I try to read as often as I can, but it’s challenging to find time, especially as a parent. Brendan and I set boundaries a few years back that we would put our phones down when we get into bed, and it’s created a really nice space for us to find time to wind down and read (another bonus is that I fall asleep faster!).
Here is a list of all of the books I read in 2021. A few of these were quick binge reads that were free with my Amazon prime membership (if you’re a Prime member, don’t miss out!) Some were better than others….
*****
These are my ultimate favorites from 2021
Miracle Creek // Angie Kim
This story breaks your heart and puts it back together again. This novel is about an accident in a hyperbaric chamber that kills two people. It reads like a mystery as the reader tries to uncover how the accident started while also learning about issues surrounding immigration, special needs children, alternative therapies, etc.
Every Vow You Break // Peter Swanson
Peter Swanson is one of my favorite mystery writers. Each of his stories is wildly unique, and I am never able to guess the ending. This story follows a couple on their honeymoon on an eerie island where strange things keep happening. There are a few unbelievable moments that seemed like a stretch for me, but I enjoyed the twists and turns nonetheless.
Malibu Rising // Taylor Jenkins Reid
TJR is one of my favorite authors. She splendidly is able to take you back in time to whatever era she writes about. The story details several events that decide a family’s fate forever.
Migrations // Charlotte McConaghy
I picked this up on a whim at a local bookstore, and it was unlike any book I had read before. The book is set in the future when global warming has destroyed many animal populations, especially birds. With only a handful of Arctic Terns left, a woman is determined to follow their path to discover how they are able to survive. She becomes tied up with illegal fishermen as the story flips back and forth through her own personal past.
The Plot // Jean Hanff Korelitz
A washed-up writer-turned professor steals a plot from one of his obnoxious students after he prematurely dies. The story becomes a national hit, but the guilt clouds his victory…and someone knows his secret. The story is twisty and unpredictable.
Falling // TJ Newman
A pilot’s family is taken hostage, and their safety is only guaranteed if he commits to crashing a plane. The book is twisty until the very end.
The Apricot Memoirs // Tess Guinery
A delicious book of poetry, specifically speaking into motherhood and seasons of surrender.
****
These were solid reads that I highly recommend.
Wintering // Katherine May
This wasn’t in my top list, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. This is a great book to read during the winter months when you’re feeling gloomy and down about the season.
Persons Unknown // Susie Steiner
I started the detective series a year or so ago and have enjoyed working through the series.
The Midnight Library // Matt Haig
A woman gets another chance to redo her life and discovers the repercussions of each different decision.
Bonfire of the Vanities // Tom Wolfe
This story is a satire about social class, wealth, racism, and NYC politics in the 80s. I was surprised how quickly I was engulfed in the story. This was a big hit in the 80s, and it popped up on a list of “must reads/life-changing books” while I was searching for books to add to my list in 2021. I wouldn’t put this on my life-changing book list, but it was an entertaining book to read through (albeit long…almost 700 pages!).
The Next Wife // Kaira Rouda
I believe this was an Amazon First Reads book, and I gobbled it up in a handful of days. This suspenseful story follows a woman who wants to get back with her ex-husband amidst the backdrop of a huge corporate launch for their shared company. He has moved on with his secretary, and the story bounces back and forth until the murderer is revealed.
The Song of Achilles // Madeline Miller
This was my second book from Miller, and I enjoyed it almost as much as Circe. Miller does an incredible job of retelling Greek mythology in an engaging way.
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared // Jonas Jonasson
A 100-year-old man escapes his nursing home on his birthday and finds himself wrapped up in quite an adventure. This is a must for those who enjoy Fredrik Backman stories.
Before I Go To Sleep // SJ Watson
This book had been on my list for years, and I finally was able to snag it from the library. A woman wakes up everyday with amnesia. She has a hidden journal where she writes down notes to help her piece back together her memory. She does not trust her husband, and it is evident in his lies that she records. I couldn’t put this story down!
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules // Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
This story was lighthearted and hilarious. A group of nursing home patients decides to rebel and steal a painting with the intent of going to jail, as that prospect seems more interesting than their drab nursing home.
The Exiles // Christina Baker Kline
This is probably more of a 3.5 star book, but it was fascinating to read about the era in which many minor criminals were exiled to Australia/Tazmania.
You Love Me // Caroline Kepnes
We are quite engrossed with You on Netflix, and I’ve followed the plot through the written series as well.
Local Woman Missing // Mary Kubica
There are several murders and disappearances that seemed to be linked together. By weaving interlacing stories together from different characters’ perspectives, the mystery is finally solved at the end. I was shocked by the ending.
Fear No Evil // James Patterson
I’ve followed along with this series for many, many years, and the Alex Cross stories never disappoint.
The House in the Cerulean Sea // TJ Klune
A group of magical children are exiled to a foster care house on the edge of the country where they are taken in by a loving, mysterious caretaker. This story was a bit too sci-fi for me, but I thought the story was tender, heartfelt and unique.
***
A lot of these were interesting stories, but they missed the mark in one way or another. The plotline was hard to follow/all over the place, or I personally didn’t take an interest in the topic. There are a few mysteries on this list that kept my attention, but the story ultimately fell flat for me.
Even As We Breathe // Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
How To Raise Successful People // Esther Wojcicki
Life After Life // Kate Atkinson
Eight Perfect Murders // Peter Swanson
Astonish Me // Maggie Shipstead
We Are Called to Rise // Laura McBride
Bossypants // Tina Fey
The Things They Carried // Tim O’Brien
Survive The Night // Riley Sager
Commonwealth // Ann Patchett
The People We Meet On Vacation // Emily Henry
Three Women // Lisa Taddeo
The Westing Game // Ellen Raskin
Wayward Pines // Blake Crouch
The Night Watchman // Louise Erdrich
The Secret Stealers // Jane Healey
When the Stars Go Dark // Paula McLain
**
I had a difficult time finishing these books. I don’t recommend.
These Toxic Things // Rachel Howzell Hall
Dead Dead Girls // Nekesa Afia
Intimacies // Katie Kitamura
Welcome To Cooper // Tariq Ashkanani
