My Favorite Books of 2021

I love to read and really liked sharing my favorite books with you last year in lieu of posting December Favorites, so I decided to do this again!

I read 60 books in 2021. I love using Goodreads to track what I’ve read so that I can go back and remember what I truly loved. I had a bit of trouble focusing on books this year, so I actually listened to the audiobook version of most of them. These were the books that stood out to me this year.

*Fiction*

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – This book is about a woman who is unhappy with her life. Through her story, we learn that life is better when we appreciate where we are instead of wishing for what could have been. This book has stuck with me and helped me think about seeking the good in the present. I knew immediately when I read it that it would be one of my top books of the year.

Billy Summers by Stephen King – I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I typically steer clear of Stephen King because I don’t like to be scared, but I really loved this book. It was so well-written and the characters held my attention for the length of this novel. While there were a few darker topics, they were not presented too graphically, and this was not horror fiction. The main character, who is an assassin, was easy to root for.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn – I typically enjoy books set during WWII, and this one did not disappoint. The book told the story of three women who were decoders during the war and was so interesting!

Yoga Pant Nation by Laurie Gelman – This was the third book in the Class Mom series. While I only rated it 4 stars instead of 5, I do love this series about an “older” mom navigating parenting (her adult children and surprise youngest son), marriage and caring for her parents. She is so witty, and the books have all made me chuckle. These are fun reads if you are looking for something light.

*Nonfiction*

Love-Centered Parenting by Crystal Paine – I love Crystal’s four strategies for parenting from a place of love and grace, instead of hard rules and impossible expectations. This was a great parenting book that I read at just the right time.

That Sounds Fun by Annie F. Downs – This book is a great reminder to take life a little less seriously sometimes and just have fun. I love Annie’s personal stories and encouragement to make time to enjoy life.

Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad – I enjoyed this well-written memoir about a young woman’s journey with cancer and her path to self-discovery along the way.

Open by Andre Agassi – This is an older book, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Andre’s life and rise to the top of the tennis world. It was so interesting to have this behind the scenes look into this athlete’s life.

Breaking Free From Body Shame by Jess Connolly – I have to admit that I am not quite finished with this one yet, but this book is awesome! The subtitle is “Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named Good,” and I love this honest look at how we think about our bodies through a lens of faith. This book makes me think not just about body issues, but many other topics as well. I am reading this book slowly with a friend and discussing each chapter, and I highly recommend reading it this way!

I’d love to hear what some of your favorite books were this year! Leave a comment to let me know.