At the beginning of the new year I love to look back on where we’ve been, and blog happenings are no exception. I recently shared the 12 most popular posts of 2022, as determined by the numbers, but “popular” doesn’t necessarily mean “best” or “favorite.”
These are the posts of 2022 that I personally liked the most, the ones that mean a lot to me, the ones I find myself referring to all the time. I picked them for different reasons: because I remember the inspiration, because I’m fond of the idea or the writing, or because the comments section is fabulous.
My favorite posts of the year
In no particular order …
1. 10 things saving my life right now.
“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.”
2. 8 (mostly) little things I’m loving for winter.
I love these occasional roundups of everyday things bringing me a disproportionate amount of happiness, and this edition is particularly joyful.
3. Buy the flowers.
All about the mindset shift that enabled me to stop denying myself the things that don’t cost much but make me very, very happy. This is a re-run but I still just love it and think about it all the time. The comments section remains lively, as well.
4. Books I’m glad I came back to.
I kicked this post idea around in my head for ages, tinkering with the concept and trying to decide if I had “enough” books to make a list for you. I absolutely did. I love this post about books I initially abandoned but ended up loving. The comments section is also (unsurprisingly) pretty great.
5. Nerdy nonfiction for readers who love to learn.
I read way more fiction than nonfiction, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love a good nonfiction list!
6. 12 recommended reads for those who dream of traveling to Scotland.
Our friends Mel and Dave recording What Should I Read Next, #331: Strong sense of summer with Will and me had us all nostalgic about our 2018 trip to Scotland. This literary tourism book list was the next best thing to abandoning all stateside responsibilities and returning asap.
7. 12 recommended reads for those traveling to Maine (or who want to).
I always keep an eye out for serendipity in the reading life: the inspiration for this book list was born when I read several stories in a row that all happened to be set in Maine.
8. A different kind of life-changing read.
When, last summer, I put down my novel to go purchase the specific brand of pen that had just been mentioned in the text, I knew I couldn’t be the only one whose life had been impacted in an extremely specific way thanks to a book. I so enjoyed brainstorming other times that had happened in my life and sharing them with you here. This is one of those posts that I was would take me only twenty minutes to dash off, but it ended up taking hours to get the story right. (Worth it.)
9. Assigned reading we actually enjoyed.
This post was inspired by a vacation conversation with my teenage children, who—for reasons I do not remember—began dishing on which assigned high school books they loved, and which they despised. This post is the result.
10. Favorite items in my spring-to-summer wardrobe.
What can I say? I love a good style or skincare post. A reader once said she loves how MMD is the place where she can find a good book and a good mascara, and that’s true thanks to posts like these—and their comments sections!
11. What niche subgenre do you love?
After stumbling upon a few highly specific and highly enjoyable reads this summer, I had to turn the question to you. I love posts like this.
12. MORE extra-long books worth reading.
It’s fair to say we like big books around here. This was a fun list to put together! I especially enjoyed hearing your thoughts (and big feelings) about big books in the comments section.
13. Quick Lit.
Because we host Quick Lit on the 15th, month in and month out, it never gets a time in the spotlight. But this monthly practice is one of my favorite things we do here.
Comment sections I loved:
Inspired by my daughter’s first job and a subsequent campfire conversation with friends.
2. How do you choose your vacation reads?
Because readers need to know (and I wanted to share).
3. WSIRN #353: Sad Girl Lit Fic and other burnout busters.
The comments section is pure gold, full of insightful recommendations and comments saying “I have found my people!”.
4. Which authors do you wish you could have dinner with?
A fun and wide-ranging conversation inspired by our November Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club selection.
5. The little luxuries that make you feel pampered every time you use them.
This comments section has brought me so much joy (and a few really stellar holiday and birthday gifts, like this sparkle maple syrup).
P.S. The most popular posts of 2022 are right here. For more superlatives: check out my favorite books of 2022 and my favorite audiobooks of 2022.
One comment
I love these kinds of posts. It was interesting to look through them and notice that the first three were about happiness. What makes us happy is personal to everyone but it’s wonderful to explore what little things can improve our lives and give us simple joy. Some of my joyful things are pretty notebooks, lovely notelets for sending people sentences of love and thanks, Cath Kidston hand cream, and mint flavoured dark chocolate, and a phone call with my best friend will make me smile at day.