This year I read 32 books, which was below my yearly average and my set goal. But considering my new life—a post-two-hour commute, two children, and much more reading for work—I’m happy with anything above 30. It’s my new PAR, like getting more than 100 in bowling. I even read one less book (thanks, Ulysses) but more pages than in 2020!

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This was the first year that I actually reached a balance, reading exactly the same number of female and male authors, and as many fiction as non-fiction books.

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Here's a quick look at the numbers:

Turns out, I didn't pay for a single digital ebook all year. They all came from the Library, NetGalley, or Prime, which has been a goal of mine for a while. If I want a book, I’m either buying it in print or waiting for the library hold. As usual, all my favorite fiction is from female writers, and I continued my trend of reading mostly new (frontlist) books published over the last two years.

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If any book ever catches your interest, I hope you follow through in finding a way to acquire and read it—you can check out my reviews for every book I read. Let me know what you're reading these days!

My Top Reads from 2021

Favorite Fiction:

  1. Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid
  2. Laserwriter II by Tamara Shopsin
  3. No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

Favorite Non-Fiction:

  1. Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen
  2. Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller
  3. Fulfillment by Alec MacGillis

Honorable Mentions:

  • How Lucky by Will Leitch
  • On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
  • The Smash-Up by Ali Benjamin

Want to read more? Visit my Goodreads profile.