The Best of 2021 – Caz’s List

By |2022-01-17T05:35:04-05:00January 17th, 2022|Categories: Best of 2021, Best of List, Caz AAR, Romance reading|Tags: , |

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 […]

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The Best of 2021 – Anne’s List

By |2022-01-10T15:44:11-05:00January 12th, 2022|Categories: Anne Marble, Best of 2021, Best of List|Tags: , |

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 […]

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The Best of 2021 – Alexandra’s List

By |2022-01-08T14:14:12-05:00January 10th, 2022|Categories: Alexandra AAR, Best of 2021, Best of List|Tags: , |

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: […]

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The Best of 2021 – Maria Rose’s List

By |2022-01-05T09:16:16-05:00January 5th, 2022|Categories: Best of 2021, Best of List, Maria Rose|Tags: , |

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 […]

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the ask@AAR: What’s your reading goal(s) for 2022?

By |2021-12-31T08:30:04-05:00December 31st, 2021|Categories: the ask @AAR|Tags: , , , |

Happy New Year!

Given that I’ve never been able to keep a New Year’s resolution going for a whole year, I’ve given them up. Instead, I’ve become goal oriented. It’s a lot easier.

In 2022, my biggest goal is to care less about politics–believe me, in my case that’s a good thing–and to do more to create community in my neighborhood. My reading goal is to read every novel each AAR staff member picks as her best book of 2021. I always love this list. (And this one too–it’s all the books we chose as Best of 2021 picks!) […]

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The Best of 2021 – Caroline’s List

By |2021-12-31T07:05:46-05:00December 29th, 2021|Categories: Best of 2021, Best of List, Caroline AAR, Romance reading|Tags: , |

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 […]

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The Best of 2021 – Charlotte’s List

By |2021-12-21T10:40:37-05:00December 27th, 2021|Categories: Best of 2021, Best of List, Charlotte AAR|Tags: , |

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. […]

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The Best of 2021 – Em’s List

By |2021-12-12T08:43:01-05:00December 13th, 2021|Categories: Best of 2021, Best of List, EmAAR, Romance reading|Tags: , |

Friends, I wouldn’t say this was my best year of reading.  I read a lot of good books, but very few great ones.  Here are my favorites in no particular order.

Relative Justice and Custody Battles, Hazard and Somerset:  Arrows in the Hand by Gregory Ashe.

I want to tell you I love this newest Hazard and Somerset series, but that’s only half the story.  I also hate it.  Both books (so far) are chock full of relationship challenges, awful people who do terrible things to children, and not nearly enough happy, silly Emery and John-Henry moments.  But I still can’t wait for each new book, […]

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