A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on May 23, 2024
No matter what you love to read—gritty suspense novels, lighthearted rom-coms or thoughtful literary fiction—you'll find a favorite among the best fiction books of 2022
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After two years of living through a global pandemic, we all crave a little relaxation. And what better way to chill out than with one of the best fiction books of 2022? Novels help us escape no matter where we’re curled up reading: a cozy armchair, the beach or on the train or bus during a busy morning commute. Even if you have a soft spot for classic novels, there’s a special joy that comes from anticipating a new release from your favorite author—or even a debut author whose book blurb piqued your interest.
That’s why we narrowed down a list of the best fiction books from 2022. These titles span several genres and are handpicked based on book recommendations from Reader’s Digest editors. Along with new novels from previous award-winning authors, we’ve also added a few debut novels that have generated positive buzz from advanced readers.
With everything from romance novels, mystery books, fantasy and fantasy romance books, beach reads and feminist books to future best books of all time (or at least the best books of 2022!), there’s sure to be one you’ll want to crack open soon.
Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.
Via Merchant
Release date: Jan. 4, 2022
Nita Prose’s debut novel has the perfect Clue-like beginning: A grand hotel. A motley cast of personality-rich characters. And, of course, a murder. The story’s protagonist is a hotel maid named Molly Gray who quickly becomes a suspect in the case. Molly sees things a little differently. She notices details that others might miss, but she also struggles to follow social rules that others find natural. Fans of cozy mysteries, locked-room investigations, books for women and Agatha Christie fiction will fall head over heels for The Maid.
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Via Merchant
Release date: Jan. 4, 2022
Another much-anticipated debut novel, Olga Dies Dreaming is the perfect new fiction book for fans of witty rom-coms that aren’t afraid to ask complex questions or tackle tricky topics beneath the veneer of sparkling humor. Set in New York and anchored in time by Puerto Rico’s devastating hurricane Maria, the story follows Olga, a Latinx wedding planner, as she grapples with her own less-than-fairy-tale love story and the return of a long-lost mother. Author Xochitl Gonzalez gives readers a modern romance complete with themes of race, identity, political corruption and the American dream. This one seems destined to be a top pick for online book clubs and book subscription boxes.
Via Merchant
Release date: Jan. 11, 2022
To Paradise takes place in an alternate New York reality that can be seen as utopian or dystopian, depending on the person’s position in society. Readers will meet characters in 1893, 1993 and 2093. From these disparate times and versions of America, characters survive crises like the AIDS epidemic and totalitarian rule as well as personal, intimate tragedies. Despite the varying plot lines, a common thread pulls every scene together: the question of what makes us human and what makes us love.
Via Merchant
Release date: Jan. 25, 2022
If you prefer sweeping historical fiction to page-turning beach reads, you’ll want to leave a space for Violeta on the nightstand. It’s one in a long line of beautiful novels from acclaimed Hispanic author Isabel Allende, who wrote The House of the Spirits and Eva Luna. One of the best fiction books of 2022, Violeta is told in the form of a letter to someone deeply loved. Violeta’s life is marked by a series of cataclysmic, far-reaching events: the Spanish flu pandemic, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cuban Revolution and even the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, Violeta survives with passion and determination.
Via Merchant
Release date: Jan. 25, 2022
Fiona Davis’s latest historical fiction mystery whisks readers away to the Frick mansion, a palace of political power, secret trysts and tangled family histories. Told in dual timelines, the book follows art model Lillian Carter in the 1920s and mod model Veronica Weber in the 1970s as the two become embroiled in the dramas of the Frick residence. The Magnolia Palace is the full package: mystery, history, rich characters and lavish details about art, money and high society in days gone by.
