I've put together a list of my favorite books of 2021. I read fiction, some non fiction and a few books I loved this year. I track the books I read on Goodreads so I can see how many books I read and what the best ones are at the end of each year.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I loved this multi generational story! The first part of the book gives the background on the parents and everything the four siblings went through growing up. There are a few sad parts, but the book doesn't dwell on that. The book really focuses on the strength of these siblings through everything they go through.
The second part of the book is centered around a party the siblings host every year at their home in Malibu. The book sets us up for the party and then the party becomes a dumpster fire. Just when I thought there couldn't be anymore craziness the estranged, very famous father walks through the doors.
I flew through this book and I highly recommend it!
The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
I loved this book! I'm a big fan of Alice Hoffman's writing and the Practical Magic series and this book did not disappoint. I loved the magic and the adventure and I had a hard time putting this book down and spent a couple of late nights up reading.
I highly recommend this book for fans of magic, love stories and family history. I'm hoping they make a movie out of this book!
More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth
I love Elaine Welteroth's story. This book has so many lessons to learn and I really enjoyed it. I really like how she weaved the background of her life with the decisions she made personally and in her career.
This is a quick read and well worth your time.
Haven Point by Virginia Hume
This is one of my favorite books I've read in a while. I loved this story and how it bounced back and forth between the grandmother and granddaughter through seven decades until we were in current times.
It is so well written and I loved the characters. I also fell in love with the house on the hill in Maine and the little town and all the quirky characters. I stayed up very late to finish this book because I couldn't put it down and I highly recommend this book!
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
This book was not at all what I expected. With so many mystery and suspense novels feeling like the same story over and over this book is so refreshing! Elle Cosimano did such a great job with her characters. I wanted to know more and had a hard time putting this book down.
The ending isn't necessarily a cliff hanger, but I'm still excited to read the next book in this series, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead. This would make such a great read for a vacation or flight.
A Woman of Intelligence by Karin Tanabe
I really liked the main character in this book. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction that talks about life after the war when women left jobs and raised families. I liked this take of her marrying into a rich family, but still missing the thrill of working for the UN.
This was the first book I've read from Karin Tanabe and I have added some of her other books to my to be read list. I really liked her writing and enjoyed this book. I would suggest this book for historical fiction fans.
Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie
I really liked this book. It is the perfect beach read for this summer! If you read and liked Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid you will love this book.
I loved all the character's stories and the Quinn women. I could just imagine summers on the island and going to the music festival and I liked the journey of Jane Quinn's music career.
Overall I would recommend this book to a friend.
Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst
I really liked this romance book. This would make a perfect beach read for vacation! The characters are very likable and the setting in Paris is perfect. I like that it's a romance novel about a romance novelist.
Maggie is having a horrible time writing her next book and then she also breaks up with her boyfriend. Her editor needs her to finish her book before she loses her advance and possibly her contract. He suggests that she join him on his trip to his flat in Paris while he stays at his country home.
Just the setting alone drew me in, but then Dee Ernst added an intriguing French man and an ex-husband! This novel is the perfect escape.
The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray
After reading the first few chapters of this book I was convinced I knew exactly how it was going to go, but since I liked the characters I continued to read. I was pleasantly surprised that this book doesn't end at all how I thought it would.
I read this book very quickly because toward the end I couldn't put it down. I'll admit that the main character, Amy's, house was hard to read about at times for me with all the hoarding. Overall, this is a good read and would make a great beach or fireside read on a vacation.
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
I was not expecting the direction this book took and I really liked it! I've read so many books where the husband gets a mistress and then tries to kill his wife. Or books where the husband has an entire other family, but I was not expecting a clone.
I liked the characters and the moral dilemmas and also enjoyed how this book ended. I would read more books by this author!
Recipes That Pair Well With A Good Book
Gluten Free Double Chocolate Cookies
Gluten Free Gingersnap Cookies
Healthy Lemon Ginger Tea
Air Fryer Spicy Roasted Peanuts
Gluten Free Air Fryer Chex Mix