• About Jess and the Dogs
  • The Books I Write
  • Contact Me
Books and dogs

Books and Dogs

A blog about books and dogs

  • Book Blog
  • In The Stacks
  • About Jess and the Dogs
You are here: Home / Lists of Books to Read / My Top Five Favorite Books From 2021

My Top Five Favorite Books From 2021

Featured, Lists of Books to Read

five book covers illustrating my top five favorite books from 2021

Here it is: my top five favorite books from 2021.

Book One: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I think it’s safe to just say 2021 was the year I discovered Matt Haig and leave it at that.

The Midnight Library is a fantasy novel about Nora who is trapped between the living and the dead after a suicide attempt. She finds herself at the Midnight Library, a place where she can choose every iteration of life she might have lived.

Why I loved this book –

I identified far too much with Nora. Let’s face it – who wouldn’t want to see every life they might have lived? You must have made a decision somewhere in your life that you wonder what would have happened had you chosen something different. That’s this book.

I want to reread this book with a highlighter. It’s filled with nuggets that force you to realize an uncomfortable truth: You would choose your same life over and over again.

Book Two: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

I still haven’t recovered from The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.

Hannah’s world is turned upside down when her husband suddenly disappears amidst a stock scandal at his firm leaving her with a note that says two words: Protect her.

Why I loved this book –

This thriller forces you to ask yourself: what would I do if I were Hannah?

Hannah is suddenly forced to make a lot of choices that will change not only her life but the life of her stepdaughter because of a husband she’s only been married to for less than two years. What would you do, guys? WHAT. WOULD. YOU. DO.

And the answer will blow your freaking mind.

Book Three: A Lady in the Smoke by Karen Odden

A Lady in the Smoke by Karen Odden is a Victorian mystery, and the reason I chose this as a top five pick is because I have not seen such delicious writing in a long time.

Delicious, people. Delicious. That’s the only way I can think of to describe it.

Why I loved this book –

The characters. I’ve said it time and again on this blog. I like character-driven fiction, and this Victorian mystery novel is exactly why.

Lady Elisabeth Fraser finds herself in a perilous new world after surviving a disastrous train wreck. Thrown from the comforts of her titled world, she’ll discover the truth isn’t always what we think it is.

Odden is a master at character development, and she had me drooling from the first word. I needed to find out what happened to these characters. Needed. It felt so good to be invested in characters like that, and for that, A Lady in the Smoke is a top five pick for me.

Book Four: Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase

Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase reminded me why I fell in love with historical romance in the first place.

Daphne Pembroke hides behind her brother’s name to keep the secret of her scholarly ways. But when her brother is kidnapped by a rival seeking the same treasure Daphne hopes to uncover in Egypt, she’ll need to let someone else in on her secrets if she is to rescue her brother. And that someone just happens to be Rupert Carsington…

Why I loved this book –

Think The Mummy as a historical romance novel. Do I need to say more? The sweetness of the relationship between Daphne and Rupert was stunning and unexpected. This is what historical romance is about. Couple this with adventure and an unusual setting for historical romance, and you have the perfect recipe for a historical romance novel.

Book Five: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Yes, I finally read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen this year, and all I can think is what the heck was I waiting for?

I trust you know what Pride and Prejudice is about, dear reader, so let’s get to the heart of this.

Why I loved this book –

Mr. Darcy.

**Drops mic and walks out.**

There is a reason Austen endures. Her themes are timeless, her writing cutting and efficient, and her characters relatable. But the interaction between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy surpasses all else. If you struggle to read classic literature, I recommend trying audiobooks, especially performed ones when there is a cast of voice actors reading the book. A different format can often help someone enter a story they may have struggled with in the past.

Final Thoughts

2021 was an incredible reading year for me. I struggled in 2020 to focus because of the pandemic, but I came back strong this year by transitioning my reading. If you’re in a reading rut, it’s important to identify what you like and what you don’t as far as story elements. It’s not necessarily about the genre. Check out What Should I Read Next with Anne Bogel if you struggle with identifying these elements.

2021 saw me exploring the mystery and thriller fields and delving into some older historical romance novels I had missed at the time. It was a year of stretching my reading boundaries, and I can’t wait to continue this new reading journey in 2022.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Share
Pin1
Tweet
1 Shares

December 30, 2021 ·

Disclosure of Material Connection

Some of the links in the page above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Previous Post: « Self Development: Three Lessons From a Year of an Impromptu Book Club
Next Post: Book Discussion: Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center »

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to the blog about books and dogs.

