My favorite books of 2021

I absolutely love yearend favorites lists of all kinds. I want to know what you’ve been watching, buying, and reading and what has made it to the top of your list. I usually stock up on new TV shows, movies, podcasts, and random purchases this time of year, but my favorite is book round ups. I want to see everyone’s favorite books of 2021. My Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is currently sitting at 1101 books. It makes me feel comfortable knowing that there are still that many stories out there that I want to enjoy.

My reading has dropped off slightly this year, but I will still end up with around 45 books read. I went through everything for 2021 and pulled out my favorite books of 2021 to share here today. I linked the Goodreads and Amazon pages for each book, but I’m also sharing the bookshop.org links right here at the top so you can avoid Amazon for the non-kindle versions. Each book purchased through these affiliate links sends me a few pennies (and costs you no extra) which get donated throughout the year, so thank you for your support.

My Top 12 Favorite Books of 2021

These are in no particular order and there’s a little bit of everything. Although, this was not a huge non-fiction year for me because real life is scary enough without having to read about it all the time.

Hollywood Park

By Mikel Jollett (Goodreads/Amazon)

This book was on Barack Obama’s list and told a wild, but authentic, story about going up in a cult. It started a little slow, but I got to a point and couldn’t put it down. The things he went through were traumatic and hard to process. I read the book in two days and finished it feeling inspired.

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

By Dashka Slater (Goodreads/Amazon)

I do not remember hearing about this story on the news when it occurred, but wow. The book follows two young people from different backgrounds that have an encounter that lasts just eight total minutes but changes the course of their lives. It’s a YA book, and I wish I remembered how I heard about it. 

Infinite Country

By Patricia Engel (Goodreads/Amazon)

This book snuck up on me. I started it and kept putting it down for days. At some point in the middle of the book, the story hooked me. It took me some time to understand how the different characters connected. It’s a great story of an immigrant experience and the struggles of having children in the US when you aren’t a citizen. 

Beautiful Country

By Qjan Julie Wang (Goodreads/Amazon)

I have recommended this book more than any others this year. It’s another immigrant story, but it follows a child living in poverty after arriving from China. It’s raw and heartbreaking, but it has been so vital for me to continue to listen to the stories different people have in this country. There was a section where the author shares her experience with Christmas in New York City, and it was so beautiful, and I have thought about it many times since finishing it. 

Arsenic and Adobo

By Mia P. Manansala (Goodreads/Amazon)

If you have read and liked the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich, you have to check this out. It’s a mystery that will make your mouth water because it centers around the main character’s family restaurant. It’s a murder mystery mixed with a rom-com, and I am so excited that there is a second book coming out in 2022. If you want something quick to read, definitely add this to your list.

The Guncle

By Steven Rowley (Goodreads/Amazon)

If you have a warm weather trip coming up and you’re looking for something to read by the pool, grab this book. It’s a heartwarming family story about an uncle that takes responsibility for his niece and nephew after a family tragedy. When they are together, they all learn a little something about themselves. I loved it.

The Last Thing He Told Me

By Laura Dave (Goodreads/Amazon)

This book was everywhere this summer (as the Reese Witherspoon book club picks often are). I flew through this one and thought it was well written. It’s a mystery that involves a woman trying to find out what is happening with her husband while taking care of his 16-year-old daughter. It involves the FBI, strange business deals, and strange family relations. It was easy to see why the book was so popular. If you haven’t read it yet, put it on your list.

When No One is Watching

By Alyssa Cole (Goodreads/Amazon)

What do you get when you mix the gentrification of a neighborhood with a thriller? This book. It reminded me a bit of the movie, Get Out. After living in Brooklyn, a lot of it sounded familiar at the beginning of the book. I had heard our neighbors make many of the same comments the characters made. The story was different and I didn’t have any idea where it was going, which I liked.

The Last Story of Mina Lee

By Nancy Jooyoun Kim (Goodreads/Amazon)

I love stories that switch back and forth between different generations to wind a story together. This book did that beautifully, telling the story of a mother and daughter in Koreatown, LA. Margot is the daughter, and she doesn’t know much about her mother’s background until she begins this journey to find out what happened to her mother. You get to be along for the ride as Margot learns more about her mother’s life before her and as she was growing up.

The Vanishing Half

By Brit Bennett (Goodreads/Amazon)

Brit Bennett strikes again. This book tells the story of identical twin sisters who ran away from home at the age of sixteen and then separated from one another, eventually leading very different lives – one as a black woman and one passing as a white woman. It’s a highly emotional family story, and I couldn’t put it down.

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life

By Christie Tate (Goodreads/Amazon)

I did not know what to think of this book when I started it, but it came highly recommended. It’s a memoir about a young lawyer that gets involved with a group of complete strangers in a therapy group. She shares her journey in a way that I found relatable and you just feel like you’re cheering for a whole group of people. 

I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works

By Ramit Sethi (Goodreads/Amazon)

If you’ve ever had someone tell you to just skip your lattes and you’ll be able to magically save tons of money, read this book. Money advice is tough and it’s not a one size fits all kind of thing. This book taught me some new things about investments and retirement accounts, which I desperately needing some schooling on as I work for myself now. If you want to just check in with yourself and your money psychology, I would recommend this book. Each chapter has actionable steps and he tells you exactly which credit cards and bank accounts he uses. I’ll probably write more about this in the next few weeks, but I needed to include it on here as my self-help book rec of the year.

Tell Me Your Favorite Books of 2021 and What You’re Excited About in 2022

For more lists, check out Steph and Jana’s linkup where tons of readers come together and share their favorites for the year. Also, our friend, Anna, is BEING PUBLISHED in 2022, so I would love nothing more than if you would head to the book’s Goodreads page and see if it’s something you want to read in 2022.