Best Books of 2021
It is finally time to give you our list of the best books of 2021. Jackie and I spent a long time discussing which books would make the list this year. We are confident that these books are not only well-written but will keep you turning the pages!
It was a crazy year with delays in publishing, delays in shipping, closures, and pandemics. The one thing that didn’t suffer was the amazing creativity of the writers who found a way to transport us, enlighten us, and entertain us throughout a year of uncertainty.
This year, the best books of 2021 are categories. So, whether you like thrillers, YA, historical fiction, or fantasy, you will be able to find a book you love.
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
We Are Not Like Them
Author: Jo Piazza and Christine Pride
Year: 2021
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: October 2021 Good Morning America Book Club Pick
Age Range: 14+
Plot
A contemporary fiction book set in Philadelphia! This is the story of 2 local girls, who have been best friends since childhood. Riley is a black woman living her dreams of being a reporter, while Jen is a pregnant white woman married to a cop.
Their friendship is put to the test when Jen’s husband kills an innocent black boy while in pursuit of a thief and Riley is the lead reporter covering the case.
Told from the perspective of both women, this gripping story covers systemic racism in the police force while dealing with the nuances of navigating a bi-racial friendship. If you are looking for powerful books about friendship, this is one that will make you think.
Trigger Warnings
Police Brutality
Why Kirsten loves it
This doozy of a book was enthralling and thought-provoking. I knew it was a perfect book for book clubs from the very first chapter.
Why Jackie loves it
This book had me thinking long after I finished the last page. The characters were rich and believable and the plotline was realistic as well which is what make it so compelling to read.
Find this book in: Good Morning America Book Club List / Books About Friendship/ Best Books for Book Clubs / Best Books of 2021
The Very Nice Box
Author: Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman
Year: 2021
Genre: Romance/ Thriller
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The quirky personality of Ava, the protagonist in The Very Nice Box, is reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant. Being inside Ava’s unique brain was a real treat.
Ava works as an engineer at a furniture company similar to Ikea. She has the same routine every day and is rather isolated socially until Mat Putnam bursts into her life.
As her backstory unfolds, this book goes from romance to thriller in the most delightful way. One of the most original vacation books of 2021. It’s a must-read for laughs and suspense and is a perfect pick for books like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is one of the most original vacation books of 2021. It’s a must-read for laughs and suspense and is a perfect pick for anyone who loves Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Find this book in: Books Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine / Books With Neurodivergent Characters / Best Books of 2021
Under the Southern Sky
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Year: 2021
Genre: Fiction
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This book starts with a woman whose marriage is ending and a widower dealing trying to move on. Amelia and Parker are childhood friends and she discovers that the embryos he froze with his deceased wife, Greer, have been deemed abandoned. She now has to tell Parker or he risks losing the last thing he has from his wife.
Despite being devastated from the loss three years prior, he is determined to find a surrogate and become a single dad. Amelia is determined to support him. Their mothers, on the other hand, are determined to get them together.
The story is set in Palm Beach and Cape Carolina, with a touch of NYC. Some of the scenes gave me such Dawson’s Creek vibes too!!
Trigger Warnings
Loss of a spouse, infertility
Why Kirsten loves it
This southern beach read is a total summer must-read. It’s uplifting and poignant and had me laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time.
Why Jackie loves it
There is so much to love about this story. Harvey’s characters are so real, I feel as if I know them. The story is emotional on so many levels- happy and sad. If you have not picked up this gem, its a must.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Best Beach Reads of All Time
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Author: Elyssa Friedland
Year: 2021
Genre: Fiction
More info: A Good Morning America Buzz Pick, A Best Beach Read of 2021 from Bustle, A Best Summer Read of 2021 from PopSugar
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel is all about 2 families who own a resort in the Catskills and are thinking of selling or overhauling the Golden. This is the ultimate in family drama books.
Three generations of the Goldmans and Weismann clans have gathered to make the decision and family secrets are unspooling left and right in the midst of goat yoga, comedy shows, and salon catastrophes.
Why Kirsten loves it
It was a pleasure to read it while staying at the Hyatt on the Chesapeake and experiencing some resort life of my own.
