2021 Reading ReCap

I think I’ve had the same reading goal for about 5 years. I’ve wanted to read 50 books in a year for a while at least and it always seemed like a crazy idea to read an average of one book a week. I think part of the reason I’ve never reached my goal is because I’ve never really half-assed it either. I’ve always only read “real books” and never wimped out to read a bunch of short books or graphic novels (not that graphic novels don’t count, they totally do). What I’m trying to say is that I actually read a reasonable amount of pages! (See below)

I think I’ve had the same reading goal for about 5 years. I’ve wanted to read 50 books in a year for a while at least and it always seemed like a crazy idea to read an average of one book a week. I think part of the reason I’ve never reached my goal is because I’ve never really half-assed it either. I’ve always only read “real books” and never wimped out to read a bunch of short books or graphic novels (not that graphic novels don’t count, they totally do). What I’m trying to say is that I actually read a reasonable amount of pages! (See below)

Here is my list of finished books. The * books are my favorites of the year, the ! are the ones that I actually didn’t like and wouldn’t recommend. Yes, I did read a book on macramé, don’t judge me okay?!

1. The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson !

2. Sword of Destiny by Andrej Sapkowski

3. Beauty’s Punishment by Anne Rice

4. American Queen by Sierra Simone !

5. Beach Read by Emily Henry *

6. Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

7. Outlawed by Anna North

8. Furyborn by Claire Legrand

9. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas *

10. Modern Macrame by Emily Katz

11. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

12. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

13. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig *

14. An Irish Country Doctor by Patrik Taylor !

15. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout *

16. The Selection by Kiera Cass

17. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

18. Born in Fire by Nora Roberts

19. Artemis by Andy Weir

20. The High Tide club by Mary Kay Andrews

21. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell *

22. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

23. Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Arementrout *

24. The Elite by Kiera Cass

25. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle *

26. The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary *

27. The Dating Plan by Sara Desai *

28. Kingsbane by Claire Legrand !

29. The One by Kiera Cass

30. Impostor Syndrome by Kathy Wang !

31. Lightbringer by Claire Legrand !

32. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

33. The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry *

34. The Heir by Kiera Cass !

35. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

36. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

37. Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff *

38. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

39. Christmas at the Little Beach Bakery by Jenny Colgan

40. All Systems Red by Martha Wells *

41. The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles !

42. Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

43. Going the Distance by Beth Reekles

44. The Crown by Kiera Cass

45. The Kissing Booth 3 One Last Time by Beth Reekles

46. The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix *

47. Artificial Condition by Martha wells *

48. The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

49. Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

50. Rise by Cassandra Robbins

Top Books 2021

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix *

Very dark novel if you like a mix of horror and action. It starts slow but the interesting stuff does happen fairly early. Grady Hendrix is pretty graphic but I love his stuff Like this? Read Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix or My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix or Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells *

One of the best Sci-Fi novels I’ve read. It’s actually super short but it’s packed wall to wall with action and great description. Wells does not waste one goddamn paragraph. Like this? Read Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff or Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff *

A great Sci-Fi Team novel. Think Guardians of the Galaxy Vibes. This is the second book in the series, so make sure you start with Aurora Rising Like this? Read the Final Six by Alexandra Monir or These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry *

Just a great romance novel with extremely lovable characters. Henry is great on touching on really deep horrible subjects with the lightest feather touch. I love her stuff. Like this? Read Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi or Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle *

Would you like your soul to be completely and utterly crushed? Meet In Five Years. It starts out so breezy so you kind of float into her jaws and then Serle bites down HARD. Be ready with the tissues! I didn’t even care though because this book was amazing. Like This? Read The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker or Something Blue by Emily Griffin

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary *

I read my fair share of romances this year, but this one was up there. I really liked this book and the description of the characters, who are not the thin, boring mary kates that usually grace the pages of romance novels. Like This? Read The Dating Plan by Sara Desai or Little Beach Bakery by Jenny Colgan

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai *

I think I read this book the fastest of all the books I read this year. It really grabbed me from the beginning because I love that fake dating trope. If you like that then you’ll LOVE this book and then some. Like This? Read PS I love you by Jenny Han or Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout * Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Arementrout *

I’m going to talk about both of these books together because they’re part of a series. I’m reading the third in the series right now but I’m not quite done. I don’t want to spoil this for you, but if you like high fantasy and romance, just read it, ok? Like this? Try A Court of Thorns and Roses (Do not stop at this book and keep going even if you don’t like it) or Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas *

This is the latest book ACOTAR series and I just freaking loved it. I love this series so much. I know it can be lame and raunchy but hear me out, it’s fun. It’s not the best written books, but the characters are likable. Like This? Try City of Bones by Cassandra Claire or From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout.

Beach Read by Emily Henry *

Emily Henry should be the queen of romance, because honestly I loved this book almost more than The People We Meet on Vacation. They are both fantastic if you love romance. Like This? Try The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living or The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell *

I read this book early in the year at the request of Rachel and it did not disappoint. The characters are quirky and lovable and as someone who once wrote fanfiction, this book is pretty relatable. Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty or Geekerella by Ashley Poston

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig *

Last but certainly not least. This book is all about second chances and a very interesting view of what limbo might be. It will make you rethink your life, your choices and maybe your sanity! Like This? Try Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi or the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab