I’m gonna go ahead and give myself a pat on the back. I read more books this year than perhaps in any year of my life, and certainly since becoming a mom. 32 books! 10,490 pages! (Thanks for the math, Goodreads.) This is up from 22 books the previous year, and I am looking back on this year of reading with such joy!
I know there are a lot of posts about Favorite Books of 2021 going around right now, but I’ll happily add to the noise because I love seeing what other people are reading and enjoying. Looking back on my reading life is a favorite way for me to remember the year because books mark moments and memories for me. Whether it was a Hilton Head beach read (Thanks, Fangirl!), an all-time favorite book with the kids (Oh, Very, Very, Far North—we’ll never forget you.), a Zoom Book Club with my college besties (Hey there, Saint and Scoundrels.), one that changed the way I care for my body (You’re saving my life, Circadian Code.), or the rare occasion Stephen and I have read (and liked!) the same book (I’m looking at you, Vanishing Half), each book feels like a real part of my life this year.
So here you go: some favorites, a few misses, and two tips that helped me read more this year.
2021 Favorite Books
Click on each book to see my Goodreads review.
A Few Misses
All three of these books have great reviews, and I know so many people who loved them. I’m just not one of those people.
I was really excited to read this one because I loved The Mother-In-Law. Sadly, this one was just so-so for me. The first half (maybe more) was pretty slow, and I found myself disconnected from the characters. The action picked up in the last half, and I stayed up late finishing the last 100 pages (how late I stay up reading is directly connected to how many stars I give a book!), but even by the end, I didn't care about the characters as much as I wanted to.
I think this is one of the most highly acclaimed books on both Goodreads and Amazon, and oh man, I really wanted to like it more than I did. There is so much beauty in the artwork, and some of the individual pages are worth tearing out and framing, but as a whole, this book just didn't come together for me or my kids.
I didn’t even finish this one. (See Tip #2 below.) I stopped after 100 pages because reading it felt like a chore. I was having trouble visualizing the story, and I wasn’t connecting with the characters. It was a big ol’ miss for me.
My Reading Tips
After finishing a book, I have a strict rule to start a new one within 24 hours. I always have a stack, 3-4 books (ok, 15-20) ready to go so I can pick up my next read almost immediately. If I let too many days (or weeks!) go in between books, then I lose my reading habits and momentum.
I’ve stopped feeling guilty about abandoning books. I will give a book 100 pages, but if I don’t look forward to picking it up once I’m 100 pages in, I’m done with it. There are simply too many good books to waste my precious reading time dragging through something I’m not loving.
Looking Ahead
I’m already two books in to 2022 and excited to connect new books to moments and memories of this year. As you can tell, I use Goodreads to chronicle my reading life. I love to see what my friends are reading, so if you’re a Goodreads user, be sure to find me and create your own Reading Challenge!
And P.S. If you are not the kind of person who likes to document their reading life and set reading goals and rate books and write reviews, that’s ok too. Don’t be peer pressured into something that would bring you no joy.