My Top 5 Reads of 2022 (Plus newsletter announcement! *squeals*)

Hiya, readers! Wow, it’s been a long time since I did a post that wasn’t part of a blog tour or a cover reveal…

*crickets chirping*

To be honest, I have like SO many post ideas I want to do (one that’s been on the backburner since August!) but I never set aside time for this blog! My biggest new year resolution is to take more time for the blogosphere, and while I’ll be specifically focusing on Teen Writers’ Nook, I haven’t forgotten about y’all! I hope to do more original and exciting posts over here. <33 But before we jump into today’s post, I wanted this to be one of the first places I announce that I have finally done it! I have started up a newsletter!!! It will be a place where I will give a lot of my writing updates, as I tend to like not do that anywhere. XD But I also want it to be a fun place where we talk about books, life, and I also want to share history fun facts, specifically about the Romanovs and just 20th century history in general! I’ve learned so may things in researching for my books, and I want to have a place where I can share them, which is why my newsletter will be called… *drumroll*

Vintagely Izzy!

I also have a special surprise I am working on for my newsletter subscribers that may or may not have to do with one of my WIPs. So if you are interested in following the ramblings of a Christian historical fiction novelist and stay updated with my writing and hopefully one day publishing journey, you can find the link to subscribe right here!

Alright! Today I am going to be sharing my top reads of 2022! Rules for qualification:

1. The book has to be a novel. (Sorry short stories and novellas.)
2. The book cannot be a sequel to another book I’ve already read (if it’s a sequel but it’s the first book I read in the series, it will still count). The reason for this is because I love reading new books from new authors that it’s such a rare thing if I read the sequel to books so the fact that I READ the sequel already means that it’s an amazing book and you should try out the series.
3. It cannot be a re-read. (Sorry The False Prince. I still love you, but you understand how this must work. XD)
4. It cannot be a beta-read book. Because even though I’ve loved several of my beta-reads for the year, they are either (1) not published or (2) I haven’t read the published version. Beta books can only be counted if I read the book after publication.

And that’s all! Here is a list of books I read last year if you want to check out all the ones in the competition!

Now the five book winners for my top 2022 reads are…

#5. When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

First off, don’t tell me you don’t just ADORE the cover! When Twilight Breaks was a total accidental read for me! I was trying out my library’s ebook system for the first time, I had recognized the cover, and I decided to check it out just to see how it all worked. I had no intentions of actually reading the book. But then I started the first chapter, and I. could. not. put. it. down. This was also at the time when a pipe at my house busted and I could only manage to read in between breaks of digging up my yard to find said pipe and trying to complete schoolwork. yes, it’s been one of those years 😅

But back to the book. Sarah Sundin is quickly becoming a new favorite author for me! I just ADORED the characters and the plot was so well-paced that I couldn’t put it down not once! Plus when the title of the book was incorporated near the end of the story, I was squealing by that point. My favorite part of all, however, was the setting. Nazi Germany right before the outbreak of WW2? Don’t tell me that doesn’t sound so interesting! I felt like I learned a lot and the setting just came alive so perfectly! Loved this book and cannot recommend it enough!

#4. Dearest Josephine by Caroline George.

Dearest Josephine by Caroline George was another accidental read. I’m seeing a trend here, don’t you? I was at my library checking out a stack of more books than I could possible read in a month, and this book caught my eye on the way out. I’d seen many GR friends reading it and loving it, and as the bibliophile that I am, I obviously checked it out! Ah, what can I say about this book? It broke me in every way possible. I nearly cried. I connected so deeply with the main character more so than I ever have before. I think because she was dealing with the grief of losing her father at the same time when my own grief over my father’s passing in 2021 was hitting me particularly hard. This is a book that has not left my mind once since I finished it. I am constantly thinking back to it. It was the book I needed to read at the time that I did. This book is just beautiful. (Also I LOVED the setting and how it was set up in a letter format!!! I didn’t think something like that would work until I read this book! Will forever love it!)

