FIVE-STAR READS
We're a little over halfway through the year, and looking at my Goodreads, I'm just over halfway to my goal of reading 75 books in 2022. Of the 44 books I've read so far, I've only rated five of the 5 stars.
If you're searching for a great beach read, that is exactly my vibe for books these days. I like books to feel like entertainment, with great characters and quick-moving and fun plots. I sometimes go through phases where I devour memoirs or YA fantasy or another genre for a while, but I usually eventually circle back to my romcoms-- and this year is no exception. All of that to say that if you're a horror or thriller reader, this list may not be for you!
Without further preamble, here are my 5-star reads for the first half of 2022, in no particular order.
The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
This book surprised me! I really didn't expect it to be what it was, and saying any more than that will spoil it. It follows three women as they all date the same man, and along the way you really do fall in love with every single character. I'm a big fan of Beth O'Leary's writing style, I loved The Flatshare and was excited for this one to hit shelves. It lived up to my expectations and then some! Warning: I cried. Have tissues at the ready! If you're a fan of the way Taylor Jenkins-Reid books often do really interesting things with timelines and have surprising twists that bring everything together, you'll love Beth O'Leary's books.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Rich city girl, poor rural boy... this books reminded me a bit of Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer, but it managed to entirely pull me in. I was rooting for the characters, who both grew so much through the course of the story, and the ending was so satisfying. I loved it! Abby Jimenez's books keep getting better and better and she is one of those authors whose new titles are instant adds to my TBR list at this point!
The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
Another read that subverted my expectations, The Roughest Draft follows a pair of authors who used to be writing partners as they attempt to collaborate one last time. As their story unfurls, we get more and more glimpses into their past together, and then slowly their future comes together in a delightfully unexpected way. If you like Emily Henry's Beach Read or Meg Cabot's No Words and are looking for another book starring authors, this is a fantastic choice.
The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams
A comfort read of the very best sort, this book is a very cute love story with really likeable characters. You know the type of book that kind of gives you butterflies as you read about them falling in love? This one did that for me. I also really liked how this book handled body positivity, health vs. weight loss, and what it's like to exist in a curvier body. Strongly recommend! And if you're looking for other romances with mid-sized and plus-sized lead characters, make sure you check out One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London (another 5-star read that I was obsessed with back in 2020!) and Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
I devoured this book! I'd been seeing it all over social media and wasn't sure if it would live up to the hype, but I really enjoyed every second of Olive and Adam's story. A STEM-based fake dating story with a few twists along the way, this story had all sorts of romance novel tropes in a very deliberate, almost meta way. If you liked The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (5-star read!),The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, or The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren, you'll love this one!
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