Stats from GoodReads
Books Read: 16
Pages Read: 4,081
Average Book Length: 255
Average Rating in 2021:
Best Reads of 2021
I had a total of six 5-star reads in 2021 and out of those six, three of them refuse to leave my mind.
1. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
This novel takes the idea of a thriller and turns it on its head. If you’ve ever wondered if you are the only person who has had irrationally whimsical worries, are someone who has struggled with anxiety or depression, or are a lover of the Breakfast Club– this book is for you. For my full review, check it out here.
2. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Taking the It’s A Wonderful Life trope and giving it a scientific twist, this heartwarming read is a definite favorite of mine from 2021. If you are someone with a fear of FOMO or someone that feels happiness is unachievable, you need to read this book. For my full review, go here.
3. Normal People by Sally Rooney
Oh, what a novel. Out of all the books I read in 2021, none of them made me feel as much as Normal People. These feelings were predominately ones of anger, frustration, and disbelief– but to have an author evoke so much emotion simply by writing is something I respect and admire. If you want to relive the angst of first loves or really love to hate BOTH main characters in a novel, you should buy this book right now. For all of my thoughts, check out my review.
2021 Lessons to Use in 2022
I’m truly proud of all of the effort I’ve put into this little piece of the Internet over the last 365 days. 2021 has been a year of lessons and growth for me and The Book Nook Chronicles is proof of that. Here is what I’ve taken away from my first successful year as a book blogger and how I hope to apply these lessons to 2022.
1. Going at my own pace is the best pace.
I am not the fastest reader– hell, I’m not even close to being classified as a fast reader. I do however know that reading one book a month is a completely achievable goal for me. I set my goal a little high for 2021 at 21 books, so for 2022, I am going to scale it back to one book a month (12 books). If I read more than that, amazing. If not, I’ll know I’ve enjoyed myself either way.
2. I don’t like the classics as much as I want to.
I want to love classic lit. I really truly do. But every book that has fallen under the definition of a classic that I’ve picked up in the last two years has been unbearable for me. They have been the titles that have thrown me off reading streaks and I honestly don’t have enough time on this planet to keep trying to struggle through books I don’t enjoy. In 2022, I’m limiting myself to one classic for the year and will be reading more current lit instead.
3. My book nook needs work.
My fiance and I moved in together in June and my book nook moved into our bedroom due to space. I’ve let it fall to the wayside a bit and I want to fix that in 2022. I need to dive into creating more homey touches for this corner of our home and I hope to do that in the upcoming year.
4. Growing an audience is hard.
I’m not the most consistent poster or the most interactive participant on Instagram or WordPress, so I’m not surprised this is a struggle of mine, but I’d really like to build my blog’s audience in 2022. If you have any tips or tricks on how to do this, please feel free to comment below– or if you know someone that might like following the ramblings of a 20-something book lover in Chicago, send them over here, like, yesterday!
5. I really love blogging about books.
I’ve been blogging on and off about different subjects since I was a junior in high school. I’ve had a recipe blog, a blog about travel, and a couple of blogs that tried to cram all of the things I love into one mess of brain farts. Without fail, I would lose the passion for what I was doing– going on month-long (or longer) hiatuses without a second thought. But The Book Nook Chronicles has been different for me. I don’t want to miss a month because I want to keep reading. I’ve loved books since before I could read them on my own and it’s been a true joy getting to fall in love with reading again. This passion has grown and shifted as I’ve grown and shifted and I’m so glad I get to share it with all of you. I hope you enjoy my reviews, florilegium poems, and other scribblings as much as I do because I know I’m just getting started.
Happy New Year everyone, and happy reading!
The Book Nook Chronicles 