Top Ten-ish Favorite Books of 2021

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. More information here.

I am not mad that I struggle to pick a top ten favorite books. This year, I tried to keep tabs throughout the year of my favorite reads and had every intention of picking one each month. But then I couldn't pick between my two January favorites...and then April happened. There are a LOT of runner ups.

1. The Toll by Neal Shusterman (January)
2. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (January)
3. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (February)*
4. A Promised Land by Barack Obama (March)*
5. Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (April)*
6. Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson (April)*
7. So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo (May)*
8. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (June)
9. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (July)*
10. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (August)*
11. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (September)*
12. The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (November)
13. Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong (December)
14. A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria (December)
    

Honorable mentions: You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria (February), SLAY by Brittney Morris (February), Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan (March), The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (April), A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas (April), City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab (April), Daughter of the Siren Queen by Trisha Levenseller (April), Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert (April), Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (April), Mirage by Somaiya Daud (May), A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown (July), Game Changer by Neal Shusterman (August), The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (September)

Top Ten Books on My Winter 2021/2022 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. More information here.

I'm a little behind on my seasonal TBRs again, but we'll see how far I can get in the next three months before my next seasonal TBR. It's sooo weird to see 2022 in the title as well. But here we go:

1. A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria: Leftover from my Summer & Fall TBRs - Netgalley book.
2. Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart: Leftover from my Summer & Fall TBRs - library book.
3. The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life by Dani Jansen - Leftover from my Fall TBR - Netgalley book.
   
4. You Have a Match by Emma Lord - Leftover from my Fall TBR - Netgalley book.
5. Lore by Alexandra Bracken: Leftover from my Fall TBR - Netgalley & Owlcrate book.
6. The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury - Leftover from my Fall TBR.
7. A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer - Leftover from my Fall TBR.
8. Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey - The sequel to It Happened One Summer, I have this one from Netgalley and it follows the main character from the first book's sister. I'm so excited to read another Tessa Bailey romance. They are always such a good time.
9. It Goes Like This by Miel Moreland - I watched an author chat and really loved the author and I believe this is their debut. I love the cover and it's a YA with lots of queer characters, so I'm super excited to read this one.
   
10. Witchy by Ariel Slamet Ries - I really do not know much about this story but I've heard so many good things about it and the artwork is beautiful AND Nick got it for me for an early anniversary present.
    

November 2021 Book Haul

Hello again and hello to what looks like a really large haul. I have 15 books hauled for the month of November - however, I only have 5 left to read - 2 of which I'm in the middle of and should finish this week. My favorite thing at the moment is to haul a bunch of audiobooks from my library and binge listen to them while I work. It's been pretty wonderful. I've even been able to do some fantasy audiobooks lately!

Top Ten Five Star Predictions Part 3

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. More information here.

So any time there is a freebie, I want to make five star predictions because it's really fun to see what I think I will like and then turn around and see if it's 5 stars or a "what the heck was I thinking?!" kind of thing. My first predictions post was in February 2020 and I have 4 books left on it. Of the six, 4 were 5-star reads, 2 were not. My second predictions post was in June 2021 and I have 6 books left on it - not really doing my best getting around to these haha. Of the four, 2 were 5-star reads. 

Books I Read in November

I read 12 books in November.

• The Maidens by Alex Michaelides (Audio, 9 hr 19 min, 2021, Adult Thriller, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Audio, 14 hr 27 min, 2020, MG Fantasy, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• The Night Country by Melissa Albert (Audio, 10 hr 23 min, 2020, YA Fantasy, Library) - 3 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (Audio, 9 hr 30 min, 2021, Adult Romance, Library) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (Audio, 14 hr 4 min, 2019, YA Sci Fi, Library) - 3 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• All These Bodies by Kendare Blake (Audio, 7 hr 19 min, 2021, YA Thriller, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin (Audio, 14 hr 13 min, 2019, YA Fantasy, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• Reverie by Ryan La Sala (Audio, 11 hr 17 min, 2019, YA Fantasy, Library) - 3 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• Pumpkin by Julie Murphy (Audio, 7 hr 20 min, 2021, YA Contemporary, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano (Audio, 6 hr 22 min, 2018, MG Fantasy, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Owlcrate challenge, Series challenge
• The Young Elites by Marie Lu (Audio, 10 hr 3 min, 2014, YA Fantasy/Dystopia, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Audio, 10 hr 24 min, 2021, YA Mystery, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
  

Pages read: 114 hr 38 min
Pages DNF: 0

READING STATS
BY FORMAT

• Kindle: 0 (2021 Total: 30)
  
