Surprise: We’re nearly halfway through 2022! Time flies when your nose is stuck in a great book. Here are the 22 books that are most likely to have made BookPage readers forget the calendar this year.
22. Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
In Xochitl Gonzalez’s vibrant and raw debut novel, Olga Dies Dreaming, love and family drama crash into politics.
21. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel is an all-consuming fantasy that is breathtaking both for its beauty and its suspense.
20. Honor by Thrity Umrigar
Thrity Umrigar’s novel offers a well-rounded portrait of India, a place that can be “cosmopolitan, sophisticated, but also resolutely out of step with the world.”
19. Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
Peter Swanson’s latest mystery novel is an unpredictable roller coaster that boasts a compelling cast of characters.
18. The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Funny, moving and composed of sentences that read like small poems, The Swimmers is a remarkable novel from an unparalleled writer.
17. In Love by Amy Bloom
Amy Bloom is known for examining the dynamics of intimacy in her fiction, but she has never gotten closer to the flame than in this memoir of her marriage.
16. Cornbread & Poppy by Matthew Cordell
Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell’s first early reader, the tale of two mice who embark on an expedition up Holler Mountain, will leave young readers hungry for more.
15. The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
Fans of Grady Hendrix and Riley Sager will tear into this sophomore-slump-defying thriller from the author of Every Last Fear.
14. The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher
With its insider’s view of the literary expat world of 1920s Paris, The Paris Bookseller will appeal to fans of Paula McClain’s The Paris Wife.
13. Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian
The enchanting first book in Gigi Pandian’s Secret Staircase mystery series flawlessly balances magic, misdirection and murder.
12. Scoundrel by Sarah Weinman
Scoundrel is the electric story of a killer who managed to fool everyone around him, as told by a superb crime writer.
11. The Appeal by Janice Hallett
The Appeal is a cleverly constructed, meticulously detailed, often hilarious epistolary novel of suspense.
10. A Deadly Bone to Pick by Peggy Rothschild
Mystery fans and dog lovers alike will enjoy A Deadly Bone to Pick, the first in a new cozy mystery series featuring former police officer-turned-dog trainer Molly Madison.
9. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
The interlocking plot of Emily St. John Mandel’s sixth novel resolves beautifully, making for a humane and moving time-travel story.
8. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Olivie Blake marries an extremely pulpy plot with smart and nimble writing in her debut fantasy novel, The Atlas Six.
7. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Black Cake marks the launch of a writer to watch, one who masterfully plumbs the unexpected depths of the human heart.
6. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
For readers open to moral complexities, One Italian Summer is a thoughtful, fun escape, blending contemplations of love and loss with a touch of adventure.
5. Overdue by Amanda Oliver
Former librarian Amanda Oliver quickly learned that her job was as much about performing the work of a social worker—without any training—as it was about books.
4. The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
Bestselling author Fiona Davis builds upon the secrets of the Frick Collection in a delightful blend of emotion and adventure.
3. Small World by Jonathan Evison
In Small World, Jonathan Evison underscores a sense of a shared America, that we are all in this nation-building adventure together. That’s a destiny worth manifesting.
2. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
Kate Quinn’s track record for delivering captivating historical fiction continues with the remarkable story of the infamous Russian sniper known as Lady Death.
1. Booth by Karen Joy Fowler
Karen Joy Fowler’s Booth is a triumph in its fascinating rendering of a legendary American family.
This list was compiled based on analytics from BookPage.com between Jan. 1 and May 1, 2022.
