Top Shelf: My Favorite Reads in 2022

Although I didn't read as many books in 2022 as I wanted, I managed to read a few great ones. My list is good mix of fiction and non-fiction and my top three are:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reed -- There's a reason it's a bestseller and loved among bookstgrammers...it's great! The story dazzles in old Hollywood glitz, reads effortlessly and features some of the most captivating characters I've met in a very long time. The book centers around a magazine reporter's interviews with Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood icon. Readers learn of Evelyn's illustrious, complicated and fascinating life in her own woods during the hours of interviews. It's enthralling.

Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy -- Simply put, this is compelling, poignant and shocking non-fiction. The author takes a deep dive into the opioid crisis in America, from the beginning through the last two decades. I found myself feeling angry, sad and frustrated while learning of the heartbreaking stories of addiction across all socio-economic and racial backgrounds. The author starts with the epicenter -- Central Appalachia -- and the quick and uncontainable outbreak resulting in overwhelming need perpetuated by greed. This book is close to five years old, but I still found it distressing and at times difficult to process. I feel like a better informed citizen and parent for having read this book.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah -- I reviewed this one earlier in the year, but I wanted to list it again because it was one of the best I read in 2022. It's a riveting and harrowing story. Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, it's a family saga during the Dust Bowl that depicts the consequences of an era riddled with hardship, poverty and self-reliance.

What were your favorite reads in 2022?

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