It’s almost 2023 so what better way to celebrate the end of 2022 (#notgoingtomissyou) than by crowning my 10 Favourite Books of 2022.
It was a tough choice again this year. I read 169 novels in total, of which 27 were Five Star Reads. I’ve tried to be as fair as possible and although this blog regularly masquerades as a Lauren Layne fan account, I’ve instigated a one-novel-per-author rule.
My Year in Books (Goodreads):
3
42
97
27
With the stats out of the way, here are my Favourite Books of 2022 (A-Z by author)
N.B. Originally I had 10 x Favourite Books from 2022 but as at 29 January 2024 I had to remove 4 x books because of offensive social media posts by their authors.
(1) Isn’t It Bromantic? (Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams (March 2022)
I read this on my birthday all the way back in March 2022 (Happy Birthday to Me!). If you haven’t already, I definitely recommend checking out the rest of the Bromance Book Club series but ‘Isn’t it Bromantic?’ is definitely my favourite #TeamVlad
With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad wrote one.
Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.
Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance—both on and off the page.
The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love—and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.
(2) When in Rome by Sarah Adams (November 2022)
I’m a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn so as soon as I discovered ‘When in Rome’ was inspired by the film, ‘Roman Holiday‘, it was an instant one-click. In addition to being an Audrey fan, I’m also a sucker for a cozy, small-town romance and ‘When in Rome’ has it all. Amelia is such a sweetheart and even though Noah initially comes across as gruff, underneath it all he’s a softie as evidenced by his love for his grandmother, his tolerance of his well-meaning but interfering neighbours and his closeness with his three sisters (who each deserve their own HEA). I’m so happy that we get to make a return trip to Rome, Kentucky next year when ‘Practice Makes Perfect‘ (featuring Noah’s sister, Annie and Amelia’s bodyguard, Will) is released on 2 May 2023.
Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her “princess of pop” image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome . . . Rome, Kentucky, that is.
When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn’t have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He’s too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room–but only until her car is fixed–then she’s on her own.
Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose–she’s Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can’t help but get close to her. Soon she’ll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she’s been missing, and she’ll help him open his heart to more.
Amelia can’t resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.
(3) Decisions We Make After Midnight (Decisions in Durham #1) by Rachel Higginson (February 2022)
The next novel on my 10 Favourite Books of 2022 list had to compete for my attention with the Winter Olympics so it must have been epically good. I got it through Kindle Unlimited but as soon as I’d finished reading it, I just knew I had to buy the ebook to keep. I’m a huge fan of the ‘Opposites Attract’ series (if you haven’t already, you definitely need to check them out) and I loved the cameo in ‘Decisions We Make After Midnight’ by my favourite couple, Vera & Killian from ‘The Opposite of You’.
Lola Ellis has a picture-perfect life. Until she doesn’t.
Successful, engaged to the man of her dreams, and focused. Until suddenly she’s questioning her position in the family company, her fiancé’s fidelity, and everything she thought she knew about life.
On her way to Florida to open a new branch of the family business and meet her fiancé Owen, she unexpectedly detours to visit her best friend in Durham, North Carolina. What was meant to be a week of rest and relaxation as she gets her mind right stretches into a permanent TBD. She can’t face the future waiting for her in Destin, Florida. And the longer she stays in Durham, the less she wants to.
Will English is an uptight, arrogant bartender who keeps scaring away waitresses. Too busy micromanaging his co-owning siblings, his patience is thin when it comes to the rest of the business. When Lola takes a job at his bar to fill her time while she decides what to do about the mess her life has suddenly become, he decides not to engage with the clearly underqualified new waitress. She’s clumsy, clueless, and costing him too much money every time she gives away another round of drinks because she’s messed up again. And yet… there’s something about her that keeps him from dismissing her.
Together, after the bar closes every night, they forge a friendship that doesn’t fit into either of their lives. Lola’s stay in Durham is only temporary. And Will’s roots in the city are deeply established. A relationship doesn’t make sense. But sometime after midnight one night… they decide they don’t care.
