Goodreads Choice Awards 2022: Best Picks of the Year

The Winners by Fredrik Backman

In my eyes, Fredrik Backman can do no wrong. I love his writing and I love his books. Let me start by saying that I do not love hockey. You do not need to like hockey to read this trilogy. It will tear your heart out with its beauty and raw emotion.

In this epic conclusion to the Beartown trilogy, it is two years later. The peace the characters find at the end of the last book is short-lived.

The book starts with a storm which is the perfect way to foreshadow the upheaval of the lives of everyone in this book. There is a little bit of everything in this book from corruption and pain to rape and abuse (content warning). It is a conclusion worth waiting for.

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

This is my favorite Elin Hilderbrand EVER. As usual, Elin’s storytelling revolves around a large cast of characters, this time employees of The Hotel Nantucket.

As we spend a summer with the staff and select hotel guests, we get to see what goes on behind the scenes of a luxury hotel. We see romances unfold and fall apart multiple scandals, demanding guests, and a ghost story!

I love how everyone’s stories folded together while revolving around the glorious hotel. If only I could visit this beach town resort this summer! This is one of the contemporary fiction books that is perfect to read this summer!

True Biz by Sara Nović

April 2022 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

True Biz is an eye-opening look at the life of deaf high schoolers in boarding school. The ins and outs of deaf society are fascinating and made me realize I knew so little about the deaf community.

I learned about the ASL vs hearing aids debate. I learned about the politics and drama that go into running a deaf school. I learned that there is a black version of ASL and it’s possible to be racist when signing. t

And of course, I fell for the romantic entanglements and blooming friendships between the students.

This is definitely one of the best coming-of-age books set in high school I have read and this is the perfect book for your next book club!

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

May 2022 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

I haven’t read a novel with as much heart as this one in quite some time. Elderly, recently widowed Tova loves her job cleaning the aquarium in town in the quiet of the night, especially because of her fondness for Marcellus, the octopus. She finds solace in the aquarium as it makes her feel closer to her son, Erik – a marine life lover – who disappeared on a boat when he was 18.

But when she hurts herself and is unable to return to work at full capacity, she grows close with her replacement, Cameron, a young man who newly arrived in town looking for his birth mother.

Meanwhile, Marcellus knows what happened to Erik and he wants to help Tova find the closure she needs. His narration is interspersed with Tova and Cameron’s for a story that is compelling, heartwarming, and utterly unique.

I will be shoving this book into the hands of everyone who asks for a book recommendation because it’s my favorite book of 2022

Find this book in Best Audiobooks of 2022 / Family Drama Books / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Contemporary Fiction Books / Book Club Books
Why We Love This Book: This book has more heart than any book we have read in a long time. The unique perspective of a grumpy octopus may seem silly, but was brilliantly done and adds a unique perspective.

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

I am so happy that I chose this book for the January Reading Challenge. It grabbed me from the first page.

Olga is a successful wedding planner for the elite in New York City who has been unsuccessful in finding love. Her brother, Pedro is a congressman who is hiding secrets. Both of them are running from their past and distancing themselves from their mother who has become a political militant.

As Hurricane season comes, the aftermath to their lives is more than they could have anticipated and caused them to face their deepest secrets and fears. This was my pick for the January reading challenge prompt to read a book being adapted to the screen and I highly recommend it as a book for book clubs.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2022 Winner:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez

June 2022 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

This story of the double life of Lore Rivera and the murder of one of her husbands had me eagerly flipping the pages. Cassie Bowman is a true crime writer who wants to write a book about Lore and her husbands – one of whom killed the other.

But as she digs into Lore’s past and her decision to have two families at once, things don’t add up. Is the wrong person behind bars for the murder? And what secrets from Cassie’s past will come out at the same time?

If you are a true crime lover, you will eat this story up! This is a great pick from our list of the best beach reads 2023.

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

My favorite thriller-writing duo did it AGAIN. LOVED this book about a couple in therapy for infidelity. But their therapist isn’t any therapist, she’s got an extreme method gauranteed to fix issues in 10 sessions.

The twists and turns of this story kept me on my toes, but the writing kept me HOOKED. I think I finished it in sitting.

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

Ruth Ware’s slow-burn style of writing psychological thrillers continues to impress. This Dark Academia murder mystery focuses on the murder of April, an It Girl at Oxford.

