Halfway through 2022 – decides to write this post. 2021 was probably my best year of reading I’ve had yet, completing 30 books which blows my mind (thank you, unemployment). Several books I would even throw in my top 5 best reads of life (nothing has topped the Kite Runner for me, however). Let’s dive into 2021’s greatest book hits, in chronological order!
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
by Robert Kiyosaki · 5/5
You’ll see a few Kiyosaki books throughout the 2021 book breakdown, and this one really kicked off my year onto an incredible note. My dad gifted me this book in January and I devoured it – so thought provoking, while making you consider every financial choice you’ve ever made. I highly recommend reading this if you are over corporate America (me, the last two years) and want to explore other ways to invest your money.
Olive Kitteridge
by Elizabeth Strout · 4/5
Initially, it was hard for me to get into this novel. Elizabeth’s style is very unique but gosh, once all the stories connected it was beautiful. There’s a reason it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize! Read if you like a large-than-life female protagonist.
Cashflow Quadrant
by robert kiyosaki · 5/5
Clearly I went down a business book rabbit hole in 2021. I loved Kiyosaki’s first book so much, I opted for his deeper dive into increasing your financial intelligence. Cashflow Quadrant really hones in on where you fall in the business world and ways to became financially free. I recommend reading ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ first to understand the fundamentals!
Such a Fun Age
by kylie reid · 4/5
Fantastic novel – somehow light but also insightful read regarding racial privilege, career, motherhood and an array other hard hitting topics. A black babysitting is accused of kidnapping a white child and the story is told from her side, as well as her employer (the mother of the child). Definitely worth a read if you’re looking for a good novel this year!
The ABC’s of Real Estate Investing
by Ken Mcelroy · 4/5
Another novel in the Kiyosaki series, nobody is surprised at this point. The subject matter of this book could feel really daunting, but Ken has a great way of explaining just how easy it is to get started with real estate investment at any stage in life. Ken McElroy also has an email list, which I have since signed up for! It’s a great starter book if you’re interested in real estate investment!
Outlawed
by anna north · 3.75/5
Gosh I love a western! This was one of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks so naturally I had to pick it up. I wasn’t jumping out of my seat to finish this one, but it was a cool take on the wild wild west if it were ran by a group of lady outlaws. It has the classic western details such as shootouts and robberies, but has a feminine arch as most of the women have been outcast for not being able to bear children. Super creative and fun!
The Richest Man in Babylon
by george clason · 3.75/5
Not my favorite of this year. Once again on my economic book quick, I picked up this classic. The book is incredibly short (less than 100 pages), but I seriously recommend reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad instead. The language is ancient, but does explain the principles of economics and growing your wealth in a story-telling kind of way.
Untamed
by Glennon doyle · 5/5
L-O-V-E-D. Glennon tells her life story and what she learned from each experience, but it really is such a refreshing take on self-help. Glennon began as a Christian wife and mother and discovers her journey in finding herself and her wife, Abbey. It was honestly one of my favorite books of last year, and I have loved deep diving into all things Glennon with her new podcast. I truly can’t wait to read what she puts out next!
Big Little Lies
by Liane Moriarty · 5/5
Full disclosure, I absolutely watched the HBO Show. This was SO DIFFERENT in the best way possible! I never say this, but it might have been better that I watched the show first before reading the book because I appreciate them both. At this point in the year, I hadn’t read a thriller and it did not disappoint. I wasn’t expecting to love it this much knowing the plot! Absolutely pick it up. Do it.
Crushing It!
by gary vaynerchuk · 4/5
Ok…initially I gave this a pretty ok rating when I read it last year, but I think about this book ALL the time. I’ve since followed Gary V on instagram and really love his style. The book breaks down how social media is a powerful tool for us to build our business, whatever that may be. Gary is so relatable and if you’re interested in building businesses outside of a 9-5, a worthy read!
The Orphan Train
by Christina baker kline · 5/5
One of my favorite books of last year! I’m a closet history buff (even though I sucked at it in school it’s fine), and loved learning more about the orphan train during the Great Depression. Although the story is fiction, the ending had me crying happy tears because you just know that there had to be similar stories out there. The characters are infectious, you’re rooting for Vivian throughout her life!
Fahrenheit 451
by ray bradbury · 3/5
A classic novel that really didn’t hit the mark for me. This dystopian story is a classic that you may have read in freshman english, and I really couldn’t get into it. Outlawed fireman essentially burn everything in sight, most notably books in a far off future. I found myself confused by the writing, and couldn’t bond with the characters. This book is also incredibly short, but lacked the hook of what a short novel desperately needs.
This Time Next Year
by Sophie cousens · 4/5
I was gifted this book and need something light and fun after dystopian mayhem. Minnie Cooper (aptly named) meets a cute guy on New Years Eve and the book takes you through her next year. It’s a classic rom com that takes place in the U.K., which I can totally see as a movie someday. I loved me a little romcom to break up my book selections.