• Physical: 0 (2021 Total: 13)
• Audio: 12 (2021 Total: 67)

BY PAGE COUNT

• Under 250 pages: 0 (2021 Total: 6)
• 250 to 400 pages: 8 (2021 Total: 71)
  
• 400 to 700 pages: 4 (2021 Total: 28)
• 700+ pages: 0 (2021 Total: 5)

BY METHOD OF OBTAINING

• Purchased: 0 (2021 Total: 25)
• Borrowed: 12 (2021 Total: 73)
• For Review: 0 (2021 Total: 12)
• Gifted: 0 (2021 Total: 0)

BY RATING

• 1 star: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• 2 stars: 0 (2021 Total: 6)
• 3 stars: 4 (2021 Total: 32)
• 4 stars: 7 (2021 Total: 40)
• 5 stars: 1 (2021 Total: 31)

BY AUDIENCE

• MG: 2 (2021 Total: 8)
• YA: 8 (2021 Total: 58)
• Adult: 2 (2021 Total: 44)

BY YEAR

• Before 2000s: 0 (2021 Total: 0)
  
• 2000 to 2010: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• 2010 to 2015: 1 (2021 Total: 10)
• 2016 to 2018: 1 (2021 Total: 25)
• 2019: 3 (2021 Total: 19)
• 2020: 2 (2021 Total: 25)
• 2021: 5 (2021 Total: 28)

BY GENRE

• Classic/Historical Fiction: 0 (2021 Total: 3)
• Contemporary: 1 (2021 Total: 18)
• Dystopia/Horror: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• Fantasy: 7 (2021 Total: 30)
• Nonfiction: 0 (2021 Total: 6)
• Paranormal: 0 (2021 Total: 4)
• Romance/Smut: 1 (2021 Total: 23)
• Sci Fi: 0 (2021 Total: 13)
  
• Thriller/Mystery: 2 (2021 Total: 10)

December 2021 TBR & Challenge Update

In 2021, I'm participating in Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge (new challenge each month - December is "The Starfall" theme).

November was a lot better compared to September and October. Band is slowing down a bit. And despite it being busy because of the holidays, it's still less busy than the August through October time period. I read 12 books - totaling 114 hr 38 min of audiobook time. I have fewer audiobooks planned for this month, so hopefully I'll get through them!

I have 8 criteria prompts for Words & Whimsy and only 7 books on my TBR so I have a little room in case I want to read something else.

My TBR for December:

• A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria (Kindle - Netgalley)
• Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart (Kindle - Library)
• The Year Shakespeare Ruined Me by Dani Jensen (Kindle - Netgalley)
• You Have a Match by Emma Lord (Kindle - Netgalley)
• Lore by Alexandra Bracken (Audio - Library)
• The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury (Hardcover)
• A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer (Hardcover)
  

2021 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 91%  

Goodreads Challenge: 110/50 books - 220% COMPLETED 5/8
Series Challenge: 15/10 series - 150% COMPLETED 6/22
Netgalley Challenge: 12/12 books - 100% COMPLETED 9/28
Owlcrate Challenge: 14/12 books - 117%  COMPLETED 10/28

My 2021 Series Tracker 

  What are you planning on reading in December?

October 2021 Book Haul

I did alright in October as far as hauling went. I had 3 Owlcrate boxes come in and received 1 Netgalley book. The rest are all library books, of which I've read 7 at this point. Really not too bad :)

PHYSICAL BOOKS

1. Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone - received in September Owlcrate
2. Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan - received in October Owlcrate box
3. Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson - preordered from Owlcrate
   

KINDLE BOOKS

1. Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa - received an eARC from Netgalley

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren - borrowed eBook
2. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney - borrowed audiobook
3. Working Stiff by Judy Melinek, MD - borrowed audiobook
4. Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner - borrowed audiobook
5. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend - borrowed audiobook
6. Puddin' by Julie Murphy - borrowed audiobook
7. The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White - borrowed audiobook
8. The Maidens by Alex Michaelides - borrowed audiobook
9. All These Bodies by Kendare Blake - borrowed eBook
   

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in October?

Have you read any of my books?

Books I Read in October

I read 9 books in October.

