Goodreads Members' Top 72 Hit Books of the Year (So Far)

Posted by Cybil on June 6, 2022


We’re halfway through 2022—that seemed awfully fast, didn’t it?—so it’s time once again for our annual check-in of Goodreads’ most popular new books of the year (so far).
 
The listings below represent the books that have generated the most interest and enthusiasm from Goodreads members in the first half of the year. The editorial team measures this by tallying up reader reviews and watching how often a particular title is added to readers’ Want to Read lists. We’ve also limited the selections to books that have a 3.5-star or better average star rating.
 
As of this writing, Goodreads has more than 140 million members worldwide, so the number crunching can get pretty serious. This time around, we’ve also chopped up the results by genre.
 
Scroll over the covers to learn more about each book, and be sure to add the books that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf!
 

Fiction

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

Mystery & Thriller

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

Romance

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

Young Adult

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

Nonfiction

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12




What are some of your favorite reads so far this year from your 2022 Reading Challenge? Let us know in the comments!

   

Comments Showing 101-150 of 288 (288 new)


message 101: by Bibi Souza (new)

Bibi Souza YEP! Robbie wrote: "I don't trust any list that once had The Midnight Library as #1"


message 102: by Brad (new)

Brad Do not choose what to read based on this list.


Cozy Reading Times weird how this is once again not a list of highest rated books but only most read books... you can't name it "favourite books" when the average rating doesn't reflect that.


message 104: by Terri (new)

Terri Sadly, the non-fiction list is lame.


message 105: by Sebastian (new)

Sebastian Add a history section!


message 106: by Sebastian (new)

Sebastian Very obvious this site is mostly used by Americans ^^


message 107: by Lindsay (new)

Lindsay Fouts Please show children's books, middle grade, picture books, please!


message 108: by Bryan (last edited Jun 16, 2022 10:56AM) (new)

Bryan These lists have been getting worse and worse.
Don't see much here that looks appealing, which should not be surprising of a list made from the most "want to read" books (and of course, their magic algorithm) instead of books actually read and from ratings. Jesus, Goodreads. 11 men to 62 women...


message 109: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Why no picture books or middle grade fiction??


message 110: by Gail (last edited Jun 16, 2022 01:36PM) (new)

Gail The Last Celestials by Becca Mionis
The Last Celestials by Becca Mionis. Perfect fluffy summer romance/sci-fi read! If you like indy authors/music and cute romance you'll like this debut novel.


message 111: by Erin (new)

Erin Robbie wrote: "I don't trust any list that once had The Midnight Library as #1"

Agreed haha


message 112: by Kimberly (new)

Kimberly Purcell David wrote: "Add Horror!"
Yes!!! I don't know why they are leaving this one out. Same with Audible. They don't have a separate section for it either.


message 113: by Sharon (new)

Sharon Umbaugh Robbie wrote: "I don't trust any list that once had The Midnight Library as #1"

I hear ya on that one! I couldn't finish it.


message 114: by Sharon (new)

Sharon Umbaugh Janet wrote: "Eleanor wrote: "Robbie wrote: "I don't trust any list that once had The Midnight Library as #1"

Well, The Midnight Library is rated 4.05 on Goodreads, so a lot of people must love it. Just because..."

When I see "instant bestseller"—even before it's published—I know its the words of the publisher.


message 115: by Alan (new)

Alan David wrote: "Add Horror!"

Hellz yeah!


message 116: by Julianna Noelle (new)

Julianna Noelle Tony wrote: "And how about a category for European and Nordic genres?????"
If we add a category for European and Nordic genres, shouldn't we also add categories for African genres, Southeast Asian/Northwest African, Asian, Australian, and South American? And more, too.


message 117: by Mhollie (new)

Mhollie Where are the paranormals?


message 118: by Mhollie (new)

Mhollie Tony wrote: "Please separate Science fiction from the Fantasy genre... we keep begging."

Absolutely! Totally different genres.


message 119: by Serewyn (new)

Serewyn Nice list! The Romance section however now seems to be officially high-jacked by teens/young adults =(


message 120: by Samantha (new)

Samantha Amélie wrote: "Tony wrote: "Please separate Science fiction from the Fantasy genre... we keep begging."

OMG yes please!"


Oh gosh definitely, please!


message 121: by Mary (new)

Mary Young Adults should be divided into genres too.


message 122: by Suzanne (new)

Suzanne Daniel Eleanor wrote: "Robbie wrote: "I don't trust any list that once had The Midnight Library as #1"

Well, The Midnight Library is rated 4.05 on Goodreads, so a lot of people must love it. Just because you didn't enjo..."


