As usual, I’ve adapted this from The Perpetual Page Turner’s End of Year Survey!
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2021 READING STATS
Number Of Books You Read: 115
(Plus 16 picture books and 10 manuscript readings, neither of which are included in Goodreads, but I track them in my spreadsheet. If I included the number of times I’ve read my own manuscript, that number would be way higher. 🙂 )
Number of Re-Reads: 4
Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy/Paranormal
This is the least I’ve read in years, but I did focus a lot on writing, so it seems like a good exchange. As you can probably see, I did a lot of writing in February and August.
My four rereads were the first four books in the Three Dark Crowns Series, but then I still didn’t read the final book! I was waiting for Danielle to read the books too, but then she never did. But really, I was just putting off a final book in a series for even longer, because I’m crazy like that.
I was actually surprised how evenly divided this year’s reads were between MG and YA. I felt like I’d read so many more MG books … but I think the audiobooks I listen to via Hoopla definitely skew YA, so I guess that made up the difference.
Best Book You Read In 2021?
No way I can do this, but I did come up with favorites for a bunch of categories:
Middle Grade Contemporary: Violets Are Blue by Barbara Dee
Middle Grade Fantasy: The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim
Verse Novel: Me (Moth) by Amber McBride
YA Contemporary: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Most surprising book you read?
I’d say Long Distance by Whitney Gardner, an incredibly fun MG graphic novel. I was very surprised by the way the mystery panned out in this one. Very entertaining!
Best series you started in 2021? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender?
Started: City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda (I’m not counting Legendborn, since I already listed that one in my best reads of the year)
Sequel: Aru Shah and the City of Gold by Roshani Chokshi
Ender: Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia
These are all Rick Riordan Presents books! I guess I love them. 🙂
Favorite new-to-you author you discovered in 2021?
I read both These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong this year, and I loved them! I’ve already put Gong’s upcoming book on my TBR.
Favorite Book You Read in 2021 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?
Oh, I have a couple of these I want to mention. The Seventh Raven by David Elliott is all formal verse, and I kind of love that. And then Closer to Nowhere is a fabulous verse novel by Ellen Hopkins.
Best book from a genre you don’t typically read?
I almost never read non-fiction, but I listened to the audiobook version of The Only Plane in the Sky after seeing it on other blogs, and it was fantastic! (I definitely recommend the audiobook for this one because it’s narrated by a full cast and even includes some real audio recordings from 9/11.)
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2021?
I did a whole post on my favorite covers, so you should definitely go read it!
Most memorable character?
This one comes from The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker & Stacy Davidowitz. The MC is Nat Beacon, who loves theater and loves to sing and also happens to be in a wheelchair. The empowering story leaves an impression, and Nat does too.
Most beautifully written book?
So many of the verse novels I read this year could work for this category. (Full disclosure: if I hadn’t already chosen Me (Moth) as a favorite for the year I’d probably be putting that one here because it’s gorgeous!) Instead, I’m making it a tie between The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling (a 2020 book I read this year) and Everywhere Blue by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz.
Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book?
I don’t know that I’d say The Midnight Library by Matt Haig was life-changing, but it was definitely thought-provoking!
Book you can’t believe you waited until 2021 to finally read?
I finally read Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed. Really loved it!
Shortest & Longest Book You Read?
That’s what Goodreads thinks, but technically the shortest book I read was the board book Glow by Ruth Forman, illustrated by Geneva Bowers.
Best Book You Read In 2021 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:
This one is definitely The House in the Cerulean Sea. I saw this book on so many blogs, and I’m so glad I read it! The kids in this book were utterly adorable and sweet. The book was funny and endearing and way more meaningful than I expected. I just loved everything about it!
Best 2021 debut you read?
Oh, I absolutely loved Starfish by Lisa Fipps!
Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting in a Book You Read This Year?
I’m choosing Roxy by Neal & Jarrod Shusterman because the worldbuilding is so incredibly unique and interesting.
Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
I absolutely loved reading the graphic novel The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity, illustrated by Christopher Baldwin. This spoof on gothic novels is so much fun!
Hidden Gem Of The Year?
The Verdigris Pawn by Alysa Wishingrad is a book that I loved, but I don’t think it got nearly enough buzz!
Book That Made You The Most Mad?
The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr made me want to scream about the unfairness of how women have been written out of history.
Best Indie/Small Press/Self-Pubbed Read?
I’m listing a YA and a MG for this one because these are both great books (and I think smaller presses deserve more love). First off, my MG choice is Dear Ugly Sisters by Laura Mucha, illustrated by Tanya Rex. This book of poetry is published by Otter-Barry Books and is utterly adorable!
