2022 best reads: backlist

Time to round out the year in reading... I'm at 108 books now and will probably finish with a nice round number of 110. There have been some quickies, some emotional journeys, some forgettable ones (plenty, unfortunately - do I need to up my DNF game?), some unexpected finds - and, happily, also a really hard time coming up with a top 10 because there were a lot of excellent ones. So I already shared my top 10 of books published in 2022 (+ honorable mentions), and now here are my top 10 of books that were published prior to 2022.

 

The first one on this list definitely landed in my top books I read all year; the rest are in kind of random order but in general from higher to lower rating (but obviously all great).

Kind of interesting that I've discussed many of these on the blog previously, whereas with the 2022 books I hadn't had a chance to mention all of them yet - this is because lots of these were picks in my monthly TBR lists. Part of why I do those lists is to get myself to pick up some particular books I've been meaning to read, so they do tend to be older books, versus the ones that catch my eye on Bookstagram or catch my ear on a podcast, which tend to be new books - which are the ones that distract me from my existing TBR and are the whole reason that I need to set those monthly intentions. But here's evidence that it's a good idea to do those TBR intention lists, because I get some great books out of it, when I'm not constantly sidetracked by all of the new releases!

1. No One Is Talking about This: I've said it before and I'll say it again - this book is not for everyone (it's pretty weird, and some definite fertility/infant related trigger warnings), but if you can stick it out through the stream-of-consciousness-ish first section that comments on living in an internet age (with lots of quotes I wanted to bookmark but not much of a discernable plot), you will never forget the second section that brings you squarely into the emotions and experiences of the real world. Beautiful and heartbreaking story of family and parental love. (Longer review here.)

2. Amari and the Night Brothers: my new favorite middle-grade fantasy series! It's got that "chosen one" trope with a strong and memorable leading lady, an exciting story, some interesting fantasy world building, and some great connections to current life in terms of racial, pre-teen, family experiences. I would have bought #2 immediately except that this one is a paperback, and now I have to wait for the second to be released in that format too so mine match. Can't wait to read it. (Longer review here.) 

3. How to Find Your Way in the Dark: this is a backstory to Sheldon, the old man in the excellent Norwegian by Night but can be read on its own. What a great mashup of historical fiction,  (Longer review here.)

4. A Place to Hang the Moon: a middle grade novel set in WWII that gave me all the best feels of the classics of children's literature - especially in its nod to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in being about 4 siblings evacuated to the countryside. There's found family and books and great sibling dynamics, and just the right amount of emotional intensity for this type of book with its sad or scary wartime moments - evened out with moments of levity and of hope. I just adored this lovely book. (Longer review here.)

5. Pony: a middle grade western that gave me vibes of Lincoln in the Bardo meets True Grit, but for (older) kids. Plus there's this really great incorporation of actual daguerreotypes that the author found at an antique shop. A brilliantly done work of art all around, really. (Longer review here.)

6. One Two Three: I had this one on my December TBR and I'm so happy I did as it became one of my favorites of the year thanks to the first-person storytelling by 16-year-old triplet sisters, one of whom could be considered "normal", one on the autism spectrum, and one in a wheelchair unable to really move or speak without the aid of electronics, in alternating chapters. I loved each of their voices - they all instantly drew me in, and I was never sad to switch to a different narrator like I sometimes am in alternating chapter setups - and I was so impressed how the author made their voices unique. Even without chapter headings I would have known which was which after getting introduced to them. Genre mashup books have worked well for me this year (such as Olga Dies Dreaming or Unlikely Animals) - they're usually hard to succinctly share plot, so I'm not going to try, but I'll tell you what it feels like reading: a mix of coming-of-age story, close-knit sibling story, lovely small-town struggling but supportive, coming-together story (and plenty of small town quirks), living with disability story, and environmental crisis story with legal pursuits (a la Erin Brockovitch maybe). This last bit is part of what makes the book memorable to me, in looking at how a town - along with individuals in it - limps along in the "after" of living in a town where a large chemical corporation poisoned their water. They have grief for the related death of family members, disabilities, and congenital issues in kids born after; they have an amazing adaptive spirit as a community; and they have a real struggle to decide what's right in the need for jobs vs. pursuing justice against the company. I'll note that it does feel a little bit YA at times given that it's from the perspective of 3 teens, but I like YA, so I didn't mind. There's sadness and struggle and a lot to think about, but ultimately a feeling of hope and community that I loved.

7. A Knock at Midnight: an excellent memoir + social justice book, in the vein of Just Mercy, with a focus on unjust drug sentencing policies, both the author's own experience with it and the experience of those whose convictions she worked to overturn. Really eye-opening and moving. (Longer review here.)

