It’s time for one of my favorite annual posts – the best books I read this year!
But before we dive into the titles, let’s pause for a little literary reflection.
I share this with you because I find it so helpful when other people talk openly about their reading lives. Knowing that other people hit reading ruts, struggle to find books that are capturing their attention, or are reading less than before makes it seem much more normal when it happens to me.
My 2021 Reading Life
From that preamble, maybe you can guess that this was a weird reading year for me.
Overall, I read 51 books this year. This is actually higher than I thought it would be – helped along by the nine (!!) books I finished in December – but it’s fewer total books than I’ve read any year since I started tracking.
I’m not entirely surprised by this. For one, I struggled to find a reading rhythm for much of the year. We started condo hunting this past spring, bought our place and moved over the summer, and spent a lot of time decorating this fall. This meant tons of potential reading time was instead spent scrolling Zillow, packing, then scrolling even more for furniture shopping. Honestly, few books kept my attention more than Facebook Marketplace.
My reading also felt different because the amount I read for work changed. I used to teach middle school and read tons of YA and middle grade novels, which I can zip through really quickly. I currently work full-time with a tutoring company, and while I do still read a few books alongside students, my job description has changed over this year and I’m doing less of that than before, too.
None of these things are bad.
Big life changes like a move deserved my time and attention, and it was absolutely necessary to have different priorities than read-as-much-as-possible for a while. Plus, some of the changes in my work life have made me assess what I actually want to read and forced me to be intentional with reading rhythms outside of my day job. It also means my finished book list looks different than it did before, and that’s okay.
All of this to say, if your reading life was wonky, or it happened in weird obsessive spurts and then barely at all, or you quit more books than usual, or you really struggled to find 5-star reads this year, I’m raising my hand and say “me too.”
But in spite of all of that, I did still read some excellent books this year. Let’s dive into them, shall we?
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Best Fiction Books of 2021
Winter Solstice – Rosamund Pilcher
This makes the best books of 2021 list because I would like to crawl inside this story and live in it. The majority of the book takes place in an old Scottish house where an unlikely cast of characters gets snowed in around Christmas. It tackles grief and love and second chances and life in a charming small town, and I truly loved every second of it. (After reading this, I also picked up Rosamund Pilcher’s September and enjoyed that, too. I’ll tackle The Shell Seekers sometime in 2022!)
You’ll love it if: you’re searching for possibly the coziest book ever that’s sweet but not cheesy
(P.S. At the time I’m writing this, it’s also on Kindle sale for $2.99!)
Beartown – Fredrick Backman
Oof, this book. So intense but SO GOOD. This book opens in a hockey-obsessed town where you know something bad is imminently going to happen. (No spoilers here, so I won’t say anything more.)
The atmosphere feels dark and full of impossible choices in this one, which is usually not my cup of tea, but the loveable characters carried me through. You’ll root for them with your whole heart. (Gah, BENJI. One of my favorite literary characters ever.) I also thought about this one for a long time after finishing. After growing up in a small town with a sporty culture, this whole premise felt frighteningly possible.
You’ll love it if: you’re in the mood for a memorable, fast-paced book about tough circumstances
The Flatshare – Beth O’Leary
I picked this book up expecting a light palate cleanser – which it was, for sure – but it turned out to be an absolute delight. Tiffy breaks up with her boyfriend and moves into a unique housing situation: she shares a flat with a man she never sees. He works nights, and she works days, so their paths never cross. Until, of course, they do.
The story is perhaps predictable, but it was so much fun. Absolutely devoured it.
You’ll love it if: you’re in the mood for a charming, well-written romance that will make you grin like a fool
Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
I had missed this dystopian novel about a world where books are banned in high school, and I finally read it alongside a tutoring student this summer. I’m honestly glad I waited to read it as an adult. This book is simultaneously poetic and strange and incisive and brilliant, and I think I would have not really gotten the unique language use as a teen. Reading it now, I was spellbound. Bradbury’s predictions about the state of our world were also startlingly true.
