It’s time for my annual shout-out to my favorite new-to-me authors of 2022! Some of these are indie authors, while others are mainstream; but they are all authors that I read for the first time this year. This year I was surprised by how many different genres I ended up reading, so you’ll find a mixture of non-fiction as well as fiction listed here as well. Hoping you find some new authors to discover and add to your TBR for 2023!
Kaylie Night – The Gemini Project series
This story is contemporary, dealing with issues such as foster care and adoption, but it’s laced with the supernatural premise of twins having secret super powers. I loved how the author continued to grow her world throughout the series as she brings in more characters and storylines while still keeping her primary set of twins in the forefront. There’s some elements of thriller and mystery to each of the books, but I mostly love the themes of found family that the author highlights in such an excellent way!
Bessel van der Kolk – The Body Keeps the Score
This stand alone book is an excellent deep dive into the effects of various types of trauma on the human body. The author does an excellent job describing his own work with victims of trauma, and he shares the long history of dealing with victims of PTSD and other mental illnesses. I enjoyed the practical techniques that he shared throughout the book and that he dove into in great detail in the later chapters. Highly recommend for anyone looking to understand modern techniques for helping the body heal in order to facilitate the healing of the mind.
Joanne Fluke – Hannah Swenson Mystery series
I can’t say enough about this cozy mystery series! It’s perfect for any cozy mystery fans, but especially if you enjoy reading cookbooks or discovering new recipes. The author shares all kinds of fun recipes for cookies, cakes, and more throughout each book which is a fun break between all the small town sleuthing. Plus, there’s a feisty orange cat and a love triangle; so what more could one ask for?
Nanea Hoffman – Affirmations for Anxiety Blobs (Like You & Me)
Another stand alone book that I discovered at a local independent bookstore was this one, and it was truly a hilarious and encouraging reminder for anyone who struggles at times with anxiety. I thoroughly enjoyed the comics which illustrated the various quotes in the book, and the words themselves were thoughtful, easy reminders to keep pressing on through difficult times. It’s the perfect coffee table book for anyone looking for a little bit of comical encouragement.
Tasuya Endo – Spy x Family manga series
I binged watched the first season of this anime a few months ago, and I knew immediately I had to read the series. It’s equally as hilarious as the show that introduced me to these characters: a spy with an immediate need for a fake family to pull off a mission, an assassin who needs a husband to stay under the radar, and a telepathic orphan desperate for entertainment. Filled with absurd situations and frequent misunderstandings, this comedic series is the perfect way for me to end my 2022 reading year.
Naoko Takeuchi – Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon manga series
Although I’ve watched both the 90’s anime and the more recent Sailor Moon Crystal series several times over the years, I’ve never read the original manga in its entirety. It lives up to the hype with beautiful illustrations, magical fights, and irresistible romance that spans the ages. This most recent republication comes in a handy portable size, and I’m looking forward to completing my collection as the remaining volumes come out in the next few years.
Allison Tebo – Tales of Ambia series
I’ve only read the first book in this series so far; but its humorous characters are ones I’m looking forward to revisiting in the rest of the stories. The voices of the characters come to life and jump off the page. While I’ve read a wide variety of fairytale retellings, it’s always nice to find a different take on these familiar stories.
S. J. Pratt – The 716
This debut novel was an interesting read for me with its themes of feminism and flipping traditional gender roles on their heads. I loved the not-so-subtle nods to behaviors that society takes for granted; but what really captivated me was the main characters themselves. The world they work to save may be broken, but they can see the potential of a world where everyone is free to follow the passions and giftings they’ve been given regardless of the situation they were born into. I’ll be intrigued to see where the author takes this next!
Joshua Kapusinski – The Awakening
One of my most recent reads was a surprising favorite for me! It is a debut novel that dives into a sci-fi world of the future where humanity has conquered death, for the most part. A side effect of this wonder working scientific discovery however is the creation of “psychics” that are currently fighting an underground revolution to gain their rightful place along the humans of society. It’s an interesting premise with some intriguing characters on different sides of the fight; plus I’m always a fan of dueling with sci-fi swords.
C.G. Drews – The Boy Who Steals Houses
This cute contemporary story has relatable characters working through classic problems that come along with growing up, as well as dealing with complicated issues like family issues, poverty, and special needs teenagers. I really enjoyed this story, and it tugged at my heartstrings more than once. It’s been on my TBR list for several years, and I’m sooo glad I finally got around to reading it!
Kathleen Bird 