These are the books that became my lighthouses in the messy middle—reminding me that you don’t need to wait for milestones to start living your dream life. If you’ve ever felt untethered or weighed down by “shoulds,” these stories may help you find your own way home.

My five-star reads of 2022. We've got fiction and romance with a dash of travel! Absolutely loved all these books and can't wait to get started on my 2023 TBR.