Via Merchant
Release date: Jan. 25, 2022
A body. A newly appointed investigator. A second body. Ghosts of a dark past. The story of Sergeant Riley Fisher, a new crime investigator in a small farming town, simmers with tension and the niggling fear that there’s something dangerous just around the corner. If you love cracking open crime procedurals or page-turning thriller books, Erin Young’s debut crime novel will have you clamoring for more from the author. The best part? The Fields is set to be the first in a series, so get ready for the next installment!
via merchant
Release date: Feb. 1, 2022
Here’s another crime-fueled page-turner for you! But Brendan Slocumb’s The Violin Conspiracy is far from a formulaic mystery. It’s the story of Ray, a Black violinist whose love of music finally blossoms after discovering that his great-great-grandfather’s old fiddle is a world-renowned violin. But when the priceless heirloom is stolen from him just before a major performance, the musician must race to trace a random note and recover his life’s work. One of the best fiction books of 2022, The Violin Conspiracy is set to take its genre to the next level. It’s a literary thriller rife with themes of art, history, racism and overcoming adversity.
Via Merchant
Release date: Feb. 15, 2022
Shake up political drama, international espionage and potentially tyrannous female friendship. What do you get? Anna Pitoniak’s latest novel. In Our American Friend, you’ll meet USSR-born First Lady Lara Caine and jaded journalist Sofie Morse. When Lara inquires after Sofie to write her biography, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. But what is Lara’s motive? And what does it mean for Sofie to be caught in a strategic political game of international proportions? Whether you love mystery, interpersonal drama or friendship books, this is a new release you won’t be able to put down.
Via Merchant
Release date: Mar. 1, 2022
Alex Finlay’s twisty new thriller follows the intersecting lives of two victims of murder attempts. One narrowly escaped a tragic night shift at a Blockbuster on the eve of Y2K. The other lives through a harrowing night shift at an ice cream parlor in the same town 15 years later. Are the attempted slayings connected? What are the police missing? And is reliving the traumatic stories worth it to find out? Encompassing the genres of thriller, mystery and horror, The Night Shift is a novel that will stick with you.
Via Merchant
Release date: Mar. 1, 2022
Though not a vampire book, Erica Ferencik’s Girl in Ice bears echoes of the undead. In the chill of the Arctic Circle, a researcher discovers a young girl frozen in ice. When the ice thaws, she begins to speak. Thus, protagonist Valerie “Val” Chesterfield, a linguist specializing in dead Nordic languages, is summoned. But though Val is willing to help, returning to arctic waters unleashes memories of her twin brother’s mysterious death by exposure to the elements.
Via Merchant
Release date: Mar. 7, 2022
You read that right. One of the most anticipated fiction books of the year was co-authored by the country music queen herself, Dolly Parton. The powerhouse writing duo’s tale of a young singer-songwriter escaping to Nashville will appeal to young readers as much as longtime bibliophiles and Dolly fans. It’s as much the story of AnnieLee Keyes leaving an abusive past behind as it is a hard-knocks tale of relying on grit and creativity to achieve a dream. Fun fact: While this is the songstress’s first novel, it’s not her first book. In the ’90s, her autobiography hit the bestseller list.
Via Merchant
Release date: Mar. 8, 2022
Sharp, smart and heartbreaking is the story of reality TV star Desiree Pierce. The morning after her 25th birthday, she’s found dead by an apparent overdose. But Desiree never visited that part of town. And besides that, the police were too quick to declare the Black woman’s death a closed case when several loose ends remain. Like a Sister follows Desiree’s half-sister, Lena, as she hunts for the truth about what happened. But will the pursuit of justice—and the discovery of dark, buried family secrets—be the death of her too? Next, discover more riveting fiction books from Black authors you should know.
Via Merchant
Release date: Mar. 8, 2022
Part domestic psychological drama, part cat-and-mouse page turner, The Golden Couple is one of those fiction books from 2022 you might expect to devour in a weekend. Readers will get to know three main characters: posh married couple Marissa and Matthew Bishop and their unlicensed therapist, Avery. When the Bishops’ picture-perfect life starts to crumble, who will take the fall? The twisty tale of lies, lies and more lies is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Paula Hawkins.
via merchant
Release date: Mar. 15, 2022
Peng Shepherd does it again. While The Book of M gave readers a dark, futuristic, speculative thriller, The Cartographers delves into the mysteries of the past. The story (also available as an audiobook) follows Nell Young, a cartographer with a complicated relationship with her father. When he is found dead, she uses a map found in his desk to seek answers. The plot unfolds fast and furiously, covering academic drama, science and art, a dark family secret and a bit of magic.
