At Write Through the Night, we take the “Best Of” lists very seriously. They’re always my favorite to read, as well as put together. For that reason, I have aggregated data from Aakanksha, Vania, Maxx, Chinwe, and myself in order to come up with the list of the top 50 books of the year. All of these books were published in 2022 and given at least a 4 star rating by one member of our staff. We broke ties by the number of people who read the book and through discussion.

When all was said and done, we ended up with a list of 90 books, of which 13 were read by more than 1 member of the staff. With so many books to choose from, it was tough to narrow the list down to just 50, but at the end of the day we believe that these are the best books of the year, with genres from nonfiction, to romance, to historical fiction, to thriller, and everything in between.

50. Olga Dies Dreaming

Author: Xóchitl González

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4 stars

Olga Dies Dreaming is a well-written book about gentrification, race, and class. Although the ending of this book felt a bit sudden, I enjoyed reading it and loved each character in their own way. — Vania

49. Portrait of a Thief

Author: Grace D. Li

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4 stars

While I haven’t gotten around to reading this book yet, my girlfriend tangentially knows Grace Li, and I think that’s cool enough to point out here. —Jocelyn

Portrait of a Thief is much more than a crime book. We can examine issues regarding colonialism, immigration and identity. It is a critique of Western imperialism. I loved the multitude of identities we encountered. While I personally can’t speak to the Chinese and Chinese-American representation in this book, I found it amazing to read. —Vania

48. Beneath the Stairs

Author: Jennifer Fawcett

Genre: Horror / Paranormal Thriller

The Ratings:

This was the first e-ARC I read this year and it was so fun! I am not normally a huge fan of paranormal mysteries, and that’s why this got bumped down a star for me, but the focus that Fawcett put on the characters themselves made this delightful nonetheless. —Jocelyn

47. Rainbow Rainbow

Author: Lydia Conklin

Genre: Short Story Collection

The Ratings:

I am genuinely obsessed with this queer short story collection. Every single story was painfully relatable and made me either laugh or cry or both. Conklin is such an incredible storyteller and I found myself ceaselessly impressed with the depth and breadth of characters they brought to life in a single collection. —Jocelyn

46. Mistakes Were Made

Author: Meryl Wilsner

Genre: Adult Romance

The Ratings:

Milf! Book! Milf! Book! I am a sucker for age gap romances, and I was so excited to finally read one where there wasn’t a disgusting and uncomfortable power dynamic baked in. This book was the perfect amount of flirty fun mixed with real, down to earth conversations. I cannot wait to read whatever Wilsner writes next! —Jocelyn

45. Stirring Up Love

Author: Chandra Blumberg

Genre: Adult Romance / contemporary 

The Ratings:

Simone and Finn find themselves in a barbecue sauce turf war, and they are annoyingly but undoubtedly drawn to each other. This book is one of the few times I’m willing to read through the miscommunication trope because it aligns with the growth of the protagonists, who are so nuanced and realistic. I enjoyed the dual perspective and learning about each character’s backgrounds and motivations. This felt like a sweet, high-on-chemistry 2000s romcom! —Aakanksha

44. When We Were Birds

Author: Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

Genre: Magical Realism / Historical

The Ratings:

  • Jocelyn: 4 stars

I am not normally the world’s biggest fan of magical realism, but this book was wonderfully well written. This is Banwo’s debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. —Jocelyn

43. Digging Up Love

Author: Chandra Blumberg

Genre: Adult Romance. /Contemporary

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4 stars

Digging up Love is a story about chasing your dreams and finding a heartfelt love in the process. Those who enjoy desserts and dinosaur facts will absolutely love this romance. —Vania

42. Fake It Till You Bake It

Author: Jamie Wesley

Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary

The Ratings:

  • Aakanksha: 4 stars
  • Vania: 4 stars

If you’re into fake dating, tension building and great side characters, this book is for you. Fake It Till You Bake It is a wonderful story full of chemistry and humor. —Vania

The book is another win for the opposites attract trope! The banter is funny and the stakes are high. I appreciate how Jamie Wesley explores what’s beneath the surface, especially the representation of Jada’s dyslexia and Donovan’s friendships (yay for healthy masculinity!). There were parts of the story I didn’t find cohesive, so I had to do some re-reading. Also, the miscommunication got on my nerves as I can’t deal with the “things are too good, so let’s throw a wrench in” trope. Overall, it was a fun and light read! —Aakanksha

41. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care

Author: Ashley Herring Blake

Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary

The Ratings:

  • Jocelyn: 4 stars
  • Vania: 4 stars

The story was so funny and full of romantic absurdities that made Delilah Green Doesn’t Care a sweet, passionate and heartfelt book. —Vania

It’s so nice to read a book about an adult character finding love! As someone who also hates my hometown (albeit for much less traumatic reasons) I appreciated the built in redemption arc for both Delilah and her home of Bright Falls. —Jocelyn

40. Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?

