Dear BookBrowsers,
In this issue, our last of 2022, we highlight the Top 20 Best Books of the Year as chosen by our subscribers, and among them our Award Winners. Two of the Top 20 are books that we have not previously featured but are pleased to bring you reviews of now,
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt and
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Both are insightful debut novels that portray women navigating uncertain situations and skillfully balance humor with gravity.
Remarkably Bright Creatures, a heartwarming story following widow Tova Sullivan and an octopus of unusual abilities named Marcellus, not only made the list by popular demand but emerged as the winner of our Best Debut award.
The Best Fiction award goes to
Horse by Pulitzer winner Geraldine Brooks, a complex novel combining dual timelines that explores aspects of racism, human relationships and the world of thoroughbred horse racing.
Amy Bloom's impactful memoir
In Love is the Best Nonfiction winner. Recently featured in our Best Nonfiction for Book Clubs in 2023, it follows the difficult journey undertaken by the author and her husband after his Alzheimer's diagnosis.
The full Top 20 list includes books from well-established writers, such as Barbara Kingsolver, Thrity Umrigar, Celeste Ng, Kate Atkinson and Maggie O'Farrell. It also includes notable debuts, such as
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, a family drama revolving around two siblings uncovering their mother's long-held secrets, and Dipo Faloyin's essay collection
Africa Is Not a Country, an incisive and irreverent portrayal of the African continent in modern times.
In addition to reviews of our Top 20 and accompanying Beyond the Book articles, this issue features some of the
best author interviews from 2022, including several with authors of our Best Books of the Year. Plus, you can read reviews selected from our recommended
titles for book clubs in 2023, and browse our
previews of upcoming releases for the rest of December and the beginning of January.
Also, try your hand at some bookish fun with our annual
Big Holiday Wordplay, a BookBrowse tradition for 21 years!
Thanks for being a BookBrowse member, and thank you to everyone who voted for the Top 20 this year!
Davina Morgan-Witts
BookBrowse Publisher
Read This Issue