Her accused murderer has recently died in prison, causing her best friend, Hannah to question if she wrongfully put the wrong person in prison. As Hannah reevaluates the murder a decade later, new information comes to light that has her questioning everything she knew about that time in her own life and April’s.

This pick from our summer reads 2023 is a long book and a slow burn, but I didn’t see the ending coming! I thought I figured out the murderer early on and was dead wrong.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

An apartment haunted house book? Yes, please! Jess has arrived in Paris to stay with her half-brother, Ben while she gets back on her feet. While he reluctantly agrees to help, he doesn’t answer the door when she shows up to move in.

Soon she gains entry into his apartment and begins the hunt to find out what happened to her brother. With secrets lurking around every corridor and the other residents being shady and elusive, Jess begins to think something sinister happened to Ben.

The first half of this story was a little slow while the character groundwork was laid out, but once the big reveal comes halfway through, I was reading the rest of the chapters at lightning speed. This is the only thriller on our list of books set in France and it’s a doozy! Lucy Foley is always a great pick from summer reads 2023 and a great book for fall.

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

Of all the Lisa Jewell books, this is the one that I was most looking forward to reading. I put it third on this list after much debate. I loved The Family Upstairs and I think in order to get the full experience with this sequel, I think you need to that book first.

The book begins with the discovery of bones in the Thames River that is related to a 30-year-old cold case.

Rachel Rimmer is shocked to discover that her husband has been found dead in his cellar and Rachel has to answer questions that delve into Michael’s past. He is connected to Lucy Lamb who is trying to settle her family after leaving London 30 years ago. All the stories come together in a way that only Lisa Jewell can write.

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier

I was about 10% of the way through when the story suddenly came to life. When Paris Peralta comes home and finds her husband dead in the bathtub, she panics, knocks herself out, and finds herself the suspect in his murder.

Paris finds herself under media scrutiny and gains the attention of people from her past. There is so much to this domestic thriller that is unexpected. I don’t want to ruin the surprises for you. But obviously, the mentions of Canada warm my heart!

Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

February 2022 GMA Book Club Pick

WHAT A MYSTERY! The Violin Conspiracy opens with a man’s 14 million-dollar Stradivarius violin being stolen and the drama doesn’t let up.

Ray McMillian is a young black musical prodigy who just so happens to have inherited his grandpa’s busted-up fiddle – which turns out to be a rare violin built by one of the greats. But when the origins of the violin come into question along with Ray’s claim to the instrument, the plot keeps thickening.

Truly the story was a gripping page-turner I could not put down. Slocumb’s ability to weave a multi-faceted tale was astounding. When it comes to novels about music, this is a must-read mystery book!

Daisy Darker: A Novel by Alice Feeney

Daisy’s family is gathering for Nan’s birthday on a tiny, private, tidal island after not seeing each other for years. When the tide comes in, they will be cut off from everybody for 8 hours.

When Nana’s body is found dead with a creepy poem written on the wall beside her, they each begin to suspect each other- after all, one of them is a murderer. Soon, everybody’s secrets start to come out as the members of the family die one at a time.

This pick from isolation books had me guessing until the very end and definitely has the feeling of “And Then There Were None”. In the true Alice Feeney style, I had no idea what was going to happen next so, I stopped trying to guess so I could just enjoy the thrill of the ride. You will love this pick from the Ultimate List of Beach Reads 2023. It is a locked room mystery at its finest. If you are looking for books for fall to snuggle up with, this one will not disappoint.

The Maid by Nita Prose

January 2022 Good Morning America Pick

Molly Gray works as a maid in a grand hotel and gets joy from leaving things orderly and pristine. Molly struggles with reading social cues and has had even more trouble since her gran can no longer help.

When Molly finds a dead body in a room at the hotel, she becomes a prime suspect and will need all her friends to help her.

Why We Loved it: I loved the description of this book and I hoped it would live up to my expectations. It did that and more. I adored every minute of this story and closed the last page smiling.

Find This Book in: The Maid Book Club Questions / Books like Lessons in Chemistry / Best Mystery Books / Feel-Good Book / Books for Book Clubs

The Night Shift: A Novel by Alex Finlay

A pair of small-town murders 15 years apart are eerily similar. Employees of two stores in a small town are attacked by someone with a knife leaving only one survivor.

