Last week I shared the books I’m looking forward to being released in this new year, but we all know that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll read them in 2022. Especially not with a cart full of books that I still have yet to read that I’ve gained over the past couple of years. In fact, I shouldn’t even read any new books until I read those… but we all know that’ll never happen. Not while being a mood reader anyway.

As I tend to read an average of 70 books a year over the past five years, I’m thinking that being able to read all the books on this list shouldn’t be an issue, as it’s only a percentage of what I read in a year. But again, I’m a mood reader, so who knows how many of these books I’ll actually get to. Still, it will be fun to see how many I do read off this list at the end of the year.

Also, as a bonus to this list, I’m going to add three books that I’d like to reread this year because it’s been a while.

22 Books I Want to Read in 2022

New Adult/Adult Contemporaries

The Royal We is one that I purchased in early December once my Christmas shopping was done. I had the sudden urge to get the book and I didn’t think twice about it. I just bought it because, why not? I’m excited to read it though and so far I’ve heard good things about it and its sequel.

I can’t help but love the title, This Love Story Will Self-Destruct, because it just sounds like my life story. The summary sounds really good and I’ve been meaning to read it, but I either forget that I own the book or I’m not in the right mood for it when I try to.

I’ve had The Cactus sitting on my shelf for a couple of years now. It’s the first celebrity-endorsed book I’ve willingly picked up, not so much because of that, but because I liked the cover. Duh. And the premise sounds good, so I’m hoping it lives up to Reese Witherspoon’s hype (though I did enjoy her YA-pick, A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow).

The Camera Never Lies just sounds like a good book from its summary. I found it in late 2019 while looking for some other Christian fiction books and this sounds like it’s going to be fantastic. I hope it leaves an impact as well, as most Christian fiction books I read do. They just hit differently.

I wanted to read Just Last Night for the Reindeer Readathon, but sadly, I never got around to it. So I’m going to make the book a priority read in 2022. I’ve heard so many good things about this book and I’m hoping I’ll love it as much as everyone else seems to.

Young-Adult Contemporaries

Don’t Breathe a Word is one that I’m excited to read because I loved Jordyn Taylor’s first novel so much. I’m not one for historical fiction books, but I love how she tied it in with a contemporary timeline, which is what this new book does as well. So I’m expecting this to be one of my favorite reads of the year.

Sarah Dessen is one of the most well-known YA authors out there, and I do love her writing style. I haven’t loved all of her books, but I’ve enjoyed most of the ones I’ve read so far. Along For the Ride has been on my TBR before I really started keeping track of my TBR. Or even before I had social media…

I can still picture seeing Emancipated at the bookstore years ago, but I never did buy a copy then. I did eventually get it as an ebook and I meant to read it multiple times in 2021, but kept forgetting about it (I do that a lot with ebooks). I definitely want to read this one, and I hope I like it enough to read the two books that follow it.

The Last Thing You Said is another book that’s been on my shelf for a few years, though I have purposely put it off because I think it’s going to destroy me. The premise is a bit sad, and I know it’s going to hit my emotions somewhere. Hopefully not as bad as some other books have, but I can’t help it… I’m emotional.

A Taste for Love sounds like the cute YA romance I’ll need for 2022. The cover looks cute, the summary sounds cute… I’m just hoping it’ll be a cute book.

When We Were Strangers has the same vibe as The Camera Never Lies, though obviously it’s a totally differently story being told. I honestly just love characters who are photographers, so that’s how this one landed on my radar, and then I won it in a giveaway a few months ago.

I’m excited to read The Girl in the Headlines because the premise sounds promising. I’m starting to like stories where the protagonist has no idea what happened and has to fill in the missing pieces. It makes for a really good story, especially when there’s a murder-mystery aspect to it.

I threw Nick & Noel’s Christmas Playlist on my Christmas wishlist last-minute and ended up getting from my mom for Christmas. If I hadn’t been in the middle of a book already, I would’ve started this as my last book for 2021, but I guess I’ll just have to make it a winter read for 2022… I’ll read Christmas books any time of the year though.

Young-Adult Fantasy

A Crystal of Time is the fifth book in the School for Good and Evil series, which I’m looking forward to continuing this year. I wanted to finish the series last year, but I just didn’t get around to it. So many books, so little time, right? Anyway, after the cliff-hanger in the fourth book, I need to get back on this series as soon as I can.

One True King… basically I have to read A Crystal in Time before this one, as it’s the final book of that series. I’m hoping for an epic ending to this series, and since I haven’t been disappointed yet, I hope this one won’t let me down either.

I actually tried to read Ash Princess in quarantine of March or April 2020, but I really wasn’t in a fantasy mood at all (plus some other issues going on) so I didn’t get past the first chapter. I am looking forward to reading this book though, and hope this trilogy is as good as the other fantasy trilogies I’m always hearing about (or better than them, haha).

Classics

Since there is a young-adult murder-mystery retelling of Sense & Sensibility coming out later this year, I should probably read the classic itself first. Not that I did that with Pride and Prejudice, but I need to bide my time before the retelling comes out in April (as if I don’t have other books to read…).

I have only read two Shakespeare plays, ever, so I’m working on changing that. Hamlet is one that I’d definitely want to read soon, and I found a copy of it at a library sale last summer, so it got bumped up on my list. And since it’s one of the more well-known plays, I figured I should read it sooner than later.

I couldn’t choose a third classic myself, so I shared a poll on Twitter and my bookish people there chose To Kill a Mockingbird as my third classic to try to read this year. I’ve obviously never read it before, but I catch references to it once in a while in media, as I at least know some of the characters’ names.

Non-Fiction

Like many books, I’ve had Jesus > Religion on my shelf for a while now and it’s about time I read it. Especially since I’m trying to get even closer to God, I think this is a good book to help with that. Not that I didn’t know that a relationship with Jesus is more important than religious actions, but you know, reading about it is what a bookworm does.

Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels is a book my mom really enjoyed and says I should read, so I’m gonna read it. We’re fans of her kitchenware; and let me tell you, the Pioneer Woman electric kettle is the best thing ever, I’ll never get another stove teapot again. I also used to watch her program all the time when I went to the gym, pre-covid, which amused me to no end since I can barely cook.

Confessions of a Bookseller just sounds like an interesting read. I’m a librarian, so I know the behind-the-scenes look at a librarian’s work, but a bookstore is different. Especially an independent one. I would just like to read about the inner-workings of one and the bookseller’s thoughts.

3 Books I Want to Re-Read in 2022

For some reason, Rules of Rain has been on my mind for me to reread, so I’m going to soon. I remember loving it when it came out in 2018 and really enjoying the characters. I’m hoping to again and if I haven’t reviewed it yet, I’ll be able to write one for it this time around!

I love Jennifer E. Smith’s books, and while I have two that I need to read, I really want to reread Field Notes on Love because… cross-country train ride. Also, Hugh was adorable and I just loved the entire concept of the book.

Between the Lines is such a unique story where the protagonist falls in love with a character in a book (not that unusual) but the twist is that the character actually talks to her and falls in love with her too! That can only make for a great story! It’s been about five years since I’ve read this book, so it’s time for a reread, and later review.

In a way, I’m a little intimidated by the list because planning my TBR stresses me out since I’m a mood reader, but in the scheme of things, planning 25 books that I’d like to read for an entire year isn’t bad. Especially considering that, again, I average about 70 a year.

Also, I’m not totally expecting to read all the books on this list; though it would be awesome if I did. I’m mostly interested in seeing how many of these books I will actually read by the end of 2022. That’s the fun part of these lists.

What are some books you want to read in 2022?