The Best Books I Read in 2021

I read a lot of books in 2021. I'm not tooting my own horn, b/c honestly, I couldn't even remember the premise of some of them. Although if I spent the time reading a book and I can't remember one single thing about it (characters, location, plot), that says more about the author than it does about me. Right? My memory isn't great, but I'd rather not take the blame here.

All that to say, the ones on this list are rock solid reads. Go put them on hold at your library immediately. Maybe next I'll do a list of books that aren't worth your time - honestly, there's nothing more disappointing than a hyped up book that just doesn't deliver. I don't have any set resolutions for 2022, but I would like to blog more, so fleshing out ideas would probably help with that.

It's January 11th, so I can still be fresh and hopeful about the year for the next 3 months or so. Come April, when I haven't made any progress, I have only myself to blame for not holding myself accountable here.

In case you made a resolution to read more (good for you!), might I suggest you start with these:

The Lincoln Highway - Amor Towles

Set in 1950's America, Emmet Watson is trying to get to California with his 8 y/o brother. The people in his life have a different plan for him, and the cast of characters they meet along the way makes for a wild story.

Wish You Were Here - Jodi Picoult

Diana O'Toole arrives on the Galapagos Islands right as COVID is shutting the world down. She spends her time on the island worrying about her fiancé, a frontline worker in NYC, and befriending a local family while falling for the father. I really liked reading about the pandemic while we're still in the throes of it and being reminded of how far we've come.

The Reading List - Sarah Nisha Adams

A crumpled reading list found in an old library book sets the backdrop for this fun and heartwarming novel. I love books about books, how they bring us joy and bring people together, and this book was a reminder of that.

Mary Jane - Jessica Anya Blau

A coming-of-age novel set in the 70's about a young girl who has to walk the line between her conservative parents and the liberal family she nannies for. Mary Jane the character is so sweet and honest, and the book is a delight to read.

Razorblade Tears - S.A. Cosby

Two ex-cons team up to avenge their murdered sons. Spoiler alert: they're a real unlikely pair. This book is fast and violent and asks a lot of important questions. The writing is amazing.

The Guncle - Steven Rowley

I'll always have a soft spot for Rowley; even though Lily and the Octopus made me ugly-cry like never before, that book was there for me at a time when I needed it. This book has his trademark humor and character development, and it's a light read that still moves you.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot - Marianne Cronin

17 y/o Lenni and 83 y/o Margot forge a friendship in the terminal ward of their hospital. They team up to paint their combined 100 years of living; it if sounds sappy, it definitely is - but it's also lovely and heartwarming and a pleasure to read.

The Anthropocene Reviewed - John Green

The Anthropocene is our current geological age; no doubt that humans have had a tremendous impact on this one. Green's reviews run the gamut - the QWERTY keyboard, Halley's Comet, sunsets- using a five-star scale. If you like John Green, you have to read this; if you don't like John Green, you still have to read this, it's that good.

The Kitchen Front - Jennifer Ryan

Four women compete for a spot on a BBC cooking show during WWII. The show would give them all a better life, and they all have different reasons for competing. I love the relationships the women forge, and how just when you think you know them, they surprise you.

The Four Winds - Kristin Hannah

Set during the Great Depression, more accurately, the Dust Bowl in the great plains, this is the story of the lengths one woman will take to protect her family.

The Rose Code - Kate Quinn

The story of three very different women who band together to break German military codes in WWII. Quinn is the master of historical fiction, and this is my favorite of hers so far.

Just Mercy - Bryan Stevenson

The true story of Stevenson, a scrappy lawyer, and how he started the Equal Justice Initiative. The EJI is a nonprofit in the south dedicated to defend the poor and wrongly convicted. This is such a heartbreaking and important read.

Migrations - Charlotte McConaghy

It's a warning against climate change, a love story and a mystery all in one. What more could you want? Plus, the writing is absolutely beautiful.