Then I chose List of Ten by Halli Gomez, which is published by Sterling Teen (which, now that I’ve looked into it is owned by Barnes & Noble, but it’s not part of the Big 5 and it’s a new imprint that opened this year, so I’m still counting it). This heartwrenching book is an #OwnVoices novel featuring an MC with Tourette Syndrome.
SOME MORE GRAPHS:
I read more print books this year, which was interesting. I think it’s because I’m getting more print ARCs than digital these days. My percentage of books with diverse MCs (or authors) also went up this year. Definitely happy to see that statistic.
Not too surprised about the Source ratios. This makes it look like I don’t buy many books at all, but what it’s actually proving is the fact that I am TERRIBLE about reading the books I purchase. Review books (or Cybils books) always take precedence, and my “free” reading is usually only audiobooks (most of which I get from the library).
As you know, I don’t post books that would get less than 4 stars (this occasionally includes books that would round up from 3.5 stars), but I do still rate them in my spreadsheet for my own information purposes. I think my page counts for this year are a bit skewed because I read so many verse novels, but this gives you an idea.
Favorite post you wrote in 2021?
I had so much fun with the Zombie Apocalypse Book Tag!
Favorite non-bookish post?
I loved this fun post about creating book page art for my mom.
Favorite bookish-related photo you took?
View this post on Instagram
Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
I’ve been sticking mostly to my local SCBWI group this year. Glad we actually got to meet a couple of times in person this year!
Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2021?
Co-mentoring Anne Rellihan with my good friend Megan E. Freeman for Author Mentor Match. This was such a great experience for all three of us!
Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Balancing writing and reading/blogging was tough this year. I honestly had to let some aspects of blogging go at times, but I’m hoping it will be worth it when I finally get published. 🙂
Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
The most popular thing on my blog is actually a page: my list of all the Bookish Pre-order Campaigns! And this is fantastic because it’s the thing I put the most time into. Plus, I want everyone to get all of these awesome incentives!
Best bookish discovery (book-related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I can’t think of any bookish discoveries from this year. If you had any, tell me about them in the comments!
One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2021 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2021?
I’m cheating a little here and going with books I’m actually already reading. (That way I won’t have to be embarrassed when I look at this post next year and realize I never read the book listed here.) I’m currently listening to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (and I’ll probably switch back and forth between reading and listening).
And I’m also reading Nightingale by Deva Fagan right now and absolutely loving it (I might even finish it tonight, which will make it a 2021 read.)
Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2022?
I’m looking forward to lots of Rick Riordan Presents sequels. The Last Fallen Moon is just one example!
A 2022 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
I haven’t read a single 2022 release yet. Guess I have work to do.
If you’d like to see my Goodreads Year in Books, click on the link!
And don’t forget to link your year-end wrap-ups to the Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up!
Happy New Year.
Thank you! Hope 2022 is great for you!
I love the graphs. I am not much of a YA reader and don’t read any MG. I do read the genres you do though. Happy New Year!
Yes, I know we don’t have much reading in common, but I still always love keeping up with you via your Sunday Posts! 🙂
That makes me so happy to hear about Long Distance! I bought it about the time it came out but I haven’t read it yet, and now you got me excited to read it again!
And The House in the Cerulean Sea was definitely a book I read because of peer pressure as well. I figured after seeing it on so many 2020 favorites lists that it couldn’t hurt to give it a try, and I really enjoyed it!
I’m also glad that you found The Midnight Library to be thought provoking since I enjoy those sorts of books, and that book is on my TBR and I hope to get to it in 2022!
And lastly, I completely agree with you that The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor was such a fun and hilarious graphic novel! I’m so happy that I convinced so many people to buy it through my Bookshop list!
This was such a fun way to learn all about your reading this year! I might use these prompts since I’m having a hard time coming up with a structure for my own end of the year post!
I hope you have the very best reading year to come in 2022!
Oh, I hope you enjoy Long Distance and Midnight Library! And I always love seeing books in common in other people’s end of year posts.
I love all your graphs and stats! It is completely understandable that your reading would be down if you were spending a lot of time writing. Congrats on a great reading/writing year and Happy New Year!
Yes, it’s definitely a good reason not to have read as much!
Such a fun post to read! So many books to add to my wish list. 🙂 I am glad you are loving The Nightingale. I got a copy for my daughter which we were hoping to read together, but I don’t know if I will be able to wait for her. I hope you have a Happy New Year, Nicole!
Oh, I hope you enjoy Nightingale!
Lovely post, Nicole! I pretty much disappeared from the blogosphere this year, but I love seeing what everyone is doing. I can’t wait until your book gets picked up!
Linking my end of year post below.
I’ve been missing you lately! So glad you stopped by!
