If you’ve visited my blog these past days, you will have noticed me having started my year in review posts, chronicling my top movies and shows to an extent. Today is all about my top reads of 2021. Once again, I need to clarify that I only read these books in 2021, not all of them were published that year!

I managed to read 50 books in total last year, which was a mix of comics, poetry collections, fiction and non-fiction. Thanks to my reading experiments, I often stepped out of my comfort zone and glad I got the chance to do so. However, I want this list/ranking to focus on fiction. I will, however, include some poetry books, etc. in my honorable mentions at the end of the post!

**Click on the covers to get re-directed to Goodreads**

10. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

Okay, WHO would have actually believed I put a classic on this list, eh? Be honest, this is just as much of a shock to you as it is for me. This was honestly one of the wildest and most confusing books I’ve read, but I remember chuckling quite a bit and loving the ridiculousness. As with a lot of classics, not all aspects aged well, but this wasn’t as much of a torture to read as others from that and previous time periods.

Click HERE for my review as part of the reading experiment with Pedro Pascal!

9. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising was my first full length novel by TJR and I plan on reading much more of her work in 2022. I’ve already completed the audiobook for Daisy Jones & the Six (you can find my thoughts on it here) and finally want to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which seems to be everyone’s favorite, as well as One True Loves, which will get its movie adaptation soon.

Click HERE for my review!

8. Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

This was my final read of 2021 and I thought a while about whether I should include it here or not, just because it actually only releases in 2022. But, this list is for when I read the book and because I’ve really enjoyed it and loved getting a plus-size male love interest and some good depression rep, I couldn’t refrain.

Click HERE for my review!

7. Love, Lists & Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

You all know that a good book about grief will ALWAYS get me and Love, Lists & Fancy Ships was ideal, because it never got too heavy and managed a beautiful balance with the romantic plotline. I’ve read about so many great love interests as of late, my standards are sky high for real life people at the moment. I just still hold a grudge for the blatant Chris Evans disrespect!

Click HERE for my review!

6. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

Again, another book featuring grief. Don’t ask me why that is my brand, but it is and The Summer of Broken Rules was phenomenal as well. I felt like someone had transported me into some fancy seaside house full of family and friends and loved ones, bustling with life. After not having been on vacation for what feels like forever, never mind having been parted from my beloved seas, I really felt at home with this book.

Click HERE for my review!

5. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

I cannot stress enough how phenomenal and amazing Ace of Spades was! It was critical of systems that have been upheld for way too long as well as the kind of racism too many tend to ignore, while giving us a thrilling and mysterious read. I will 100% pick up more books by the author in the future!

Click HERE for my review!

4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Many told me that they thought I’d like this book and they were absolutely right. Slow-paced with beautiful prose describing nature, Where the Crawdads Sing delivered an emotional tale about privilege, prejudice and class-differences. Cannot wait for the adaptation!

Click HERE for my review!

3. Soulswift by Megan Bannen

I still stand by the fact that there are far too few standalone Fantasy novels out there, but Soulswift delivered. It had great world-building without ever feeling rushed. The ending *will* break your heart though.

Click HERE for my review!

2. In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

Jeff Zentner once more proved why he is an auto-buy author for me, because I adore his books, but In the Wild Light might just be my new favorite of his. It was so beautifully written and tucked at all the right heartstrings. I’ve yet to come across a Zentner book that didn’t make me cry.

Click HERE for my review!

1. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Okay, I’m obsessed with this book! I have character prints of it on my wall (unfortunately, in my childhood bedroom and not my “new” apartment), I keep thinking of quotes of it at random times and I’m just completely enchanted by it. I’m glad it will get even more attention with a traditional publishing contract in the new year, but more than anything, I just want the sequel.

Click HERE for my review!

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Honorable Mentions

Poetry collections:

• Where Hope Comes From by Nikita Gills
• The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
• Love Looks Pretty On You by Lang Leav

Non-fiction:

• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
• Taste: My Life through Food by Stanley Tucci
• Ballad of the Whiskey Robber by Julian Rubinstein

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What are some of your favorite reads of 2021? Have you read something I mentioned? Let’s chat!