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2021 is over but just like a bad breakup, I keep bringing it up! 2021 might not have been the best year of my life but it was a GREAT year for reading. I read 48 books and since I broke all my other reading records, I thought I would share with you all the best books I loved in 2021! Each of these novels holds a dear place in my heart and I recommend them all to you. They are in no particular order and all deserve a glance. So, here are the best books I loved in 2021!

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Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin is hands down one of my favorite authors of all time! She writes thought-provoking and entertaining novels. If you haven’t read any of her books I would definitely recommend reading Lies That Bind. I listed this one first because, for me, it is definitely the best of the best. This novel is about Cecily who meets a man named Grant in spring 2001. They start a relationship that has no chance of surviving because Grant is about to work overseas. Then 9/11 happens, Grant is missing, but Cecily isn’t the only person looking for him. She uses her journalism skills to figure out what exactly is going on and if she ever really knew Grant. Check out the link below to find out more about this amazing novel!

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Where do you see yourself in five years? This book asks the question and Dannie gets to wake up one morning and see five years into her future. The only problem is she doesn’t know where she is and she doesn’t recognize the man sleeping next to her. She only spends an hour in this alternate reality but it is enough to shake up her present self. She begins to question everything she knows and wonders if herself from the future is happy. Soon you will find yourself asking, “Where do I see myself in five years and how do I make that happen?”

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

One day, as I was nearing my 30th birthday, I decided to look up the novels people recommend for women to read before they turn 30. Well, I found at least three lists and 2 of the 3 had this novel on it. I decided to check it out and I’m really glad I did! A marriage is between two people and that means that there are two sides to every story and two perspectives to every marriage. Lotto and Mathilde get married at the young age of 23 and are the envy of all their friends. As the decades go on they are still the envy of their friends but things are not as simple as they seem. Life happens and their relationship becomes complicated. This book is a masterpiece that shows both Lotto and Mathilde’s sides to their marriage story. Check it out if you want a deep and thought-provoking novel about marriage.

Midnight Library by Matt Haig

We chose this book last year for book club and I’m so glad we did. It is one of those books that you can’t put down and end up finishing pretty quickly. Mostly, because you want to know how it ends! The Midnight Library is about a woman named Nora Seed who finds herself in an alternate universe where she gets to reflect on every decision she’s ever made. She also gets the opportunity to see what life would have been like if she made different choices. Trying to find a perfect life and one where she is happy is more difficult than she imagined. This novel makes you reflect on all your choices in life and helps you remember what makes life worth living. Also, the cover is beyond beautiful!

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

This book was a book selection from Emily Giffin’s book club. I was very hopeful for it to be an entertaining novel. It definitely was very entertaining! Frick Island is a tiny island in the Chesapeake Bay where everyone knows everyone and their business. Anders comes to Frick island to write a fluff article but ends up finding a more intriguing tale. A woman by the name of Piper has a husband who is lost at sea but the people in town are continuing to pretend he is alive and well. Anders comes back to the island and wants to make a hit podcast about the invisible husband of Frick Island. This novel is quirky and charming with a whole lot of heart!

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This past year I really tried to read some classic novels. I really wanted to read Frankenstein because it’s one of the first books that launched the sci-fi genre and it isn’t a long novel. My expectations were pretty low but this book blew me away. I loved the theme of monster versus man and how you feel for both Victor and his creation. Frankenstein is very intriguing and easy to read for a classic. I didn’t feel like I needed to read the spark notes at the end of each chapter to figure out what was going on (yes, I’m throwing shade at Pride and Prejudice).

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Is it a book recommendation list of mine if I don’t have one Elin Hilderbrand on it? No! So here is my favorite Elin Hilderbrand novel that I read last year. Summer of ’69 is a beautiful story told from multiple female points of view, all from different ages and seasons of life in the same family. They spend the summer at their grandmother’s house in Nantucket and try to find their way while trying to be their own person. With many things happening over the summer of ’69, the moon landing, the Vietnam war, and Ted Kennedy’s car sinking into the Chappaquiddick, It’s hard not to change and grow. As usual, the queen of summer drama novels smashes this novel out of the park and finds a way to be inspiring for all women. Check it out if you want a book that is engaging and entertaining.

Green Lights by Matthew McConaughey

I LOVE a good memoir especially by a famous person and this book didn’t let me down. McConaughey opened up his soul and poured it out into Green Lights. If you are looking for something with gossip or juicy details you’ve come to the wrong place. This book is all about his philosophies on life and makes you ponder your own philosophies. I loved reading about his childhood (especially his parents) because I found it so unique. If you want a memoir that will have you pondering life, you need to check out Green Lights.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Did you happen to read the Silent Patient? If you have and you loved it then drop everything now and order this book! It is a captivating thriller with a HUGE plot twist that you won’t see coming. Adam and Amelia are in a little bit of a marriage funk. They just can’t seem to get their marriage back on track. So when they win a weekend away in Scotland they use it as their 10th wedding anniversary getaway. Every year they give each other traditional anniversary gits and Amelia writes Adam a letter for each year. Adam has never read the letters until now. This novel begs the question; can a marriage survive after 10 years of secrets and lies?

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The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Holy thriller Batman! Holy plot twist I didn’t see coming Batman! If either of those sentences sounds amazing to you then you NEED to check out The Guest List. It is told from multiple points of view and keeps you guessing until the last pages. It has Big Little Lies vibes and is definitely worth looking into. A wedding is set in Ireland on a small island only big enough for one castle. Two people are getting married; a young magazine publisher who uses her social media skills to gain attention and a reality TV star who is charming and ambitious. When someone ends up dead you spend the rest of the book wondering who is the dead body and who killed them?

Final Thoughts on the Best Books

One of the things I’m very proud of was reading 48 books in 2021! I really enjoyed most of the books I read during that time. These 10 books are hands down the best of those 48. I hope you enjoyed reading about all the best books I loved in 2021 and I hope you check some of them out. If you have read any or do read them and like them please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing feedback! I hope 2022 is a fantastic year for you all!

Thanks for reading

Kel

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