Oh Gina, I'm so glad I found you. I came to UA-cam for inspiration. I'm 60 years old, and all the creators seem to be in their 20's. I think it's great that so many young women love to read but the books I enjoy now are just not the books I enjoyed in my 20's.
I'm so glad you like Susan Branch. I've never heard anyone else mention her before. I've been getting her calendars for years now. My favorite one is all pictures inside and outside her house. I could just die for a house like that - really beautiful.
Happy new year 🎉. I, too, had a wonderful year of reading. Two of your books were also my favorites…Rosamunde’s Christmas and A Fine Romance. I love Susan Branch books and have read them each several times. A Fine Romance I always pick up when I need some cozy escapism. Thank you for all your videos. I especially enjoyed your 12 Days of Christmas.🌸
The Fairy Tale Girl is another great book by Susan Branch. I am reading A Fine Romance now and couldn’t be having a more delightful reading experience!! I have her 2nd memoir, Isle of Dreams on my shelf to read next. Loved your video ❤
Yes! My kindred RP friend! I bought Rosamunde Pilcher Christmas book and was just in heaven. It definitely is a 5 star and a keeper. The Susan Branch book looks beautiful. Thanks for that recommendation! I tried to order the 2023 calendar by Susan Branch and they were sold out for now....how sad! I totally agree with you on The Enchanted April. I love the book and the movie. Wouldn't that be wonderful to actually experience. It's definitely another keeper. Great as always Gina!
Gorgeous list! I've read over half the books you listed and adore them. What fun to learn about more and add the rest to my pile. Much appreciated! Fingersmith was one of my least favourite from 250 books I read last year. Despised it. Not often a fan of contemporary fiction and this one put me off it for many months. Luckily happened upon an entire box of Georgette Heyer books at a used book sale a few years ago...what a treasure.
Sorry to hear you didn’t like Fingersmith! I don’t like much contemporary fiction either, but I love Sarah Waters. That box of Heyers sounds like a great find! Thanks for being here!
@@GinaStanyerBooks I was also fortunate to find a neglected dusty box in a corner at another used book sale containing 18 Anthony Trollope books to add to my collection, none of which I had had!
These all sound intriguing! I’ve read A Fine Romance twice. I love 💕 looking at it. So pretty! The Enchanted April is a favorite! I want to rewatch the film and I agree it may be better than the book. ♥️ The scenery and flowers are STUNNING. Greengates sounds interesting!
I bought the Rosamunde’s Christmas book after seeing it on Miranda’s comfort book club and it is lovely! I was shocked to read she wrote 300 Christmas cards and started in November! Interesting to see she had one of the best Christmas in Cornwall in her seventies, inviting her family for a week in a hotel! A dream!
LOVE your 5 star reads, Gina!! (except that I'll probably skip the Thomas Hardy 😂) I'd love to know what you think of The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Arnim...I loved that one even more than The Enchanted April. Yay for Susan Branch!! 😍 So glad I was able to share that with you ❤ I think you'll love Isle of Dreams, too! Loved hearing you talk about your favorite books! 🤩🌟📚💚
I need to pick The Solitary Summer back up, I started it then it dropped off my radar. For some reason it wasn't really grabbing me, but I'm not going to give up!
We are taking the Cunard this spring and A Fine Romance sounds perfect, all the places I want to visit. Just put that on my list. Saw Enchanted April years ago and loved it too. I have not read the book. Also, recommending Amelie, a little French film if you haven't seen that. Charming.
Oh wow, I am so jealous! I would love to take that cruise, and maybe someday I will. Unfortunately the person that I am planning an England trip with gets motion sick, so we won't be able to do it. I have seen Amelie and LOVED it!
I like the short bangs! I have a dreadful cowlick that prevents me from having any, if they're short they stick right up 😂 Excellent to hear your rave on Mayor of Casterbridge, I'm hoping to get to Thomas Hardy this year with a re-read of Tess. to see if I want to dive into more. Shannon from That's so Poe has also been encouraging me to try Georgette Heyer, as its one of her favorite comfort read authors, so that may be one for this year too!
