I’ve heard it said that we read to know we’re not alone. In the months following my father’s death, grief heavily influenced my reading life. I looked for books featuring characters who were dealing with heartbreak and staggering loss. In my 35 years of being an avid reader, the past 18 months have most definitely been about finding community among books and readers. Understanding why we read and how we choose our books is important. For me, I’ve learned that I read when I want/need to escape. In 2021, I read because in some way, I wanted reassurance that suffering is a universal human experience. (That goes back to that reading to know we’re not alone thing). Hope is the foundation of my spiritual life, so I was also drawn to books that strengthened my faith. Often, I read when I want to laugh. Finally, I read for encouragement, because when I read the work of phenomenal authors, I’m inspired to be a better writer.
This is such a fascinating time to be alive, isn’t it? One one hand, we all want “the best” of everything. Let’s be honest, that’s why these year-end lists are created and shared. We’re nosy and we don’t want to miss out on a really great book. Yet there’s a risk that comes with declaring one author’s work superior to another. So here’s my take regarding “Best of” and “Favorite” book lists: reading is a subjective experience. There will always be superlatives attached to certain books that some readers will not agree with. And that’s okay. Voracious readers have strong opinions, myself included. I’ve read more than 80 books this year. The ones I’ve chosen to include here genuinely moved me and helped carry me through one of the most challenging seasons of my life. That doesn’t diminish the achievements of authors I didn’t include, nor is it a slight against the fiftyish books I finished that I didn’t specifically mention in this post. For a full list of what I’ve read recently, as well as the books I’ve publicly reviewed and recommended, please follow me on Goodreads or BookBub.
So here we go … 25 epic books that carried me through 2021.
Fantastic Books Featuring Characters Grappling with Grief and Loss
- The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
- Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
- The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
- The Guncle by Steven Rowley
- The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
These books moved me with well-crafted prose. The authors’ literary voice, that thing that sets the tone for how the story resonates, brought both joy and heartache as the novels progressed. All five helped me acknowledge my own feelings of heartache and loss with unique descriptions of the universal experience of human suffering. The audiobook versions kept me engaged with outstanding narration. I read and listened to these titles many months ago, and the characters still come to mind sometimes.
The Ones That Gave Me All The Feels
- Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey
- Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez
- Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
- Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- Everything We Didn’t Say by Nicole Baart
- The Layover by Lacie Waldon
- The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Clever inciting incidents, unique perspectives, intense romantic chemistry, profound descriptions that made me feel BIG feelings, witty banter, five-star reviews for days…all of these books landed on my epic books list because they possessed one (or many) of the characteristics I just mentioned. Several of these I read because other people couldn’t stop talking about them. Word of mouth works, people! Thanks to the BookTok and Bookstagram friends who pointed me toward these amazing books.
Inspirational Romance from My Perennial Favorites
- Let It Be Me by Becky Wade
- Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter
- The Gathering Table by Kathryn Springer
- All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese
- Come Back To Me by Jody Hedlund
- Choosing His Family by Jill Lynn
I read and write inspirational romance novels. The uplifting stories, subtle reminders of God’s faithfulness, and the sweet wholesome romance have made me a life-long fan of the genre. It’s especially difficult to name favorites in a space where I spend a great deal of time, but I chose these particular titles because each and every book is incredibly well-written. The romance is super swoon-worthy and I adored the characters. These are authors whose books I read year after year. They all inspire me to be a better writer.
Christmas and Contemporary Romances I Couldn’t Put Down
- Sleigh Bells Ring by RaeAnne Thayne
- The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery
- A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh
- Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
- The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
- If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
I devoured these books as quickly as possible. Simply delightful in every way!
Breaking news: I’m adding a 26th title to the post, because of course one discovers another fantastic book once the graphics are already designed. Today I heard a podcast interview with Mattie Jackson Selecman. She was sharing about her new book Lemons on Friday and I immediately downloaded and started reading. If you’ve lost a loved one and find yourself wrestling with grief and the hard questions that accompany the journey, I highly recommend Mattie’s book.
Your Turn: Which books are your favorites? Leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear more about what you read in 2021.
Please note: this post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to make a purchase via one of the links I’ve included, I might earn a small commission.
