Top 5 Reads of 2022

Considering the year is a few weeks shy of being over, this is the longest it’s taken me to get a top reads post out! I got several requests for last year’s top books. Turns out with a newborn AND a toddler around and basically attached to you 24/7, typing out blog posts (let alone planning them) can be trying! I’m not the hustling kind, it turns out.

I’m already excited to share my top 2023 books - though I ended up listening to the majority of them, there were some really great ones that stood out. Let’s knock last year out first though!

(By the way, you can find even more of my favorites on my Amazon page here!)

Affiliate links are used in this post

1. The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

Truly the best non-fiction book I’ve read in a while. Reframed my thinking around gatherings of all sorts and helped me start thinking about how to make gatherings more intentional and meaningful. Highly recommend!

2. The Truth About Ben and June by Alex Kiester

Great fiction. The writing style was A++ as I’ve not encountered a book from two perspectives written as well as this was. Excellent writing aside, the story itself was gripping and heartbreaking and I was very satisfied with the ending.

3. The Great Sex Rescue: The LIes You’ve Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended by Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, Joanna Sawatsky

Finally, a Christian book that offers a healthy perspective on marriage and helps reframe unhealthy ways one may have been raised believing.

4. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

A fun historical fiction about five women running the traveling library in small-town Kentucky. An easy read and very interesting!

5. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Fun read of therapy from a therapist’s point of view. Strong language warning, but still a fascinating book.



I decided not to do a complete 2022 list this year, as these were my favorites anyway! You can check out my past book lists for favorites and I keep my Amazon storefront updated with favorite books as well.

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What were some of the best books you read in 2022? Were any of these on your list?

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My Word for 2023

Last year was a very successful year for my chosen word, wonder. I had a literal constant reminder stuck to me every single day of the year: my daughter. As she explored the world, I chose to wonder in it as well and it helped me to slow down and appreciate the little joys in life.

This next year, with a new addition on the way and many changes coming to our family, I wanted to choose something that would help as our foundation as our family is growing.

Build

“build

1) construct (something) by putting parts or material together.

2)make stronger or more intense.
”

This year, as we form a foundation, I want to continue being intentional about building our family in ways that uplift ourselves and those we encounter.

Building up others with my actions and words.
Building good habits that will last a lifetime.
Building a positive family environment.

…and more!

It’s the work of a lifetime, but something I want to focus on this year.

Here are some other words I have chosen in previous years:

2022: Wonder
2021: Create
2020: Growth
2019: Bold
2018: Liberation

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Did you choose a word for 2023? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

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Top 5 Reads of 2021

This is the longest it’s taken me to get a top reads post out! I got several requests for last year’s top books. Turns out with a newborn around and basically attached to you 24/7, typing out blog posts can be trying! If you checked out my complete reading list for 2021, you saw all the books I read. I enjoyed most of them, but these stood out. And if you were curious about what I didn’t like, I would not recommend the Baxter series if you aren’t willing to devote yourselves to the fictional family. I felt like I had to read them just because I needed closure - not because I particularly enjoyed them. I saw that a new Baxter book is coming out, but I will not be reading it, in case you were wondering. 

I’m already excited to share my top 2022 books - the year has started out great in terms of books! But first, 2021…

(By the way, you can find even more of my favorites on my Amazon page here!)

Affiliate links are used in this post

1. Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette (Out from Egypt #1)

This was great, though I did feel that some of the storylines should have been more complete. I loved the idea behind this book. If you like Biblical fiction, you’ll enjoy it too. Also, the cover art is just *chef’s kiss*

Get your copy here on Amazon.

2. Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette (Cities of Refuge #3)

This entire series is fantastic. I would suggest starting with the first book and making your way through, but I can’t *technically* choose number one to go on this list since I read it in 2020.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

3. Building a Story Brand: Clarify your message so that customers will listen by Donald Miller

An awesome business book that highlights the power of storytelling. Storytelling is near and dear to my heart. I also read Business made Simple by him and it was great. If you are starting a business, both of these books are very practical, helpful, and easy to implement!

Get your copy here on Amazon.

4. Boundaries in Marriage by Dr. Henry Cloud

A branch of the original Boundaries book (you can read my review of it here), but so worth the read. Super practical and offered a lot of food for thought.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

5. Dream Big by Bob Goff

It’s Bob Goff. It’s all good. No more to say other than he always makes my top lists when I read him in a year.

Get your copy here on Amazon.



If you want to see the complete list, check out this blog post here. I’ve enjoyed doing these book posts every year for the past couple of years.

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What were some of the best books you read in 2021? I'd love some recommendations for 2022!

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Books I Read in 2021

Bam. The year started out crazy busy and I thought to myself, “there is no way I’m going to get my reading done this year.” So I set out with a book goal of 30 for the year. Last year, due to stay-at-home orders and being able to work from my home office, reading was easier to get to, but from January to May this year, it was a struggle. However, come July, I realized that I hit my book goal of 30! I am not exactly sure how it happened, but it did.

I’ll be doing more book review-type posts in the future because I read some really great volumes this year, but for now, here is the much-requested book list. Please note that this is just a list of the books I read; I didn’t necessarily find them all great to read...you’ll have to wait for my top reads to find out which ones I loved :)

I use a combination of Libby (free library app - you just need a library card!) and Kindle Unlimited (use this link to try it free for 30 days!)  to read so that I don’t collect more books than I already own and spend more money than I should probably save. I’ll link the books below (affiliate links that help us keep Maple Alps going!) as well so you can grab your copies easily. You can find some other favorites of mine in my Amazon Storefront as well!