Via Merchant
Release date: Mar. 22, 2022
Imagine being able to forget your worst, most embarrassing moments. Would you? In Remember Me Gone, Stacy Stokes’s young adult fiction debut, Lucy’s father has the power to take away memories. That’s why folks swarm their little Texas town: They want help forgetting something or other. But when Lucy becomes old enough to learn his skill, she witnesses one of her dad’s memories—one she wasn’t meant to see. This fast-paced paranormal thriller blends science fiction, fantasy and a touch of adolescent romance. But what makes it stand apart are the deep, thought-provoking questions woven into the story. What would you choose to forget? And what secrets are worth remembering?
Via Merchant
Release date: Mar. 29, 2022
Yet another much-anticipated suspense novel, What Happened to the Bennetts presents readers with a classic conundrum: What if you had to choose between following the law and finding true justice? In this fast-paced book, a carjacking changes the lives of the Bennetts forever. They’re shuttled into witness protection, where they begin to crumble under psychological stress, chronic uncertainty and complete lack of control over their own paths. But when the father gets wind of what really precipitated that one random act of violence, he decides to take matters into his own hands.
via merchant
Release date: Apr. 5, 2022
In a flood of new book releases, Emily St. John Mandel’s work always stands out. Whether you loved the sci-fi book Station Eleven or fell for Vincent in The Glass Hotel, you’ll be swept away by the author’s mind yet again in Sea of Tranquility. This time, she takes us from the wilds of North American forests to future cities to the stark artificiality of a moon colony. It’s a novel about human grit through literal space and time—a multidimensional, multi-timeline story for readers who like to sink their teeth into a good book.
Via Merchant
Release date: Apr. 5, 2022
The author of Shuggie Bain returns with an LGBTQ book centered on romance in religious communities where such relationships are hidden or damned. Young Mungo takes place in working-class Glasgow, Scotland, where Protestant Mungo and Catholic James forge a friendship that deepens to something more. When Mungo is forced away by his parents, he experiences a frightening encounter with two strange men—one that makes him realize he and James need to find their way back to each other and to safety.
Via Merchant
Release date: Apr. 19, 2022
Welcome to Garnett, Texas, where locals gather for gossip and drinks at the honky-tonks and investigator Annie McIntyre cuts her teeth on a missing-person mystery. In Pay Dirt Road, author Samantha Jayne Allen paints a detailed picture of small-town Texas life and invites readers along on a crime-solving adventure full of deepening family relationships and life lessons.
Via Merchant
Release date: May 3, 2022
Straddling the line between literary and historical fiction, Trust invites readers into New York City in the 1920s. Meet Benjamin and Helen Raks, a Wall Street suit and aristocratic darling. Of course, everything is not as it seems, but when has it ever been? Enter a world of power, money and glittering facades to find out just how they’ve made their fortune and what it means for the people they’ve invited into their fold. Next, check out these stellar Kindle Unlimited books and read for free.
via merchant
Release date: May 3, 2022
Did you love A Man Called Ove? What about the 2020 Netflix original My Octopus Teacher? Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures ripples with similarities to the two acclaimed works while staying wholly original. This debut novel follows a lost widow who takes a night shift job at the local aquarium. It’s a way to stay busy. It’s a way to pass the time. But soon her nights are brightened by an unlikely friend: Marcellus, the aquarium’s giant octopus. The warm, quirky, feel-good book, which includes perspectives from Marcellus himself, is sure to reel in rave reader reviews.
Via Merchant
Release date: May 3, 2022
This dark, deeply imaginative adult urban fantasy novel from veteran young adult author Holly Black follows con artist Charlie Hall’s foray into the underground world of trading with shadow selves—the separated shadows that harbor everyone’s deepest, darkest secrets. It’s a story steeped in secret societies, magic thieves and plain human trauma. In other words, it’s poised to be one of the next great adult fantasy hits. When you’re done, you’ll want to gobble up Black’s teen book series for more intricate world-building.
