My Top Reads of 2021

Hello! It’s been a while hasn’t it? I haven’t posted on the blog since September, and there are a few reasons for this, which I may go over in a future post, but for now I am back with a new blog look and am ready and raring to go again!

Now 2021, I’ll admit wasn’t my best reading year, but I hit my reading goal of reading 52 books and some, as my total books read in 2021 is 68. So even though it wasn’t my best reading year, it was still pretty good going. I read some amazing books in 2021, and I’m going to share some of my best reads with you. I’m going to do it a bit differently however, and choose my favourite read from each month.

What were your best reads of 2021?]

January

For January it had to be A Vow So Bold and Deadly, this was the last book in the Cursebreakers series and what a conclusion! I couldn’t put it down, and it had me sobbing as I really didn’t want to say goodbye to any of these characters.

February

The Adventures on Trains series is becoming on my favourite middle grade series, and Murder on The Safari Star (the third in the series) sealed this for me! It was such a fun, mysterious read with lots of tension and adventure. I instantly found myself hooked on the mystery and was trying to solve it alongside Hal. Overall it was one super read!

March

Mina and the Undead was the debut novel of blogger Amy McCaw and Oh my god it was incredible! It was honestly the most perfect YA gothic horror read, and one that I couldn’t get enough of. It had a stand out plot that hooked me, captivating characters and a gorgeous setting. I’m also incredibly excited that there’s going to be a sequel, so watch this space!

April

Vulture was the third and final book in The Isle of Storm and Sorrow trilogy and after the ending of Venom, I was ready to have my heart torn apart. All I will say is that this was such a fantastic ending to an incredible trilogy and it was so hard saying goodbye to those characters who I learnt to adore. I need more from this world!

May

I finally picked up Girls of Paper and Fire after having it thrown at me by my bookish friends for several months, and well I was blown away! It wasn’t the easiest book to read, but the way topics such as sexual assault, torture and slavery were handled was admirable. The writing was gorgeous and I found myself utterly immersed in this world. I’m definitely going to be continuing the series in 2022.

June

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow was such an uplifting, heartwarming story that gave me all the feels! It’s a book that I feel all children should read, and devour. We need more LGBTQ+ middle grade and I’m hoping this book was just the start!

July

Imagine a world where being LGBT is a crime? Yep this was what The Outrage was about, and boy did I get invested in this book! It was such a powerful, eye-opening read that shows how important representation is and how we need to keep fighting!

August

As Good As Dead was the last book in The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and what a way to end this brilliant series! Throughout reading I was shocked, I cried and I screamed. Holly Jackson is the queen of YA Crime and Thrillers and this series is why. I am so hyped for what she writes next.

September

The Bewitching of Aveline Jones is the second book in the Aveline Jones series and it was just as good as the first book. This was quick, spooky, hair-raising book that I read in one sitting. It definitely captured the creepiness and sinister vibes that you get during spooky season. I for one, cannot wait to read Aveline’s next adventure.

October

The S.T.A.G.S. series is so underrated and deserves more love! T.I.G.E.R.S is book four, and like its predecessors I LOVED IT! This time we were sent to India with Greer and Shafeen and we learn more about secret societies and the past. Granted, it didn’t have as much mystery as the other three books but I still loved it nonetheless.

November & December

I’m going to be honest, in November and December I hit a reading slump and only managed to read one book in each month. This was very hard for me, and I’ve never experienced a two month slump before. So, for that reason I have decided not to mention books for these two months as I have nothing to compare.