The Best Books of 2022

The infamous best books of the year video. I tried not to get stressed out this time. I am so grateful for your support this year. Here are my favorite 12 books (with some extra honorable mentions along the way) of 2022! So many amazing memories on and off the internet this year. To more in 2023...cheers!
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[@justayari]

Wow your video came up on my suggested and I’m so glad it did. I clicked on it because after looking at the thumbnail I thought to myself “they look cool I’m sure they read good books” 😂 now I want to read almost every one of your top books this year! Thank you for so much inspiration and I can’t wait to get my hands on some of those titles.

[@alamian7625]

Your getting distracted by the beauty of a flying flock of birds while filming a video is the most beautiful thing I've witnessed today

[@alsopato]

the lighting in both halves, the nails, the list - serving my tbr just grew & thanks for the lovely year ben

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

I also loved the Helen DeWitt. 😊. Man, the writing is so sharp. So much in this tiny story. I’ve heard Lightning Rods is SO weird…but good?

[@handthattakes]

this video was recommended to me just 2 days after i submitted my masters dissertation, which i wrote about Autobiography of Red. Feels very serendipitous

[@loriwald9532]

Congrats🎉

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Autobiography of Red. ❤ Yes, so beautiful. I'm so intrigued by The Stillest Day.

[@frusology8502]

Your vibes are always *chef's kiss*. For many more books and experiences! 🥂

[@linenlibrarian]

Okay The Stillest Day has been added to my TBR! And I’ll be waiting for your film :)

[@nathansnook]

such an incredible year of books for you. so brainy! will be starting The Stillest Day this week and will send you voice notes accordingly. cheers to you and a lovely reading year in 2023! ✨🥂

[@caraharper3093]

So many wonderful reads on here. Motherhood, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Dept. of Speculation, Indelicacy, How Should a Person Be, A History of my Brief Body, & The English Understand Wool have all been on my favourites lists from the past two years. I trust your recs wholeheartedly and now need to put every single other book you've mentioned here on my TBR right away! Thank you so much for making such beautiful, eloquent, calming content.

[@r.enee.morris]

Beautiful list of books. Has been so lovely to read with you this year, more in 2023 please. Xx

[@kiaharlan7957]

Thank you for bringing a little peace and quiet to my frantic mind. Watching your video just made me feel a calm and like the world paused for a moment. Excited to have some new book recommendations!

[@jameskatie]

the best opening to any video. you had a really gorgeous year of reading! i picked up how should a person be very recently and can't wait to go on the wild ride you just described. i hope 2023 has even more literary loves for you! x

[@SavidgeReads]

What a corking list! So many I’ve not read and want to read. A lot of big brain energy. Sounds like I just try Heti. The Argonauts is incredible. That book made me feel like she had taken to top of my head off shoved loads of ideas in there, popped the top back in it, shook it and said go away and think about it. Must read Jane and then The Red Parts. Oooh I’m intrigued by your number one too.

[@loriwald9532]

Love your description!

[@loriwald9532]

I thoroughly enjoyed your video! My TBR list just got larger. So many authors I had never heard about before. I’m hoping I love them because some have written many books. I appreciate you mentioning you book goal possibly being a little lower if you read bigger books. I read 50 this year and didn’t have any goals. I didn’t know that people did that! 😅. I don’t think I would enjoy the books nearly as much if I was trying to get through a specific number. ❤. Looking forward to more videos!

[@Rraow778]

Why am I barely finding your channel 😩😩 these recommendations are unique (at least to me) on book tube and I’m inspired to read them!

[@tobi_adediran]

So glad your video came up, love your vibe and your reading taste is impeccable!🔥 And yes yes yes to The English Understand Wool being a top book for you!! It’s also one of my fave books this year 🙌🏾 And Sheila Heti has been on my radar for a while, so this is the sign I needed to read her work this year!!

[@michellephelps5148]

the first time the youtube algorithm hasn't failed me?? So happy to have found your channel and stumbled across this lovely list of books. Some of your recs are heartfelt favorites of mine so I'm eager to try the others!

[@tanyam6197]

Hi Ben. I left you a comment about the Stillest day 😊 You are right, it would make a great movie. All the very best for 2023. Thanks for all you do 😊

[@literaryiggy]

bestie, we are oneeee :') so special to have experienced the love and wonder of the same books at the same time

[@leahvic8107]

i'm so glad this video came up for me! i'm nearly crying just hearing about the premise of The Friend. i hope you have a great 2023!

[@sunshineissexy]

Dept of speculation was so good!! Jane's been on my shelf for 2 years now, ah, I got get to it! asap! Also, your coat, IMMACULATE

[@last_flower.]

youtube seriously surprised me with this video recomendation, i'm an instant fan

[@accordingtoalina]

I also love love love Sheila Heti and I'm adding all of these to my tbr asap

[@nadsluvs2read]

Omg the intro of the video lol I love. What a fantastic list. I also had Motherhood in my top of the year and had many books in common with you. Happy reading in 2023!

