Best of Genre 2021

 I didn't get around to this post last year but I think it's super fascinating to organize the books I read by genre and then choose my favorites! There’s a few crossover with my top 10 of the year post, but there’s plenty others to give you some good recommendations for next year’s reading.

Classic

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Ok, I only read one classic this year so this won by default but I probably would have chosen it anyways! I have loved the movie Little Women ever since I was a little girl. I had pretty much the whole thing memorized. I also loved the new one that came out a couple years ago. So to read the book (finally!) was just a delight. The book has a lot more details than the movie obviously, it's quite long, but it's such a good one!

Biography/Memoir

All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat

I read 11 memoirs this year and there were so many good ones! This one however is a middle grade book and I found that it was so well done! I remember when this story happened so it was awesome and terrifying to find out all the details. It's amazing that the entire world rallied around these boys and helped to rescue them! I also love that the author was there visiting family at the time and then decided to write the story. 

Self-Help

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

I kind of use the term self-help loosely because I prefer to just read books that are informational or help you to develop new habits and I feel like self-help has a certain connotation that doesn't always appeal to everyone. This book was heavily business-based but I still found it super applicable to my life. I am not a great essentialist but I am aspiring to say no more often and focus on the things that matter most.

Juvenile Fiction

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

I never read this growing up but knew it was well-loved by so many people. I was glad we read it for book club this year. It lent itself to a great discussion and it is such a delightful read. Really don’t like the kid’s parents but you will be laughing your way through all of his after school Wednesday adventures.

Historical Fiction

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah books have been hit or miss for me but I really enjoyed this one! It takes place during the Great Depression and yes, it was quite a depressing book. But I was so intrigued and spent a few days listening and doing a puzzle. It definitely held my attention!

Religious

The Heavens are Open by Wendy Watson Nelson

This was a short, quick read but super powerful! I love Sister Nelson's testimony and strength. She is an amazing woman! If you are wondering how you can connect more with God and hear Him, this book is for you!

Non-fiction/Historical

You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why it Matters by Kate Murphy

Ok, this one was FASCINATING! I learned so much from it and honestly think that everyone should read it! Don't you think we can all be better listeners?! I hope that this year I have really listened to those around me and been a better communicator.

General Fiction/YA Fiction

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

When I first picked this up I thought it was just going to be another novel by a European author where it’s a little quirky and swears a lot, but shortly after I started I couldn’t put it down! I loved reading about Nora’s different life options and reflecting on my own life and if I would’ve done things differently.

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

Ok, this is the second book in the Cursebreaker series but I think I liked it better than the first! I also just finished the third one and enjoyed it! A beauty and the beast retelling in a very unique and thrilling way. 

Top 10 Books of 2021

 I finally accomplished my goal of reading 100 books in a year! It was a huge feat for me and I'm excited to get my life a little more in balance haha! Especially because almost half of the books I read this year were audiobooks and I just really prefer to hold a physical book! I remember the details much better when the words are in front of me. It is always so hard to choose, but here is my list of the best 10 books I read this year!

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

This was my first Kate Morton book and I was hooked. I just had to know how everything connected and there were some definite twists. It was a bit dark but I loved it! I really want to read some more of her books. I love books that have different time periods that connect.

Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly

This is the third book by Martha Hall Kelly but they don't connect with each other so you can read them in any order. A Great Aunt during the Civil War (Sunflower Sisters), a mother during World War I (Lost Roses), and a daughter during World War II (Lilac Girls).  These are fascinating historical fiction novels with strong women characters that try their best to help during these hard times of our world history. 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

I do admit it took me years to get on the bandwagon, especially after I started the movie when it came out on Netflix and thought it was so weird!! But I thought I would give the book a shot and of course, the book was better than the movie. Typical teen drama but I was here for it! In fact, I read the whole series and loved it. A little bit of language and a little bit of intimacy, but you can always use a good quick chick lit book when you're in a reading slump.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Ok, definite language warning for this one but I thought this book was so intriguing. It's told by the daughter of Bernadette and tells the story backwards so you have no idea where she is! It takes place in Seattle so that was super fun for me since it is my hometown. There are some deep topics intertwined about mental health but it is mixed in with a lot of humor and I found it delightful. I also thought they did a great job with the movie. 

You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy

How much do you actually listen when others are talking to you? Do you feel like you're a good conversationalist? Are you actually present when talking to someone else or are you distracted by your own thoughts or your phone? All of these questions are discussed in this fascinating book that I personally think everyone should read so we can communicate better.

A Coat of Yellow Paint by Naomi Davis

I love myself a good memoir and after following Naomi for a long time on her blog and Instagram @taza, I was super excited to read her debut book. She is so raw about motherhood, city life, her faith, marriage, and all the important things in life. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about her and how she juggles it all! 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Choose your own life from books within a magical library that sits between life and death! Nora gets the opportunity to see what her life would be like in a variety of different scenarios and it is so interesting to see just how much simple choices can completely change the trajectory of your life. Ultimately she gets to choose which one she will go back to. It makes you reflect a lot on your own life choices and your happiness. If you could have a different life, would you choose it? Or do you believe you are responsible for your own happiness?

The Wish by Nicholas Sparks

I know there's a certain reputation that comes with Nicholas Sparks books and I haven't read them for years. But his most recent two books I have loved! And honestly they aren't super "romantic". This one takes place around Christmas and flashes back to Maggie's story. I cried at the end! 

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

I will admit, I had no idea what was going on the entire time. But it's a mystery and so of course, you have to keep reading to figure it out. Each day, Daniel wakes up in another person's body at the estate where Evelyn Hardcastle was murdered and has to try to figure out who did it. Great spooky read for October without being too scary.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah has been hit or miss for me but I flew through the audiobook for this one. Set during the Great Depression, this one is a bit depressing but I loved the story through the despair. I just thought it was beautifully written and really captured what it would be like to live during this time. 

If you're looking for more recommendations in specific genres I will be posting those tomorrow!