My Top Five Favorite Books of 2021 + Honorable Mentions
It’s almost 2022, and I’m still thinking that Peter’s season of The Bachelor was last month and still processing the first season of Too Hot to Handle. But alas, 2021 went by and I am proud to say that I have hit my reading goal of the year!
Disclaimer: My reading goal was to read 30 books. I struggle with comparison on a daily basis, so to me, when I compare to the reader who may read 100 books per year, I tend to not celebrate my accomplishments. BUT—I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t matter if you read one book or 100 books this year, YOU ARE A READER. So, when I say I read 30 books this year, I am merely celebrating my accomplishments. Celebrate yours, too!
I read 32 books this year (and counting!). As proud of myself as I am, I am already starting to think about my reading goal for 2022. Do I want to stick to the 30 books that I set for myself in years past? Or do I want to increase it to 40, or even 52? (That would mean I read one book a week.) I know my limits, but I think I do want to challenge myself to read more. This past year, I’ve really seen and relied on reading as truly self-care for me. And this year has opened my eyes to new genres, as well! I wouldn’t have considered reading fantasy, but I read the first three books in the ACOTAR series and two of those books are in my top five favorites. So, with trying new genres and relating on reading as self-care,
Out of all the books I read this year, these are my top 10 favorite books that I’ve read this year. It was hard getting it down to five, so I will do my top five at the bottom and then 6-10 will be the honorable mentions, or the books that don’t get a ranking but they had to be on the list.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these!
My Honorable Mentions
You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I included it in this list because the plot really stuck with me, and for a book to do that, it has to be really good. I love a good TV show as a subplot, and this book did remind me of Jane the Virgin, just like #bookstagram recommended it to me. However, I wasn’t impressed with Jasmine’s character. I liked her overall development and by the end, I was a Jasmine stan, I just didn’t really relate as much as to her. Not to say that I need to relate to every main character—however, with this book, I felt that I couldn’t connect to her character. However, I did LOVE Ashton and his family, character development, and overall, just really would love to be friends with him (ya know, if book characters came to life lol).
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
WOW, I’m only a little surprised this didn’t make my top five, so I’m putting it in my top ten for sure. This is my second Elin Hilderbrand novel. I loved the overall plot development in this one. Loved Mallory and Jake’s relationship timeline and also the different events that played background to their relationship.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This one was an incredible book to read this year. It was honestly so well-written, inspiring, and educational.
Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Such a cute, charming YA rom-com to read! Talia Hibbert is such a great author and I can’t wait to dive into the Brown sisters trilogy in 2022. Chloe is one of my favorite characters to read this year!
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
Ahhh, I feel like I always give such good ratings to Jasmine Guillory books, and for good reason—she’s such an incredible author and I can’t get enough of her stories. I’ve read 5/6 of her novels, and now that I’ve read The Royal Holiday, I think I want to read The Wedding Party as this one includes Maddie, who’s the female lead in The Wedding Party.
My Top Five Books of 2021
Bridgerton: The Duke & I by Julia Quinn (Book #1)
I dove into the Bridgerton series in 2021 and I do not regret that decision. I would say, hands down, my favorite Bridgerton book is the first one, and that’s not because it largely covers the season one of the Netflix show. I looooooooooove the Duke, aka Simon Hastings, aka Rege-Jean Page. I am excited for season two of the show; I initially wasn’t because I hated Anthony from the show, but when I read Book #2, The Viscount Who Loved Me, he earned redemption. Plus, I’m excited to see Kate’s storyline come to life!
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
There’s no surprise that I included Jasmine Guillory in my top five list. Now, most people didn’t like this (or most people on #bookstagram), but I generally like Hollywood romances, especially Hollywood romances where a celebrity falls in love with a “regular person.”
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I read this on audiobook, and oh boy, this was one of the best books I’ve read all year! This has historical fiction, romance, suspense, Old Hollywood … just everything. This was my first Taylor Jenkins Reid novel, and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend to anyone.
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
For The Bachelor fans! This book was just so incredible and I could not put it down at times. First off, amazing LGBTQ representation. I applaud the author for this well-written book! Second, I cannot get over the incredible mental health conversations that took place throughout the book. From experience, some books talking about mental health tend to gloss over topics of mental health, but the characters’ mental health experiences went into detail and we got to see a different side to each of the characters. Highly recommend for Bachelor fans!
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
And my favorite book of the year goes to … A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas! Oh boy. I started reading this ACOTAR series earlier this year and I am so glad that I did … as of right now, I’m about to start reading book #4, A Court of Frost and Starlight. Okay, so this book. Book #2 in the series just is fantastic, has incredible world building, and amazing character development. Here, we were introduced to Cassian and Mor and Azriel and Amren. And don’t forget Velaris. Before I spill any spoilers, just go ahead and read this book. I am not a fantasy reader whatsoever, but Sarah J. Maas is incredible author. This book series has it all: fantasy, magic, faeries, romance, passion, battle strategy and politics. So good!
AND THAT’S IT! What have you read this year?
