The 24 Best Books of the Year, According to BookTokers and Bookstagrammers

published Dec 25, 2022
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Whether you’re the type of person who’s always looking for their next read or someone who prefers to save up books for beach vacations and long flights, there’s never a bad time to add a few titles to your to-be-read pile (either a physical stack of books or just a list on your Goodreads account, of course). Now is an especially good time to do so, though, because according to seasoned readers and reviewers on Instagram and TikTok, 2022 was an excellent year for books!

From gripping coming-of-age novels to haunting short story collections, every type of reader can find a book to get excited about in the list below. Some books even got more than one mention, including “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin, a novel about two lifelong friends and video game designers who navigate success, creativity, and relationships over the course of 20-plus years. And for short story fans, multiple book influencers also mentioned “Bliss Montage” by Ling Ma, a “surreal” and “dreamlike” collection that will keep you hooked all the way through. 

Keep reading for more on the best books of 2022, according to 10 BookTokers and Bookstagrammers. 

Nina Haines, @nina.haines, @saphhlit

1 / 2
Bookshop
$15.81
was $17.00

“This is one of the most compelling and beautiful books I've ever read. It's the Gen Z version of ‘All About Love’ by bell hooks but it has more personal memoir elements and is contextualized within the social media economy and digital age.”

2 / 2
Bookshop
$16.54
was $17.98

“Loved this debut — it truly left me speechless. TLDR: A pandemic targets humans with a certain level of testosterone and turns them into zombies, and as a result, TERFs use this as an excuse to exercise transphobic violence and fascist rule in the post-apocalyptic aftermath, but trans women fight back!!”

Taylor Choi, @bookswithtay

1 / 3
Bookshop
$26.03
was $27.99

Such a fun romance! Set at a British university between two students who end up in a fake dating scheme, this story was full of heart and love while tackling some heavier subjects. A true rom-com in the best way.”

2 / 3
Bookshop
$26.04
was $28.00

A beautifully written story of friendship and love! Hard to describe exactly what this book is about, but we follow two best friends who design video games, and one of their games goes viral.”

3 / 3
Amazon
$14.99
was $19.99

This is a retelling of Shakespeare's ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ set in 1920s Shanghai about two star-crossed lovers from rival gangs who must work together to find out who is unleashing a monster in Shanghai. Such a gripping, emotional, romantic read!”

Mackenzie Newcomb, @mackinstyle, @badbitchbookclub

1 / 3
Bookshop
$18.59
was $19.99

“It's the story of two Pakistani-American teens who navigate adolescence, police brutality, and death together. It sounds really sad, and it is, but it's also a beautiful story of resilience, love, and forgiveness.”

2 / 3
Bookshop
$26.04
was $28.00

This is the book of the year, and I am sure I am among many to recommend it. It's about two people; Sam and Sadie, who meet as children and eventually become business partners and game designers. It takes place over the course of several decades and a number of cities. Even if you aren't a video gamer, this book will speak to you.”

3 / 3
Bookshop
$26.03
was $27.99

[This book] came out in January and has been criminally underrated ever since. The story follows Olga, a Puerto Rican New Yorker, during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria as she navigates her career, family, and identity."

1 / 3
Bookshop
$14.88
was $16.00

An Egyptian-American woman's stay in Cairo results in a tumultuous relationship with a local man and leads her to wonder about her identity and how she can be Egyptian when everyone in Egypt thinks of her as American. The novel's structure is perfectly experimental.”

2 / 3
Bookshop
$16.93
was $17.99

“A lawyer for institutionalized children battles her own family traumas and body disorders — this book has some great insights on chosen family, dating as a Black woman, and friendship, while also having some levity to balance out the deep topics.”

3 / 3
Bookshop
$22.32
was $24.00

“A man tries to write a book but people's opinions on Twitter and Instagram keep distracting him — a book for people who love plotless, cerebral, and self-indulgent writing.”

Jess Focht, @litcaptured

1 / 3
Amazon
$14.39

This was my first Sheila Heti novel, and my reading experience was everything I wanted out of a reading experience. It challenged me and made me stop to think deeply about big questions, while also holding my attention from beginning to end with stellar, witty prose.”

2 / 3
Bookshop
$26.04
was $28.00

The story of Cleo and Frank is one with a main plot and a lot of subplots simmering beneath the surface. I was fully absorbed in this portrayal of love and survival — how there's both sadness and excitement in one’s life and relationships as they grow and evolve.”

3 / 3
Bookshop
$26.04
was $28.00

This book perfectly and bizarrely captures the tumultuousness of the society we live in. Scattered through time and jumping from character to character, reading this book is a wild ride as Yuknavitch begs the reader to look at America's history — and future — through a different lens.”

1 / 3
Bookshop
$26.03
was $27.99

“My favorite read has been 'Babel' by R. F. Kuang because she has created such a masterful story that feels both sophisticated and entertaining. It is full of history and culture and effortlessly combines academia with fantasy.”

2 / 3
Bookshop
$16.93
was $17.99

“I've also loved ‘Legends & Lattes’ by Travis Baldree because of how much of a breath of fresh air it is for the genre. I've never read a fantasy that felt so grounded as this one does.”

3 / 3
Bookshop
$26.03
was $27.99

“And finally, I loved ‘Juniper & Thorn’ by Ava Reid. It's a dark and twisted interpretation of the Juniper Tree with beautiful prose and fantastic characterisation.”

Dakota Bossard, @dakotabossard

1 / 3
Bookshop
$24.18
was $26.00

“A stunning depiction of family dynamics, toxic female friendship, and the unraveling of women, ‘Mother in the Dark’ examines the most tender and painful aspects of growing up and how your upbringing seeps into adulthood no matter how far you run from home. This debut, in both the writing style and in the relationships between each character, still haunts me!”

2 / 3
Bookshop
$24.18
was $26.00

“Completely surreal and utterly memorable, this collection of short stories tackles very real themes of intimacy, escapism, and loneliness, but through dreamlike tales of party drugs that make you invisible, or houses that contain every person you've ever dated. I'm looking forward to revisiting this collection again and again.”

3 / 3
Bookshop
$25.11
was $27.00

“If you're a fan of academia, unreliable narrators, and unhinged women consumed with resentment and obsession, this one's for you. I absolutely loved the narrator and had no idea where she was taking me, but I loved every minute of it. I think the cover is perfectly representative of the book; you'll either love it or hate it (and in the best way!).”

1 / 3
Bookshop
$25.11
was $27.00

Ryan O'Connell's voice is so distinct and so hilariously gay! This book is the definition of un-put-down-able. It's funny, witty, full of pop culture references, and so, so gay.”

2 / 3
Bookshop
$15.80
was $16.99

The modern-day retelling of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ we all deserve. This reads like the perfect early 2000s rom-com made for a 2022 audience. It's got fashion, workplace drama, sisters galavanting through New York City... What more could you want?”

3 / 3
Bookshop
$25.11
was $27.00

"I needed a big hug after I finished this, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. This tells the story of a suburb through the lives of people who were othered by it. It had me crying, laughing, and confronting my own experience of suburban life. I wish I could read this for the first time again.”

​​Zoë Jackson, @zoes_reads

1 / 2
Bookshop
$26.04
was $28.00

“I am a sucker for a good campus novel! This one is about artists coming of age, messy bisexuals, and the Occupy movement.”

2 / 2
Bookshop
$24.18
was $26.00

“This is the first short story collection I’ve ever devoured in one night. These surrealist stories about family, friendship, and belonging in the 21st century are both eerie and moving.”

Lucia Gallipoli, @tenderpages

1 / 1
Bookshop
$24.18
was $26.00

“Gorgeous, no filler sentences, immediately gripping. The tension in this book was unreal (capital H: Hot). I will be looking for pieces of this book in every book I read for the foreseeable future!”