One of my goals for 2021 was to get back into reading, as I really love reading but since having Elian I just hadn’t found the time to really dedicate to it. I used to read 40+ books a year before becoming a mum. So last year I set my Goodreads challenge at 20 books, hoping that would be achievable…even though I now have 2 kids at home to contend with, lol! Amazingly I finished book 20 a few days before xmas and I was super chuffed to have managed it!
In the past I have done my yearly reading round ups/book recommendations, but again that was something that has slipped since having Elian as I just wasn’t reading enough books to make a dedicated post to them worth while…well this year is different and I am starting them back up! Whoop! So here are the 20 books I have read this year!
And for anyone wanting to know I have set my 2021 book goal at 20 books again, simply because I wanted it to be manageable and achievable! That way I will feel I have accomplished something when I hit it, and any extra books I manage will just be a bonus!
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Most of these books I have read on my Kindle app on my phone, as I have found this the most convenient way to read since Effie arrived….even though I refuse to get a kindle itself as I am a die hard book lover, haha go figure that one!! Anyway its simply been the only way I can get some reading in most days at the moment, usually while feeding her and getting her to sleep in the evenings.
Spellbreaker by Charlie N. Holmberg
This was one of the Amazon Prime Free Monthly Books you can get and I was intrigued by the blurb even though I usually steer well clear of anything historically based. I love a good fantasy mythical book though so I took a punt. It was decent enough, I like the premise of the book with people who make spells and those who break them, and how magic can be collected and such. I will be looking to read the follow up, Spellmaker this year to see how she wraps up the storyline
Cows by Dawn O’Porter
I hadn’t read a book by Dawn O’Porter but loads of people had recommended her and again this was a Amazon Prime Offer book…I blazed through it in just a few days and really enjoyed it! It had a quick shock end for one character which I didn’t see coming at all. Its a really easy read, not all the characters are likeable but its an interesting look at our social media obsession.
Queenie by Candice Party-Williams
This had been raved about by so many online. I was given a copy of it so thought I would give it a go…to be honest I didn’t love it. I found it slow moving, it didn’t seem to go anywhere, quite repetitive and just a bit blah really. I get that it highlights the struggle of black women in modern day culture and mental health issue but it just all felt a bit flat for me
The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
This is a teen dystopia novel my friend Lucy bought me from my amazon Wishlist for my birthday last year. I had read some good posts about it so wanted to give it a try. Its a really easy read, only took me 2 or 3 sittings to get through it. I love the concept but felt the ending was rushed a little and she really could have taken it further so that was a bit disappointing. But I think it would be a great book for younger teens to get them into dystopian novels.
The Lost Art of Letter Writing by Menna van Praag
I was bought a bundle of books by Menna van Praag for Christmas (2020) I’ve not read one by her before but this one just sounded lovely. The idea of a shop dedicated to writing letters when you need to say something to someone…a little bit magical in some ways too. And the lead character following her heart across countries and making a difference to others lives with her letter. it was lovely and another really easy read
Blood Orange by Harriet Type
Well I only gave this 2 stars on Goodreads so that says a lot about what I thought of it as I am rarely that harsh, lol. I just found it all a bit silly and ridiculous to be honest. Not at all gripping, very predictable, and the hype has been blown way out of proportion. A quick read as its pretty easy going, but honestly nothing like the books its compared to on the cover!
Fractured by Alexandra Moody
This is book 3 in the ARC Series, I read box 1 and 2 last year so wanted to finish the set. Another teen dystopia series, this one around the idea that the surface of the earth is dangerous so we start living in the Arc under ground, but people start going missing if they are found to be ‘tainted’ – I won’t explain more as this is half way through but I enjoyed the series!
Destined by Alexandra Moody
This is book 4 of the above, and the final of the series….I won’t say more, but if you like teen dystopia it is worth a go.
Five French Hens by Judy Leigh
Someone had suggested I try a Judy Leigh book as I wanted something lighthearted and this didn’t disappoint. The adventures, or misadventures of a lovely bunch of 70 year old women on a hen party to Paris. Each character has their own personality and problems but they come together as a group of friend and it is lovely!
Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O’Porter
After enjoying Cows so much I decided to try another of Dawn O’Porters books. Paper Aeroplanes in book 1 or a 2 parter – this one was very easy to read again, I got through it quickly, but it wasnt as good as Cows. This one felt like a teen book rather than an adult book. The storyline is around teenagers and the things they get up to. There are deeper parts to the storyline but it just wasn’t as gripping as Cows was.
Goose by Dawn O’Porter
See above as it felt the same as the first book of the pair. I still enjoyed both books and read them both over a week.
Why Mummy Doesn’t Give A **** by Gill Sims
I love Gill Sims books and had read her first 2 last year. This one didn’t disappoint and was as hilarious as her first ones. The real ups and downs of motherhood. I found myself laughing out loud so many times, Jon would often ask what I was reading as I was giggling to myself. Her kids have grown up a bit and her marriage has fallen apart so she’s learning to find herself again.
Why Mummys Sloshed by Gill Sims
And the final in the series, id say it was possibly the weakest of the pack but I still loved it all the same. Now navigating single life, new loves and teenagers ready to leave home…I just imagine how my kids may be similar …eek! You should definitely read the whole set if you haven’t
The Gender Game by Bella Forest
This was another Amazon Prime Free book, but I decided to try it out as its another teen dystopia novel. The country has been separated into female lead Matrus and Male led Patrus. Each having their own leadership, agendas, rules and regulations, one treats women better and the other men, but one woman has to infiltrate Partrus as a spy to try and retrieve an egg that was stolen, its that or she is put to death…I enjoyed this one and again its part of a series so want to read the others now
The Old Girls Network by Judy Leigh
As The Gender Game was a pretty heavy book I wanted something lighthearted so again picked a Judy Leigh as I had enjoyed the first I read. This one is about 2 elderly sisters who dont get on that well, but end up living together and bonding over common grounds. Its just a really lovely story.
So Lucky by Dawn O’Porter
Figured I may as well finish off the Dawn O’Porter set and read the last of her fiction books. And I really loved this one. Just as good as Cows! Blitzed through it in just a few days, I didn’t want to stop reading it. Another look at social media and its distortion of reality and ‘perfection’. What we see on the outside rarely portrays what is really going on behind closed doors
Good as Dead by Susan Walter
OK I’ll be honest and say I mainly chose this as the cover looks like the actress who plays Jac Nailer on Holby City! lol! It may well be her tbh. But I fancied a crime book, although this didn’t turn out to be quite as ‘crime’ as I was hoping. Holly’s husband is killed infront of her, but how much does she remember, and how much would her silence cost! Some good twists and turns and I really enjoyed it
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
This was the book of the month for That Mama Club on Insta in October and I loved the look of it. I am actually quite a fan of crime thrillers usually (although this year doesn’t reflect that at all!!) so this seemed more up my street. A mysterious exclusively apartment looking for a paid house sitter, paying way more than any job could, you just have to follow a few slightly strange rules, whats the catch? Well it turns out to be a lot more sinister than you could imagine. I really wanted to love it, the premise is brilliant and I didn’t get the end at all, but it was just a bit slow, took too long to build (although everything is meant to have happened in just a few days which is also just too unbelievable), wasn’t enough of a thriller until the very end! It could have been so much better than it was!
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Again I had seen this book (and the one below) mentioned loads on social media and I wanted to end the year with some easy reads as I knew I was going to be busy. Beth O’Leary’s writing is funny and down to earth, easy going and just a lovely read. This one is about 2 very different people who start sharing a flat…well a bed, although they never sleep in it together and dont meet…its a love story and a story of seeking answers. I really enjoyed it
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
And to finish the year as I love The Flatshare so much I figured I would try her next book The Switch. Grandmother and granddaughter switch their country and city lives for 2 months, and finally discover/rediscover who they really are and what they want from their lives. Throw in a good old love story, some neighbourhood busy bodies, a bunch of mismatched best friends and some major organisation and its a lovely story that I would happily read again. Ill be looking to read another of her books this year for sure.
So there you have all 20 of the books I have read this year. A real mishmash of genres this year when I usually stick to crime/thrillers and dystopia teen genre, but Ive enjoyed the easier reads this year, nothing too heavy going.
As I said at the start I have decided to make reading more of a priority this year and will be aiming to top my 20 books for 2022! If you have any recommendations of must reads I would love to know!