Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas – First off, do you see this cover? This novel transported me to a beautiful, yet terrifying, 1840s Mexico and kept me hooked until the last page.

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati – Female rage. Ancient Greece. A woman willing to do anything for those she loves. This book was everything and more.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride – This novel is on tons of “best of” lists for a reason. It’s emotional, it’s heart-wrenching, it’s witty, and overall, it’s an amazing read.

Happy AF by Beth Romero – I thought this was going to be another run of the mill – make yourself happy with the same steps that we have all read before, but it was more of a memoir that looked at what Beth went through and how she dug out from the depths of grief and depression. I really liked it and it really helped me to make some siginificant changes in my life.

Ride or Die: Loving Through Tragedy, A Husband’s Memoir by Jarie Bolander also very much touched me. We all will go through it, if we haven’t already – losing a loved one. Losing a life partner is one of the toughest and Jarie walks through his experience with so much love for his wife that is impossible to not love them both.

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour – Gorgeous writing and romantic tension/character study similar to Normal People. Cannot recommend enough!

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld – Hillary’s character is oddly relatable, and the whole story is just so fascinating.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas – Finally hopped on the ACOTAR series train and could not love this book more.

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi is one of the most incredible novels I’ve ever read. Heart-wrenching, powerful, deeply intricate, and filled with brilliant beautiful prose, this is a book I’ll never forget and an author whose work I will always look out for.

Don’t Cry for Me by Daniel Black is a stunning and important epistolary-style novel that explores generational differences, fatherhood, loss, regret, love, and history. The writing was beautiful and the characters were realistic, making this story raw, poignant, and profoundly moving.

Stoner by John Williams is a novel about life and all that comes with it — loneliness, love, friendship, career, and loss. Contemplative and quiet in its exploration of William Stoner’s life, this is a book in which I think everyone will find something to relate to.

The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec – Gornichec’s writing on Viking Age history will really make you feel like you’re out on the fjord. And, more importantly, queer representation!

Godkiller by Hannah Kane – It’s got intricate world-building, lovable (and hatable) characters, and forbidden wild gods. It’s the whole package.

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See – See reimagines the life of a woman physician in 15th-century China. This book will keep you turning pages and looking to learn more after the end.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – I wanted to read it before it came out as a series.

All the Broken Places by John Boyne –  I enjoy stories that feature historical places and events.

The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea – I love a good thriller.

The Wager by David Grann – Grann includes so many of the fascinating details I love about nonfiction, and he uses those to truly bring both the people and a thrilling narrative to life. I don’t think I’ve shut up about this book all year.

Loot by Tania James – This book had me at “heist” and “mechanical tiger” (and the cover!). A captivating epic that spans decades and continents, this gorgeous novel is both a delightful romp through history and a searing indictment of colonialism.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs – I loved immersing myself in this book about magical books. The propulsive plot and characters I missed when I wasn’t reading made this an incredibly enjoyable read.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose – If you loved Fourth Wing, and even more so if you were interested in the premise but just couldn’t get invested enough to finish, do not miss this story of a young woman and her dragon coming into their power.

Maame by Jessica George – Maddie was such a relatable character, her naiveness was symbolic of many young women relying on Google to answer some of the most trivial and existential life questions. I love the way the author handled Maddie’s coming into herself, processing grief, and the complexities of how cultural standards evolve between generations.

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward – I’m a huge historical fiction fan, so anything with Jesmyn Ward’s name on it is a must-read. From the very beginning, Ward thrusts readers into the unsettling world of chattel slavery from one young girl’s perspective, dealing with heartache, loss, and brutality as she seeks her freedom.

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington – It’s an entertaining spin on how women are pitted against one another for love, academic advancement, and overall success in life. I loved the twist on childhood games and the ending — gory enough to want to turn your head but entertaining enough not to want to blink!

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll – I love any story when women get together to defend each other and take down a man. It was full of some amazing characters with incredible strength and while it was a bit difficult to read in parts, it is by far my book of the year!

Don’t Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders – I am an avid thriller reader and I usually can see any plot twist coming from a mile away but not with this book! I really thought that I had it the whole time and wow was I wrong. That is what makes a book stand out to me which is why Don’t Let Her Stay is my second book pick of the year!