The Woman in the Window
by A.J. Finn · 4/5
PUT DOWN THE NETFLIX REMOTE because this movie was horrible – thank GOD the book was so fun to read. Agoraphobic Anna witnesses a crime…or does she? This psychological thriller had a twist that I called at the very beginning (so a little predictable), but I really enjoyed the story and questioning yourself the entire time as to Anna’s mental state.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
by heather morris · 5/5
Hands down my favorite book of last year and will go down as a top 5 favorite. A true story about the man who tattooed the numbers onto prisoners held captive by the Nazis at Auschwitz, the book takes us through his journey of imprisonment with the sprinkle of a love story. Usually, World War II books are always a 5/5 and this one was no exception. I have recommended this book to so many friends and family and SURPRISE you’re next!
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo
by amy schumer · 4/5
I received this book as a gift from my mom a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. Amy’s movie Trainwreck had just came out upon publication so it was fun to read how far she’s come now. My favorite part of the book is that she openly roasts herself through her diary entries from her youth.
Summer Sisters
by Judy Blume · 4/5
Sometimes, I read a book a think “eh, that was alright” and then I take a few days to think about it and realize how good it was. This was one of those books. It reminded me a lot of the movie “Beaches” with a few more twists. If you had a ‘summer bestie’ this really hits home, and really hits hard into love & friendship.
How Starbucks Saved My Life
by Michael Gates Gill · 3.75/5
Author Michael works in corporate America his entire life until one day, he is fired out of the blue. Desperate for a job, he decides to work at Starbucks. The book was released in 2007, so society has changed quite a bit but really does hit on the socioeconomic struggles we still see today. He also talks about the java chip frappacino being INVENTED which blows my mind.
The Kissing Quotient
by helen hoang · 4/5
This book came recommended by a dear friend of mine and it did not disappoint. Stella hires an escort to teach her about everything romance and sex. However, Stella has autism, which really is at the forefront of the book and her narrative. It’s fun, but also touches on how it feels for autistic individuals to fall in love and be in specific situations. I learned a lot and loved the story line!
When Breath Becomes Air
by Paul Kalanithi · 5/5
Another top 5 book of 2021. My best friend lent me this book, which I proceeded to read in 48 hours. This is a true story about Paul Kalanithi, a surgeon whom suddenly is diagnosed with brain cancer. The story is beautiful, unsettling, unfinished – it’s so real to, well, life. A worthy read.
In Five Years
by Rebecca Serle · 4/5
Well…I wasn’t expecting it to so sad, but super well written. The main character goes to sleep the night of her engagement and wakes up and it is 5 years later. Her fiance, apartment, and life is no where near the same path. The book then takes you through the next 5 years, and it really is not what you expect.
The People We Meet on Vacation
by emily henry · 2/5
Woof…worst book of the year for me. The sad part is that it had all the makings of a “Kathryn” hit – travel, writing, romance…but gosh it was rough. The story was predictable and felt forced.
Verity
by colleen hoover · 5/5
Followed a book in the top 5. UNREAL. I think about this book once a month now, and the ending haunts me. Lowen is hired to ghost write for esteemed author Verity Crawford. That is all I’m saying…just go buy the book. My bestie recommended this book to me and it was insane. First Colleen Hoover book I read and it’s going to be hard to top!
The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah · 4/5
Kristin Hannah is my girl, but I haven’t found anything that tops ‘The Great Alone’ yet. However, this was pretty close! This story is about two sisters living different lives during World War II. Their struggles parallel in a beautiful way with an even more phenomenal ending (although mildly infuriating). I also read they are making this into a movie with Dakota and Elle Fanning and i’m already deeply obsessed.
Big Summer
by Jennifer weiner · 3/5
Just ok for me. The main character is a plus size influencer whose frenemy tries to enter back into her life. Enter a wedding and murder mystery I wasn’t expecting. Really slow in the first half of the book, but the ‘who dunnit’ really kept me reading until the very end.
The Opposite of Loneliness
by marina keegan · 4/5
Hauntingly beautiful is the best way to describe this novel of short essays by the late Marina Keegan. A few days after her graduation from Yale, Marina was killed in a car accident. As a promising future writer, her parents published her works of short essays and they’re incredible. One story specifically discusses a young person passing away, and it’s almost like she was writing her own history.
Truly Madly Guilty
by Liane Moriarty · 3/5
Sometimes I venture to my local used bookstore and purchase books not on my radar and this was one of them from last year. The story is an ode to her ‘Big Little Lies’ style (surrounding one incident from multiple perspectives), just not as enticing to me as her other novel.
The Five Love Languages
by Gary Chapman · 4/5
My fiancé had this sitting on his nightstand so I decided to give it a read. Really insightful! Gary discusses how understanding our partner’s love language is pivotal to making them feel loved and in return, having a healthy relationship. Really eye opening and in case you’re curious: I’m quality time and acts of service.
The Four Winds
by kristin hannah · 3/5
Kristin why did you do us like this! Not my favorite. Loved the historical piece of being during the Dust Bowl, but really slow, a romance that felt like it came out of nowhere, and a character development that also shifted without my noticing.
The Nickel Boys
by Colson Whitehead · 4/5
I had heard such great things about this book and was HYPED to read. The language was a little hard for me to get through, but the ending really made this a 4 for me. Based on a true story which I felt compelled to research after reading.
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