It is time to find out the best books of 2021! A lot of us readers use similar tools to find good books as well as highly-rated ones. I know I would be lost on the popular trends for books without social media. But mainly, I like to use Goodreads. If you have never heard of it before, Goodreads is a website about books. If you are looking for a synopsis or to see which books are newly released, that’s where you’ll find it.
I know that lots of people use this website to research their books (myself included). So it only makes sense that Goodreads would know which books are the most popular at the end of the year. They have been doing a Choice Award competition for books for 13 years now! They have readers vote on which books have been their favourites over the year. Here are the best books of 2021 according to Goodreads:
Fiction: Beautiful World, Where Are You? By Sally Rooney
This year’s best fiction book (as voted by the people) is Beautiful World, Where Are You? By Sally Rooney. It involves two friends, Alice and Eileen. Alice, a novelist, meets Felix and invites him to Rome whereas Eileen reunites with Simon, a childhood friend, after a break-up.
The novel brings up topics of sex, friendship, work, and more. Sally Rooney has created another great story!
If you are interested in the top-rated fiction book of 2021, check it out here!
Mystery/Thriller: The Last Thing He Told Me By Laura Dave
The Last Thing He Told Me is about a woman named Hannah Hall whose new husband, Owen Michaels, goes missing after leaving her a note to “protect her”. Hannah is tasked with taking care of her new step-daughter, Bailey. As people get arrested and FBI agents come to investigate, Hannah and Bailey realize that Owen might not be who he says he is. The two women set out to find out his true identity.
If you love mystery, this book is for you!
Historical Fiction: Malibu Rising By Taylor Jenkins Reid
In Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Nina Rivas is throwing her annual party along with her equally famous family members. The party leads to secrets and loves bubbling up from the past. By the next morning, the mansion is burned to the ground. One night changed all of their lives forever.
The people have voted and Malibu rising is the winner in the category of historical fiction. If this is your genre of choice, check out the book now!
Fantasy: A Court of Silver Flames By Sarah J. Maas
You might already know that Sarah J. Maas is one of my favourite authors, but as it turns out, she is a favourite author to lots of people. Her books have been winning titles in the Goodreads’ Choice Award for years. This year is no different!
A Court of Silver Flames is a spin-off from A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTR) following Nesta Archeron, the sister to Feyre. Nesta and Cassian have had a rocky connection from the start but they also have undeniable chemistry.
I don’t want to spoil ACOTR, so I won’t reveal any other details. But if you loved the original series, you’ll have a hard time not loving this book too! Get it now!
Romance: People We Meet On Vacation By Emily Henry
Poppy and Alex are unlikely friends; Poppy is fun-loving whereas Alex is more of a homebody. After a car ride home together from college, they became best friends. They had been taking a vacation together every year for the past decade until two years ago when everything went wrong. Poppy decides to try it again and Alex agrees. She has a week to fix everything.
This book has become so popular in the last few months. If you are looking for a great beachy read to escape with, look no further!
Science Fiction: Project Hail Mary By Andy Weir
Ryland Grace is on a mission to save humanity; however, he doesn’t remember. He woke up alone, far from home on a ship with two dead crewmates. As his memory slowly returns, he needs to figure out how to solve the mystery and prevent the extinction of the human race.
Andy Weir has created another great novel! The readers agreed that Project Hail Mary is the science fiction book of the year!
Horror: The Final Girl Support Group By Grady Hendrix
The Final Girl Support Group centers around Lynnette Tarkington and five other final girls, women who have survived their own massacres. They get together in a support group with a therapist to overcome their experiences. But when one girl doesn’t show up, they find out that someone knows about the group and is out to get them. These girls aren’t the kind to give up!
This book has been compared to slasher movies. Scary movies and books aren’t for me, but apparently, horror book lovers think this book is amazing! Check it out!
Humour: Broken By Jenny Lawson
Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson follows Jenny through her mental health journey. She adds a lot of funny anecdotes and stories along the way. Lawson lets you into her life and her hilarious thought process.
Sometimes we all need a little bit of honesty when it comes to depression and anxiety. And humour makes it easier to understand. Check out this amazing book here!
Nonfiction: The Anthropocene Review By John Green
You might know John Green from his other novels: The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down, etc. But John Green also has a scientific side to him.
