Book Chatter – A Kernel of Nonsense

The End of the Year Book Survey was created by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner and gives readers a chance to look back on their reading and blogging journey. Surprisingly, I read a whole lot in 2022. I got really into audiobooks this year which allowed me to pick up more books than usual. I haven’t read so much in about ten years. Also surprisingly, I didn’t read a lot of fantasy. Even though it is my favorite genre, I found it hard to concentrate on these books and ended up reading more contemporary and romance novels. Covers linked to Goodreads.

**Friends, some of you know I had a family member end up in the hospital in November. We ended up there again at the beginning of December and again a few days ago. Hopefully, they have finally figured out what is wrong and we are just waiting for next steps. The hospital is inundated right now, so we have no idea if they will even get a room. I am currently with them and unable to devote any time to the blog, so I letting this post go up without editing it one last time and it will also act as a hiatus announcement. I don’t know when I will be back. Would appreciate all your positive thoughts. See you all soon**

2022 READING STATS

Number Of Books You Read: 100 (counting my current read which I will be finishing today)
Number of Re-Reads: 7
Genre You Read The Most From: YA contemporary, followed closely by adult romance

1. Best Book You Read In 2022?

This is such a hard question because I read a good amount of five-star reads this year. I have been pretty consistent in naming Sonora Reyes’s The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School as my favorite read of the year and I am going to stick to this answer here. This book made me really emotional and I was just so impressed with the writing in this debut.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I had a few disappointing reads this year. They weren’t all bad, but I expected more from them. One that comes to mind is A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña. I wanted to like this one more, but in the end it felt really mediocre and I really wasn’t a fan of any of the supporting characters which was a shame as this one is supposed to heavily focus on family.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

I mentioned really getting into audiobooks this year, but I also picked up a variety of manga for the first time. Most surprising was how hard I fell in love with Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama. The artwork in this one is simply mesmerizing and I adore Coco so much. I’ve only read three volumes, but I own eight of them. I am INVESTED.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I have been pushing The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School since I read it and if you haven’t read it yet, please take this as a sign. READ IT!!!

5. Best series you started in 2022? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2022?

I was pretty terrible at continuing and finishing series this year. I did start quite a few, but my answers for this question are pretty limited. For best series I started, I am going with The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah. I think this first book has a lot of potential and I am eager to see where these characters’ stories go from here. For best sequel, it has to be Sonali Dev’s Recipe for Persuasion. This second book in the series was pretty much everything I’d hoped for in a romance book. I’m pretty confident that this will remain my favorite even after reading the next two in the series. Best series ender was a difficult question because I really didn’t finish any series, but I am going with S.K. Ali’s Love from Mecca to Medina. It’s the second book in her Love from A to Z duology.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2022?

Does it count if the author is a debut? I suppose we all discover them when they debut. One debut author I was really impressed with was Erin A. Adams. Her adult horror debut, Jackal, was eerie and multi-layered. I can’t wait for more!

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Going to have to mention Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atlier. Manga is not something I regularly picked up until this year and as I’ve said before, this is my favorite so far.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Chelsea Abdullah’s The Stardust Thief kept me on the edge of my seat. Great world-building. Great action. Great twists and turns.

9. Book You Read In 2022 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

I adored The Very Secret Society of Witches by Sangu Mandanna so much. I feel like it is just the perfect cozy, comfort read, worthy of a second, third, or fourth reading.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2022?

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega has such a dynamic cover. I love it and the book ever so much.

11. Most memorable character of 2022?

One character who really stands out to me is Parvin from Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi. I love when characters leap off the pages. Parvin is so vibrant and full of life.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2022?

I named an Anna-Marie McLemore book last year for this question and I am going to do so again. Lakelore is a very quiet novel, but it’s so beautifully written with the utmost care.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2022?

Hands down it was The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio. An incredible, necessary read.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2022 to finally read?

I picked up Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun finally and it was incredible! I wish I had found time to pick up the sequel.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2022?

You’ll have to excuse me, I was awful at recording quotes this year.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2022?

My longest read was Junji Ito’s Tomie and shortest was Inheritance by Elizabeth Acevedo and Andrea Pippins.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Cherish Farrah by Bethany C. Morrow was pretty shocking.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Joy and Fox from Claire Kann’s The Romantic Agenda brought me so much happiness. I would gladly throw myself in a fire for them (figuratively speaking).

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The Forger family from Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo is incredibly chaotic and charming.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2022 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

I loved Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. Once again, SMG proves she can write ANYTHING.

21. Best Book You Read In 2022 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

I picked up Hearstopper by Alice Oseman because of all the hype surrounding the release of the show. I actually haven’t watched the show yet because I wanted to read all the graphic novels first and I just caught up.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2022?

None that immediately come to mind.

23. Best 2022 debut you read?

Going to go with a debut I haven’t mentioned yet and that is Isabel Cañas’s The Hacienda. What a great horror novel. Fantastic characters. Eerie atmosphere. Dynamic writing.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

This is probably a tie between The Stardust Thief and Black Sun.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse was such a fun middle grade novel, as was Join the Club, Maggie Diaz by Nina Moreno.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2022?

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School definitely made me cry.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Sarah Dass’s Where the Rhythm Takes You is such a gem. I have not come across enough bloggers who have read this wonderful Persuasion retelling.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Alas, I don’t think my soul was crushed in 2022. I read too many happy books, I suppose.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2022?

Ring Shout by P. Djéli Clark is one of the most unique novels (novellas) I’ve ever read.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

The way I disliked a certain character from her first appearance in It Sounds Like This by Anna Meriano. Let’s just say I would not be as forgiving as the lead character is.

1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2021?

I followed Dini @ Dinipandareads early this year and she is truly such a delight and so generous.

2. Favorite post you wrote in 2022?

You are really testing my memory right now and to be honest, I feel like I wasn’t the most creative blogger this year. So I am going to go with Talk Chisme to Me: 2023 Releases by Latine Authors I’m Excited For just so I can boost all these amazing sounding books.

This is probably one of my simpler setups, but I really like how my photo for Erin E. Adam’s Jackal came out. Side note, I could not take a bad picture of this cover. It photographs so well.

4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?

I caught a couple of virtual interviews this year. I am really bad at remembering when they are happening.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2022?

One of the highlights of this year was receiving an ARC box of Amparo Ortiz’s upcoming novel, Last Sunrise in Eterna.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

The end of this year was really rough for my family and every bad thing seemed to happen at once. This also coincided with my end of the year hiatus, so it kind of feels like I haven’t had a proper break. I am quite literally getting this post done at the last minute and am finding it really difficult to keep up with the blog right now. I hope things improve in the new year.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Book Lists: Twenty-Two 2022 Middle Grade Books To Be Excited For was surprisingly my most popular post this year.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I need more people to read Mini-Reviews: Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 + A Pho Love Story. Both of these were five-star books and you need to know why!

I can’t think of anything off the top of my head.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Not only did I complete my Goodreads goal, I doubled it!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2022 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2022?

All of them. Haha, I’m kidding (I’m not). I’m going to say The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson. I’ve loved all her books and have high hopes for this one. Sad I didn’t get a chance to read it yet.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2023 (non-debut)?

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has another novel coming out in 2023, Silver Nitrate, which I am highly anticipating.

3. 2023 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I am very excited about The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2023?

I can’t wait for The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah!

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2023?

I want to return to fantasy books in 2023. I didn’t pick up enough this year and feel like I missed out on so many.

I have a few 2023 ARCs, but have not had the time to read them.

What was your favorite read in 2022? What book surprised you? What do you plan your first read to be in 2023? Let’s discuss in the comments and leave a link to any end of the year post you’ve put together for me to visit!

I’m back from my hiatus a week later than expected. Y’all, November was the most exhausting month. One of my close family members got really sick and after being on two different antibiotics had to be admitted to the hospital with an infection that was resistant to said antibiotics. They were there a few days and then had to be put on another antibiotic at home. It was a really nasty infection that they are still recovering from. On top of that, we had our heater fail, a bathroom flood, and the water heater give out all in the span of a week and a half. So, yeah, I’m pretty exhausted and that’s why I ended up giving myself another week off from the blog. It actually does feel good to be back and I’m just hoping nothing else goes wrong as we close out the year. If you can believe it, I still read seven books in November which is basically a miracle. It’s a miracle that’s gotten me pretty close to 100 books for the year, so I’m going to go for it. I haven’t been able to read a physical book in a couple of weeks, but I’m still flying through audiobooks and I’m going to ride that wave all the way into 2023.

Favorite Book in October:

I read one of my favorite books of the year in November. I’m so glad I waited to pick up Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. This fantasy romance was pretty much perfect and exactly what I needed at the time. It was quirky and magical and charm personified. If you love cozy fantasy reads, put this one at the top of your TBR! Cover linked to Goodreads.

Least Favorite Book This Month:

No book received less than three stars from me.

Other Books I read in October:

(Covers linked to Goodreads.)

✿ It Sounds Like This by Anna Meriano

✿ Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron

✿ I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

✿ Witch Hat Atelier, #3 by Kamome Shirahama

✿ Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho

✿ Heartstopper, #4 by Alice Oseman

Reviews Posted:

(Covers linked to reviews)

No reviews posted this month.

Notable Blog Posts:

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Series I’d Like to Finish Sometime Soon – Let’s call ourselves out! Not my favorite kind of post to make, but maybe a necessary one.

Give a Book Tag – Love that I got a chance to do this book tag before I went on a hiatus.

What I Watched/Am Watching:

Persuasion – I put this one off because of what everyone was saying, but I needed a distraction at the time, so decided to finally watch it. It met all my disappointing expectations. I feel like they wanted to make Anne Elliot Elizabeth Bennet and thus missed an opportunity to showcase probably the gentlest of Jane Austen’s heroines. Every time Anne broke the fourth wall was like a jump scare. I do think this could have worked better if it wasn’t a Persuasion adaptation and was something completely new.

20th Century Girl – This movie completely broke me. I am still recovering. I went into this thinking it was a cute love story that would make my heart ache just a bit. I was wrong! It’s been a while since I’ve cried so much watching something. If you are in need of a really good cry, this is the one for you.

December Releases I’m Excited For:

(Covers linked to Goodreads.)

I have no December releases on my TBR?!?!

What December releases are on your radar? What are you planning to read to close out the year? Let me know in the comments and be sure to leave a link to your own wrap-up post, so I can visit!