Hello Gina, I read "Near Neighbors" last year and loved it1 I just buddy read The Enchanted April" this month with Jack and read her book, Father earlier this year. Loved both of them. I need to reread Nemesis. Great best of 2022. Sending you health and happiness for the new year. Aloha MMM
Delightful list, Gina! I’m going to add Frederica and The Enchanted April to my list. I really want to try books by Georgette Heyer and Sarah Waters 😊📚
There’s one character in the book that I actually prefer the movie version of. Let me know when you read it and we’ll see if you feel the same! I’m curious what you think of it.
I like how you didn't include rereads for this list; I may consider that for my future lists like this one. The only one of these that I've read is Nemesis, but I remember really enjoying it.
Emily of Deep Valley! My favorite Maude Hart Lovelace. Frederica is one of my favorite Heyers, the setting and side characters are more interesting. And Lufra is a memorable canine. Greengates is in my TBR and of course Elizabeth Von Arnim is wonderful. I find Sarah Waters dark in a way that I have to work up to and of course Hardy is just Hardy. Happy New Year!
I'm currently reading Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer, a Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym on kindle, and trying a library audiobook well into a series so I didn't start at the beginning -Gone Gull by Donna Andrews, I also wantto get backto one I had startedbefore christmas and left at home so ended up starting georgette heyer - Lessons in Chemistry.
Yay our buddy read made it to your list! That’s the only one from your list I’ve read. 😂 if you wanted to buddy read another Sarah Waters and read The Night Watch together, let me know!
Hi Elle! I'd love to buddy read something this year! I already have something lined up for the Night Watch so let's pick something else. (or another Waters even...)
Hi Gina, Just finished Dandelion Cottage and loved it. People on Goodreads compare it to Betsy/Tacy so will check out Emily of Deep Valley. Fredrica and Green Gates are on my TBR. I didn't care for either Molly Clavering or Elizabeth Von Arnams writing style. And Thomas Hardy and Sarah Waters are to dark for me.
So glad you loved Dandelion Cottage too, it was so sweet! And there are more in the series - I just got the second one on my Kindle which is called The Adopting of Rosa Marie. I hope it is as good!
First of all you don’t look your age and the short bangs just add to your youthfulness. I like them. I also want to look into buying one or two Persephone books. I’m not sure which book to start with.
Oh Gina, I'm so glad I found you. I came to UA-cam for inspiration. I'm 60 years old, and all the creators seem to be in their 20's. I think it's great that so many young women love to read but the books I enjoy now are just not the books I enjoyed in my 20's.
Thank you so much Brenda! What a nice comment - I’m so glad you are here.
I'm so glad you like Susan Branch. I've never heard anyone else mention her before. I've been getting her calendars for years now. My favorite one is all pictures inside and outside her house. I could just die for a house like that - really beautiful.
Thank you dear Gina for this top 10 ! I love Rosamund Pilcher💕Hughs from France !
Thanks Roz! Hugs back :)
Happy new year 🎉. I, too, had a wonderful year of reading. Two of your books were also my favorites…Rosamunde’s Christmas and A Fine Romance. I love Susan Branch books and have read them each several times. A Fine Romance I always pick up when I need some cozy escapism. Thank you for all your videos. I especially enjoyed your 12 Days of Christmas.🌸
Thanks so much Glenda! It was so much fun to discover Susan Branch this year. What a treat.
The Fairy Tale Girl is another great book by Susan Branch. I am reading A Fine Romance now and couldn’t be having a more delightful reading experience!! I have her 2nd memoir, Isle of Dreams on my shelf to read next. Loved your video ❤
Oh, you will love Fingersmith!! Have a great 2023 reading year, Gina!
OMG Juan, I’ve actually read Fingersmith (and loved it!) I can’t get my titles straight - I am still needing to read Tipping the Velvet.
@@GinaStanyerBooks oh. That one is lovely!! Adored that one with the London theatrical setting
Thanks for your videos! As a teenager I watch them daily and they're kind of my safe place:) You're the best, sending love!