When the lone survivor of the first case is sent as the psychologist to help the survivor of the second set of murders, there is more to these murders than first meets the eye.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2022 Winner:

The Maid by Nita Prose

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

I’ve been big on Gilded Age books recently, so I knew I would love reading about the Frick family and their gorgeous mansion built in that time frame. The bonus was that this dual-timeline story also featured a missing pink diamond!

The story of Helen Frick and her assistant at a formative time in Helen’s life that coincides with Magnolia Diamond’s disappearance is riveting. As is the later timeline, told 50 years later, when a model and a Frick Museum intern are locked in the mansion overnight and on the hunt for the missing diamond.

I couldn’t put this jewelry novel down. It might be my first Fiona Davis, but it won’t be my last!

Violeta by Isabel Allende

How have I never read an Isabel Allende book before? SHOCKING! This is the story of Violeta, a woman whose life was bookended by two pandemics.

An ordinary citizen of South America, her life story swept me away. She goes from wealth to destitution during the Great Depression, experiences numerous marriages, and navigates the dramas of her children and grandchildren.

Ultimately, she lives a life rich in passion, loss, and joy. When the story ended, I felt like I was parting with a dear friend.

Find this book in Books About Poverty / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Books with Colors in the Title

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

April 2022 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

**UPDATED** The author came after another book reviewer who said she liked the book but the men were trash, they are the abusers in the story. She then proceeded to drag the reviewer publicly. I can’t condone that kind of bullying behavior so I’ve lowered my rating on this one.

This harrowing story of violence against a family of black women was too compelling to put down. As each generation faces its own abuse, the prevalence of the violence perpetrated against them and their continued resilience is nothing short of remarkable.

These women have faced lynched husbands, sexual assault, and domestic violence and now, in Joan, all they preserved for is made apparent. Will she be able to face her trauma and rise to be the acclaimed artist she is meant to be?

Not a book for the faint of heart, this story will have you thinking about it for days after reading.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

April 2022 GMA Book Club Pick

I don’t even know where to begin with this unique contemporary fiction story. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 50s when women were expected to know their place in society — their place being the kitchen and the home.

Elizabeth struggles to be taken seriously in her field and as a single mother, in this amazing book. So when an offer to host a cooking show for women is put in her path, she reluctantly takes it.

She uses her no-nonsense attitude and chemistry principles to teach the women in America to not only cook but to follow their dreams outside of the home.

Zott is a quirky character like Eleanor Oliphant with a charming daughter and a dog whose inner monologue is as quirky as hers. An absolutely wonderful book about motherhood! You can also find this book on our list of Books Like The Love Hypothesis as well.

Are you looking for the perfect book for your next book club? Check out our Lessons in Chemistry Book Club Guide. If you love this book and are looking for more, we also have 15 Books Like Lessons in Chemistry.

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn’s stories of the women heroes of WWII continue to dazzle every time. The subject for this story is Soviet Sniper Mila Pavlichenko, commonly known as Lady Death.

The story flashes between her time in on a diplomatic tour of the U.S. when she befriended Eleanor Roosevelt and her life leading up to and during the war. We learn about what motivated her to become the most decorated sniper in the army, what life was like on the battlefields of war, and how love plays a role in her life.

But the tension is really heightened by the narration of an assassin out to kill President Roosevelt and frame Mila for the murder. I adored this biographical historical fiction story by Quinn.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

A Read With Jenna Pick for February 2022

I absolutely loved this contemporary fiction which is a story about love, family, and acceptance. It captured me from the first page with the story and the writing.

When Eleanor Bennett dies, she leaves a voice recording for her two children Benny and Byron. She wants to tell them things about her life that she could not say when she was alive.

While listening to their mother’s story, Byron and Benny learn about their mother, family, and themselves. They try to piece their relationship back together. The novel looks at everyone’s lives in the present and the past, but in its essence, it is a book about motherhood.

Find this book in Books About Women in Sports / Books for Book Club / Books About Mothers / BIPOC Female Authors / Books with Color in the Title

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Carrie Soto was the world’s most decorated tennis player who has come out of retirement to take back the title. Carrie was trained to be the best there was from a young age and has dedicated her entire life to winning- at the expense of everything else in her life. 