Via Merchant
Release date: May 3, 2022
Emily Henry’s newest romance thrums with enemies-to-lovers vibes. Heroine Nora Stephen is a literary agent who agrees to go on a trip with her sister to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. It’s meant to be a blissful girls getaway. Instead, she runs into a rival literary acquaintance, who is also taking time away from the city. It’s the perfect setup for a spring romance novel or summer beach read.
Via Merchant
Release date: May 10, 2022
When two Hollywood stars arrive in Tanzania for their honeymoon, they expect wildlife sightings with a side of wine and charcuterie. Instead, they’re in for a deadly kidnapping and life-changing ordeal in unfamiliar territory. The Lioness is a sweeping story with a full cast of characters, endless suspense and themes of race, fame and love.
via merchant
Release date: May 17, 2022
In This Time Tomorrow, prolific author Emma Straub plays with time travel like these time travel books. On the eve of her 40th birthday, protagonist Alice reflects on life—then suddenly wakes up on the morning of her Sweet 16. The book explores memories, longing and some of life’s big questions, like what you might do differently if you could go back.
Via Merchant
Release date: May 24, 2022
Our list of much-anticipated 2022 reads wouldn’t be complete without this lush novel from Akwaeke Emezi. Our hero, Feyi Adekola, is still healing from the tragic death of her partner. She’s ready to ease into the dating scene again but is plunged, all at once, into the deep end. A rooftop party leads to a summer fling, which leads to a potential long-term relationship. But if she’s so happy, why does she feel so attracted to the one person she’s not allowed to love?
via merchant
Release date: June 7, 2022
Meet Nora Hamilton, the brains behind the latest romance channel hits and the protagonist of Nora Goes Off Script. After a heart-shattering breakup, she comes up with her most brilliant plot yet: a romantic movie that spotlights her ex’s selfishness. But life goes off-script when her little screenplay gets picked up as a big-screen blockbuster. Suddenly, Nora must learn to navigate Hollywood—and the sexy celebrities she encounters along the way.
via merchant
Release date: June 7, 2022
This story within a story within a story (intrigued yet?) takes place in the reading room of the Boston Public Library. The typically peaceful retreat turns to chaos at the sound of a woman’s ear-piercing shriek. Security instructs four strangers in the library to stay put until authorities have secured the area. As time passes, friendships blossom, secrets come to light and a murderer is eventually revealed.
Via Merchant
Release date: June 21, 2022
Ottessa Moshfegh’s Lapvona has a captivating premise: In a medieval village, an abused motherless boy finds solace in the company of the local midwife, whose mystical gifts scare some of the other neighbors. But when an incident with the town priest and prevailing feudal lord occurs, the boy becomes part of a violent clash of forces—new and old, natural and spiritual, and the very natures of life and death. Find more great fiction on this list of banned books that everyone needs to read.
via merchant
Release date: June 21, 2022
Julie Clark’s latest thriller follows two women whose lives intertwine for the second time. First, there’s Kat Roberts, the whip-smart journalist hell bent on unmasking the con woman who has eluded her for 10 years. Then there’s the slippery pro herself: alternately known as Meg Williams, Maggie Littleton and Melody Wilde. When the two strike up a friendship—driven by their ulterior motives—who will come out on top? And how many lies will they tell before the truth comes out?
via merchant
Release date: June 21, 2022
From the author of The Forever Summer and Blush comes a glittering gem so escapist that it also landed on our summer reading list. Jamie Brenner’s Gilt invites readers to spy on a family of wealthy jewelers. When prodigal daughter Gemma Maybrook returns to visit one sizzling summer, a veritable Pandora’s box of secrets opens. Follow the lush drama from high society New York to sunny Cape Cod.
via merchant
Release date: June 28, 2022
A spicy, supernatural romantic comedy for anyone tired of plain ol’ vanilla rom-coms, The Dead Romantics delivers with wit, quirks and, yes, a ghost story. Meet Florence Day, a New York City ghostwriter whose latest breakup has convinced her that romance is dead for good. But then a couple of very real deaths occur, landing Florence back in her hometown to face the ghosts of her past—along with a decidedly sexy spirit standing on the doorstep of the local funeral parlor. Alternating between poignant themes of death and grief and laugh-out-loud humor, this romance will have you flipping pages into the wee hours of the night.
