my best books of 2022 - everything i gave 5 stars

[@iVoldemortt]

Reading 40 books is still a huge number! Part of the reason I really enjoy your book content more than most youtubers, is that you're not doing some crazy challenges or reading to meet some KPIs. It feels more like a genuine chat with a pal about a book you recently enjoyed. And makes me trust your opinions/ recs more :)

[@amarisviv]

You are, hands down, one of the best book reviewers I have ever seen. I don’t say it lightly at all. Awesome!!! Can’t wait to read these books! They’re all waiting in my Amazon cart! 😊 Also, I don’t know why, but the covers of those books are all different in the US.

[@amyc4499]

I second this, I have read loads of your recommendations and really enjoy them ☺️

[@Trixtabella]

Lucy book videos are my fave, you sound really happy when you talk about books and it's just a joy to watch and listen too.

[@tasha3529]

The serotonin boost I feel when I see a Lucy Wood book video has been uploaded 🤩📚 My favourite book I read in 2022 was Idol by Louise O’Neill!

[@Tvfan27]

Have you read Asking For It by the same author? Amazing book!

[@joeups72]

So happy - I hope we get your fab uploads throughout 2023 - love your chatty vlogs and general life updates! Thank you for spoiling us! Your reading speed is decent alongside life itself!

[@slitsdifferent]

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is deffo my book of the year. I finished it months ago but still think about it daily. So so good!

[@allie1914]

Honestly Lucy I can’t explain how much I love your book videos - I’m having a baby in April so will definitely be reading less books than I usually do his year and honestly I know your book videos will keep me going through maternity leave You speak so eloquently about books and honestly these videos are such a joy

[@boz7362]

I’m definitely gonna pick up a copy of Bunny, I’m quite intrigued by Lucy’s description of over the top cuteness aesthetics being a mask for something sinister, that’s right up my street 😂

[@PaulaJaramillo26]

I'm about to finish Babel and OMG!! I completely agree with you! I'm tearing up as I reach the end. Loved how intensely she writes not only about friendship but about the art of translation, colonialism, and social issues. I'm feeling those characters so close to my heart right now. Thank you for such a wonderful review and content ❤

[@liisua]

In 2022 I discovered my love for TJR books, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was my absolute favourite ❤ Also Daisy Jones. I only read 13 books and challenging myself to read 25 this year. 40 is impressive! Love all your videos Lucy, especially everything book related 🙂

[@robyn5868]

Ahh Lucy, I squealed when you mentioned Miss Benson's Beetle - such an underrated book! xx

[@louisacoote2337]

Miss Benson’s Beetle’s Marjorie and Enid makes me think of Call The Midwife’s Nurse Crane and Miss Higgins. They are both spinsters and very organised/practical, but otherwise completely different. However, their friendship is wonderful!

[@mollybissett8512]

You describe every book so well and make me really want to find the time to start reading again x

[@toniallen7942]

The best way to start a cosy Sunday morning 🥰📚☕✨

[@LucyJaneWood]

Amen to that 🥰

[@gem.04]

I've got really into reading since buying my Kindle. Already read 5 books this year! Really enjoyed this video thank you x

[@bethrawson6710]

You've really inspired me to get back into reading this year, I've read 4 books already and I'm excited to try these so thankyou

[@gabbymerry4202]

I’m reading Douglas Stuart’s second novel Young Mungo at the moment and it absolutely the same vibes as Shuggie Bain. Truly horrible things happening to a character you’ve fallen in love with, but once again the writing is exquisite and broken up by beautiful moments where the sun breaks through.

[@gabbymerry4202]

Also I will forever think fondly of the Whitney Houston bit in Shuggie Bain. Made me laugh out loud!

[@sophielc2437]

Love love love your book videos! The way you describe them is so engaging and passionate, really want to get back into reading this year and lots of books added to the list now 😊

[@maxinerobson5336]

Best Books of 2022 ~ Lucy Wood…. Don’t mind if I do. Fastest click ever. You’ve inspired me to order Miss Benson, Shuggie Bain and Babel. RIP my book-buying ban 2023. I’ve just read Snap and am still struggling to breath. Love your content, Lucy. Appreciate your hard work keeping our TBR piles as high as ever. 👏 Brava.

[@svance1041]

I am with you on Miss Benson’s Beetle! What a treasure. I still have Babel ahead of me but you set it up well…sound fabulous. All the best in 2023!

[@ThisLittleWonderfulLife]

Loved this so much! Best book video I’ve found after a week of feverish KZbin browsing whilst recovering from covid. Was delighted to see Sorrow and Bliss mentioned as I got this for Christmas, and I’ve added loads to my list of books to be read or to gift this year too ☺️ Thank you! x

[@immyhorton7341]

My goodness I love Rachel Joyce’s writing! One of my fave books I ever read is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by her! Would recommend

[@annemdale]

Loved Miss Benson’s Beetle. You described it perfectly. Really dying to get Babel but have to wait for PB version (for my library). Best read of 2022 was The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. If you haven’t read his other book A Gentleman of Moscow, then it’s a must!

[@SavidgeReads]

What a corking list. Loved Sorrow and Bliss. You’ve made me really want to read Bunny which I’ve picked up and put down in book shops so many times in the last year. ‘Floral gold foil and something about witches’ should be a genre and lifestyle choice. I also now really want to read Miss Benson’s Beetle.

[@louisacoote2337]

40 books a year is one every week and a half-ish, which I think is amazing!

[@LucyJaneWood]

Haha thank you! I’m proud 😎

[@bjulalula9537]

Okay, one of counts wrong. In my book (pun intended) a year has 52 weeks which makes it less than a book a week?

[@louisacoote2337]

@@bjulalula9537 yes, it’s 52/40 so a book every 1,3 weeks, so just over one week to read one book.

[@bjulalula9537]

@@louisacoote2337 ohhhh of course, you've meant one and a halfish weeks, not one and a half books... (sry not first langguage. Our grammar would indicate otherwise)

[@paulawilliams9645]

Lessons in Chemistry was my book of 2022 but I think I might have to read Babel that was high praise indeed. Great video thank you

[@Geminwonderland]

My favourite book I read in 2022 was Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber! This book feels like you are stepping in to a fairytale. It’s so whimsical and magical and enchanting from the first page. Perfect escapism.

[@ChloeMatthews]

loving the 2023 videos so far!! I'd love a video on your favourite witchy type books?? That's definitely where I tend to stray to when looking for books but don't seem to find many! Would love to know your favourites😘❤️

[@redstar1976]

My favourite read of 2022 was definitely Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. It's a beautiful book, and while it's quite melancholy at times I genuinely did find it profoundly life-affirming. I read it in the very first days of 2022 and I still think about it constantly. I loved Shuggie Bain too and you are absolutely right - even though it's bleak and squalid at times, it somehow manages not to be depressing. There's always that note of hope there for Shuggie and despite his vulnerability, he really is the ultimate survivor.

[@annemdale]

Another book I loved this year was The Girl Wth the Louding Voice by Abi Daré.

[@lydiahunterdurham7588]

Ughhh I live for your book recommendations! I also rated Babel 5/5, and I am so excited to read If We Were Villains as I haven’t yet! Can’t wait to get more book recs over this year from you Lucy! ✨

[@bethanevans1467]

Definitely going to read Babel now! You’ve totally sold me on it xx

[@goddessnix444]

first video of yours and your intro has caught my heart lmao, you've such a sweet aura.

[@TheAsheTalketh]

So many to add to my goodreads, thank you verreh much! My top read, and what made me get back into reading for the first time in over 12 years, was The Mercies and it was when you recommended it on your stories! I bought it last year but took a while to get round to it but I'm eternally grateful I did, it was amazing.Also slowly making my way through Babel (I usually read at work but I'm too lazy to cart it about haha) and I just started Sorrow and Bliss a few days ago and am loving it so far!

[@jennacameron7355]

I love how Flow joins in! I have just finished Mrs England that you reviewed and I loved it. 🙂

[@HeyBrosephify]

My best read of 2022 was definitely the one I kept on thinking about and couldn't stop telling everyone about: Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller. Set in modern day Devizes, this followed two twins in their fifties living in extreme poverty who's mother suddenly dies. It's a really tender story about how you logistically deal with death if you live aside from lots of societal structures: limited literacy, no bank account, no ID etc. I really think everyone should read it! Important aaaand beautiful!!

[@ClionaTWx]

The Lighthouse Witches is one I've read recently and is a fab mix of witchiness and the Scottish wilderness

[@nidhivaidya6485]

Lucy, this color looks so gorgeous on you!

