It’s time again for the annual end of year survey that Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner hosts to reflect back on the books we’ve read throughout the year.
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2021 reading stats:
Number Of Books You Read: 110
Number of Re-Reads: 2
Genre You Read The Most From: Nonfiction
Best in books:
1. Best Book You Read In 2021?
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper | my review
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky | my review
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Like a Love Song by Gabriela Martins | my review
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland | my review
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Good: The Odyssey by Homer (Penguin Classics Clothbound edition)
Bad: The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer | my review
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper | my review
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
5. Best series you started in 2021? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2021?
Best Series Started: The Guild Codex: Demonized series by Annette Marie
Best Sequel: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
Best Series Ender: Delivering Evil for Experts by Annette Marie
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2021?
Elodie Harper | Lori Anne Goldstein | Julie Berry
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
YA Thriller/Mystery: The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky | my review
Horror: White Ibis by Wendy Dalrymple | my review
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer | my review
9. Book You Read In 2021 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer | my review
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2021?
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint | my review
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper | my review
Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh | my review
11. Most memorable character of 2021?
Robin and Zylas from: The Guild Codex: Demonized Series by Annette Marie
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2021?
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper | my review
Lovely War by Julie Berry | my review
Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh | my review
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2021?
Kings, Conquerors, Psychopaths: From Alexander to Hitler to the Corporation by Joseph N. Abraham | my review
From the Children’s Home to the Gas Chamber: And how some avoided their fate by Reinier Heinsman | my review
Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths by Helen Morales | my review
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2021 to finally read?
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
Tamed: Ten Species That Changed Our World by Alice Roberts | my review
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2021?
“Mind your mettle, Tessa.”
— Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer | my review
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2021?
Shortest (50 pages): Jason and Medea by Apollonius of Rhodes
Longest (912 pages): Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
Brutal Winter by Quirah Casey | my review
The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World – and Globalization Began by Valerie Hansen | my review
Educating Elizabeth by Kate Pearce
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Nesta & Cassian: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
Robin & Zylas: Taming Demons for Beginners by Annette Marie
Veritas & Ian: Wicked All Night by Jeaniene Frost
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
The Merry Thieves: Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
Amara & Dido: The Wolf Den by Cassandra Clare | my review
Zak & Kit: The One and Only Crystal Druid by Annette Marie | my review
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2021 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh | my review
21. Best Book You Read In 2021 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Lovely War by Julie Berry | my review
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2021?
Hades: Neon Gods by Katee Robert | my review
Zylas: The Guild Codex: Demonized Series by Annette Marie
Tessa: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer | my review
23. Best 2021 debut you read?
Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook by Liv Albert, Sara Richard | my review
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper | my review
Love, Theodosia: A Novel of Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton by Lori Anne Goldstein | my review
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper | my review
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer | my review
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook by Liv Albert, Sara Richard | my review
Wicked All Night by Jeaniene Frost
Educating Elizabeth by Kate Pearce
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2021?
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
Love, Theodosia: A Novel of Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton by Lori Anne Goldstein | my review
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Brutal Winter by Quirah Casey | my review
Love, Theodosia: A Novel of Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton by Lori Anne Goldstein | my review
White Ibis by Wendy Dalrymple | my review
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
Love, Theodosia: A Novel of Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton by Lori Anne Goldstein | my review
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2021?
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper | my review
Lovely War by Julie Berry | my review
Bull by David Elliott
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)
Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins | my review
Your Blogging/Bookish Life
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2021?
This is always such a hard question because I never remember when I discovered which blog so I’m just going to go with a couple of my favorite blogs.
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy
Olivia & Lori @ The Candid Cover
Jess @ Jessticulates
Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads
Angela @ Musings of a Literary Wanderer
Verushka @ Pop.Edit.Lit
2. Favorite post you wrote in 2021?
My book review of Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbookby Liv Albert & Sara Richard.
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2021?
