2021 Wrap-Up | Favorite Reads of 2021 – Life of a Literary Nerd

I read some really fantastic books this year, and I am very excited to share with you all some of best books of the year for me. These books made me laugh, cry, and every emotion in between. So I thought I’d share some of the books that made the biggest impact on me this year.

And these will be in the order I read them in and no other order because I cannot be that decisive. And click the title to see my full thoughts, and the author to go to the book’s Goodreads page and add them to your own TBR. Which is always the best part of favorites lists is hopefully finding some potential faves of your own. So here are 21 of my favorite reads of 2021…

The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough | My first read of 2021 was a success and started my year off right. Seeing Love and Death personified (my favorite thing ever) and their countless games throughout history – Antony and Cleopatra. Helen of Troy and Paris. Romeo and Juliet. And now… Henry and Flora – was beautiful and heartbreaking.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout | This is really an instance where the first book in the series is really just a placeholder for the entire series, because I read all of them this year and really enjoyed them all. This paranormal romance series is a blast to read and the pacing doesn’t let up.

When the Moon was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore | Anna-Marie McLemore continues to impress with every story from them I read. The secrets, heartbreak, and healing present in each novels pulls me in and wraps around my heart.

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas | While this isn’t my favorite series from SJM, I continued to be pulled in my her world building and character development. Once again, the trauma healing shines in this story as well as the friendship and inter-character developments have me in a choke hold.

Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson | I was as equally excited to pick this up as I was nervous. I love a multiple time line story, genre blending, and generational tales, and all of those things shined. And the dystopian and sci-fi elements only added to the richness of these interconnected tales.

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas | Seeing Maverick’s journey was both powerful and heartbreaking. Seeing him struggle with where her sees his life going and what he wants to do for the future of his family was so impactful. And the family moments in this story were so strong and I loved it with everything in me.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune | I can’t believe that I waited until 2021 to pick up a T.J. Klune book and now he’s one of my favorite authors. The hype this got from 2020 and into 2021 was real. Klune crafts these melancholic and loveable characters who lead simple lives with extraordinary love in their hearts and it is beautiful to experience.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto | If you like dark comedies and/or family stories where the people you love (and sometimes love to hate) will do anything for each other, you need to pick up this book.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry | While I love so many different romance tropes, there’s something about a friends-to-lovers story that will always do it for me. (and throw in a hint of a second chance romance and I’m a goner.) Poppy and Alex’s history and present day reconciliation were so well done and the flash backs kept me engaged.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid | There’s something about TJR’s characters that get me every time, and the Riva family from Malibu Rising was no different. I’m always on the look out for sibling stories and this one had so many different types of familial relationships that I loved exploring them as the Riva’s summer party came to it’s head.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover | Talk about a gut punch of a story. This is a blend of romance and tragedy and pulls on every heart string and made me cry uncontrollably for pages on end. CoHo’s complex and human stories are so captivating and engaging.

Wolfsong by T.J. Klune | The family and found family in this story is unmatched. I love the Bennett pack. This is a story about healing and discovering and respecting your worth. It’s a heartfelt and moving story that you won’t be able to put down.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing | After loving my second book from Samantha Downing even more than the first, I think I have to consider her a favorite author. This story was so fast paced and twisted.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn | I know every else read this years ago, but even though I was behind the times, I still had a blast with this story. It’s unexpected and revenge-filled and a thrilling time.

Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritchie | I devoured this 10 book series over the year and fell head over heels for this characters and their relationships, and I look froward to getting to the spin-off series in 2022. I love each of these characters so much. Lo, Connor, and Rose are probably my favorites but they each will have a place in my heart forever.

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter | This is easily the most fucked up story I’ve ever read. You really get a look at the horrors of humanity and it will haunt you. I still end up thinking about scenes from this book out of nowhere and it’s horrifying.

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata | I love a good slow burn romance and Mariana Zapata really does a slow burn well. The tension and slow transition from distrust, to friends, to more is steady and builds so perfectly that the relationship sneaks up on you yet is so obvious at the same time.

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams | This was such a flirty and fun friends to lovers romance. Bree and Nathan have amazing history and chemistry and I loved seeing thier relationship develop into more.

False Witness by Karin Slaughter | Another crazy sister story from Karin Slaughter that keeps you on your toes even though you know what happens and who did it from the beginning. It’s a thriller, not a mystery, but no less engaging.

Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen | This was such an unexpected win for me. Another friends-to-lovers story, but this one also has the boy falls first trope and it was glorious. Levi and Jocelyn have amazing chemistry and it was so great seeing their relationship develop.

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey | This was probably my favorite holiday romance that I read this past year and while it’s wasn’t over the top jolly, the holiday setting was perfect and I loved the unique premise and the chemistry between Stella and Aiden was hot!