Why Jackie loves it
This book had an amazing cast of characters that made me laugh out loud. I loved the dynamics of the family as they navigated to changes that come after the heydays of family resorts
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Best Books for Book Clubs / Summer Camp Books / Books With Colors in the Title
Best Literary Fiction Books of 2021
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Author: Anthony Doerr
Year: 2021
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: National Book Award Finalist
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I don’t know how to begin to describe this book. This is NOTHING like All The Light We Cannot See and yet, I absolutely loved it. It is part historical fiction, part sci-fi, and absolutely amazing.
The book is set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, Five hundred years later in a library in Idaho and in a spaceship traveling to a new planet sometime in the near future. Even while trying to describe this book, it does not seem to go together and yet, the story of Cloud Cuckoo Land (a story within the Novel) acts as the glue that brings the characters together. The result is an amazing sci-fi book with a very powerful message.
This is not an easy read but is well worth it.
Trigger Warnings
War, school shooting
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this unique sci-fi historical fiction novel. The story within the story was woven perfectly throughout. I think people will either LOVE this book or hate it. But the mark of a good book is one that will be remembered and talked about.
Find this book in: Nonlinear Narrative Novels / 20 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time / The Best Audiobooks of All Time / Books about Libraries / Best Books of 2021
Hell of a Book
Author: Jason Mott
Year: 2021
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: July 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 15+
Plot
There are so many layers to this book that is a book about a fictional author and his book “Hell of a Book”. I can see why Jenna chose this book as her July 2021 pick.
The novel tells the story of Soot- a young black boy in a rural town. As we hear the story of Soot we also have the author talking to “The Kid”, a young black boy who may or may not be invisible.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, police brutality, child death
Why Jackie loves it
The description of the book does not do it justice. It is a powerful and poignant commentary on family, children, and the lengths that parents will go to to protect their children. This book is haunting.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Ultimate List of Contemporary Fiction
Black Buck
Author: Mateo Askaripour
Year: 2021
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: January 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Darren is 22 years old and happy working at Starbucks until he is approached by Rhett Daniels, the head of an NYC startup. Suddenly, Darren has created a persona of “Buck” and is determined to help other young people of color become prominent figures in the American sales force.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, death of a parent
Why Kirsten loves it
This book has a Wolf of Wall Street portion that had me picturing Leo screaming on the trading room floor. This contemporary fiction was both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Why Jackie loves it
Black Buck was everything I thought it would be and more! At times this book reminded me of the subtle racism in Such a Fun Age but it was also reminiscent of the systemic racism in The Nickel Boys.
Find this book in: Contemporary Fiction / Books with Colors in the Title / Best Books of 2021
Best Historical Fiction
The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois
Author: Honorèe Fanonne Jeffers
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: August 2021 Oprah’s Book Club Pick
National Book Critics Circle AwardWinner, 2021
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Wow. This is one of the best books I’ve listened to this year, and yes, I recommend it on audio for a few reasons.
First, the different narrators help tell this dual-timeline contemporary fiction. Through one narrator, we learn about Ailey’s life as an African American woman in the 20th century. The other narrator tells the story of the female ancestors of Ailey’s going all the way back to her Indigenous, black, and white relatives from two centuries earlier.
Through Ailey and her ancestors, the weight of what it means to be a black woman in America means. The sacrifices, injustices, struggles, and harassment endured by Ailey and her kin in the present day and the past are explored with a depth so real, I forgot it was a fictional story at times.
The second reason this book is great on audio? It’s LONG. It clocks in at over 800 pages or almost 30 hours of audiobook time. The narrators sucked me in and those 30 hrs flew by.
Trigger Warnings
Rape, slavery, incest
Why Kirsten loves it
I will say, this book made me consider my White Privilege in a way no non-fiction book could have. It’s a heavy story, but very worth the read and a great book for book clubs. The audiobook was fantastic and the 30 hours of story sucked me in.
Find this book in: Oprah’s Book Club List / The Best Celebrity Book Clubs / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Best Books of 2021
Plot
This is an incredible novel about the women of Smith College who went to help French war victims on the war front. The band of 15 women in this novel is based on the 18 real-life heroes of Smith College.
These ladies started from scratch to help those ravaged by war only to have the war come back and destroy the lands around them again. But they never faltered in their quest to help the war-torn villages of women and children impacted by the war.
The book gives a well-rounded feeling of what these women needed to do to save the lands and the people and is an emotional pick from books about friends.
Why Kirsten loves it
This historical fiction is based on real events and had me captivated from the first page. I love the bravery and camaraderie of these amazing women.
Why Jackie loves it
The role of women is so often overlooked and so this story about the women of Smith College was enlightening. I loved the characters and the story, but the fact that it was based on real events of WWI made it even better.
Find this book in: Friendship Books / Books About Sisters and Sisterhood / Books Set in France / Best Book Club Books / WWI Books / Ultimate Beach Reads 2021 / Best Books of 2021
The Rose Code
Author: Kate Quinn
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of The Alice Network
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
While the main portion of this story features 3 code breakers at Bletchley during WWII, one of the main characters is dating Prince Philip. You know, the same Prince Philip who eventually marries the queen?
It’s a dual-timeline story and one of those storylines is set against the backdrop of Philip’s wedding to QE2.
Trigger Warnings
Death, child death, forced institutionalization
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a Kate Quinn royal novel, so the writing and story are both top-notch.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Mystery Books / WWII Books / Royal Reads / Books With Color in the Title / Best Books of 2021 / Books With Flowers in the Title
Haven Point
Author: Virginia Hume
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This book is about four generations of the Demarest family. It focuses on the great-grandmother, grandmother (Maren, 1944), mother (Annie, 1970, and daughter (Skye, 2008) as they spend their summers in the waspy coastal town. Secrets unfold, loves bloom and fade, and the ties that bond are explored.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a wonderful beach read with heart, I hope you take a chance and get swept away too. It’s one of the best family saga books I’ve ever read.
Why Jackie loves it
What a wonderful read. I truly can’t explain how much this book swept me away to Haven Point. This is a family saga with a heart that you will not want to miss.
Find this book in: Family Saga Books / Best Beach Reads
Best Thrillers Books of 2021
Plot
Mariana is a therapist who is still grieving the loss of her husband when she gets a call from her niece, Zoe. Zoe’s best friend Tara is missing and Zoe is afraid something has happened to her. When women start dying at Cambridge, Mariana gets deeply involved as she tries to solve the mystery.
Why Jackie loves it
What an amazing thriller. Alex Michaelides did it again! This secret society book was insane with twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat and my heart beating a little faster!
Adaptation Information
A series adaptation is in the works for this best-seller with Miramax.
Find this book in: Dark Academia Books / Creepy Halloween Thrillers / Books Becoming TV Shows / Serial Killer Books / Books Set in College / Best Books of 2021
The Push
Author: Ashley Audrain
Year: 2021
Genre: Thriller
More info: January 2021 GMA Book Club Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is a domestic noir that will scare the pants off most mothers. It’s compulsively readable.
Blythe Conner comes from a long line of bad mothers, but she’s determined not to be one. When she has Violet, she struggles to connect with her.
The reader is left wondering if Blythe is a mother who sees the worst in her child or if there is actually something off with Violet; something that even her husband can’t see. There is a reason this domestic thriller was chosen by GMA, it is a crazy good read and will have you on the edge of your seat.
Trigger Warnings
Child death, mental illness
Why Kirsten loves it
This was a crazy domestic thriller that was a compulsive read. I could not put it down. I was never sure if Blythe had become like the bad mothers before her or if Violet was mentally ill. The constant questioning had me turning the pages.
Find this book in: Books About Mothers and Motherhood / Psychological Thriller Books / Domestic Noir Books / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Best Books of 2021
Best Mystery Books of 2021
We Begin at the End
Author: Chris Witaker
Year: 2021
Genre: Mystery
More info: Winner of the Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel from the Crime Writers’ Association (UK), Winner of the Best International Crime Fiction from the Australian Crime Writers Association, An Instant New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:
Plot
Duchess Day Radley is 13 years old and extremely protective of her five-year-old brother and often acts as a parent to her own mother, Star. Walk is the town chief of police and has never forgiven himself for giving testimony that sent his best friend Vincent to jail for thirty years.
Now, Vincent is out of Jail and Starr is murdered. This is a story about family and found family.
Why Jackie loves it
I was not prepared for the emotional punch that this book delivered with each and every page. This is such a wonderfully written book.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Books about Mental Illness & Mental Health
The Last Thing He Told Me
Author: Laura Dave
Year: 2021
Genre: Mystery
More info: May 2021 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I raved about this book when I read it earlier this month! Well-chosen, Reese! The story of a stepmother and her daughter as they try to find the girl’s father after his abrupt departure. Owen Michaels gives his wife a note that says “protect her” before disappearing without a trace.
Hannah and Michael have been married for only a year and now Hannah must become everything to 16-year-old Bailey. As Hannah and Bailey search for Micheal, there are more questions than answers. Why was Michale’s boss arrested? Why is the FBI at their house?
Why Jackie loves it
This mystery has so much heart as you see Hannah bond with and try to protect her new stepdaughter, Bailey. I did not see the ending of this book coming, but absolutely adored it. This is one of the mystery books that will keep you turning the page.
Find this book in: Domestic Noir / Books About Mothers / Ultimate Mysteries / Best Beach Reads / Best Books of 2021 / Popular Thriller Books
Best Fantasy Books of 2021
Under the Whispering Door
Author: T.J Klune
Year: 2021
Genre: Fantasy
More info: New York Times Bestseller, Locus Awards Top Ten Finalist for Fantasy Novel
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Wallace is dead. When the reaper collects him at his funeral and brings him to a strange tea shop, Hugo is waiting with the promise of helping him cross over.
Wallace is not happy to be dead which is not surprising considering he was never happy when he was alive. This light fantasy will make you smile until the last page.
Why Jackie loves it
How many stars can I give? T.J. Klune has done it again with the wonderful book. House on the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book last year. I read this paranormal book in a day and loved every minute of this wonderful family drama book that is truly about found family. The character development feels real as Wallace finds himself and discovers what life is all about.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Best Family Drama Books / Best Ghost Books / Best Fall Books
Dreams Lie Beneath
Author: Rebecca Ross
Year: 2021
Genre: Fantasy
More info:
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I adored this stand-alone YA fantasy novel in which local wardens are responsible for recording dreams and later fighting the same dreams when they appear on the night of the new moon.
Clementine is training to be a warden under her father, but he loses his post, and she swears revenge on the challengers. While plotting her revenge, she also seeks to overturn the curse that is haunting the entire kingdom.
Why Kirsten loves it
The plot and the characters are so much fun, it was hard to put this book down.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of YA Fantasy / Best Books of 2021
A Thousand Ships
Author: Natalie Haynes
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fantasy
More info: Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
I loved this take on the traditional Greek stories surrounding the Trojan War. They are all told by the women in the mythology which is certainly a perspective that doesn’t get much play. From Amazonian warriors to Queens like Penelope, each of the famous female figures in Greek mythology gets their own moment in the son in this epic tale.
Why Kirsten loves it
Penelope’s chapters in particular had me laughing out loud. I highly recommend this classic retelling to Greek mythology lovers and lovers of adult fantasy books.
Find this book in: Greek Mythology Retellings / Classic Book Retellings / Best Books of 2021
Best Romance Books of 2021
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Author: Emily Henry
Year: 2021
Genre: Romance
More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range:18+
Plot
Do you believe Harry (from When Harry Met Sally) when he said “Women and men can’t be friends”?
We are sure think he’s wrong, but one of our favorite tropes is friends to lovers. People We Met on Vacation is the latest beach read from Emily Henry and it’s addicting.
Poppy has been best friends with Alex since a car ride home from college a decade ago. Since then, they’ve gone on vacation together every year until 2 years ago when it all came crashing down.
Will they recover their friendship with one more trip or will their relationship be irrevocably ruined? This is the perfect beach, poolside read, or vacation read. You should be sure to add it to your summer reading romance books list. And if you are looking for the best friends-to-lovers romance novel, this is it.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best friends to lovers romances I have read. I love the way Emily Henry’s books. The stories are so relatable and utterly charming
Adaptation Information
Tom Blythe and Emily Bader are set to star in the Netflix movie adaptation. Sarah Catherine Hook, Lukas Gage, Lucien Laviscount, and Jameela Jamil have also joined the cast.
