It is so hard for me to decide my top 10 books of the year, I read a lot of amazing books. What I decided to do is share two lists one for books released in 2021 and one for older books I read this year. Today I am sharing my top 5 backlist books I read in 2021!
I am so happy I made the time to read backlist books (books published in 2020 or earlier). However, I didn’t read as many as I wanted to this year. I got very distracted by new books. In total I read 25 backlist books which was about 37% of the total books I read this year. I am hoping to read more backlist books in 2022!
5 – Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
Genre – Non-Fiction
Short Synopsis – An examination of the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.
My Thoughts – This is a must read! The book makes comparisons of the US caste system to the India caste system and Nazi Germany. While there were some concepts I was familiar with there’s so much to be learned from this book. This book helps you understand the why of so many of our systems and injustices that exist now (which is infuriating!). This book was so well written that it kept me engaged and I wanted to keep listening/learning. I really enjoyed the audiobook narration and definitely recommend that format for this one. Check out my full review here.
4 – It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Genre – Contemporary Fiction
Short Synopsis – I don’t know how to summarize what this book is about without spoiling it. Don’t read the synopsis just trust me and read it (but read trigger warnings if you are a sensitive reader).
My Thoughts – This book was amazing. This is the first Colleen Hoover book that I’ve read and I know it won’t be my last. I know so many people love her books and I can tell why. This book is partly based on her mom’s story (it’s still a work of fiction) which I didn’t know about until I finished the book and read the author’s note at the end (don’t skip that part!). I was sobbing when I finished this book. I thought the storytelling was great and I was so invested in the characters. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Check out my full review here.
3 – How to be Married by Jo Piazza
Genre – Non-Fiction
Short Synopsis – This is author Jo Piazza’s provocative memoir of a real first year of marriage that will forever change the way we look at matrimony. A travel editor constantly on the move, Jo journeys to twenty countries on five continents to figure out what modern marriage means. Throughout this stunning, funny, warm, and wise personal narrative, she gleans wisdom from matrilineal tribes women, French ladies who lunch, Orthodox Jewish moms, Swedish stay-at-home dads, polygamous warriors, and Dutch prostitutes.
My Thoughts – This book reads like Fiction! I loved it so much and can’t recommend it enough. So what is so special about this book you may ask? You’re probably thinking you don’t need to read a book to tell you how to be married. Well, let me tell you this is not a guide of how to be married but more of how people in different countries approach marriage and what the author learned travelling the world and as a newly married woman. I think of this book as a memoir and not a self help book. There are many things that I took away from this book and so many things that resonated with me. Also there were things people do or advice that she got that I questioned and definitely got me thinking. At the end of the day she’s not telling the reader how to be married or even saying she is the best person to provide advice. What I got from it was a raw and honest story with some perspectives of marriage from different point of views. Check out my full review here.
2 – Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie
Genre – Historical Fiction
Short Synopsis – A sweeping, heartrending coming-of-age novel about a young woman’s quest for acceptance in post–World War II Japan.
My Thoughts – This is honestly the perfect mix of beautiful writing, amazingly written characters and interesting plot. The book takes place over a few decades and a few different places, but it is mostly set in Japan. It is a heartbreaking story and one where yes there’s a lot of sad things that happen but it leaves you full of hope (at least the way I interpreted the ending). The main character Nori is one that I won’t forget. Check out my full review here.
1 – Olive by Emma Gannon
Genre – Contemporary Fiction
Short Synopsis – Moving, memorable and a mirror for every woman at a crossroads, OLIVE has a little bit of all of us. Told with great warmth and nostalgia, this is a modern tale about the obstacle course of adulthood, milestone decisions and the ‘taboo’ about choosing not to have children.
My Thoughts – Sometimes you read the right book at the right time. This is the perfect example of that for me. The story intrigued me from the beginning and all I wanted to do was listen to the audiobook. I hadn’t had that happen in a while and I’m glad I finally found this book. I enjoyed the author’s portrayal of the intricacies of friendships. These relationships are complex and not often given the same spotlight as romantic relationships by society. I related so much to Olive because I am currently in a very similar situation where my closest friends all of a sudden have children and I sometimes feel like our relationship is not the same. Reading this book gave me a sense of comfort that I needed at this time. Even thou it is a fictional story, I know I am not alone in feeling this way. Check out my full review here.
Are you surprised by the number 1 pick? Let me know in the comments what your favorite backlist book you read this year!
