21 Books to Read in 2021

Me in 2020: I have never been more excited to read a book

Me in 2021: I have yet to actually read this book

I know, you don’t have to say it. I finally get the rare chance of reading another book in my favorite series ever. I am never going to get this chance again. I was so ready too. I bought the book on March 19, planning to start it right away. And here I am…

But 2021 will be my year!

The Netflix adaptation of the book just came out and I have been itching to press play! I LOVE all media that has to do with dance. I might cry though, because I miss dancing so much.

Anyway, this book promises to be filled with a ton of dance and a ton of drama, and I am so ready.

This is another book that was on my list last year, but hopefully I will get to this one and the sequel!

People who know me, and know my reading tastes, have told me that I would enjoy this book. I was searching for something dark and atmospheric, and this book fell into my lap.

I wasn’t able to get to this book this year, even though I did end up reading a couple pages and I am already obsessed with the writing.

The only question is, do I read this book as soon as possible, or do I save it for the next spooky season?

Last year, I made the goal to read at least one historical fiction book. I did not achieve that. So, this year I am putting that goal out there again.

The Library Book seems like the perfect way to start that. I am so intrigued by this investigative look into the fire at the Los Angeles Public Library. So many books were lost that day.

I don’t know a lot about this event, so I am intrigued and curious to learn more!

Oh, I am so interested in reading this book. As soon as I read the description, I knew I needed to get my hands on a copy.

I mean, I can’t think of another book based on the legend of King Arthur and Merlin. I am sure they are out there, but I haven’t found them.

I am also just always down for a good fantasy book. I have a good feeling about this one.

I have been interested in reading this book FOREVER. This is another that was on my 2020 list. Anything that has to do with libraries and books, I am immediately drawn to. I also received a copy of this book for a book club, over 5 years ago… I feel like I should eventually read it.

Unfortunately, I was unable to read this book while the author, Rachel Caine, was still with us. She passed away not too long ago. I would love to read her work, and read the words that she left in this world to live for as long as the written word does.

I am going to be honest, I didn’t really know much about this book until I received it in the January OwlCrate, but the cover is absolutely to die for. I am OBSESSED.

I also love anything that has to do with mythology, so I am down to read a book about greek gods in New York City.

This will be my first Bracken book, which I am also excited about. I always here so much about The Darkest Minds and Passenger.

My, have I heard some good things about this book. My favorite books used to be the lush fantasy worlds built around strong characters and an intriguing plotline. This is exactly what City of Brass promises to be.

I bought this book last year, and I was actually surprised by the size. I didn’t know it would be so THICK. So, this is one I want to get to early on in the year so we don’t have another Priory situation.

Speaking of the Priory situation…

I bought this book the year it came out, so excited to bite into such a hefty fantasy book. I was ready to get lost. And, like so many books before, it is still sitting in on my TBR shelf.

I actually tried reading it earlier this year. I was in the bubble of early quarantine, excited to tackle the biggest book on my TBR with all the time I had. I got a couple chapters in and I was intrigued, but I never continued.

So, now I will!

Looks like 2021 is going to be the year of fantasy. The perfect way to escape the chaos that the world has been lately.

I received the book in one of my first OwlCrate boxes, and was so intrigued by the premise. Every month, I promise myself I am going to read the book in a timely manner, and I have yet to do that.

But reading a book about phoenix riders sounds so exciting and unique.

I have always wanted to read a book with a villain being the main character. So, this book has been on my TBR for some time.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to really get into a Schwab book. I have tried multiple, and I never seem to connect to the characters. That includes this one when I attempted to read it last year. But I know how many people love this one, so I am going to give it a chance.

I want to understand the Schwab hype.

With all my love for The Hunger Games, I don’t actually read a lot of dystopias. And I want to! I love the genre so much, I need to find more.

I have heard one million times that Scythe is the perfect book for fans of The Hunger Games. That is what initially attracted me to the book, but the more I look into it, the more I think i will enjoy it.

With the TV series having so much hype right now, I think it is finally the year that I read these books. And, honestly? I just really want to feel that rush I felt in the early 2000’s, when I was so excited to watch the new Hunger Games movie. I have been chasing that feeling ever since.

I already read the Grisha trilogy a couple years ago, so this duology is all I have left before the series is released. Plus, I promised I would read this for a friend 3 months ago…

I don’t think I have heard one negative thing about this book, and for a novel that has been out for about 2 years, that is definitely a feat. All of my friends who have read this book are completely enamored by the story and characters, and I would love to feel that same connection to a story.

I am a little intimidated by the size of this story, so I am hoping to get to this one earlier in the year, like Priory.

When I heard that there was going to be a retelling of Romeo and Juliet releasing, I was interested. I am not the biggest fan of the original story, but I am intrigued to see a modern take on it. Of course, this is set in the past, but you know what I mean.

I received my copy of this book in my OwlCrate, and I am ready for some 1920’s tragic love.

I love me some horror. Despite loving the film genre, I only started reading horror and thriller novels this past year, and I have enjoyed every second of it.

I think I will save this one for September or October, but I might just read it sooner than that, we will see. But I am super excited to read a YA horror novel.

Another horror/thriller on my list. I started reading this one last year but wasn’t able to finish it before I had to return it to the library. But, I have heard so many good things about this story, I immediately put another hold on it.

This book is supposed to be a horror based on the real horror of gentrification. It is unlike anything I have ever read before, and from what I remember of this first couple of chapters, I am anxious to continue on with the story and learning about the characters.

I am going to be honest, I was initially intrigued by the cover of this book. I didn’t know a lot about it, but I was definitely interested in seeing what it was all about.

Learning that this book was a fantasy about magic and kings and so much more, I was even more excited to read it.

I used to read fantasy all the time, I feel like I stopped last year for some reason. So I am coming back to my full glory this year, and I am so ready.

One of my all-time favorite books is Strange the Dreamer. The writing, characters, and world-building is everything to me.

So, it makes sense that I want to read more from Laini Taylor, and I have heard a lot of good things about this series as well.

Which reminds me, I still need to read Muse of Nightmares… And I bought that book the day it was released.

Yet another high fantasy adding to my list. I really hope I am in the mood for all of these this year, so I don’t end up falling into the reading slump I inevitably go into each year.

Oh well, this book, like so many others on this list, have so many positive things being said about it, it is hard not to add it to my list.

I actually don’t know a lot about this book, but that is usually how I find some of my favorite reads.

I have a copy of the audiobook of this one, and I am so excited to close my eyes, and fully immerse myself in the fantasy world.

I first heard of this book during the YALLWEST panels, and I immediately added it to my Goodreads TBR. Magic and the assassination of a crown prince? I am so down. This is bound to be the enemies to lovers fantasy of my dreams.

Plus, I am always in the mood for a good fantasy audiobook!