In June 2022, Barnes & Noble selected ten books for its Best Books of the Year (So Far) list. The bookseller’s midyear picks range from middle grade fantasy and romance to literary fiction, science fiction and Gothic horror. Below is the complete list, with a quick guide to what each book is about and who might enjoy it.
Midyear list, not the final ranking: These are Barnes & Noble’s June 2022 selections. For the bookseller’s later year-end choices, see our separate article on Barnes & Noble’s best books of 2022. The order below follows the midyear presentation and is not a ranking from best to worst.
Barnes & Noble’s 10 best books of 2022 so far
- Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman
- Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
- Book of Night by Holly Black
- Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry
- The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
- The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
- I Will Die in a Foreign Land by Kalani Pickhart
- To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
What to know about each pick
1. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman
Genre: Middle grade fantasy. Thirteen-year-old Skandar hopes to become a unicorn rider, but the creatures in this adventure are dangerous rather than gentle. Start here if you want an action-driven fantasy for younger readers.
2. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Genre: Myth-inspired fantasy. Inspired by the legend of Chang’e, Tan’s debut follows a young woman into a realm of immortals and magic. It is the first book in the Celestial Kingdom duology and suits readers looking for romance alongside an expansive quest.
3. Book of Night by Holly Black
Genre: Adult dark fantasy. Charlie Hall tries to leave the shadow-trading underworld behind. Black’s adult fantasy debut offers a darker, more criminal world than a conventional magical quest.
4. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Genre: Literary science fiction. Mandel connects lives across centuries through a mystery involving time and reality. Pick it if you want speculative fiction with a reflective, character-focused approach.
5. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Genre: Historical fiction. In 1960s California, scientist Elizabeth Zott becomes the host of a television cooking show and challenges expectations about women’s work. This is a lively choice for readers who enjoy witty social commentary.
6. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Genre: Contemporary romance. Literary agent Nora Stephens and editor Charlie Lastra find their own story taking an unexpected turn. The book is a natural first pick here for readers who want banter and a romance built around publishing.
7. The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
Genre: Literary fiction. Set in the world of A Visit from the Goon Squad, this novel explores a technology that lets people share their memories. Its shifting perspectives make it a fit for readers who like interconnected stories and big questions about privacy.
8. The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Genre: Gothic horror. A haunted house in post-independence Mexico gives this debut its unsettling setting. Choose it for an atmospheric blend of historical fiction, suspense and the supernatural.
9. I Will Die in a Foreign Land by Kalani Pickhart
Genre: Historical literary fiction. Four lives intersect during Ukraine’s 2013–14 Euromaidan protests. The novel first appeared in 2021; its inclusion here reflects Barnes & Noble’s 2022 midyear selection, not a 2022 debut publication.
10. To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
Genre: Alternate-history literary fiction. Three narratives unfold across different centuries and versions of America. It is the most expansive pick on this list for readers drawn to ambitious novels about love, family and imagined societies.
Which book should you read first?
If you prefer fantasy, begin with Daughter of the Moon Goddess for a sweeping myth-inspired story, Book of Night for darker adult magic, or Skandar and the Unicorn Thief for a younger audience. For a romance, try Book Lovers; for time-bending science fiction, pick Sea of Tranquility. Readers who want a haunted house should look at The Hacienda.
My favorite thing about a list like this is how quickly it can change a reading plan. I usually gravitate toward fantasy, so the range from Sue Lynn Tan’s mythic adventure to Holly Black’s shadow magic is particularly appealing. The other genres make it easier to find a book when I want something different.
A note on the 2022 publication dates
This is a snapshot of the bookseller’s recommendations as they appeared in June 2022. I Will Die in a Foreign Land was originally published in 2021, although a paperback edition appeared in 2022. It still belongs on this list because Barnes & Noble selected it. The midyear and year-end lists are separate editorial selections, so readers should not assume these ten books were all the retailer’s final top ten.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Barnes & Noble’s final best books of 2022 list?
No. This article covers the ten books chosen for the June 2022 “so far” list. Barnes & Noble published a later year-end selection.
Is the list ranked?
No ranking is stated in the midyear presentation. The numbers above make the ten titles easy to scan; they do not assign scores or place one book above another.
Are all ten books adult novels?
No. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief is a middle grade fantasy, while the remaining selections span adult genres including romance, horror, science fiction and literary fiction.
Final thoughts
Barnes & Noble’s midyear choices offer several routes into 2022 reading, from the warmth of Book Lovers to the uneasy atmosphere of The Hacienda. Which of these have you read, and which would you add to your reading list?
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