Hello 2022… I’m SUPER late to the party! #books #reading #writing #blogging #BestBooks2021

2021 was not the blogging year I had hoped for, it wasn’t even my usual sort of reading year. It was a year of changes and challenges. We moved house. We moved from the countryside and a tiny village back into the city. A city I have always loved, but I haven’t lived in for over a decade. Moving was exhausting. EXHAUSTING. It absorbed time – I felt like some part of the process was always taking up space in my brain. I’m glad it’s done. And I love our new home. And I feel like I have time to read and create. BE ME. My best bookish self.

So 2022 is my year of getting back to the things I enjoy – reading, writing and more regular blogging.

I’ve been recording my reading since 2011 over at Goodreads and 2021 was my worst EVER reading year. But it wasn’t all bad as I did have the fortune of reading some amazing books.

Lots of amazing books.

But I barely met my target of 52 books and I only got there by squeezing in a few wee shorties and novellas. Not a hardship – I ALWAYS forget how much I enjoy a well crafted short story. And I want to read more shorties throughout this year.

If I had to pick my TOP three books of 2021 would be (in no particular order)…

Seven days in June by Tia Williams – A book I couldn’t put down – a romantic read with a lot of intensity, heat and memorable strong characters. Perfect.

Underbelly by Anna Whitehouse – was unexpected. The book grabbed my attention and didn’t let go, it was the story of colliding of lives, of friendships and motherhood all wrapped up in the toxic nature of social media.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir– was a blockbluster of a novel. A science fiction story of epic proportions. It was a lot of fun and I was sad to let the characters go after I finished the final page. Andy Weir is one of my absolute favourite authors.

(And just because I can’t choose just three books I also loved The Push by Ashley Audrain and Beautiful world where are you by Sally Rooney) Both were beautifully written with some great characters and storylines.

So far, my only 2022 new years resolution is to – READ everyday.

Even if it’s only one page. Even if it is only 10 minutes of my audiobook. READ. Because reading really is my happy place, and I’m a better human when I relax and disappear off into another world.

Other 2022 Goals – or lack of goals…

*) I am NOT signing up for any reading challenges. None. I don’t want the pressure, but I look forward to supporting others in their reading challenges and update posts.

*) I’m going to take a step back from NetGalley and I am going to reduce blog tours (although I will support, tweet, read and comment and more than likely buy the books of quite a few). I want to fully embrace being a mood reader.

Read what I want and when I want too.

*) I am also going to try and make a dent in some of the physical books I have filling my bookshelf. Plus, I love the smell, who doesn’t!?!?!

*) I am not going to lie to myself and say I won’t continue to buy far more books than I can read… that would be one step too far. WAY too far.

Happy reading!!