The Anthropocene Reviewed is a collection of essays based on his podcast. He talks about humans and how we have reshaped the earth and its biodiversity. He talks about how the planet is human-centred. Really, he explains why we should love the planet.
This collection of essays is exactly what you need. Read it now!
Memoir/Autobiography: Crying in H Mart By Michelle Zauner
Michelle Zauner is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter but she is more than that. She tells the story of her life from her childhood (growing up as a Korean American) to how she forged her identity. Zauner tells us how she came to be who she is today.
Crying in H Mart is a great book for your entertainment! Sometimes we could all use a little insight into someone else’s life.
History/Biography: Empire of Pain By Patrick Radden Keefe
Sometimes the best books of 2021 are popular because they are based on facts and true stories. Real-life is a popular subject.
Empire of Pain follows the three brothers of the Sackler Family. Arthur started manufacturing Valium and selling it to the public. He ran his company with his brothers: Raymond and Mortimer. Their fortune started here. 40 years later, Raymond’s son Richard uses the template for Valium to create OxyContin. When people start to die from the drug, the family empire starts to fall.
According to the Choice Awards, this book will be a great read!
Graphic Novels/Comics: Lore Olympus: Volume One By Rachel Smythe
I first came across Lore Olympus on Webtoon (an app for artists to show off their comics). It is so popular on the app that it is no surprise that it became a book!
Lore Olympus is a retelling of the tale of Persephone and Hades. Persephone enters the glamourous life of the gods after a sheltered childhood. She meets Hades and feels a spark. She must now navigate the politics and relationships that come with getting involved in this new world and its ruler.
If you love Greek mythology, you’ll love this book. The graphics are beautiful and the story is enchanting! Read it now!
Poetry: The Hill We Climb By Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman performed her poem, The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country, at President Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration.
If you are patriotic (and live in the United States), I am sure this poem would be a beautiful one to add to your collection. That might be why so many people liked it but it might also be the beauty of the poem. You’ll have to check it out to see!
Debut Novel: The Spanish Love Deception By Elena Armas
Catalina told her family she would bring her boyfriend to her sister’s wedding. The only problem is that she doesn’t have a boyfriend. The only person she can get to go along with her lie is her annoying co-worker Aaron. But pretending to date might just lead to more.
Who doesn’t love a good romance book? And according to the Choice Awards, The Spanish Love Deception is a really good one. So read it now!
Young Adult Fiction: Firekeeper’s Daughter By Angeline Boulley
Firekeeper’s Daughter introduces an Anishnaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) named Daunis Fontaine who has dreams of going to college. But when tragedy strikes, she has to stay at home to take care of her mother. She falls for Jamie, a new recruit on her brother’s hockey team, but he might be hiding something, which is revealed when she witnesses a murder. She ends up in an FBI investigation for a new drug. But as the deaths keep growing, she must learn the truth and protect her family and community.
The story is suspenseful and powerful. No wonder it’s one of the best books of 2021!
Young Adult Fantasy: Rule of Wolves By Leigh Bardugo
Rules of Wolves is the second book in the King of Scars duology. In this book, we find ourselves back in the Grishaverse. Nikolai Lantsov (the king), Zoya Nazyalensky (the general), and Nina Zenik (the spy) must work together to forge the future or their nation will be destroyed. (No spoilers!)
According to the Goodreads’ Choice Award, the second book in the duology does not disappoint!
Middle Grade/Children’s: Daughter of the Deep By Rick Riordan
It is not surprising to find Rick Riordan on this list. He seems to have figured out the template for great children’s books!
In Daughter of the Deep, we meet Ana Dakkar, a student at the Harding-Pencroft Academy where they teach underwater and naval subjects. On her way to her trial at sea, she and her classmates witness a tragedy. She learns that the rival school, Land Institute, is at a war with her school. Ana must become a leader and discover her heritage to save herself and her friends.
You can never go wrong with a book by Rick Riordan and the readers on the internet agree!
With the year coming to a close, it is time to find out which books were the most popular over the year. Lucky for us, Goodreads’ Choice Awards revealed which books are the best books of 2021. Goodreads has always been a great tool for readers and telling us the best books of 2021 is just the cherry on top. The books this year are amazing! Check them out now! Let me know what your favourite books of 2021 are in the comments.
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