Happy (belated) new year everyone! And welcome to my first post of 2022, where I’ll be talking about the best books I read in 2021.

I read 62 books in 2021, which is perhaps the most I’ve ever read in a year. A lot of them were good, some of them were disappointing, but a select few were extraordinary.

I’ve been wanting to recap some of my favorite titles and recommend them to you, so here we are.

While I bought plenty of paperbacks and secondhand books, I also read a lot of e-books, which is why getting a Kindle remains one of the best decisions I’ve made. And that’s not an exaggeration! I only own the physical copies of less than half of those 62 books.

9 Best Books I Read in 2021

I explored quite a lot of genres last year, and so my round-up today includes everything from memoirs and literary fiction to mystery, rom-com, and fantasy!

The following list is in no particular order, though if I had to pick the three best books I read in 2021, it would have to be Beartown, The Dutch House, and The Burning God.

In the Dream House

A unique memoir depicting an abusive relationship, written in the most enchanting experimental form.

What’s it about? In the Dream House chronicles the vicious cycle of an abusive relationship in a thoughtful and innovative form. Each “chapter” recounts the relationship through lenses of various pop culture and literary works. From Star Trek to classic fairy tales, this entire book is a testament to Machado’s wit as a writer and strength as a human being.

I read this for one of my last modules in university and never would’ve discovered it otherwise, but man am I glad I did. We picked it apart and there are just so many brilliant things to talk about. It’s a masterful narrative that encapsulates the complicated reality of abuse in a same-sex relationship. It’s safe to say that this is one of the most powerful and well-written memoirs I’ve ever read.

Memorable Quote: “We deserve to have our wrongdoing represented as much as our heroism, because when we refuse wrongdoing as a possibility for a group of people, we refuse their humanity.”

Anxious People

A one-of-a-kind tale about a strange robbery and the hostages that unexpectedly bond, elegantly interlaced with humor.

What’s it about? Anxious People is a hostage drama about an open house gone wrong and the eight anxious, poignantly human strangers involved. It’s a story about the idiots we all are, about love and loss, marriage and growing old, children and parents, and every little thing in between. A short paragraph won’t do this novel justice; I can only say that anyone who identifies as human needs to read this book.

2021 was a glorious reading year for me, if only because I’d discovered Fredrik Backmann. Anxious People made me laugh and cry out loud, which is rare for a book. The prose is simple, but captivatingly so. It explores so many facets of life, from suicide attempts and stock markets to capitalism and the complexities of being a parent. Even writing about this now makes me want to reread it again.

Memorable Quote: “It was a long story. All stories are, when it comes down to it, if you tell them from the start.”

Beartown

A contemporary sports fiction dealing with the hopes and secrets that can build and tear apart a small community.

What’s it about? Beartown explores what happens when a small town has a big dream, and the price that certain people have to pay to fulfill it. It follows a group of characters in a hockey town that’s fighting to win nationals while tackling serious themes like trauma, hope, violence, and friendship. But this book tells its stories from more than one point of view, which makes you empathize even with the characters you know you should hate.

Let me say that Backmann is now officially one of my favorite authors, and Beartown is another masterpiece that you simply gotta read. The writing style is enchanting and the use of repetition throughout the narrative is truly brilliant. Hands-down a remarkable piece of contemporary literature. The sequel, Us Against You, also made it to my five-star shelf and is another one of the best books I read in 2021.

Memorable Quote: “We love winners, even though they’re very rarely particularly likeable people. They’re almost always obsessive and selfish and inconsiderate. That doesn’t matter. We forgive them. We like them while they’re winning.”

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

A phenomenal historical romance where a Hollywood movie icon divulges the saga of her tangled love life.

What’s it about? In The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, the eponymous protagonist is an eminent actress with a notorious history of divorce and marriage. She chooses an obscure magazine reporter to write her biography, which surprises everyone. What follows is a fascinating tale of ambition, friendship, and forbidden love, as well as the tragic revelation of how the two unlikely pair is connected.

I’m easily skeptical of hyped-up books and often read them expecting a huge flaw or red flag of some kind. But I knew right away that picking up this book hadn’t been a mistake. Reid has a penchant for creating memorable characters and portraying human relationships in such a raw and relatable way, and she has managed to weave both poignancy and intrigue in this page-turner.

Memorable Quote: “When you’re given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn’t give things, you take things.”

Beach Read

A quintessential contemporary romance that is wildly optimistic and uplifting, for anyone who needs to smile.

What’s it about? Beach Read is about two writers stuck in a rut who have decided to swap genres. Romance writer January will attempt to produce the next Great American Novel, while literary author Augustus has to write something happy. Throw in a history of college rivalry, childhood trauma, purse-wine drinking, and cult research, and you’ve got the perfect beach read.