Author: Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary

The Ratings:

  • Aakanksha: 4 stars
  • Vania: 4 stars

We don’t always find raw books that are not afraid to have flawed characters. Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? is definitely none of them. This is a story about family, and the expectations we feel the need to achieve. A wonderful self-journey book. —Vania

It’s hard to come from a family where people hold onto rigid norms around marriage, especially when you live abroad and have to reckon with the internal dilemma of belonging to multiple cultures. This book does a good and realistic job of portraying this, though I wish it had dug a bit deeper. I also like that we got to see Yinka work on her flaws! I found her relatable and I felt validated while reading about a 30-something-year-old still working on herself and her career. —Aakanksha

39. Helen House

Author: Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya

Genre: Erotic Horror Novelette

The Ratings:

  • Jocelyn: 4.5 stars

This novelette was so good from start to finish! The lesbian characters were well developed, both in the present and as a result of their traumatic pasts. The ending was delightful and left me with the eerie feeling I crave. —Jocelyn

38. Twice a Quincenera

Author: Yamile Saied Mendez

Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4.5 stars

Twice a Quinceañera is a beautifully written romantic drama book about celebrating your accomplishments and taking time for yourself. Full of interesting characters and great argumental arcs, Twice a Quinceañera is a pure delight. —Vania

37. Small Game

Author: Blair Braverman

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

The Ratings:

  • Jocelyn: 4.5 stars

This book was so fun! I loved the way the characterizations of the side characters grew subtly but steadily over the course of the book, and that despite a mystery being at the center of the plot, there was more to it an “solving” it. Braverman did a great job and I’d love to read more of her books! —Jocelyn

36. Locklands

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Genre: High Fantasy

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4.5 stars

Locklands is a truly inventive, emotional, genre-blending, and reality-defying finish to The Founders Trilogy. This novel is simply mind-blowing, far from the ordinary. —Vania

35. Great or Nothing

Author: Joy McCullough

Genre: Historical Fiction / Retelling

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4.5 stars

A beloved classic set during World War II? This was a creative and absorbing must-read for anyone who loves Little Women. This was just wow. —Vania

34. Fire Becomes Her

Author: Rosiee Thor

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4.5 stars

If you want a political fantasy with eat-the-rich vibes, this book is for you. The characters are so complex and the story was compelling and original! I’m so glad I got to read it. —Vania

33. Deep in Providence

Author: Riss M Neilson

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4.5 stars

Witches, grief, and friendship—this book has everything. Deep in Providence is simply amazing, and I loved the portrayal of grief, and well written characters. —Vania

32. Husband Material

Author: Alexis Hall

Genre: LGBTQ+ Romance / Contemporary

The Ratings:

I wasn’t sure if Hall had left himself with anywhere to go after Boyfriend Material. Our main couple seemed to be in a good place. I was delighted to find out that there was still so much growth in store for Oliver and Luc. That, combined with how dynamic the side characters were, made for a wonderful sequel. —Jocelyn

31. Girls Can Kiss Now

Author: Jill Gutowitz

Genre: Memoir in Essays / LGBTQ+ Pop Culture

The Ratings:

  • Jocelyn: 4.5 stars

I was crushed to find out that this book didn’t win the Goodreads Choice Awards in the humor category. While this book is pretty specific to 90s babies who grew up to become very very gay, if you do fall into that category all of the cultural references will be incredible. —Jocelyn

30. My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding

Author: Sajni Patel

Genre: Young Adult Romance

The Ratings:

  • Jocelyn: 3 stars
  • Vania: 4.5 stars

This book was so cute! There were some things, particularly around body image, which didn’t ring quite right for me, but I did appreciate the deep familial bonds that this book explored in addition to the romance. —Jocelyn

I loved the journey that Zurika went on as she learned how to stand up for herself and her dreams. There are some elements that didn’t ring quite right for me (as Jocelyn said) but besides that, I really liked this book. —Vania

29. Four Aunties and a Wedding

Author: Jesse Q Sutanto

Genre: Romance / Mystery

The Ratings:

