What All I Read In 2021

Hey Y’all! Happy New Year! Can you believe that a whole year has passed?! It’s truly amazing how 365 days have gone by in this weird sort of time continuum/vortex/whatever the heck it could be considered! I sure am glad to have made it to the other side & that you did as well!

What certainly got me through this past year was reading…it was my refuge when nothing else was there or I was unable to reach for something else and I leaned into it HARD… though I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better confidant (I also had my therapist but books are a lot more available).

I had my ups and downs in terms of my reading but here’s my stats:

• Books Read For The Year: 167
• Least books read in a month: 6
• Most books read in a month: 25
• Average amount read a month: around 12
• No slumps but times where books took me longer than usual to read for various reasons (emotional state, adulting, etc.)
• I listened to my first ever audiobook!
• I read E-Books & E-Novellas outside of E-ARCs (this one surprised me too)!
• I also read a lot of adult romance/rom-coms, which also shocked me but in the most pleasant way!

Here are all the books that I read for the year (this does not include picture books because they aren’t personal reading for me) and If they have their own posts, I will link them to that post! I will also bold the ones that I read as part of the The Free Black Women’s Library 2021 Reading Challenge.

1. One Of The Good Ones by Maika & Maritza Moulite ARC
2. The Awakening Of Malcolm X by Tiffany D. Jackson & Ilysasah Shabazz E-ARC
3. Angel Of Greenwood by Randi Pink
4. The Comeback by E.L. Shen E-ARC
5. Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson ARC
6. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna E-ARC
7. American Betiya by Anuradha A. Rajurkar E-ARC
8. Not So Pure And Simple by Lamar Giles
9. FireKeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley E-ARC
10. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
11. A Taste For Love by Jennifer Yen
12. Shuri: The Vanished by Nic Stone *MG Sequel*
13. Wings Of Ebony by J.Elle
14. Baseball’s Leading Lady: Effa Manley And The Rise And Fall Of The Negro Leagues by Andrea Williams *MG Non-Fiction*
15. Facing The Sun by Janice Lynn Mathers
16. Home Is Not A Country by Safia Elhillo
17. The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore E-ARC
18. The Forest Of Stolen Girls by June Hur E-ARC
19. A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
20. Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao
21. The One’s We’re Meant To Find by Joan He E-ARC
22. A Queen Of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy *Sequel*
23. CeCe Rios And The Desert Of Souls by Kaela Rivera *MG* ARC
24. The Sea In Winter by Christine Day *MG*
25. The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim *MG* ARC
26. Hurricane Summer by Aisha Bromfield E-ARC
27. Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly *ER* ARC
28. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney ARC
29. Pawcasso by Remy Lai *MG* E-ARC
30. Where The Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass ARC
31. JoJo Makoons The Used-To-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley *ER* ARC
32. Made In Korea by Sarah Suk ARC
33. Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Best Friend by Ben Philippe *adult* ARC
34. Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland *MG* ARC
35. A Sitting In St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia ARC
36. Ace Of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé ARC
37. A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow *Companion* E-ARC
38. Simone Breaks All The Rules by Debbie Rigaud ARC
39. Instructions For Dancing by Nicola Yoon E-ARC
40. Of Princes And Promises by Sandhya Menon *Series* ARC
41. Amari And The Night Brothers by B.B. Alston *MG*
42. The Marvelous by Claire Kann E-ARC
43. Sisters Of The Snake by Sarena & Sasha Nanua ARC
44. Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk & Nicola Yoon ARC
45. Rising Like A Storm by Tanaz Bhathena *Sequel* E-ARC
46. Darling by K. Ancrum E-ARC
47. Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza *MG* ARC
48. Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta E-ARC
49. Josephine Against The Sea by Shakirah Bourne ARC
