Reading is sort of my “thing,” second only to writing. But can you really have one without the other? Most years, I read somewhere between 45 and 54 books, which is nothing to sneeze at. In 2020, with so much additional time what with the pandemic, I read over 70, which was incredible!

And then, starting the draft of this post at the end of November 2021, I just finished book 101. Which is…just…what.

So I figure, as long as I’m reading so much, the least I can do is curate a list of my best new reads from 2021. I am here to filter books for the more reluctant/time-constrained readers! (Also, audiobooks count as reading. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.)

The books below are an alphabetical order by author last name. I’ve also included the genre, so you have the tools you need to figure out which might be for you. If you are interested in the full list of all books I read in 2021, you can look at it here.

Ask anyone: I don’t read literary fiction. I might pick up one that fits that label once a year at most. High school assigned reading ruined me for it, and I’m generally trying to make up for lost time by reading tons of YA (plus, that’s the genre I write so it makes sense). But I bought this book up sometime in 2019, I believe, specifically to learn more about Lebanon. I was writing a character of Lebanese descent so I looked up books by Lebanese authors.

This book is amazing in a way I didn’t expect. It is absolutely literary fiction: very self-reflective, quiet and voice-y. And I adore the voice in this story. If you like voice-y novels, this one is for you.

I picked this one up because a literary agent I follow on Twitter raved about it, which makes sense since she represents the author. I love a good mystery, so why not? This book also features multiple points-of-view, which I always love to read, since I want to get stronger at writing those sorts of stories myself.

I love this one because it’s the sort of story that makes you think you’ve got the whole thing figured out and then unravels in the most unexpected way. If you’re looking for a new mystery, this one is good.

When your favorite author recommends a book, you listen. And Maggie Stiefvater recommended this one when I was already reading a ton of other nonfiction, so it slotted in quite nicely. I strongly recommend this book to anyone overwhelmed by the current news cycle, by so many sad stories and so much darkness. Using well-researched statistics, Bregman walks the reader through why humankind is better off than it seems. He doesn’t dismiss darkness, but he does make an effort to bring the light to…well…light.

I spent a good amount of time this year reading books about leadership and skills to improve career skills. I would say this one was probably my favorite among them.

It takes a special kind of writer to write magical realism, to bridge the gap between reality and a world of magic, to make it seem like that gap is nothing more than a breath. This book feels a bit like really long form poetry. It’s the sort of book you start and don’t put down until you’re done.

Trigger Warning: Domestic abuse

This book covers heavy topics. Heavy, heavy topics. But it discusses them in such a realistic way, talking about all the complex emotions involved in a situation of domestic abuse. Also extremely thoughtful about the influences of the community in which it occurs. Dark and light, magical and real.

While I say this book is poetry, note that it took me and three Barnes and Noble employees to find the book in their store because it was shelved in inspirational! Which was rather hilarious, us all running different directions.

If you haven’t already heard of Morgan Harper Nichols, you should. She has a gorgeous line of art at Target, her pieces grace the covers of planners and notebooks and more, and then there is this book that is a combination of writing and artwork. I personally have two pieces of her work in my home as art so…I’m kinda a huge fan.

This book is INCREDIBLE. If I had to choose a single book that was my favorite this year, this might very well be it. Do you ever read a nonfiction book you can’t put down? This is the one for me. I adore Oluo’s writing in general. She considers so many nuances in her writings, and I am desperate just to re-read this one.

I also would recommend So You Want to Talk About Race which is also phenomenal. But I forced myself only to include one book per author on this list so…Mediocre was the winner. But read both. Honestly, just read Ijeoma Oluo. She has such an awesome voice in her writing.

At one point this past year, I suddenly started reading about big data which was…surprising. It’s a buzz word I hear all the time, especially since I have a day job in IT. But this book is phenomenal. The subtitle for this book says it all: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy. I mean…wow.

I would also recommend Everybody Lies by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. His view on big data is somewhat different and I think reading the two books together offer some excellent nuance so you can reach your own conclusions.

Tess Sharpe is a very good writer. I read Far From You years ago, and it was incredibly compelling. But also very different from this one. I read this one on my e-reader in the driveway of my Grandma’s home while waiting for my dad to need help rebuilding the stairs to her front porch. Which was a challenge because this is not a book you want to put down. It’s a thriller and it’s incredibly well-crafted and unusual.

The year isn’t over yet, and I am certainly still reading! Like I said, it’s kind of what I do. I hope if it’s something you want to do more of, this book helps you find something that lights up the spark in your eyes. And if not, I’m always happy to recommend others! Just keep reading, keep being open to new ideas. Read things you agree with and things you sometimes don’t. Explore new worlds and settle into old ones.

Trust me: there’s plenty out there and always room for more.