Reading is my absolute favourite thing to do. Whenever I have any spare time, I read. I’d much rather read than watch TV or spend time on the internet.
Unfortunately, life gets in the way and I don’t spend as much time reading as I would like, but I certainly read every day, even if it is only for a few minutes some days.
A book usually takes me seven to 10 days to read, but I’ve had books I’ve read in three days (all the Lisa Jewells) and books which have taken me over two weeks to read (the C J Sansoms).
I read a variety of genres in 2021 and discovered a new love of historical fiction.
I was really surprised to discover that I’d read 48 books in 2021, which is 10 more than I read in 2020.
- Beartown by Fredrik Backman
- American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
- The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante
- The Split by Sharon Bolton
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell
- Middle England by Jonathan Coe
- Marathon Mum by Rachel Brown
- All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle
- Happy Families by Julie Ma
- The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
- Dear Child by Romy Hausmann
- Grown Ups by Marian Keyes
- Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
- The Switch by Beth O’Leary
- Tall Bones by Anna Bailey
- Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce
- The Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor
- Many Different Kinds of Love by Michael Rosen
- Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton
- Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth
- The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
- Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Foundling by Stacey Halls
- The Kingdom by Jo Nesbo
- Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
- Home Stretch by Graham Norton
- Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
- The 24 Hour Cafe by Libby Page
- The Miseducation of Evie Epworth by Mawson Taylor
- The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club by Josie Lloyd
- More Than a Woman by Caitlin Moran
- The Appeal by Janice Hallett
- The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn
- Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
- The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn
- The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
- The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
- The Survivors by Jane Harper
- Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi
- Shadow Sands by Robert Bryndza
- Heartstone by C J Sansom
- Exit by Belinda Bauer
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
- Lamentation by C J Sansom
- The Girls by Lisa Jewell
- The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
- The Familiars by Stacey Halls
As ever, it was pretty difficult to choose my favourite reads of the year. The books I read in the first three months of the year are always at a disadvantage when it comes to me choosing my favourites, but somehow American Dirt really stayed with me.
So after careful consideration, my favourite reads of the year are:
- American Dirt
- Miss Benson’s Beetle
- Shuggie Bain
- The Appeal
- The Night She Disappeared
- Exit
What were your favourite reads of the year? Let me know in the comments below!
January 18, 2022
I’ve read only two books from your list, but bought quite a few, and they are on my TBR list. I wrote a post about my top reads of the last year, and if I had to choose just one book, Advent by Jane Fraser would be my top choice.
January 19, 2022
I haven’t heard of that one! I need to take a look at your post for more recommendations.
January 19, 2022
Quite a collection there! I’ve not read your favourites list so will have a look at some them. Thanks for sharing. Hope you enjoy more books again this year!
January 20, 2022
Thanks very much! I hope you will enjoy some of my favourites. I’m also hoping to read lots more good books this year.
January 20, 2022
Some great books there. I loved Richard Osman’s sequel more than his first book, but it would have been harder to enjoy without reading the first book and getting to know the characters. I do hope he writes more. I’ve also found a new love of historical novels like Stacey Halls. I have Hamnet and Shuggies Bairn on my TBR list this year.
January 23, 2022
I know Richard Osman has committed to another book for autumn 2022 and I suspect the series will run longer than that. I’m sure you will enjoy Hamnet. It’s not the tough literary read I imagined it to be.
Shuggie Bain is amazing, but quite disturbing and some of the dialect is quite tricky too. Thank you for recommending Stacey Halls to me!