[@d14naaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

jeanette winterson was also one of my favourites this year, written on the body is yum, hope you'll enjoy it ❣️

[@agniguha3002]

I'm currently reading Written on the Body! Last year (2022) I discovered Jeanette Winterson and absolutely LOVED The Passion and Frankisstein! Now I can't wait for your thoughts on Written on the Body! ❤❤

[@readingaster]

this is my first video of yours but oh my god the TASTE you exhibited,,,, i immediately trusted you and wrote all titles down for future reference. jeanette winterson and maggie nelson are my two favorite authors, i read my ninth jeanette book a few weeks ago. sexing the cherry isn't even near my top in the ranking because her writing is just that insanely good in every book (but the passion and the powerbook are my favorites, as i had to conclude while filming my own favorites of the year). very excited for you to dive into the rest of her work this year, and very excited for me to pick up some of your favorites! ps your hair is absolutely incredible wow

[@readingaster]

also, i had to read how should a person be for uni this year and decided to write a paper on it, i had never heard of it before and never heard anyone on hear talk about it (other heti books but not that one) but yeah, i don't think i've ever found anyone on here with such a similar reading taste lol

[@patricialux6197]

Very enjoyable video. I'm excited to read The Stillest Day. And so many of other books you spoke of. You are an impressive person. Happy 2023.

[@isabelrobertson9214]

Autobiography of Red was one of my all time favourites this year! I couldn’t put it down. Some of my other favourites were Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq and Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead. They are both written by Indigenous Canadian authors, poetic, and hard hitting. I’m just about to start Sexing the Cherry after hearing you speak of it so highly! Wishing you a beautiful 2023

[@whatpageareyouon]

Love this! Such a great reading year: I’ll read my first Cain and Belcourt this year. And glad you loved the Dewitt! Her The Last Samurai is very close to tone like English Wool, I think you’ll love it! Happy reading in 2023 Ben :-) 💫

[@Melinda_LL]

Your channel got suggested to me...I wasn't even a minute in when I hit subscribe. You're vibe =

[@christinehopkinsconnelly5726]

Immediately ordered The Stillest Day - can’t wait to read it!

[@seesararead]

I truly adore you! Congrats on an amazing year of reading! ❤ I bought The Stillest Day after your original review and put it on my 23 for 2023 list. Can’t wait to chat with you about it!

[@mutedspace]

yeah these seem like Fantastic recommendations

[@TheUndeclaredNation]

This was such an enjoyable vlog. Thank you for making it & I'll def be reading some of your faves, esp sold on THE STILLEST DAY.

[@kels..]

I've been looking for more booktubers with taste similar to mine!! I'm so happy you popped up in my recommendations 🥰 Happy New Year! I look forward to your content over the year ☺️

[@julie.k15]

ahh i want to read the English understand wool so badly!!! thank you for this anticipated video

[@sallymadigan6511]

You make me so excited about books :) What a gift!

[@BaileeWalsh]

My favorite books that I read this year (in no particular order and of various genres) were: The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Sir Gawain & The Green Knight by unknown, Marilyn in Manhattan by Elizabeth Winder, the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, Woman Eating by Claire Kohda, and Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder was probably my favorite book I read in 2022. I also read My Year of Rest & Relaxation and I did like it! but I think the timing wasn't the best because I had just read Woman Eating and Nightbitch within the same few weeks or so, and preferred those over it. Also, it's been hyped up a lot, so perhaps my expectations were a little high.

[@_feral_streep_]

Motherhood was my top read this year 😍 So keen to read Autobiography of Red in 2023

[@pagesofcarolyn]

Love this video with my whole heart! What a fab list (except for How should a person be… beep boop) 😂❤

[@maddieeee3707]

I loved the recommendations!!! Drop your Goodreads babe. Please.

[@bibliosophie]

"I will tell you now: I have 3 Sheila Hetis on this list and 2 Maggie Nelson" 💀🖤

[@CalliAMusic]

Omg your apartment is so cool

[@CalliAMusic]

OMG I loved My Year of Rest & Relaxation too! It resonated with me so much

[@CJReads]

Ur whole fam is so beautiful doggie included truly mesmerizing!!!!!!!!!!

[@ladybird5000]

obsessed!

[@ojinika9249]

do you have a goodreads?

[@RyansBookshelf]

Just finished The English Understand Wool and I think my destiny is to become a literary scammer

[@miguelbecer]

super like

[@literaryiggy]

ok I get the How should a person be love, but where is the CRITIQUEEEEEE where is the ROAST?!!?!?!??!?! hehehe

[@Zenfix1]

💯 ✓