Top 5 Fave Books of 2021
Last updated on 13 February 2023
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Time to share my top 5 fave books of 2021!
Ever since 2013 I’ve shared my favourite books that I’ve read over the past year. While 2021 has been another interesting year (to say the least!), there have been some great book releases.
These books are a mix of books that were released in 2021 but also books that I’ve read this year (and not necessarily published this year). So! Let’s get into it. Here are my top 5 fave books of 2021.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab “A life no one will remember. A story you will never forget.” That’s exactly what The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was like.
In France, 1714, a young woman made a deal. A deal she thought would solve her problems, would give her freedom. But when you make a deal with the dark, you’ll not get what you expect.
“A life no one will remember. A story you will never forget.” That’s exactly what The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was like.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a masterpiece. I expected nothing less from VE Schwab.
The story spans centuries, all throughout Addie’s life. There are flashbacks to moments in history where she has learnt new things, met new people (again and again and again), had one-day relationships that have lasted months, talked with the Dark.
And then there are chapters with Henry, in the present (2014), and who Addie has become.
Victoria VE Schwab is a formidable writer and storyteller. She weaves Addie’s story (a tale that has been forming in Schwab’s head for a decade or so) with art and music and literature, with friendship and love, with connection and thought-provoking lines and ideas.
Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: The Last Hours series is much more enjoyable than Cassandra Clare‘s previous series, The Dark Artifices. Chain of Iron is the second in the series, and somehow it was even better than the first.
We’re swept away once again into demon hunting, ghost resurrecting and tangled romances as the characters in Chain of Iron battle their way through life in Edwardian England. Cordelia, our main heroine, is married to James Herondale but only to save her reputation and James’ prison time. While the marriage is false, her feelings are not. But James’ heart lies with another (oh the drama!).
Meanwhile, Lucie Herondale and Grace Blackthorn are still trying to raise Grace’s brother Jesse from the dead, Matthew Fairchild is all over the place with his alcohol addiction and self-loathing. Anna Lightwood is trying not to fall head over heels in love, and Thomas Lightwood’s hatred of Alistair Carstairs starts to soften.
All of that in amongst Christopher Lightwood blowing things up in labs, Grace hooking her claws into unsuspecting people, Tatiana Blackthorn up to no good (as per usual), Magnus Bane and Jem Carstairs making a guest appearance (my faves!), and to top it all off there’s a murderer on the loose.
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary Tiffy is still living in the flat of her ex-boyfriend and needs to move out, stat. But her job pays barely anything, so finding somewhere in London is no mean feat. With her friends Gerty and Mo, they finally find somewhere that might work for Tiffy: a flatshare with a man named Leon who works the night shift at the hospital.
The agreement? Leon has the flat between 9am and 6pm, and is away on weekends. Tiffy gets the flat during the nights on weekdays and the weekends. And they share a bed. One side each.
I absolutely loved this book. It’s not something that I would usually go for but I had heard so many excellent things about it that I had to read it. I’m so glad I did.
The whole concept of flatshare that is actually bed-sharing when the other person isn’t here is pure genius, and I love both of the main characters to bits. O’Leary writes in a way that is humorous and light-hearted, and get managed to convey the emotions and hurt of characters and situations incredibly well.
While the story is predictable, that’s what you need in a novel sometimes; romantic fluff that you can call a mile away. It’s predictable but beautiful, and it is full of little bits of crazy (like the entire concept for starters), and fun quirky themes and events that bring it all together.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes I loved every second of this young adult mystery novel. I hadn’t read anything by Jennifer Lynn Barnes before, but I’m so glad I picked up this book. The second in the series, The Hawthorne Legacy, was also out at the time of this review and I read both books over the course of the weekend. They were that good.
I haven’t read a mystery book in a little while (Truly Devious was a GREAT series for YA mystery, though, high recommend), so it was so much fun to dive into this one.
Without going into too much detail about the story (spoilers!), Avery is suddenly thrown into a life that she never in a million years expected: the heir to Tobias Hawthorne’s multi-billion-dollar estate, companies, hotels … everything but a few hundred grand given to his actual family.
The Inheritance Games follows Avery and the four Hawthorn grandsons as they try to piece together why Tobias Hawthorn left Avery, a random teen girl who he had never met, his entire life.
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber Much like the wonders of Caraval, Once Upon a Broken Heart was a magical ride. Somehow Stepanie Garber takes fantasy to a new place; it’s not high fantasy, it doesn’t often involve blood, guts, or heavy romance. It’s a delicate fantasy, with quirky features, storybook elements and creative settings, without losing the action, the intrigue, the mystery and the spectacular characters.
In Once Upon a Broken Heart, protagonist Evangeline makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts, Jacks. He’ll stop the wedding of her true love to her step-sister if she kisses three different people, at the time of Jacks’ choosing. She makes the deal. The wedding of Luc and Marisol is stopped but at a price.
A few shout outs
Because I can’t quite choose just 5 top books. These books below are ones that I really enjoyed as well and that I gave 4 stars to. You can check out all the books I read in 2021 on my Goodreads profile.
- Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
- The Hawthorn Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
- Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
- A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
Check out my top 5 fave books from previous years:
What has been your favourite book of 2021?
Anjali Kay
Anjali Kay is an Aotearoa New Zealand-based blogger and book lover sharing travel inspiration, bookish posts, the occasional creative project, and a lot of practical blogging tips here at This Splendid Shambles. Based in Auckland, she's been writing book reviews and travel posts, sharing creative projects and blogging tips since she started her first blog in 2009. When she's not working on her own blog, Anjali also offers blog coaching and support for bloggers who want real guidance from someone who's actually done the work, and is a few chapters ahead of them.
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