[@claire3733]

Lucy, I would sell my arm to be in a book club with you. I read “If We Were Villians” based on your recommendation and absolutely loved it. As a theatre kid and Shakespeare lover it was all I could hope for. Now I’m about to go to the book store to pick up more recs!!

[@VampireHunterC]

And thanks again for recommending If we were villains months ago, I loved it!

[@Oliviakp]

Your explanation of miss benson’s beetle - I’m sold!!!

[@sarahparkesbowen2059]

Omg Sorrow and Bliss. Yes! I think of it so much. So beautiful.

[@29jgirl92]

Lucy, you're looking extra gorgeous and glowing today girlie!!

[@ItsEmzo]

I got back into reading properly last year and read 27 books, which I was super proud of. I think my favourite book of 2022 was Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune, it was just the most wholesome, heartwarming story and it made laugh and cry 🥹 I'm currently reading Bunny and I've just got to the bit where she gets the first invitation from the Bunnies so I am really interested to see what chaos happens next! I just want to say I absolutely love your book content and I can't wait to see what you recommend for 2023 💛

[@alliberry]

Have you read The House in the Cerulean Sea also by Klune??? I loved it! I still need to read Whispering Door

[@ItsEmzo]

@Alli I have! I read that one first and ended up lending it to so many people at my work because it was so good and then we decided we would read all of his other books! I highly recommend Under the Whispering Door, it was such a heartwarming book. I'm excited for In the Lives of Puppets to come out this year too🤩

[@jessicanorris6214]

I reignited my love for reading last year. My favourite book (s) I read last year were “It starts with us” and “It ends with us” by Colleen Hoover, I was influenced massively by Booktok but the storyline of both of them really resonated with me and I got so attached to Lily, the main character. I’ve added Bunny and Shuggie Bain to my TBR, I’ve challenged myself to read 30 books this year so I’m impressed with 40! I’m currently on my first book of 2023 which is “The Quality of Silence” by Rosamund Lupton. It’s a very compelling thriller and you experience the story through the eyes of a couple of characters and it’s beautifully written!

[@dariawerner7056]

Love how all these books have been on my tar for a while so I'm even more excited to read them now! And my favourite book of 2022 was The Priory of the Orange Tree and This is How You Lose the Time War

[@cclifford6100]

Shuggie Bain for me is my number 1, the way the author talks about dealing with a loved on through addiction really resonates with me, made me cry and laugh out loud at time. Have you read any books by Graham Norton? Love all of his books so far. Thanks for the other book ideas 😊

[@katherineburgess6220]

Will definitely be picking up Matrix, Shuggie Bain and Babel now I’ve heard your reviews! Best books of 2022: Love in Colour, Such a Fun Age, The Five, Kim Jiyoung born 1982 and An Olive Grove in Ends.

[@gemblacol]

Lucy, don't compare yourself to others, especially when it comes to your reading habits! I'm tempted to say that my favorite book of 2022 was Hamnet but I realized that the only book I gave five stars was Federico, from Ilu Ros. While I'm here, I want to recommend to everyone the StoryGraph app, it's an alternative to Goodreads, but it's owned and developed by a black woman.

[@km692]

Fab, I’ve been looking for some recommendations to spend my Waterstones vouchers on and your picks have never steered me wrong before 🤗

[@kylierussell0207]

So excited to read some of these!! My top book of 2022 was probably The Secret History but I think I enjoyed reading The Thursday Murder Club the most.

[@Tvfan27]

I love a Lucy book video (and YES on Meg Cabot always being iconic.) Thanks for giving me inspiration on what to read next!

[@aunabildigarna3199]

this is a very good day to find one of my most favourite booktuber (who just attained the position now)

[@aeward1982]

I loved Mrs Benson's Beetle, Song of Achilles, The Mercies and Daisy Jones and The 6. Oh and Lisa Jewells The family Remains, sequel to the family upstairs. Going to read some of these now. 🥰

[@louisacoote2337]

Babel sounds amazing, as someone who did a Modern Languages degree that focused on translation/summaries. I am a big word nerd too!