Thanks so much for the nice comment! You made my day. I’m so glad you are here.
Both A Fine Romance and The Enchanted April made my favorites list for 2022 as well. Looks like you had a great reading year!
Oh yay, weren't they great!?
Your bangs are short but I kind of love them!!! I always like to own my faves ❤
Thanks Karen!
Hah it’s fun watching how excited you are about these!
Ooh I still need to read Nemesis! Hope to get to it soon!
Yes! My kindred RP friend! I bought Rosamunde Pilcher Christmas book and was just in heaven. It definitely is a 5 star and a keeper. The Susan Branch book looks beautiful. Thanks for that recommendation! I tried to order the 2023 calendar by Susan Branch and they were sold out for now....how sad! I totally agree with you on The Enchanted April. I love the book and the movie. Wouldn't that be wonderful to actually experience. It's definitely another keeper. Great as always Gina!
You should definitely read Susan Branch! So sweet. Her descriptions are wonderful.
Nemesis is one of my favourite Miss Marple stories. I love how she is portrayed as well - Nemesis in a fluffy pink shawl!
OMG Janelle, isn't that wonderful? It's such a perfect description of Miss Marple....
I am currently reading Winter Solstice and loving it 😍
Oh yay!
Very excited about The Paying Guests! Need to read that one but first I’d like to reread The little stranger.
Gorgeous list! I've read over half the books you listed and adore them. What fun to learn about more and add the rest to my pile. Much appreciated!
Fingersmith was one of my least favourite from 250 books I read last year. Despised it. Not often a fan of contemporary fiction and this one put me off it for many months.
Luckily happened upon an entire box of Georgette Heyer books at a used book sale a few years ago...what a treasure.
Sorry to hear you didn’t like Fingersmith! I don’t like much contemporary fiction either, but I love Sarah Waters. That box of Heyers sounds like a great find!
Thanks for being here!
@@GinaStanyerBooks I was also fortunate to find a neglected dusty box in a corner at another used book sale containing 18 Anthony Trollope books to add to my collection, none of which I had had!
Oh wow! I’m jealous!
These all sound intriguing! I’ve read A Fine Romance twice. I love 💕 looking at it. So pretty! The Enchanted April is a favorite! I want to rewatch the film and I agree it may be better than the book. ♥️ The scenery and flowers are STUNNING. Greengates sounds interesting!
Thanks Amy! Greengates is really good, I loved it a lot.
I bought the Rosamunde’s Christmas book after seeing it on Miranda’s comfort book club and it is lovely! I was shocked to read she wrote 300 Christmas cards and started in November! Interesting to see she had one of the best Christmas in Cornwall in her seventies, inviting her family for a week in a hotel! A dream!
Gina and Miranda both recommending the Christmas book is an automatic TBR addition for me!
Thanks so much! I am honored to be mentioned in the same breath as the wonderful Miranda :)
@@GinaStanyerBooks you are both great!
Loved seeing your favs of 2022!
Thanks!
LOVE your 5 star reads, Gina!! (except that I'll probably skip the Thomas Hardy 😂) I'd love to know what you think of The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Arnim...I loved that one even more than The Enchanted April. Yay for Susan Branch!! 😍 So glad I was able to share that with you ❤ I think you'll love Isle of Dreams, too! Loved hearing you talk about your favorite books! 🤩🌟📚💚
I need to pick The Solitary Summer back up, I started it then it dropped off my radar. For some reason it wasn't really grabbing me, but I'm not going to give up!
@@GinaStanyerBooks Wooo!
We are taking the Cunard this spring and A Fine Romance sounds perfect, all the places I want to visit. Just put that on my list. Saw Enchanted April years ago and loved it too. I have not read the book. Also, recommending Amelie, a little French film if you haven't seen that. Charming.
Oh wow, I am so jealous! I would love to take that cruise, and maybe someday I will. Unfortunately the person that I am planning an England trip with gets motion sick, so we won't be able to do it.
I have seen Amelie and LOVED it!