  • Aakanksha: 3 stars
  • Vania: 4.5 stars

Though this book continues its predecessor’s campiness, its plot wasn’t as compelling. I do appreciate the effort that went into continuing Meddy’s story and her relationship with her loving but frustrating family. I ended up giving this story three stars because there were entertaining moments, but the overall story was too convoluted for me to fully enjoy. —Aakanksha

Mayhem, mafia, murder, and matrimony. Four Aunties and a Wedding surprises us once again and even though I didn’t love this one as much as the first one, this book was funny as hell. Just fantastic. —Vania

28. Blood to Poison

Author: Mary Watson

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4.75 stars

Blood to Poison is a  powerful fantasy book rooted in South African history. This was an amazing exploration of misogyny, generational pain and female rage. This book is perfect for lovers of folklore. —Vania

27. Misrule

Author: Heather Walter

Genre: Fantasy / Romance

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4.75 stars

At the end of the day, if everyone considers her evil and a villain, why not become one for real? I loved the sapphic representation and the character development. I must admit that it was a little tricky to fully empathize with the characters, but overall, I liked the sequel. —Vania

26. The Romantic Agenda

Author: Claire Kahn

Genre: Adult Romance / Contemporary

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 4.75 stars

I love that we have two black asexual characters who experience asexuality very differently. Definitely read this if you’re looking for a book with asexual representation, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine trope, a self-confident protagonist, and constant puns. —Vania

25. The Family Game

Author: Catherine Steadman

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

The Ratings:

  • Maxx: 5 stars

This may be the most creative thriller I have ever read. The storyline was fast-paced and kept me firmly on the edge of my seat. If you are into thrillers, definitely check this one out! —Maxx

24. A Show For Two

Author: Tashie Bhuiyan

Genre: Young Adult Romance / Contemporary

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 5 stars

This is simply one of the books I have enjoyed the most. It is no joke. It has become one of my favorites. I relate to Mina. The pacing was excellent, the romance was cute and the characters were, to some extent, well-written. Enjoyed it to the fullest. —Vania

23. Ain’t Burned All the Bright

Author: Jason Reynolds

Genre: Young Adult Graphic Novel / Poetry

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 5 stars

Ain’t Burned All the Bright is a look at a family living through two experiences: the COVID-19 pandemic and living as a Black family in the US. I had no idea what to expect and this book moved me deeply. This book is a completely gut punch. —Vania

22. And We Rise

Author: Erica Martin

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 5 stars

This collection of non-fiction poems is powerful. I found this beautiful poetry book both moving and inspirational. It is gut-wrenching to read, yet important. —Vania

21. Burn Down, Rise Up

Author: Vincent Tirado

Genre: Young Adult Thriller

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 5 stars

This sapphic book about childhood friends to lovers and creative zombie-hunting (while immersed in exploring the impact of racism and trauma) was one the best books I’ve read.  —Vania

20. One For All

Author: Lillie Lainoff

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy / Historical Fiction

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 5 stars

One for All is a beautiful and gripping story. Tania is a very strong character and I love her. The relationships she formed throughout the story were beautiful to me as she was able to grow as a person because of them. The feeling of sisterhood is very strong; seeing the girls united was incredible. —Vania

19. The Black Girls Left Standing

Author: Juliana Goodman

Genre: Young Adult Mystery

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 5 stars

The Black Girls Left Standing is a portrayal of the impact of police brutality, showing the grief people go through and how family relationships are affected. This story keeps you hooked, showing the reality behind the racism, police brutality, and grief. I think it was a great ending. I highly recommend this book. —Vania

18. The Final Gambit

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Genre: Young Adult Romance / Mystery

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 5 stars

Bloody hell, that was incredible! I strongly recommend the series because it’s really intriguing and full of tension. —Vania

17. Valiant Ladies

Author: Melissa Grey

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction

The Ratings:

  • Vania: 5 stars

By day, they are young and appropriate ladies of the 17th century. By night, elegant vigilantes. The characters were so brave and determined in their own way, despite coming from different backgrounds. I loved getting to know their unique ways of looking at the world. If you like historical fantasy and action-packed stories about armed girls looking for an assassin, this book is for you. —Vania

16. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before

Author: Julie Smith

Genre: Nonfiction / Psychology

The Ratings:

I fully believe in the power of therapy and analyzing your own mental health to better your life. This book does an excellent job of teaching you how to do this in your daily life without needing to pay for a professional. —Jocelyn

15. Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality

Author: Julia Shaw

Genre: Nonfiction / Queer History

The Ratings:

If you’re going to read one book about sexuality this year, I would recommend this one. The book was so easily accessible and well researched. —Jocelyn

14. The Paris Apartment

Author: Lucy Foley

Genre: Psychological Thriller

The Ratings:

I was devastated when this book didn’t win the Goodreads Choice Awards for mystery. Although I don’t think it was quite as good as Foley’s first novel, The Guest List, I still enjoyed it quite a lot. —Jocelyn

13. The Crane Wife

Author: CJ Hauser

Genre: Memoir in Essays

The Ratings:

I had no idea what The Crane Wife was about when I started reading, but I’m so glad I did. The essays written by Hauser were incredibly poignant and painted an elaborate picture of her life. I didn’t necessarily relate to much of what she went through on a specific level, but her style of writing was such that it still resonated with me emotionally. The memoir was incredibly well written and the way each essay was organized within the book served to enhance the overall product. —Jocelyn

12. Kaikeyi

Author: Vaishnavi Patel

Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy

The Ratings:

I enjoyed this story told from the perspective of Kaikeyi, a figure in Hindu mythology I previously did not care for due to the version of the Ramayana I grew up with. I love this complex, feminist retelling of Kaikeyi’s story and experiences! I also appreciate that Kaikeyi is an asexual and aromantic protagonist, the first one I’ve come across in a book written by an Indian-origin author. Such a fantastic novel, especially for a debut! Kaikeyi fully deserved its Goodreads nominations for Best Fantasy (which I think it should’ve won) and Best Debut Novel. —Aakanksha

11. Pretty Baby

Author: Chris Belcher

Genre: Memoir

The Ratings:

Belcher’s retelling of how she paid for college by being a professional dominatrix was fascinating. I related to so much of the way she talked about her sexual identity and I admire her honesty in discussing the heirarchy of sex work and what it means to be a public sex work. —Jocelyn

10. Lost Coast Literary

Author: Ellie Alexander

Genre: Magical Realism

The Ratings:

This was the first book I read in the “story about an editor and/or writer who is figuring out their life” sub-genre, and it made me feel so seen as an aspiring book editor myself. The writing is evocative, the setting is beautiful, and the characters are interesting. Huge thumbs up! —Aakanksha

9. You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty

Author: Akwaeke Emezi

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

The Ratings:

My favorite type of romance novel is one where we get to explore the protagonist’s deep-seated trauma along the way. Emezi absolutely delivered here and gave us a novel that simultaneously made me cry and made me envious of the romantic storyline. Plus, there was a plot twist that I 100% did not see coming but absolutely loved once it did. The book was so fun and flirty while also being emotionally devastating; this is definitely one of my favorite romance books that I’ve ever read. —Jocelyn

8. The Ghosts of Rose Hill

Author: RM Romero

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

The Ratings:

As I mentioned in my review, this was my first time reading a story told entirely in verse, and it made me excited for more. The author’s writing brings to life protagonist Ilana’s inner strife as she comes of age in a city far away from home, faced with thoughts about her future, family history, and a mysterious danger. —Aakanksha

7. Love & Saffron

Author: Love & Saffron

Genre: Historical Fiction

The Ratings:

  • Jocelyn: 4 stars
  • Vania: 5 stars

This book was so cute! Told primarily in a series of letters written between the two protagonists, there was so much room to personify each of the characters and feel their emotions. —Jocelyn

Who knew that a simple letter, with a saffron packet enclosed, could lead to such a beautiful friendship? It’s amazing how through pen and paper they were able to encompass a years-long pen-pal friendship. It was a very lovely read. —Vania

6. Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Author: Sue Lyn Tan

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy / Mythology

The Ratings:

  • Aakanksha: 4.5 stars
  • Jocelyn: 4.5 stars

Inspired by the Chinese myth of the moon goddess Chang’e, this book is a dreamlike and intense adventure. The worldbuilding is amazing and vivid, and I appreciate this feminist take on Chang’e’s story. I’m not the biggest fan of the love triangle trope anymore, but (minor spoiler) the one in this story is mostly well-done and directly related to the protagonist’s character development. —Aakanksha

Alas, I am a simple person, and unlike Aakanksha I am still a sucker for a well-done love triangle. Xingyin was such a lively protagonist who kept her goals at the forefront of her mind while battling enemies, friends, and relationship drama. I deeply enjoyed the world building and can’t wait for the next book in the Duology! —Jocelyn

