Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.
The rules are simple:
- Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want.
- Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
- Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists.
- Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.
This week’s topic is Best Books I Read In 2021. This is a topic I look forward to but at the same time dread because it is so difficult to choose only ten books from the many fabulous books I read this year. However I know I’m not alone in this dilemma. Having rewritten this list about a hundred times and with apologies to the authors whose books so nearly made the list, here are my chosen ten. My thanks also to the publishers who sent me review copies of the books or approved my requests for digital copies on NetGalley.
Links from the titles will take you to my review.
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers – Tender, intimate and heart-breaking
Blasted Things by Lesley Glaister – Intense, compelling and moving
White Dog by Rupert Whewell – Satirical, witty and provocative
When The World Was Ours by Liz Kessler – ‘an inspiring testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the kindness of strangers’
Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Gripping, atmospheric and immersive
The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed – Compelling, intense and chilling Booker shortlisted novel
The Hidden Child by Louise Fein – Thought-provoking, moving and immersive
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan – ‘a quietly powerful novel, an exquisite little gem of a book’
Little by Edward Carey – Quirky, imaginative and engaging
The Visitors by Caroline Scott – Eloquent, tender and emotional
What Cathy Read Next... 
Congratulations on managing to keep your list to ten, Cathy. As ususal, I failed miserably to get even close to that.
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I feel guilty about all the ones I had to leave out 😢
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Awww I am so glad you liked Small Pleasures, I thought that one was wonderfully tender and full of quiet heroic decency – a book about people trying so hard not to be “shabby” to each other. Kind of what the world needs after the last couple of years!
This is my look back at the best and most fun books I have read in 2021.
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Absolutely and I like to think there could have been a happy ending…
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I read and reviewed a Keegan short story book in Macedonian recently. I haven’t seen any other blog mention it so far, so this is quite exciting. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/the-best-10-books-i-read-in-2021/
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Rules of Civility is on my wishlist.
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I couldn’t help adding Little to my list of books to read. Thank you for sharing your favorites.
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Thanks, I hope you enjoy it.
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I like the covers to The Hidden Child and The Visitors. Happy New Year! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/12/top-ten-tuesday-cover-love.html
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Looking at some of the books on your list I think you might enjoy The Visitors, and not just for the cover.
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I will look into it, thanks for the recommendation 🙂
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Great choices, Cathy. I also enjoyed Daughters of Night this year, although it didn’t quite make my top ten. I would like to read The Fortune Men and Little.
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Quite a lot of other books – let’s be honest, at least 20 – nearly made my list!
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Small Pleasures does sound good.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-best-books-i-read-in-2021/
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These are all new to me! I love the cover for White Dog.
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Haha, that’s why these lists are dangerous. Wishlists and TBR piles only expand!
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I haven’t read any of these but I keep hearing about Clare Chambers. I’ll be looking some of these up, thanks for the recommendations!
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Looks like you had a solid reading year!
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Jam packed!
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That’s quite a list! Most are new to me, so thanks for the recommends!
My post: https://pagesandpaws.com/2021/12/28/ttt-top-20-heroes-heroines-from-2021/
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My pleasure. I enjoyed your twist on the topic by the way.
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Thanks Cathy. Happy New Year!
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I have seen Small Pleasures on a few lists today. I am going to have to give it a try!
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If you do I hope you join the legion of fans of the book.
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I love reading Best Of posts. I haven’t read any of the ones on your list but I found some titles quite interesting. I’m also always looking out for well-written books about the war so thank you for the tip!
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Me too, and it always surprises me how many lists include books and authors I’ve never even heard of! Although that may be because I don’t read fantasy, romance or YA and these seem to be popular genres.
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All these books sound good. Hope you have a happy holidays.
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I haven’t read any on your list but I’ve seen Small Pleasures around a little bit. Looks like something I might enjoy
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Yes, it has lots of fans, rightly in my opinion.
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Great list Cathy. I just added a couple of these to my TBR, including The Hidden Child.
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I loved The Hidden Child. I hope you do too if you get around to reading it.
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