Top Five Books of 2022
- List of the Month
- December 2022 (see all)
- Description
- The year is coming to an end, and our December List of the Month is dedicated to LibraryThing members' Top Five Books of 2022. Please note that books don't need to have been published in 2022, just read this year. You can see the LT Staff picks on the blog: https://blog.librarything.com/2022/12/top-five-books-of-2022/, and you can join the conversation on Talk: https://www.librarything.com/topic/346468
1
by TJ Klune
6,355 members
331 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 104.34
Added 2022-12-09, 11:08 AM
- 28 Members
- fastred, ktoonen, erinclark, Whisper1, roses7184, DidIReallyReadThat, cmtl, ahef1963, bcrowl399, jzin, kristilabrie, Mairsiedoats, felixanta, SOlson096, BMer916, KathyPlank, Brandy1411, Tosta, AthenaR, dndlp, hughesjones, evangelinabriggs, Wynmasterfunk81, shecraig, Amy1030, dburkholder, rgiddey, Hilisoma
- Explanations
- ahef1963: One of the most beautifully-populated, enriching, inspiring novels I've ever read.
2
4,845 members
213 reviews
4.1
Score 79.82
Added 2022-12-09, 10:29 AM
- 24 Members
- timspalding, Euryale, mooingzelda, N1na, BookLizard, edparks, KatyBee, anju04, Her_Royal_Orangeness, megbmore, KathyPlank, jpahl, hughesjones, LesFleming, Vamc, evangelinabriggs, CaschuNut, shecraig, Amy1030, dburkholder, rgiddey, Willowmoss13, Hilisoma, Suem330
- Explanations
- CaschuNut: Love the combination of friendship, love, tech, and gaming, which I knew nothing about. The rich details about the elements of the games was fascinating!
3
- 22 Members
- reader517, knerd.knitter, lmiller62, jeanned, stephenis, Leida, gypsysmom, noveltea, Haviland, jpahl, nankan, nyowh, LesFleming, ASTribe, Wynmasterfunk81, Craftybilda, shecraig, Amy1030, dburkholder, rgiddey, Willowmoss13, Hilisoma
- Explanations
- knerd.knitter: This story was very fascinating. It's probably the first book I've read that addresses Covid, so that made it feel very familiar. The characters seemed very real and were well developed, which is one of my favorite things in a book. Another thing I enjoyed in this book was the use of multiple meanings of language, for example the title re-appearing many times throughout the story in different contexts with different meanings.
4
3,261 members
165 reviews
4
Score 76.52
Added 2022-12-12, 06:46 PM
- 22 Members
- swhite58, craso, mjfisher, terran, lmiller62, Whisper1, N1na, CarltonC, anju04, banjo123, Verkruissen, jzin, timetunnel, felixanta, BMer916, KathyPlank, Wynmasterfunk81, shecraig, Amy1030, dburkholder, rgiddey, Willowmoss13
- Explanations
- CarltonC: It’s written in that seemingly simple, easy flowing prose, which guides you confidently through leaps in time and space, narrative jumps. It’s knowing and self referential, in a playful way, especially the section about an author on a book tour. But it’s a pandemic novel, because of the awareness of self isolation with a sense of a before and after, the chance and arbitrary nature of life. A good read.