8. We Are All the Same in the Dark: always looking for a good slow-burn literary mystery, bonus if it has a small-town atmospheric vibe, good character development, a past-meets-present crime investigation, and a local kid who grows up to be in law enforcement to bring both of those storylines together. This had it all, and then some. Recommend for fans of recent literary mystery reads like When The Stars Go Dark or We Begin at the End. (Longer review here.)

9. Frankie & Bug: a coming-of-age middle grade book set in the 1980s that is fun but also poignant as it deals with issues like figuring out a trans identity (especially in an era when that was not in the societal lexicon) and being inclusive. (Longer review here.)

10. The View Was Exhausting: this one snuck in right at the end after I heard about it on Sarah's Bookshelves Live and then saw a $1.99 kindle deal. It was a fun Christmas break read in that it was entirely transporting - into the life of a star actress and the fake dating relationship that she uses to keep up her image whenever the paparazzi, tabloids, or prejudiced Hollywood casting (she's British Indian heritage) start to threaten her ability to secure roles. Plus you get to jet around to some amazing places like St. Tropez and read about lots of rich people shenanigans and these very hip and cool characters. It's great for readers who like romance with a twist - it's just as much about the pursuit of a career, the pressure of fame/public image, crafting a persona in our current social media age, dealing with family baggage, facing racist/prejudiced media or societal scrutiny, and being a woman in a world run by men, as it is about the romance (the romance is good too though - loved the friends to lovers to enemies and back arc). As it is a genre read, the plotline is somewhat predictable, but I like how it incorporated backstory in a way that gave the characters a lot of emotional depth, and then I loved how it made the "inevitable" feel like something I was biting my nails wanting to happen because I wanted this relationship for the characters so much. It always makes for a great reading experience when a genre book can get those feels of rooting for the outcome but also feeling tension in that yearning along the way. Great for fans of romances with a bit of depth/complexity like Seven Days in June and fans of romances with a movie star twist (such as this year's Funny You Should Ask, The Bodyguard, or Nora Goes Off Script). 

Okay, so that's my reading year! Did you read any in 2022 that I should definitely get onto my backlist TBR for 2023? 

2022 best books: honorable mentions

Because I read so many good books that were published this year, another "cheat" after my proposed double top-10 list: we have to have some honorable mentions! These maybe aren't books that will stick with me forever, but the reading experience was so enjoyable or satisfying that I have to give them a shoutout here, especially as quite a few of them never got the chance to be reviewed in a monthly TBR post.

So these are books that wouldn't necessarily make a top 10 list of books I'll carry with me in memory for years to come - instead, these honorable mentions in large part make my list because of the experience of reading them. So I'll focus some comments on why I loved reading them as I always find that helpful in choosing whether to pick up a book.

1. A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting: Bridgerton season 2 vibes but with more Jane Austen levels of swoon and (lack of) steam. That combination definitely piques my interest, and this one was a very fun read indeed. (Longer review here.)

2. This Time Tomorrow: imminently readable, but with substance, just like all of Emma Straub's work. This one is a bit different with its time travel element, but it made for an especially fun reading experience to be reading it on my own 38th birthday, when there's a character who, on her 40th birthday, keeps traveling back over and over to her 16th. Definitely inspires a lot of self-reflection about how our perspectives change over time, thinking about parents as "full" people, where we are now compared to where our teenage selves thought we'd be, what we'd redo "better" in life if we could, etc. I loved the father-daughter relationship in this book, and even more so when I heard Emma Straub talk about her relationship with her father, also a science-fiction writer like the one in the story (Longer review here.)

3. The Lies I Tell: it's hard to find the sweet spot of what I call "thriller lite" - twisty and intriguing with characters who I can have sympathy for (even if they're con artists)... but not too bonkers and not giving me too much the depths of human depravity. This one fits into that category nicely! Read it in a day or two and thoroughly enjoyed the experience (Longer review here.)

4. Dirt Creek: as mentioned in my 2022 top 10 list, I love it when a purported Jane Harper read-alike comes through for me. Again, with Dirt Creek we have the small, dusty Australian town with such an atmospheric feel to the story along with a crime/tragedy/cold case that forever changed the town. The investigation of a 12-year-old girl's disappearance alternates with more of a present day narration of the after-effects, in through a Greek chorus type of situation, where the children of the town are reflecting on how that disappearance/investigation/secrets uncovered changed the town, and the characters in the story, forever. I thought it pulled everything together really nicely, and I was very engaged in this slow-burn story. It's described as The Dry (Jane Harper) meets Everything I Never Told You (Celeste Ng), and I think that's very apt - there's a bit more investigative plot than the latter, but it also has this in-depth look at the effects of a crime/tragedy on a family and community that makes it a bit slower/deeper than a thriller.

5. The Bodyguard: one of my favorite rom-coms of the year - just like with my very fave, I just had those swoony *sigh* feels when reading it. The right level of (not too much) steam, another celeb meets, plus the main character has an interesting job - I'm a sucker for that... especially when it's a badass one like this: she's the bodyguard of the title! (Longer review here.)

6. The Unsinkable Greta James: flew through this one - it's a father/daughter grief story and also a road trip type story (on an Alaskan cruise) and a famous person story and even a bit of a bantery romance to boot. Very enjoyable read. (Longer review here.)

7. Marrying the Ketchups: this contemporary fiction read about three generations of a restaurant-owning family and their drama after losing their patriarch was some juicy fun, but I loved the experience even more for the time and place it was set in - Chicago (my nearest big city, so we have an affinity for it here) just after the Cubs won their 2016 World Series. That was huge in my house, so I loved how this book kept coming back to it as a touchpoint, showing how each character experienced game 7 and how that was reflective of the place they were at in their life, and their extended family's life/dynamics. Lots of behind-the-scenes of running a family business/restaurant, lots of family drama and people making kind of dumb choices/reaching quarter-life crises, but you really have to love them and root for them. Maybe a little preachy at times about politics (remember the other big thing of 2016) but I didn't mind as I agreed with the views... In general one that I just wanted to keep reading because I liked being in this little world so much.

8. The Dead Romantics: Here we have yet another rom-com set in the book publishing world with some major meta vibes - I'm a sucker for these, but they don’t always land as well as this one, thanks in part to the twist… a ghostwriter who sees ghosts?! Clever. This felt fun and fresh even while dealing with grief and loss. My favorite of the several book-people rom-coms I read this year (I might have liked it, and also Must Love Books, better than Book Lovers, actually... gasp.)

9. The Change: okay, this turned into a wilder ride than I expected, but I was along for it. There's a little bit of speculative fiction vibes, and lots of feminine rage, if you ever need to find a satisfying outlet for yours, I recommend it! (Longer review here.)

10. Odder: Hendrik loves animal fiction that is based on a true story, so when I heard about this one I thought we'd better try it - and we both loved that it brought his favorite genre into a new-to-him format: a novel in free verse. Loved how the “metaphors and smiles” (as he said 😁) really brought to life the playful and inquisitive sea-otter Odder, evoked life under the sea with its beauty and perils, and taught us a lot about marine biology and conservation with just a few words on the page. It’s charming, delightful, sad and a little scary at times but ultimately hopeful - and the author note at the end about the real-life otter rehabilitation program at Monterey Bay Aquarium brings it all together for the science-loving kid! Overall, it just put a smile on my face.

So those were some great 2022 reading experiences - all ones to keep in your back pocket for getting out of a reading rut or packing a vacation bag, for sure. And now I want to know what you can add to my list from your 2022 reads!

2022 best books: current reads

When one reads over 100 books a year, making a top 10 list can be a challenge in itself - but then this year I had so many more great books than I remember having within one year for a long time. So I'm "cheating" (really, it's not cheating when it's your own blog) and splitting it into two lists: top 10 books I read that were published in 2022, and top 10 backlist books I read in 2022. "Backlist" usually refers to older releases - in my mind, I usually think what's been out long enough to come out in paperback by now, but for my purposes we're just going with it being anything published prior to 2022.

Before I get to my 2022 top reads that were published *in* 2022, I feel like I should list what are the tippy top of the year for me, across both lists for posterity: No One Is Talking About This, Lessons in Chemistry, Unlikely Animals, How to Find Your Way in the Dark, A Place to Hang the Moon.

They're not necessarily listed in specific top 10 order, but generally with my very favorites listed earlier. I can see that the theme of books that do really well for me are the sort of "genre mashup" type books where there are a combination of things going on - like being a love story slash sibling story slash political commentary, or being family drama slash true crime slash historical fiction...

1. Lessons in Chemistry: Fresh and fun, but with depth and heart and strong feminist vibes. I've handed this one around to lots of readers in my life, and it's been a hit with everyone! A true delight. (Longer review here.)

2. Unlikely Animals: A 5-star reading experience that felt fresh and unique, but also enjoyably familiar, as though it had mashed up my favorite elements of several other books. Heartwarming but also darkly humorous and . (Longer review here.)

3. Carrie Soto Is Back: I love a “behind-the-scenes” type book, and Taylor Jenkins Reid does them brilliantly - as with reading Daisy Jones, I kept forgetting that these were not real people and it was not real sports history. It felt like reading a good, juicy athlete’s memoir or watching one of those ESPN documentaries/season recaps, a fascinating look at the personal and professional cost of greatness for an athlete. It would have been 5 stars either way, but reading a story about a GOAT in tennis coming out of retirement to defend her Grand Slam record at the same time the real-life one was playing her last US Open before retirement? My reading experience with this one could not have been more fun. Still so much relevance in this 1990s story for today, about the double standards for female athletes being undervalued or criticized for their intensity/competitiveness. Carrie is “unlikeable” in some ways - but is that just because we’re conditioned to think that women should be more demure and less forthright about their ambitions? Whatever the case, I was on the edge of my seat as she made her (fictional) comeback, and I was rooting for her on the court and her personal life 100%, even with her flaws.

4. Olga Dies Dreaming: this is one that surprised me in a very good way - I thought maybe it would be a bit light, I guess? But it had lots of depth and lots of things covered - Puerto Rican history, a sibling relationship, family drama, a love story, politics, even some Russian mafia involvement. Incredibly vibrant and engaging - I felt like these characters were real people. (Full review here.)

5. Nora Goes Off Script: I might have to do a post on all of the rom-coms/contemporary romance that just made my reading year delightful because I don't think I've had a chance to show them all some love... but this is hands down the top one I read. ADORED. It has one of my favorite tropes (regular person getting together with celebrity) and some great banter/swoons but also so much about motherhood that was just spot-on and lovely. I want it to be a movie, I want to read lots more books by this author (luckily there's one coming!) - just ... *sigh*. (Full review here.)

6. We Are the Light: Matthew Quick has long been a favorite author of mine. He does these darkly comedic but really deep emotional stories featuring unique characters with some serious mental health challenges so well. Like my favorite of his, The Good Luck of Right Now, this one is all in letter format, and that format just works so well to get to know the character, and also slowly unfold the "true" story as you start to understand how the character's mental illness has influenced their thoughts/actions/outlook. There's always a quirky hook to pull you in - here, it's that the main character is writing letters to his former therapist, since the police have told him he can't go "stalk" his therapist's house any longer. There's this humor in the telling, but you also quickly see that recently widowed Lucas is going through some serious grief and PTSD. The story brings together the small town and hurting people and exudes so much love, resilience, honesty, and hope in spite of the horror and grief the characters have experienced. The tragedy at the heart of the story is unfortunately very timely and relevant, with the town reeling after a mass shooting in a movie theater. It makes you feel so sad that we live in a world where this is not unheard of - but also gives you a little something to hold on to in having to face the fact that we do live in that world. 

7. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: this book about creating art really is a piece of art in itself, with the way it is written and constructed. It maybe wasn't 100% in my top right when I read it (you can see my quibbles here), but the more I've thought about it/talked about it/listened to podcast episodes about it, the more I like and appreciate it. I'm still thinking about the characters and the storytelling, months after reading.

8. Wake: ooh I love a Jane Harper read-alike, and this one was a success for me in terms of all of my favorite Jane Harper aspects: small-town Australian setting, very atmospheric feeling, a slow-burn mystery/investigation that combines a current situation with an unsolved case from the past. Lots of secrets to unveil and some loner characters to peel away the grief and guilt layers from. Compulsively readable and satisfying. (Also really enjoyed Dirt Creek along these same lines, but this was my more favorite of the two I think.)

9. Lucy by the Sea: I wasn't so sure I needed a covid lockdown novel in my life, but in the hands of Elizabeth Strout and her beloved character Lucy Barton? I devoured a completely character-driven story that was 100% about the experience of being in lockdown in 2020. (Full review here.)

10. More Than You'll Ever Know: I tend to love this type of book with the family secrets being dug up, dual timelines, oh so readable but not fluffy… the premise of this particular one - a woman, Lore, living a double life, married to two men, which culminates in one of the husbands killing the other - is fascinating, but I was even more engaged when I actually started reading because the way the narrative was built/unfolded in alternating chapters with the true crime reporter (who has her own secrets and baggage!) trying to learn the story, the story as it happened with Lore and her two families at the time, and also Lore’s current perspective as she is interviewed by Cassie… so good. It’s a family drama at its heart but with some good twists and turns/true crime investigation type feel to make for satisfying reading. Loved the Laredo, Texas border town + Mexico City settings and the 1980s setting of the earlier timeline - the real-world issues of the economy, the devalued peso, and the major Mexico City earthquake as they ran in the background to the decisions Lore was making about her love and families. And besides a good story, lots to think about of course in terms of love, motherhood, what it is to really be one’s whole self, and more. It was fascinating to think about why a woman would make this choice to live a dual life vs why a man would, also to think about what effects true crime reporting/podcasting has on the lives of those involved - but in addition I was just really engrossed in the characters and story.