5. Lakelore

Author: Anna-Marie McLemore

Genre: YA LGBTQ Romance / Magical Realism

The Ratings:

  • Aakanksha: 5 stars
  • Jocelyn: 4.5 stars

Lakelore is the perfect choice for lovers of adorable YA coming of age novels. These two teens fall in love with each other at the same time they are learning to love themselves. Lore and Bastian are both confident in their genderqueer-ness, and work on accepting their dyslexia and ADHD respectively over the course of the novel. —Jocelyn

This book will always have a special place in my heart, especially because of its immensely relatable portrayal of how learning disabilities impact young people and their lives. I love how Lore and Bastian support one another in their efforts to understand who they are, in terms of their neurodivergence and gender identities. I was also reminded that I need to delve into more magical realism, as this book has beautifully written magical elements that show the characters’ inner struggles. —Aakanksha 

(Vania is really excited about reading this book!)

4. She Gets the Girl

Author: Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

Genre: LGBTQ+ Romance

The Ratings:

If you want a gay, dual perspective, enemies to friends to lovers story written by a real life couple, this is the book for you! Bonus points for the fact that Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick are hilariously cute on TikTok. —Jocelyn

A lesbian book written by a married couple? I really can’t believe how much I loved this book. Highly recommended to those who love sweet lesbian teen romances that have a bit of a slow burn and take place in college. —Vania

(Aakanksha cannot wait to read this book!)

3. I’m Glad My Mom Died

Author: Jennette McCurdy

Genre: Adult Nonfiction Memoir

The Ratings:

  • Jocelyn: 4.5 stars
  • Chinwe: 5 stars
  • Vania: 5 stars

Jennette McCurdy’s debut book attracted a lot of attention for the seemingly scandalous cover, but not enough credit has been given for just how incredibly honestly she told her story. This book was raw and I recommend mentally preparing yourself for a tidal wave of emotions before starting it. I have infinitely more respect for McCurdy after reading this book, and I was already a big fan. —Jocelyn

This was such a remarkable and hard-hitting memoir. I wish Jennette McCurdy all the best. She deserves all the good things in life. —Vania

I grew up watching Jeanette Mccurdy but never thought that much of her after her Nickelodeon days, this was unexpected for me in so many ways. Mccurdy is an incredible writer. Her portrayal of her complex relationship with her mom was almost uncomfortable but strangely healing and necessary for me as a reader. I really hope this is not the last we hear of her. – Chinwe

2. Book Lovers

Author: Emily Henry

Genre: Contemporary Romance

The Ratings:

Book Lovers was truly written for the book lovers among us. There’s incredible literature references and an incredible enemies to lovers romance arc. This was the first Emily Henry book I read, but it was good enough for me to immediately add her other books to my hold list at the library. —Jocelyn

Book Lovers is a sweet and realistic story about Nora Stephens, a hardworking, career-driven literary agent who neither believes in nor has patience for the brand of love in romance books and movies. I’m a big fan of how this book subverts the “this ambitious woman is a villain and will miss out on the happy ending” trope—Nora certainly grows, but she doesn’t have to fundamentally change her interests and dreams in order to be accepted by herself and loved ones. I’m also fond of stories featuring sisters who are different but would do anything for each other, even if that means nudging one another outside their comfort zones. —Aakanksha

1. Ophelia After All

Author: Racquel Marie

Genre: YA LGBTQ+ / Contemporary

The Ratings:

  • Aakanksha: 5 stars
  • Jocelyn: 5 stars
  • Vania: 5 stars

I wasn’t expecting to love this book nearly as much as I did when I started it. The cast is incredibly diverse, featuring characters from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, including both bisexual, questioning, and asexual characters. Ophelia is one of the most lovable characters I’ve met in a long time, and I appreciated her romantic quests, personal growth, and budding friendships. —Jocelyn

Excuse me but this was perfect?? This book felt like a hug to my inner self, and resonated ironically with my feelings. — Vania 

Ophelia Rojas is as soft and vibrant as the roses she loves tending to, which is both a strength and a struggle as she navigates her friendships, sexuality, and romantic interests. As someone who easily developed crushes in high school and generally felt everything strongly, I could relate to Ophelia’s inner turmoil, particularly her need to please people while being overwhelmed by their perceptions and expectations of her. This is such a beautiful book and definitely my favorite new YA release of 2022! —Aakanksha