BOOKS

2022 is here, which means we have less than 365 days to tackle our TBRs.

Whether you went on a reading spree in 2021 or your New Year's resolution is to do some *serious* reading, look no further. We've got 12 books (one per month, ofc!) from different genres, old and new, that are sure to captivate you all year long.

January

Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns features Quentin Jacobsen, a high school senior and neighbor to the elusive Margot Roth Spiegelman, a girl who has been his greatest mystery for quite some time. When Margot goes missing, it's up to Quentin to make sense of the cookie crumb clues she left behind. This novel is filled with mystery (plus a dash of romance and adventure).
Goodreads rating: 3.8 ⭐

February

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

No better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a friends-to-lovers, fake-dating trope, right? Follow Bree Camden, a ballet teacher, as she grapples with the many challenges that come with having a professional quarterback as her best friend. Throw a PR-stunt relationship in the mix, and things are bound to get complicated.
Goodreads rating: 3.8 ⭐

March

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Meet 12-year-old Willow Chance, a genius girl who finds peace in counting by 7s. When her relationship with her parents takes a dramatic turn, Willow is thrown out of her comfort zone and must learn to navigate life differently than before. Luckily, she has a seriously amazing support system to lean on along the way. 
Goodreads rating: 4.16 ⭐

April

Uglies by Scott Westerfield

The first book in an exciting dystopian series, Uglies follows Tally as she nears the operation that will turn her into a Pretty, AKA the luxury-loving upper class. She meets a new friend, Shay, who opens Tally's eyes to a whole different side of their society. When faced with the choice to lose her friend or stay an Ugly forever, what will Tally choose?
Goodreads rating: 3.85 ⭐

May

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Joy Luck Club follows four Chinese-American daughters as they reminisce about their childhoods and embark on the continuous struggle to keep their Chinese mothers proud. Of course, it's hard to please a person whose life you know hardly anything about. As each mother-daughter pair works through their cultural and emotional gaps, captivating stories, both old and new, emerge. 
Goodreads rating: 4 ⭐

June

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Summer in Tuscany sounds like a dream, right? That's anything but the case for Lina, who is only there per her mother's wishes. She's thrown into a rocky relationship with her distant father and wants nothing more than to hop on the next flight home...until she discovers her mother's old journal. Filled with secrets and adventure, Love and Gelato is a fun summer read.
Goodreads rating: 4⭐

July

Becoming by Michelle Obama

In her memoir, world-famous girlboss and former First Lady Michelle Obama takes readers through her childhood in Chicago up until her current life. Have your highlighter ready, because she drops some pretty insightful truth bombs along the way. TBH, this book is pretty jam-packed. The audiobook version is a good alternative if you want to sit back and relax (plus, it's narrated by Michelle herself!). 
Goodreads rating: 4.5 ⭐

August

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

To balance out July's nonfiction pick, your August read is Keeper of the Lost Cities. It follows Sophie Foster, a 12-year-old girl who can hear people's thoughts. This ability has never been easy for her to explain. Enter: Fitz. He can hear thoughts too, and helps Sophie discover another world. The mystery lingers: Why was Sophie hidden among humans in the first place?
Goodreads rating: 4.4 ⭐

September

Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin Manuel Miranda

School is fully in session, so here's a light read that will boost your back-to-school spirits. Written by Lin Manuel Miranda (you know him from Hamilton, In the Heights and, most recently, Encanto), the book is a mix of his tweets and some original content. Read a "Good Morning" message and a "Good Night" send-off each day—and you're basically guaranteed good vibes. 
Goodreads rating: 4.3 ⭐

October

Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

Dark and Shallow Lies is a spooky szn must-have. From a missing person to psychics in a town with shady history, it has everything a good mystery needs. It takes place in Louisiana, the perfect bayou backdrop for the supernatural. Did we mention there's a murderer on the loose? You might want to read this one when it's still light out.
Goodreads rating: 4 ⭐

November

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Leave it to a classic book like Little Women to get you in the cozy holiday spirit. Whether you're reading it for the story or the aesthetic, Little Women is the gift that keeps on giving. Follow the March sisters as they come of age, put on shows for their closest friends and family, burn each others' hair off and fall in love. Before you know it, you'll have a favorite sister and a desperate need to achieve the academia aesthetic. 
Goodreads rating: 4 ⭐

December

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Follow Vivian and her sister for the holidays as they venture to the UK to take in all the ah-mazing British sights...including Malcolm Hudson, an employee of the Queen herself. When things between Vivian and Malcolm go from 0 to 100 very quickly, Vivian has to assess the sitch before time runs out on their holiday fling. A lighthearted romance novel is *just* what you need while you're waiting for Christmas to arrive.
Goodreads rating: 3.5⭐

Can't get enough book recs? We know the feeling. Check out these posts:
📖 Book recommendations based on your favorite TV shows 
📖 We've gathered our *fave* feminist classics for your next read
📖 Take this quiz to find your next book obsession

Follow GL's Bestie Book Club on Insta for more go-to book content @glbestiebookclub!

GIF via Giphy
Book images via Goodreads
Slider via @stephbohrer

by Riley Yates | 1/21/2022