Favorite Books of 2022

Jonah Friedman

As the spring comes into full and everyone is preparing for summer, many of you may be looking for a new book to get lost in. Here are my five favorite novels which I enjoyed reading this year, and believe will be a delight for you.


  • The Shadow of the Wind (La Sombra del Viento) - Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Originally written in Castilian Spanish, this classic novel is based in the bustling metropolitan city of Madrid, offering a dazzling perspective into Spain, post and pre-civil war. The story follows a dual narrative, one following the life of Daniel, a young Spanish boy who owns a bookstore with his father, while the other is the story of Julian Carax, an early 20th-century author whose books are rapidly disappearing.


  • Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel

The seemingly recipe-filled story follows the life of Tita, a food-enthusiast who attempts to maintain a passionate romance with Pedro Muzquiz under the watchful eye of her mother, Elena, who insists Tita must not marry so that she can take care of her mother until death.


  • Animal Farm - George Orwell

The classic novel based on the Russian revolution explores concepts like communism and equality in a unique way, through animals. The book follows a group of farm animals who revolt against their rancher, Jones, and create a functioning society after he leaves.


  • The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros

With flowery language and short, bite-sized excerpts, Cisneros wrote a compelling story, offering a deeper look into the Latinx communities in midwestern Chicago. It is a coming-of-age story, in which Cisneros offers readers a perspective of her town from different ages and experiences through the life of Esperanza.


  • An Absolutely remarkable thing - Hank Green

This story follows the life of April May, an aspiring artist who turns into an internet inspiration after a viral video in which she hangs out with a “robot”-like statue. April soon becomes addicted to the fame, and fights off the drug of social media while also unraveling the mystery of the statue, Karl, which many believe to be extra-terrestrial.