I ranked this as my 5th favorite read of 2022.

"It's the little things, I expect. Little treasures we find without knowing their origin. And they come when we least expect them. It's beautiful, when you think about it."

I read this book back in March, and it has stuck with me as a favorite ever since. This is a story of found family. Of unconditional love and acceptance. Arthur Parnassus is the caretaker of a school for magical children, but really, he's the adoptive father on an island of misfits. Linus Baker is a lonely rule-following case worker assigned to the school. Linus goes on a journey of self-discovery, learning the importance of fighting for the ones you love. As a person lucky enough to have a chosen family, I appreciated the complexity of the tight-knit group initially doubting Linus, but ultimately embracing and loving him as fiercely as they love each other. At it's sappy, tear-jerking heart, HitCS is a love story for the ages.