Lowell Reading Club: Our Favorite Books of 2022

Yesterday, we talked about our favorite local experiences, food and media from the past year. Today, it’s all about books. Reading has been a favorite hobby for both of us, and here’s a look at some of our top reads for 2022.

Amanda’s Favorite Books

I read 40 books in 2022 – a ways off from my goal of 60. I completed 27 books through March and then only added 13 more to finish out the year. Life obligations got in the way that kept me from reading as much as I would have liked. Below are three books I read this year that stuck out to me for one reason or another.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
5.0 out of 5.0

I loved this book, although much of it felt quite depressing. The characters and what they were going through drew me into this young adult novel. (Note: All Amazon links are affiliate links.)

It’s 1989 in Romania. Cristian is 17 and lives in a country that tells him how to live and what to think. He lives in fear of not being able to speak his mind. He’s faced with government spies lurking about its citizens. He lives wondering who he knows who has become an informant for his government.

But Cristian does not want to be held back. He writes his thoughts on what it’s truly like living in Romania and wonders how he can let the rest of the world know what is happening.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
5.0 out of 5.0

This is a mystery/suspense with a paranormal/ghost element included. It’s a slow-burn kind of page-turner but enough happens in the plot that kept me interested.

The Book of Cold Cases is split between two timelines. In 2017, Shea is a cold case blogger that spends her time outside of her normal job writing about unsolved murders. In 1977, Beth is charged with murdering two people but is later acquitted.

Shea has the opportunity to interview Beth and jumps at the chance to get more insight into a decades-old crime from the person who was accused. The two women have their own quirks and things from their past that they keep hidden. Why does Beth decide to talk to Shea? Will Shea get the scoop she’s looking for and be able to solve a crime that hasn’t been resolved?

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
4.0 out of 5.0

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a somewhat creepy, mysterious atmosphere about it. The characters were okay and the plot generally kept me interested. I’d consider this book a slow-burn type of mystery. And it’s not a whodunnit type of plot but what did the main character do to get where he is when the story starts.

Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter live on their own in a secluded cabin in the woods of the Appalachian Mountains. They live off the land and have supplies brought to them once a year. They have no contact with anyone other than when supplies are obtained by a friend and when the odd neighbor a distance away shows up.

Something happened in Cooper’s past to make him have to live on his own with Finch. And he must decide if leaving the safety of the cabin is worth it to get supplies when his friend Jake doesn’t show up with supplies to get them through the winter.

The story of Cooper’s past is slowly revealed. The reader wonders what’s up with Scotland, the hermit neighbor who likes to appear unannounced at random times. Cooper and Finch are thriving and surviving but will it last?

There were some plot holes that I wondered about but overall if I ignored those I enjoyed the book. Parts of it are an emotional ride.

Maryalene’s Favorite Books

I didn’t hit my reading goal this year either. I was shooting for 75 and am at only 66 as of this writing. About 10% of those ended up being 5-star reviews, and I’ve included a mix of genres below. Runners-up would be Your Money or Your Life and Open. I also highly recommend The 36-Hour Day for anyone who has a loved one with dementia.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
5 out of 5 stars

This book has been on my to-read list for ages, but I never got around to it because it felt like work. It seemed like the type of book you should read or that you would have to read as a class assignment. And certainly, that’s why I finally cracked it open – because it felt like an “important” book to knock off my list. But it ended up being an engaging story of a girl and her brother growing up poor in Brooklyn near the start of the 20th Century. It was sad and hopeful and left me thinking about it long after I finished the last page.

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
5 out of 5 stars

I listened to this on audio so the experience might be different if you pick up a physical copy. First published in 1959, this nonfiction book tells the narrative of Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated attempt to traverse Antarctica. Unfortunately, they never made it to the continent; their ship sank, and they spent a year LIVING ON THE ICE.

I only half listened to the first section when they introduced all the members of the voyage, but once they hit troubled waters, I was hooked. From my GoodReads review:

Most AMAZING survival story ever!!!

I can’t believe the ingenuity and fortitude of these men. I would give this 10 stars if Goodreads would let me.

Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane
5 out of 5 stars

And now for something completely different: a thriller about a perfect wife and her controlling husband who happens to go missing. Pretty Little Wife had some twists in it, but I don’t remember being totally surprised by the ending. I do remember thinking it was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. However, it needs all sorts of trigger warnings for domestic and emotional abuse. If you are an HSP (highly-sensitive person), you might want to skip this one.