The 13 Best Women's Fiction Books Of 2022

Danya Kukafka isn't exactly new to the literary scene — she published her first book, "Girl in Snow," back in 2017; however, her 2022 release, "Notes on an Execution," is what's really put her on the literary map. A gripping, unique look at the psyche of a serial killer told through the perspectives of three women whose lives have become permanently altered by his actions, this novel is a fascinating addition to the thriller genre, which has become somewhat monotonous.

In an interview with Write or Die Magazine, Kukafka explained that this book was largely born out of her own contempt for crime stories that glorify serial killers and erase their victims' from the narrative. Speaking of popular crime shows (such as "Law & Order: SVU" and "Criminal Minds") specifically, she said, "I felt like, this cannot possibly be the whole story. We see this narrative over and over again. The show opens on the dead body, the detectives come in, they solve the murder, justice is served. Even as a teenager I had the thought, like, what about everybody else?"

"Notes on an Execution" aims to answer this question by focusing on the lives that are impacted by acts of violence rather than the violent acts themselves.

Deemed one of the 100 most notable books of the year by The New York Times, Gabrielle Zevin's "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" is a one-of-a-kind story about the spectacular bond between two lifelong friends who find themselves dominating the video game design industry. Sam and Sadie's relationship has revolved around video games since the day they first met back when they were only 11 years old, and this continues to be the case decades later as they collaborate on the creation of blockbuster-level games.

What appears to be a straightforward story about friendship flawlessly delves into topics of disability, grief, and even cultural appropriation, all told in Zevin's stunning, accessible voice. "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" is Zevin's 10th book and, it's any indication of what we can expect from her in the future, her writing is only going to keep getting better. It's really no wonder that this novel was chosen as the best fiction book of 2022 by the Goodreads Choice Awards.

In her debut novel, "Black Cake," Charmaine Wilkerson tells the heartwarming story of two siblings grappling with their mother's death and the confusing, life-altering gift they inherited from her. In this story, Benny and Byron are taken on a journey that leads them across the world and back to their mother's famous black cake, a Caribbean classic, in search of the truth about the woman who raised them.

This story was actually inspired by the black cake recipe that belonged to Wilkerson's late mother and, according to the author, her book expresses the idea that "the handling of food counts as much as the eating of it" (per Parade). As she told BookPage, "The cake symbolizes the history of this family, in which the children, who are now grown, really don't know the half of what their parents went through."

This is a story that anybody can relate to, and it is an absolute pleasure to read, even as it explores the profound and painful topics of grief and loss.

This is the only young adult book on this list, but it's such an impactful story that we just had to include it. Sabaa Tahir's "All My Rage" is about grief, loss, forgiveness, and strength. Even though it's told from a younger perspective than the other titles on this list, the emotions it captures are as complex and powerful as those within the rest of these books.

Told through alternating perspectives of two teenage best friends, Salahudin and Noor, "All My Rage" is a portrait of intergenerational trauma and the racism that is perpetuated in the small, white-washed town of Juniper, California. This novel is largely inspired by Tahir's own childhood, which she discussed in an interview with Elle. "It really started as a book about the motel where I grew up and the people who were tenants there, and then it transformed and became a book about the people who ran the motel," she said. "Then in 2017, after someone I knew overdosed on fentanyl and passed away, it started becoming a book about trauma and addiction."

Emily Henry is undoubtedly one of the biggest romance authors at the moment, and her May release, "Book Lovers," is a charming, clever love story between two unlikely characters that proves exactly why she's garnered such stardom in the world of books. Nora and Charlie are self-established, independent bookworms who definitely aren't looking for love, but when the two repeatedly stumble into one another while Nora is on a girls' trip with her sister, they decide that maybe it's time to surrender to fate.

Simultaneously lighthearted and profound, this novel is an incredible exploration of its two main characters — their pain, fears, and love. As Henry said in an interview with Scary Mommy, "I don't really know how to get into characters' heads without figuring out the worst thing that's ever happened to them. ... There were so many drafts of 'Book Lovers' just trying to get it to feel funny enough and light enough while still having these heavier moments." With the popular "Beach Read" and "People We Meet on Vacation" already under her belt, Henry is at the top of her game with "Book Lovers" — the hype is absolutely real.

Surprisingly, this is the second time-travel novel on this list, but this one revolves less around science and theory than "Sea of Tranquility." Emma Straub's "This Time Tomorrow" is a twist on "13 Going on 30" that digs a lot deeper than the classic 2004 film. Funny and tender, this novel is as endearing as it is heartbreaking, mainly focusing on the painful and complicated experience of grieving someone who hasn't yet passed.

In "This Time Tomorrow," Straub navigates a situation near and dear to her heart — her father was hospitalized during the pandemic with a heart condition, and seeing him in such physical distress took a big toll on her. As the author shared with NPR, "Writing is such a powerful way of getting inside your feelings, at least for me, in a way that I don't really have access to in another way." She continued, saying, "I know how much time the loved ones really have to sit with the inevitability of their loved one's death. And I certainly did that with my dad while I was working on 'This Time Tomorrow.'"

Tara M. Stringfellow's debut, "Memphis," is a gorgeous historical fiction novel that tells an important, relevant story of intergenerational trauma, freedom, and womanhood. After escaping her father's violence, Joan, her mother, and her younger sister take refuge in Memphis, living in the house that her grandfather built before he was murdered. While navigating the grief that's been passed down her family for centuries, Joan discovers that she already has access to everything she needs to heal, and she begins to turn to the women in her life for the wisdom she can now recognize that they hold.

"Memphis" was influenced by Stringfellow's musings on her own family's fraught relationship with the United States. As she told The Independent, "We have to live in this country with white folk wearing these hats telling us, basically, to go back to Africa, that the last time this country was great was when we were enslaved. It was maddening. I didn't know what else to do: it was write 'Memphis' or set fire to my country."