There are still plenty of good reading days left in 2022, but I feel okay posting this particular one now because the rest of my planned reading for the year is older books... So stay tuned for the "2022 favorite backlist reads" post, which I'll save for closer to the end of the month just in case I have anything to add to it (always rooting for my next 5-star read, so we'll see!). In the meantime, if you want to get another 5-star pick into your year, these would make for some great holiday break reading, or great gifts if you need any last-minute ideas!!

2022 best buys: home stuff

Next up in favorite purchases of the year, after kid/baby stuff and style/beauty, is my best buys for the home (and life in general), most of which comes from Target - not that surprising, as most of the best things in life do... Again, I think so many of these would make for great gifts, if you're looking for ideas!

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1. Face planters: I'm really not a plant lady (for someone who is so on top of many things in life, somehow I can't remember to water them?), but we were given a cute little one as part of a baby gift, and that gave me an excuse to get one of these adorable planters from Target! Peter was so good at keeping it going that I ended up getting two more plants from our cute local shop, and now we have a set of these 3 ladies on our kitchen windowsill. I love them so much - definitely an excellent gift idea.

2. Wooden utensils: this is a random treat-yourself moment from early in the year. I was just tired of mis-matched and super old utensils for cooking, and so I got this set. 

3. Yoga strap: I do a lot of stretching and yoga with the Peloton app, but even if you're just stretching in general, this inexpensive addition to your arsenal (blocks are also a must-have) is a game changer. So good for a hamstring stretch, IT band stretch, even this amazing neck-cradling thing I learned from a yoga video. (If you're a Peloton user, look for Kristin's floor-pose focus classes, 20 or 10 minutes, that use a strap. So relaxing, and your body will feel soooo good after!)

4. Box grater: kind of random, but I was using this one at my parents' cottage and realized how far superior it was to my own - much bigger, and with this super helpful clip-on container to catch the things you're grating. If you're annoyed any time you have to grate something, like I used to be... this thing is a good buy.

5. Finishing salt flakes: fancy finishing salt is great for baking a salted chocolate chip cookie - but turns out also makes for my favorite snack. Once upon a time Dani mentioned how she sprinkles salt on sliced apples, and after I bought these flakes I gave it a try. OMG why is that so good?! I don't eat apples without them now. 

6. Ceramic mug: a Target impulse purchase because I liked the shape and color, but it has become my mug of choice - just feels so nice in the hands for some reason.

7. Champagne stopper: we were also given some fancy champagne as part of a baby gift (aren't my neighbors amazing?), and I was glad that I had bought this champagne stopper after seeing my parents' because while I love some bubbly, I love it even more when I don't have too much... and this thing actually pressurizes it well enough that you can enjoy the 2nd half of the bottle the next evening!

8. Gel pens: a random, inexpensive Target recommendation from Rachel at some point, these are now my go-to pen for list making. I just love how the ink flows, and of course the cute colors don't hurt their appeal!

9. Faux fur blanket: Hendrik and I are sometimes fighting for the "good" blanket on the couch, so I decided to add another to our living room lineup when I saw this faux fur one on sale at Target. And now we compete for this one - SO cozy. And I should note that the product photo doesn't do it justice for how lovely it looks draped on the back of our couch.

Any new favorites around your home in 2022 I should know about?

2022 best buys: fashion & beauty

Up next in the 2022 best buys - which would also make for some pretty fab holiday gifts - is my favorites in the style and beauty categories. Several of these I've had for months and are very tried and true, and there's a couple of new things making the list last minute (okay, I will admit to succumbing to some Black Friday online sales, but they were for things that I had been on the hunt for!).

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1. Initial beanie: I've mentioned a love for Rey to Z personalized initial baseball caps multiple times - the kids and I wore ours all summer - but not sure I've ever posted about the initial beanies. I bought myself one last winter, and it's still my go-to now that it's cold again, and I just purchased more for gifting this Christmas!

2. Hill House nap dress: after seeing this all over Instagram I decided to give it a try, and it was the perfect investment dress pick. It's super easy to wear but feels so fancy (though easy to dress down with sneakers + denim jacket), and I got compliments every single time I wore it. Recommend!