I love rom-coms; it’s just that I don’t normally find them mind-blowingly good that I get the need to rave about them. Beach Read is an exception because I couldn’t stop smiling and feeling all sorts of butterflies when reading it. It’s a sweet and heartwarming novel for every book lover and writer out there.

Memorable Quote: “If you think the story has a sad ending, it’s because it’s not over yet.”

The Dutch House

A historical fiction about a dysfunctional family and the past that haunts two siblings well into adulthood.

What’s it about? The Dutch House follows Danny Conroy and sister Maeve through five decades. It’s a tale of two siblings who lead supposedly happy lives but are still haunted by their past. Interweaving the past and present with atmospheric descriptions of the childhood house they can’t seem to escape, this is a story that tests the relationship of an indulged brother and his protective sister.

This is a truly well-written book with apt portrayals of real emotions and the nature of human relationships. There are so many things I loved about The Dutch House, from the simplest yet most beautiful phrases to the thematic aspect and recurring motifs. One thing that stood out to me was the idea of the House being both the one unchanging constant and catalyst for everything that its inhabitant go through.

Memorable Quote: “We had made a fetish out of our misfortune, fallen in love with it.”

Big Little Lies

A mystery thriller that encapsulates the surprisngly dark facets of domestic life.

What’s it about? Big Little Lies is a clever domestic mystery thriller that explores everything from domestic violence to schoolyard bullying, putting the complexities of marriage and adult friendship under a microscope. On the surface we see three mothers tackling life as their kids start kindergarten, but as the chapters unfold, we get to peel back so many layers beneath the stereotypical drama of parental cliques.

This was the first book I read by Liane Moriarty that convinced me to read the rest of her works, and remains my absolute favorite. The narrative alternates between a present-day police investigation following a death on a school trivia night and the months leading up to it. There’s always a question that keeps you turning the pages: Who’s dead? Was it murder? How was so-and-so involved? Was it because of this incident, or that?

Memorable Quote: “Did anyone really know their child? Your child was a little stranger, constantly changing, disappearing and reintroducing himself to you. New personality traits could appear overnight.”

The Burning God

An epic military fantasy inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century.

What’s it about? The finale in The Poppy War trilogy, The Burning God picks up right after Rin has saved her nation and been left for dead. This gem of a book bursts with action, brutal honesty, violence, and wonderful character growth. It unashamedly pulls on your heartstrings and brings the epic rollercoaster of Rin’s journey to a nice end.

High fantasy series can often take a while to draw you in, but that’s not the case with The Poppy War and its sequels. Kuang’s writing is both gripping and immersive. And I truly could not wish for a better ending to the trilogy than The Burning God. What stuck out to me was definitely the psychological battle that the characters faced, and I thought that the ending was beautifully done. I may have shed a tear or two.

Memorable Quote: “War didn’t end, not so cleanly – it just kept building up in little hurts that piled on one another until they exploded afresh into raw new wounds.”

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

A powerful literature raising the issue of mysogyny in the twentieth century and is still highly relevant today.

What’s it about? If you’ve never read the blurb to Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, I suggest you do so right now. It’s extremely gripping and conveys a strong urgency that compels you to pick it up. The premise is about a woman who comes down with a strange condition where she takes on the personality of other women, and this book is her life story as recounted by the psychiatrist she’s seeing.

Cho Nam-Joo’s debut novel is not an uplifting rainy-day read. It forces you to acknowledge how messed up gender inequality was in South Korea just a few decades ago. It’s the kind of book that will make you angry. Plus, the footnotes and citations of real-life sources are a reminder that this is fiction based on reality. I seriously believe this will prevail as one of the most important pieces of feminist literature in this century.

Memorable Quote: “Just as putting the care of your child in another’s hands doesn’t mean you don’t love your child, quitting and looking after your child doesn’t mean you have no passion for your career.”

What Am I Reading in 2022?

Since graduating from uni, I’ve been making more and more time for reading. While I don’t have a certain number I want to hit this year, I’d like to just discover more good books and explore new genres. Especially Asian Literature and Indonesian books. Also: more non-fiction, including business books, biographies, and memoirs.

I’d also love to explore more “classic” poetry this year. Maybe I’ll get a poetry collection book at some point and spend some time with each poem, just to indulge my inner literature nerd.

Quick Update: What Am I Writing in 2022?

Speaking of books and reading, I wanted to quickly mention my writing goals for 2022. I’ve been working on a personal project for several months now, which is still progressing (albeit super slowly). All I can say is that it’s a lighthearted romance and that I intend to see it through, no matter how long it takes to get to “The End”. I’m done with half-finishing writing projects and having zero completed piece.

In terms of annual writing challenges, I’m doing NaPoWriMo in April and Flash Fiction Month in July, both of which are usually hosted over on DeviantArt.

Until then, stay tuned for more exciting blog posts! The goal is to write more book reviews and travel content.

What are the best books you read in 2021? And is there anything you’d like to see on my blog? Let me know in the comments below!