We did it! Or I guess I did it…I completed my GoodReads 2021 Book Challenge. I first downloaded GoodReads at the beginning of 2020. Surprisingly enough, I did not complete my 2020 Book Challenge, but I definitely developed a huge reading bag last winter and started listening to audiobooks like crazy. You can imagine my surprise when I finished my 2021 Book Challenge 5 months early!? Go Kim! I’d like to thank my book club and the Libby App. I wanted to give a short recap of every book I read in the challenge and also tell you to follow me on GoodReads! If you want more detailed reviews of these books, that is where you will find it.
You’ll quickly find out that most of these are ‘enemies to lovers’ romance books. I used to think that was my favorite trope, but recently I’ve determined that I read a lot of those books just because BookTok recommends them. A. LOT. But there is a pretty good variety of genres in this list, which I’m proud of myself for. I listened to most of these via audiobook which is probably why I finished my challenge so early. But it still counts!
- The Wife Between Us: Did not see those twists coming! Not as dramatic as I thought it would be but I love a good thriller every once in a while. 3.5/5 stars.
- The Hating Game: I LOVE THIS BOOK! I would love to reread it.This is the book that got me hooked on romance books and all those recs on bookTok. 5/5 stars.
- My Cousin Rachel: I read this via audiobook because someone said it was like “The Last Great American Dynasty”. It wasn’t. Still kind of entertaining but I kept feeling like I needed to read it for an English class. I did love the voice of the guy reading it. 2.5/5 stars.
- Red White and Royal Blue: It took me so long to finish this because it was a physical book but it was so worth it! I already want to reread it. I absolutely agree with the hype. 5/5 stars.
- The Silent Patient: Read this for book club. Very quick read. Very obviously written by a man. I liked the twist but felt this book could have been much longer. 4/5 stars.
- The Last Mrs. Parrish: Very similar to “The Wife Between Us” but better! I love pettiness. I love a good twist. 5/5 stars.
- The Proposal: Listened to this via audiobook. I honestly forget how it ends but the beginning was certainly entertaining. 2.5/5 stars.
- Beach Read: So cute! I read this on Libby on my phone right before I got COVID and I could not put it down! I would reread it just because I forget a lot of what happened but I know I enjoyed it. And I cried a bit. 4.5/5 stars.
- It Ends With Us: I don’t know what I expected with this book, but it wasn’t this! I cried. I was so upset. I still think about this book. I wanted an epilogue the size of a dictionary. I will definitely read more Colleen Hoover books. 5/5 stars.
- The Wife Upstairs: I would love to read more books like this! Love a modern twist on a classic. 5/5 stars.
- The Ex Talk: Another enemies to lovers romance book. I thought it was so cute. I listened via audiobook and it was adorable. 4/5 stars.
- This Time Next Year: The way I FLEW through this book. Could not put it down. I highly recommend. 5/5 stars.
- The Worst Best Man: A very cute audiobook! I enjoyed the entire thing. Very light and fluffy read, and a good spicy scene here and there. Definitely my favorite of these books I listened to in the bunch. 4.5/5 stars.
- New Moon: I started reading this last fall after I finished “Midnight Sun”. A lovely re-read but that also just means I need to read the rest of the series. Ugh.
- You Deserve Each Other: I loved this book but I was also very confused by this book. The main character was so scatter brained and it was very interestingly told from her perspective. Loved the ending. 4.5/5 stars.
- Shipped: Are you seeing a theme of “enemies to lovers” books in this list? Interesting way these two started hating each other and I don’t really remember the ending but it was a nice book to read. 3/5 stars.
- The Kiss Quotient: I have not read a book about a neurodivergent main character in… I think ever! Very interesting. I had a lot of secondhand embarrassment from this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 4/5 stars.
- The Guest List: Another bookclub book! I read this in 3 days and finished 5 minutes before the book club. I guessed halfway through who the victim was, but I did not expect the murderer! Plus, there were a ton of interesting twists. 3.5/5 stars.
- One to Watch: This book was sitting on my kindle for months! I do not like reality shows but I’m glad I read this book. There were a ton of ‘a ha!’ moments about life but I forgot to write them down. 4/5 stars.
- The Comeback: I was so anxious this entire book! So much secondhand embarrassment. Was very unsettling even with a ‘winning’ ending, but I think that was the point. 3.5/5 stars.
- The Unhoneymooners: Wrapping up this list with another ‘enemies to lovers’ book. When I started listening to this, I fully expected it to be like “Shipped” but it was better! 4/5 stars.
Confession: these are NOT the only books I’ve read this year. Back in June, I got Kindle Unlimited and started reading some of the ~spicy~ Booktok recs that are constantly on my feed. As of today, I have read… 20 romance books since June that are not on this list. AND BOY ARE THEY SPICY. I keep a note in my phone rating the spice level and overall book enjoyment. If anyone is interested in hearing my recommendations, HMU. I have not decided yet it I’m going to put all those books on GoodReads yet.
Have you read any of these books this year? Comment below your favorite!
Thanks for reading! xx