Top 5: ARCs of 2022 So Far

When sitting down to think of my “top 5 ARCs of 2022 so far” a few sprang to mind. Which then made me realise I have more disliked ARCs than liked ones for 2022. Well disliked is quite harsh, most I just thought were average, but still that isn’t good.

The ARCs I am going to talk about in this post were basically the only ones that I actually really liked. Maybe I am more savage in 2022 when it comes to rating books because usually by now I’d have more than five I enjoyed.

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

My first five-star book ARC of the year, I had previously given five stars to a graphic novel which is in this post. I hadn’t realised until this point that I hadn’t given a novel ARC five stars yet. Apparently, it takes a lot to impress me in 2022.

I hadn’t read anything by Ali Hazelwood until getting Love on the Brain and honestly I love her writing style. It’s very chatty, much like mine, and it was such a quick read. I read the whole book in less than 24 hours, which at the moment is amazing for me.

Read my full review here

Synopsis: Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project – a literal dream come true – Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school – archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas… devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.

But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

This Wicked Fate (This Poison Heart #2) by Kalynn Bayron

I will always sing praises for Kalynn Bayron. Ever since I read Cinderella Is Dead back at the beginning of 2021 I cannot get enough of her books. Her characters are always so fleshed out with actual depth and don’t get me started on the beautiful female relationships.

Kalynn has fast become one of my favourite authors and I’m so very excited for whatever she writes next.

Read my full review here

Synopsis: Briseis has one chance to save her mother, but she’ll need to do the impossible: find the last fragment of the deadly Absyrtus Heart. If she is to locate the missing piece, she must turn to the blood relatives she’s never known, learn about their secret powers, and take her place in their ancient lineage. Briseis is not the only one who wants the Heart, and her enemies will stop at nothing to fulfil their own ruthless plans. The fates tell of a truly dangerous journey, one that could end in more heartache, more death. Bolstered by the sisterhood of ancient magic, can Briseis harness her power to save the people she loves most?

A Hunt of Shadows (A Trial of Sorcerers #2) by Elise Kova

I’m not entirely sure what stopped me from rating this five stars. Elise has been a major favourite of mine for quite some time now and I adore everything she writes.

Although this story was just as brilliant as the first instalment, it didn’t capture my attention in quite the same way. I loved it don’t get me wrong, it wouldn’t be in this post otherwise, but there was something missing.

I cannot tell you how excited I am for the next instalment though, that cliffhanger was everything.

Read my full review here

Synopsis: Eira is now a champion of the Solaris Empire. She’s off to a land she’s only dreamed about. But a nightmare awaits her.

Her sworn enemy has escaped. His allies are powerful and deadly. And Eira finds herself tangled in the dangerous web of the undercity of Risen where the mysterious Court of Shadows and lethal Pillars battle for the fate of the kingdom.

But vengeance has a price. When Eira is captured by her enemies, it’s not only her life, but the lives of her friends, and the man she loves most, at stake. The woman she was won’t be enough to turn the tides churning against her from long before she was born. She’ll have to become something more. She’ll have to love deeper and fight fiercer than ever before.

The only way to kill a legendary champion, will be to become one herself.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Belladonna is my most recent read, I literally finished it last night. I’ve wanted to read a book of Adalyn’s for quite some time now but unfortunately never got around to it. Well until I was offered, Belladonna.

I really enjoyed the writing style as it was clear and concise. The story flowed excellently and I felt like I stormed through the book at times.

I haven’t posted my full review yet, but I will be doing so next week. Keep an eye out for it.

Synopsis: Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.

Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez

Chef’s Kiss was a pure delight from start to finish. I loved the art style and the story was lighthearted and fun. Although the part about Ben not being able to get a job in journalism felt a little too close to home at the time.

This was my first five-star read of the year, which totally had nothing to do with the cute pig. Obviously *wink*. Well, he did play a part in it, but honestly, I enjoyed this because it was fun and a quick read. I highly recommend it.

Read my full review here

Synopsis: Now that college is over, English graduate Ben Cook is on the job hunt looking for something…anything…related to his passion for reading and writing. But interview after interview, hiring committee after hiring committee, Ben soon learns getting the dream job won’t be as easy as he thought. Proofreading? Journalism? Copywriting? Not enough experience. It turns out he doesn’t even have enough experience to be a garbage collector! But when Ben stumbles upon a “Now Hiring—No Experience Necessary” sign outside a restaurant, he jumps at the chance to land his first job. Plus, he can keep looking for a writing job in the meantime. He’s actually not so bad in the kitchen, but he will have to pass a series of cooking tests to prove he’s got the culinary skills to stay on full-time. But it’s only temporary…right?

When Ben begins developing a crush on Liam, one of the other super dreamy chefs at the restaurant, and when he starts ditching his old college friends and his old writing job plans, his career path starts to become much less clear.