The Writing Greyhound's Top 5 Books of 2021

2021 has been a brilliant year for reading. So many incredible books were published this year, and with the uncertainty around the pandemic continuing, staying at home with a good book has never been a better - and safer - option. 

With that in mind, it's probably not a surprise to hear that I managed to achieve my personal reading goals this year. I set myself the ambitious target of reading 100 books which is more than I've ever previously managed in twelve months. However, I set aside a little more time for reading and managed to finish the year on a total of 101 read books. I'm super happy with that!

However, with reading more books comes greater difficulty when picking my top reads of the year. After a lot of deliberation (hence why this post is delayed compared to previous years!) I've finally narrowed it down. Read on to find out which books I've picked!

Note: These are all books I read in 2021, not necessarily books that were published during the last year. My top five are also in no particular order.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I devoured Leigh Bardugo's bestselling series earlier this year in preparation for the release of Netflix's Shadow and Bone adaptation. Six of Crows is a glorious fantasy heist mash-up, with a dash of romance and characters that leap off the page. In my opinion, honestly one of the best YA books ever written.

The Boyband Murder Mystery by Ava Eldred

If you've ever been part of a fandom or fallen in love with a boyband, this book is for you. The Boyband Murder Mystery is - yep, you guessed it - a contemporary teenage murder mystery story. Be warned, though, because this book will make you feel all of the feels!

Widowland by C.J. Carey

Widowland is a chilling dystopian novel set in an alternative history where the Allies didn't win the war. Tense and paranoid yet with a strong feminist angle, this is a brilliantly-written book that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

The Girl from the Island by Lorna Cook

Set decades apart, the two plot threads in this emotional dual-timeline novel couldn't be more different. The Girl from the Island tells the story of Guernsey's wartime history and island life through the immersive tales of two diverse viewpoints across the years. It's poignant, gripping, and highly atmospheric.

Green Rising by Lauren James

Green Rising is a sci-fi novel set in a near-future world where the climate emergency has reached alarming levels. It's a fast-paced, inspirational read. This may be a YA novel but it's also a brilliant call to arms for us all, highlighting the ecological catastrophe that may soon become our reality.

Honourable Mentions

As is the case with any shortlist, there will always be some great books that just narrowly miss out on entering the top five. With that in mind, though, I still think they deserve some recognition. In no particular order, here are my honourable mentions for 2021:

• The Stranger by Kate Riordan
• My Own Story by Emmeline Pankhurst
• The Shadow in the Glass by J.J.A. Harwood
• London's No.1 Dog-Walking Agency by Kate MacDougall
• The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
• Everything I Thought I Knew by Shannon Takaoka
• An Endless Cornish Summer by Phillipa Ashley
• Sunny Summer Treats anthology
• Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
• A Dark Inheritance by Chris d'Lacey

Giveaway

As always, I'm giving one lucky reader the chance to win their book of choice from my top five. Simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget below to get your name in the draw!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions:

1. This giveaway closes on 16th January 2022 at 11.59pm (GMT)
2. The prize consists of a single copy of one of the books from my top five shortlist above, as chosen by the winner
3. This giveaway is open to residents of the UK aged 18 and over
4. The winner will be randomly generated once the giveaway has ended
5. The winner will be informed by email once the giveaway has ended
6. The winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize. If the winner has not responded by this time, they will forfeit their prize and a new winner will be announced

What were your top reads of 2021? Share your favourites in the comments below!