2021 was a slow year for reading and an even slower year for blog posting. Life started returning to some sort of new normal in late spring. The kids went back to school part time and I resumed working fulltime, not just coming off of reduced hours due to the pandemic but actually going back to a 40-hour a week job. (And boy, do I miss my day off each week!)
Last year, I also leaned toward spending more time on crafts – mostly knitting and scrapbooking (trying to catch up on the many years of albums I haven’t done!) rather than reading or being at a computer to blog. (If you’re interested in my crafting, you can follow #booksncookscrafts on Instagram.) Anyway, as 2021 came to a close, I realized I read a few great books but had never actually posted the reviews. Those – here and here – went up earlier this month, so now you have my favorite books read (not necessarily published) in 2021.
2021 by the numbers:
- 22 books finished (fell short of my goal of 30)
- 7 were audiobooks
- 15 were printed (either paperback or digital)
- 4 of which stood out as favorites (below)
The year started strong with me zipping through the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan, a young adult series that is by no means amazing literature, but nice light reading while the family watched tv in the evenings.
All of my favorites this year, except one, were historical fiction novels. That trend seems to be my jam for the past couple of years. So without further ado, my favorite books read in 2021:
Best Books of 2021
My last book completed in 2021, the Ladies of the Secret Circus has a bit of magic, a bit of mystery, and a bit of romance. I picked it up on a whim and flew through it.
The Paris Seamstress follows the story of Estelle, a seamstress from Paris who dreams of becoming a famous designer. Estelle's life is told through the eyes of herself during WWII, and through the eyes of her granddaughter, set during present day.
Three women, three tales of how British women helped the Allies decode German messages during WWII. The Rose Code is the story of WWII-era Bletchley Park (the predecessor to today’s Government Communications Headquarters), and how a traitor came to destroy the life of one woman. Can old friends help set the story straight?
The librarians of the American Library in Paris did everything they could to support Allied troops and Parisian citizens throughout WWII, to include during Nazi occupation. Years later, the story of one of those librarians unfolds in a small town in Montana. A great read for lovers of historical fiction and book lovers.
And if you haven’t already, check out my most popular recipes of 2021.
What would you like to see more of in 2022?