2021 in Books
Every year, I set a reading goal for myself as part of my in-law’s annual prediction game. Last year my goal was 15 books in 12 months, and I surpassed that goal with 18 reads.
I’m mostly into thrillers, but last year, I’ve branched out a bit. And even listened to a few books this past year.
I’ve linked all the books to Amazon, but I strongly encourage you to visit your local library or local small book store before buying on Amazon. I’ve recently become a fan of the local library near us. I’ve even started to rent movies.
Also before you read my recaps/reviews, I am sharing this IG post I shared on stories on Monday. It seems like many of us read books and love them, but then cannot remember the details. I tried my best to remember how I felt about each book once I finished it, but truthfully, I am much more like the IG post to the right. Don’t judge.
Charming As A Verb by Ben Philippe | This story is not my normal genre of choice, and I loved it so much. It is based in New York City around students at a very competitive private school who are starting their college applications. It’s part love story, part coming of age story, and part “i-can’t-believe-he-did-that.” This was a joyful, quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane | It took me a few chapters to understand the timeline in this story, but once I got the hang of it I enjoyed this book. Lila Ridgefield lives in a small college town and lives what seems to be an idyllic life. Until her husband goes missing. Which is concerning considering she is the last person to see him alive. And dead. This story took me a bit longer to get through, but I didn’t see this ending coming.
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins | I enjoyed this book, and I hope it becomes a movie. I was not prepared for the twists and turns of this story. The Wife Upstairs is set in Birmingham, Alabama where dog walker Jane meets recently widowed Eddie. She is haunted by his previous wife, the infamous Bea. This was a quick and easy read that kept my attention throughout. If you’re looking for an interesting thriller, definitely give The Wife Upstairs a read.
The Push by Ashely Audrain | Wow. Wow. Wow. A follower recommended this book, and it is THE BEST book I’ve read last year so far. The story is like nothing else I've read before. It follows Blythe Connor and her desire to be the kind of mother she never had, but she struggles to connect with her daughter. Or is it all in her head? I was sneaking in a chapter or two before work most mornings because I was desperate to know what happened. I cannot recommend this book enough. I was left speechless once I finished it. Trigger Warning: This book discuss childhood trauma and there is child loss.
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin | I enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t a must-read for me. The story is about one of my favorite things: true crime podcasts. There are two stories going on at once with this book which was interesting to me. Rachel Krall is a true-crime podcaster who heads to Neapolis, a beach town, to report on a devastating rape trial. While there, she starts to receive notes about a 25-year-old cold case that the town’s people do not want to discuss. I felt this wrapped up too quickly and easily for how intense the story was throughout the book. Trigger Warning: this book discusses rape and sexual assault.
Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby | This book made me lol constantly. The author narrates the audiobook, so I highly recommend listening to this book. I laughed so much. She shares stories on marriage, aging, and settling down with step-children in white, small-town America.
A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable | I do not recommend this book. It wasn’t bad, however, I wasn’t interested in the story or the characters. I didn’t really care to know what happened to them. I finished it because I love old Paris history and stories, so I held on in case it told me a new fun fact or story I hadn’t heard before. The story follows April Vogt to Paris to help Sotheby’s appraise the furniture in a newly discovered apartment in the ninth arrondissement after being shuttered for the past seventy years.
BUT there was one paragraph in the book where it discusses the French language vs. the American language. The French character tells the American character “Tu es belle” which translates to “You ARE beautiful.” And in American English, we say “You LOOK beautiful.” Looking implies it is momentary. Where is are implies always and as you are. This paragraph has changed how I will compliment people moving forward.
Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong | If you loved Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife, you’ll love listening to Ali Wong’s letters to her two young daughters. She covers everything they need to know in life, like the unpleasant details of dating, how to be a working mom in a male-dominated profession, and how she trapped their dad. I highly recommend listening to this book.
Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage | After reading The Push, I was really hopeful that I would love this book just as much since it had a similar storyline, but I couldn’t get into this one as much. It was hard to read. It was hard to read because I did not enjoy the story of the little girl having so much hatred toward her mother and actively trying to physically harm her. I would pass on this book if it is on your list.
The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn | NGL, I’m didn’t really love this book as much as the others I read last year. It was the first fiction book that I strictly listened to, and I wonder if that had to do with my dislike for it. The cadence of the reader wasn’t one that I enjoyed listening to, so maybe that would be it. The story follows a woman as she returns to her college for an alumni weekend and is faced with her past and the choices she made while there. It does remind me how cruel girls can be and how that cruelty can ruin lives.
The Hunting Wives by May Cobb | I crushed this book while on vacay at my parent’s house last summer. It was a guilty pleasure read for sure. It didn’t have a lot of depth and the characters were all kind of unlikeable, but I ate it up while I drank cocktails by the pool. I think I enjoyed this one because it fit the setting. It was exactly what I was needing for a vacation poolside read. I wouldn’t recommend this at the top of any list, but if you’re looking for an easy read to dive into on a vacation this fits that bill.
The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer | This story was a hard one to get through. TW: rape plays a large role in the story and how it impacts a family. I was not expecting this story or the ending. It was really like nothing else I read all year. I can’t say I enjoyed the main focus of the story, but I enjoyed how fiercely this family loved each other. They would truly do whatever it takes to protect the ones who mean the most to them.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid | I LOVED this book. Two TJR reads made my list last year, so maybe I need to look into other books of hers. I loved the bond the Riva kids have and how they all look after each other. I was drawn in by each of their experiences with their dad, their mom, and each other. I wanted to be part of the Riva family! Dare I say, I want a second book catching me up on where the Riva kids are now?
Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell | I am usually a big Malcolm Gladwell fan, and I listened to this when I was really struggling to understand a group of women I have to interact with regularly. BUT sitting here now, I cannot recall a single “ah-ha” moment from the book. Nothing really stuck with me for the long haul. I wish I could remember if or how I applied these learnings to my life, but I really can’t. It’s a pass for me.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid | This was probably my second favorite book I read last year. The story was so good, and I loved how it brought in characters from the Malibu Rising book. The character of Evelyn Hugo really drew me in, and I wanted to know more about her, much like everyone in the book. I did not expect this book to go the route it did, but I wouldn’t have wanted it to go any other way. Add this to the top of your list.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave | So many people loved it, but for me, the story was just kind of meh. I didn’t find the main character that likable. The one thing that really kept me reading the story is that it takes place in and around Austin, Texas, and the University of Texas. I lived in Austin for a total of 8 years of my adult life and currently work for a company out of the city, so it holds a special place in my heart. If it weren’t for that connection I might have bailed on this story.
The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry | TW: death of a child. I crushed this book toward the end of the year, and while I did devour the story I can’t say that this was a top read for me. I didn’t enjoy the cracks within this friend group because I’d like to think that if someone is truly a friend they wouldn’t act or treat people the way the women in this book do. I understand the situation is one that is emotional and hard to navigate as everyone was extremely emotional, and yet I wouldn’t a single one of these women to be a close friend of mine during a time of need.
The Therapist by B.A. Paris | This was the last book I read of 2021 and I couldn’t put it down. I was so intrigued by this story. I feel like thrillers where the main female character is made to feel like she is going crazy by other characters are just my jam. I found myself fighting my bedtime to find out what might happen to the main character Alice next.
Did you read any of the books above last year? What is the best book you’ve read so far this year?
xx,
Linds