I totally agree Eleanor. We all have different tastes. Thank goodness!


message 123: by preru ♡ (new)

preru ♡ man, can't wait to read all of these~! :p<3


message 124: by Cathy (new)

Cathy Tageson Carolyn wrote: "We won't be halfway thru the year until the end of June"

As an elementary school teacher, it feels like we were halfway through the year two years ago. LoL


message 125: by Amy the book-bat (new)

Amy the book-bat Sara wrote: "I've only read one of these so far - Run Rose Run - but several others are on my wait list at the library. I have to say I didn't care much for Run Rose Run - it was disappointing."

I liked that the audiobook featured Dolly Parton and wasn't too bad. I might not have liked it as much if I had just read it straight. The Vegas stuff was a little much.


message 126: by Amy the book-bat (new)

Amy the book-bat David wrote: "Add Horror!"

Horror got its own list: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...


message 127: by Patricia (new)

Patricia When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer is so far my favorite read of 2022!


message 128: by Patricia (new)

Patricia Theresa wrote: "Where is the Historical Fiction?????"
YEAH!


message 129: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Horror please


message 130: by Mhollie (new)

Mhollie Serewyn wrote: "Nice list! The Romance section however now seems to be officially high-jacked by teens/young adults =("

I didn’t read young adult books when I was one. Please be more genre specific. There are many shades of romance, if would be nice if the powers that be would even try, just a little harder, to have more specific categories.


message 131: by Thomas (new)

Thomas Björkman Amélie wrote: "Tony wrote: "Please separate Science fiction from the Fantasy genre... we keep begging."

OMG yes please!"


i came here just to make this comment. nice to see i was not alone in this request


message 132: by Thomas (new)

Thomas Björkman PLEASE separate sci-fi from fantasy


message 133: by Leslie (new)

Leslie Powell-Mccarty There are a lot of us horror fans out here!! Hello!


message 134: by Kelly (new)

Kelly Nickerson David wrote: "Add Horror!"

yessss


message 135: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Add Horror, and Historical Fiction Please!


message 136: by Cynthia (new)

Cynthia Sue wrote: "That's funny, because Midnight Library was one of my favorites."
Sue,
I agree!!


message 137: by Karma (new)

Karma Kimeleon The Kaiju Preservation Society is my favorite from this list I’ve read. Imaginative and fun!


Realm Of Letters popular does not necessarily mean talented


message 139: by Alpha (new)

Alpha Robbie wrote: "I don't trust any list that once had The Midnight Library as #1" Right?? Fully agree.


message 140: by Christopher (new)

Christopher Laynes Robbie wrote: "I don't trust any list that once had The Midnight Library as #1"

FACTS!!!!


message 141: by Madison (new)

Madison Kearns Add horror!


message 142: by Skye (new)

Skye Baxter added so many to my want to read:)


message 143: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Goodner Horror Junkie wrote: "David wrote: "Add Horror!"

I co-sign what he said"


I co-sign the co-signature!


message 144: by Debra (new)

Debra I have read one of these and honestly, none of the rest even appeal to me. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, I guess.


message 145: by H (new)

H Beeyit No more categories! All the fiction and all the non-fiction thrown in together higgledy-piggledy! Let the whole place burn!


message 146: by Wendy (new)

Wendy Nelson The Storyteller of Casablanca and Five Little Indians were two favourites this year so far.


message 147: by Fred (new)

Fred Wagner Have read one of these "Kaiju Preservation Society" by John Scalzi. May yet read a 2nd. I personally do not tend to read the most popular books of the day. Paraphrasing a recent quote I came across, "When we read the same books as everyone else we all think the same ways and of the same things. No room for imagination or growth outside our peers or anyone else. And thus we stagnate and die as a civilization."

The exact quote said it better and more precisely. Yet did so with simplicity.

A sheep nor a lemming be. (Personal quote applicable to this and far, far more)


message 148: by [deleted user] (new)

I was fascinated as I read through the list and saw how many of the authors are women. That’s what you get for educating girls!


message 149: by Curtinbond (last edited Jun 19, 2022 11:35AM) (new)

Curtinbond Five Decembers by James Kestrel is the best mystery/thriller I've read in a long time!


message 150: by rylie (new)

rylie add graphic novels/comics! :)


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