5
- 19 Members
- conceptDawg, fastred, anglemark, kleo, mkmcgraw, kristilabrie, chwiggy, Skye12, KathyPlank, nyowh, dndlp, evangelinabriggs, Wynmasterfunk81, Craftybilda, shecraig, Amy1030, rgiddey, Willowmoss13, Hilisoma
6
3,441 members
146 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 53.09
Added 2022-12-13, 04:05 PM
- 15 Members
- booksinbed, njinthesun, spamblok, edparks, KatyBee, elkiedee, BLBera, anju04, Mairsiedoats, howardsandys, KelAnemone, nyowh, AthenaR, Wynmasterfunk81, Craftybilda
7
- 14 Members
- zenia, Storeetllr, Narilka, RBeffa, djriave, al.vick, Peace2, Mairsiedoats, TWaits, LesFleming, Vamc, Craftybilda, BeccaGr8t, Hilisoma
8
5,456 members
290 reviews
4.2
Score 45.14
Added 2022-12-12, 03:50 PM
- 13 Members
- zhejw, alphaorder, bookcookie1920, JenMDB, Mairsiedoats, MM_Jones, baughga, KelAnemone, KathyPlank, nyowh, mikalas, edie23, Csufgirl84
9
by R. F. Kuang
4,898 members
114 reviews
4
Score 33.95
Added 2022-12-09, 12:31 PM
- 10 Members
- Aquila, karenb, fastred, jillmwo, KatyBee, anju04, Newton_Books, ManWithAnAgenda, dndlp, LesFleming
10
- 10 Members
- Edward, fastred, craso, brendaough, jburlinson, jeanned, aethercowboy, Sarielle, Julie_in_the_Library, LesFleming
- Explanations
- aethercowboy: I greatly enjoyed the imaginative nature of this story, the unreliable narrator, and the gradual unfolding of the mystery behind the labyrinth. Almost as good as Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.
11
1,973 members
136 reviews
4.2
Score 32.06
Added 2022-12-13, 06:57 PM
- 9 Members
- zhejw, alanteder, elkiedee, BLBera, PaulCranswick, ejkinabq, elphie93, jpahl, pstgeorge2
12
- 8 Members
- tardis, Herenya, reconditereader, roses7184, oceancat, pussreboots, Verkruissen, Brandy1411
- Explanations
- oceancat: by turns dark and funny and bittersweet, this is a fairy tale retelling that still feels like a fairy tale, pulling elements from so many different stories. i want to read everything t. kingfisher has written now!
13
1,715 members
83 reviews
4.1
Score 28.17
Added 2022-12-12, 11:55 AM
- 8 Members
- al.vick, bcrowl399, MM_Jones, baughga, hughesjones, PatchDog, ErinCooper, edie23
14
5,545 members
271 reviews
3.9
Score 27.56
Added 2022-12-09, 11:10 AM
- 9 Members
- reader517, cmbohn, ejkinabq, AbigailAdams26, Peace2, Jim.Shine, nyowh, hughesjones, Suem330
15
10,141 members
385 reviews
4.2
Score 25.47
Added 2022-12-16, 10:41 PM
- 8 Members
- Eat_Read_Knit, greeneyed_ives, BookLizard, DidIReallyReadThat, TWaits, Pincurlsandcoffee, edie23, MelCWel
16
- 7 Members
- agjuba, Storeetllr, sipthereader, almin, Trifolia, hattie_lou, CaschuNut
- Explanations
- CaschuNut: Possibly one of my favorites of all time. Loved the characters and the way they intertwined at the end. So amazingly creative and original.
17
- 7 Members
- streamsong, lmiller62, njinthesun, edparks, msjudy, jackplotkin, jpahl
18
by Delia Owens
14,525 members
623 reviews
4.1
Score 22.91
Added 2022-12-13, 03:00 PM
19
1,069 members
30 reviews
4
Score 21.66
Added 2022-12-12, 12:28 PM
- 7 Members
- streamsong, justjukka, Her_Royal_Orangeness, megbmore, AthenaR, hughesjones, KeithChaffee
- Explanations
- KeithChaffee: lyrical fantasy laced with righteous anger, about what we risk when we refuse to deal with our personal and collective trauma
20
- 6 Members
- Aquila, bookwoman84, Sarahsponda, cmbohn, rarm, Narilka
- Explanations
- Aquila: A lot of series books in my top five this year, all ones where you have to read the other books first. Nona was a delight.
21
11,849 members
786 reviews
4.1
Score 20.12
Added 2022-12-16, 11:05 AM
- 6 Members
- greeneyed_ives, Verkruissen, acousticmoose, TWaits, shedgeco, Tosta
22
- 6 Members
- ablachly, agjuba, mooingzelda, sipthereader, banjo123, djl126
23
24
- 6 Members
- tardis, ca.bookwyrm, ktoonen, roses7184, SOlson096, Brandy1411
- Explanations
- tardis: This was such a comforting book, I read it twice.