via merchant
Release date: July 5, 2022
The Hidden Ones protagonist Kate Hurholder is not Amish. But as the police chief in an Amish community, she has grown familiar with the community’s intricacies and norms. But when she’s summoned to solve a cold murder case in Pennsylvania’s Kishacoquillas Valley, she realizes that Amish culture can vary wildly from place to place. So can she chalk up Bishop Stolzfus’s evasive actions to cultural differences—or does the man know more than he’s letting on? The plot only thickens when Kate runs into her first love in Pennsylvania. By the time you turn the final page, you may be inspired to pick up a nonfiction book about the Amish.
via merchant
Release date: July 5, 2022
Deb Rogers’s darkly comic thriller opens when Jamie, a lifelong Florida woman, is caught on film during one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. Relieved to get community service rather than jail time for her crime, Jamie heads off to Atlas, a monkey sanctuary. But all is not as it seems. She is soon consumed by the sinister world of Atlas, complete with sacrifices and cult-like adoration for the organization’s leaders. This is a suspenseful novel for readers seeking a good LGBTQ+ contemporary mystery.
via merchant
Release date: July 12, 2022
Travis Devine, the main character of The 6:20 Man, is a man of routine. Every morning, he puts on a cheap suit, picks up his cheap briefcase and heads out on the 6:20 train to Manhattan. Every day, he peers out the train window and dreams about living large like one of the elite financial investors he sees in passing. Then one day, everything changes. He’s blackmailed into participating in an investigation into those very investors. As he infiltrates their lavish lives and learns more about their shady schemes, he finds himself in the crosshairs of a murderer.
via merchant
Release date: July 12, 2022
Did you love Where the Crawdads Sing or the movie adaptation of the book? Then you’ll fall head over heels for this evocative coming-of-age drama told from the perspective of 12-year-old Kay. In the summer heat of Bledsoe, Georgia, Kay experiences the loss of a sister, a blossoming friendship with a boy and the trouble and heartbreak of family secrets. Don’t forget to check out these hit books that are becoming movies this year.
via merchant
Release date: July 19, 2022
Whether you’re already a fan of Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away or utterly new to Katherine Center’s writing, her latest summer sizzler will satisfy any craving for lighthearted romance. Hannah Brooks looks cute and unassuming—the opposite of her life as a bodyguard. When she’s hired to protect sexy celebrity Jack Stapleton from a stalker, the two pretend they’re dating during Jack’s visit home. Fans of The Wedding Date and The Proposal, you know where this is going!
via merchant
Release date: July 26, 2022
Helen Cooper’s latest page-turner slams together two unrelated women’s lives in the aftermath of a tragedy at an Italian resort. Leah knows deep down that her niece’s death was not an accidental drowning. And far away in England, a woman named Joanna knows deep down that her sexy new beau might be too good to be true. The truth is that Leah and Joanna’s lives are already intertwined and on the brink of another potentially devastating collision. Not sure what to read after you binge The Other Guest? Try picking your next book based on your zodiac sign.
via merchant
Release date: Aug. 9, 2022
What would you do if you woke up with no memory of the last two years, no phone and “stay awake” written in black ink all over your hands and arms? This is how Liv Reese finds herself in the opening pages of Stay Awake. The breathtaking thriller unfolds as Liv runs from a crime she doesn’t remember committing. She does everything in her power to discover why her memories have disappeared into thin air—and who is responsible for the erasure.
via merchant
Release date: Aug. 16, 2022
Love Under the Tuscan Sun? You’ll feel right at home following Lucy Checks In‘s 49-year-old protagonist to the French countryside, where she moves to fix up and manage the storied Hotel Paradis. Of course, renovating a rickety inn can be a monumental task, so Lucy experiences more than her fair share of funny misfortunes along the way. This heartwarming women’s fiction story about new beginnings brims with fresh friendships, blossoming romance and mouthwatering descriptions of French food.