• Survive the Night by Riley Sager (Audio, 9 hr 1 min, 2021, Adult Thriller, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Kindle, 384 pages, 2020, YA Mystery, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary (Audio, 10 hr 15 min, 2021, Adult Romance, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney (Audio, 9 hr 39 min, 2021, YA Contemporary, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• Puddin' by Julie Murphy (Audio, 11 hr 9 min, 2018, YA Contemporary, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• Working Stiff by Judy Melinek (Audio, 7 hr 43 min, 2014, Adult Nonfiction, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Audio, 11 hr 50 min, 2018, MG Fantasy, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads goal, Series challenge
• Undying by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (Audio, 11 hr 19 min, 2019, YA Sci Fi, Library) - 2 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White (Audio, 10 hr 51 min, 2019, YA Fantasy, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Owlcrate challenge, Series challenge
  

Pages read: 384 pages + 81 hr 47 min
Pages DNF: 0

READING STATS
BY FORMAT

• Kindle: 1 (2021 Total: 30)
  
• Physical: 0 (2021 Total: 13)
• Audio: 8 (2021 Total: 55)

BY PAGE COUNT

• Under 250 pages: 0 (2021 Total: 6)
• 250 to 400 pages: 7 (2021 Total: 63)
  
• 400 to 700 pages: 2 (2021 Total: 24)
• 700+ pages: 0 (2021 Total: 5)

BY METHOD OF OBTAINING

• Purchased: 0 (2021 Total: 25)
• Borrowed: 9 (2021 Total: 61)
• For Review: 0 (2021 Total: 12)
• Gifted: 0 (2021 Total: 0)

BY RATING

• 1 star: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• 2 stars: 1 (2021 Total: 6)
• 3 stars: 2 (2021 Total: 28)
• 4 stars: 6 (2021 Total: 33)
• 5 stars: 0 (2021 Total: 30)

BY AUDIENCE

• MG: 1 (2021 Total: 6)
• YA: 5 (2021 Total: 50)
• Adult: 3 (2021 Total: 42)

BY YEAR

• Before 2000s: 0 (2021 Total: 0)
  
• 2000 to 2010: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• 2010 to 2015: 1 (2021 Total: 9)
• 2016 to 2018: 2 (2021 Total: 24)
• 2019: 2 (2021 Total: 16)
• 2020: 1 (2021 Total: 23)
• 2021: 3 (2021 Total: 23)

BY GENRE

• Classic/Historical Fiction: 0 (2021 Total: 3)
• Contemporary: 2 (2021 Total: 17)
• Dystopia/Horror: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• Fantasy: 1 (2021 Total: 23)
• Nonfiction: 1 (2021 Total: 6)
• Paranormal: 0 (2021 Total: 4)
• Romance/Smut: 1 (2021 Total: 22)
• Sci Fi: 1 (2021 Total: 13)
  
• Thriller/Mystery: 2 (2021 Total: 8)

November 2021 TBR & Challenge Update

In 2021, I'm participating in Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge (new challenge each month - November is Cozy Retreat theme) and The Avengers Initiative Reading Challenge (a year long challenge). 

October was another crazy month. We lost our Bellamau about a month after losing Muffin. Bella wasn't eating and we took her in to find out she had asthma, a heart murmur, beginning of heart failure, fluid in her abdomen, a mass on her liver, nodules on her liver and spleen, and something in her intestines as well. Even with an appetite stimulant and anti-nausea meds, she refused to eat. So we made the decision to humanely put her to sleep as well. It's been pretty shitty, to be frank. We had Bella for around 11 years, Muffin for 10 years. Both had regular annual exams and vaccinations. They were on high quality food. We did everything we could to take the best care of them. Both of them were taken in because they suddenly weren't eating. That was the only sign they had had. We finished out the month of all that plus band stuff with me feeling sick and getting 3 COVID tests, a strep test, a flu test, bloodwork, and a chest x-ray to find out that my allergies were acting up. -_-

Despite all the crazy, I read 9 books - 384 pages and 81 hr 47 min. I have 8 criteria prompts for Words & Whimsy and I decided to do more of a TBR this month. I went rogue last month and I like my lists so I struggled a bit LOL. In October, I hit my Owlcrate goal for the year, so I have officially hit all of my reading goals for the year. I'm only 2 books away from 100 books which is really exciting!

My TBR for November:

• All These Bodies by Kendare Blake [Kindle - Library]
• Reverie by Ryan La Sala [Kindle - Library]
• Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin [Kindle - Library]
• The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang [Kindle - Library]
• Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend [Audio - Library]
• The Night Country by Melissa Albert [Audio - Library]
• Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff [Audio - Library]
• Hot British Boyfriend by Kristy Boyce [Kindle - Library]
  

2021 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 83% 
Goodreads Challenge: 98/50 books - 196% COMPLETED 5/8
Series Challenge: 12/10 series - 110% COMPLETED 6/22
Netgalley Challenge: 12/12 books - 100% COMPLETED 9/28
Owlcrate Challenge: 12/12 books - 100%  COMPLETED 10/28

My 2021 Series Tracker 

  What are you planning on reading in November?

