At Write Through the Night, we take the “Best Of” lists very seriously. They’re always my favorite to read, as well as put together. For that reason, I have aggregated data from Aakanksha, Vania, Maxx, Chinwe, and myself in order to come up with the list of the top 50 books of the year. All of these books were published in 2022 and given at least a 4 star rating by one member of our staff. We broke ties by the number of people who read the Book and through discussion.
When all was said and done, we ended up with a list of 90 books, of which 13 were read by more than 1 member of the staff. With so many books to choose from, it was tough to narrow the list down to just 50, but at the end of the day we believe that these are the best books of the year, with genres from nonfiction, to romance, to historical fiction, to thriller, and everything in between.
50. Olga Dies Dreaming
Author: Xóchitl González
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4 stars
Olga Dies Dreaming is a well-written book about gentrification, race, and class. Although the ending of this book felt a bit sudden, I enjoyed reading it and loved each character in their own way. — Vania
49. Portrait of a Thief
Author: Grace D. Li
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4 stars
While I haven’t gotten around to reading this book yet, my girlfriend tangentially knows Grace Li, and I think that’s cool enough to point out here. —Jocelyn
Portrait of a Thief is much more than a crime book. We can examine issues regarding colonialism, immigration and identity. It is a critique of Western imperialism. I loved the multitude of identities we encountered. While I personally can’t speak to the Chinese and Chinese-American representation in this book, I found it amazing to read. —Vania
48. Beneath the Stairs
Author: Jennifer Fawcett
Genre: Horror / Paranormal Thriller
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4 stars (Read the Review)
This was the first e-ARC I read this year and it was so fun! I am not normally a huge fan of paranormal mysteries, and that’s why this got bumped down a star for me, but the focus that Fawcett put on the characters themselves made this delightful nonetheless. —Jocelyn
47. Rainbow Rainbow
Author: Lydia Conklin
Genre: Short Story Collection
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4 stars (Read the Review)
I am genuinely obsessed with this queer short story collection. Every single story was painfully relatable and made me either laugh or cry or both. Conklin is such an incredible storyteller and I found myself ceaselessly impressed with the depth and breadth of characters they brought to life in a single collection. —Jocelyn
46. Mistakes Were Made
Author: Meryl Wilsner
Genre: Adult Romance
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4 stars (Read the Review)
Milf! Book! Milf! Book! I am a sucker for age gap romances, and I was so excited to finally read one where there wasn’t a disgusting and uncomfortable power dynamic baked in. This book was the perfect amount of flirty fun mixed with real, down to earth conversations. I cannot wait to read whatever Wilsner writes next! —Jocelyn
45. Stirring Up Love
Author: Chandra Blumberg
Genre: Adult Romance / contemporary
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 4 stars (Read the Review)
Simone and Finn find themselves in a barbecue sauce turf war, and they are annoyingly but undoubtedly drawn to each other. This book is one of the few times I’m willing to read through the miscommunication trope because it aligns with the growth of the protagonists, who are so nuanced and realistic. I enjoyed the dual perspective and learning about each character’s backgrounds and motivations. This felt like a sweet, high-on-chemistry 2000s romcom! —Aakanksha
44. When We Were Birds
Author: Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
Genre: Magical Realism / Historical
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4 stars
I am not normally the world’s biggest fan of magical realism, but this book was wonderfully well written. This is Banwo’s debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. —Jocelyn
43. Digging Up Love
Author: Chandra Blumberg
Genre: Adult Romance. /Contemporary
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4 stars
Digging up Love is a story about chasing your dreams and finding a heartfelt love in the process. Those who enjoy desserts and dinosaur facts will absolutely love this romance. —Vania
42. Fake It Till You Bake It
Author: Jamie Wesley
Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 4 stars
- Vania: 4 stars
If you’re into fake dating, tension building and great side characters, this book is for you. Fake It Till You Bake It is a wonderful story full of chemistry and humor. —Vania
The book is another win for the opposites attract trope! The banter is funny and the stakes are high. I appreciate how Jamie Wesley explores what’s beneath the surface, especially the representation of Jada’s dyslexia and Donovan’s friendships (yay for healthy masculinity!). There were parts of the story I didn’t find cohesive, so I had to do some re-reading. Also, the miscommunication got on my nerves as I can’t deal with the “things are too good, so let’s throw a wrench in” trope. Overall, it was a fun and light read! —Aakanksha
41. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care
Author: Ashley Herring Blake
Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4 stars
- Vania: 4 stars
The story was so funny and full of romantic absurdities that made Delilah Green Doesn’t Care a sweet, passionate and heartfelt book. —Vania
It’s so nice to read a book about an adult character finding love! As someone who also hates my hometown (albeit for much less traumatic reasons) I appreciated the built in redemption arc for both Delilah and her home of Bright Falls. —Jocelyn
40. Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
Author: Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 4 stars
- Vania: 4 stars
We don’t always find raw books that are not afraid to have flawed characters. Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? is definitely none of them. This is a story about family, and the expectations we feel the need to achieve. A wonderful self-journey book. —Vania
It’s hard to come from a family where people hold onto rigid norms around marriage, especially when you live abroad and have to reckon with the internal dilemma of belonging to multiple cultures. This book does a good and realistic job of portraying this, though I wish it had dug a bit deeper. I also like that we got to see Yinka work on her flaws! I found her relatable and I felt validated while reading about a 30-something-year-old still working on herself and her career. —Aakanksha
39. Helen House
Author: Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya
Genre: Erotic Horror Novelette
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars
This novelette was so good from start to finish! The lesbian characters were well developed, both in the present and as a result of their traumatic pasts. The ending was delightful and left me with the eerie feeling I crave. —Jocelyn
38. Twice a Quincenera
Author: Yamile Saied Mendez
Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4.5 stars
Twice a Quinceañera is a beautifully written romantic drama book about celebrating your accomplishments and taking time for yourself. Full of interesting characters and great argumental arcs, Twice a Quinceañera is a pure delight. —Vania
37. Small Game
Author: Blair Braverman
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars
This book was so fun! I loved the way the characterizations of the side characters grew subtly but steadily over the course of the book, and that despite a mystery being at the center of the plot, there was more to it an “solving” it. Braverman did a great job and I’d love to read more of her books! —Jocelyn
36. Locklands
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Genre: High Fantasy
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4.5 stars
Locklands is a truly inventive, emotional, genre-blending, and reality-defying finish to The Founders Trilogy. This novel is simply mind-blowing, far from the ordinary. —Vania
35. Great or Nothing
Author: Joy McCullough
Genre: Historical Fiction / Retelling
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4.5 stars
A beloved classic set during World War II? This was a creative and absorbing must-read for anyone who loves Little Women. This was just wow. —Vania
34. Fire Becomes Her
Author: Rosiee Thor
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4.5 stars
If you want a political fantasy with eat-the-rich vibes, this book is for you. The characters are so complex and the story was compelling and original! I’m so glad I got to read it. —Vania
33. Deep in Providence
Author: Riss M Neilson
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4.5 stars
Witches, grief, and friendship—this book has everything. Deep in Providence is simply amazing, and I loved the portrayal of grief, and well written characters. —Vania
32. Husband Material
Author: Alexis Hall
Genre: LGBTQ+ Romance / Contemporary
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars (Read the Review)
I wasn’t sure if Hall had left himself with anywhere to go after Boyfriend Material. Our main couple seemed to be in a good place. I was delighted to find out that there was still so much growth in store for Oliver and Luc. That, combined with how dynamic the side characters were, made for a wonderful sequel. —Jocelyn
31. Girls Can Kiss Now
Author: Jill Gutowitz
Genre: Memoir in Essays / LGBTQ+ Pop Culture
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars
I was crushed to find out that this book didn’t win the Goodreads Choice Awards in the humor category. While this book is pretty specific to 90s babies who grew up to become very very gay, if you do fall into that category all of the cultural references will be incredible. —Jocelyn
30. My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding
Author: Sajni Patel
Genre: Young Adult Romance
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 3 stars
- Vania: 4.5 stars
This book was so cute! There were some things, particularly around body image, which didn’t ring quite right for me, but I did appreciate the deep familial bonds that this book explored in addition to the romance. —Jocelyn
I loved the journey that Zurika went on as she learned how to stand up for herself and her dreams. There are some elements that didn’t ring quite right for me (as Jocelyn said) but besides that, I really liked this book. —Vania
29. Four Aunties and a Wedding
Author: Jesse Q Sutanto
Genre: Romance / Mystery
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 3 stars
- Vania: 4.5 stars