25
26
- 5 Members
- booksinbed, almin, dianeham, Ann_R, dndlp
27
256 members
15 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 16.23
Added 2022-12-14, 05:12 PM
28
by Kate Beaton
826 members
51 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 14.4
Added 2022-12-14, 12:38 PM
29
- 4 Members
- Bookmarque, zhejw, noveltea, RODNEYP
- Explanations
- Bookmarque: a strange novel, but one that works well to encapsulate how old wrongs can haunt people for a long time.
30
7,835 members
371 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 14.04
Added 2022-12-12, 01:33 PM
- 4 Members
- cmbohn, sturlington, justjukka, ReadHanded
31
- 4 Members
- Micheller7, terran, cmtl, AthenaR
32
1,265 members
38 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 13.4
Added 2022-12-12, 01:33 PM
- 4 Members
- booksinbed, sturlington, MM_Jones, jahdub
33
by Trevor Noah
6,215 members
362 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 13.23
Added 2022-12-15, 08:13 AM
- 4 Members
- ReluctantTechie, Andrew-theQM, dacejav, edie23
34
- 4 Members
- meadcl, BLBera, Laura1124, tomboonedotcom
35
245 members
16 reviews
4.1
Score 13.23
Added 2022-12-09, 11:07 AM
- 4 Members
- ablachly, ManWithAnAgenda, KelAnemone, hollythepenguin
36
37
- 4 Members
- Storeetllr, Mairsiedoats, Haviland, Fenano
38
- 4 Members
- cornerhouse, terran, dmcoco, RODNEYP
39
by John Scalzi
1,593 members
99 reviews
3.9
Score 12.12
Added 2022-12-14, 06:50 PM
- 4 Members
- ktoonen, Narilka, pussreboots, SOlson096
40
- 3 Members
- Sarielle, Barbsn, Patricia.Ralston
41
- 3 Members
- abbottthomas, troutstreamman, shaunie
42
50,643 members
452 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 11.04
Added 2022-12-19, 01:37 PM
- 3 Members
- djlib, Patricia.Ralston, mirryi
43
by Ed Yong
1,268 members
43 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 10.73
Added 2022-12-14, 12:34 PM
44
1,180 members
51 reviews
4.2
Score 10.73
Added 2022-12-13, 04:37 PM
- 3 Members
- jillmwo, revbean, bigcurlyloz
45
4,854 members
240 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 10.4
Added 2022-12-17, 02:22 AM
- 3 Members
- ejkinabq, DoomLuz, Pincurlsandcoffee
46
323 members
15 reviews
4
Score 10.4
Added 2023-01-11, 12:47 AM
- 3 Members
- jsburbidge, merrystar, msjudy
47
by T. H. White
15,403 members
207 reviews
4.1
Score 10.19
Added 2022-12-12, 11:37 AM
- 3 Members
- amanda4242, SOlson096, Patricia.Ralston
48
3,327 members
131 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 10.19
Added 2022-12-13, 08:14 AM
49
- 3 Members
- yarmando, mjfisher, BookLizard
50
by Elif Shafak
1,125 members
53 reviews
4
Score 10.19
Added 2022-12-15, 04:51 AM
- 3 Members
- mdexter, Trifolia, atipsygiraffe
51
52
1,872 members
54 reviews
3.8
Score 10.04
Added 2022-12-09, 11:15 AM
- 3 Members
- conceptDawg, knerd.knitter, kleo
- Explanations
- knerd.knitter: I saved this book as my last Murakami to read because I love his longer books. This one did not disappoint! It had all the elements I expect from a Murakami book and felt familiar almost from the start. I love reading a long book that is written well and enjoyable. You begin to really feel that you know the characters and the settings. This book made me feel that I wanted it to go on forever.
53
- 3 Members
- paroof, booksinbed, DefinitelyUnlikely
54
- 3 Members
- Herenya, perennialreader, Ann_R
55
56
57
- 3 Members
- booksinbed, BLBera, dianeham
58
59
364 members
18 reviews
4.2
Score 8.18
Added 2022-12-12, 03:23 PM
60
770 members
22 reviews
4
Score 8
Added 2022-12-12, 09:40 PM
61
- 2 Members
- anyother, lizzy50usa
62
3,605 members
96 reviews
4.1
Score 7.36
Added 2022-12-12, 02:13 PM
63
by Sarah Polley
201 members
7 reviews
4.1
Score 7.36
Added 2022-12-16, 07:39 PM
- 2 Members
- LDVoorberg, JenMDB
- Explanations
- LDVoorberg: Amazing essays of her trauma and survival, in a way that is so truly humble. I talked about this book all year.