September 2021 Book Haul

I did pretty well again with keeping the haul numbers relatively low. I actually hauled quite a few physical books - I purchased The Witch Haven after attending an author chat - Sasha is fantastic. I have my Owlcrate book from August box, my preorder of Jay Kristoff's latest novel, and a Goodreads giveaway win. I purchased 2 Kindle books (one of them may have been free) and then I have 4 library books - 3 of which I have read at this point.

PHYSICAL BOOKS

1. The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith - purchased Hardcover on Amazon
2. A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee - received in August Owlcrate sub box
3. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff - preordered Hardcover on Amazon
4. The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath - won ARC on Goodreads
   

KINDLE BOOKS

1. Love on the Sweet Side by Mariah Ankenman - purchased on Amazon
2. Love, Comment, Subscribe by Cathy Yardley - purchased on Amazon
   

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory - borrowed audiobook
2. The Layover by Lacie Waldon - borrowed audiobook
3. Survive the Night by Riley Sager - borrowed audiobook
4. Reverie by Ryan La Sala - borrowed eBook
   

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in September?

Have you read any of my books?

Books I Read in September

I read 9 books in September.

• To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini (Audio, 32 hr 29 min, 2020, Adult Sci Fi, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (Audio, 9 hr 39 min, 2021, Adult Romance, Library) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• Too Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey (Kindle, 336 pages, 2016, Adult Smut, Purchased) - 2 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• Circe by Madeline Miller (Audio, 12 hr 8 min, 2018, Adult Fantasy, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory (Audio, 10 hr 21 min, 2021, Adult Romance, Library) - 4.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Series challenge
• The Layover by Lacie Waldon (Audio, 9 hr 28 min, 2021, Adult Romance, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
• People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (Audio, 10 hr 46 min, 2021, Adult Romance, Netgalley/Library) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Netgalley challenge
• Witch Please by Ann Aguirre (Kindle, 352 pages, 2021, Adult Romance, Netgalley) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge, Netgalley challenge, Series challenge
• Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas (Audio, 10 hr 7 min, 2019, YA Smut, Bought) - 3 stars | My Review - Counted towards Goodreads challenge
  

Pages read: 688 + 94 hr 58 min
Pages DNF: 0

READING STATS
BY FORMAT

• Kindle: 2 (2021 Total: 29)
  
• Physical: 0 (2021 Total: 13)
• Audio: 7 (2021 Total: 47)

BY PAGE COUNT

• Under 250 pages: 0 (2021 Total: 6)
• 250 to 400 pages: 7 (2021 Total: 56)
  
• 400 to 700 pages: 1 (2021 Total: 22)
• 700+ pages: 1 (2021 Total: 5)

BY METHOD OF OBTAINING

• Purchased: 3 (2021 Total: 25)
• Borrowed: 4 (2021 Total: 52)
• For Review: 2 (2021 Total: 12)
• Gifted: 0 (2021 Total: 0)

BY RATING

• 1 star: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• 2 stars: 1 (2021 Total: 5)
• 3 stars: 2 (2021 Total: 26)
• 4 stars: 4 (2021 Total: 27)
• 5 stars: 2 (2021 Total: 30)

BY AUDIENCE

• MG: 0 (2021 Total: 5)
• YA: 1 (2021 Total: 45)
• Adult: 8 (2021 Total: 39)

BY YEAR

• Before 2000s: 0 (2021 Total: 0)
  
• 2000 to 2010: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• 2010 to 2015: 0 (2021 Total: 8)
• 2016 to 2018: 2 (2021 Total: 22)
• 2019: 1 (2021 Total: 14)
• 2020: 1 (2021 Total: 22)
• 2021: 5 (2021 Total: 20)

BY GENRE

• Classic/Historical Fiction: 0 (2021 Total: 3)
• Contemporary: 0 (2021 Total: 15)
• Dystopia/Horror: 0 (2021 Total: 1)
• Fantasy: 1 (2021 Total: 22)
• Nonfiction: 0 (2021 Total: 5)
• Paranormal: 0 (2021 Total: 4)
• Romance/Smut: 7 (2021 Total: 21)
• Sci Fi: 1 (2021 Total: 12)
  
• Thriller/Mystery: 0 (2021 Total: 6)