Though this book continues its predecessor’s campiness, its plot wasn’t as compelling. I do appreciate the effort that went into continuing Meddy’s story and her relationship with her loving but frustrating family. I ended up giving this story three stars because there were entertaining moments, but the overall story was too convoluted for me to fully enjoy. —Aakanksha
Mayhem, mafia, murder, and matrimony. Four Aunties and a Wedding surprises us once again and even though I didn’t love this one as much as the first one, this book was funny as hell. Just fantastic. —Vania
28. Blood to Poison
Author: Mary Watson
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4.75 stars
Blood to Poison is a powerful fantasy book rooted in South African history. This was an amazing exploration of misogyny, generational pain and female rage. This book is perfect for lovers of folklore. —Vania
27. Misrule
Author: Heather Walter
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4.75 stars
At the end of the day, if everyone considers her evil and a villain, why not become one for real? I loved the sapphic representation and the character development. I must admit that it was a little tricky to fully empathize with the characters, but overall, I liked the sequel. —Vania
26. The Romantic Agenda
Author: Claire Kahn
Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary
The Ratings:
- Vania: 4.75 stars
I love that we have two black asexual characters who experience asexuality very differently. Definitely read this if you’re looking for a book with asexual representation, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine trope, a self-confident protagonist, and constant puns. —Vania
25. The Family Game
Author: Catherine Steadman
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
The Ratings:
- Maxx: 5 stars
This may be the most creative thriller I have ever read. The storyline was fast-paced and kept me firmly on the edge of my seat. If you are into thrillers, definitely check this one out! —Maxx
24. A Show For Two
Author: Tashie Bhuiyan
Genre: Young Adult Romance / Contemporary
The Ratings:
- Vania: 5 stars
This is simply one of the books I have enjoyed the most. It is no joke. It has become one of my favorites. I relate to Mina. The pacing was excellent, the romance was cute and the characters were, to some extent, well-written. Enjoyed it to the fullest. —Vania
23. Ain’t Burned All the Bright
Author: Jason Reynolds
Genre: Young Adult Graphic Novel / Poetry
The Ratings:
- Vania: 5 stars
Ain’t Burned All the Bright is a look at a family living through two experiences: the COVID-19 pandemic and living as a Black family in the US. I had no idea what to expect and this book moved me deeply. This book is a completely gut punch. —Vania
22. And We Rise
Author: Erica Martin
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
The Ratings:
- Vania: 5 stars
This collection of non-fiction poems is powerful. I found this beautiful poetry book both moving and inspirational. It is gut-wrenching to read, yet important. —Vania
21. Burn Down, Rise Up
Author: Vincent Tirado
Genre: Young Adult Thriller
The Ratings:
- Vania: 5 stars
This sapphic book about childhood friends to lovers and creative zombie-hunting (while immersed in exploring the impact of racism and trauma) was one the best books I’ve read. —Vania
20. One For All
Author: Lillie Lainoff
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy / Historical Fiction
The Ratings:
- Vania: 5 stars
One for All is a beautiful and gripping story. Tania is a very strong character and I love her. The relationships she formed throughout the story were beautiful to me as she was able to grow as a person because of them. The feeling of sisterhood is very strong; seeing the girls united was incredible. —Vania
19. The Black Girls Left Standing
Author: Juliana Goodman
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
The Ratings:
- Vania: 5 stars
The Black Girls Left Standing is a portrayal of the impact of police brutality, showing the grief people go through and how family relationships are affected. This story keeps you hooked, showing the reality behind the racism, police brutality, and grief. I think it was a great ending. I highly recommend this book. —Vania
18. The Final Gambit
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: Young Adult Romance / Mystery
The Ratings:
- Vania: 5 stars
Bloody hell, that was incredible! I strongly recommend the series because it’s really intriguing and full of tension. —Vania
17. Valiant Ladies
Author: Melissa Grey
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
The Ratings:
- Vania: 5 stars
By day, they are young and appropriate ladies of the 17th century. By night, elegant vigilantes. The characters were so brave and determined in their own way, despite coming from different backgrounds. I loved getting to know their unique ways of looking at the world. If you like historical fantasy and action-packed stories about armed girls looking for an assassin, this book is for you. —Vania
16. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before
Author: Julie Smith
Genre: Nonfiction / Psychology
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 5 stars (Read the review)
I fully believe in the power of therapy and analyzing your own mental health to better your life. This book does an excellent job of teaching you how to do this in your daily life without needing to pay for a professional. —Jocelyn