I loved this book so much, that I could not put it down. I alternated between reading and listening to the book and have to say that the audio version was really fantastic. My heart was pounding with each and every game played.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again with this book and we knew that it could not be left off a list of books like Daisy Jones and the Six. If you are looking for a book about women in sports from this list of summer reads 2023, this is a heart-pounding pick.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2022 Winner:

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance #3) by Naomi Novik

I cannot believe I finally had a chance to read the conclusion of this amazing trilogy. I have loved the other two books in this series and have included them in our dark academia books and our ultimate list of YA fantasy books.

The book starts exactly where the other book left off. El has just escaped from the Scholomance and Orion is stuck inside. There is so much that is revealed in this book and I do not want to give any spoilers. You will not be disappointed

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

I love a good mythology retelling, but usually, I read Greek mythology. Kaikeyi is a retelling of a story well-known in the Hindu religion.

While I can’t attest to the accuracy of the tale, I can say that I was utterly captivated by the story of Kaikeyi’s life. I learned that she is a villain in Hindu but I found Patel’s narrative so compelling that I felt for Kaikeyi and supported all of her decisions.

If you are a fan of Ariadne, Circe, or other mythological retellings, you must pick up this book. It’s wonderful.

Elektra by Jennifer Saint

It’s official. I will read anything that Jennifer Saint writes because she nails it every time!

Elektra is told from the perspective of three women linked to the famed ruler Agamemnon. His wife, Clytemnestra, his daughter, Elektra, and the Troy princess, Cassandra.

Starting with the Agamemnon sacrificing one of his daughters to the gods of war, we see how these three women’s lives are impacted by his involvement in the Trojan War and how trauma can have a profound impact on those that experience it.

In Elektra, Saint once again weaves a masterful tale. She’s the modern-day Homer and I can’t wait to read whatever greek mythology retellings she writes next!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

This book is definitely a feel-good book of the season. Mika Moon knows that she must hide her magic and stay away from other witches so their powers do not draw the attention of other people. She also knows that witches are destined to be orphans, a very lonely existence.

When she is asked to come and teach magic to three young witches, she finds the life that she had always dreamed of, even if it is temporary. But, does it have to be? Can she find the life she always wanted?

Thank you so much to PRH audio for my copy of this book, all opinions are my own. I listened to this charming book in a day and loved it.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2022 Winner:

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

This is such a cute romance. Fox Thorton is a player who has never had a relationship. The last thing he needs is to fall for his best friend, Hannah, while trying to help her get her crush. And to make matters worse, she has moved into his spare room for the next few weeks while she is filming a movie.

I wish there was a soundtrack to go with this book. It was such a cute and quick read.

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Bee is a brilliant and unconventional scientist who lives by a strict code “What would Marie Curie Do?” She even has a secret Twitter account to help other female scientists in a male-dominated workplace.

When she is offered her dream job at NASA, she cannot wait to start until she realizes that she is not the lead scientist. She is the co-lead with her work nemesis Levi Ward. To make matters worse, he seems to be sabotaging everything that she tries to do. Could there be a better pick for enemies-to-lovers books?

Ali Hazelwood does an amazing job of writing fantastic romances while still including the struggles that women have to deal with daily.

Find this Book in Office Romances / Books Like The Love Hypothesis / Beach Reads 2023 / Audie Awards 2023

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

The Kiss Curse is the sequel to The Ex-Hex, and it’s the perfect Halloween romance for 2022. Gwyn Jones is pissed when Wells Penhallow moves to town and opens a new store in direct competition to her!

She remembers hating him in college and now she needs to watch her potential customers stroll into his store across the street. Their competition with each other grows along with with their attraction. But soon they notice a new coven in town and they have to work together to try to fix Gwyn’s magic.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

As soon as I saw what this book was about, I knew I wanted to read it. I love Emily Henry books. Nora is a literary agent who is a shark for her clients. Her life is books and will stop and nothing for her job or her little sister, Libby.

When Libby begs Nora to take her to Sunshine Falls, the setting of one of her most famous books, she reluctantly agrees. When they get there, the town does not look anything like the book describes. In addition, her literary nemesis, book editor Charlie Lastra is in Sunshine Falls.

Now, Nora and Charlie find themselves together in a plot twist neither of them could see coming. This amazing romance about books is perfect for our list of Books Like The Love Hypothesis and is a must-read if you loved the book.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

I absolutely adored this charming second-chance romance set at a lake house. It was one of the most popular books on Instagram this summer and for good reason.