[@MeereeFox]

Same here, have a MA degree in translation studies. The first part of the book was really interesting, but for me personally the second part fell flat… but it might be for you. Have fun reading :)

[@kayleighpalmer5686]

Currently reading babel, it’s one hell of a size, it’s taking a little getting into, but I’ve seen so many wonderful reviews of it, can’t wait to be fully engrossed

[@SamanthaBird.x]

My best read of 2022 was Lovely War by Julie Berry, the characters and the setting and the journey that it takes you on blew me away 😍 and also I’m well excited to add Miss Benson’s Beetle to my audible because that sounds like the perfect driving read x

[@LoraHullx]

I could listen to you talk about books for a lifetime 💫💫

[@clairebridge1100]

Love these book chats. My Good Reads 'to read' list is growing by the day! I have to thank you big time for recommending The Familiars by Stacey Halls - it's an absolute gem and filling the gaping hole left by my favourite read of 2022, Hamnet ❤️

[@daisy_9381]

Just bought Miss Benson's Beetle to read! My top read of 2022 was Jodi Picoult's Wish You Were Here. It's absolutely captivating if you can avoid spoilers before reading it. Favourite non-fiction was Phil Wang's 'Sidesplitter' which was loved by everyone in my house (with very different general tastes!). Thank you for your gushing The Christmas Wish recommendation, me and my friends all decided to go for it and it was our top Christmas read!

[@shirleydunn8050]

I enjoyed Wish you were here too. I did not see the twist coming!

[@readalongwithlilyleann8438]

I just love your book recommendations. I'm so excited to get reading!

[@cathysimcock9691]

Miss Benson Beetle sounds like the same vibe as Mrs Harris goes to Paris, one of the most heart warming films, definitely recommend that for all the feels ❤️

[@loriwald9532]

This books sounds like a perfect book for a lift. Added to my list!

[@catshawforpresident]

Your book review videos are always a delight! My favourite book last year was Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

[@heather_vee_reads]

I just finished Bunny and it was absolutely wild lol! All your other favourites are on my TBR and I'm determined to read Shuggie Bain this year 🙏🏼

[@BelleStreetBoyz]

The Christmas Wish was such a surprise! I also gave it 5 stars. Definitely one of the most heartfelt and enjoyable reads of 2022. 👌🏻💜

[@susannestoddart3297]

Hi Lucy, I read If We We’re Villains and Sorrow and Bliss last year. They were both two of my favs. I also loved City of Girls by Liz Gilbert and another dark academia one, Vicious by V.E Schwab x

[@lydiaoc26]

So many of my 2022 reads were inspired by you! But the best book I read last year was hands down Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I'm currently reading Sorrow and Bliss - loving it!

[@racheldickinson1935]

Top for 2022 was 100% The Skeleton Keys - really dark in some places but an amazing story that has so many twist

[@Speechlessxxx]

omg hi!! Just stumbled upon your channel and this is the first video I'm watching and my immediate reaction when I saw you mention Miss Benson's Beetle was "DID WE JUST BECOME BEST FRIENDS?" hahahah I never hear anyone talk about it! It truly is a hidden gem and one that now holds a special place in my heart. ❤

[@Gryffindame]

I didn't read much In 2022. The best book I've read In the last year was at the end of 2021 and it stuck with me, And it was Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. If you've ever lost anyone you care for, this will hit you so hard but my god it was beautiful. I cried for hours after and couldn't talk about it for days without getting emotional. It also lead me to play spiritfarer which is such a cosy sweet game! I reckon you'll love it

[@flojolee5387]

I’m only halfway through the video but if it hasn’t been mentioned my favourite from last year was Hamnet by Maggie O Farrell. It’s such a beautiful written book and I cried at the end. Would highly recommend :)

[@harrietevans1563]

Incredible choices! I have most of them so bumping them up my TBR. I read Shuggie Bain in 2021 and it broke me but was incredible 🥹 really want to read Young Mungo asap. Tomorrow x3 as lots of people have mentioned I think will be really up your street, I read it as am ARC right at the start of 2022 and was blown away - so good! Another book I think you’ll love is Another Life, by Jodie Chapman - another book I read as an ARC but it became probs my fav book of all time. I loooove your book videos so much Lucy! 🎉

[@snrdetectives7533]

My #1 was A Thousand Spendid Suns! Finally got around to it last year and wow. Haunting, heartbreaking, and incredible.

[@cnrt7835]

I has Miss Benson's beetle on my tbe, but I read the Harold Fry book by Rachel Joyce and didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, so I took it off my tbr, but maybe I will pick it up..

