Top 10 Books of 2021

As 2021 comes to an end within these next remaining weeks, it’s coming to the part of the year where many start to reflect on what this past year brought them. The good, the bad, the times of joy and happiness, and the times of anger and sadness. It was a year with the best of highs and some of the worst of lows. There’s lots of exciting things to look forward to in 2022 but there is also a lot of fear for what may occur. But for myself, one of the highs has definitely been creating this blog/Instagram and being able to spread the joy of reading and travel with you all. Having family and friends tell me that they got back into reading because of me was probably one of the best compliments I could’ve ever received. And while I would have loved to include many others on top of these 10, and the narrowing down process definitely took some time, please enjoy my top 10 books of 2021.

1. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

All the hype this book is getting is completely worth it. It was by far one of my favorite reads of this entire year. The book centers around a young girl who has many regrets about her life. When she decides to take her own life she finds herself in a place known as The Midnight Library. A library where each book shows her life if she had done just one thing different; went on that date, changed her major, kept up with that sport in grade school, etc. A book that makes you think about your own life and if you would have done something different if you had the chance to redo.

2. The 7 (1/2) Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

This is a great book for someone looking to get into the mystery thriller genre without going straight Stephen King. I absolutely loved the who done it aspect of this book and the very unexpected ending twist. This book kept me entertained from the beginning and I definitely want to read more of Turton’s books in 2022. Make sure to check out my blog post for this book to see my full review!

3. Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

A moving story that illustrates one families journey from Columbia to America. A family that is separated by deportation and what they do to be reunited once again. A reality for many people who have faced this and are facing it right now. What happens when the American Dream is actually a nightmare in disguise.

4. The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton

This was definitely not an easy book to read but it was probably one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a long time. To read about the experience that Anthony Ray Hinton went through and that many others do as well was incredibly powerful. Hinton does a great job of telling his story in a way that has you so filled with emotion you can’t help but cry. It’s a powerful autobiography that I think many people should read at some time in their life.

5. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

In my opinion this was one of the best debut novels of this year as well as one of the prettiest book covers I’ve ever seen. Sarah Penner is a very talented author and I can’t wait to see what else she comes out with in the coming years. The Lost Apothecary is a story that is split between current day and 1791 all revolving around one small bottle from an old apothecary in London, England. A great read for someone who may like just a little fantasy.

6. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

I’ve said this once and I’m sure I will be saying it again but I absolutely adore Kristin Hannah. The amount of research she does for all of her books always amazes me. Plus this wouldn’t be a top 10 book list if I didn’t include at least one historical fiction novel. The Nightingale is a great WWII that isn’t just another normal historical fiction novel. It’s a story of womanhood and sisterhood. A story for everyone.

7. Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie

If you’re looking for a book that is incredible difficult to read then look no further. I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into when I started this book and though I had to walk away from it multiple times, it was so worth it. A young women’s coming of age story in post WWII Japan and everything she went through to be accepted by her family. It is incredibly hard to read at certain points, but I would recommend this book to everyone if I could.

8. Educated by Tara Westover

I found myself enjoying this memoir quite a bit. Reading this was like a 180 from how I grew up and to think that Tara is only probably like 10 years older than me and this is how she was raised is crazy to think about. She was 17 the first time she stepped into a classroom and would later go and get her masters and doctorate. A story of a young girl taking her future in her own hands despite the consequences.

9. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman is one of those household name authors that I guarantee you have either read or heard of some of his books. Beartown, A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry are just some of his well known novels. Anxious People follows when eight strangers find themselves involved in a robbery gone wrong, they learn they have more in common than they originally thought. Learning to come together and accept forgiveness in the most trying of times.

10. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

A top 10 list would not be complete without a book by Alex Michaelides. Alex quickly became one of those authors for me that I am constantly tracking to see if he has a new book coming out soon and buying it as soon as humanly possible. His ability to throw the reader with those surprise endings has you wanting to reread the entire book to see if you missed any clues. I don’t want to claim favorites but this was by far my top book of 2021. It’s a jaw dropping thriller that I think anyone would enjoy if given the chance.

I wanted to thank all my readers for continuing to offer me support with this blog and continuing to read the different posts from this past year. 2021 was a year filled with travel, adventures and of course great books and I can’t wait to see what 2022 brings as well. Wishing you all a happy holidays and a happy new year!

Until Next Time,

The Library Abroad