Sam is the teenage boy we all needed in our lives growing up, and he gets better with age! Meanwhile, I was rooting for Percy to get her happily ever after with Sam the whole time. I was swept away by their summer love story and you will be too!

This is a must-read if you are looking for the best summer reads for 2023.

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

Julia Whelan is my favorite audiobook narrator and I loved her debut book, so I eagerly plunged into this one. It is definitely one of the best romantic comedy books I have read in a while.

Sewanee Chester is a former actress and audiobook narrator who has been chosen to read alongside the romance world’s biggest male audiobook reader for a new series.

As she falls for the mysterious Brock, who lives across the country and only communicates via text, she can’t stop thinking about her one-night stand in Vegas.

Additionally, she’s navigating a grandmother with Alzheimer’s and a possible chance to relaunch her acting career. But now that the dreams she had for so are in her grasp, are they really what she wants? And why does she feel so drawn to Brock?

Find this book in Ultimate Beach Reads 2023 / Rom Com Books / Complete List of Romance Tropes

Goodreads Choice Awards 2022 Winner:

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

July 2022 Read With Jenna Book Club Pick

This is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. One day everyone over the age of 22 wakes up to find a string on their doorstep. It’s soon clear that the length of one’s string determines the length of their life.

Soon short stringers are being discriminated against around the globe which begs the question – what is the true measure of a valuable life?

Why We Love This Book: This would be a fabulous book club book. There is so much to talk about and you will love this pick from summer reads 2023! Don’t let the fact that this is a sci-fi book deter you if it is not your usual genre.
Find This Book in Best Books for Book Clubs / New Dystopian Novels

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

Logan Ramsey works for the Gene Protection Agency, a part of the government dedicated to ensuring genes are not being manipulated after the “Great Starvation”.

When Logan is caught in an explosion, it seems like there is nothing wrong at first. Then, he begins to notice the changes. He is smarter, stronger, faster, better, and multitasking. In short, his genes have been hacked and he has been upgraded.

It is not a coincidence that Logan was chosen. His family has a horrible legacy and now, he is the only one that can stop the plan that will change humanity forever.

I have loved all of Couch’s books and this one did not disappoint. I could not stop reading this book that has non-stop action and really makes you think!

Goodreads Choice Awards 2022 Winner:

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Hello Molly!

Wow. I did not know that Molly Shannon had such trauma in her early childhood. She grew up without her mother and with an alcoholic father.

The fact that she is able to maintain such a positive outlook and continue to make others laugh seems amazing to me. Molly’s story is a very powerful one. And even though this non-fiction book was heavier than I thought it would be, it was definitely worth the read.

Rogues: The True Story of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks by Patrick Radden Keefe

These are twelve incredible and true stories written by one of the most decorated journalists of our time. Each of these stories was so intriguing, that I could not stop listening and found myself wanting more of the story.

From stories about vintage wine forging to a black market arms dealer, each of these stories is brilliantly written and so interesting. And I loved that the author narrated it as well!

Finding Me by Viola Davis

April 2022 Oprah’s Book Club Pick

Viola Davis’s life story had me entranced as I learned what she needed to overcome during her childhood, college, and her early career to become the powerhouse she is today.

Her thoughts on life in Hollywood were enlightening. Her deep love for her family and her roots shone through. And her story made it very clear that she takes nothing for granted.

Viola worked damn hard to be successful and she deserves every accolade she’s received and more. Her narration even earned her an Audie Awards 2023 nomination.

Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

February 2022 GMA Book Club Pick

WHAT A MYSTERY! The Violin Conspiracy opens with a man’s 14 million-dollar Stradivarius violin being stolen and the drama doesn’t let up.

Ray McMillian is a young black musical prodigy who just so happens to have inherited his grandpa’s busted-up fiddle – which turns out to be a rare violin built by one of the greats. But when the origins of the violin come into question along with Ray’s claim to the instrument, the plot keeps thickening.

Truly the story was a gripping page-turner I could not put down. Slocumb’s ability to weave a multi-faceted tale was astounding. When it comes to novels about music, this is a must-read mystery book!

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

April 2022 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

**UPDATED** The author came after another book reviewer who said she liked the book but the men were trash, they are the abusers in the story. She then proceeded to drag the reviewer publicly. I can’t condone that kind of bullying behavior so I’ve lowered my rating on this one.

This harrowing story of violence against a family of black women was too compelling to put down. As each generation faces its own abuse, the prevalence of the violence perpetrated against them and their continued resilience is nothing short of remarkable.

These women have faced lynched husbands, sexual assault, and domestic violence and now, in Joan, all they preserved for is made apparent. Will she be able to face her trauma and rise to be the acclaimed artist she is meant to be?

Not a book for the faint of heart, this story will have you thinking about it for days after reading.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Novel by Sue Lynn Tan

This debut fantasy is inputted by the Chinese legend of the moon goddess. I have never heard of the legend but this book intrigued me.

Xingyin lives with her mother on the moon and is not aware that her mother has been hiding her from the Celestial Emperor. When Xingyin’s magic seeks to reveal her cover, she must escape and leave her mother behind.

Xingyin must make her own way while finding a path back to her mother. I enjoyed this YA fantasy that is unlike any other that I have read

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

April 2022 GMA Book Club Pick

I don’t even know where to begin with this unique contemporary fiction story. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 50s when women were expected to know their place in society — their place being the kitchen and the home.

Elizabeth struggles to be taken seriously in her field and as a single mother, in this amazing book. So when an offer to host a cooking show for women is put in her path, she reluctantly takes it.

She uses her no-nonsense attitude and chemistry principles to teach the women in America to not only cook but to follow their dreams outside of the home.

Zott is a quirky character like Eleanor Oliphant with a charming daughter and a dog whose inner monologue is as quirky as hers. An absolutely wonderful book about motherhood! You can also find this book on our list of Books Like The Love Hypothesis as well.

Are you looking for the perfect book for your next book club? Check out our Lessons in Chemistry Book Club Guide. If you love this book and are looking for more, we also have 15 Books Like Lessons in Chemistry.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

July 2022 Read With Jenna Book Club Pick

This is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. One day everyone over the age of 22 wakes up to find a string on their doorstep. It’s soon clear that the length of one’s string determines the length of their life.

Soon short stringers are being discriminated against around the globe which begs the question – what is the true measure of a valuable life?

Why We Love This Book: This would be a fabulous book club book. There is so much to talk about and you will love this pick from summer reads 2023! Don’t let the fact that this is a sci-fi book deter you if it is not your usual genre.
Find This Book in Best Books for Book Clubs / New Dystopian Novels

The Maid by Nita Prose

January 2022 Good Morning America Pick

Molly Gray works as a maid in a grand hotel and gets joy from leaving things orderly and pristine. Molly struggles with reading social cues and has had even more trouble since her gran can no longer help.

When Molly finds a dead body in a room at the hotel, she becomes a prime suspect and will need all her friends to help her.

Why We Loved it: I loved the description of this book and I hoped it would live up to my expectations. It did that and more. I adored every minute of this story and closed the last page smiling.

Find This Book in: The Maid Book Club Questions / Books like Lessons in Chemistry / Best Mystery Books / Feel-Good Book / Books for Book Clubs

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

I am so happy that I chose this book for the January Reading Challenge. It grabbed me from the first page.

Olga is a successful wedding planner for the elite in New York City who has been unsuccessful in finding love. Her brother, Pedro is a congressman who is hiding secrets. Both of them are running from their past and distancing themselves from their mother who has become a political militant.

As Hurricane season comes, the aftermath to their lives is more than they could have anticipated and caused them to face their deepest secrets and fears. This was my pick for the January reading challenge prompt to read a book being adapted to the screen and I highly recommend it as a book for book clubs.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

A Read With Jenna Pick for February 2022

I absolutely loved this contemporary fiction which is a story about love, family, and acceptance. It captured me from the first page with the story and the writing.

When Eleanor Bennett dies, she leaves a voice recording for her two children Benny and Byron. She wants to tell them things about her life that she could not say when she was alive.

While listening to their mother’s story, Byron and Benny learn about their mother, family, and themselves. They try to piece their relationship back together. The novel looks at everyone’s lives in the present and the past, but in its essence, it is a book about motherhood.

