A Year In Review: My Favorite Books Of 2021

Hey friends, well, here we are in the midst of January 2022. Honestly, it’s just the same shit but a different year. Not to be a downer or anything but man, the hits just keep coming but at least we have toilet paper now #upside

Let’s move along now shall we? You might remember how I challenged myself to read 20 books in 2020 (you can see that list here), well in 2021, I opted to go for 21 books. Here are what I read and my opinions on a handful. I am adding affiliate links which means that I get a small compensation should you purchase using my links.

My favorite book that I read in 2021 was Between Two Kingdoms. Suleika Jaouad broke my heart and also cracked it wide open with this memoir. I also highly recommend following her on Instagram. She is a social activist and a beautiful writer.

Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover was a speedy read. I intend to read more of her books in 2022. This is a love story but also a story about standing by those that you love, no matter the obstacles.

Built Through Courage by Dave Hollis was my final book of 2021. I literally finished it just before midnight. This book felt like a perfect finale as I had just given notice at my weekday job and some of the little nuggets that he offered were just what I needed to read. One of my favorites, “Your current station in life is not permanent.”

In Memory of Running by Ron McLarty was a recommendation by Melissa McCarthy on a podcast and she said she loved the book and would love to see it turned into a movie. With a recommendation from the hilarious Melissa McCarthy, I expected funny. Wrong. This book was a bit sad. I’d be curious in how they’d make a movie from it.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley was a creative story about how a simple notebook traveled around gathering peoples stories helped unite unlikely friends. I appreciated the uniqueness of this story,

This is How it Always is by Laurie Frankel was another favorite of 2021. If you struggle with understanding the LGTBQ world, this book might be a bit of an eye opener. I loved the honesty and the acceptance in this story. People are born as who they are and not always into a body that aligns with their gender. How does one honor that and stay true to who they are? This book was story of a secret within a family and how that families love catapulted them through the years.

Remaining Aileen was written by Autumn Lindsay who happens to be a local author and an Instagram friend. We are hoping to meet in real life in 2022. This book is a must for any Twilight fans. It was a fun read and I loved that I knew where the story was actually taking place as it’s in the county I live in.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Lianne Moriarty was a good read. It was also made into a mini series on Hulu and truth be told, I enjoy her books as books and not so much on my TV. I felt the same way about Big Little Lies. I do love everything that she writes as she  does a good job of mixing things up to keep you engaged. I just think it feels like a better story in a book.

The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards was a book I stumbled upon in a thrift store. I knew it was an older novel and also a movie. I was curious so I added it to my basket of books to read. This story was heartbreaking but well written. Maybe I’ll watch the movie and see how they compare.

Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah was a romantic story with a major twist. Sometimes in losing ourselves, we really find where we are meant to be. This was a quick read and Kristin Hannah never disappoints.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle was a one of those back and forth, what the heck is happening, kind of books. It all ties together at the end, thankfully. It was a good read about friendships and love.

Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle was an unexpected find. I was on vacation and forgot to bring a book so I grabbed this one at the local grocery store. I couldn’t put it down. It was a suspenseful read and I couldn’t wait to see how it would all wrap up.

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller was a twister. There was a lot happening and while it kept me engaged, I felt like the ending was one of those that left me scratching my head a bit.

No Pain, No Gains by Chip Gaines was full of real life stories to inspire you to work hard + hustle. If you are a fan of Fixer Upper, you can anticipate how this book will go. I enjoyed it and I like Chip’s positive attitude. I think this is a book that young blue collar entrepreneurs would benefit from reading.

And the final seven books that I read in 2021 are:

1. This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
2. Such a Fun Age – Kiley Reid
3. Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
4. LA Weather by Maria Amparo Escandon
5. Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
6. The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
7. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Each of these kept my attention and had redeeming qualities as well. Next year, I’ll do a better job of doing reviews as I go along because honestly, trying to remember all the details from all of these books for an end of year review is not easy! Some obviously stand out more than others as noted in my reviews above.

A few that I’m excited to read in 2022:

• Think Like a Monk – Jay Shetty
• Manifesting – Kris Ferraro
• Group – Christie Tate
• All Adults Here – Emma Straub

Are you a reader? Do you have a favorite book that you’d recommend reading? I have a lot in my stack for 2022. I do tend to mix up what I’m reading but I lean towards memoir’s (I love peoples stories), self-help and fiction.

Have a beautiful day!