64
- 2 Members
- nancyewhite, dianeham
65
- 2 Members
- sturlington, Trifolia
66
67
- 2 Members
- blackhornet, Trifolia
68
69
- 2 Members
- RODNEYP, tomboonedotcom
70
by Ryka Aoki
1,198 members
66 reviews
4.1
Score 6.83
Added 2022-12-13, 01:17 PM
- 2 Members
- ktoonen, Stevil2001
71
72
73
2,954 members
198 reviews
4.1
Score 6.73
Added 2022-12-26, 08:05 PM
- 2 Members
- Storeetllr, Laura.a
- Explanations
- Storeetllr: As someone else said, nothing much happens, yet this coming-of-age-in-a-crucible story is compelling. I love how it handles otherness and the growth of the characters.Laura.a: I read this book three times in 2022. That was some delicious pudding.
74
1,565 members
68 reviews
4.2
Score 6.73
Added 2022-12-14, 01:45 PM
75
- 2 Members
- N1na, CarltonC
- Explanations
- CarltonC: Storytelling. Jump straight in, the variation is familiar, anonymous officialdom and borders, wordplay and playfulness, changing time frames, accidentals and historical tales. That was life. Everything suspect. Nothing uncorrupt. Fun and engaging, as ever.
76
44,225 members
709 reviews
4.1
Score 6.68
Added 2022-12-28, 04:27 PM
77
by David Grann
6,276 members
315 reviews
4.1
Score 6.68
Added 2022-12-13, 11:20 AM
- 2 Members
- mattries37315, RODNEYP
78
79
by Roman Mars
878 members
19 reviews
3.9
Score 6.68
Added 2022-12-09, 11:09 AM
- 2 Members
- conceptDawg, Ciruelo
80
531 members
24 reviews
3.9
Score 6.68
Added 2022-12-12, 03:03 PM
- 2 Members
- Capybara_99, KatyBee
- Explanations
- Capybara_99: If I counted re-reads my No. 1 would be Middlemarch. But George Saunders always lives up to the high bar he has set for his stories.
81
- 2 Members
- Bookmarque, sturlington
- Explanations
- Bookmarque: not quite as perfectly executed as Needless Street, but creepy, unsettling, intricate and odd horror tale. But in a good way.
82
83
85
- 2 Members
- amanda4242, justjukka
86
by Cixin Liu
191 members
5 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 6.4
Added 2022-12-16, 09:44 PM
87
35,158 members
273 reviews
3.9
Score 6.19
Added 2022-12-19, 01:33 PM
- 2 Members
- Patricia.Ralston, mirryi
88
- 2 Members
- markon, Her_Royal_Orangeness
89
- 2 Members
- Minthe, VW_Williams
91
92
- 2 Members
- PaulCranswick, Rusty37
93
94
- 2 Members
- al.vick, Andrew-theQM
95
by Maya Angelou
14,890 members
226 reviews
4
Score 6.04
Added 2022-12-12, 12:19 PM
- 2 Members
- rarm, Patricia.Ralston
96
by Dave Grohl
1,219 members
45 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 6.04
Added 2022-12-12, 06:39 PM
- 2 Members
- mahsdad, Boand
- Explanations
- Boand: A book I thought might just be interesting enough to read, turned out to be a really engrossing biography full of ambition, loss and love. The dedication, hard slog, and gruelling journey of Dave Grohl is everywhere laced with respect and devotion for those around him.
97
98
16,469 members
480 reviews
4.2
Score 5.87
Added 2022-12-15, 03:58 PM
99
3,198 members
103 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 5.87
Added 2022-12-13, 11:20 AM
- 2 Members
- swhite58, mattries37315
100
2,311 members
131 reviews
4.2
Score 5.87
Added 2022-12-13, 04:38 PM