3. Large camera bag: I've had (still have) other Madewell cross-body bags that I love, but something that can fit a book and still zip up?! Really loving the size of this one, and the two straps it comes with - the more "dressy" leather one, and the fun canvas colorblocked one.

4. Mango skin perfume: I haven't worn perfume in years but got a sample set from Vilhelm Parfumerie as part of a beauty advent calendar, and I started trying out one of the summery scents in the last few months - and have liked it so much that I actually bought a little bottle of the mango skin! It's kind of fun having a scent again, in a more grown-up way than the last time I did.

5. Rose Inc skin-enhancing duo: learned about this one from Grace at The Stripe and thought I would give it a try, as I love the glowy minimal makeup look - okay, and I also like a super fast makeup routine. This gives a lovely all-over glow and perfect paired with the brush in a set. (Also loved/used up in 2022 the Saie dewy highlighter that Grace has also recommended; this would be an amazing gift set)

6. Quarter-length socks: the whole fam wears Bombas for everything from athletics to everyday to dress socks, but I recently took a foray into a new category with these quarter-length ones. They are absolutely perfect with ankle boots - tall enough that the boots don't rub my ankles and short enough that they don't peek out the top. Plus, how cute?! (You can this referral link for 25% off, a great deal.)

7. Metallic Birks: honestly, as a high school Birkenstock wearer I was not so sure about these coming back into style (I really was not cool then, so were they ever cool? and I still cannot go there with the clogs, I'm afraid) - but they're just such a great, easy sandal and the modern twist with the metallic leather makes me love them so much. I wore them all summer and they're still in such great shape, I'll be wearing them tons to come.

8. TOMS chelsea boots: this one coming in under the wire, thanks to a Black Friday sale! I have been hunting for the right chelsea boots to wear with my stovepipe jeans, realizing thanks to advice from the ever-stylish Lauren that I needed something a bit taller than my old boots to look right. I decided to give these a shot, and they're great! Weatherproof, comfy, stylish, and just the right height.

9. Slim wallet: I decided I was tired of having a honking big wallet and wanted to try something more streamlined. This one matches my cognac cross-body perfectly, holds just the right amount of cards + cash, and I love it even more with the free monogramming for insiders. 

Looking forward to taking all of these into 2023 with me - how about your favorites for the year?

2022 best buys: kid stuff

I wish I had the bandwidth to bring back my old gift grid guides because I always found them so satisfying and fun to put together - maybe next year! Instead I thought I'd post a bit early with the roundups of 2022 favorites/best buys that I had already planned as some of the new favorite things in our house this year would make for great gifting ideas if you're looking for any.... Indeed, several of the baby/kid faves were actually gifted to us!

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1. Lovevery blocks: my mom got this set for Freddie for his birthday, and beyond being super cute, it is very durable and comes with so many great ideas for play in addition to block building - you can make the box into a little cart, use it as a drum, make it into a little puzzle, and more. 

2. My First Heroes books: Freddie received a set of these board books as a birthday gift as well. We've seen other cute "little heroes" type of books, but these are a favorite because they have little slide-out and spin/push/pull elements to make things interesting - he loves books with moving parts. I think I'll get him the newer Black history one to add to our collection too!

3. Sloth lovey blanket: we've had this since birth, but Freddie became extremely attached to it in 2022 - it's a must for sleeping (and also he loves to sneak into his room and pull it out of his crib for a snuggle whenever he gets the chance), and I ended up buying 2 more, one for the diaper bag and one for the cottage. So soft and cute, I think any baby would love!

4. Nugget couch: we already had one in Hendrik's room, but as Freddie started getting into the toddler cruising phase, I thought it would be fun to have one in the playroom. We ended up putting them both there, and the doubled-up configuration possibilities are even more fun for climbing on! Highly recommend this small-business and their excellent quality product, worth the investment.

5. Sherpa fleece: could this little jacket be any cuter? Well, when you put it on my cutie-pie Freddie, I guess. 

6. Mushie toothbrush: Freddie loves teeth brushing, and I love this silicone one - we just run it through the dishwasher when it gets icky - plus the little safety guard thing is rather nice so that I can let him do it himself without worrying about gagging, ha.

7. Mushie snack cup: another great "do it myself" item for toddlers - perfect sized handles for grabbing and carrying, and the soft top means the cheerios stay in when it's tipped, but it's easy for the little hand to get in there to grab them (

8. Ten Little sneakers: my mom got these for Freddie and we have loved them - aside from being adorable, they are nice and sturdy for little learning-to-walk feet, and the velcro opens up nice and wide, making them easier to put on than other little shoes I've dealt with in the past.