[@AccidentalEmma]

I love how passionately you described each book!! I’ve added a few of them to my TBR My fave book of 2022 was definitely Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir ❤

[@cmeeki4]

Awesome review and 40 books is definitely a perfect amount of reading for those of us, who have lives outside of reading. I just added Babel to my cart.

[@harrietobrien3900]

Aw Lucy, I know this is a very 'late' comment but I just wanted to let you know that I listened to Miss Bensons Beetle on audiobook on your recommendation whilst really really low and sad and just a bit broken and it was EVERYTHING you described. Really brought me back to myself - tell your Mum she's an absolute corker ;) ❤

[@Oithelas]

You make me want to read them all with the way you talk about each one 😊

[@Freyavlog]

My favourites for the last year were The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley and Build Your House Around My Body!

[@LittleMissEvreythin]

Favourite reading experiences of 2022 for me were In Other Lands by Sarah Reese Brennan, the Love Hypothesis and Sista Sister by Candice Braithwaite. Very intruiged by Babal though, might have to pick it up when I have more time x

[@rachelthorpe7027]

I felt that Bunny sucked me in and I loved the beginning, then it just went so out of the box and strange I could hardly follow what was happening 😂. I now want to read the non hallucinogenic version of this premise.

[@leighcochran8276]

I loved Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine.

[@rebekahem8932]

My fave was Suppling with Panthers, a Victorian spooky, vampy book that I absolutely loved

[@noelle7pages]

"a very mixed bag verging on unhinged" is now how i'm going to describe my reading taste forever

[@sands7590]

These videos are my fav! Definitely, Legends and Lattes, if you love coffee (duh) and found family you need this book. another great read is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, fantastic story and better to go in blind ☕

[@meganbrown4971]

My top 2 of 2022 would probably have to be, Betty by Tiffany McDaniel and Everything I Know about love by Dolly Alderton. ❤ Thankyou for another great book video!

[@sinati421]

From how you talk about sorrow and bliss it sounds to me like you might enjoy dolly alderton's ghosts as well xx

[@LucyJaneWood]

I read this a couple of years ago, loved it!

[@leeleeskiski]

Thanks Lucy for getting me back into reading! My favorite book to read in 2022 was your recommendation - The Mercies - and Killers of a Certain Age. My top rated books weren't as fun to read - Crying in H Mart and I'm Glad my Mom Died.

[@starstruckhearts]

Coming across people who have read 150 books in the last year is mind blowing. My goal is to read one a month this year 😂

[@jujubeans7001]

My favorite read of 2022 was The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. It was just so darn heartwarming!

[@megancrawford7891]

Cursed by Marissa Meyer and then Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber. Both of these are sequels but I love the worlds so much. There’s so much research that Marissa Meyer did on the German language and culture going into that book and it was just so wonderful to see it done well. And Stephanie Garber just creates the most interesting world.

[@jenniechall]

My favourite fiction was A Certain Hunger by Chelsea Summers. Non fiction was Omlette by Jessie Ware. 🍳

[@noelle7pages]

my best of the year was also Babel, hands down, no contest! second place was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

[@andrinawatson7006]

I love your book reviews 🥰

[@catagoryfive1631]

Miss Benson’s Beetle was excellent!!! In fact, Rachel Joyce has never disappointed me: Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy. Beautiful writing!

[@Stompy8]

Thanks so much for this, adding most of these to my list! Rachel Joyce’s other books are great too, like The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Perfect ❤

[@loriwald9532]

Absolutely loved that book!

[@RomySews]

I need to quit my job to keep up with all the books I’m adding to my tbr 😂 I really want to try Babel, it’s not what I’d usually go for but I’m a language and linguistics nerd so I think I’d like that element. My 5 star books from 2022 are Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and The Rose Code by Kate Quinn ☺️

[@robynloveschocolate]

Love your book videos Lucy! ❤️ I think my favourite book I read last year would be Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. It made me laugh so much. I also really loved The Theory of Everything Else by Dan Schreiber (a hilarious book on theories by one of my favourite podcast hosts haha)

[@briannawhite9588]

my top read for 2022 was the inheritance games, such a good one!

[@beccah7643]

My favourite book was All my Mothers by Joanna Glenn- I never hear people talk about this one but it’s such a beautiful book about friendships and complex family relationships. I also absolutely adored Miss Bensons Beatle- that’s joint favourite book of the year for me