She’s been with us (at least comment-wise) since 2017, and from her past comments, she’s a girl after my own book-heart! LOL! She loves quite a few of my favorites (authors and books!!), and for the same reasons.
P.P.S Have a “best of 2022” list for us? Send it to me here.
Here are just a few of her comments over the years…
RE: Books you’re dying to read, but are too scared to… <— Connie: For me Brightside by Kim Holden fits in this category
RE: The Life You Stole by Jewel E. Ann <— Connie: Love Jewel E. Ann but am actually afraid to read this one
RE: The Ultimate Book List of Gasp-Worthy Plot Twists & Crazy Endings <— Connie: Add Riven by Lissa Del (aka Melissa Delport) to the list. Threw my kindle screaming
RE: The Ultimate List of Broken Book Boyfriends… <— Connie: Mercy and Beast by Debra Anastasia Almost anything by her.
RE: Pretend You’re Mine: A Small Town Love Story (Benevolence Book 1) by Lucy Score <— Connie: Read the other two in the Benevolence series. They’re pretty good, too. Second book about Aldo, third book about Linc. All characters are revisited in each book. I love when authors do that. Threads – yes! Rock Bottom Girl – thumbs up. Lucy Score has become a new fav author for our tiny reading group.
And now… Connie’s Favorites of 2022 (she 5-STARRED all of these):
Connie: What a gift! Reverse! was an unexpected and much loved extra to Drive. Yet, it was its very own book giving so much more.
Do I love it more than Drive? Probably.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus <— (side note by Maryse: this one is new to me!!)
Connie: There is a love story, a painful heartbreak, plenty of humor, and lots of girl struggle and power but it is so much more. READ IT.
Harper: I loved Book Lovers too!!! I gave it 5 stars and it’s on my Best of 2022 list.
Mony: Book Lovers by Emily Henry – Refreshing to find a CR I couldn’t put down until the end. Lots of cool things in this story – fabulous characters. I think Emily Henry’s writing is getting stronger.
JR: I just finished Book Lovers by Emily Henry and I’m already in a book fog! I love the idea of the story being about what happens to the workaholic city girl who is left behind in a romantic novel or Hallmark movie when the guy she’s dating discovers himself and what he’s always wanted in an idyllic small town. What then happens to the city girl and her story? Loved it!
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover <— (side note from Maryse: we all know this one!!! 😀 )
Connie: Thank You for Listening opened up a whole new world about audiobook narrators. Shockingly, it is better than My Oxford Years. The banter! I had NO IDEA Julia Whelan is a narrator. Fascinating world and what a great story she wove in that environment.
Beautiful Graves by L.J. Shen <— (side note from Maryse: Rochelle agrees!!)
Rochelle: I love her writing. Beautiful Graves was beautiful!
A Dirty Business by Tijan <— (side note from Maryse: Titan ALWAYS makes these yearly “best of” lists!!)
Connie: Love Jewel E. Ann
Lisa A: …it is pure Jewel E Ann perfection. I think Shep is my new favorite – knocking Grocery Story Guy down a notch.! And this has everything, quirky awkward character, fantastically funny banter, a wee bit of angst, and swoon worthy romance!!!
Mona: I finished What Lovers Do by Jewel E. Ann last night. I can never put her books down! I totally agree with Lisa A, from the awkward but hilarious first meeting, to the quick-wit conversations, I was laughing and smiling through most of the book. I kept re-reading the interactions because they were so funny! Of course, Ms. Ann will never let you go without a tear or two. This will definitely be on a lot of Best Book lists for 2022 and was a 5 star for me!
Mony: I loved this book! It has so many of my favourite things – grumpy, hot, hot, hot, smart alien LOL; enemies to lovers; chemistry++; quirk & banter; a unique approach to this genre.
This will appeal to those who want a great story but are not put off by a slow start before the action starts; too many Gracie musings (IMO); a sloooow romance (although the hot alien is worth it), and Zapata’s style.
All the characters were quite colourful & well done- including Grump & Gracie whose personal growth, friendship, & love were lots of fun to watch. I miss BBF Alex. 🙂 5⭐
Cristina: My #1 at the moment is Reminders of Him from Colleen Hoover. That one is still with me.
Ruthless Rival by L.J. Shen <— (side note from Maryse: Another one that makes so many of our “Best Of” lists!)
The Difference Between Somehow and Someway + The Difference Between Someday and Forever by Aly Martinez <— (side note from Maryse: Another one that makes so many of our “Best Of” lists!)
➔➔➔ Looking for more of our “Best of 2022” lists? And maybe our “Best of” yearly lists:
➔ Readers’ Top 2015 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2016 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2017 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2018 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2019 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2020 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2021 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2022 Favs
and… my own “Best of” lists:
➔ My Best Books of 2021
➔ My Best Books of 2020
➔ My Best Books of 2019
➔ My Best Books of 2018
➔ My Best Books of 2017
➔ My Best Books of 2016
➔ My Best Books of 2015
➔ My Best Books of 2014
➔ My Best Books of 2013
➔ My Best Books of 2012
➔ My Best Books of 2011
➔➔➔ Looking for more of our favorite recommendations? Browse our “Ultimate Favorites Lists” here. Are you in the mood for a certain kind of story? Browse our favorite “genre/trope categories” here and our reader favorites lists too.
➔➔➔ Looking for my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 star reviews or my favorite book lists here 😀
Thanks for your list. It looks great. Time to work on mine!
I can’t wait to post it, Rochelle. 😀
Great list Connie! Already picked a few books for my TBR (Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan). We also seem to have similar tastes – several books of your books are also on my 2023 favourite list! (still to be sent to M.).
Connie, thank you for recommending Thank You for Listening! I just finished it and loved it!