Hello and a very happy Friday to you. It’s the end of the week at last. Phew, what a relief! It’s also day 25 of #R3COMM3ND3D2022 and we had a last-minute bid for the crown yesterday when a third book snuck unexpectedly into pole position, alongside The Girl from Guernica by Karen Robards and Nothing Else by Louise Beech. Welcome to the joint top spot Love and Other Human Errors by Bethany Clift. Isn’t it exciting? I wonder if one of these three books will reign supreme!

Joining me today to chat about three 2022 book releases they absolutely love is another of my favourite bloggers, it’s the fabulous Jo of Jo’s Book Blog. I’m a huge fan of Jo’s blog and find her recommendations are always spot on. So if you don’t subscribe to Jo’s blog already, make sure you change that!

So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2022? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors, book bloggers, reviewers and bookstagrammers to shout about three (yes, *only* three) books they love. They can be written by any author, in any genre and published in any way (traditionally, indie press or self-published). But there is a catch. All three books must have been published in 2022. To make things interesting there are a couple of teeny, tiny rules; 1) the book must have FIRST been published in 2022 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. I like to keep you lovely people on your toes 😉

Here are the three books Jo recommends…

Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Set in the late 18th century, Pandora a wonderful mix of historical mystery and Greek mythology that I found to be engaging from the very first page. I adored the main character, Dora – I loved her intelligence and her refusal to accept her uncle’s plans for her, particularly as it becomes clear that he doesn’t have her best interests at heart. There’s a wonderful mystery to unravel, and I loved the layers of secrets, lies, and betrayal and the interweaving of the Pandora myth.
Jo’s Review of Pandora

Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
Woman, Eating is an unusual novel, but one that I found to be utterly gripping. It offers a very different take on the vampire narrative, bringing the concept bang up to date and using it as a means to explore present-day issues from the perspective of a surprisingly relatable young woman. If the idea of vampires and horror is off-putting, please do consider giving this novel a chance. It’s completely different to anything else I’ve read, and I absolutely loved it.
Jo’s Review of Woman, Eating

Hide by Kiersten White
I love the deceptively simple premise in Hide. 14 contestants – all strangers – are asked to hide in an abandoned amusement park for a week. Anyone caught out during the day for any reason is eliminated, and there’s a sizeable cash prize up for grabs for the winner. It’s a great idea, although of course there’s a little more to it than an elaborate game of hide ‘n’ seek. I thought the reveals were done well, dropping subtle hints as to the darker nature of the contest before making it clearer exactly what is at stake in this game.
Jo’s Review of Hide

Thanks so much, Jo. I absolutely love your three picks and they’re all going straight on the TBR.

About Jo:
I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child, and have always been inclined towards darker stories – as a friend once pointed out, if I describe a book as “bleak” then I probably enjoyed it. This started with a fascination with fairy tales and myths when I was younger, and has developed into a love for post-apocalyptic / dystopian fiction now that I’m older. I also love retellings of the Greek myths, particularly where those tales are told from the perspectives of the women who have been voiceless and relegated to the side-lines for so long. Other hobbies include walking in the Peak District (particularly if there’s a pub on the route!), travel, and watching ice hockey.

Jo’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| Jo’s Book Blog | Twitter @tiny_ickle_jo |

Sadly submissions for #R3COMM3D3D2022 are now closed. Shortly after the last post I will be inviting you to attend the virtual after-show party, which should be fun. We’ll get to gaze upon the marvellous and majestic beauty of 2022’s books and also crown 2022’s winner, if we have one (they’re all winners, right?). Until then stay tuned as we have lots more bookish gorgeousness heading your way throughout November.