(4) Again, Rachel (Walsh Sisters #6) by Marian Keyes (April 2022)
In order to compile this list of my 10 Favourite Books of 2022, I’ve been going back through my Five Star Reads posts each month and geez, 2022 definitely didn’t hold back on giving me reasons to escape into reading. I read ‘Again, Rachel’ in April 2022 while my grandfather was sick in the hospital (he passed away the following month). Unlike the Walshes, I come from a very small family (I’m the only child of an only child) so it was really tough to see the backbone of our family so weak and vulnerable. As mentioned in My Favourite Retro Chick Lit, ‘Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married‘ by Marian Keyes was the first “grown-up” novel (i.e. not Sweet Valley or Babysitters’ Club) I ever read. ‘Again, Rachel’ is about addiction so it isn’t a frothy read but because I’d read (and loved) the previous five Walsh Sisters novels, it felt a little bit like coming home. It was comforting in a warped sort of way.
In her twenties, Rachel Walsh was a mess.
Since her spell in rehab, though, she’s come a long way on the road to recovery – and now, she’s ready to go back to where it all began.
But this time, the student has become the teacher. She used to hate the staff in charge of treating her addiction. Now, she’s one of them.
Rachel’s finally got herself on track – but life never stops being messy.
And when an old flame resurfaces, will she go back to who she once was? Or nearing fifty, can she find herself all over again?
(5) The Trouble With Love (Sex, Love & Stiletto #4) by Lauren Layne (March 2022)
OK so the (unofficial) rule of my blog is that there can’t be a list of my favourite novels without including at least one Lauren Layne novel. Anything else just wouldn’t be accurate. If I hadn’t instigated that pesky one-novel-per-author rule, I would also have included ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ and ‘Marriage on Madison Avenue’ on this list but since I’m only allowed one, it has to be my all-time favourite LL, ‘The Trouble With Love.’
As Stiletto magazine’s authority on all things breakup-and-heartache, Emma Sinclair writes from personal experience. Five years ago, Emma was Charlotte, North Carolina’s darling debutante and a blushing bride-to-be. Now she’s the ice queen of the Manhattan dating scene. Emma left her sultry Southern drawl behind, but not even her closest friends know that with it she left her heart. Now Emma’s latest article forces her to face her demons—namely, the devilishly sexy guy who ditched her at the altar.
After giving up everything for a pro-soccer career, Alex Cassidy watches his dreams crumble as a knee injury sidelines him for good. Now he’s hanging up his cleats and giving journalism a shot. It’s just a coincidence that he happens to pick a job in the same field, and the same city, as his former fiancée . . . right? But when Emma moves in next door, it’s no accident. It’s research. And Alex can’t help wondering what might have been. Unlike the innocent girl he remembers, this Emma is chic, sophisticated, and assertive—and she wants absolutely nothing to do with him. The trouble is, Alex has never wanted her more.
(6) Lucy on the Wild Side by Kerry Rea (September 2022)
As soon as I found out that the MC in ‘Lucy on the Wild Side’ was a primatologist, I was instantly sold because I’m obsessed with all things primate. Columbus Zoo is a really unique setting for a rom-com but be warned, Lucy’s gorilla troop (especially Zuri and adorable baby Keeva) will quickly steal your heart. I loved Lucy’s dedication to her gorillas, her tendency to hilariously blurt out random facts about the animal kingdom when she’s flustered and her relationships with her grandmother and half-sister. Kai was a really great love interest with his own complicated back story and I adored how protective he was of Lucy especially when he was trying to help her overcome her fears of being on camera. The author’s debut novel, ‘The Wedding Ringer‘ only missed out on making this list because of that one-novel-per-author rule again but it was a FSR for December 2022.
Lucy Rourke has two great loves in her life: the gorilla troop she cares for as a primatologist and the laundry list of reality TV shows she watches to escape the fact that her actual love life doesn’t exist. And like a reality contestant gunning for the final rose, Lucy’s laser-focused on one thing: getting promoted to head keeper. So when a wildlife docuseries hosted by hotshot TV personality Kai Bridges chooses her zoo as its summer filming location, she sees an opportunity to showcase her beloved gorillas to the world and land a starring role in her department.
When Kai and his film crew arrive, however, it’s obvious to Lucy that Kai cares more about sky-high ratings than the gorillas, and he considers her a camera-averse know-it-all whose wardrobe consists entirely of khaki. But she’s surprised to discover there’s more to him than his rugged good looks and cheesy catchphrases…and that maybe a promotion isn’t the only thing she wants. But when secrets from their pasts threaten to complicate everything, Lucy discovers that happiness and success aren’t the same thing—and that finding joy just might mean getting a little wild.
Wishing you joy, happiness and lots of books for 2023. All the best, Louise x
Louise Hall 
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