This is my list of my favorite books of the first half of 2021!
With so many books to choose from, it’s difficult to choose just 5! But, these are the books, whose characters and journey’s I can’t forget. These beautifully written books will stay with me for a very long time. I hope you will enjoy them too!
- Pack up the Moon by Kristin Higgins.
This book was amazing, it’s the best love story I’ve read in a really long time. But, you’ll need a box of tissues nearby, it’s heart-wrenching, humorous, and beautiful all at the same time. See my review here.
2. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren.
This book is hilarious, and heartwarming all at the same time. A hot scientist and a statistician make for a geeky couple, and their journey to romance is everything. See my review here.
3. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
This lovely book is set in Malibu, California, and follows the lives of three siblings as they plan for a party on the beach. This is the ultimate family drama with lots of California style. The deeply emotional journey of these siblings comes to a satisfying end and these characters will stay with you for a long time. See my review here.
4. The Stepsisters by Susan Mallery.
Three sisters, with complicated relationships, all come together on one summer and discover their childhood relationships are not all they appeared to be. This book covers their journeys to find out how to love each other and themselves. All set in gorgeous Bel Aire, California. See my review here.
5. Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez.
This book was so uplifting, I felt like I could conquer the world after reading this book. The romance is one of the best. This book is sprinkled heavily with humor but is so heartwarming and inspirational it’s difficult to call this a rom-com. See my review here.
Are any of these books on your top list for the first half of 2021? What books would you add? Please comment below!
Such a great list! All five of these are on my TBR and I’m hoping to read at least The Soulmate Equation and Malibu Rising some time soon.
I had not heard of Pack Up The Moon, but it sounds great. I’m going to check it out.
It’s an emotional read for sure. Have the tissues ready when you do read it. Thanks!
I keep two Favorites of the Year lists: one for books published in the current year and another for books published in prior years but that I only just got around to reading in the current year. So far I have four books (published in 2021) on my favorites of the year list:
FORBIDDEN by Karla Sorenson: Slowest of slow-burns between a widowed MMA fighter and the woman who manages the gym he owns. Suffused with melancholy & loss and amazing levels of sexual tension.
SWEETHEART by Sarah Mayberry: Not only a smoothly-written romance about a woman falling for her sister’s ex, but also a sensitive exploration of the toll mental illness takes on the sufferer and their family.
HER DEAL WITH THE GREEK DEVIL by Caitlin Crews: Extremely dark and incredibly well-written category romance (Harlequin Presents) with an almost irredeemable hero who spends years plotting the downfall of the woman who was briefly his stepsister, eventually leaving her no choice but to become his mistress to save herself and her mother from bankruptcy. Crews appropriates a plot often found in dark/mafia romance and adapts it to the conventions of the HP universe, thereby expanding the boundaries of what is acceptable in the line.
DISTORTED by Nyla K: Extraordinarily dark m/m story, with psychological suspense and horror elements, about the relationship between an inmate and a prison guard. Twisty and full of triggers (including non-con, dub-con, and power imbalance), almost more “romance-adjacent” than romance. Rewarding—but not for the faint of heart.
What a great list! I’ve read FORBIDDEN by Karla Sorenson and also enjoyed it. Do you have a blog or social media account that I can follow back?
No blog or social media, but I do comment a lot at romance sites—especially Smart Bitches, All About Romance, Dear Author, SMEXY, Book Binge, and now, apparently, yours, lol.
Thanks! Those are great blogs you’re following! Happy reading!