via merchant
Release date: Aug. 16, 2022
New York Times bestselling author Joy Fielding reels us in again with this riveting domestic drama. Thriving real estate agent Jodi Bishop knows her aging parents could use a helping hand at home, so she hires a housekeeper. Vibrant and warm, Elyse Woodley seems perfect for the job. But when Jodi’s parents seem to deteriorate rapidly while clinging to Elyse’s care more than their own daughter’s, Jodi has to wonder: Is the housekeeper really there to help her family? Or is something sinister afoot?
via merchant
Release date: Aug. 23, 2022
William Kent Krueger’s latest nail-biting thriller plops readers into the Boundary Waters, where hunters have swarmed in search of a woman named Dolores Morriseau. She herself seeks a haven with a local Ojibwe healer. Told from multiple perspectives, the book weaves together drama, mystery and masterful Native American storytelling.
via merchant
Release date: Aug. 30, 2022
Here’s one for the sports fans, the athletes and anyone who knows what it’s like to put everything on the line for ambition. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s beloved tennis hero Carrie Soto is back. This time, she’s decided to leave her early retirement and take a stab at one more win. But of course, the world of sports moves quickly. At the age of 37, can Carrie pull off another triumph? With themes of ambition, sacrifice and self-doubt, plus a sizzle of romance, this book deserves a spot on your 2022 must-read list.
via merchant
Release date: Aug. 30, 2022
Other Birds invites readers to dip their toes into magical realism with the story of the Dellawisp, a building inhabited by quirky people haunted by personal secrets and longings—and ghosts. There’s Zoey, who’s trying to connect with her late mother in the apartment she once owned. There’s the isolated chef. A famed writer. A mystery girl who’s running from something—or someone. Here, Sarah Addison Allen offers a beautiful, lyrical story about love, friendship and found family—an ideal book club book that’ll give you plenty of things to discuss with the group.
via merchant
Release date: Sept. 13, 2022
Enemies to lovers. Second chances. Bookish characters. All find a place on the pages of Jenny L. Howe’s The Make-Up Test, a deliciously swoony story of academic rivals. When a family emergency forces Allison Avery and Colin Benjamin on a weekend road trip together, they realize just how much chemistry their brains and bodies have together. But with hearts and a coveted job position on the line, is choosing love worth the risk? Don’t miss the steamy Scrabble scene as you read to find out.
via merchant
Release date: Oct. 11, 2022
One of the year’s most anticipated new books to read, Sophie Cousens’s latest romance tackles an age-old question: How do you know if someone is “the one”? It’s the night before Audrey’s wedding. Her relationship with Josh has been solid and steady, but a tiny bit of her wonders if she might be settling. So when Fred, a one-time fling, appears at the rehearsal dinner, Audrey’s alarm bells sound at full volume. Should she go for stability or sparks? Is she about to make the biggest mistake of her life—or is this simply one last test of a love that’s meant to last forever?
via merchant
Release date: Oct. 25, 2022
Jack Reacher is back! The 27th book of the highly acclaimed thriller series opens with Reacher discovering a purported suicide that he suspects is a murder. As with all books in this series, the plot thickens with additions of global conspiracies, complicated intrigue and supervillains reminiscent of James Bond. If you’re only familiar with the Jack Reacher played on screen by Tom Cruise, this book offers a great starting point for reading the whole series.
via merchant
Release date: Nov. 1, 2022
Fancy a romp through crime noir? Then add Racing the Light to your preorder list. This devilishly delightful story follows private eyes Elvis Cole and Joe Pike into the underworld of Los Angeles, where porn stars, secret agents and shady politicians punctuate their path to solving the case of a missing man. True crime connoisseurs and comedy buffs alike will want to snag a copy of this rollicking page-turner.
via merchant
Release date: Dec. 6, 2022
“Magic, love, destiny and illusion combine with the glitter of 20th-century circus life and the heartbreak of war,” writes Kristen Harmel, author of The Book of Lost Names. In Amita Parikh’s The Circus Train, mid-20th-century Europe serves as the backdrop for a traveling circus aboard an elite luxury train. As the tragedy of the Holocaust unfolds around the train, disabled illusionist Lena Papadopoulos must dig deep to find her true calling, discover the magic of the real world and learn that love prevails over all. Next, check out these book recommendations based on fan favorite TV shows.