50. The Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron ARC
51. The Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis *Sequel* E-ARC
52. Me(Moth) by Amber McBride E-ARC
53. Miles Morales: Shock Waves by Justin A. Reynolds
54. Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko *Sequel* ARC
55. Illusionary by Zoraida Cordova *Sequel*
56. Oculta by Maya Motayne *Sequel*
57. Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho *Companion*
58. Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi *Sequel*
59. Ways To Grow Love by Renee Watson *MG Sequel*
60. Red Tigress by Amelie Wen Zhao *Sequel*
61. The Tiger At Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
62. The Archer At Dawn by Swati Teerdhala *Sequel*
63. The Chariot At Dusk by Swati Teerdhala *Finale*
64. Black Boy Joy Edited by Kwame Alexander *MG Anthology* E-ARC
65. Ancestor Approved Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith *MG Anthology*
66. Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis E-ARC
67. Root Magic by Eden Royce *MG*
68. Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis *MG* ARC
69. Yusef Azeem Is Not A Hero by Saadia Faruqi *MG* ARC
70. Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney & Robyn Smith
71. When The Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen *adult* ARC
72. My Summer Of Love And Misfortune by Lindsay Wong
73. So Many Beginnings By Bethany C. Morrow E-ARC
74. A Clash Of Steel by C.B. Lee E-ARC
75. White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson ARC
76. Sister Of The Bollywood Bride by Nandini Bajpai
77. Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed Edited by Saraceia Fennell E-ARC
78. The Samosa Rebellion by Shanthi Sekaran *MG* ARC
79. Maya And The Return Of The Godlings by Rena Barron *MG Sequel* E-ARC
80. Cuba In My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas *MG* E-ARC
81. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao E-ARC
82. Beasts Of Prey by Ayana Gray ARC
83. The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee *adult*
84. Blind Date With A Book Boyfriend by Lucy Eden *Adult* E-Novella
85. Once Upon A Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira ARC
86. Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma
87. Bruised by Tanya Boteju
88. 35 Years by Lucy Eden *Adult* E-Novella
89. The Meet Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson
90. Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
91. Master Of Poison by Andrea Hairston *adult* ARC
92. Pahua And The Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee *MG* E-ARC
93. Vegas Baby short by Lucy Eden *adult* E-Novella
94. The Bones Of Ruin by Sarah Raughley ARC
95. Not Here To Be Liked by Michelle Quach ARC
96. The Insiders by Mark Oshiro *MG* ARC
97. The Mirror: Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao
98. The Mirror: Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton *Series* E-ARC
99. Why We Fly by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal E-ARC
100. Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia *MG Finale* E-ARC
101. Black Was The Ink by Michelle Coles ARC
102. Cherishing The Goddess by Lucy Eden *Adult*
103. Bear With Me by Lucy Eden *Adult E-Novella Series*
104. The Wolf Of Wall Street by Lucy Eden *Adult E-Novella Series*
105. The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Cordova *Adult*
106. You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria *Adult Series*
107. A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria *Adult Series*
108. Take The Lead by Alexis Daria *Adult E-Book*
109. Dance All Night by Alexis Daria *Adult E-Novella*
110. Radha & Jai’s Recipe For Romance by Nisha Sharma
111. Fast Pitch by Nic Stone *MG Companion*
112. Paola Santiago & The River Of Tears by Tehlor Kay Meija *MG*
113. Paola Santiago & The Forest Of Nightmares by Tehlor Kay Meija *MG Sequel*
114. Bounce Back! by Misako Rocks! *MG Manga* E-ARC
115. XOXO by Axie Oh
116. Idol Gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young
117. Carefree Black Girls by Zeba Blay *Adult* E-ARC
118. The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu *Adult* E-ARC
119. Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen *Adult*
120. For All Time by Shanna Miles
121. Like A Love Song by Gabriela Martins
122. Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan
123. What The Hex by Alexis Daria *Adult* Audible Novella
124. The Taking Of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
125. The Silence Of Bones by June Hur
126. The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown *MG*
127. The Swag Is In The Socks by Kelly J. Baptiste *MG* E-ARC
128. Girl Giant And The Monkey King by Van Hoang *MG*
129. Girl Giant And The Jade War by Van Hoang *MG Sequel* E-ARC
130. I Am The Rage by Dr. Martina McGowan *Adult*
131. Pre-Teen Wolf by Lucy Eden *Adult E-Novella Series*
132. Make A Scene by Mimi Grace *Adult* E-Book
133. Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor *Sequel* E-ARC
134. Ashes Of Gold by J.Elle *Sequel* ARC
135. Descendants Of The First by Reni K. Amayo *sequel*
136. A Psalm Of Storms And Silence by Roseanne Brown *sequel*
137. Piece By Piece: The Story Of Nisrin’s Hijab by Priya Huq *MG* E-ARC
138. Surviving Home by Katrina Canyon E-ARC
139. Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
140. One True Loves by Elise Bryant *Companion* ARC
141. Gingerbread Kisses by Lucy Eden *Adult* E-Novella
142. Sweethand by N.G. Peltier *adult*
143. First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel *Adult Companion* E-Book
144. The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel *Adult* E-Book
145. A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli *adult* E-Book
146. Puneet’s Getting Mail by Sookh Kaur *adult* E-Novella
147. Jasmin The Unexpected by Sookh Kaur *adult Series* E-Book
148. Priya And The Rebellion by Sookh Kaur *adult Series* E-Book
149. Gurpreet And The Wrong Twin by Sookh Kaur *adult series* E-Book
150. Tina The Wallflower by Sookh Kaur *adult series* E-Book
151. Raman’s Love List by Sookh Kaur *adult series* E-Book
152. The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale *adult*
153. An Angel For Daddy by Lucy Eden *Adult* E-Novella
154. Everything’s Better With Abby *Adult* E-Novella
155. Everything’s Better With Kimberly by Lucy Eden *adult* E-Book
156. Everything’s Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden *adult* E-Book
157. Taste Of Her Own Medicine by Tasha L. Harrison *Adult* E-Book
158. Amor Actually by Zoey Castile, Alexis Daria, Mia Sosa, Adriana Herrera, Diana Muñoz Stewart, Priscilla Oliveras & Sabrina Sol *Adult* E-Book
159. African Town by Charles Waters & Irene Latham E-ARC
160. And They Lived Happily Ever After by Therese Beharrie *adult*
161. The Kindred by Alecia Dow E-ARC
162. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee *MG*
163. Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee *MG Sequel*
164. The Chosen One by Echo Brown E-ARC
165. Getting His Game Back by Gia De Cadenet *adult* E-ARC
166. Star Child: An Autobiographical Constellation Of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi E-ARC
167. The Unexpected Fall by Anna Salcedo *adult* E-ARC

Whew, I did a lot of reading/Escaping! Of the 167 books read for this year, 80 were for the The Free Black Women’s Library Challenge (here is the link to the books that I read for the challenge last year)! I don’t set reading goals but my objective is to match or surpass what I read in the previous year, which I did (to see what I read last year, see this post)! It is also my intent to keep consistent in my support of Black authors, specifically Black Women Authors as a Black Woman, which is why I continue to participate in the TFBWL Challenges (past year was year 3). I’m happy to support POC authors periodt but I’m a Black Woman first & foremost.

Last year, I had quite a few ARCs/E-ARCs and this year is also the same! It’s my hope to strike a good balance between finished copies I currently have in my TBR (see my post about my TBR side eyeing me here) and the ARCs that I have in it as well as sharing more of what I read with you as I talked about in my Bookish Intent for this year. I’m happy when authors, publishers & netgalley keep me busy doe!

How was your reading this past year? Have you read any of these books? Did you have a particular genre or genres that you had kicks in? Let me know here in the comments or on social media! As usual, you can find & follow me on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I’ve exceeded the number of books I’ve read in the previous year! Sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Again, Happy New Year Y’all! Byeeee!