The only complaint I have is the excessive use of “OMG.” I know everyone has their own opinion on the matter and the author may have been using it as an acronym for “oh my goodness,” but it’s usually used for “oh my God,” and I just didn’t like reading that so many times. but again, everyone has their own opinions so proceed at your own discretion.

#3. A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

I have heard NOTHING but good things about A Midnight Dance, and so when I saw my library had it, I obviously checked it out immediately! Oh where do I even begin? This book was LIFE-CHANGING for me! If I had to pick just one author that I could write just like, it would probably be Joanna Politano. Wait, actually let me think on that. Don’t hold me to that. XD This book… guys, it is GORGEOUS. You could just feel the story, the characters, the setting even. I know of no other way to describe it except this book just came alive. I also just LOVED the ballet inclusion! As a former dancer, I related to a lot of things mentioned in here.

Honestly, I cannot even find words to express the depth of this book and my love for it, so just go read it for yourself! Then come fangirl about Jack with me okay?

#2. Heart of a Royal by Hannah Currie

Let’s all take a moment to PROPERLY admire this cover! From the moment I saw it, I KNEW that this was a book I needed and would love. First off, please tell me I am not the only sucker of those royal romance Hallmark movies? I can’t help it, I am a sucker for it. Heart of a Royal made me think of that only much more fun, creative, and by an amazing Christian author! I always enjoy a good, clean contemporary romance, but never have I enjoyed it as much as this one! I was squealing and laughing and rooting for the characters the whole time. Also Thoraben very quickly made it on my list of fictional boys I fangirl over an unhealthy amount of time. I LOVE HIM LIKE SO MUCH! *sobs* Plus this was one of the first books that introduced me to the forced-marriage trope (don’t even know if that’s a real thing or if that’s what it’s called but I LOVE IT), and let’s just say I am all here for it! I’m gonna have to write a book with that trope in it. I’ve already decided it. XD How can I not? This book was just a very fun and exciting novel that I highly recommend!

Okay so Heart of a Royal was at first my top read of the year, and held it for a while until I read this book. This one has rightfully earned its place as my top read of the year. It’s fun, exciting, with a loveable cast of characters and the PERFECT historical setting. The author slipped in so may fun facts of this time period that I didn’t know about. Also the cover is just drop-dead gorgeous, and I loved this book so much, I’ve already gotten the next two in the series. And as we just discussed, I rarely read series! What is this book you must be asking?

My top number one read of the year is…

*pauses for dramatic effect*

#1. The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden

WOOHOO CONGRATULATIONS THE SPICE KING ON MAKING IT TO NUMBER ONE READ OF 2022!!!!!!!

I also wanted to give a list of the runners up who were also just as awesome and totally deserved a spotlight if I could pick more than just five. *sighs* Oh the pains of a bookworm!

Fled for Refuge by Kristina Hall – such a gripping dystopian suspense read that kept me turning the pages!

The Princess Companion by Melanie Cellier – My first Cellier book! Absolutely cute and such a fun read. Plus I’m in love with Max. Just sayin’.

Magnify by Stefanie Lozinski – this book was at number 5 in my top 5 reads until I read When Twilight Breaks. But either way, this is an engaging read with such good worldbuilding, plus there’s DRAGONS!

World of Silence by Kaytlin Phillips – Such a touching, precious middle grade fantasy story with fun twists that keep you turning pages and just as mentioned above there is DRAGONS

The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport – A very well-researched and easy-to-follow narrative about Tsar Nicholas II’s four daughters. It was so enjoyable that I often forgot I was reading nonfiction!

Iron by Madisyn Carlin – probably a surprise read for me as while I knew I would like it, I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did! Madisyn Carlin is an author to watch for! Iron was gripping, moving, with the most loveable cast of characters ever! (Plus it’s a Cinderella retelling, and I’m always a sucker for Cinderella retellings!)

So let’s chat! Have you read any of the books listed? What’s YOUR top 5 reads of 2022? Do you like novels with dragons or not? What’s something you’d like to see more of in author newsletters? Who else noticed the first GIF was Jen Ledger (from Skillet) playing the drums? Let’s talk all about it in the comments below!