Isn’t it true that your reading life can give hints into your ACTUAL life?!? Because 2021 started off on the heels of my mom’s passing, three weeks later my dad fell and broke his hip and then I was diagnosed with colon cancer just weeks after that. This all was held in the COVID pool of life. And when I look back to all of the books I read in 2022, they tell this tale and reflect my year as well. MANY rom coms and I also really dug into audio books this year during my drives up and back from Washington, or time on leave/in the hospital. I won’t wax poetic on too much more, but suffice it to say….here are some reflections:
First, I have moved over to Goodreads and LOVE it. Like so much in 2020, in 2021, I had to embrace technology even moreso, and found that Goodreads allowed for easy tracking. I also love the book visuals at the end of the year which I used below. Goodreads served as a wonderful way to get new book recommendations from authors I loved or friends.
Second, my book clubs were a bit of a tough slog/area of disappointment this year. I say that with 99.9% blame going to COVID and .1% due to my own challenges. Trying to hold book club via Zoom was better than nothing, but it fizzled out for us too. So many of us were spending all day, each day on Zoom, that committing to MORE zoom felt hard. Ultimately, I desperately missed the monthly ritual of meeting with both of my book clubs. One has restarted meeting in person and for that, I am so thankful! Hoping for more normalcy to come in 2022.
Last, I am learning to let go of reading goals. I see the value in setting a number goal and love to hit 100 (type A personality), but I really appreciated a recent message from my hero, Anne Bogel at Modern Mrs. Darcy. In a post earlier this month entitled, “You Don’t Need Another Reading Challenge“, she shared the reminders that this past year has been challenging enough and that we don’t need ANOTHER challenge or stress. I am taking these wise words to heart. I already negotiated for an 80% teaching contract this year, to give myself some margin. And in the same vein, I am applying that to my reading life in 2022. I plan to embrace the books I am excited to read, abandon those that don’t keep me engaged and work hard to instill a joy/love of reading with my third graders and my own two boys.
As for 2021, I am not going to categorize all of these into topics like I usually do. I just don’t have the stamina for that, but I will share a few favorites and am HAPPY to talk books anytime with anyone!
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Oh, Kristin Hannah. 9 months later, I still feel this book and the narrative in my bones. She creates such beauty of place and character. This took place during the Great Depression/Dust Bowl. And wowee. It is stunning. And disheartening. And gripping.
Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad. I had no idea how impacting this book would be for me. Listened on Audible and hearing Suleika narrate her own memoir was stunning. She crafted a memoir that shared about her cancer journey with vulnerability, truth and beauty and then pivoted into the “after”. Moving through her 100 day road trip and space to find herself and a new normal. It felt like an effortless read, but I know it was not effortless to write. I sat with so much of the narrative, feeling the same liminality between two “spaces”. I read this book while preparing to go back to school in person, while waiting on ctDNA results, attempting to make chemo decisions, a week before Matt started his three month sabbatical. I just loved this beautiful gem of a book.
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne. I think I needed this one when I read it…set in a luxury retirement community, it is a romance at heart, but I just attached to the characters and loved the ways their stories intertwined and developed.
Live Your Life by Amanda Kloots. I have been following Amanda online since her husband, Nick Cordero, contracted COVID early in the pandemic. This memoir was co-authored by her sister, Anna Kloots as well, and told the truth of their experience throughout the confusion, angst and pain of the COVID process. Amanda lost her husband in July of 2020. While much of the story unfolded on social media, this book laid it bare. Having lost my mom in 2020, while not from COVID, I still resonated so deeply with Amanda’s story, her experience in the hospital with medical workers and working through grief. Beautifully written.
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren. I was surprised by how much I loved this rom com. Christina Lauren is a two member writing team who cranks out books yearly and is no doubt well known to many romance enthusiasts. But the premise of this book was fun and unique. The main character hears about a new DNA-based matchmaking company. She ends up matching with the company’s founder with the highest level of compatibility on record and the match is put to the test.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. This book has had a lot of buzz so I am guessing the premise isn’t a surprise. I wasn’t sure I could stomach a book about losing one’s mother, but this powerful memoir focused on family, food, grief and moving through this loss was gripping. Even more powerful in that it unfolded in Eugene, Oregon. It’s not an easy read, but I truly believe should be on everyone’s list.
