We made it! 2021 is coming to a close at last even though, in a conversation the other day, we all seemed to be in agreement that it felt like a "blink and you missed it" kind of year. Here's hoping that 2022 brings some stability to our lives and another great batch of books to read.
Once again I read fewer books than last year and as the year comes to a close I suspect I'll finish the year with only 45 books under my belt. Going back to work has definitely forced me to cut back on my reading time, but at least there IS still time for a good book. Still, the books that I did read were overall pretty fantastic- looking at Goodreads, there were only two books that I didn't finish and 5 that I rated lower than 3 stars. In fact, 20 of the books I read were rated 4 or 5 stars, which is pretty amazing if you ask me! But, I'm going to try to narrow it down & choose some favorites, so here we go.
As always, the list is not organized in any order; these are the books I've been recommending to friends when asked. Make sure you click on the title for our full blog review of each book.
Favorite Fiction
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
After an attempted bank robbery that happens as a result of desperation and poor planning, the robber takes a group of people attending an open house for an apartment hostage. This is their story; how a group of strangers in a most unusual situation cope, collaborate, survive, and ultimately thrive.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Spanning
300 years, Addie LaRue makes a deal with the darkness in order to avoid
marrying against her will. The deal means that no matter how long she
lives, no one will ever remember her. Spending the centuries either
alone, or living a Groundhog Day-esque existence where even if she’s
known someone for years, the other person believes they are meeting her for
the first time.
Tackling the subject of depression in a unique and thoughtful way, the story follows Nora Seed as she tries to decide which is the life she is meant to live. The multi-verse of the Midnight Library allows Nora to explore all the different ways the choices in her life, if made differently, would have affected the trajectory of her life- different careers, different relationships, different cities, different homes- Nora has the opportunity to explore them all to find the place she most belongs.
Favorite Young Adult
The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe
The Girls I've Been is a story about a bank robbery, yes. But it's also a story about love, friendship, family by birth, family by choice, trauma, tenacity, resilience, and the lengths we'll go to for love and survival. From the moment I read the first page, I couldn't put it down.
Favorite Non Fiction
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
Based on a web series by the same name, Emmanuel Acho addresses the topic of systemic racism in America- how we got here and how we, as a society, can begin to take steps toward becoming actively anti-racist.
Honorable Mentions:
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Here's to another great year of reading ahead in 2022. In case you're curious and looking for more reading ideas, here's a link to my favorites lists from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Also don't forget to check out Amy's Favorite Books of 2021 too.
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