By the way, if you want to be friends on Goodreads, you can find me here! I finally updated my account.

This post contains affiliate links

Nonfiction

// 1. “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?” by Mindy Kaling (get your copy on Amazon here) // 2. “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown (get your copy on Amazon here) // 3. “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi (get your copy on Amazon here) // 4. “What to Eat When You’re Pregnant: How to Support Your Health and Your Baby’s Development During Pregnancy” by Nicole M. Avena (get your copy on Amazon here) // 5.“Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen” by Donald Miller (get your copy on Amazon here) // 6. “Business Made Simple: 60 Days to Master Leadership, Sales, Marketing, Execution, Management, Personal Productivity and More” by Donald Miller (get your copy on Amazon here) // 7. “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” by Ina May Gaskin (get your copy on Amazon here) // 8. “The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality” by Kimberly Ann Johnson (get your copy on Amazon here) //9. “My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress” by Rachel DeLoache Williams (get your copy on Amazon here) // 10. “Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really Is So Much More” by Courtney Carver (get your copy on Amazon here)

Christian Nonfiction

// 1. “I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman’s Encounter with God” by Bilquiz Sheikh (get your copy on Amazon here) // 2 . “Intended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage” by Ed Wheat (get your copy on Amazon here) //3. “Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It” by Bob Goff (get your copy on Amazon here) //4. “Boundaries in Marriage” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend (get your copy on Amazon here) //5. “Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been” by Jackie Hill Perry (get your copy on Amazon here)

Historical Fiction

// 1. “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr (get your copy on Amazon here) //2. “The German Girl” by Armando Lucas Correa (get your copy on Amazon here)

Baxter Family Series

// 1. “Take Two” (Above the Line, #2) by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here) // 2. “Take Three” (Above the Line, #3) by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here) // 3. “Take Four” (Above the Line, #4) by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here) // 4. “Leaving” (Bailey Flanigan, #1) by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here) // 5. “Learning” (Bailey Flanigan, #2) by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here) // 6. “Longing” (Bailey Flanigan, #3) by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here) // 7. “Loving” (Bailey Flanigan, #4) by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here) //8. “A Baxter Family Christmas” by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here) //9. “Coming Home” by Karen Kingsbury (get your copy on Amazon here)

Christian Fiction

// 1. “Shelter of the Most High” (Cities of Refuge #2) by Connilyn Cossette (get your copy on Amazon here) // 2. “Until the Mountains Fall” (Cities of Refuge #3) by Connilyn Cossette (get your copy on Amazon here) // 3. “The Truth Seeker” (O’Malley #3) by Dee Henderson (get your copy on Amazon here) // 4. “Like Flames in the Night” (Cities of Refuge #4) by Connilyn Cossette (get your copy on Amazon here) // 5. “Counted with the Stars” (Out From Egypt #1) by Connilyn Cossette (get your copy on Amazon here) //6. “Shadow of the Storm” (Out From Egypt #2) by Connilyn Cossette (get your copy on Amazon here) //7. “Wings of the Wind” (Out From Egypt #3) by Connilyn Cossette (get your copy on Amazon here) //8. “Judah’s Wife: A Novel of the Maccabees” (The Silent Years #2) by Angela Elwell Hunt (get your copy on Amazon here)

Non-Christian Fiction

// 1. “Forever Wild” (The Simple Wild, #2.5) by K.A. Tucker (get your copy on Amazon here)
//2.“Everything I Never Told You” By Celeste Ng (get your copy on Amazon here) //3. “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng (get your copy on Amazon here) //4. “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett (get your copy on Amazon here)

My Word for 2022

Two thousand and twenty-two.

When I was young, that year sounded far off, and somehow anything that far away had to mean there were flying cars as a standard. My car still does not fly, yet here we are.

2021 was a surprising year that entailed much. I quit my teaching job, read a few books, found out we were expecting (I didn’t think my word of last year, create, would manifest in that way!), traveled to five countries, gave birth, and all the while learned much about myself.

I’m really interested to know what this next year holds. I never know, and I’m always surprised, yet every year, I never fail to wonder. And what, pray tell, is this year’s chosen word?

Wonder

“wonder

1) a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.
”

While growing a tiny human, while everything was new and strange, I never really stopped to wonder. I was too distracted by the lists of things I should or shouldn’t eat, do, or think (yes, think, because someone tried to convince me that any passing negative thoughts were somehow going to ruin my unborn child.).

This year, I want to reclaim that and wonder at the world. I want to see it in a new light - and I think with Baby Z, it will be especially fun to see things in her eyes - everything really is new to her! I want to stop and acknowledge and wonder at the beauty that is the life gifted to me.

Here are some song lyrics to a favorite song:

May we never lose our wonder
May we never lose our wonder
Wide-eyed and mystified
May we be just like a child
Staring at the beauty of our King

'Cause You are beautiful in all Your ways…

“Wonder” Bethel Music

Here is to a year of wonder!

And in case you’re interested, here are some other words I have chosen in previous years:

2021: Create
2020: Growth
2019: Bold
2018: Liberation

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Did you choose a word for 2022? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

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