe of this book. Wonderful take on different branches of ethics and schools of thought on morality without any of the pretentiousness associated with either. Litera...
tagged: 2022-reads
Blood of Troy
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Poems on Style: the Art of Sharing Who You Are
it was amazing
Style comes from within - it requires personifying courage and an understanding of the art to sharing who you are. Style is never in a rush, and pays no heed to passing trends or relevancy. Style is about “evolving, and growing and exp...
tagged: 2022-reads
The 48 Laws of Power
really liked it
Robert Greene’s books are always extremely eye opening, to say the least.
tagged: 2022-reads
The Rose & the Dagger
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
The Final Gambit
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Women Who Run With the Wolves
it was amazing
This is a deeply impactful book. Women should definitely read this book if/when they’re ready in their lifetime. This is a long haul book. It’s extremely intuitive and you have to really dig deep to understand what she’s presenting in ...
tagged: 2022-reads
The Wrath and the Dawn
really liked it
Inspired by “a thousand and one nights”
tagged: 2022-reads
Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement
really liked it
The woman who started the “Me too” movement? This is her story.
tagged: 2022-reads
Blood & Honey
it was ok
tagged: 2022-reads
Serpent & Dove
it was amazing
tagged: 2022-reads
Mastery
it was amazing
An utterly unexpected 5 star read
tagged: 2022-reads
Wild Is the Witch
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
A Darkness at the Door
really liked it
Every single one of the books in this trilogy has been a 4 star read
tagged: 2022-reads
Ego Is the Enemy
liked it
“To be or to do? Which way will you go?” Had some good nuggets of wisdom. Stillness is the Key is still my favorite of this series.
tagged: 2022-reads
These Twisted Bonds
really liked it
2nd book of a series that is very similar to ACOTR.
tagged: 2022-reads
Elektra
it was ok
I love Greek retellings but at this point I think I prefer reimaginings. This one wasn’t my favorite.
tagged: 2022-reads
The Myth of Sisyphus
liked it
The Myth of Sisyphus - a man cursed by the Gods to slowly, painstakingly, roll a rock up a hill for an eternity. Every time the stone reached the top, it would fall back down into the depths and Sisyphus would start his journey down anew...
tagged: 2022-reads
The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease
really liked it
For August book club, we read “The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is Not a Disease” by Marc Lewis. The brain changes when you get married. It changes when you learn… well, anything. Marc makes the case that addiction is NOT a disease...
tagged: 2022-reads
Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity
really liked it
Loved his TED talk and his book is more of the same. Refreshing, poignant and a much needed vantage point.
tagged: 2022-reads
How Not to Diet
liked it
Jam-packed with knowledge and studies on everything food/health (optics, timing, foods that support a healthy microbiome, etc.), and at the same time…. It’s lengthy and was definitely repetitive. So…likely would not read again
tagged: 2022-reads
Positano
it was amazing
Very short essay that John Steinbeck wrote for Harper’s Bazaar in the 1950’s. This was pre excessive tourism in Positano. His essay sparked a ton of interest in Positano globally and the rest is history. Like most of his work, his musing...
tagged: 2022-reads
The Bone Shard Emperor
it was ok
tagged: 2022-reads
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter—And How to Make the Most of Them Now
liked it
by Meg Jay
Listened to the updated audiobook version (revised and reissued in September 2021).
tagged: 2022-reads
Surviving Winter
it was amazing
Everyone can benefit from diving in and exploring their shadow - the things that cause them pain, the wounds that aren’t yet healed, the sneaky nostalgia convincing them that the past was better. And in Surviving Winter, that’s exactly...
tagged: 2022-reads
Wicked Beauty
it was ok
tagged: 2022-reads
The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
really liked it
This is officially a coffee table book in my house
tagged: 2022-reads
Cruel Beauty
it was ok
tagged: 2022-reads
Malibu Rising
really liked it
This kept me up late turning the pages until the end. I liked how deep the author dove into the characters and their back stories. The entire book takes place over 2 days but the flashbacks are extremely helpful for understanding the cha...
tagged: 2022-reads
Hotel Magnifique
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
The Bone Shard Daughter
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
really liked it
