Another year has come and gone, and it was filled with many, many good things to read and eat.
This year I read a total of 165 books, about 25 more than I did last year. That increase really surprised me, because I wasn’t trying to beat my record and I actually felt like I was spending the same or possibly less time reading as I did in 2020. Even if I’m not sure how it happened, I’m glad because that’s a lot of good books, though it does make it super hard to choose favorites!
I did manage to narrow it down, however, and have listed my top ten favorite books that I read in 2021 below, in no particular order. These are books that stuck out at me as I reviewed the list of completed titles from this year, either because I thought about them for a long time after reading, or because they provided a really immersive, enjoyable reading experience. You should also know that several of these books are part of a series, which means you get some bonus recommendations built in!
I also posted twelve new recipes in 2021, but none of them made it into the top five most viewed list. No, those recipes are tried and true favorites that have been hanging out online for a little while and picked up some traction through lots of shares. But maybe some of the baby recipes from this year will be on the list next year, who knows! And unlike the book list, the recipes are presented in order with the most viewed recipe is at the top of the list.
But that’s enough chit chat. Keep scrolling to get to the good stuff, the best recipes and books of 2021.
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Top 5 Most Popular Recipes in 2021:
- Easy Tres Leches Cake
- Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Power Balls
- Skinny Vanilla Chai Latte
- Spaghetti Macaroni
And here are all the recipes that I posted this year:
January – Roast Beef and Cheddar Barbecue Subs
February – Easy Stuffed Shells
March – Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Brownies
April – Cookies & Cream Frappe
May – Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
June – Funfetti Pancakes
July – Sheet Pan Chicken & Carrots
August – Cranberry Lemon Sweet Tea
September – Honey Soy Sauce Salmon
October – Copycat Outback Bread
November – Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
December – Easy Grilled Steak Kabobs
Top 10 Favorite Books:
This fast-paced suspense series had me looking for laundry to do so that I could keep listening. When Casey Cox is framed for murder, she knows she has no choice but to go on the run in a desperate attempt to save herself. Dylan Roberts is hired to catch her and bring her back — but the more he learns about the case, the more things don’t seem to add up.
Jody Hedlund is a big favorite for me in general, and I think she knocked it out of the park with her latest series. Come Back to Me is a dual-timeline novel that follows a scientist as she travels back in time to try to solve a mystery and save her father’s life. While in the Middle Ages she finds herself in a predicament with the most logical solution being a marriage of convenience to a brave, handsome knight. What’s not to love? The next book, Never Leave Me, is sitting on my shelf right this moment just begging to be picked up.
I wasn’t expecting to like this book because it sounds totally depressing, but I decided to give it a go since sooooo many people like it so much. Imagine my surprise when this became one of my favorites from the whole year! It’s so funny and loaded with science that is presented so that normal people can get what’s going on with this snarky astronaut trapped in space. It’s poignant and inspiring as Mark faces hurdle after hurdle all alone on another planet.
The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus
Spooky, but not too scary, I loved how the different parts of this story came together in an ending I was not at all expecting. This book is another dual-timeline tale revolving around a circus and a series of murders that are somehow related. There’s a baby elephant, two sweet romances, and a full cast of characters to fill out a really intriguing mystery.
Alina Starkov is just an orphan girl serving in Rave’s army, until she discovers she possesses a power that no one ever could have expected. She finds herself living in the palace and training under the Darkling, the leader of the magical Grisha. But things are not as they seem and the more she learns to control her gift, the more she understands the immense power and responsibility she now has. If you like great fantasy world-building then step into the Grishaverse and prepare to be immersed in a captivating story.
This book checked all my boxes. It’s kind of hard to nail down what genre it falls in, but it’s definitely YA with dystopian vibes and some fantasy elements. There is corruption, an epidemic, romance, and lots of action! It’s about Tessa, who smuggles stolen medicine to impoverished areas in the city, and Prince Corrick, who is the royal enforcer tasked with keeping his subjects in line. When the two cross paths it quickly becomes apparent that there is more to the political situation than meets the eye, and that their goals might be more aligned than they first appear.
When online influencer Molly learns she is being considered for a coveted TV show spot, her manager encourages her to adopt a community service project to boost her image. She applies to volunteer at a halfway home for young people who have graduated out of the foster system, but house director Silas isn’t convinced that she will be good for the program. He ultimately agrees to accept her help with the kids if she follows all his rules, whether she understands them or not. They butt heads frequently at first, but she soon begins to see that this opportunity is more than she could have ever expected and Silas learns that she is deeper than her beautiful face. The plot sounded a little predictable, so I put off reading it for a long time, but when so many people seemed to like it I decided to give it a try. It’s not predictable at all! Even when the thing you expect happens, it’s done so creatively that there are still surprises. I also thought the characters were so genuine and lovable, even when they make mistakes or misunderstand. Definitely a 5 star read for me!
I absolutely cannot pass by a marriage of convenience story, especially when it’s set in a contemporary storyline. Thayden has just found out that the conditions of his father’s will are that he must marry and stay married for at least a year in order to inherit the law practice he helped build. And he only has three months to do it. Delilah is out of money and has no prospects in sight, until Thayden hires her to care for his Great Dane and she gets wind of his predicament. Can they both live with a fake relationship that is so mutually beneficial? There is lots of humor and chemistry between this charming couple, and I couldn’t put this book down.
Yes, I did put two Andy Weir books on this list. Everyone and their brother has been raving about Project Hail Mary being one of the best books of 2021 and that is not an exaggeration! Just like with The Martian, there is humor and science and a really likable protagonist in outer space. When Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a space ship with no memory of how he got there, he must rely on his wits and slowly returning memories to keep him alive. With the help of an unexpected ally, he works to complete the world-saving mission that got him there in the first place. I really don’t know what I can say to truly describe this story, but it’s one that I think everyone should read.
Eden and her mute 5 year old son are running to stay one step ahead of their past, until a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer Harbor, Maine. Unable to leave and tired of running anyway, when an opportunity pops up to take a job caring for an older woman recovering from surgery, Eden decides to take it and make the best of things until they are able to move on. Beau can’t believe his luck in finding someone who seems kind, able, and willing to care for his grouchy aunt — even if she doesn’t have much to say about herself. But the more he gets to know her the more he suspects that she comes from a very dangerous situation, one that seems to have followed her to Summer Harbor. Will she allow him to protect her and maybe even let him guard her heart? I loved this story because Eden is so fierce and protective, and Beau is so willing to help, even when he’s not sure he should. It’s full of sweet moments, and it’s a great set up for the rest of the Summer Harbor series.