Thank you so much for including my verse novel alongside THE CANYON’S EDGE by Dusti Bowling! I read this in 2021 also, and it’s gorgeous. I’m honored that my book is tied with hers. Happy New Year!
I was happy to include you in my list for the year – I love the beauty of the verse in your book!
You are so kind! Thank you.
Congrats on a great year of reading!
Thank you!
I love seeing year end wrap-ups. I just put three books on hold at my library (bringing my total up to 31 hold requests – it is a problem for me) – Everywhere Blue, The Canyon’s Edge, and Me(Moth). Thanks for the recs!
I have that problem with reading these end of year posts too – so many books added to the TBR!
I always love your graphs! I think I found a Google spreadsheet to use this year that might help me with that. If not, oh well. I do love the survey here too. I might try it as well. I hope to see you get published too! That will be so exciting!
Did I share the spreadsheet I use with you last year? The graphs are built in, which I really like because I couldn’t possibly do it all myself.
Yeah, but I had some issues with that one, not sure what happened. I think I messed something up on it and then it never really worked right for me.
Oh, sorry about that! It can be a little tricky to get things up and going. Hope the new spreadsheet you have works out perfectly for you!!
Your Zombie post was one of my favorites. So fun! I am pretty sure my source distribution looks similar to yours. I read a lot of ARCs and library books, as I ignore the books I own. So excited to see Better Than the Movies up there. It was one of my favorites! I didn’t read much middle grades this year, and you featured quite a few I hope to get to.
Someday I’ll read books I’ve bought. Someday…
I read about 150 books, and I didn’t do any writing, so the fact that you read 115 and also did writing is incredible lol. I’ve been curious about The Midnight Library, and I like thought-provoking, so I may give that a try this year. Willowweep Manor does look fun!
Yeah, I just have to always keep perspective in mind and be happy with what I’ve read. (To be fair, many of those 115 books were verse novels, which are quicker reads.)
Hope you have a great year! So many great books read this year! Hope you read even more great ones in 2022!
Thanks! And I wish the same for you!!
Ah this is a great way to wrap-up your reading year overall, I loved reading this! I am amazed by how many books you are able to read, this is incredible. I have Better than the movies on my TBR and, knowing it’s one of your favorites, I’ll have to read it soon!! 🙂
Yes, I definitely recommend it for a fun, feel-good read. Hope you love it!
Looks like you had a pretty awesome 2021 in terms of reading. I don’t know that I’ll read as much this year – might have less time, but we’ll see. I definitely want to read more of the books I already own.
I’m okay with not reading as much when I’m getting writing done. Hopefully I just won’t fall into an abyss of non-productive time, though.
I’m glad you found so many good books last year! I hope you like Addie LaRue. I know we were supposed to read it together, but I read it by accident. I got it from the mailbox on my way to work, and then just left it at work. I read it in between customers. It took me a month of REALLY SLOW reading to finish it, but I loved it.
No worries at all. The funny thing is, someone else requested it after you, so I decided to actually read it this time. 🙂
I’ve also really been loving the Rick Riordan Presents books! They give me Percy-Jackson vibes which is always a good thing. I will definitely be continuing with the City of the Plague God series as well.
I honestly can only think of one or two RRP books that I haven’t absolutely loved (and I still liked them).
Wow, you read a lot of great books in 2021! Here’s to more awesome reading in 2022!
Thank you!
Yay stats! Lol. August was actually a tough reading month for me too, but it was because I was working nights and it totally messed with my schedule. Lol.
You always have great MG book recs! Which is a good thing for me because last year I didn’t read a single MG book 🙈 lol
Oh, well now you have some MG to try out! 🙂
Happy New Year! I also completed this survey and love checking out everyone’s answers. I see a lot of books I still need to get to… but especially The Verdigris Pawn! I added it to my TBR pretty much just based on the cover. Your endorsement makes me think I should try to prioritize it this year.
You had the most phenomenal year ever! I must read Chloe Gong’s books this year! They sound amazing, emotional and like something I can’t put down. I’m so glad her book was such a huge hit for you♥!
Amazing reading combined with writing!
I love your stats and categories!
Here are my recap posts, scroll down to see the 3 of them: https://wordsandpeace.com/tag/year-of-reading/ The second has also charts and pies!
Happy New Year of reading!
This wrap up post is so well organized and I enjoyed your chosen categories. I have now read and absolutely loved all of Dusti Bowling’s books. Starfish is still one of my favorites of the year (I actually read it in 2020 as an ARC) and I recommend it to anyone who loves middle grade and/or novels in verse. I just bought Call Me Athena because not only do I enjoy verse but it’s set in my home state and I always love to find books set in Michigan.
Dear Ugly Sisters has an interesting title