What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year

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What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year including historical non fiction, beach reads, thrillers, and more!

I’ve always been an avid reader, but for some reason it feels different this year. I’ve sort of let go on my practice of reading ‘smart books’ (aka self-help or business books) and have instead just let myself fall into the mental vacation of fiction instead. I think because of that, I’ve read way more books so far in 2022 than ever before. In case you’re looking for your next book to fall into, I wanted to share 7 book recommendations that I absolutely loved and highly encourage you to check out! Let me know if you’ve read any of these, as well as any new ones I should read.

7 Book Recommendations That I Enjoyed & Hope You Do, Too!

What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year including historical non fiction, beach reads, thrillers, and more!

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

If you love historical fiction with a bit of mystery, this book is totally for you. It goes back and forth between present day London and eighteenth century London. The main character, Caroline, is going through a lot of feelings in her relationship and discovers an items that launches her into a search for a mysterious apothecary that once helped women.

What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year including historical non fiction, beach reads, thrillers, and more!

The Girls in Queens by Christine Kandic Torres

This story follows two girlfriends as they grow up as teens in a close knit community and the intricacies of their friendship, especially as it pertains to the men in their lives. It subtly explores sexuality of that age and how it can shift the bond of friendship. What I really loved about this book is how vivid the writing is.

What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year including historical non fiction, beach reads, thrillers, and more!

The Listening House by Mabel Seeley

This book isn’t new by any means and was actually first published in 1938. It popped up as a recommendation from my library and I really enjoyed it! I was surprised to find out that it was originally from 1938 because it feels pretty modern. The story follows a young woman who moves into a boarding house full of shifty characters. When there’s a murder and rumors of blackmail, she tries to find out what’s going on with many twists and turns along the way (and a wee bit of a love story)!

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What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year including historical non fiction, beach reads, thrillers, and more!

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

When I say that I couldn’t put this book down, what I really mean is that I stayed up all night reading it from start to ending because it was so engrossing! The story follows a group of close friends from college, including all of the various tensions and secrets within that group. When one of them ends up viciously murdered, it seems like pretty much every character could be the culprit. The book culminates in to a very dramatic ending — I seriously cannot recommend this one enough!

What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year including historical non fiction, beach reads, thrillers, and more!

New to Liberty by DeMisty D. Bellinger

This book follows the stories of 3 interconnected women during different periods of time from 1933 to 1947 and 1966. I don’t want to give away too much, but in looking back during these eras, the author explores issues that were taboo back then including interracial relationships and same-sex relationships. It’s a truly powerful book that really explores the strength of women and the role that society plays in how they are able to live their lives.

What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year including historical non fiction, beach reads, thrillers, and more!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

While I felt like this book was a bit too long and felt like it just kept going, at the end of it I found that I’d enjoyed it. Basically, the main character makes a deal with the devil in exchange for living forever. The book follows her throughout different points in history and as she falls in love and connects with another person for the first time in centuries. There are parts of it that I found heartbreakingly sad, but the story was so good that I can’t help but recommend it!

What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year including historical non fiction, beach reads, thrillers, and more!

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

I mean… I love historical fiction a lot so this book was definitely a home run for me. Especially because it is all about female spies being recruited to work in France during World War I. I almost didn’t read it because I worried that a book set during wartime would feel heavy given the current state of our own society, but I’m glad I read it.

I hope you enjoyed these book recommendations! I know it’s been a while since I last shared what I’m reading and what I enjoyed, so if you liked this post and want to see more like this leave a comment and let me know. I’m also always open to additional suggestions on what I should read next, so let me know what you’ve enjoyed so far this year, too!

Behind The Blog

Joanna Hawley-McBride is a Pacific Northwest-based social media strategist, content creator, and former textile designer. Joanna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Jojotastic, a lifestyle blog focused on Joanna’s work-in-progress cabin, finding the best pair of underwear through #UnderwearThesis, and empowering women to explore nature — all in her signature unfiltered style. Her work has been featured in Domino, CNBC, and Eating Well.

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6 Comments

  1. 8.14.22
    Marissa said:

    Loved the Alice Network! I am going to check out the Girls in Queens. What time period is it set in?

    • 8.15.22
      Joanna said:

      It bounces between 2006ish and present-ish time!

  2. 8.12.22
    Kristi Kelly said:

    So I read 2! The Alice Network we read in our neighborhood Book Club, loved it! So fascinating! Also, loved loved loved The Last Apothecary! Wow, the author got me right from the beginning! I went down the rabbit hole with her! Thanks for the other suggestions!

    • 8.12.22
      Joanna said:

      YES!! Wasn’t the Last Apothecary straight up addicting?? I could not put it down. Please reach In My Dreams I’m Holding a Knife ASAP!!! But make sure you have time to dedicate to being up all night reading it lol. It’s so freaking good. Enjoy!!

  3. 8.10.22
    Nicole said:

    I love all of Kate Quinn’s WWII books. I just finished The Huntress, but I think my favorite of hers is The Rose Code.
    I’ll definitely be looking some of these up at my library.
    One of my all time favorites (despite its less than appealing name) is Angry Housewives Earing BonBons by Lorna Landvik

    • 8.11.22
      Joanna said:

      I am waiting on more of Kate Quinn’s books from the library! I hope you enjoy these recs and I’ll add that one by Lorna Landvik to my list as well. thanks!