Find this book in Books About Women in Sports / Books for Book Club / Books About Mothers / BIPOC Female Authors / Books with Color in the Title

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

May 2022 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

I haven’t read a novel with as much heart as this one in quite some time. Elderly, recently widowed Tova loves her job cleaning the aquarium in town in the quiet of the night, especially because of her fondness for Marcellus, the octopus. She finds solace in the aquarium as it makes her feel closer to her son, Erik – a marine life lover – who disappeared on a boat when he was 18.

But when she hurts herself and is unable to return to work at full capacity, she grows close with her replacement, Cameron, a young man who newly arrived in town looking for his birth mother.

Meanwhile, Marcellus knows what happened to Erik and he wants to help Tova find the closure she needs. His narration is interspersed with Tova and Cameron’s for a story that is compelling, heartwarming, and utterly unique.

I will be shoving this book into the hands of everyone who asks for a book recommendation because it’s my favorite book of 2022

Find this book in Best Audiobooks of 2022 / Family Drama Books / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Contemporary Fiction Books / Book Club Books
Why We Love This Book: This book has more heart than any book we have read in a long time. The unique perspective of a grumpy octopus may seem silly, but was brilliantly done and adds a unique perspective.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

I love a good mythology retelling, but usually, I read Greek mythology. Kaikeyi is a retelling of a story well-known in the Hindu religion.

While I can’t attest to the accuracy of the tale, I can say that I was utterly captivated by the story of Kaikeyi’s life. I learned that she is a villain in Hindu but I found Patel’s narrative so compelling that I felt for Kaikeyi and supported all of her decisions.

If you are a fan of Ariadne, Circe, or other mythological retellings, you must pick up this book. It’s wonderful.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

I absolutely adored this charming second-chance romance set at a lake house. It was one of the most popular books on Instagram this summer and for good reason.

Sam is the teenage boy we all needed in our lives growing up, and he gets better with age! Meanwhile, I was rooting for Percy to get her happily ever after with Sam the whole time. I was swept away by their summer love story and you will be too!

This is a must-read if you are looking for the best summer reads for 2023.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2022 Winner:

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

We are back with the Sinclair family BEFORE. The same family with more secrets and lies.

Carrie and her sisters are back to spend the summer on their private island near Cape Cod but this summer is different. Carrie’s youngest sister drowned the summer before and they are all silently grieving.

What starts off as a summer of new beginnings, quickly turns into a summer that none of them will ever forget for all the wrong reasons. I really loved the first book and found that this one lacked that “wow” moment. However, this was a fun, quick summer read.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

This LGBTQ YA Romance is a refreshing and sweet romance about Shara Wheeler, her academic rival Chloe, Smith, her quarterback boyfriend, and Rory her neighbor before disappearing and leaving clues for the three to find her.

The scavenger hunt is both a literal and figurative search for Chloe, Smith, and Rory to find Shara and themselves in the process. This smart book had me listening nonstop. This is a sweet romance pick from books set in high school

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

Winter 2022 YA Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

This gothic YA historical fiction is centered around Hazel, a 16-year-old woman who lives in Edinburgh Scotland with her mother and younger brother. She has always had an obsession with anatomy and wants to be a surgeon despite the fact that no women are allowed to study to become doctors.

In order to study and pass her exam, she must have dead bodies to look at. Enter Jack, who earns extra money by taking bodies from their graves at night.

This was such a quick read with amazing details to keep the story moving. Some surprise details really added to the story. The ending, however, felt very rushed to me- especially when compared to the rest of the book. This is such an original thriller horror book.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

I was not sure what to expect when I read this book. It is a powerful YA story that is unexpected and powerful. The story deals with very serious topics like alcoholism, drug use, overdoses, and sexual assault.

These can all be trigger warnings, especially for any Young adult reading the book. I enjoyed it but, I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if it was not described as a love story. There is an underlying theme of what you would do for someone you love but, I would not classify this as a love story.

Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart Series #2) by Stephanie Garber

This is the second book in the New York Times best-selling YA fantasy series. Jacks has betrayed Evangaline for the last time and she swears that she will never trust him again. But now, Evangeline finds herself cursed and must rely on Jacks to help her try and break the curse.

Stephanie Garber never fails to write a YA fantasy novel that is unputdownable. Beware the ending. I cannot believe I have to wait to find out what happens because there is no way this story is over. This was a must on our list of ultimate beach reads 2023. Gifted by PRH Audio