For What It's Worth


Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Tell Me Something Tuesday: 2021 Reading Wrap-Up

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

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Question: What are your favorite books/audiobooks that you read in 2021?

Answer: I CAN NOT believe I am doing this ON TIME lol I am currently snowed (or I should say, iced in and I guess I've eaten and reorganized the house as much as I could and have to face the blogging music! 

I'm making this post my year end wrap-up as well and you can see the list of everything I read in 2021 on Goodreads here

I only read 42 books this year - very low for me but what I lacked in quantity - I made up for in quality. I read way outside my comfort zone and found a lot to like - even if the books made me uncomfortable. 


My #1 most favorite read of 2021


My absolute favorite books are the ones that take me away, make me smile/laugh and leave me floating on a cloud for days after. I, unabashedly, love happy reads. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood checked all the boxes. It covered a few serious subjects and gave the couple challenges but it stayed mostly upbeat and happy and felt like the romances that I remember loving and that seem have to drifted to way of over-the-top or too serious for what I'm in the mood for these days. I just adored this one. (review)

Loved them!


Hibbert is a must read author for me, dating back to her self-pub days and Act Your Age, Eve Brown was one of her best. Slightly mad-cap but grounded in reality, this was a winner for me and my favorite of the Brown sisters trilogy. (mini review)

Fire Keeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley was a powerhouse debut that defied genres. Thriller/coming of age/a touch of romance and grapples with several difficult subjects like drug abuse, colonialism and sexual assault in a realistic and compelling way. (review)

Stories that made me think...


2021 was a big struggle for me regarding reading. I just didn't feel like picking up a book. I couldn't sit still and mentally commit to anything so audiobooks really filled that gap and had me stepping out of my comfort zone.

TBH I can't say I LOVED these books because like I said earlier, I like to feel happy when I finish a book. I felt unsettled, challenged and a host of other things with these four books - but happy wasn't one of them lol But I remembered and thought about the characters again and again months later. 

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour and Caul Baby by Morgan Jerkins were two books I never would have read during another year or without audio. Both address difficult subjects in a new and confronting manor that had me cringing (Black Buck) and on the verge of crying (Caul Baby) but stayed with me long after I finished. (Black Buck review) (Caul Baby review)

What We Buried by Kate A. Boorman was pure mind fuckery. I'm not sure what happened or if I liked anyone but it brought up a lot of interesting theories and kept me guessing. (review)

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang was waaaaay more than I was expecting and an emotional gut punch. I'm not sure I liked even liked it but it was beautifully and authentically written and a great book if you are in the right frame of mind for it. (review)


Biggest surprises


The House Plant by Jeremy Ray was my first (and shortest) read for the year and packed so much charm and emotion into it's 31 pages. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune was a low key story filled with quirky characters, found family and lots of love an acceptance. It was a warm hug I wasn't expecting. (review)


Honorable Mentions


Reviews








The Disappointment's

There are always a few duds and, really, very few for me this year!


I should have loved Playing the Palace but it was way too over-the-top for me. If I had known I would have passed but I had read an early arc before reviews had come out. If you do like madcap shenanigans and humor then definitely read this one! Just not for me. (review)

The Wolf and the Woodsman is outside my usual reading but I was sure I would love it. However, I felt it was super repetitive and unfocused and I felt stabby by the end lol But again...not my genre so if you like myth, legend and fantasy give it a go! (review)


Welp, that's the good and the bad of 2021!

What were you favorite (and least favorite) reads of the year?

47 comments:

  1. Wolf, sadness, one of my favs this year.

    I am doing this later cos I still hold hope I will finish something amazing

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    1. Look at you commenting first again!!! lol

      I doubt I'll get one more book in so this is it for me.

      Delete
  2. I've tried to move out of my reading comfort zone this year, mainly because I was convinced I was missing out on lots of great stories. Some worked, many didn't and I ended up reading a lot of fantasy, which was a favourite of mine many years ago.
    There can be such a sense of achievement in trying new genres and I'm glad to hear that overall it was such a positive experience.
    ou have included some amazing looking books on this round up - more goodies to add to my TBR list 😂.

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    1. It's hard for me to read out of my comfort zone. It's called a comfort zone for a reason lol

      I love to read to escape and feel happy so darker/serious books are always tough for me.

      Audiobooks were a game changer though. I seem to be able to listen to those kinds of books where I can't sit and *read* them.

      I don't think I would have read more than 4-5 books this year without audio and found a few good reads that I would have never picked up otherwise.

      Delete
  3. You're number one book is one that I've seen a lot and really want to read. I also unapologetically love happy reads. I also love depressing ones though. I'm a mystery like that lol. But you've bumped it even further up my list!! Looks like you had an overall good reading year - audiobooks for the win!!

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    1. Sad books make me sad lol

      I may love them but the mood stays with me for weeks and I don't like feeling sad.

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  4. I've seen The Love Hypothesis everywhere, and I even almost bought it at the bookstore a few days ago! It does look super interesting and I love that cover, so I might just give it a go :) Even though you only read 42 books, it's great that you still found some favourites!

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    1. It is really hyped but I think it's worth it.

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  5. Glad you found such quality books this year! I also love, as you say, those books that leave me floating on a cloud. I mean, I like darker books too, but the ones that give me all the good feels are lovely. I'm glad even some of the more challenging books you found were still good in a different way. May your 2022 have lots of wonderful happy books :-)

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    1. Intense books stay with me and I feel down for weeks after finishing. I can't let it go.

      It's not that I don't like them but I don't like feeling that way lol

      Happy books for everyone!

