2021 Wrapped

Books Read : 50

Books Purchased: 49

Pages Read : 16,067

This feels so odd to already be doing a 2021 wrapped? It literally does not feel like the end of the year, but here I am. This year was filled with a lot more rereading than I had imagined I would do. Some of it was comfort series and some was to read new installments in series. In the list I'll call out rereads in case you were curious. I would say I re-read about 4 series (two I am in the process of doing) so that I could/can read future installments. I am unfortunately not the type to be able to just read a new book cold. I like to binge the entire series all at once. This started when I first read The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken. I read the first one right when it came out then every new years read the predecessor before reading the new book. It was a fun holiday tradition for a couple of years. This post might seem a little long, but bear with me. I'll start with a full list of what I did read this year, then I'm going to call out some highlights below that! Some of the books either don't have posts...yet (I really am working on them and I've surprised myself with a bunch of surprise ones I've written). That being said they do have ratings which some fit into special categories and you'll see once you get there.
P.S. The photo below is me with our stock ticker in Colorado State's College of Business. Wanted to include it because I graduated this year and it's a fun little memory from the year.

* indicates a re-read
1. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
2. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
3.Vampire Academy (VA #1) by Richelle Mead*
4. Frostbite (VA #2) by Richelle Mead*
5. Shadow Kiss (VA #3) by Richelle Mead *
6. Blood Promise (VA #4) by Richelle Mead*
7. Spirit Bound (VA #5) by Richelle Mead*
8. The Last Sacrifice (VA #6) by Richelle Mead*
9. Life Before Legend by Marie Lu
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
11. A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1) by Sarah J. Maas*
12. A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas*
13. A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J. Maas*
14. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
15. A Court of Silver Flames (ACOTAR #4) by Sarah J. Maas*
16. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
17. From the First Verse by M. Robinson
18. 'Til the Last lyric by M. Robinson
19. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
20. Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber
21. Legendary (Caraval #2) by Stephanie Garber
22. Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight
23. Lords of Pain (The Royals of Forsyth U. #1) by Angel Lawson
24. The Flight Attendant by Chris Bojalian
25. The Princess Will Save  You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky #1) by Sarah Henning
26. Finale (Caraval #3) by Stephanie Garber
27. Lords of Wrath (The Royals of Forsyth U. #2) by Angel Lawson
28. Sugar Daddies by Jade West
29. Ace of Spades by Faridah Ábíké-Íyímídé
30. Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa
31. Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
32. Throne of Glass (ToG #1) by Sarah J. Maas*
33. Lovely, Dark and Deep by T.J. Tristan
34. Crown of Midnight (ToG #2) by Sarah J. Maas*
35. Heir of Fire (ToG #3) by Sarah J. Maas*
36. Queen of Shadows (ToG #4) by Sarah J. Maas*
37. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
38. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
39. Serpent & Dove (S&D #1) by Shelby Mahurin*
40. The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass*
41. Empire of Storms (ToG #5) by Sarah J. Maas*
42. Tower of Dawn (ToG #6) by Sarah J. Maas*
43. The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass*
44. The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass*
45. Ready Player One (RPO #1) by Ernest Cline
46. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
47. Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi*
48. The Queen (The Selection #0.4) by Kiera Cass
49. The Prince (The Selection #0.5) by Kiera Cass*
50. The Favorite (The Selection #2.4) by Kiera Cass

5 Star Reads (kind of in order it's tough)
1. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo -This one surprised me and I hated it at first and now look it's my favorite read of 2021... I really thought it was going to be too YA and I had just come off the heels of A Court of Silver Flames which was H.O.T. hot and that was hard to overcome at first, but then I got so invested and it's truly such an amazing book and I will definitely be re-reading it in the future.
2.The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - I don't need to explain this one iykyk
3. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas - I like ToG more than ACOTAR...Plus the clever plot in this one is hands down one of my favorite plots in any book. SJM is a master and when the big reveal happens it's like...?????
4. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas - Don't fight me on this placement
5. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas - ROWAN
6. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead - I still remember reading this for the first time and it's just as good
7. The One by Kiera Cass - I'm sensing a theme that I like end books, but I do love Maxon and America. This whole series is such a quick read and it really is a "low stakes" romance that doesn't really ever have you on your toes, cue Twilight. However, you cannot tell me this is not one of the most magnificent lines in a YA book "Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you life. It was only ever yours to break anyway."
8. Finale by Stephanie Garber - I cannot say the same for the whole series, but this one got me and you have to read the other two to read this one soooo..

Honorable Mentions
These ones didn't get my 5 star rating, but that doesn't mean I don't love the book. There's little things that can, in my ratings bring the book down because I try to be objective there so these are close to the mark and or just books I loved this year. (in no particular order)
1. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead - 4.5 stars
2.These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong - The setting, the represenation, the retelling, the writing overall I love this book. I recommend it to everyone I meet.
3. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle - I sobbed. Like ugly girl crying sobbed. The beginning and the ending and the parallels ugh so good. Probably one of my favorite books of all time, but it only got 4 stars hence why it's here and not to your left.
​4. Ace of Spaces by Faridah Ábíké-Íyímídé - Great story and compelling as hell message
5. Lovely, Dark and Deep by T.J. Tristan - I feel honored to have read an original draft and cannot wait to see what the future holds not only for the book, but for the author as well.
6. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas - I didn't want to like Nesta, but I do. I've never wanted to date a bat boy more (UGH CASSIAN). And yes I read this in the park while on a picnic with my roommates.
7. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas - What can I say...I love Aelin.
8. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - The amount of 80's geeking I did...I watched War Games, Tron and like 4 other movies referenced in the book shortly after finishing it.

Now time for categorical winners and then I promise you're done!

Best Writing
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
Best Representation
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Best Novella
How the King of Elfhame Learned to hate Stories by Holly Black - I lowkey don't like The Cruel Prince series. I do not understand the hype, but this book made me like Cardan and on top of that has inspired me to give the series a second chance.
Best Smut
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas - Cassian and Nesta are lowkey, but high key freaky and SJM really said here is your adult book you grown adults reading YA.
Honorable Mentions
-Lords of Pain by Angel Lawson
-Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight
-Empire of Storms
-ACOMAF
Shortest Book
Life Before Legend by Marie Lu - 36 pages
Longest Book
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas - 716 pages
Best Audiobook
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Okay that's really all I can think of. I hope you enjoyed following my reading journey throughout the year. I'm excited for the new year to come and to continue to run cheers and keep reading alongside all the wonderful people I've gotten to meet and connect with since starting this blog.