Apartment Therapy Staffers’ 5 Favorite Books of 2022
The holidays are the perfect time to grab a chunky blanket and bubbling hot cocoa and dive headfirst into a book without emerging for hours. If that sounds enticing, but you don’t have anything binge-worthy in your TBR pile, keep reading. Here, Apartment Therapy staffers share the 2022 books they couldn’t get enough of.
“The best book I read this year was ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin. It’s about two friends who make video games together, and I loved it in spite of being a video game noob. The writing is so beautiful and thoughtful, and transports you to the relatively simple time of the ’90s and early ’00s while weaving in themes about love, friendship, being mixed-race, living in New York and LA, Judaism, and having a creative mind. I’m so sad it’s over and wish I could play the games they made in the book!” —Terri Pous, Managing Editor
“‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ is an exquisitely told tale of friendship between two game designer business partners that spans decades from childhood to adulthood. I’m not someone who plays a lot of video games, but the main characters’ relationship transcends the subject matter, and it’s a brilliant look at how to show up and care for the people in your life through different seasons.” —Tara Bellucci, News & Culture Director
“I’m in the middle of reading ‘Token Black Girl‘ by Danielle Prescod, and although a lot of her personal points of view are specific to Black millennial women, I’ve really enjoyed the read. It’s refreshing to read her chapters dedicated to being a Black woman in the journalism industry, and I can’t wait to finish it! Plus, she just released some really cute merch that matches her book so well.” —Noella Williams, Assistant Editor, News & Culture
“My book club and I read ‘Olga Dies Dreaming’ by Xochitl Gonzalez this fall, and I loved how the book came together — I stayed up ’til 1 a.m. to finish it, I couldn’t put it down! It tells the story of a Puerto Rican woman named Olga and the complicated relationship she has with her family, her hometown in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, and her successful job as a wedding planner to super wealthy clients. It starts off as one thing, a hardworking woman who meets a guy at a bar, and turns into a really wise examination of family, societal, and political ties. …Yep, I was impressed, too.” —Kelly Dawson, Deputy Editor
“If there’s one book I devoured this year, it was Peng Shepherd’s ‘The Cartographers.’ Following her father’s death, Nell discovers a secret map that leads her on a dangerous journey filled with family secrets, murder, and a dose of magic all wrapped up in twisty layers for an incredibly fun read. Also doesn’t hurt that there’s a bit of romance in there, too.” —Sarah M. Vazquez, Commerce SEO Editor
“Crummy weather makes me want to curl up with a feel-good book, and our most recent stormy day had me reaching for this sophomore novel from one of my favorite NPR personalities, Linda Holmes. (Her first, “Evvie Drake Starts Over,” was a top read for me back in 2020.) “Flying Solo” is a comfort read at its finest, filled with with warm and relatable characters who seem to genuinely like each other (and who I liked, too). But it’s not an empty read: Bits of wisdom about second chances, independence, and identity pepper this sweet story, which had me genuinely smiling to myself as I read it. The ending felt like a big hug — just what you need during the cold days of winter.” —Megan Baker Detloff, Home Projects Director