I'm Jess and these are the dogs. Come on in, and let's find your next favorite read. Read More…

Browse by Category

Subscribe to Books & Dogs via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Search

Let’s connect.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Find Your New Favorite Author

a.g. riddle abby jimenez alex michaelides alex north beatriz williams camilla sten charlotte bronte christina lauren daisy prescott deanna raybourn diana gabaldon elle cosimano elly griffiths erica ridley j. ryan stradal jane austen jerry seinfeld joanna schaffhausen julia quinn karen odden karen white kate bateman katherine center kendra adachi laura dave laura zigman lauren willig liane moriarty lisa kleypas loretta chase lucy foley lynn kurland matt haig mike rowe nedra glover tawwab orson scott card rick riordan ruth ware sally thorne sarah maclean sarah pinborough shari lapena simone st. james teri wilson tessa dare
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Policy
  • Disclosures and Disclaimers
Have I mentioned this really hot sale of steamy hi Have I mentioned this really hot sale of steamy historical romance novels? Maybe once or twice? ⁣
⁣
Time is running out to save big and fill your ereaders with historical romances that are sure to keep you warm this winter. Check out the sale now by following the link in my bio!⁣
⁣
#historicalromance #romancebooks #books #reading #hothistoricalromance #ebook
I'm so glad I gave Not a Happy Family by Shari Lap I'm so glad I gave Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena a second chance. I had started it as an ebook and just couldn't get into it, but when I switched to audiobook, I was hooked. This is just another example of how changing a book's format may help the reader engage with the story. I definitely recommend this strategy if you're just not getting into a book you thought you might love.⁣
⁣
Not a Happy Family is a fantastic whodunit mystery with a delicious, unsavory cast that you can never trust. If you're looking for great, twisted mystery to curl up with, this might be for you. Check out the full discussion on the book blog. Link in my bio! ⁣
⁣
#whodunit #mystery #agathachristie #murdermystery #thrillers #psychologicalthriller #murdercase #cozymystery
Have you stopped by the Cold Nights, Hot Historica Have you stopped by the Cold Nights, Hot Historicals ebook sale yet? ⁣
⁣
You'll find When the Earl Falls in Love for only $0.99 for a very limited time in select markets. Get started on The Secret Matchmaker series before the next book in the series comes out next month!⁣
⁣
Link for the sale is in my bio!⁣
⁣
#secretmatchmaker #historicalromancenovels #romancenovels #amreadingromance #romancereaders #readers #readersofig #amreading #ebooksale #booksale #discountedbooks
FREE BOOK!⁣ ⁣ The Marquess She Loved is FREE f FREE BOOK!⁣
⁣
The Marquess She Loved is FREE for a very limited time! ⁣
⁣
She's loved him forever. But he only has eyes for someone else. But when fate throws them together, can they find their way to love?⁣
⁣
This is the second book in the Atwood Sisters series, and a friends to lovers historical romance. ⁣
⁣
Link is in my bio!⁣
⁣
#freebook #romancenovel #victorianromance #atwoodsisters #series #books #bookworm
Looking for some snowy reads to snuggle up with th Looking for some snowy reads to snuggle up with this winter?⁣
⁣
Definitely check out Ruth Ware's In a Dark Dark Wood. This is a locked room, Agatha Christie-type mystery of whodunit, and I love how Ware has constructed the story to unfold with the unreliable narrator in the present trying to remember the past. Brilliantly done to raise the stakes and ramp up the tension.⁣
⁣
Check out my full discussion at the link in my bio.⁣
⁣
#bookblog #mystery #thriller #bookstagrammer #booksta #booksanddogs #books #amreading #readers #mysterybooks #mysterynovels #thrillerbooks #suspense #agathachristie
Did you know my audiobooks are now on Spotify?⁣ Did you know my audiobooks are now on Spotify?⁣
⁣
Head on over and take a listen at the link in my bio!⁣
⁣
#audiobooks #dukes #romance #spotify #amlistening #audiobookstagram #wallflowers
It’s time to meet the Shadowing London series. It’s time to meet the Shadowing London series. 

This series remains a fan favorite, and it’s not hard to see why. Each story is full of the tropes you love, yes, but they’re also packed with mystery, adventure, and daring. If you’re looking for historical mystery with romantic elements, don’t miss the Shadowing London series.

#shadowinglondon #spies #spybooks #romancebooks #historicalromance #historicalmystery #mystery #thrillerbooks
Looking to warm up this winter? ⁣ ⁣ I've teame Looking to warm up this winter? ⁣
⁣
I've teamed up with some of your favorite historical romance authors to bring you Cold Nights, Hot Historicals. Check out this collection of discounted steamy historical romances and fill up your ereaders for those cold, winter nights!⁣
⁣
Link in bio!⁣
⁣
#historicalromance #booksale #ebooksale #ebooks #ereaders #kindle #nook #amreading #readers #readersofig #romancereaders
Here I am once again asking you to join my newslet Here I am once again asking you to join my newsletter. Here's why.⁣
⁣
1. You will be the first to know when something really cool happens like a pre-order, a sale, or behind the scenes things like pictures of my dogs napping. ⁣
2. Amazon only shows you my books that it thinks you'll like based on your purchasing history. It won't show you all of them. So to get the whole picture, you want to be a part of this club.⁣
3. I host incredible guest authors, and we have a lot of fun. Are you always looking for new authors to binge? You'll find them in my newsletter.⁣
4. Isn't 1-3 enough? I'm going to need far more coffee to come up with a fourth reason.⁣
⁣
Join today at the link in my bio.⁣
⁣
#authorlife #authors #authorsofig #writer #writerlife #amwriting #readers #readersrock #readersarecool #ilovereaders

Disclosure of Material Connection

Some of the links in the page above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

Books & Dogs is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and its affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 · Anchored Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in