By Caroline Russomanno|2022-05-25T20:03:24-04:00May 24th, 2022|Categories: Best of List, Romance reading|Tags: AAPI heritage month, AoC, https://allaboutromance.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=114311&action=edit#, PoC|0 Comments
Best of the Best of 2021
Every year, after we’ve run all our individual “Best of” lists, we ask each reviewer to choose their ONE favourite book of the year from their list. We’re an eclectic bunch when it comes to our reading habits, so this is an eclectic list – hopefully with something for everyone! […]
The Best of 2021 – Dabney’s List
According to Goodreads, I read eighty-two books (for the first time – my rereads would have put that number closer to 165) in 2021. I read across genres and glommed series. I DNF’d anything that didn’t grab me after the first fifty pages. I gravitated (overall) to books that were aspirational and viewed humankind with a sympathetic eye. I read enough Karin Slaughter to sink a Kindle.
Here are the books I liked the best. I didn’t love them all but I’m glad I read them all and can recommend them easily.
The Best of 2021 – Caz’s List
I always struggle to whittle down my annual “Best of” list, although some years there are more clear winners than others. Fortunately for me (because I’m rubbish at choosing), that proved to be the case this year, so making my list this time around wasn’t too difficult; however, as has happened before, there are a few authors with multiple books on the list because it’s just impossible to single out one as being “better” than the others!
Here, in no particular order, are the books I most enjoyed reading in 2021.
Relative Justice and Custody Battles by Gregory Ashe
Surprise!! Gregory Ashe continues to dominate my DIK table and has earned […]
The Best of 2021 – Anne’s List
I read more new books this year than usual, but it wasn’t easy. First, I tried to rekindle my love of domestic suspense books, but I got sick of naive heroines with the time to watch their ‘perfect’ neighbors. Next, I discovered Dark Academia books – and learned how long most of those books can be. Still, I managed to finish some current books in time for this column. I didn’t pick up as many young adult books this year which, I now I realize, was a mistake! So in the last month, I’ve been trying to make up for lost time.
The Gilded Ones (Deathless, #1) by Namina Forna
This is the book I really tore through this year. It’s a YA feminist fantasy novel that gives off dystopia vibes with a strong connection to West Africa. (The […]
The Best of 2021 – Alexandra’s List
I’ve watched my preferred reading move away from historical romance and toward fantasy and paranormal in recent years, but there’s nothing like making a “Best Of” list to smack you in the face with how your tastes have changed. While I still very much enjoy historical romance, I’ve found the genre slowly slipping off my auto-buy list as new authors and storylines rise to the fore. Here are some of my top books from 2021: […]
The Best of 2021 – Maria Rose’s List
I didn’t read as much this year as I usually do for a variety of reasons (pandemic included). When I couldn’t concentrate on books, I found myself binge watching a lot of television – reality shows like The Great British Bake Off, or fantasy/sci-fi series like Loki and The Mandalorian. So it won’t come as a complete surprise that some of my favorites romance reads this year have similar themes as my viewing choices. Several of the authors have made my previous lists but there are a few new authors that have caught my eye.
Here are my choices for best reads of the year, in no particular order.
Donut Fall In Love by Jackie Lau
I’ve been a long-time fan of Jackie Lau’s books, and the way she fits Canadiana and delicious tempting dessert […]
The Best of 2021 – Caroline’s List
I wrote a Best of 2021 So Far post that ran a month or so ago, and since then I’ve been reading frantically to see what would fill out my final post. (Every year, I delude myself that I’ll be able to have read EVERYTHING, and thus will have THE PERFECT LIST. I never learn).
A few books have stayed on the list since my early draft:
In Not Here To Be LIked by Michelle Quach, an eminently qualified young woman running for high school newspaper editor loses to the last-minute candidacy of a newbie male jock, prompting our heroine and the entire school to confront systemic misogyny and what feminism really means. It’s nuanced, compelling, important, and well worth an adult read. This book is my […]
The Best of 2021 – Charlotte’s List
Best of the Year lists are always a challenge for me, so I’ve restricted myself to books we’ve reviewed here at AAR. With that caveat out on the table, here goes. Interestingly, three-quarters of my list is composed of debut titles.
Love at First by Kate Clayborn
Clayborn’s next standalone after Love Lettering, Love at First is about a heroine who is trying to defend her beloved Chicago apartment building from the Airbnb fantasies of the new doctor in the place. […]
The Best of 2021 – Rachel’s List
I have been in need of both comfort and distraction this year, and romance meets those needs for me. I read a little bit of everything, and I’ve been delighted to read so many amazing stories this year! These are some of my favorites, though there have been far too many to confine to a list. […]