You’ll love it if: you enjoy dystopian novels that are many layers deep
The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
After I talked about Brideshead Revisited with a friend (hi Clarissa!), she recommended this. And she was spot on. This book follows a butler as he goes on a road trip to visit an old friend. As he drives, he reflects on his job working for a controversial political figure and the changing state of the British great houses.
While the plot in this book is not a page-turner, the narration was really fascinating. The ending was absolutely pitch-perfect.
You’ll love it if: the idea of Carson from Downtown Abbey narrating a reflective novel like Gilead sounds up your alley
Best Nonfiction Books of 2021
In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World – Padraig O’Tuama
This book was incredible. And it’s also really hard to explain.
Perhaps think of it as a memoir-theology-poetry collection, where Padraig O’Tuama describes his spiritual journey with thoughts on faith and story and belonging and peacemaking. My virtual book club read this together, and we all found it incredibly meaningful. It’s beautiful and thoughtful and permissive, and I underlined a ton.
You’ll love it if: you like a genre-bending book that asks more questions than it answers
Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us Out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode – and Into a Life of Connection and Joy – Aundi Kobler
Kobler is an actual therapist, and her book helps you become a more whole-hearted version of yourself. She integrates a combination of neuroscience, real-life examples, and exercises Kobler would incorporate with her therapy clients. This is a great one for a book club with people you trust – my virtual book club also read this together (they have great taste, what can I say) and found the end-of-chapter exercises great for discussion. This probably deserves a yearly re-read.
You’ll love it if: you’re looking for a faith-based approach to live with more awareness and peace
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters – Priya Parker
In this book, Parker explores what makes a good gathering. She shares research and tons of anecdotes from expert party hosters, conference organizers, and general gatherers of people. This is a book I’ll absolutely reference again when I’m planning a gathering – I’ve even found some things to consider in my tutoring sessions and work meetings.
You’ll love it if: you want to be a more intentional host, of anything from parties to work meetings
Designing Your Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness at Work – Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
If you’re stuck in your career, feeling unfulfilled at work, or just straight-up considering quitting your job, read this. No quit-your-job-and-chase-your-dreams fluff here – this book gives very practical tips for determining how to make your job fit your skills and desires better. I read it before we moved, and it was really helpful for figuring out exactly what I wanted from my job and how to communicate that. Definitely one I’ll reference again if and when I start to feel stuck again.
You’ll love it if: you want more fulfillment from your work and are willing to do a little reflection to get there
Best YA & Middle Grade Books of 2021
Hello, Universe – Erin Entrada Kelly
This book tells the story of the interactions between a scaredy-cat boy, his deaf classmate, a girl who believes she’s psychic, and a neighborhood bully. It’s been on my to-read list for a long time and I was not disappointed – I found it both sweet and empowering.
You’ll love it if: you want a feel-good novel with characters you’ll adore
Looking for more book recommendations? Check out the best books I read this summer and this fall (you’ll see some repeats from this post and some fresh picks!), the best books I read in 2020, or my other book lists!
I also give monthly book recommendations to subscribers of my email list – plus, they get the inside scoop on books I didn’t love. Join us below if that sounds fun to you!
Hi Anna!
Some of the best books I read this year were middle grade novels. My two favorite were: Starfish by Lisa Fipps and A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus. Starfish is written in verse and tells the story of a young woman who is bullied about her weight. I don’t know that I have ever been so frustrated by a mother in a book as I was by this one! A Place to Hang the Moon is the story of 3 children who are evacuated from London during WW2. They are orphans in search of a permanent home. I finished the book and almost wanted to start it again. I listened to this on audiobook in addition to reading some of it. The narrator used a British accent, which made a good story even better.
Thanks for your book recommendations! I have been eagerly anticipating it, and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
Jenny, you’re too kind! I just heard about Starfish earlier today, and I added it to my list almost immediately! I’m glad to hear that you loved it as well. I’ll be adding A Place to Hang the Moon to my list, too! That sounds excellent.