Find this book in: Friends to Lovers Romance Books / Books Like People We Meet on Vacation / Books Becoming Movies / Ultimate Beach Reads 2021 / Emily Henry Books Ranked
Dial A for Aunties
Author: Jessie Q Sutano
Year: 2021
Genre: mystery romance
More info: Aunties Book 1 of 3
NPR’s Best Books of 2021
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Meddelin Chen has an amazing, meddling Chinese-Indonesian family. Meddelin and her four Aunts run a wedding business together. When Meddelin accidentally kills her date and he ends up in a cooler at a wedding with two thousand people, what can go wrong? Did I mention that the wedding also happens to be at a hotel where her ex-boyfriend and love works?
Netflix is adapting this comedy of errors and if it is anything like the book, it will be amazing too.
Trigger Warnings
Murder, Car accident, Assault
Why Jackie loves it
I heard great things about this romantic comedy/ murder mystery mashup. It sounds like the weirdest combo, right? This book had me laughing out loud. The characters are flawed which makes them even more loveable, and the absolute chaos is hilarious.
Find this book in: Family Drama Books / Best Beach Reads / Best Books of 2021
Highland Games
Author: Evie Alexander
Year: 2021
Genre: Romance
More info: Kinloch Series Book 1 of 6
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
gushed about this on Instagram, but I’m gonna gush about it again here too. I love a good Scottish romance, which long-term readers know because of our books like Outlander.
This one has Zoe deciding to pack up her London life and move into the rustic, decrepit cabin on a castle estate her uncle left for her when he died. The problem is Rory, the castle’s caretaker, wanted the cabin for himself.
Rory starts messing with Zoe to get her to leave Scotland, but when he realizes he needs her help, sparks fly in this grumpy sunshine romance. This is the first in a new series of books set in Scotland about Rory and Zoe and their Scottish hometown.
Why Kirsten loves it
It was charming, funny, STEAMY, and heartwarming. I personally can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Books About Scotland / Books Like Outlander / Grumpy Sunshine Trope
Best YA Books of 2021
Firekeeper’s Daughter
Author: Angeline Boulley
Year: 2021
Genre: YA Fiction
More info: Fall 2021 YA Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, Firekeeper’s Daughter #1
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I have not read many books where the central characters are Indigenous American
While this is characterized as
Trigger Warnings
Drug Abuse
Why Jackie loves it
I did not know much about the Ojibwe culture before reading this book; the little bits about traditions and spirituality were fascinating. Each added more depth to the story and I could not put it down. The narration was wonderful and added to the story. #gifted by Macmillan Audio
Adaptation Information
President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, purchased the rights to this book via their production company, Higher Ground Productions. It’s scheduled to become a TV series on Netflix.
Find this book in: Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Books About Mental Illness / Fun Books for Teens / Books Becoming TV Series / Best Books of 2021
Plot
Hello Dark Academia. Centered around Devon and Chiamaka, the only black students at an elite private school, this is one wild thriller. After being chosen by prefects on the first day of their senior year, Devon and Chiamaka quickly become the targets of the mysterious Aces – a dangerous gossip girl-type character out to ruin their lives.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I was on pins and needles as this thriller unraveled, addressing systemic racism in private institutions in the process.
Find this book in: Books Set in High School / Dark Academia Novels / Stalker Books / Psychological Thriller Books / Fun Books for Teens / Best Books of 2021
Expert Tip
How do Jackie and I narrow down our picks for the best of the year? With great difficulty! There are a number of criteria that we talk about when choosing the best books of the year. This includes
- The plot: is this something new or a great plot that we have seen before?
- The writing: is this a book in which the writing is powerful, smart, and clearly above par?
- The characters: are the characters rich, multifaceted, and original or are they fun and predictable?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best books of 2021?
The books on this list are the best books of 2021. They are well-written, unputdownable, and unlike anything that Jackie or I have read. It is hard to narrow down the list but, the top 5 of 202o are (in no particular order):
1. Love Song of W.E.B Dubois by Honoree Fanzine Jeffers
2. Under the Whispering Door by T.J Klune
3. We Begin at the End by Chris Whittaker
4. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Derr
5. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Epilogue:
What was your favorite book of 2021?
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