Top 14 Books From My 2021 Reading List

There were some hits, some misses, and a few I wished I didn’t pick up at all, but I will spare you those.

As far as reading for the year went, I had a good run. I didn’t get to read as much as I wanted as duties and responsibilities took over my precious reading time.

Yet, I am thankful for the ones I read. Not only did I learn from them, but I also had a good laugh, awwed, muttered some bookworm frustration, and shed a few tears.

There were some hits, some misses, and a few I wished I didn’t pick up at all, but I will spare you those.

Here are the books I would recommend:

1. The Smart Money Woman by Arese Ugwu

Are you the type who gets tired of reading financial books that feels like there is no life in them? Do you want to learn financial literacy through other people’s experiences? Here is the book for you. One of my favorite finance books for the year. And if you are the type that doesn’t like reading (you should cultivate the habit), it has been made into a movie. I would still recommend the book, though.

2. A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

This book is about the lives of conservative Arab women living in America. This is one of the books I teared up on. For most, education is a privilege they don’t have access to even if their family could afford it because of some old age ideology. It kind of reminds me that it also occurs close to home, in the northern part of the country. I respect Daya’s decisions, and I hope we will also find the courage to bring a change to this narrative.

3. Zahrah the Wind Seeker by Nnedi Okarafor

The first African Fantasy novel that blew me away. I fell in love with the book’s history and would love to explore more of that world as there is so much world-building. It’s a book I would pick up in 6 months to reread. It’s that fascinating! Its plot is great yet different, making you want to read on. This would make a great gift for Kids and Teenagers.

4. Hello, Tomorrow!: The transformational power of Vision by Cindy Trimm

This book is best read in hardcopy, so you can underline vital bits that speak to you and be able to go back often to reread it. It gives step-by-step practical tools you can use to create a vision for yourself and activate God’s power in your life. It’s a must-read if you want to transform your life.

5. Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Black Buck is a hilarious debut novel about a Black guy’s take on the American sales workforce. It explores the issues of race, ambition, and growth. It’s refreshingly different.

6. Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

I honestly picked this book up because of its amazing cover, and I did not regret it. Its world-building is fantabulous. The characters are unique and different, and the plot and twists render me speechless. I am definitely going to read book 2 when it comes out.

You can check the full review here

7. Peril at End House by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is great at leaving you dumbfounded, and this book does great justice to her legacy. It isn’t your average whodunnit novel. If there is one thing Agatha Christie’s books have taught me, it is to trust no one in her books, and she does it quite well here. I was truly not expecting that twist, but it made perfect sense. Yes, I agree with Hastings that the world would miss a great actress. I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it if you want an unexpected ending in a mystery book.

8. According to their Deeds by Paul Robertson

I love this book because of its ceaseless references to other books I have read and the fact that the main characters were also bookworms. Then comes the mystery man, the book, and the hidden message, and you got yourself every bookworms’ dream.

9. The Great Dune Trilogy by Frank Hebert

Three much? Okay, start with Dune. I am not a sci-fi fan, but I enjoyed this one. I remember reading this as a teenager and went back to it when the movie was announced. Yes, it’s a long read, but when you turn the last page, you will know it was worth it.

10. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

The third page hooked me, and I couldn’t drop it till the end. I never thought I had the patience for repetitive words in a novel, but each repetitive word held more clues and surprises I wasn’t expecting.

Kudos to the writer. I am totally impressed. I would love to read more of his works.

Definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read an unconventional book.

11. #Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso

This is about Sophia Amoruso’s rise from grass to grace. From living off dumpsters to founding one of the fastest-growing retailers. It has a unique perspective. Anyone trying to start a business would gather quite a number of tips from it.

12. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

I wasn’t expecting this novel to be that interesting, but it shocked me. Great intro, great plot, great ending. Please read it and thank me later.

13. And There Were None by Agatha Christie

Another Agatha Christie masterpiece. Eight people with shady pasts go to an island for a visit. Suddenly they all started dying off one by one. Who is killing them? Who will survive? Why are they dying? Once again, the author shocked me into respecting her.

14. Memoirs of A Geisha by Arthur Golden

This happens to be one of my all-time favorites. I reread this book and still find it hard to believe that this is a work of fiction. The details are so painstakingly well researched and accurate. This is a book I will definitely pick up again. Although it wasn’t all roses, I learned many lessons from it.