My Top 10 Books of 2021
Blogmas Day 16
Yesterday I shared 12 tips to help you read more books in 2022.
“Those tips are great,” you may be thinking. “But which books do I start with first?”
Well, I am glad you asked! ;)
Of the 70+ books I read this year, there are clear favorites. I won’t go into tons of detail but they were incredible reads. If you choose to read any of the books I read in 2021, start with these!
Friendly reminder: Don’t forget to follow me on Goodreads and my bookstagram @readwithkeri for more book recs and reviews.
American Dirt — Jeanine Cummins (4.5/5 stars)
This book is extremely intense, but is unputdownable. It follows a mom and son duo who make the trek from Mexico to America in the hopes of creating a better life for themselves after tragedy hits. It is emotional, well-written, and worth the hype.
Such a Fun Age — Kiley Reid (4.5/5 stars)
I flew through this and thought it really handled the topics of race and privilege in a graceful way. The book switches between two points of view so I never tired of the characters.
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company — Robert Iger (5/5 stars)
This was a recommendation from a few friends, and it is so good. Bob Iger, the former CEO of Walt Disney, shares how he got the role and the struggles and triumphs he had while CEO. Fun fact: He was friends with Steve Jobs and helped rekindle the Pixar/Disney relationship.
Everything I Never Told You — Celete Ng (5/5 stars)
When reading Everything I Never Told You, I kept trying to guess the ending but it wasn’t what I expected. This touches on some heavy topics but is an incredible story about family, sibling relationships, and the pressure kids feel to excel/exceed parents’ expectations. It’s written by the author of Little Fires Everywhere, which was a favorite of mine in 2020.
The Vanishing Half — Brit Bennett (4/5 stars)
The Vanishing Half is about twin sisters who are separated and live completely different lives based on how they choose to identify (white v. black). I enjoyed it and learned a lot. Some storylines were disconnected or seemed unnecessary to get to the goal, but I loved reading from different perspectives and learning how each character thinks and how they eventually connect the dots.
Anxious People — Fredrik Backman (4.75/5 stars)
Describing Anxious People is not easy because it was weird, random, and I ended up loving every second of reading it. I’ve since read a few others by Fredrik Backman and have grown accustomed to his whimsical writing style. In Anxious People, there were times I felt he was trying to force something just to check off a box. The premise: A bank robbery turned accidental hostage situation with a bunch of idiots. It’s funny, thought provoking, serious at times, and worth the read.
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Chris for Sinners and Sufferers — Dane C. Ortlund (5+ /5 stars)
I can’t recommend this book enough. It looks at Scripture and describes Jesus’ heart and character in such amazing detail. I cried several times while reading it. The women’s Bible study I was apart of this spring went through this. It led to amazing conversations and renewed outlooks on who Jesus is and how much He loves us. Highly, highly recommend.
People We Meet on Vacation — Emily Henry (5/5 stars)
I loved loved this book! Emily Henry does it again. She wrote Beach Read, which I also read this year. She’s quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors. People We Meet on Vacation is romance but has a little bit of everything - friendship, drama, comedy, travel. It’s worth the hype.
Educated: A Memoir — Tara Westover (5/5 stars)
Oh my goodness. THIS BOOK. Wow. Educated is a true story. Tara Westover grew up in a family that did not believe in formal education so she never went to school. She decided to go to college but had to teach herself everything (and I mean everything). Educated details her struggles with abuse, family trauma, and highlights her determination to learn despite the odds.
The Silent Patient — Alex Michaelides (5/5 stars)
I LOVED this book. It is simply unputdownable. It’s a psycho thriller so there’s some language and graphic scenes. The chapters are short so it’s easy to make quick progress. I heard so many good things and it lived up to the hype. Highly recommend, especially during spooky season.