Happy Place by Emily Henry – I do not care if she is the most mainstream author, I love anything by Emily Henry. So many of the plot points in this book correlated with my life at the time of reading it, which truly made it a special read.

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith for the structure, writing, and doing something different and unique within the memoir genre

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein for her articulation of a phenomenon that I’ve been curious to better understand about extremism, the shock of the pandemic, and what she calls diagonalism. So interesting!

Solito by Javier Zamora for just a great read and harrowing story!

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster – because, why not? Buy yourself the f*cking lilies, people! As women we can easily forgo self care of ourselves in order to care for everyone around us. This book was hilarious but also reminded me how to examine my emotional wounds, heal them with kindness, carve out time each morning to start my day on the right foot, and be just a tad bit easier myself .

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz – LOVE LOVED LOVED. Is all I can say. Creative, smarty women trying to make their way in a culture of success that ultimately is what turns them toxic, all with the art of writing.

Mighty Gorgeous by Amy Ferris – Amy Ferris is an amazing writer: Full of wisdom and humor, audacity and honesty. Her storytelling challenges readers to “wear our scars like stardust” and embrace every part of ourselves.  It makes my heart swell to the occasion of celebrating all the passionate loves I’ve had in my life—from men and women to places and memories—that have made me the person I am today. Love and life are messy and gorgeous, and this small book full of big revelations and truths is like the little voice every one of us needs in the back of our minds.

King of Pride by Ana Huang – I’ve been on a romance binge this year, and when I met Ana Huang at a signing in Seattle, she was so pleasant and passionate that I knew I had to read her books—and I was not disappointed! Not only is this book romantic and steamy, but Ana always creates memorable, complex characters that you can’t help but root for.

Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher – I’ve always been a fan of Jim Butcher’s work, so when his son released his debut novel, it didn’t surprise me at all that it was a showstopper. An snarky urban fantasy about a witch who needs to solve his mentor’s murder before he’s convicted of the crime himself, Dead Man’s Hand is a nonstop adventure that I couldn’t put down.

Walk the Web Lightly by Mary Pascual – I fell in love with fantasy books at a young age, and Mary Pascual”s Walk the Web Lightly reminded me of the reasons I’m obsessed with the genre. Colorful and imaginative, this book not only creates a spectacular world full of art and magic, but also shows young people that they can keep true to their roots even as they follow their own path.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan — A throwback to my childhood, Rick Riordan has done it again. I don’t think I could have survived much longer without the sass of this demigod, the intensity of his quests, or the nostalgia and magic this world brings to me.

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo — In the second book of the series, Alex is forced to play against forces and magic that are out of her control. She is risking it all, and there is never a second of rest. This book has you racing to turn every page.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros — This book has taken the world by storm, and for good reason. Fourth Wing is full of magic, war, dragons, and steamy scenes. What else could you ask for?

When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà – This tapestry woven into the heart of the Pyrenees Mountains absolutely lit me up inside! 🌟 Solà magnifies the interconnectedness of the living, the dead, the inanimate and the metaphysical in a way that represents both the wisest of elders and the most curious of children.

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley – Angeline Boulley makes a myth of “the inferior sequel” with this haunting, binge-worthy YA read! 🧡 I couldn’t put this one down—between the evocative mystery and masterful characterization, there was no hope it would remain more than a few days in my “now reading” queue!

Wolfish by Erica Berry – Rarely does a book keep me on my toes like Erica Berry’s memoir Wolfish. 🐺 Just when readers get comfortable, we’re redirected—the memoir becoming a reflection of the fear of other and unknown that ties the entire work together.

The Possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love – This novel combined motherhood and the multiverse for a book that both met me where I am at in life and created page-turning, sci-fi action. Anyone who can make breastfeeding a way to recognize what reality you are in, is going to score instant points with me.

Love Buzz by Neely Tubati-Alexander – I love seeing a debut author burst onto the scene with a story that is both timely and universal. The nearly-thirty protagonist felt so relatable in her quest to choose between the life she thought she was supposed to live and the one that’s calling to her.

Flux by Jinwoo Chong – If it’s time travel… I will buy it. This was an unusual take on the time travel sub-genre that focused on a man, his family and the impact of our decisions over a lifetime. I loved the unusual narrative structure as well as the subtle use of time travel as a plot device.