2022 Reading Reflections
Hi book friends. Thanks for being here. I’ve started this little email newsletter as an outlet for the nerdy and (mostly) bookish ramblings I can’t get out of my brain. Here is my list of 2022 favorites, ranked in order. You will notice lots of romance books made the list this year. That makes sense given that in 2022, over half of my reading was romance. I think I needed that ‘happy ever after’. I aim to do quarterly reader updates, but truthfully the posting schedule will be random & as time allows. I love talking books with friends so feel free to reply to me & to forward my email on to other friends that like books. The more people reading, the better!
1. A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum
A Bend in the Stars was my favorite book of the year (and highly underrated with only 4,419 ratings on Goodreads). The blurb says, “This is at once an epic love story and a heart-pounding journey across WWI-er Russia, about an ambitious young doctor and her scientist brother in a race against Einstein to solve one of the greatest mysteries of the universe.” I read it on print and absolutely loved it. It had fantastic characters, interesting plot & a brother-sister relationship that felt complex and real. And there was a love-triangle that was well handled. I liked the time period & learned some great facts around Russian history & the extensive mistreatment of Jewish people that far pre-dated WWII. She released another book last year called Atomic Anna, an alternate-history about the Chernobyl disaster that I look forward to reading this year.
2. On Rotation by Dr. Shirlene Obuobi
Whew. This book and it’s depictions of being a medical student made me sob, they felt so accurate. The accurate depictions make sense given the author is a cardiologist in training. I follow her on Instagram and am so impressed with how she is navigating fellowship AND writing. This cover looks like it has a fluffy-romance (I think it’s even compared to Grey’s Anatomy in the blurb) vibe & I don’t think that’s accurate at all. The book is full of love and loss and the difficulty of navigating different cultures (the main character is Ghanian-American, like the author). If you go into this expecting steamy, easy, romance you will be disappointed. The tone of this felt more similar to Kristin Hannah (author the Nightingale, Great Alone) — emotional but satisfying— than it did Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (another favorite I write about directly below). Recommended reading for those who like an emotional but satisfying reads & for those interested in reading what medical training really feels like.
3. Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
This was so fun & such an easy five star read for me. I clearly have a women-in-stem theme going on my list this year because this one features a PhD candidate and enemies-to-lovers/fake dating scenario. You know how the book is going to end, but the ride is so enjoyable you don’t mind one bit. I’ve read everything Ali Hazelwood has written so far and this is still my favorite. She has a new release coming out later this year, Love Theoretically that I will definitely be reading.
4. Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
This book is quite the departure from the other titles on the list so far, and a bit of a cheat because this is actually the second book in a duology. But I loved this second book so much (even more than the first) I had to include it on the list. This book follows Chava, a golem, and Ahmad, a Jinni, around turn-of-the century Manhattan. I listened to this on audio and absolutely adore it in that format. The narrator, George Guidall, is fantastic. This is a rich historical fantasy that blends folktale and mythology. I couldn’t stop listening. I can’t share too much since this is the second book but I highly recommend them both.
5. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
This was a fun, flirty, feminist romp through New York City that also ends up being a poignant tale about aging and living life on your own terms. Our main character, Vivian, is sometimes selfish, often unlikeable, but fully her own person. I listened to this on audio and loved it in that format as well. The story unfolds primarily in the 1940’s in New York City’s theater district. It has a great sense of place & great characters.
6. Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
This is the first book club book that made the cut for favorite of the year. This was also the first Abby Jimenez book I read, but definitely won’t be the last. This is such a wholesome, lovely romance and the ending was made for a movie. (Please, please make this into a movie someone!) There were a few niche-things in this book that made me love it even more— the song, the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, makes a cameo, as well as our main protagonists former career as a wild-game food blogger. Additionally, Abby Jimenez, is a Minnesota author and I love supporting Midwestern authors.
7. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
The cover of this makes the book seem literary, serious and emotional & that’s not quite the case. This book is angsty & romantic. It’s got great banter, and engaging characters. It falls into the second-chance romance category and that’s one of my favorite tropes. Imagine two authors writing their whole book series about each other—swoon.
8. The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn + The Duchess Deal & the Governess Game by Tessa Dare
I absolutely fell down the historical romance rabbit hole this year. I started with binging the whole Bridgerton series and then have branched out to find other authors I’ve enjoyed. I admit, there are a few cringeworthy scenes or scenes that don’t hold up in 2023, but by and large I really enjoyed jumping into a world very different from today’s. The Netflix show is great too. If you loved Bridgerton, read the The Duchess Deal or the Governess Game by Tessa Dare. I read both of those and enjoyed them immensely.
9. Certain Appeal by Vanessa King & Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Bridgerton also inspired me to finally read Pride and Prejudice. I felt ashamed of myself as a reader (and a romance reader, too!) that I’d never read Pride and Prejudice. One of the characters in the Bridgerton novels makes a throwaway comment about reading the latest novel by, ‘that Austen women’ and I finally decided it was time. I read it mostly on audio read by the lovely Rosamund Pike and highly recommend it in that format. I can’t just recommend Pride & Prejudice, so I’ve included the Pride & Prejudice retelling I read and loved this year. Think Pride & Prejudice re-imagined in the world of New York City burlesque and you’ve got A Certain Appeal. Sheer fun and entertainment.
10. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
Rounding out the list is yet another STEM-centric romance. In this, we follow Jess, a statistician & Dr. River Peña as they test the limits of a DNA matchmaking company.
If you’ve got STEM romances, incredible historical fantasy, books set in NYC, or your favorite of last year you think I should read, please let me know! I’m always happy to talk books. You can also add me as a friend on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/91486349-stephanie-mcmillan. I review pretty much everything I read. I’ve already read a couple five-star reads this year and I can’t wait to share more about what I’m reading.