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It’s my favorite time of year! It definitely was a great year of murderous mysteries, fantastic fantasies, and heartfelt historical fiction. And there was one book that took me completely by surprise. I’m excited to share with you my best fiction read in 2021. First, I’ll share with you the books that were my top 5.
Top 5 Best Fiction Read in 2021:
| This book was complete and utter delight! Very witty. I loved all the characters who live in a retirement community who work on solving cold cases, but then, when a real murder occurs, they must solve it as well! I love that the main characters are in their seventies and are portrayed with vibrant personalities and interested in life. |
2. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
| Part Huckleberry Finn, part The Odyssey, this book has characters you won’t want to let go of. I absolutely loved it! As someone who also loves The Odyssey, I loved trying to guess what part the author was going to include from that great epic story and how he was going to tweak it to make it work is his Depression-era American tale. It’s a story about extending forgiveness and searching for home. |
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Night Circus enthralled me despite the fact fantasy isn’t my go-to genre! Magical and enchanting, this story of dueling illusionists who fall in love and then try to escape the game they’ve been charmed into playing was completely absorbing. I loved the world the author created!
4. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
| I kept hearing people rave about this book, but when I’d read the description, I wasn’t motivated to read it. Am I glad I changed my mind! Eleanor is a quirky, socially awkward person who lives a solitary life. Through various circumstances she becomes friends with a co-worker and and older man and slowly, her life begins to change. We also begin to discover Eleanor’s past is marred with trauma, and as the details of that unfold, she begins to heal. The pacing of the book is fantastic—I couldn’t put it down at times. The character development is rich and believable and I laughed out loud on more than one occasion. I LOVED it. |
5. A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
| This was a very fun spy book set during WW II, but instead of feeling like a heavy war novel the overall tone is light and witty. It feels a bit like Dorothy Sayers in terms of both sparkling wit and also because it doesn’t feel too modern. I really enjoyed all the characters and while a few parts were predictable, it was very satisfying and I look forward to more in this series! |
Other Fictional Reads from 2021
Although the rest of my books didn’t make it onto the top 5 list, there were still a number of excellent titles. First, two of my favorites in the police procedural genre continue to be authors Deborah Crombie and Peter Grainger. Second, I read some great newly published fiction that I especially enjoyed from Patti Callahan, Nadia Hashimi, and A. J. Pearce.
My numbering system reflects the Goodreads numbering system with five stars (*****) being excellent.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe**** (reread)
The Lost Book of the Grail by Charlie Lovett***
All Shall Be Well by Deborah Crombie****
Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie*****
Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie*****
Dreaming of Bones by Deborah Crombie*****
Roxanne by Peter Grainger*****
The Truth by Peter Grainger*****
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan****
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan*****
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan***
Who is Maud Dixon? By Alexandra Andrews****
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi****
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig****
The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister***
Heart in the Highlands by Heidi Kimball***
Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney****
The Lovely War by Julie Berry****
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier****
Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber***
Yours Cheerfully by A. J. Pearce****
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym***
Thanks for reading about my best fiction read in 2021.
What was YOUR favorite fiction in 2021? Please share in the comments section!
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