Someone I highly respect said that this was a book that had an enormous impact on her. I don’t take those type of recommendations lightly and resolved to read Maya Angelou’s first installment of her autobiography for myself. I can see wh...
tagged: 2022-reads
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
it was amazing
The best. I’m keeping this out on my coffee table to pick up from time to time. Very worth coming back to.
tagged: 2022-reads
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
really liked it
What a wonderfully whimsical woman Mary Oliver was.
tagged: 2022-reads
Where the Crawdads Sing
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Slaughterhouse-Five
liked it
This didn’t resonate with me as deeply as I know it has for others. Then again - there’s never been a war book that has swept me off my feet.
tagged: 2022-reads
Living Untethered: Beyond the Human Predicament
really liked it
Loved! Would recommend to those that want to read a simplified version of “The Untethered Soul”.
tagged: 2022-reads
Gilded
really liked it
An even darker (yes it’s possible) spin on Rumplestiltskin and I’m here for it
tagged: 2022-reads
Nettle & Bone
it was amazing
What a delight! Such an imaginative world - completely charmed by this one. At times the dry humor caught me off guard in the best way
tagged: 2022-reads
The Secret
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Why I Wake Early
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
The Old Man and the Sea
it was ok
Wanted to read a classic E.H. This is my first and I don’t recommend.
tagged: 2022-reads
A Touch of Malice
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
A Touch of Ruin
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
The War of Two Queens
liked it
Least favorite of the series
tagged: 2022-reads
These Hollow Vows
really liked it
Same type of world as “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series and similar in structure/plot/characters too. Despite its similarities I didn’t enjoy it any less and I will happily read the second one when it comes out this year.
tagged: 2022-reads
A Touch of Darkness
really liked it
A modern retelling of Hades/Persephone? Yes, please
tagged: 2022-reads
Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee
it was amazing
This is a must read but I highly recommend you listen to the audiobook version. Narrated by the author, Shannon Lee (daughter of Bruce Lee). Most know Bruce Lee for being the little dragon. A Kung Fu legend. But few knew him for the ph...
tagged: 2022-reads
The Damned
it was ok
Honestly a bit of a let down after the first book. Can’t say anything else without spoiling something but not sure I’ll come back for the third book, at least not for awhile.
tagged: 2022-reads
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative
really liked it
In the author’s own words to distill what she’s learned in the epilogue: “Go outside. Often. Sometimes in wild places. Bring friends or not. Breathe.” We know nature is good for us - it decreases stress, increases our effectiveness, is...
tagged: 2022-reads
The Beautiful
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
really liked it
416 highlights later… this should speak for itself!
tagged: 2022-reads
Notes on Grief
liked it
Personal essay. Quick read
tagged: 2022-reads
Electric Idol
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
A Torch Against the Night
it was ok
tagged: 2022-reads
Red Queen
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
An Ember in the Ashes
it was amazing
Such good worldbuilding - and wow this drew me in! Completely devoured it
tagged: 2022-reads
Once Upon a River
liked it
This confused me more than anything - I found myself rushing through it trying to navigate the different stories and wondering when and how it would ever connect. Wasn’t the most satisfying experience when it finally did but an interesti...
tagged: 2022-reads
Strong Women Lift Each Other Up
really liked it
I immensely enjoyed the audiobook version of this book. Molly offers her unique perspective with an inspiring and data-backed message. It felt a lot like listening to a favorite podcast - definitely recommend listening!
tagged: 2022-reads
The Becoming
liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
To Kill a Kingdom
really liked it
tagged: 2022-reads
Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy
really liked it
Wow. This book infuriated me, it triggered me, and it made me want to discuss vehemently. Though data heavy (of course) this book should be required reading in this day and age. It’s absolutely terrifying… be forewarned.
tagged: 2022-reads

goodreads.com

Goodreads cuts you off at 100 books total in their widget, so below I added my first 9 reviews of 2022. Thanks for being here!

Need a reading buddy?

You know where to find me! Come connect with me on Goodreads and discover or rediscover the magic of reading. Let me know in the comments below, what are you currently reading and do you have any reading related goals for 2023?