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My Favorite Books of 2021

by | Jan 19, 2022 | Best Books of the Year, RA Blog

Every year I keep striving to read more and more books. This year I definitely went way passed my original goal that I had set. Being in reading competitions, listening to more audiobooks, and overall trying to spend more time reading has contributed to this accomplishment for me. I have read and listened to a lot of lovely, romantic, scary, and comical stories this past year. I decided to make a top 10 list of the books I overall enjoyed the most for 2021.

Living with Mochi by Gemma Gene
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur
If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
  1. Living with Mochi by Gemma Gene– This book is a series of webcomics about a lady who experiences love at first site with a lovable goofy pug. I understand whole heartedly about the love between a girl and her dog. I relate to this book like anyone who has had a dog with whom they have an unbreakable bond with.

 

  1. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid– This was the first book that I had read by this author. It is about four siblings growing up in Malibu in 1983 and the bond they all share. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a fantastic author who writes about characters that you can’t help but root for and love. I have gone on to read a few more of her books and have the others I haven’t yet read are on my to-be-read list.

 

  1. and 7. Written in the Stars and Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur– These two books are together because they are part of a series where astrology is mixed in with these delightful characters. They are both such satisfying love stories and true representatives of romance novels. Written in the Stars has definite LGBTQ+, opposites attract, Pride and Prejudice undertones to it. Hang the Moon is about an adorable hopeless romantic who needs to prove that romance isn’t dead to woo the girl of his dreams. I love these stories and can’t wait until the next book (Count the Stars) in the series comes out in February.

 

  1. If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy– This Cinderella retelling is a perfect reason there needs to plus size representation on reality dating shows. Cindy designs exquisite shoes and looks to being on the reality dating show as a way to kick off her fashion career. What a better way to get national recognition than be on a TV show and fall in love along the way! I love reading about body positive women in romance books.

 

  1. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston– I think I would read anything by Casey McQuiston. This book was such a great summer read that I was looking forward to so much. It did not disappoint; I had it on my holds list and devoured it so quickly. A little bit of time travel and magic plus a whole lot of love.

 

  1. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey– This book was what I was missing in my life. I loved the show Schitt’s Creek and was so sad when it ended. I loved the character of Alexis from the show and Piper Bellinger was the Alexis I was missing. This book has the small-town lovable feeling that was needed in my life. I adored this book and can’t wait until the next book in the series comes out.

 

  1. This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens– I love books that visit characters the same day each year and see how they have changed. This book revolves around New Year’s Eve/Day when the two main characters were born. They meet again on their 30th birthdays and that gets them to realize how much their lives have actually crossed before that. I love when two unlike people are destined to be with each other.

 

  1. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren –The main characters are so perfect for each other. They create such a lovely balance in each other’s lives. In the book, it shows how your DNA can match you up with your perfect soulmate. This book left me wondering, if something like this really existed, would people belief the results? How much of fate and how much of choice comes into play when someone thinks they have found their soulmate? I was hooked and didn’t want to stop listening to it. I listened to it in my car and wanted to keep drive around until it had ended.

 

  1. Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne– This was my absolute favorite book of the year. I just loved everything about it. Teddy Prescott is the man that just needs a little love and Ruthie Midona is exactly the woman to give it to him. Do soulmates exist? If they do, then both souls are just destined to find each other. I just really loved these characters and I am just a sap about this romance. This book made me want to read all of Sally Thorne’s other books right away.