From my bookstagram
4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
In November I went to Lees! Het Boekenfestival (Read! The Book Festival) and I really liked that!
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2021?
I really enjoyed this year’s Nonfiction November event. It always helps me read so many nonfiction books and discover many new titles.
My Nonfiction November posts:
My Year in Nonfiction
Book Pairing
Become the Expert
Stranger Than Fiction
New to My TBR
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Finding the time to read, blog and take bookstagram pictures. It’s hard to find the balance between that and responsibilities.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
I’m not actually sure which post was the most popular and I’m not sure how to look at up 🙈
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
It’s always great to have more love on any post, but there isn’t one I could name in particular.
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I’ve mostly discovered new Etsy shops and I’ll leave some of them here:
Dizzyhazel
BookmarkedCo
Sketchinghistory
CraftyEmtem
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I completed my 2021 reading challenge on Goodreads.
Looking Ahead
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2021 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2022?
Heir by Katee Robert
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2022 (non-debut)?
The War That Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium by Barry Strauss
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper
3. 2021 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
The Latinist by Mark Prins
Shadows in the Deep by Helena V. Paris
Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2021?
The Fugitive Colours by Nancy Bilyeau
The Long-Forgotten Winter King by Annette Marie
The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2022?
I don’t really have any big goals or things I hope to accomplish in my reading/blogging life in 2022. I just hope to continue reading amazing books.
6. A 2021 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):
Electric Idol by Katee Robert
I’m still reading this one at the moment but it’s really good!
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And that’s it for the end of year survey of 2021. See you all in 2022!
Great post!
I am looking at best of lists 🙂
Omg, a new Troy book! I really like that first one
The Silence of the Girls is one of my favorites!
WOW! What a tag! I had fun reading it and seeing all the books you loved (or not XD). Yay for Artemis Fowl and The Mary Shelley Club! Have a great 2022 reading year~
Took me a few days to finish the tag phew! 😛
What a cool tag, I love it! The Odyssey by Homer is on my list, love the clothbound cover.
The clothbound translation of The Odyssey has been my favorite so far!
Thanks for the shout out, Stephanie! You should be able to go to “stats” on your dashboard and then click on “year” to see your stats for 2021. There will be a list of top posts under that. I’m really curious to read Only A Monster as well. Hope you have a good New Year’s Eve😁
Let’s pretend I wasn’t too lazy to look for the stats 😆
Aww, thank you, Stephanie! Yours is one of my favorite blogs, too! Seeing your post reminded me of all the books I still need to read!
At least you’ll never run out of book ideas 😆
I love this post! So many great books mentioned! I definitely need to read The Wolf Den this coming year. Neon Gods is one I keep hearing about that I also want to read at some point. I hope you have a great 2022 in books!
Both The Wolf Den and Neon Gods are excellent!
An excellent end of year post, congrats on all of your reading accomplishments
Thank you so much, Shelleyrae!
So many interesting books on your list. Most of them I have not read, or even heard of. I can see that there will be quite a few going up on my to read list. So many people talk about Sarah Maas, so I think I have to read one to see what all the fuss is about. Any recommendation on which book to start. I think she writes series?
Good luck with your reading this year.
I see a lot of Court of Silver Flames! I still can’t get over the new cover and the fact that they’re not bringing out any books to match the old ones, but okay…
I AM excited to read ACOSF 🙂
Happy New Year!
Well yes you pushed me to read The Wolf Den :-)))))
MUHAHHAHAHA
[…] Hi! Today I’m going to do the end-of-the-year book survey. This is originally from Jaime perpetualpageturner. I grabbed these questions from Stephanie@bookfever11. […]
Ahhhh Robin and Zylas, I miss them so much already and am VERY tempted to just start a re-read right now 🙂 Also yay for Zak and Kit for best non-romantic relationship!
I’m reading Ian’s and Veritas’s books right now and they’re indeed so funny, definitely books that put a smile on my face 😀
I DEFINITELY still need to read The Wolf Den 😉