The Best Books I Read in 2021
It’s been a wild year, but somehow I managed to read 27 books despite taking a long hiatus in the fall. I’m happy I made reading a priority in my life, and I’m hoping to do the same in 2022!
I love year-end listicles, so here’s my roundup of my favourite reads of 2021. If you’re looking for something new to dig into, these are the books I highly recommend.
💥 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid → This is my absolute favourite TJR book so far. She’s able to create complex characters that feel real and write stories that draw you in from beginning to end. I loved getting lost in the Hollywood scandals and figuring out how the lives of her characters intertwined. An excellent book to help you escape reality.
💥 Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee → Society is obsessed with overworking and as a result, we no longer know how to relax when we aren’t being “productive.” This book offers a much-needed perspective to anyone struggling with the idea of being idle, like me. This one really helped calm my anxiety, especially amid the pandemic.
💥 Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown → This was my first Brene Brown read and it won’t be my last. Although research heavy, this is an insightful book that reveals how our emotions impact ourselves and others and can help us build more meaningful connections. There were so many learnings here, but the section on grief really resonated with me. In the book, Brown quotes grief expert David Kessler, who gave this insight:
“What everyone has in common is that no matter how they grieve, they share a need for their grief to be witnessed. That doesn’t mean needing someone to try to lessen it or reframe it for them. The need is for someone to be fully present to the magnitude of their loss without trying to point out the silver lining.”
💥 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides → After seeing The Maidens pop up on bestseller lists, I started looking into the author and discovered The Silent Patient. Readers were raving about it, and luckily the book lived up to its hype. The premise had me hooked from the beginning. Essentially, famous painter Alicia Berenson shoots her husband five times in the face and never speaks again. If you’re looking for a page-turning book to help you escape reality for a day, this is it.
💥 Missing from the Village by Justin Ling → This important read revolves around Bruce McArthur, a man who targeted Toronto’s queer community and murdered eight men between 2010 and 2017. But this isn’t a true crime book. Instead, it focuses on the victims and society’s failings to keep them safe. The author is a journalist who actively investigated and reported on the cases of these missing and murdered men for years and thoughtfully demonstrates how police systems, homophobia and systemic racism all contributed to this tragedy.
💥 Seven Days in June by Tia Williams → This beautiful book is about two writers who fell in love as teens and reconnect again 15 years later. Although it’s marketed as a love story, the romance isn’t the only thing that will keep you interested. The characters themselves feel real with all their flaws and you will be invested in them until the very end. This is a quick and easy book that’s especially great for summer reading.
💥 They Called Us Enemy by George Takei → A graphic novel was the perfect medium for George Takei to tell his personal story of growing up in a U.S. internment camp during WWII. This book acknowledges an unpleasant part of U.S. history while touching on themes of racism, loyalty, and family. It was really eye-opening to hear Takei’s story and the bravery of his parents in the face of racism and injustice. A powerful read.
💥 Atomic Habits by James Clear → If you’re looking to quit bad habits and introduce good behaviours, this is an excellent place to start. This book clearly outlines how to recognize where your roadblocks are and how to build good habits in spite of them. Clear’s insights are useful, fascinating and mind-altering, especially his perspective on how habits shape your identity.
💥 Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga → This is a disturbing but eye-opening book about the tragic deaths of seven Indigenous youths in Thunder Bay, Ont. from 2000 to 2011. The book gives readers a better understanding of the lasting impact of residential schools on Indigenous communities, as well as the racism and ongoing challenges Indigenous people face. I’ll admit that I hadn’t read anything by an Indigenous author until this one, but I’m committed to educating myself about this dark part of Canada’s history and to reading more Indigenous authors.
Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and happy new year. Cheers to more reading in 2022! 📚🥂🎉