And here are some favorites that have come into Hendrik's life in the past year, sometimes via gifting, sometimes via his hard-earned/saved cash - if you have any elementary school kids (boys) in your life, he would certainly recommend them all!

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1. Genius Square game: I love a game that can be played solo or together - and that can be played fast. This one is super fast and easy to learn and has endless possibilities, fitting your block shapes into the grid (kind of like tetris).

2. Pokemon handbook: Hendrik is OBSESSED with Pokémon these days (remember his party?)

3. Erasable pens: Hendrik bought one of these at the school store last year and just thought it was the coolest thing ever, so I ended up using them as party favors too. Just a random inexpensive (but useful1) thing that I think any kid would have fun with.

4. Quarter-zip sweatshirt: Hendrik still lets me pick out his clothes for the most part, but he does love Saturdays when I give him free rein for wearing any (crazy, usually) combo of the "comfy" stuff in his wardrobe. This quarter-zip looks put-together with the style and fit, but it's super cozy with its fleece-brushed interior so it feels like the perfect compromise on school day style for him :)

5. Headphones: anyone else's kid obsessed with creating their own playlists? Hendrik has basically taken over my Spotify, and also my phone on any car ride to/from the cottage - I got him these headphones (only 10 bucks!), and he's very happily entertained for the whole hour with his "Hendrik's awesomeness" playlist.

6. National Geographic Kids subscription: who doesn't love fun mail? My in-laws got him a Highlights subscription as a birthday present years ago, and this year switched over to National Geographic Kids, which he loves. I've also thought about subscribing to this great looking artsy kids magazine for him.

7. Rey to Z initial hat: this one immediately became his hat of choice when heading outdoors in the summer... They're so cute to coordinate among siblings (or parents) too. Love this brand.

8. Over-door basketball hoop: he actually got this one for Christmas last year but became fully obsessed with it over the course of the last year. Lots of play time with Daddy and coming up with crazy trick shots in the playroom. 

five things Friday: December TBR edition

Already time to set the final month's reading intentions for 2022! I have kind of a random mix here of stuff I've been meaning to get to, so it would be nice to fit it in before the year's end, and one that is just a good Christmas break kind of read...

 

The ones I've been meaning to get to, mostly because they're beloved authors to me and I need to check out their latest... 

• Maureen is in the Harold Fry universe by author Rachel Joyce that I read some years ago (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is great, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey is excellent); this adds to the universe by telling the story/perspective of Maureen, Harold Fry's wife. Didn't know about it until Netgalley sent it to me a couple of months ago, and it seems the darker wintery months might be the perfect time for this read, typically a bit quieter reads yet moving and redemptive, based on my experience with the others.
• One Two Three has been on my list for a while because I loved Laurie Frankel's first book, This Is How It Always Is, so much - and since my mom handed me the physical copy a couple of weeks ago, it's time to finally read it.
• And Yet is the new poetry collection by Kate Baer. I adored both What Kind of Woman and I Hope This Finds You Well for how much they spoke in both everyday and profound ways about the experience of being a woman/mother/sister/friend, so I of course pre-ordered the new one when it was announced. It has arrived and I just haven't made time to sit down with it yet, but that sounds like a nice thing to do on a dark December evening with the twinkle lights in the background, doesn't it?
• More Than You'll Ever Know is a family drama/literary suspense novel that was maybe a bit under-the-radar with its 2022 release, but the confluence of hearing a 5-star review of it on Sarah's Bookshelves Live + seeing it as a super cheap Kindle deal soon after led me to purchase, and now it's time to read!

Finally, rounding out the month with great holiday break type reading: the final book in the middle grade Winterhouse series. I read the other two last year, and their setting in this magical wintery hotel is just perfect for this time of year - plus the plot of the others has taken place in the Christmas break time period, so it just feels right! It's a cute series that also has a bit of mystery/action and lots of wordplay fun that I recommend for middle-grade loving adults and kids alike. I'm putting the first book in Hendrik's book-a-day advent calendar this year :) 

 

And now for a November recap! I admittedly did not get around to reading Wintering, but I'm still looking forward to it - there's plenty of literal winter headed my way so I think I'll pick it up in January. The others were quite a mix of genre, and somewhat mixed in my feelings about them... so I feel like I should also mention the favorite books I read in November: We Are the Light by Matthew Quick (his signature humorous yet poignant/heartbreaking but ultimately redemptive approach to a character with mental illness - I loved it) and Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous (fun YA in a summer camp setting that also deals with some issues like cultural biases and social media landscape - for fans of Emma Lord or David Yoon).

