I wanted to compile a list of all the books I’ve read with my bookish besties over the past year of 2022. At first, I was hesitant to launch a monthly book pick. The truth is I personally shied away from joining a book club because of the pressure to read specific chapters each week. Most suggested not reading ahead. Others were very strict about reading the dedicated chapters each week. I always panic because what if I wanted to read ahead? What if I didn’t have time to read that month? But then I discovered I wasn’t alone, and a lot of bookish besties best that way.
This is the first year that I have done monthly book club picks. When I first launched monthly reads, I knew a few things.
- I didn’t want to stick to just one genre throughout the year.
- I wanted every bookish bestie in my community to suggest books we should read.
- Everyone and anyone could join.
- We would be able to read books at our own pace, and it was totally fine if the book of the month wasn’t for you.
After I noted those four things, I posted about book suggestions. I got a diverse response from bookish besties who suggested non-fiction to romance to thrillers to historical books to read. If you want to participate in the monthly polls, you can go to my HeyitsCarlyRae Book Club FB page, IG page, and Gevena book club the fourth week of every month.
Comment on the post about your book suggestion for the next month. Then you can vote in the official poll about what book you’d like to read. You can also stay up to date with my book club newsletter and be the first to know my monthly book picks on the first of every month. All you have to do is put your email address below, and you’ll become an official bookish bestie! Then you have all month long to read the book club pick and chat with us on Geneva!
The 2022 HeyitsCarlyRae Book Club List
January
One by One by Ruth Ware
Genre: Thriller/ Suspense/ Psychological Thriller
The book centers around Erin and Liz, who go to a luxurious chalet in the French Alps, joining others that work for Snoop. But everyone has a secret, and one by one, those secrets start to catch up to them, and bodies start to turn up one by one. The worst part? They’re snowed in, and no one is getting in or out. Will they be able to figure out who the murderer is before it’s too late? A book that had me turning the pages as fast as I could read.
Read the full review of One by One by Ruth Ware.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
February
The Return by Nicholas Sparks
Genre: Romance/ Domestic fiction/ Mystery
I was so excited to start off this year with a Nicholas Sparks book club pick. The Return is told from a male POV, which I ended up really enjoying. I have never read a book like this one before. Trevor Benson moves back to a small North Carolina town and starts taking care of the beehives in the backyard of his grandfather’s home. He ends up meeting Natalie Masterson. The two instantly have a connection, striking a romance unlike others in his books strikes! I enjoyed reading this Nicholas Sparks novel!
Read the full review of The Returns by Nicholas Sparks.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
March
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Thriller/ Romance/ Suspense
This book is all over bookstagram, and as soon as I saw a bookish bestie suggest it, I hoped it would be picked. Verity was my first Colleen Hoover book, and I was excited to read it. The book follows Lowen, who gets tapped to finish Verity’s manuscript (hence the title). But what Lowen discovers when she agrees to the project is way more than she expected. This book literally shook me and left me questioning everything!
Read the full review of Verity by Colleen Hoover.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
April
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/ Suspense
The cover of this book grabbed me. I even have the UK version on my shelf. The Paris Apartment is told from different POVs, the main one being from Jess, who goes to Paris to stay with her half-brother Ben. But when she gets there, Ben is nowhere to be found, and she swears there is blood on the floor.
Where is Ben? That question readers get answered but not before diving into the twisted world of the Paris apartment and its residents.
Read the full review of The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
May
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Genre: Romance/ Fiction/ Humor
I was beyond excited about this read. This was also my first book by Christina Lauren, and it was absolutely amazing. It centers around Olive, who ends up going on her sister’s honeymoon after she gets food poisoning. The catch? Ethan, her new brother-in-law that hates her, is joining her too. But does he really dislike Olive? As the two play nice to keep up their appearance as newlyweds to ensure they get this vacation free, they may find they aren’t pretending after all.
I was laughing so hard in some scenes that I never wanted this book to end!
Read the full review of The UnHoneymooners by Christina Lauren.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
June
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romance/ Humor
A book I was not expecting in a great way. Again this is an author the book club introduced me to, and it won’t be my last. Part of Your World follows Alexis (a successful doctor with a hospital named after her family) and Daniel (a small-town guy content with his life on a farm). They are complete opposites but find more in common than you think. A true joy to read as Jimenez’s writing style is both realistic and heartwarming.
Read the full review of Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
July
My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
Genre: Romance/ Mystery
Spicy romance meets cozy mystery in this Tessa Bailey self-published novel. It follows a teacher and bounty hunter thrown together after a murder. A very spicy read that has a great concept but was not my favorite. It was a favorite of other bookish besties who really enjoyed the spice and the overall writing style. I’d love to know your thoughts if you read it!
Read the full review of My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
August
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden
Genre: Fiction/ Romance/ Magical Realism
A magical realism book that grabbed my attention the first time I saw it. Lolly is a great protagonist that contemplates the what-ifs of her life over and over. From a lost love to her mother’s death, Lolly gets the chance to live three days of what could have been, thanks to three magic lemon drops. A heartwarming story that was beautifully written.
Full review of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
September
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Genre: Romance/ Paranormal Romance/ Fiction
This book follows Florence Day, who is a ghostwriter for a huge romance novelist. But she has lost her mojo after a bad breakup, and on top of that, her new editor isn’t exactly on her good list. After returning home, back to her family’s funeral home, she starts to see the ghost of her editor, and sparks soon fly. Will romance ever be alive for Florence?
Full review of The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
October
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
Genre: Romance/ Fiction
This book follows Phoebe Walsh. A PhD candidate doing her dissertation on the true crime genre. She is in Florida at her childhood home, convinced her neighbor is a serial killer.
Full review of Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
November
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Romance/ Fiction
Carrie Soto’s intensity has made her not exactly the most popular tennis player. But she doesn’t care. When another tennis player breaks her record, she is coming out of retirement to prove she remains the best.
Full review coming soon.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
December
The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber
Genre: Romance/ Fiction
Despite their differences, Hank and Peter have remained best friends since high school. This holiday season, they’re both reminded of what’s important in life: family, friends, and community.
Full review coming soon.
Buy this Book: Amazon | Books-a-million | Barnes & Noble | Audible
