My Top 10 Books of 2021!
There’s no better way to end the year than to share my top favorite books! Here are some notable reads of books I read in 2021 that I enjoyed and/or left a lasting impression on me. As always, it was hard to narrow down this list, but I did it!
Amari & The Night Brothers by B.B. Alston – What blew me away with this novel was the magic and fantasy elements. Alston adds the most intricate details to make this such an immersive reading experience. There were tons of mythical creatures, magical talking elevators, and secret spellbooks. It was so fun to uncover the mysteries within the agency and the plot twists were exciting! (Review)
Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant – I appreciated that even though this is a cute and swoon-worthy romance novel the focus is equally on Tessa’s self-discovery as well too. There are the beginnings of a love triangle but at a certain point, it becomes clear who the final choice will be. I still enjoyed navigating through Tessa’s thoughts and her romantic views of love which could be very over the top at times. (Review)
Before The Devil Breaks You (Diviners #3) by Libba Bray – It’s hard to talk too much about this third installment without giving too much away but I really enjoyed the addition of new characters and the big reveal for supernatural beings that readers come face to face with. The shift of multiple povs like the previous books allows readers to get a look inside the character’s heads and connects the reader to them. (Review)
Josephine Against The Sea by Shakirah Bourne – Reading the book it’s as if you see the ocean life and also smell the ocean too before your very eyes. It seems like a vibrant and tight-knit community full of hospitable people. I also enjoyed the rich folklore derived from Caribbean culture is in this book. I really enjoyed exploring the world through Josephine’s eyes and how every day is a new adventure for her. (Review)
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta – Reading the story through his POV was not only engrossing but very emotional. I could feel for what everything he was going through from dealing with bullies at school, coming out to loved ones, and fighting against those who wanted to put him down. I think the emotional aspects of the story is what connects with the audience in this book and they can grasp all of the feelings that Michael experiences in his life. (Review)
People You Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – I liked the characters and the different locations we got to travel to in the book, plus it was comical with the right amount of romance. A good book for light-hearted summer reading and an absolute beach read!
The Gatekeeper’s Staff by Antoine Bandele – I liked the tie into the living practice of Ifa and its many branches and West African diaspora mixed with fantasy elements. The story was incredibly rich in culture and the author also provides a glossary for things or words that may be unfamiliar to the reader. There was never a dull moment and each chapter bought new exciting things to the overall plot. (Review)
In The Wake of Stars (Starless Series #4) by Samantha Heuwagen – The fourth installment really shows readers how they’ve grown and evolved over the course of the story. The war has taken a toll on its survivors and has shaped the romantic, platonic, cooperative friendship that has developed in their circumstances. There’s a slippery slope for the couples to determine what their future would be together and a desire to end the war. (Review)
Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn – I loved the fantasy elements where Kuhn describes all of the supernatural aspects in a detailed manner. It made the action-packed scenes gripping and throughout the entire novel, I was eager to see where the story would take me next. I enjoyed getting acquainted with the characters and seeing all of their superpowers at work. (Review)
Where The Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda – A fantastic collection of feminist retellings of traditional Japanese folktales where humans live side by side with spirits who provide a variety of useful services. It’s whimsical, fun, and sometimes a little bit spooky. It’s the best short story collection I read in 2021!
What books made your top list for 2021? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Ooh I need to read the Matsuda book! I believe I read a short story by this author at some point?, and it’s neat that the book focuses on folklore. I think my best short story collection (not that I read very many of them!) this year was Nana Nkweti’s Walking on Cowrie Shells. It was one of those collections where every single story is a winner.
That’s great that in Nkweti’s collection each story was solid. Sometimes I feel these collections can be hit and miss but Matsuda’s was one I enjoyed throughly.
Yasss, this looks like just the kind of collection I’m craving rn too. Thanks for the great rec’s!
This reminds me that I still need to read Amari & The Night Brothers.
Go read it! I think it’s a novel you’ll enjoy for sure. 🙂
Some lovely looking books there! I published my top 18 (oops) on 31 December … Happy New Year and happy reading and blogging in 2022!
Happy New Year and Happy Reading in 2022! 🙂
I’ve got a bunch of these on my TBR pile. What a great list!
Thank you! Happy reading in 2022!
Your year-end graphic is just too cute. I hope you find so many favourite reads in 2022 that you can’t fit them into a single post!
Thank you! It’s the hardest to narrow down the post into just 10 top reads.
Your year-end graphic is just too cute. I hope you find so many favourite reads in 2022 that you can’t fit them into a single post! Happy New Year!