Ranking Every Book I've Reviewed This Year

 Throughout this year, my posts have revolved around the reviewing of several different books, ranging from ones I’ve loved- to those I’ve hated with every fiber of my being. So to finish out the year I thought I would compile a definitive ranking of every book I’ve covered, as a way to commemorate a year of blogging.  

7) Shatter Me- Mafi

Anyone who’s read my blog on this book might remember my intense dislike for this novel when I first read it. Its plot centers around Juliette, a girl with the power to kill by touch alone, who gets recruited by the all-controlling military to torture information out of enemies. But in typical YA fashion, she escapes with her new boyfriend to join a rebellion group aiming to overtake the oppressive regime. The plot was strong and the characters were fairly interesting, but I still stand by my previous stance on the writing- cringy and nonsensical. Compared to the FAR superior novels further up the list, it would be an insult to place it any higher. 

6) Unravel Me- Mafi

Trailing its predecessor Shatter Me, Unravel Me is the second book in this series. This book follows Juliette as she navigates her new role in the rebellion group “Omega Point” since everyone is scared of her abilities. She learns how to harness these abilities, however, and is eventually able to become a valuable fighter and find a home in the compound. This book also had a fairly strong plot and characters, and even the writing took a turn for the better. But the intense amount of relationship drama made it incredibly difficult to get through. It is certainly more enjoyable than the first book in this series, but still not good enough to be higher on the list. 

5) Malibu Rising- Taylor Jenkins Reid 

Despite its lower ranking, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it very well-written. Malibu Rising follows the four world-famous Riva Siblings as they throw the biggest party of the year. As the night progresses, tensions heighten as long-held secrets are revealed in a house full of Hollywood's brightest stars. This novel was one of my favorites from this year, and I thought the story and characters were incredible. The only reason I couldn’t put it higher is because of how incredible I thought some of the other books were. Though this one may not have been an all-time favorite, I really did enjoy my time reading it. 

4) Heartless- Marissa Meyer 

A true throwback, this book was the subject of my first-ever blog post, and arguably my favorite one I’ve written. This book is an origin story for the queen of Hearts, known as Catherine in this novel. Though she is engaged to the King of Hearts, she longs to be with the court jester, Jest. But the monsters and thrills of Wonderland keep these star-crossed lovers from ever reaching their happily ever after. Featuring iconic characters like the Mad Hatter and Old Caterpillar, this was a great mix of nostalgia and compelling new additions to the lore. It was not the best-written book on this list, but this was the novel that got me excited about reading again. The fast-paced plot and lovable characters made this book a joy to read and to write about. 

3) Cruel Prince- Holly Black 

Coming in at third place is Cruel Prince, a social media favorite (and for good reason). This book follows Jude, a mortal living in the fantastical realm of Elfhame, being raised by an elf following the murder of her parents. Though she longs to be a royal knight, being a mortal makes this a difficult task, but as the story unfolds Jude proves that ambition alone can take one a very long way. All the way to the top-secret espionage group of the crown prince of Elfhame. This novel was so good, it only took me 4 days to finish this book (which as a slow reader is very impressive). What puts this book so high on the list is how thrilling it was to read, it's pretty rare for me to find a book I don’t want to put down, but it was a struggle to even avert my gaze from this one. It was hard to narrow down my top three from this year, but I think this book has definitely earned its spot.

2) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo- Taylor Jenkins Reid 

This book is one of the best I’ve ever read, and it crosses my mind daily. This novel centers around Evelyn Hugo, a fictional actress from the 1950s who is infamous for her seven husbands, as she reflects back on her life. The plot, writing, characters, and everything about this novel was beautiful. Her story was so intriguing, and some of her lines have stayed with me to this day. It’s hard for me to put into words the love I have for this book, it’s simply dazzling. Now, you may be wondering “Maryalice, if you love this book so much why isn’t it number one?” Well to answer that question, I present to you the only book that could ever surpass Ms. Hugo…

1. The Song of Achilles- Madeline Miller

Winning the top spot for 2022 reads, The Song of Achilles has won this list and my heart. Miller’s novel is a retelling of The Illiad and recounts the story of Achilles, Patroclus, and the Trojan War- but as a romance. Achilles and Patroclus (though they had me sobbing by the end) have one of the best-written relationships I’ve seen. Their bond is so genuine that even though I knew the tragic ending they had ahead of them, it didn’t stop me from hoping for a happily ever after. Outside of the main romance, the story itself is also incredible and the depiction of the Trojan War was suspenseful and engaging. Though I went into the book not expecting anything special, it turned out to be my favorite book I’ve read thus far- so it was only fitting for it to take the top spot.

I’ve had a lovely time writing these reviews, and I hope I’ve recommended some good reads! 

Signing off, 

Maryalice