Tasha J’s list is here!! This is my other book twin, ’cause it always seems that we love the same books. I can’t wait to dive into her list. Everything here makes me clap with glee!!
But… first… a “Tasha J” walk down 2022 memory lane.
I can’t really read at night anymore bc I’m too tired to focus and J is the worst sleeper and wiggles and talks beside me until I’m so exhausted by the time he’s out, that I’m out. Sometimes I watch stuff then to pass time until he falls asleep. But, When I was reading well, I’d do it waiting to pick up kids in the carpool lane or from sports, or for an hour in the morning at least. I made a goal to read either 50 pages a day if possible or 10%. And I read aloud to help myself focus. I’m a little slower that way, but it works.
Oh, Jewel E Ann! I forgot I really wanted to read that duet of hers, newer release. Another author I always get lost in. And I loved both of those shows. I don’t usually do re- watches though, with a couple exceptions. One Tree Hill was one of “my shows” back when it first came out, I got my Mom hooked on it too. I didn’t realize Emily in Paris season 3 was out already, I thought it was still upcoming.
We have some big home projects coming up. We’ll be getting concrete poured for a front porch patio 🤞 this week as long as weather cooperates. It’s been awfully rainy here. And a super big tree too close to the house that’s roots have also been giving us issues completely taken down. It’s a tough place to do it, nervous and excited for that one.
…got some time to watch something over the weekend and I finally gave the new series, Vampire Academy, on Peacock a try and am already invested! I don’t remember every detail from the books since it has been so long, so I couldn’t tell you how different or same it is, but I like it because of the character’s chemistry and story line so far.
We have also been heavy into construction of our home this year. The porch patio was laid, then the tree came down, the grass seed is dying 😭, the neighbor’s tree that overhung on our driveway (falling branches made me nervous for my 🚗) was trimmed, the stone was laid for the new shed, that was delivered, and now the construction of our porch roof has begun. They worked on electrical and more today. The frame is up.
After that, I’m hoping to be able to at least do stone landscaping to the front and sides of the house and around the shed for now. We’ll see if we have any money left. Nothing fancy, I’d like a simple rustic no maintenance type thing. It overwhelms me thinking of that in particular, so am talking to a landscaper this week to see what we can do.
I hadn’t planned last year on ripping all the old hedges out, but since we now have a blank slate, and the porch now has a gap of earth and concrete, I have to fill it there anyway so might as well do the sides too. And definitely know I want stone rather than mulch. Thinking of fountain grass for sure. And then I hope to be done doing any type of house work for a year or 2.
On the home front, the porch is complete, minus caulking, but I spent a long time painting beams and posts recently and she’s a beaut! I added a rug and couch currently, but would like to add a couple one seater rockers in the future.
We finished painting the garage door last night and next up is landscaping. We’re doing rock for sure, no more mulching, and I found a local company who you can send in your photos and they graphic design in some plants for you, free of charge, they just ask that you purchase the plants from them.
On my own, I could really only conjure up the fountain grass. So, I hope to get it all together in the next week or so. We’ve not had rain in so long, it’s definitely going to require a ton of watering with the heat.
1. Tonight I am little one free but as always, have a list to accomplish. Boo.
2. I’m getting my hair done tomorrow. As a Xmas gift, my Mom got me a gift card for it. Besides having no time, we didn’t have extra money bc of all the home construction in the last year. So my last cut or color was April. My ends are pretty bad. I’ve been trying to make them better with hair oil on them every day.
3. I bought a huge container of croissants from Sam’s Club the other day and smeared Nutella in it this morning and mmmmmm. Such a treat!
Now… here is Tasha J’s best of 2022 list!
Here it is. 🙂
I had more than a few I really loved. Not my best reading year in terms of numbers, but looking back I had a bunch on my Goodreads list that I thought were read much longer ago than earlier in the year. It must be the week- month gaps that get me so frustrated with our busy lifestyle and getting time to read.
I know some of these were back when I had time to do the treadmill. 😂 Feels like a lifetime ago.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife. A once super close group of college friends are set to have a reunion. In their college days, one member of the group was murdered. Lots of secrets are revealed, I loved this one.
Tasha J: it is the one, of my current reads, that I hate to put down. I’m sooo into it! I do like the “who done it” aspect, but currently am more into the group and all their relationships and secrets. I so would’ve been into it if it was just a drama/love story. I feel the chemistry and the romantic in me wants things to just work out even though I know that’s not the focus of it. 😂
Tasha J: I finished In My Dreams I Hold a Knife- ugh! So good, I loved it. And I just saw a review for the author’s upcoming August book that has me so looking forward to it, especially after reading this one. I’d love to see it on screen.
Maryse: Because of your recommendation, I got it! Paperback AND ebook. I can’t wait to read it!
Finlay Donovan Knocks em Dead by Elle Cosimano. I absolutely love this series. Reminds me a lot of that Janet Evanovich series…Stephanie Plum. I can’t wait for book 3 coming end of the month!
Tasha J: I am 80% into Finlay Donovan Knocks Em Dead and loving it as much as the first. It reads fast, has me laughing out loud and rooting for 1 guy more than the other, can’t say which in case I change my mind. 😂 I don’t want it to end.
