What’s On My 2021 To-Read List
What’s On My 2021 To-Read List
By: Kate Abraham
Reading is my very favorite past-time – anybody agree? Every year, I look forward to new book releases and the most-anticipated reads for the coming months. 2020 gave us all a lot of extra time to read, with some of us building on one of our most-loved hobbies, to others discovering a new fondness for it. For all the fellow book lovers and those taking up reading as a New Year’s resolution, your search for intriguing books has been made easier. Here are some picks that I am most looking forward to, including options to fit everyone’s genre preferences!
1. An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena – Mystery
Two well-known Ole Miss graduates, Audrey Muse (@audweee) and Lyle Lawson (@lylelawson), recently started a book club called L.A. Book It (@labookit)! This mystery novel is the January book, and it certainly lives up to the expectations. I began and finished this book within a couple of days. It hooks you from the beginning and builds suspense throughout – this book is so hard to put down once you start!
2. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter – And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay – Self Help & Personal Development
Who else is starting to freak out about how life after college getting closer and closer by the minute? We all need a little extra motivation and guidance. Meg Jay highlights how important this time of our lives is, and she outlines what habits you should put into practice now that will positively affect the rest of your life.
3. Admission by Julie Buxbaum – Realistic Fiction
The college admission scandal made headlines for months upon months; when it was revealed that Lori Loughlin and Olivia Jade Giannulli were among the guilty, the situation became even more intriguing for many. Julie Buxbaum wrote this novel, newly released in December of 2020, taking a realistic fiction twist on this well-known situation. I know I speak for many when I say that I am pumped for this pick!
4. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
This choice has received tons of great reviews, and I can definitely understand why. This story is a nonfiction memoir written from the perspective of a therapist who tells of her experience and her need to visit a therapist herself. She brings humor to the table while also exploring the deeper parts of humans and their emotions. After reading this, you will be motivated to identify these emotions in yourself and to transform them for the better.
5. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – Suspense
I have received countless recommendations for this book. This suspenseful thriller is known for its ability to take your mind into a thousand different directions. One minute everything seems normal, and the next, nothing is the same. When a seemingly happy wife suddenly kills her husband, she refuses to speak, thus earning the name “the silent patient.”
6. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins – Mystery
I am unashamed to say that I am a Book of the Month subscriber. The Wife Upstairs was my December 2020 pick, and it is based in Birmingham, Alabama. Jane (or is that really her name?) begins to walk dogs in an upper-class neighborhood, where she meets and begins to fall for a wealthy and recently widowed man. This story takes many twists and turns while keeping you on your toes throughout.
7. The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah – Contemporary Fiction
Kristen Hannah is the author of one of my all-time favorite books, The Nightingale. I am ecstatic for this new release coming out this February of 2021. This novel takes place in Texas in the 1930s, amid the Great Depression. The story is set to revolve around a lady, Elsa Martinelli, and her struggle to stay afloat and fight for her home during this despairing time.
8. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Another very highly-rated book, this novel surrounds a Ghanian family in Alabama. Gifty, the daughter and neuroscience student at Stanford School of Medicine, struggles with the hardships that she sees her family members facing always. Alongside this struggle, she finds herself deep in confusion and uncertainty surrounding her religion. This pick is known to be so powerful and emotion-inciting, so prepare yourself.
9. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey, need I say more? This autobiography follows his life, with all of the ups, downs, highs, lows, and everything in between. Through all his experiences, he has gained wisdom that has helped him navigate and persevere through anything he faces. B.R.B. – adding this book to my Amazon cart right now.
10. Layla by Colleen Hoover – Contemporary Romance
Colleen Hoover is very high on my list of favorite authors. In her newest romance novel, Layla, a couple must cope and deal with an unexpected tragedy that turns both of their lives around completely. Will their love be strong enough to survive this situation, or will it all fall to pieces?
For more of my picks and keep track of what I am reading, follow me on Goodreads !
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