The year 2022 was a remarkable one for books, with a diverse and exciting range of titles that have captivated readers across genres and themes. From award-winning fiction to moving memoir, from historical drama to futuristic thriller, from romance to mystery, the best-selling books of 2022 have something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a book to escape, to learn, to laugh, or to cry, you will find it among the top 10 best-selling books of 2022, based on the web search results. These books have been praised by critics and loved by readers, and have made an impact on the literary world and beyond. In this introduction, we will explore the top 10 best-selling books of 2022, and learn more about their authors, stories, and appeal.
One of the most anticipated books of the year was It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, a powerful and emotional novel that follows Lily Bloom, a young woman who falls in love with a neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid. But their relationship is tested by the reappearance of Lily’s first love, Atlas Corrigan, and by Ryle’s dark secrets1. This book was the highest-selling book of the year, with over 2.7 million copies sold, and it also won the Goodreads Choice Award for Romance. It Ends with Us is a book that tackles the difficult topic of domestic abuse, and shows the courage and resilience of its heroine.
Another book that captured the hearts of readers was Verity by Colleen Hoover, a gripping and twisted novel that revolves around Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is hired to finish the bestselling series of Verity Crawford, a famous author who is injured in a car accident. But as Lowen reads Verity’s unpublished manuscript, she uncovers shocking truths about Verity and her family1. This book was the second highest-selling book of the year, with over 2 million copies sold, and it also won the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller. Verity is a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you question everything you read.
One of the most acclaimed books of the year was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, a captivating and lyrical novel that tells the story of Kya Clark, a young girl who grows up alone in the marshes of North Carolina, after being abandoned by her family. She becomes a successful naturalist and author, but also a suspect in a murder case. This book was the fourth highest-selling book of the year, with over 1.8 million copies sold, and it also won the Book of the Year Award from the British Book Awards3. Where the Crawdads Sing is a book that celebrates the beauty of nature, the power of education, and the mystery of human nature.
One of the most thrilling books of the year was Dream Town by David Baldacci, a suspenseful and exciting novel that follows Archer, a private investigator and World War II veteran, who is hired by Eleanor Lamb, a screenwriter, to protect her from a mysterious threat. But when a body is found in Eleanor’s home and she disappears, Archer has to unravel a web of lies and secrets that involves the glamorous and dangerous worlds of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Hollywood4. This book was the fifteenth highest-selling book of the year, with over 600,000 copies sold, and it also received rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Dream Town is a book that transports you to the golden age of Hollywood, and keeps you guessing until the end.
One of the most popular books of the year was Atomic Habits by James Clear, a practical and insightful guide that shows how to build good habits and break bad ones, using the power of small changes. The book explains the science behind habit formation and provides strategies and tools to achieve your goals and improve your life. This book was the sixth highest-selling book of the year, with over 1.2 million copies sold, and it also became a New York Times bestseller and a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Atomic Habits is a book that helps you master your habits, and transform your life.
One of the most surprising books of the year was The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas, a debut novel that was self-published on Amazon. The book is a romantic comedy that follows Catalina, a Spanish woman who works as a scientist in New York. She needs a fake boyfriend to attend her sister’s wedding in Spain, and she convinces her annoying coworker, Aaron, to play the role. But as they pretend to be in love, they start to develop real feelings for each other. This book was one of the most talked-about books of the year, with over 100,000 ratings and reviews on Goodreads, and it also won the Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Novel. The Spanish Love Deception is a book that showcases the beauty of Spain, the charm of its culture, and the power of its love.
One of the most fun books of the year was It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover, a heart-wrenching and hopeful novel that follows Quinn and Graham, a married couple who met under unusual circumstances. But their love is threatened by the ghosts of their pasts, and by the choices they have to make for their future. This book was the third highest-selling book of the year, with over 1.8 million copies sold, and it also received glowing praise from readers and critics. It Starts with Us is a book that explores the complexities of marriage, and the strength of love.
One of the most steamy books of the year was Twisted Love by Ana Huang, a debut novel that was also self-published on Amazon. The book is the first in the Twisted series and follows Allison, a college student who has a crush on her best friend’s brother, Dylan. But Dylan is a notorious playboy, who has a secret BDSM lifestyle. When Allison accidentally discovers his secret, he offers to teach her the ropes, literally and figuratively. This book was one of the most-read books of the year, with over 80,000 ratings and reviews on Goodreads, and it also became a BookTok sensation. Twisted Love is a book that explores the dynamics of dominance and submission, trust and betrayal, and love and lust.
One of the most inspiring books of the year was The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, a memoir that chronicles her journey from the White House to the world stage, as she continues to advocate for the causes she cares about. The book also reveals her personal struggles and triumphs, as well as her reflections on the current state of the world. This book was the twelfth highest-selling book of the year, with over 700,000 copies sold, and it also became a New York Times bestseller and an Oprah’s Book Club pick. The Light We Carry is a book that shows the grace, wisdom, and courage of one of the most influential women of our time.
One of the most unique books of the year was November 9 by Colleen Hoover, a romantic novel that follows Fallon and Ben, two strangers who meet on November 9 and spend the day together. They decide to meet again on the same date every year, but they keep secrets from each other that could ruin their relationship. This book was the ninth highest-selling book of the year, with over 900,000 copies sold, and it also received high ratings and reviews from readers. November 9 is a book that plays with the concept of time, and the fate of love.
| Where the Crawdads Sing | Delia Owens | Historical Fiction | A captivating and lyrical novel that tells the story of Kya Clark, a young girl who grows up alone in the marshes of North Carolina, after being abandoned by her family. She becomes a successful naturalist and author, but also a suspect in a murder case. |
| Atomic Habits | James Clear | Self-Help | A practical and insightful guide that shows how to build good habits and break bad ones, using the power of small changes. The book explains the science behind habit formation and provides strategies and tools to achieve your goals and improve your life. |
| The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Historical Fiction | A dazzling and glamorous novel that reveals the life and secrets of Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood icon, who chooses an unknown magazine reporter, Monique Grant, to write her biography. But as Evelyn’s story unfolds, Monique realizes that their lives are connected in a shocking way. |
| The Midnight Library | Matt Haig | Fantasy | A novel that follows Nora Seed, a woman who finds herself in a library between life and death, where she can explore the books that contain the infinite possibilities of her unlived life. |
| The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue | V.E. Schwab | Fantasy | A novel that tells the story of Addie LaRue, a woman who makes a deal with the devil to live forever, but is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets, until she stumbles upon a young man who remembers her name. |
| The Vanishing Half | Brit Bennett | Historical Fiction | A novel that traces the lives of the Vignes twins, who run away from their small Southern town at age sixteen, and choose to live in different worlds: one as a black woman, the other as a white woman. |
| The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes | Suzanne Collins | Dystopian | A prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy, that focuses on the early life of Coriolanus Snow, the future president of Panem, as he mentors a tribute in the 10th Hunger Games. |
| The Testaments | Margaret Atwood | Dystopian | A sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, that takes place fifteen years later, and reveals the fate of Gilead and its oppressed citizens, through the testimonies of three women. |
| The Starless Sea | Erin Morgenstern | Fantasy | A novel that follows Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a graduate student who discovers a mysterious book that leads him to a hidden world of stories, secrets, and magic. |
| The Giver of Stars | Jojo Moyes | Historical Fiction | A novel that follows the lives of five women who become part of the Packhorse Library Project, delivering books to the remote areas of Kentucky during the Great Depression. |