• People Person: I loved the premise of this one, starting off with a formative experience of 5 half-siblings (who had no idea of the others' existence) being brought together by their absentee father, just to head off any potential accidental incest dating in the future.... Then in the present, a big event happens in one of their lives; despite having not spoken to each other in many years, she calls the eldest sister because she doesn't know what else to do. This brings together all 5 siblings to solve the problem, and the story unfolds from there. Because some of the plot started to feel a little slapstick at times to me in how they dealt with the problem (in the way of something like Finlay Donovan perhaps) it felt like things got occasionally sidetracked from the relationships at the heart of the story and thus I liked but didn't love-love this one - but I will say that the author's interview on Sarah's Bookshelves Live made me like it more, with great behind the scenes on the writing process and some of the motivations of the characters. All of the siblings felt unique and interesting in their own rights (even if a little hard to track at the beginning with so many characters), and the exploration of what it means to be loyal to family (and is this required if you're far-ranging family?) as well as the exploration of their different experiences with mothers of different nationalities (white, Jamaican, Nigerian) was interesting too. She definitely writes characters in all of their messy reality and what their modern lives look like - I really ended up liking her debut, Queenie - despite how hard it was to see how Queenie's trauma/mental health led her to some questionable decisions, was really written with love and care and was so root-forable. I'll definitely try whatever Candice Carty-Williams publishes next too. ★★★.5
• Maizy Chen's Last Chance: this middle grade novel follows Maizy from her home in LA to her grandparents' Chinese restaurant in a small midwest town, where she and her mom go to help out when her grandfather becomes ill. It's a story of getting to know her grandparents (from whom her mom was a bit estranged) and also her Chinese-American family history. She has some adventures in the little town, learns about what it's like to stand out as one of the few Asians in the area, and develops a lovely relationship with her grandparents. She also learns a lot about the history of Chinese immigration in the US in general, and makes some nice connections to her own family and to others through that (there's also an excellent author's note that I learned a lot from too!). It's really well done - sweet and fun - but my problem is that I have read SO MUCH good middle grade this year that it maybe doesn't stand out as one of my very favorites, just because I loved the others so much. But I would say this type of story/tone is in line with Frankie & Bug, which I also loved reading this year. ★★★.5
• The Family Chao: I feel like this was billed somewhat as "literary mystery" but it's much more an immigrant story + family drama. You know there's going to be a tragedy that befalls the Chao family and brings public shame; the first half gives the background to this, with the difficult father figure and the tough relationships he has with of the three sons, and then the second half moves a bit faster with a court case related to the tragedy (though it is really more character-driven for sure). There was just something about the portrayal of the characters/the way the story was told that made it feel too opaque at times, that I couldn't grow to love or root for anyone, and I guess I wanted that? I did see that this is based on The Brothers Karamazov, not a story I have a ton of familiarity with, so maybe I lost some appreciation because of that - but that is a helpful note that the heavy feels of the Russian classics are pretty present here. If you liked the Chinese immigrant + family drama aspects of Everything I Never Told You and didn't mind the pace/introspection, then give this one a try. (And little side note: it was interesting to read soon after Maizy Chen - obviously a very different tone, but both about Chinese restaurant-owning families in small midwest towns, and actually I learned things about Chinese immigration history in the US from Maizy Chen that were helpful in my reading of this one!) ★★★
• Elektra: I’m still up for Greek mythology retellings focused on the women and seeing these well-known stories from their perspective, but I just didn’t find this one quite as compelling as Ariadne (or my fave in the genre, Circe) as the characters didn’t feel quite as fleshed out, particularly the Elektra character herself, who felt a bit one-note compared to how the characters of her mother Clytemnestra and the Trojan princess Cassandra were developed. It won’t stick with me like my favorites in this genre because even with bringing in the women’s perspective to an age-old story, it didn’t feel as much like it brought something unique/new in the way Ariadne and Circe did (maybe that means I need a break from this kind of book, so that it could feel fresh again later in the way the first ones I read in the genre did?). But also those other ones felt more like a juicy soapy drama at times (in a good way), whereas this one felt all drama - be ready for some revenge and bloodshed…. Still a solid read if you like this genre. ★★★.5

So that's the 2nd to last month of the year in my reading lists... and now its' almost time for a best books of 2022 list! Sadly none of those November picks will be on mine, but maybe one of the December picks will sneak its way on in the 11th hour... If you want some amazing reading to round out your year, check out my "top 10 so far" list from earlier in the year for some 5-star selections!