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The most popular posts of 2022

The posts readers read the most on MMD.

I love year-end wrap-ups and superlatives, no matter the subject. And I’m always fascinated to see what readers are drawn to. Maybe that’s why I can never resist a good “popular posts” list, and why I’m always so curious to see what qualifies as “popular” around here. For our purposes today I’m defining “popular” strictly in terms of pageviews: these are the 12 posts that garnered the most pageviews during the calendar year beginning January 1, in order, most to least.

It’s always interesting to see what ends up on this list, because “popular” doesn’t mean “best.” I’m always surprised to see what makes the list, and what doesn’t, and hope you enjoy seeing what winds up on top.

Perennially popular posts on Modern Mrs Darcy

I’ll start with a few posts that have consistently wound up in the top ten these past few years, mostly due to popularity in Google search. (Google search prioritizes old content: it’s no coincidence these posts are all at least several years old.) They are:

• 100 stocking stuffers that will actually be appreciated, don’t feel like a waste of money, and won’t be broken/destroyed/forgotten by New Years. This post consistently starts going gangbusters every October (which is just one reason we now update it each year).
• Unputdownable: 17 books I read in 24 hours or less (because they were just that good), because apparently readers are always on the hunt for pageturning mysteries and thrillers. (If you think this post could do with an update: I agree! I’d love to do that in 2023.)
• 9 books you should have read in high school that are totally worth reading now. Readers’ interest in “classic” literature isn’t going away anytime soon.
What I learned from living with all-white walls for a year. Google search loves this post, written one year after we moved into our new-to-us 1912 home.
20 short novels you can read in one day. Because apparently readers are always in need of an easy win for their reading lives.
25 fascinating true stories you didn’t learn about in history class. These stories read like novels, and will make you eager to know what happened and how it fits into your previous understanding of the event or era.

Now for the posts that are newly popular this year.

The most-read posts of the year on Modern Mrs Darcy

1. 16 series to read after you’ve run out of Louise Penny novels.

I’m far from the only one in search of a great mystery series to keep me occupied while I’m waiting for the next Inspector Gamache novel to come out. We refreshed this post this year with more recommendations. Don’t miss the comment section for even more! Also don’t miss my conversation with Louise Penny in What Should I Read Next Episode 357: Welcome to Three Pines.

2. 12 favorite Book Club selections that have stood the test of time.

Readers are always on the hunt for great book club novels. In this post we feature Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club picks that have incredible staying power: they’re tried and true, both crowd-pleasing and endlessly discussable.

3. The 2022 Minimalist Summer Reading Guide.

Every year since 2014 I release an abbreviated, essentialist version of the Summer Reading Guide featuring five (or, this year, six) titles that are hugely entertaining, have broad appeal, and cover a variety of topics, themes, genres, and perspectives. It’s no surprise that this year’s version was a hit with the readers!

4. 10 new historical fiction books by beloved authors.

Avid readers love historical fiction, and they hit up this post in droves! If you’re in the mood for historical fiction, keep an eye out for these new releases from favorite writers in the genre.

5. 10 things saving my life right now.

This themed post and gathering at the midway point of winter has been an MMD tradition for more than a decade. “My family has been in a brutal season and it feels like the hard stuff demands my full and complete attention. And yet. When I stopped to consider—really consider—the small things that are saving me, I made a list. It took me a week to do it, but I have it, and it’s not short.”

6. 8 great Audible alternatives for audiobook listeners.

Lots of people ask about alternatives to Audible so we put together this handy list.

7. 33 historical fiction books avid readers can’t get enough of.

We asked our community of readers what their favorite historical novels were and they certainly delivered. The comments are a goldmine, too!

8. 6 audiobooks I’ve thoroughly enjoyed lately.

Because so many readers are always on the hunt for not just good reads but good listens, I shared an assortment of recommendations in that format.

9. MORE extra-long books worth reading.

It’s fair to say we like big books around here.

10. Standout new audiobooks for summer listening.

We gathered a collection of standout new-for-2022 audiobook releases I enjoyed listening to for Audiobook Appreciation Month, featuring a nice variety including literary fiction, romance, memoir, historical fiction, and more.

11. My favorite books of 2022.

Who can resist an annual favorites list? Not me—and not you.

12. 8 beautiful, practical cookbooks you’ll turn to again and again.
Tastes change over time and so do the cookbooks I keep in regular rotation. These are my new go-tos.


P.S. For more superlatives: check out my favorite books of 2022 and my favorite audiobooks of 2022.

3 comments

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  1. Jennifer Geisler says:

    These posts are a powerful reminder of why, after reading my first MMD email, I signed up and never looked back! Thank you, Anne and team!

  2. Ruth O says:

    Thanks for sharing these. I always enjoy the ‘What’s saving my life just now’ posts immensely, and I am looking forward to the next one. Which leads me to ask after revisiting that one, how are the hamsters? We often had them as pets when our family was young. I don’t miss them badly enough to go get more though.
    Happy New Year!

  3. Kay says:

    I really enjoy seeing these kinds of compilations. I would like to know which posts had the most comments in the year too. What is it about a post that makes people interact?

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