The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser. A bookshop. A romance. In Scotland. There isn’t much more to say, except this ticked all the boxes!
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon. This was a surprising favorite for me. Young Adult novel, romance, and dancing. But so much more. Nicola Yoon can write a tale with such depth and reality and take a lighter subject and interject depth too.
Homemade: A Story of Grief, Groceries, Showing Up—and What We Make When We Make Dinner by Liz Hauck. Liz Hauck shares the beautiful and hard story of bringing weekly cooking nights the the 14-18 year old boys at a community house in Boston. It share the deeper aspects of handling the grief journey after losing her father, whom she had hatched the cooking idea with prior to his passing. The narrative in this memoir is poignant, raw and real. A reminder of what can be shared around the table. The tough challenges of aging out of the system at 18 and how best to support kids in these traumatic situations. I can’t recommend this enough.
No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler. I was introduced to Kate Bowler earlier this year after sharing about a clerk who reminded me that, “everything happens for a reason”, after my mom’s death. I read Kate’s first book by the same name and then devoured this latest release. Kate is a fellow colon cancer survivor and I resonated so deeply with her memoir sharing the experience of her diagnosis and process, but even more about how to move forward with a life you didn’t choose. Stunning book and I highly recommend her phenomenal podcast as well.
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan. Patti Callahan is a gifted writer, creating narrative based on historical events. She already penned Becoming Mrs. Lewis about CS Lewis’ wife. But this book focused on the early life of CS Lewis.
HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by Elizabeth Holmes. This was a surprise favorite for me. Elizabeth Holmes is a MUST FOLLOW on instagram and this book was about so much more than royal style. I planned to just scan it and keep going. Nope. It was an in depth rabbit hole for me. So good.
A Promised Land by Barack Obama. I am sure many of you have read this one, but for me, listening to Barack read it on audio was key and I remember crying driving down I-5 listening to it. What a decent man with well intentioned leadership. Loved this one!
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. As I predicted back in January, this became one of my favorites of 2021. Matt Haig has mastered the art of a brilliant narrative. The story followed Nora as she tried on different life stories and while it is a “fantasy”, it managed to truly delve into our human conditions and hearts.
Serena Singh Flips the Script by Sonya Lalli. I have loved Sonya Lalli’s books in the past and scored this one on a Goodreads giveaway. Super fun read and perfect book to get lost in.
Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez. Abby Jimenez is just BEYOND the best. She engages with her reading fans so generously on instagram and has written a few more of my favorites, especially the Happy Ever After Playlist. Anyhow, she, like Lynn whom I share about below, arranged for an advanced reader copy of this new book and I devoured it in 5 hours during a tough week of planning for my colon cancer surgery. It was the biggest gift from Abby and the story is fantastic too. It has some sensitive triggers so just prepare before reading.
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter. Oh my. How do I even encapsulate this one????!!! This book was gifted to me in March, not publishing until May. Kerry Winfrey gave it the stamp of high approval, and so I reached out to Lynn and asked on a whim if I might be able to read an advanced reader copy. What followed was an unexpected message stream back and forth with her that truly met me during a hard time emotionally. And then the BOOK ITSELF???!! This is YA rom com at its best. All set with a lead character who loves curating playlists. Each chapter begins with an 80s song and a playlist even appears at the end. I loved loved loved this one and couldn’t stop thinking about it….even 9 months later. I messaged Lynn after and demanded it be made into a movie. I am sure she would be equally thrilled with this proposition too! Still love emailing and messaging with Lynn months later and truly can’t believe the encouragement she has been to me this year. Incidentally, she currently is doing an ongoing digital book where she sends out a chapter every week or two. And her next book comes out in 2022!












And….some books I am looking forward to in 2022:
Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi
Stuntboy: In the Meantime by Jason Reynolds
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist
American Royals III: Rivals by Katharine Mcgee
The No Show by Beth O’Leary
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
The Emma Project by Sonali Dev
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler & Jessica Ritchie
When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King
These Precious Days by Anne Patchett
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston