My Top Nine Reads Of 2021
If you have read any of these, please let me know! I would love to rant with you about how amazing they are! I tried to narrow it down to five books, but it was near impossible for me to give up any of these from the list.
Note: These are not in a specific order, I really couldn't pick a favourite out of these, nor could I rank them from favourite to least favourite. Thus, they are just listed randomly.
1. Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
In the simplest words possible, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It made me smile, it ripped me into a thousand pieces and built me back up piece by piece. If you are looking for a story that will utterly and completely destroy you, this is it. I wasn't able to stop thinking about this book for months. It was one of the first books that really stuck with me (other than my childhood favs ofc)
2. Circe by Madeline Miller
So it seems I really had a thing for books that destroyed me this year. I adored this book. It is a great choice for any Riordan fans out there who are looking for something a little more grown-up. I fell in love with the characters and felt their pain as they suffered. This book was near impossible to put down, and I stayed up into the early hours of the morning to keep reading it. I borrowed this one from the library, so I don't own a copy, but I am hoping to buy one in the near future so that I might reread this book over and over.
3. One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus
This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I can't say much about the book without spoiling it, but I ABSOLUTELY adored the characters. I was not expecting it to end the way it did. This is definitely a great way to introduce yourself to Karen M McManus's work, as I am now very excited to read all of her work. I also read The Cousins by McManus this year, but One Of Us Is Lying is significantly better in my opinion.
4. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
This book ripped my heart out. I fell in love with the characters on the first page and felt like I knew them personally. I love Finch and Violet's relationship with each other! This book was heartbreaking, happy, and hopeful all at once. If you are looking for a book to make you ugly cry, this is definitely the one. I have yet to cry while reading (I tend to be a stonefaced reader), but this one wins the medal for coming the closest to doing so.
5. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
This book. Oh my goodness, I still can't get over it. To this day, it still affects the way I read every book. In short, this book gave me trust issues. I can't say much more without spoiling it, but I am looking forward to finishing the series. I would put my thoughts on this book, but I'm still learning the mechanics of Tumblr and I don't know if they have an option to cover text unless clicked (like the || thing in discord).
6. The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
I believe this might be the first classic I actually couldn't put down. This book was so intriguing, and it kept me hooked from the first chapter. I loved the concept of the book, and the plot was so good. If you are looking for a book that will really make you think, then this is definitely worth a read.
7. Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian
I read this book in under 24 hours. I enjoyed it so much I couldn't put it down. I now drink my coffee in the fashion described in the book, and have no intention of turning back. Astrean style coffee is my jam now. The characters are wonderful, and I grew so close to all of them. I can't really say I have a favourite.
8. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
I CANNOT BELIEVE I WAITED SO LONG TO READ THIS!!!! If you haven't read this book, drop everything and go read it right now. This book is seriously not overhyped at all. This was my second John Green book, and I was not disappointed. I fell in love immediately with Augustus and Hazel, and their story in its entirety. Being an amputee myself, I found it really easy to connect with Augustus and understand how he felt.
9. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
This is by far my favourite Jane Austen book. I LOVE Fanny Price and Edmund Bertram. They are my favourites. This book is so full of drama, and is perfect for any romance lover who loves the 1800s. I was constantly finding new drama for the poor heroine, who had already suffered enough. Edmund Bertram is most definitely my favourite character in this book, as I connect to him so well. He's like my spirit animal.