I’ve actually been getting the majority of my reading time this week in on the treadmill. I prop the kindle on the screen and blow the words up a little and tap to turn mid arm swing. So far so good.
The Songbook of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon.
Tasha J: I easily get lost in every story she writes and this one was no different. I was vibrating with the energy of the band in this one.
Michele G: Last night I finished Amy Harmon’s The Songbook of Benny Lament….again…what a story!!! I love Amy Harmon’s writing anyway, but this one was really something special! I highly recommend!
The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. These were fun mind twists with a love triangle. Clever games I would never be able to solve on my own, but I enjoyed the ride. I still need to read the conclusion!
Tasha J: I finished The Inheritance Games and haven’t read a book that quick in too long! I loved it. It was like being in an escape room, the ones I’ve been to are all mysteries to be solved to get “out”. Loved all the riddles and secret compartments. Found family or no one you can trust? And possible love triangle. ❤️
Tasha J: I finished The Hawthorne Legacy over the weekend and now I wait impatiently for August’s book 3. I loved those books!
Part of Your World by Abby Jiminez. This was a well written chic lit that easily swept me up. I look forward to her next book.
Tasha J: I saw such a good review recently and she said if you love Abby Jimenez- it’s for you. I just finished Part of Your World recently and loved it so I’m thinking yes, it’s for me. Lol!
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. Nostalgia! I’m a sucker for books with it and loved the writing with the love triangle.
Tasha J: I read Every Summer After, loved it!
Book Lovers by Emily Henry. She’s become a go to author for me as I really loved this one and People We Meet on Vacation. Looking forward to the next.
Tasha J: …Smiling and laughing my way through. 🙂
Maryse: SO many are adding this to their “Best Of” list!!!
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston. This one took me by surprise with how much I loved it. Quirky, but also had romance and grief, but just not overpowering and just lovely.
Tasha J: I was craving something different, so I finally got to pick up my physical copy of The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston and I am so into it so far!
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen. Another that took me by surprise. Such a well written book and loved the found family aspect. Despite the grief or hardships the characters endured, there was so much warmth.
Tasha J: I fit in some serious reading time last night & finished Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen and I really loved this book!
It was like a comfort read, with characters you wanted to know in a magical place you could imagine traveling to. The sad parts, the grief the characters carry, were still full of hope and beautifully told.
The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark. A fast paced thriller that I could not put down. Can’t wait to read more from her.
Tasha J: I recently finished The Lies I Tell and LOVED it! I totally just picked the thinnest book off my physical tbr (I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed over here 😅) and am so glad it exceeded my expectations. I totally could have read it in a couple days if not for life getting in the way, lol. I hadn’t realized the author also wrote The Last Flight bc I hadn’t read the synopsis since before I bought it, but I have it and remember now hearing a lot of buzz about that one so I am looking forward to digging in!
Maryse: Now I need to read “The Lies I Tell”!!! YAY!!! Thank you for that recommendation, Tasha. (side note: I read another from this author The Last Flight and I LOVED it, so this is a MUST!!)
Once Upon a Broken Heart and The Ballad of Never After. I hadn’t read a fantasy series in a long time that pulled me in like these and I’m dying for book 3, coming fall, I think, of this year.
Tasha J: I broke my broken reading streak and inhaled Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart & The Ballad of Never After in 2? Maybe 3 days and oooooh it felt so good! But now I feel so bad cuz I stayed up till 3am this morning and I am up at 630. And I’m dying for book 3.
I saw she said 2023 but no definitive date. I’d be happy with January. 😂
I hadn’t planned on it, but I had put in a hold at the library for Once Upon a Broken Heart and once I started, I couldn’t stop. 😊
Cover Story by Susan Rigetti. This was around the time I watched the super addicting show about Anna Delvey. Same vibes, I totally loved it!
Tasha J: I finished Cover Story by Susan Rigetti this week and I loved it so much! It was a super fast read, had I had availability, I could’ve done it in a day. And so engrossing!
So, I really loved Inventing Anna and The Dropout (Netflix & Hulu) and saw some buzz on Bookstagram that made be grab it and it did not disappoint. I loved the way it was written, in the form of FBI correspondence, emails and diary entries, and was totally shocked at- can’t give it away. 😉 I recommend going in blind.
Reese: I have the Cover Story on my wishlist at the library and after your review here I’m excited and want to bump that up my list.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Full of heart, mystery, survival, and a pretty moving journey.
Tasha J: I finished Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson and I really loved it. It’s been some time since I read something more heartfelt and emotional and it was really well written and I was more than invested in the story and journey of the characters.
Like Tasha’s book taste? Check out more of her favorites:
- Reader Favorites – Tasha’s Best Books of 2017
- Reader Favorites – Tasha J’s Best Books of 2018 List
- Reader Favorites – Tasha J’s Best Books of 2019 List
- Reader Favorites – Tasha J’s Top 20 Books of 2020 List
➔➔➔ 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 😀
Hey Tasha,
I love your 2023 list of best reads! Looks like a great reading year. I also thought Book Lovers, Inheritance Games & Finlay Donovan #1 were great! Looking forward to reading Black Cake & Once Upon a Broken Heart. Thanks for recs!
Hey, thanks Mony! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.