Our Favourite Books of 2021

It’s been another strange ‘ole year, but one thing never changes, and that’s the need for an end of year wrap up of the best books we’ve read over the last 12 months. 

There have been some excellent reading months and some non-existent ones, some amazing books and some...less amazing books. With the first year of our bookclub #BookClubbers under our belt, our first full year of ‘Books, Burgers and Backpacks’ and a whole slew of new projects coming in 2022, we’ve read widely and adventurously in 2021 so we’ve got a real mix of books to gush about right here. 

We set no limits, no minimums, no genre selections, just the books that made our hearts sing in 2021.

So here we go, Sophie and Sarah’s favourite books of the year 2021!

Sophie

‘Any Way the Wind Blows’ by Rainbow Rowell

Simon must decide whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages -- and if he doesn't, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? 

What a ride this series has been. I adore it. I’m so sad to leave these guys behind, but they got a heck of an ending. I devoured it.

‘All Our Hidden Gifts’ by Caroline O’Donoghue

Maeve’s strangely astute tarot readings make her the talk of the school, until a classmate draws a chilling and unfamiliar card—and then disappears.

My favourite #BookClubbers read of the year! I was totally swept up in the magic and mysticism of it all.

‘Fence: Disarmed’ by Sarah Rees Brennan

The boys of Kings Row are off to a training camp in Europe! Surrounded impressive scenery and even more impressive European fencing teams, underdog Nicholas can't help but feel out of place. 

This is a gloriously fun, swoony and campy series and I hope the books just keep on coming.

‘A Court of Silver Flames’ by Sarah J Maas

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since the war with Hybern, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits.

I’m an unashamed SJM fan so I was really, really excited for this chunky, chunky book and I was rewarded with her spiciest scenes, her deepest character development and a brilliantly compelling read.

‘Last One at the Party’ by Bethany Clift

It's November 2023. The human race has been wiped out by the 6DM virus (Six Days Maximum - the longest you've got before your body destroys itself). The end of the world as we know it.

I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to read this because it was so visceral and close to the bone, but Cliff’s writing is so strong and so distinct that I kept going, and I’m really glad I did. It’s a special book and I’m looking forward to more from Clift.

‘Kate Daniels’ series by Ilona Andrews

One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Kate Daniels is a mercenary who takes out the creatures spawned by the magic.

I have devoured all 10 books in this series in 2021 and I adore them and the characters. It’s become a comfort world for me and I was so sad to leave it behind after ‘Magic Triumphs’, but luckily there are lots more Ilona Andrews books to enjoy.

‘Outlawed’ by Anna North

“In the year of our Lord 1894, I became an outlaw.” It is every woman's duty to have a child, to replace those that were lost in the Great Flu. And after a year of marriage and no pregnancy, Ada is outlawed.

I’m not the biggest fan of historical fiction and I’ve never been drawn to Westerns, but it surprised me. It’s a short book, but it’s rich with atmosphere and setting, and discussions around motherhood, womanhood and the right to choose.

‘The Galaxy, and the Ground Within’ by Becky Chambers

If deep space is a highway, Gora is just your average truck stop. At the Five-Hop One-Stop, long-haul spacers can stretch their legs (if they have legs, that is), and get fuel, transit permits, and assorted supplies. 

Beautiful, soft, human and so real, just like the rest of this remarkable series, even though it’s set in space. Absolutely stunning as expected and I’m so sad this series is over.

‘Small Pleasures’ by Clare Chambers

When a young Swiss woman, Gretchen Tilbury, contacts the paper to claim that her daughter is the result of a virgin birth, it is down to Jean to discover whether she is a miracle or a fraud.

This is a beautiful, extraordinary novel of longing and duty, of love and found family, of the ways in which women are burden by duties of care and social decorum at the sacrifice of their own freedom and happiness.

