I debated about what topic to use for my post this week, because part of me feels like I didn’t read enough last year to warrant a year-end wrap-up. However, even though I didn’t meet my Goodreads 2021 Challenge, I did read quite a few books last year. Here’s a glimpse at what my Goodreads “Year In Books” has to say:
Shortest Book: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackery
‘What is the bravest thing you’ve ever said?’ asked the boy.
‘Help,’ said the horse.
‘Asking for help isn’t giving up,’ said the horse. ‘It’s refusing to give up.’
This one was a gift from my mother and it’s a book about kindness, friendship, support, strength, fear, love. It’s a beautifully illustrated story of found friends and it’s about perspective. I love it. It’s a book I can see myself picking up periodically when I need a little reminder that everything will be okay.
Longest Book: Any Way The Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell
My love for the Simon Snow series is vast, my dudes. Like with the other books in the series, Rainbow Rowell does not disappoint when it comes to the secondary character development. In fact, I read this one on my kindle and I highlighted a ridiculous number of passages that were one-liners from the background characters – such as:
“Hello, Basil, you look wretched.” My aunt sails past me into the kitchen.
I thought this was a really fitting end to a fun series and I would happily read anything about these boys that Rainbow Rowell ever put on the page. I’ve said it before, but I’m super sad that this was the last planned book in the universe.
Most “Goodreads popular” Book: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
This was the first of two Matt Haig books I read in 2021, and I found it both an enjoyable read, but also wonder about whether I was really the author’s target audience. Book-social-media LOVED this book – a lot. And it was a good story, but it didn’t hit that “OMG I need everyone to read this so we can discuss it!” button for me, either. You can read my review of the book here.
Least Popular: Herbs and Homecomings by H.G. de Cossy
No surprise with this one, at all! You can read my review here, but this book was just a massive disappointment. A great idea ruined by lackluster story telling. I was wooed by a really beautiful cover.
Five Star Reads:
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackery
- Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas
- Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson (read my review here)
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Funny enough, only two of the books I considered to be in my Top 3 Reads for 2021 made my list of 5 star books. While I rated Simon Snow as a 4 star, I still loved it as the icing on the cake of the series, so I stand by that list.
On Monday I set my Goodreads 2022 reading goal and I’m shooting for 50 books again this year. My plan for the year is to listen to more audiobooks during my sewing marathons, and listen to fewer true crime podcasts and documentaries. We shall see. 😉
How many of these have you read this year? Are any of the books I discussed above on your TBR list, yet? Let me know in the comments section!