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  6. Sorry, not sorry, but I am team Love Hypothesis as well. I don't always buy into hyped books, but that book deserved all the hype.

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    1. I was lucky that I read it way before the hype but I agree, it's well deserved.

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  7. Fire Keeper's Daughter was a DNF for me but I'm sure it was me ad not the book since I've heard wonders about it! I'll give it another try :)

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    1. Eh... not every book is for every person. I listened to it on audio and I seem to do better with certain books in that format.

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  8. I'm tired of seeing that boo, #1 book on your list, everywhere. I read reviews and such and know what's in the book and I have to ask why some people have no issues with the sex scenes, it's very cringe-worthy but I guess it's why this book is not for me. But I'm glad you like it.

    My reading is vastly different from yours so I didn't read any of the books on your list. But that's okay, we all have different taste.

    Have a lovely day.

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    1. To each their own. I found the book and romance to be delightful.

      Have a happy new year Lissa!

      Delete
  9. My reading this year was WAY down. The Love Hypothesis seems to be on a lot of lists it must be quite good.

    What We Buried haha we'll have to compare notes after I read it. :)

    I still need to finish my post *sigh* I think I'm just going to post it next week...

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    1. That book is ready to ship but I haven't been able to leave my house because of snow/ice lol

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    2. That's okay! :) I hope you guys thaw out lolol

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  10. Iced in... sorry, my Southern brain cannot even comprehend that. LOL

    I'm still on the fence about The Heart Principle. I feel like it's not the story I've been hoping for and I don't want to be disappointed.

    I'm shedding a few tears over Playing the Palace being in the disappointed list. :(

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    1. My formally southern brain is having problems with it too lol

      I wish I had waited on Playing the Palace. If I had known how over=the-top it was I would have been better prepared.

      Delete
  11. I'm dying to get to The House in the Cerulean Sea! Great list!

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    1. That was such a sweet little story. Hope you love it!

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  12. While I haven't read any of these I have seen good thing about some of them on other blogs and they do sound good. Happy New Year.

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  13. I love these lists of favorites. Here is my end of the year book survey: I'd be honored if you'd take a look when you've got a moment. Happy New Year. https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2021/12/2021-end-of-year-book-survey.html

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  14. Okay, I really need to read The Love Hypothesis asap! I don't know a single person who didn't like it!

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    1. I don't know anyone either (although I'm sure they're out there lol) which is odd because most books start tanking after the hype machine starts.

      I really loved it.

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  15. I'm seeing so many books here that I meant to read but just haven't gotten to yet. The Heart Principle and The Love Hypothesis are the main ones, but I am sorry to see that you were disappointed by The Wolf and the Woodsman as I recently bought that.

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    1. Everyone LOVED TWatW so I would completely ignore my thoughts on that one lol

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  16. A very good readings. I'm your new follower. May you follow me back?
    Regards and Happy 2022!

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  17. Whoa I figured out the comment problem - I need to accept cookies.
    Anyway, Float Plan was my perfect pandemic read!
    So glad you are here with me still blogging in 2022!

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    1. My blog makes you accept cookies????

      I'm still here! barely but still kicking lol

      Delete
  18. Long time no visit, right?! I'm back and I'm excited to start reading your blog again. Sorry I disappeared for a while (even on Instagram). I love your holiday banner with Ripley and Kai all happy and Figgy all grumpy.

    Thanks for the recap on your reads. I'm definitely going to look into The Love Hypothesis. I'm like you. I like happy reads. I do like reads that make me think too, but I like to be happy at the end. I might take a look at the others, but I think I'll have to read them when I'm in a particular mood or suggest them for book club or something.

    Anyway, I hope 2022 is better for everyone and I hope you come by my blog too sometime.

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    1. Those reads were really heavy and they tend to stay with me and bring me down which I don't like lol but I don't have regrets reading them. The ones I list above are great book club reads. Much to discuss!

      I've been checking our you posts this year (bad at commenting though) but happy to see you *back*

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  19. I liked Playing the Palace, but yeah, not a favorite overall. I still need to get and read The Geek Who Saved Christmas. I'll be reading holiday books this month still, I'm sure. LOL I didn't get much read in December. That's great you read some awesome books this past year and some out of your "comfort zone" or usual reads too.

    Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. If I had known in advance it was kind of mad cap shenanigans, I would have been prepared lol

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  20. I looooved Firekeeper's Daughter and completely agree about What We Buried hahah. I really want to read Beach Read and Float Plan and The House in the Cerulean Sea, especially after loving his latest book! I was really lucky in 2021 to have only ONE two star book, it was called The Swimmers and it was weird heh.

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    1. You had a great reading year!! I'm just happy I read anything lol

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  21. You posted on time and I'm reading it way late. LOL I loved The Love Hypothesis and Eve Brown. I actually had a tough time limiting my top books to 10 this year - which is a good problem to have. Hopefully we will have many great reads in 2022! Happy New Year.

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  22. I actually had Cerulean Sea listed as my biggest surprise too, but then I decided to move it when I got to my category about a book I read because it was recommended by other bloggers. I had no idea what to expect with that book and loved it so much more than I was expecting to!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. I saw it everywhere and those books usually don't work for me but it was such an unexpected story and journey. I really loved it. Glad to hear you did too.

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  23. As you know, I loved The House Plant. I'm so happy you seconded the other great reviews I saw. 🌿

    I want to read Firekeeper's Daughter and Caul Baby this year. Which reminds me... I need to check Hoopla and Overdrive to see if they are available to borrow. 📚

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    1. Both were very good in audio.

      The House Plant was a fun surprise.

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