I like the short bangs! I have a dreadful cowlick that prevents me from having any, if they're short they stick right up 😂
Excellent to hear your rave on Mayor of Casterbridge, I'm hoping to get to Thomas Hardy this year with a re-read of Tess. to see if I want to dive into more. Shannon from That's so Poe has also been encouraging me to try Georgette Heyer, as its one of her favorite comfort read authors, so that may be one for this year too!
Thanks Becca! Hardy's writing is so amazing, it really bowled me over. I loved it.
Fingersmith is superb. It reminds me of a Dickens story but it is so much easier to read. Great characters and a twisty plot. So good.
I love Sarah Waters!
Hello Gina, I read "Near Neighbors" last year and loved it1 I just buddy read The Enchanted April" this month with Jack and read her book, Father earlier this year. Loved both of them. I need to reread Nemesis. Great best of 2022. Sending you health and happiness for the new year. Aloha MMM
Thanks MMM! Have you seen The Enchanted April movie? It’s so good. I need to get to more of her books this year, there’s just not enough time!
@@GinaStanyerBooks I saw the movie when it came out but I only remember the scenery not the story. I’m going to watch it soon. Sending aloha your way
Delightful list, Gina! I’m going to add Frederica and The Enchanted April to my list. I really want to try books by Georgette Heyer and Sarah Waters 😊📚
They’re so good Nikki!
I bought Enchanted April recently. I loved the movie as well.
There’s one character in the book that I actually prefer the movie version of. Let me know when you read it and we’ll see if you feel the same! I’m curious what you think of it.
I like how you didn't include rereads for this list; I may consider that for my future lists like this one. The only one of these that I've read is Nemesis, but I remember really enjoying it.
Thanks Jeremy. I love rereading and those books would take over my favorites if I included them LOL.
Emily of Deep Valley! My favorite Maude Hart Lovelace. Frederica is one of my favorite Heyers, the setting and side characters are more interesting. And Lufra is a memorable canine. Greengates is in my TBR and of course Elizabeth Von Arnim is wonderful. I find Sarah Waters dark in a way that I have to work up to and of course Hardy is just Hardy. Happy New Year!
I love Emily! She’s so much more relatable (although I do love Betsy too!)
Have you read Affinity? That’s probably my favorite Sarah Waters so far.
I'm currently reading Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer, a Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym on kindle, and trying a library audiobook well into a series so I didn't start at the beginning -Gone Gull by Donna Andrews, I also wantto get backto one I had startedbefore christmas and left at home so ended up starting georgette heyer - Lessons in Chemistry.
Fun list you’ve got going. Barbara Pym is one of my favorites.
@@GinaStanyerBooks I got Pym (and others!) from your recommendation!
Yay our buddy read made it to your list! That’s the only one from your list I’ve read. 😂 if you wanted to buddy read another Sarah Waters and read The Night Watch together, let me know!
Hi Elle! I'd love to buddy read something this year! I already have something lined up for the Night Watch so let's pick something else. (or another Waters even...)
Paying Guest is my favorite Sarah Waters book.
Isn’t it amazing? I love it too. I’m so surprised that it seems to get lower ratings on Goodreads.
Hi Gina, Just finished Dandelion Cottage and loved it. People on Goodreads compare it to Betsy/Tacy so will check out Emily of Deep Valley. Fredrica and Green Gates are on my TBR. I didn't care for either Molly Clavering or Elizabeth Von Arnams writing style. And Thomas Hardy and Sarah Waters are to dark for me.
So glad you loved Dandelion Cottage too, it was so sweet! And there are more in the series - I just got the second one on my Kindle which is called The Adopting of Rosa Marie. I hope it is as good!
@@GinaStanyerBooks The Adopting of Rosa Marie is on my TBR . Just started The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill too.
❤️
First of all you don’t look your age and the short bangs just add to your youthfulness. I like them. I also want to look into buying one or two Persephone books. I’m not sure which book to start with.
Awww thanks! Persephones are so expensive right now. Check them out on Book Depository. I think they have free shipping.
@@GinaStanyerBooks Ok thanks for the tip.
hello gina!!!!!!!
Hi!