Year-End Spectacular: 2022 in Books
Hi, friend.
We did it! We made it to the end of another year. It feels like 2022 is going out with a whisper, and that is a-okay by me.
Things have been a bit glum and introspective in the House o’ Crooked Reads—aka my brain—as the year comes to a close.
For so long, I wanted to be somebody on the internet. I wanted to get big bylines and have big followings and be the person people looked to for book recommendations or thoughtful thoughts about those books. But over the last year, I’ve felt like I’d be happier being…not that. To be a person who lurks on the internet and reads the books she feels like reading, with no assignment hanging over her head.
That said, I’m considering a hiatus from all things related to the social internet. I deleted TikTok from my phone, hoping that will help me to quiet my mind a little. I’m not sure what the future of this newsletter will look like, but I will of course keep you posted.
Thank you so much for spending time with me and allowing me space in your crowded inbox this year. It truly means the world.
*cough* Now let’s get to the books, shall we?
The books
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Breaking news: This book is exactly as good as everyone says it is. I can’t remember the last time I was so hooked on a story that I devoured it in three days, thought about it while not reading, and even had dreams about it. Book Lovers is the perfect romance.
How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler
This blend of science writing and personal essays is magnificent. Each essay profiles a different sea creature—the deep ocean octopus who starved herself watching over her eggs, the Chinese sturgeon who smash into the dams that block their migration route—as Imbler tells an intimate story about their life as a queer, mixed race science writer.
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis
I love KC Davis so much. Her gentle approach to taking care of house and self is life-changing. Moral of the story: No matter what, you deserve to have a clean house that makes you feel safe.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Jennette McCurdy’s story is infuriating and devastating, and she writes about it with such poise. Hollywood grooming, disordered eating, anxiety, OCD—she’s gone through it all and out came this stunning, sad, and funny memoir.
Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World’s Most Notorious Diaries by Rick Emerson
As a former angsty youth who adored Go Ask Alice and everything else Beatrice Sparks published as various “anonymous” teenagers, I knew this would be my jam, but I had no idea how deep and winding the rabbit hole went. Rick Emerson dives deep into the stories and culture surrounding the creation of two of Sparks’s controversial books. Unmask Alice reads like a thriller, forever chasing down this elusive woman who shaped the foundation of young adult literature.
✨ Psst! You can find a few other of my favorite 2022 reads on Bookshop!
Tell me all about your favorite book from 2022 in the comments!
The links
Get Smarter with These 24 Popular Science Books, Book Riot
In which I peruse a seemingly infinite number of popular science books and give you the best ones, covering everything from forensics and whales to mental illness and the cosmos.
The Best Memoirs You’ve Never Heard Of, Book Riot
In which I yap about a ton of really incredible memoirs that tend to get overshadowed by the big, buzzy publishing machine.
The nightstand
I did a lot of comics reading this month, and it was just what my heart needed.
The backlist
In case you missed ’em, or want to peep the archives:
I hope you have a happy and healthy new year.
xoxo
Head’s up! I’m an affiliate with Bookshop.org and may earn a commission if you click through any book links and make a purchase.
Everybody keeps suggesting me the Jennette Mccurdy book, and for some reason I don't know why I haven't gotten to reading it. Definitely would be an interesting read given that my generation grew up knowing her mostly for being on Icarly. Also take it easy Ashley, many people don't start blogs to become celebrities or a household name. As long as you enjoy what you're writing about that's all that matters. Sending a positive vibes for the year ahead!
Love your books picks, Ashley -- as well as your honesty about the social internet. Here's to resting and reclaiming your brain in 2023 😘