‘Project Hail Mary’ by Andy Weir

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission - and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Andy Weir is masterful at funny space operas with genuine heart and a healthy dose of death-dying adventure. With ‘Project Hail Mary’ he also threw in first contact and I ate it up. It’s nearly 500 pages long and yet I wanted more from Grace and Rocky.

‘Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow’ by Jessica Townsend

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks - and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

Love, love, love. This series is pure magic, joy and adventure, along with a sprinkling of friendship and found family. I hope there are many, many more books to come.

Honourable Mentions

I’d also like to shout out ‘The Maidens’ by Alex Michaelides, ‘Mrs Death Misses Death’ by Salena Godden, the ‘Night Huntress’ series by Jeaniene Frost and ‘Becoming Mila’ by Estelle Maskame.

Sarah

‘Winterkeep’ by Kristin Cashore

Something is rotten in the heart of Winterkeep...

Four years after Bitterblue left off, a new land has been discovered to the east: Torla; and the closest nation to Monsea is Winterkeep. Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the sky in ships attached to balloons.

This was the first book I read in 2021 and I was utterly absorbed by it. If you have read the ‘Graceling’ series then you know. It was so good to be back in that world. 

‘The Theater of War: What Ancient Greek Tragedies Can Teach Us Today’ by Bryan Doerries

The Theatre of War is a passionate, humane, and purposeful book that shows how suffering and healing are part of an eternally replicable process, and argues that the great tragedies of the Greeks can still light a clear path forward through contemporary society’s most tangled issues.

 I have a real soft spot for Ancient Greek plays. To be completely honest and upfront, the first pull towards this book was that it was narrated on audible by Adam Driver. I’m actually really glad it was because his dramatic readings of the… dramatic readings… was phenomenal. A really poignant and interesting book.

‘Tiny Moons’ by Nina Mingya Powles

Tiny Moons is a collection of essays about food and belonging. Nina Mingya Powles journeys between Wellington, Kota Kinabalu and Shanghai, tracing the constants in her life: eating and cooking, and the dishes that have come to define her.

My mouth waters whenever I think about this book. It was such a short but immersive experience. I will never forget it.

‘Six of Crows’ by Leigh Bardugo 

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone.

Need I say more? It’s Bardugo, baby. I think I bought this book when it came out… Heh.

‘Madam’ by Phoebe Wynne

A darkly feminist, modern gothic tale pitched against a haunting backdrop, and populated by an electrifying cast of heroines.

A slow burn of a read, it took a while for me to “get it” but once I did… Oh my, oh my. This book took me by surprise, and I am seldom shocked. There’s a turning point, one very obvious switch and I had pick up my jaw when I got there. 

‘Dark and Shallow Lies’ by Ginny Myers Sain

A teen girl disappears from her small town deep in the bayou, where magic festers beneath the surface of the swamp like water rot, in this chilling debut supernatural thriller for fans of Natasha Preston, Karen McManus, and Rory Power.

YA is still my bread and butter. If it’s a bit dark and plays with a more psychological supernatural vibe then count me in a hundred times over. This reminded me of some of my all time favourite YA reads while still being something fresh and exciting. Loved it.

‘Iron Widow’ by Xiran Jay Zhao

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

This book might be at the bottom of this list but if I was putting these in order of rank rather than date read then it would be at the top. I love this book. It’s got everything I need in a fantasy and everything I love about the genre while also making new. It took my breath away.

Honourable Mentions

‘Winter in Sokcho’ by Elisa Shua Dusapin, ‘My Sister the Serial Killer’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite, ‘One Last Stop’ by Casey McQuiston.

There we have it! The best BBB books of 2021, in our humble opinions. We’d love to know what made your favourites list, if you enjoyed any of our favourites and what you’re looking forward to in 2022.

If you wanted to buy your own copies of any of these books, then consider using bookshop.org. Yes, we are affiliated with them so we do get something out of it, but by making your bookish purchases through them you’re also supporting local bookshops.

Happy New Year!

Written by Sophie and Sarah